Saratoga Business Journal

Non-Profit Community Organizations Benefit From Clean Green Hauling & Removal Efforts

May 13, 2024

Keith Lamphere, owner of Clean Green Hauling & Removal, donates the cast-off items he hauls away for clients to non-profit organizations.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Jill Nagy

Keith Lamphere, owner of Clean Green Hauling and Removal, LLC, is a junk collector with a mission: to see that the junk he collects gets put to good use.

As he explained, he “make[s] people happy by taking the stuff” (for a fee). Then, he donates it to non-profit community organizations. Some of it, like furniture, kitchenware, and housewares may be used to help formerly homeless clients set up their first household. Other organizations sell the items and use the money for programs like summer lunches for children. Some organizations are happy to receive items even if they are not perfect “ but it’s gotta be clean.” “Everybody takes different things,” he observes.

Back in 2021, Lamphere and his wife were looking for a way to give back to the community, he recalled. That impulse gave birth to the idea of his current company.

The Blade Doctor Provides Quality Mobile Sharpening Services To A Variety Of Clients

May 13, 2024

Gabriel Frankewich, aka The Blade Doctor, comes to clients with his services.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Jill Nagy

Gabriel Frankewich bills himself as the Blade Doctor and tries to bring military precision to sharpening knives, blades, and surgical tools. Headquartered in several former garages in Ballston Lake, he does most of his work from his van

“I am in my van almost all day,” he said, bringing the business to the customer. He brings some very large jobs back to his shop. He describes himself as “detail oriented. . . . a little on the perfectionist side.” He attributes that to his military training and experience as an MP.

He covers a broad area, roughly from Lake George to the Catskills.

As a boy, he was fascinated by his grandfather’s grindstone and began grinding everything he could lay his hands on, including a shovel. His grandfather taught him how to use the grindstone properly and he was off to a lifetime of grinding and sharpening. In the military, he sharpened his buddies’ pocket knives. Later, when living in Israel, he spent so much time sharpening knives and utensils for other people that his father suggested that he make a business out of it. So, he did. He had a sharpening business in Tel Aviv, Israel, for three years before returning to the United States seven years ago.

Much of Frankewich’s current work consists of sharpening the surgical tools of area dentists, doctors, and orthodontists. He said that he wants to do more of that kind of work and that he expects, in another two years or so, to do that exclusively.

He has also done some training, including an eight-hour course for beauticians, teaching them how to properly sharpen their shears.

Centrotherm Relocates To A Larger Facility In Waterford To Better Serve Its Customers

May 13, 2024

The highly trained staff at Centrotherm Eco Systems is ready to serve customers from the company’s new plant in Waterford.
Courtesy of Centrotherm Eco Systems

By Christine Graf

After spending more than a decade in Albany, Centrotherm Eco Systems has relocated to 428 Hudson River Road in Waterford. A manufacturer of venting systems and accessories for HVAC systems, Centrotherm opened in Albany in 2009. Its parent company, Centrotec Industries, is headquartered in Germany.

“The company has over 100 years of history,” said Matthew Pryce, marketing and communication manager at Centrotherm Eco Systems. “We are the North American branch, servicing the United States and Canada.”

A plastics manufacturer, Centrotherm manufactures precise ventilation systems as well as exhaust systems and accessories for high efficiency heating appliances. Their products are utilized in the HVAC and plumbing industries in both commercial and residential applications.

The company has experienced significant growth in recent years, and its staff has more than tripled in size since 2015, growing from 20 employees to 65. Centrotherm is also supported by outside sale representatives.

Owner Touts Mittler’s Convenience Store And Bar As A ‘New York-Style Bodega’

May 13, 2024

Steve Mittler welcomes customers to his new Convenience Store and Bar.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Jill Nagy

With the opening of Mittler’s Convenience Store and Bar this month residents of the Congress Park neighborhood of Saratoga Springs will be able to get a quart of milk without getting in the car, owner Steve Mittler promised. The “New York style bodega” and bar at 33 Phila Street will partly revive what used to be a lively commercial area, he said.

In addition to grocery basics, the store will sell soups and salads and meals to go. In the back of the store, children (and adults) will find a candy bar. Food can be picked up or delivered. Up three steps, there will be a full bar serving cocktails, along with “heavy appetizers,” such as dips, hummus, Mexican sweet corn, deviled eggs, bagels, and sliders.

The bar area can seat 14 at the bar, another 30 at tables, and, weather permitting, another 40 at tables on the sidewalk. The location is near the carousal and everyone will have a view of Congress Park. In the past, the building housed a gift shop, a health food store, and was the original site of the Max London bakery.

This is Mittler’s first foray into the restaurant business. He explained that he comes from a banking background and many of his clients were in the restaurant business. “I had a lot to learn,” he admits, but adds that local bar and restaurant owners have been helpful. “Everyone asked, ‘you’ve never done this before?’ “ he recalled.

The Five-Year Apprenticeship Program Through Local 773 Trains Plumbers And Pipefitters

May 13, 2024

A wide range of skills are taught to apprentices at the headquarters of Local 773 of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters in Queensbury.
Courtesy of Local 773

By Paul Post

Nearly three dozen area contractors turn to Local 773 whenever they land a big job and need to bring on highly-qualified plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters and HVAC technicians.

The 500-member, Queensbury-based union supplies skilled workers for a wide variety of projects from GlobalFoundries in Malta to recently-completed refrigeration upgrades at Lake Placid’s Olympic facilities.

A five-year apprenticeship includes hands-on work plus September to April classes, each year, at Local 773’s headquarters and training facility at 37 Luzerne Road.

“It’s an earn and learn program,” Business Manager Mike Jarvis said. “When an apprentice comes in they sign up with the union, work during the day for a contractor and go to school at night three times per week.”

Applications are accepted one day each month. When enough applications come in, the union sets up an aptitude test. Candidates are also interviewed by an eight-person Joint

A Canadian Manufacturing Firm Has Chosen Saratoga As The Site For Its First U.S. Plant

May 13, 2024May 17, 2024

Making its first foray into the United States, Soleno, a manufacturer of recycled high-density polyethylene pipes, has located a plant in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy of Soleno

By Christine Graf

Soleno, a Canadian company that specializes in manufacturing recycled high-density polyethylene pipes, has chosen Saratoga Springs as the location for it’s first U.S. plant. Construction is underway on the $22 million facility, located at 66 Duplainville Road in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park. Munter Enterprises Inc is the General Contractor.

Soleno manufactures storm water management products for the infrastructure, residential, natural resource, and agricultural development sectors. Products include pipes, drains, culverts, catch basins, treatment systems, fittings, and drainage accessories

According to J. Gregory Connors, CEO of Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), his agency was “very much involved” in working to bring Soleno to Saratoga County.

“We prepared an application on Soleno’s behalf for consideration by the county IDA based on a $22 million capital investment in the City of Saratoga Springs. There has been a promise to create 22 full-time jobs in its first year of operation. There will be an additional 35 jobs in the second year, and there will also be 20 +/- construction jobs to build the site.”

Modular Building Techniques Make Homes More Affordable In Face Of Housing Shortages

May 13, 2024

Cecil Provost, owner of Saratoga Modular Homes, displays the large variety of materials available to clients opting for this type of construction. Saratoga Business Journal

By Christine Graf

In the Capital Region real estate market and beyond, a shortage of inventory has made it difficult for buyers to find reasonably priced homes. The Center for American Progress, an independent policy institute, believes modular homes may be the answer to the American housing crisis. According to a report issued by the institute in February 2024, “Modular building, if brought to scale, has the potential to reduce construction costs and make building new homes more affordable, especially in areas experiencing severe affordable housing shortages.”

Modular homes are often confused with mobile homes, but the two are distinctly different. While modular home components are fabricated in factories, the homes themselves are assembled on-site and attached to permanent foundations.

When it comes to the construction process, there is virtually no difference between a modular home and a site-built home. Both are built with the same materials and are subject to the same regulations.

Saratoga Modular Homes is a leader in the local modular home market, offering opportunities for customers in the Capital Region, Adirondacks, and the Mohawk Valley to build energy efficient custom modular homes with upgraded finishes. Owner Cecil Provost is on the board of directors for the National Modular Home Builder’s Association, and he also owns Saratoga Construction, Saratoga Log Homes, and ProRealty New York Inc,

“We’re slammed with business. I’ve never seen it so busy,” he said. “What has happened is that everyone refinanced their homes three or four years ago at 2.5 or 3 percent, so there’s no resale inventory on the market. So, demand for new construction is very strong.”

Harbor Freight Tools Expanding Its Nationwide Reach With The Opening Of A Saratoga Store

May 13, 2024

Saratoga Springs now boasts a Harbor Freight outlet.
Saratoga Business Joiurnal

Harbor Freight Tools has announced that it will be opening a new store in Saratoga Springs. The new store will be located at 3064 Route 50 and is expected to open this spring. An official opening date will be announced closer to opening.

Construction has already begun at the location, using local workers and companies from the surrounding Saratoga Springs area.

“We’ve been looking to open a location in Saratoga Springs for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” said Trey Feiler, senior vice president, Real Estate and Construction for Harbor Freight Tools. “In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great Associates in the Saratoga Springs area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team.”

The store is expected to bring between 25 and 30 new jobs to the community, including Sales and Logistic Supervisors, Senior Associates, Sales Associates, and seasonal opportunities as well. Harbor Freight Tools offers a competitive starting rate along with a best-in-class retail benefits package that includes robust health coverage, and Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Harbor Freight has over 28,000 Associates and more than 1,500 locations nationwide.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.harborfreightjobs.com/retail and search “Saratoga Springs, NY”.

Harbor Freight Tools, a family-owned company, started in Southern California in 1977. The first store opened in 1980, and the company has grown to over 1,500 stores nationwide. With two-three new locations opening every week, Harbor Freight is one of America’s fastest growing retailers.

Architecture Firm Launches A Professional Development Program For Emerging Talent

May 13, 2024

AJA Architecture and Planning has announced the launch of its innovative Professional Development Program, aimed at nurturing emerging talents in the architecture and design industry while actively engaging with the local community. Rooted in a passion for mentorship and guided by a commitment to excellence, this program represents a significant milestone in the firm’s ongoing dedication to fostering the growth and success of future designers.

AJA has recognized the emerging professional’s desire to understand their career path. In 2018, the American Institute of Architects honored the firm with the Fostering Emerging Professionals Award. So much has changed since then. AJA has ramped up its entire approach to professional development to extend beyond its staff to the entire community.

“This recognition from the industry’s premier organization validates our mission and inspires us to continue nurturing the next generation of design leaders,” said Andrew Allison, a principal in the firm.

“Our program was built on the paradigm of ‘learn it, improve it, teach it,’ a philosophy instilled in me by my mentors,” he added. “We have always been committed to developing the skills of our team members, and started to think, why stop there? We decided to extend our program to local high school and college level students interested in the field of architecture, engineering, design, and construction management.”

The program encompasses various initiatives tailored to different stages of professional development:

High School Engagement: Through shadowing AJA helps expose high school students to the world of architecture and engineering, providing valuable insights into potential career paths and college options. This year, AJA has partnered with Hudson Valley Community College as a part of the Smart Scholars Early College High School Program.

“In this area, we’re fortunate to have high schools that have invested in robust programs such as the Smart Scholars ECHS program. To further engage our youth, we’re dedicated to providing them exposure to career opportunities,” Allison noted.

College Internships: AJA’s internship program offers college students hands-on experience aligned with their academic curriculum, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications within the firm. Students in design, architecture, engineering, and construction management from schools including Ithaca College, Penn State: College of Engineering, The University of Oregon: College of Design, Columbia University, Alfred State: College of Technology, and Hudson Valley Community College have interned, and some turned into full-time employees.

The Academy For Lifelong Learning Provides Educational Opportunities For Adult Students

May 13, 2024

Storyteller Kevin Keraga regales a class of adult learners with a gripping tale at the Academy for Lifelong Learning in Saratoga Spring.
Jeff Shinaman Photo

By Christine Graf

Founded in 1992, the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is an independent, self-funded non-profit that offers a wide variety of learning opportunities to people of all ages. One of more than 400 Lifelong Learning Institutes in North America, ALL is affiliated with Road Scholar Institute Network.

A membership-based organization, ALL charges an annual membership fee of $75. Members pay an additional $50 to take one of the many six-week courses that are offered during the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Membership is open to people of all ages, but because the classes take place during business hours on weekdays, the majority are retired.

“We provide educational and social activities for mature learners, and most of our members are retired seniors,” said ALL Executive Director Jeff Shinaman.

Although many of ALL’s 350 active members live in Saratoga County, the academy has members from throughout the Capital Region. Courses take place at numerous locations including SUNY Adirondack, the Saratoga Senior Center, senior residential communities, and local churches and libraries.