Saratoga Business Journal

Adirondack Cruise & Charter Co. Gets New Boat; Will Expand Business On Saratoga Lake

May 5, 2017June 5, 2020

Hal Raven, owner of Adirondack Cruise & Charter Co., stands at the helm of a 50-foot boat he purchased that will help expand his business to include more offerings on Saratoga Lake.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Margaret MacDonald

Hal Raven of Adirondack Cruise & Charter Co. recently purchased a 50-foot boat that will assist in expanding his year-old business to include more offerings on Saratoga Lake.

A busy fall season—total of 806 people were brought on cruises— precipitated Raven’s looking for a bigger boat. He found one through a boat brokerage in Wisconsin.

Built by Paul Raasoch in 2003, the boat was previously used for cruises. It looks like a steamboat might have looked on Saratoga Lake in the early 1900s.

Purchased in February, he negotiated dockage at Saratoga Lake Marina, replaced the canopies, completely sanded and stripped it down.

The boat has a 28-passenger capacity. There is a small serving station and restaurant in back of the boat. An 11-foot beam and shallow draft allow the boat to travel with ease all the way to Fish Creek.

Partnering with lakeside restaurants like Lake Local, Dock Brown’s and Nostalgia will allow the boat to foster a more dynamic sense of community, available to everyone, he said. The restaurants will cater to coordinated themes before cruises depart from the sites.

SEDC Launches SPARK Saratoga Incubator Project At Sold-Out Event At Bowtie Cinemas

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp.’s (SEDC) launched its new startup incubator and early stage small business accelerator at an event on April 12 at Bow Tie Cinemas in Saratoga Springs attended by more than 250 people.

SEDC launched SPARK Saratoga in response to business professionals and entrepreneurs requests to make experienced business mentors available to accelerate early stage growth businesses.

“The mission of the incubator is to inspire, mentor and accelerate startups and early stage businesses through a proven mentor network model marshalled to support entrepreneurs by bringing them through an initial in-depth market opportunity and business gap analysis, and agreeing to an action plan,” the corporation said in a new release.

Access to financial funding networks will be potentially available as well, officials said. All ages and sectors of businesses can visit the web-based portal, www.SparkSaratoga.com, to learn more or submit an idea for evaluation.

Gala At Saratoga Polo Club Will Help Wesley Community’s Effort To Renovate Activities Room

May 5, 2017May 8, 2017

The Adirondack Trust Co. recently donated $10,500 to support fundraising efforts for the Wesley Community, dedicated to raising funds for the renovation of the resident activities room.
Courtesy the Wesley Foundation

The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, will host its annual gala at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club 6-10 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, 301 Church St., Saratoga Springs.

The theme of this year’s event is “Bond Style,” which will invite attendees to enjoy an evening filled with the style and suspense synonymous with the classic James Bond films.

Proceeds will support the renovation of the resident activities room at The Wesley Health Care Center. The residence caters to aging adults who may have significant, chronic medical needs requiring daily assistance. The room serves as a social hub for the residents, and provides a venue for performances, religious services and other social gatherings.

“The annual gala will be a fun, festive night to support a wonderful cause, and it will certainly make a difference for all the residents that call the Wesley Health Care Center home,” said Tom Roohan, honorary chairman of the gala, alongside his wife, Kristie.

“The Wesley Foundation continuously helps the many seniors who depend on the outstanding services available at the Wesley Health Care Center,” said Kristie Roohan. “We are honored to help organize the annual celebration, which will further assist The Wesley Community in meeting the needs of its residents who require daily care and support services.”

The presenting sponsor of this year’s gala is the Adirondack Trust Co. which recently presented a $10,500 donation to the Wesley Foundation in support of its 2017 special events, all of which are dedicated to raising funds for the renovation of the resident activities room.

“We are very pleased to support The Wesley Health Care Center and the outstanding service they provide to their residents,” said Charles V. Wait, Jr., executive vice president of Adirondack Trust. “We are equally pleased to once again serve as the primary sponsor for this year’s gala that raises critically needed funding for the development of the resident activities room. This room enriches the lives of the residents and also provides them with an important social area as well.”

Business Report: Develop Into Being A Good Manager

May 5, 2017April 5, 2022

Rose Miller is president of Pinnacle Human Resources LLC. Courtesy Pinnacle Human Resources LLC

By Rose Miller

Congratulations. You’ve been promoted to a management role. It’s a big job with important responsibilities. But wait. Just how much do you know about being a good manager?

I remember what my wise dad told me. He was an amazing carpenter, who said he was only as good as his tools. Do you have the right tools to manage others? Here’s a little test. How many statements are true?

Your success as a supervisor depends more on your technical knowledge than on people skills. You should delegate only tasks you don’t have time to do yourself. To get the best results, promote competition rather than teamwork.

All those statements are false. Management by definition is the ability to get things done through the efforts of others. A good manager does this by empowering and motivating others. They lead teams to work together towards a common goal.

Here are seven basic tips that can help you make the successful transition from employee to manager:

1. Empower employees to feel they are responsible for their own performance.

2. Use an employee’s personal drivers to fuel their achievement.

3. Delegate to promote employee growth and responsibility.

Adirondack Trust Co. Honored For Offering Financial Literacy Courses To Area Students

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

Liza Rucinski and Rob Ward of Adirondack Trust Co. pose at the Nasdaq Marketsite.
Courtesy Adirondack Trust Co.

The Adirondack Trust Co. was honored at the third annual Financial Capability Innovation Awards presented by a leading technology innovator, EverFi Inc.

Presented at Nasdaq Marketsite in New York City, the award recognizes the company’s “significant efforts to improve the financial capability of local teenagers through unique online learning initiatives,” officials said in a new release.

Adirondack Trust has partnered with EverFi to bring the EverFi and Vault Financial Literacy Courses to local students at no cost to schools or taxpayers and has reached over 2,000 students since the 2014-2015 school year. The web-based program uses the latest in simulation and gaming technologies to bring complex financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation, officials said.

Charles V. Wait Jr., bank executive vice president, said the company “is honored to receive the Financial Capability Innovation Award from EverFi and Nasdaq. As a community bank, we feel it is important to encourage students in our local communities to learn about financial education and we are proud to be able to provide it through the EverFi program.”

He said he is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the increasingly complex financial world.

“Each year, we travel to the birthplace of the American financial system to honor institutions that are truly dedicated to going above and beyond in service to their communities,” said Ray Martinez, EverFi President of Financial Education. “The Financial Capability Innovation Awards have given us the opportunity to share and celebrate the tremendous investment these institutions are making and continue to make in the communities where they live, work, and serve. For EverFi, our time here reminds us just how critical the role innovation continues to play in empowering Americans to pursue economic opportunity and achieve financial security for themselves, their families, and their community.”

Academy For Lifelong Learning Continues To Educate, Inform, Entertain Some 25 Years Later

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

Jeff Shinaman, executive director of the Academy for Lifelong Learning, says there are 430 active members who take advantage of the many study groups and social events on the ALL calendar.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL)at SUNY Empire State College is celebrating its 25th year in existence. It continues to attract more members and expand its offerings each year.

Jeff Shinaman, who has been at the helm for the last four years, said that membership has doubled during his tenure.

“We have a growing aging population here in Saratoga. People who come here from other parts of the country are familiar with lifelong-learning institutions from other places where they’ve lived. So, they are excited when they see that it is available in their new home,” he said.

ALL is hosted and sponsored by SUNY Empire State College and is a nonprofit organization. It offers a non-academic credit curriculum that includes lectures, study groups and social opportunities focused on a diverse range of topics from healthy aging to the arts, religion, classic films and bird watching.

It has 430 active members who pay an annual membership fee to take advantage of the many study groups and social events on the calendar.

ALL offers a fall and spring term. Each is eight weeks in duration. There is also a kickoff luncheon held the week before classes start, giving members the opportunity to meet.

Construction At Hattie’s Patio Is Complete; New Look Fashioned By Sue Waldron Designs

May 5, 2017May 15, 2018

The popular patio bar in the rear section of Hattie’s Restaurant was renovated this spring.
Courtesy Hattie’s

Hattie’s Restaurant has finished construction of its renovated patio and re-opened it on May 3.

Owners Jason and Beth Alexander decided it was time for the back patio to get a face-lift.

“The swamp, as some lovingly call the patio, was in much need of some TLC,” said Beth. The bar was built years ago by former owner Colin MacLean by using banquet tables as a bar top. “It was a great idea and it has served us well, but it was time for a change”

With construction going on around them—including renovations at the neighboring Caffe Lena and construction of apartments at the corner of Phila and Henry streets—the Alexanders decided that the time was right to upgrade their back yard.

They hired long-time customer Matt Geleta to build the bar, past Hattie’s employee Sue Waldron of Sue Waldron Designs to work on the design and Patrick Coffey of IQ contracting as the contractor.

Witt Construction To Build 31 Homes On Acreage That Provide Views Of Saratoga Lake

May 5, 2017May 8, 2017

The light sections of this aerial-wiew rendition shows where Witt Construction plans to build new homes near Saratoga Lake. Much of the 111-acre property will remain undeveloped.
Courtesy Witt Construction

By Jill Nagy

Witt Construction Inc. in Saratoga Springs is planning a 32-lot housing subdivision on a about 111 acres of land on Saratoga Lake.

Termed a “conservation subdivision” by John Witt, company president, it will be comprised of 31 new houses clustered on 58 acres of the lot.

A pre-existing farmhouse and land for a “gentleman’s farm” will be the 32nd lot. He said. The rest of the land will be undisturbed woodland, open space or wetlands.

Called Cedar Bluff Farm, the subdivision will be accessible from Route 9P via Cedar Bluff Road (County Route 71) and from Trombley Road. Most of the houses will be on Hill Road, which ends in a cul-de-sac, and on Trombley Road, said Witt.

Cedar Bluff Road connects Route 9P and Trombley Road.

Structural Steel Contractors Need A Growing Labor Force To Meet The Demands In Their Industry

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

Dino B. Benedict is the New York business manager for Midwest Steel and Erika Ozols, project management administrator, pose at the company’s Ballston Spa site.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell

The structural steel contracting industry is going so strong that one area professional foresees excellent employment opportunities for skilled ironworkers in the next few years.

Dino B. Benedict is the New York business manager for Midwest Steel. Headquartered in Detroit, the firm also has offices in Muncie, Ind., Orlando, Fla., and Ballston Spa.

In Saratoga County, it’s common to see a bridge, stadium, airport or other structures where Midwest Steel played a role in steel construction, precast concrete, or both.

“It is not typical in the industry for a company that erects the steel skeleton of a building to also form the concrete slabs that enclose that skeleton,” said Benedict.

Benedict said that some local projects include Samaritan Hospital, Rivers Casino, the ZEN building at SUNY Polytech, and GlobalFoundries. Business growth is so healthy in New York and the New England states that he predicts a shortage of welders, steel workers and other qualified laborers soon.

“It is a great time for young people out of high school to contact local unions about apprenticeship programs,” he said.

Whenever Midwest Steel takes on a project in the U.S. or Canada, the first step is for the project supervisor to meet with local union officials to discuss the scope of the project and manpower needs.

Rochester-Based Real Estate, Development Company Building Apartments On Route 67

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

This rendering shows the style of apartments planned by Conifer Real Estate, Development and Management Co. along Route 67 in the town of Ballston, near East Line Road.
Courtesy Conifer Realty

By Maureen Werther

Conifer Real Estate, Development and Management Co. based in Rochester in the early phases of building a new apartment community on 10 acres along Route 67 in the town of Ballston, near East Line Road.

Conifer Realty, which has developed residential communities and commercial properties in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania, purchased the property from Hal Schultz, formerly head of H.R. Schultz construction and local real estate developer. Schultz originally envisioned the land to be developed as both commercial and residential property. But he revised his plans, choosing to market it as a residential property.

The property was sold last July. Conifer broke ground in December.