Saratoga Business Journal

NY Yankee World Series Heroes Among Those Appearing At All-Star Sports Fest On Sept. 23

August 3, 2017

Saratoga Casino Hotel has announced they will be hosting the All-Star Sports Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23. The casino will welcome nearly a dozen professional athletes on the property for a day of fun while raising money for the Ronald McDonald Charities of the Capital Region.

Athletes confirmed to be in attendance include: Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Wade Boggs, Jose Canseco, Lawrence Taylor, Craig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, Otis Anderson, Ron Turcotte, Jean Cruget and Steve Cauthen.

“We are honored to be part of what will be an incredible event and experience for our community,” said Jeff Yule, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Albany. “The money raised will directly benefit our families by keeping them together, and providing for all their needs, as their child battles a life-threatening situation.”

“I look forward to getting together with some of my former teammates and visiting with our fans from upstate New York,” said former New York Yankee world champion Jackson, dubbed Mr. October for his World Series heroics.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a ticketed VIP Brunch in Vapor. Tickets are $60 and there is limited space available to the public. During the brunch, guests will be treated to a Question & Answer session with the celebrity athletes, hosted by News Channel 13’s Chris Onorato.

Hudson Headwaters Agency Hires Chief Administrative Officer, Fills Two Other Posts

August 3, 2017

Dominick Bizzaro takes over as president and chief administrative officer on Aug. 1.
Courtesy Hudson Headwaters

Hudson Headwaters Health Network, based in Queensbury, has hired Dominick Bizzaro as president and chief administrative officer.

One of his initial duties will be developing a new “population health division,” which will use data analysis to guide case management and track overall quality of care, officials said.

He will begin Aug. 1.

Bizzaro will work in collaboration with Dr. Tucker Slingerland, a current Hudson Headwaters executive who takes over as chief executive officer on July 1.

Founder and longtime CEO Dr. John Rugge begins a new role on July 1 as executive chairman, as part of the transition to his eventual retirement.

Bizzaro has more than 35 years of experience in health care, currently as executive vice president for business development and informatics at MVP Health Care, a Schenectady-based health insurance company.

The group also announced that Dr. John Sawyer was named chief medical officer and Chris Tournier was named executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer. These appointments are in concert with the Network’s recent strategic planning initiatives.

Saratoga Casino And Capital Fund Of Saratoga County Work To Keep Horse Show In Town

August 3, 2017

The Capital Fund of Saratoga County Inc. and Saratoga Casino Hotel are working to keep the Saratoga Springs Horse Show in Saratoga Springs.

Pending a definitive binding agreement, the three-week show will take place in May 2018 at Saratoga Casino Hotel, officials said.

Going back to 1961, the Saratoga Springs horse show has been a long-standing tradition with equine fans and attended by some of the top equestrian talent in the Northeast.

“Partnering with Saratoga Casino Hotel will benefit all parties involved, including the city of Saratoga Springs,” said Tom Fueston, president of the Capital Fund of Saratoga County. “Our competitors have expressed a desire to keep the show within close proximity to downtown Saratoga, and our plan will accomplish that.”

“We are thrilled to play a part in this project and we look forward to keeping this long running tradition alive in Saratoga Springs,” said Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs and signature service at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Law Allows Farm Distilleries To Sell Alcohol Products For On-Premises Consumption

August 3, 2017

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in July signed legislation to allow farm distilleries to sell New York state-labelled beer, wine, and cider for consumption on-premises.

“This measure restores parity for New York’s burgeoning craft beverage industry and allows for new revenue streams and exposure for the great brewers, distillers, and wine and cider makers all across this great state,” Cuomo said. “As I’ve said many times, when New Yorkers buy New York-made products, everybody wins.”

Prior to the bill being signed into law, farm distilleries could only sell New York state-labelled spirits for on-premises consumption. Meanwhile, farm breweries, farm cideries and farm wineries all are permitted to sell New York state-labelled beers, wines, spirits and ciders for on-premises consumption.

This new law will amend section 61 of the alcoholic beverage control law to allow farm distilleries to sell New York state-labelled beer, wine and cider for on-premises consumption, effective immediately.

Expanded Entryway At Local Funeral Home Adds To Customer Convenience At Facility

August 3, 2017

Officials attended a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony held to mark the expansion of the entryway and greeting area at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home in Ballston Lake.

By Maureen Werther

Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home, a long-time, family owned and operated business at 21 Midline Road in Ballston Lake, has completed an expansion to its entryway and greeting area.

Director Kathleen Lowes Sanvidge purchased the business and property from brothers Harold and Frank Townley four years ago and recently received her certification from the state as a certified woman-owned business, the only female funeral director in the state to hold this designation.

Her decision to expand upon the existing structure was motivated by a desire to add to the comfort of her clients. It is the second expansion Sanvidge has made since purchasing the business and she is planning additional updates and renovations.

“We’ve expanded the front porch and added a much-needed covered entryway that people can pull up to in their cars. They can also be sheltered by the roofed-in porch,” said Lowes Sanvidge.

Business Report: Plan Early, Communicate Often

August 3, 2017

David L. Cumming, senior vice president, financial advisor with Morgan Stanley.
Courtesy Morgan Stanley

By David L. Cumming

As the Baby Boom generation continues its march to retirement, a significant number of entrepreneurs will soon begin the process of transitioning family businesses to the next generation.

If you are about to embark on this journey, here are some of the potential pitfalls to avoid.

According to the 2016 U.S. Family Business Survey conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers, only about 43 percent of private businesses have done any exit planning whatsoever. Failure to execute a business transition may lead to multiple negative outcomes, including:

1. Breakdown of communication and trust within the family unit;

2. Inadequately prepared heirs and absence of a clear vision or mission to align family members;

3. Failure by advisors to properly address taxation, governance and wealth preservation issues.

With success riding largely on a family’s ability to communicate and to clearly articulate a plan for the future, the following guidelines may help to ease the business transition process.

Get the process started years before the actual transition occurs. Some experts recommend building an exit/transition strategy into the initial business plan. As part of the planning process, business owners should create:

Senior Center Keeps People Busy With Daily Activities And Volunteer Opportunities

August 3, 2017

Exercise classes are among the many programs offered daily and weekly for people age 50 and up at the Saratoga Senior Citizens Center on William Street.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy

“It sure is a busy place,” said Kate Bunster, marketing director of the Saratoga Springs Adult and Senior Center at 5 William St. in Saratoga Springs.

With 100 to 150 people coming by on a typical day, the center offers a wide variety of activities for people over the age of 50, both for participating and volunteering.

“The social part is the biggest piece,” she said. For seniors who feel isolated or feel the need to make new friends, the center “creates a space to go during the day.”

A new program, for example, called Super Social Fridays, began in January. The program every Friday might feature a speaker like local author Richard Cerasani, who wrote a book about Mount Rushmore, or even a showcase for dancing dogs. Other programs are centered on craft projects.

For card players, the center hosts canasta, bridge, rummy and mah jhong games. There is also a pool table. Fitness activities include yoga, Zumba, tai chi, aerobics, and strength training. Groups also meet to crochet, knit or hook rugs.

Community Connect helps people find volunteer activities in the community or at the center. It trains volunteers to provide assistance to seniors in Saratoga County. Its mission is to help seniors maintain an independent lifestyle.

Senior Housing Community In Ballston Spa Envisions Having 83 Townhouse-Style Units

August 3, 2017

This rendering depicts what the proposed senior housing community on Hutchins Road would look like. The townhomes would have two bedrooms and two baths on a single floor.
Courtesy Malta Development Inc.

By Jill Nagy

Malta Development Co. is planning an 83-unit senior housing community on Hutchins Road in Ballston Spa.

Developer Tom Samascott hopes for approval in August and said construction would begin in the spring.

He described the project as townhouse-style rental units, each of them with two bedrooms and two baths on a single floor. He anticipates rents of $1,700 to $1,800 a month.

The buildings will have vinyl siding and asphalt shingle roofs. Amenities will include pocket parks with garden beds and a dog park. There are no plans for a fitness center, community room or similar facilities.

Father-Daughter Partnership Is Operating Studio A Landscape And Planning In Saratoga

August 3, 2017

Jeff Anthony and his daughter, Kirsten Catellier own Studio A Landscape and Planning.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

It’s probably not just the 42 years of being a successful architect that defines Jeff Anthony’s career.

The business he is building with his daughter encompasses his love of nature, his daughter Kirsten Catellier’s inherited talents and a respect for combining architecture with the natural landscape that defines the North Country. It is an art that Anthony and Catellier take seriously, and their growing Saratoga Springs-based firm Studio A Landscape and Planning is proof of it.

Studio A is a multi-disciplinary landscape architecture and environmental planning firm, been providing design services to both public and private clients. Studio A works to create low-impact design solutions, using the site’s natural resources and the clients’ goals and objectives, the owners say.

Over the past the six months the business has been growing at a rapid pace. Catellier credits much of the success to the relationship she and her father have, both professionally and personally.

“It is amazing working with my dad. It has been a goal of mine for many years. He is not only a wealth of information, but he really understands how to explain information and teach me the ropes. He’s very patient and understanding. I think we make a really good team. He is seasoned and I’m still learning, so we both bring to the table a variety of traits and information. Every day is fun too, it doesn’t feel like we are at work,” said Catellier.

Catellier graduated from Bolton Central School and then moved on to receive her Bachelors of Landscape Architecture degree from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, where her father also received a degree in landscape architecture.

Local Salon, Spa Joins ‘Green’ Network That Seeks To Reduce Its Environmental Impact

August 3, 2017

Nurture green salon & spa, in Saratoga Springs is a green circle-certified salon.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

Nurture green salon & spa, a newly green circle-certified salon, is now part of a comprehensive recycling and sustainability program that sets out to significantly reduce the industry’s impact on the environment.

From the sourcing of ingredients, to the disposal of packaging and products, the salon and beauty industry has long posed many challenges to the environment, Nurture officials said.

The business is located at 182 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

According to the company, 63,180 pounds of hair clippings, 42,122 pounds of hair color, 109,512 pounds of foil and color tubes, and 206, 392 pounds of wastepaper, salon bottles, and other paper and plastic items are being tossed out by hair salons across North America every single day.

“With this in mind, we wanted to join forces with Green Circle to take a stand for our planet and work together to reduce our ecological footprint and make our industry more sustainable,” the company said in a news release. “Through our partnership with Green Circle Salons, we will be redirecting what was once considered garbage out of our water streams and landfills to be re-purposed into innovative green solutions.”

Since May 1, all hair clippings, extensions, any excess color and developer, papers and plastics, foils, aerosol cans and color tubes from Nurture will be collected by Green Circle Salons, effectively cutting down the salon’s total waste by 85-95 percent, the company said.

“As our customers continue to take increasing interest in the ethical and environmental impacts of their purchasing power, we wanted to give our customers a genuinely more responsible and greener choice when it comes to looking and feeling beautiful,” officials said.