By Stephen Ferraro Business owners who are considering how and when they will cash in the shares of their privately-held stock are often curious about whether or not an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) can be of assistance in helping them reach their goals. Although there are many details to ESOPs that need to...
CEO Of nfrastructure Hopes Concerted Effort Can Improve The Health Of Area Residents
Courtesy American Heart Association
As chairman of the Capital Region Heart Ball on Feb. 25, Dan Pickett, CEO of nfrastructure in Clifton Park, is bringing together organizations and businesses to help improve the health of Capital Region residents.
“The American Heart Association is one of the most impactful of its type in our community,” Pickett said. “One of the foci of the Pickett Family Foundation is health care. I’m also a director at Albany Medical Center, which now has an affiliate agreement with Saratoga Hospital and Columbia Memorial Health. Chairing the Heart Ball puts a lot of our philanthropy into one area—health care.”
The Capital Region Heart Ball is set for Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs. Pickett said he plans to highlight the work of area hospitals, their leaders and the American Heart Association at the Capital Region Heart Ball.
The Center For Occupational Health Helps Companies Monitor Health And Safety Issues
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
The greatest asset a business has is its people. Keeping both workers and the workplace healthy and safe directly impacts a company’s bottom line and more.
The Center for Occupational Health (COH), a service of Glens Falls Hospital, helps businesses throughout the region maintain quality workplace health care. Last year, COH served 31,000 individuals and 2,000 companies from its locations in Queensbury, Wilton, and at individual company sites, said COH director Cathy Reichen, PT, DPT.
“Companies want to make sure that new hires are fit and capable of doing the work they are being asked to do,” Reichen said. “Injuries hit the bottom line with increased workers comp costs, lack of work, and decreased productivity.”
Saratoga County Chamber Of Commerce To Sponsor Wellness Week From January 17 to 23
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jill Nagy
“We want to make sure that Saratoga County is one of the healthiest places to live,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, announcing the chamber’s third annual Health and Wellness Week, Jan. 17-22.
The county is already ranked by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as the healthiest place to live in New York state, up in the ranking from number 5 three years ago, he said.
During the week, businesses in the county will introduce the community to activities and resources to help them meet fitness goals for the New Year. All events are free but most require prior registration.
‘Work Force Strong’ Program Helps Employees, Employers Deal With Health, Fitness Issues
Courtesy Work Force Strong
By Liz Witbeck
A good business owner knows how essential it is to keep employees healthy and motivated in the workplace. Recently, Travis Gil and his team at Fitness Artist, launched a new program to help other companies do just that.
Gil is the owner of Fitness Artist, a personal training studio. The program integrates highly customized, one-on-one sessions or “exclusive” small group classes to help clients achieve their goals. He founded Fitness Artist in 2010. He has three locations: Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park and Loudonville.
He saw opportunity to grow his business and help supply a fitness and injury prevention program to other businesses, which inspired him to launch Work Force Strong. It is a corporate wellness program designed to increase productivity and decrease injuries.
CEO Of nfrastructure Hopes Concerted Effort Can Improve The Health Of Area Residents
As chairman of the Capital Region Heart Ball on Feb. 25, Dan Pickett, CEO of nfrastructure in Clifton Park, is bringing together organizations and businesses to help improve the health of Capital Region residents. “The American Heart Association is one of the most impactful of its type in our community,” Pickett said. “One of...
Event Offers Tours Of Area Wedding Facilities
The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is launching an event called Tie the Knot in ‘Toga, a Destination Wedding Weekend Event.
The inaugural event will take place Jan. 27-29
Officials hope it will attract engaged couples, bridal parties, destination wedding planners and industry media to Saratoga Springs from throughout New York and New England, the New York City metro area, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and neighboring areas.
It kicks off with an event Friday night at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, featuring DJ Trumastr, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an interactive fashion show.
Business Briefs January 2017
Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. partnered with the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group on a grant application for funding to assist low-income homeowners.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced a $720,000 grant for the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group, which will go toward the Allen Drive Preservation Project.
Saratoga National submitted the grant application on behalf of the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group. Each application must be sponsored by a member in partnership with a community-based organization.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is one of 12 regional banks that comprise the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Together, they have distributed more than $5.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds since the first awards were granted in 1990.
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Saratoga Hospital has again earned an A for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, ranking among the safest hospitals in the U.S.
A national patient safety watchdog, the group recently released its Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. For fall 2016, Saratoga Hospital was one of 844 hospitals nationwide—and just 15 in New York state—to receive the highest ranking of A.
Economic Outlook 2017 – Barry Potoker
By Barry Potoker
The real estate market has seen a steady and solid activity pace over the last 12-plus months, including an especially renewed upturn in new home construction.
The Saratoga Builders Association is coming off one of its most spectacular Showcase of Homes event this past fall. The event had 19 new properties on display in Saratoga County, with nearly 4,000 visitors touring them. Those are very healthy business and consumer signals.
The 16 award-winning builders (and we have some of the most talented in the nation) were thrilled and optimistic with the enthusiasm in their new construction and developments. In fact, the show generated significant new home sales, lot holds and interested new home buyers.
Economic Outlook 2017 – Mark Shaw
By Mark Shaw
It is coming. The last three years have lead up to this revolution. Microsoft started this years ago with the “to the cloud” commercials.
Now here we are. The OpEx (Operating Expense) Cloud-based revolution is here. The outlook for 2017 is “cloudy” and that is perfectly clear.
Yes, we are talking about the cloud again. The cloud has been on the forethought of people’s minds and our yearly outlook for the past two years. 2017 is the year of the cloud.
Why do we think this? Because the solutions are now cost effective, robust, and make business sense. They have caught up with demand and the local internet service has been boosted as prices fall and speeds increase. It is the old DVD analogy, 15 years ago a DVD player was thousands of dollars and today it’s a $30 expense. The same has happened in the last few years to the cloud.