Saratoga Business Journal

'Hands For Hope' Give Casino Employees Opportunities For Local Community Service

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Saratoga Casino Hotel has unveiled a new community service, company-wide initiative, Hands For Hope, that provides opportunities for employees to get involved with hands-on volunteer projects and community causes in the communities where they live.

“Hands For Hope represents all the things we do in the community,” said Tom Wiedmayer, general manager at Saratoga Casino Hotel, formerly known as Saratoga Casino and Raceway until a rebranding announced at the end of April.

“From support for the personal causes of our team members, to our annual charitable donations made to local organizations, to the thousands of hours volunteered by our team members in their communities, Hands For Hope brings these things together and represents our belief in the importance of supporting the communities where we live and work,” he said.

In 2015, the facility donated over $240,000 to charities across the Capital Region. More than $2.5 million in monetary, sponsorship and in-kind donations has been made since the facility first opened in 2004.

Joan Johnsen Receives Empire State College Foundation Award For Professional Excellence

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

President Merodie Hancock and Alec Meiklejohn presented Joan Johnsen, center, with the 2016 Empire State College Foundation for Excellence Award in Professional Service.

Courtesy Empire State College

Joan Johnsen, director of academic review for the Northeast region of SUNY Empire State College,has received the Empire State College Foundation Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Johnsen received her award at the annual All College Conference held in Saratoga Springs at the end of March.

In announcing the award, last year’s recipient Alec Meiklejohn said Johnsen “has worn many hats in the past 10 years at the college and actively participates in a number of collegewide initiatives and committees outside the scope of her own work. With great attention to detail and a deep knowledge of college policies, she excels in her service to students and works with her colleagues across the college.”

“President Hancock told me she could feel my heart beating,” said Johnsen, upon receiving the award. “It is the students that inspire my work. I feel that it is the students who do the hardest work.”

Personnel Briefs: May 2016

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

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Ballston Spa National Bank announced that Kathleen Fialkowski, business development officer, received the 2016 Summit Employee of the Year award.

Fialkowski was recognized for her exceptional dedication to customer service and the bank’s core values of teamwork, respect, accountability, integrity and leadership, bank officials said.

Fialkowski joined BSNB in 2014 as a branch manager in Burnt Hills. She was promoted later that year to business development officer, which is her current position.

The following monthly Summit Award winners were also recognized for their contributions and commitment to the bank’s customer service objectives: Christine Kernochan, Chris Rowland, Joanna Simard, Matthew Howard, Lydia Griffiths, Bethany Russell, June Lane and Noelle Kahler.

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Lou Izzo was named president of the Select Sotheby’s International Realty franchise in Saratoga Springs.

Izzo joined the firm as co-owner and real estate broker. He has more than 25 years of experience in real estate, including serving as president of HUNT Real Estate ERA in Buffalo. He is also CEO of Real Estate Leadership, an international consulting firm.

The company also announced director of operations Andrea Demoracski was promoted to vice president.

'Maestro's At McGregor' Is Now Open To The Public At Well-Known Wilton Golf Club

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

This is part of the dining area at Maestro’s at the McGregor at McGregor Links in Wilton.

Courtesy Maestro’s at McGregor

Maestro’s, a former downtown Saratoga Springs bistro housed in the Rip Van Dam building on Broadway, re-opened in the newly refurbished clubhouse at McGregor Links Country Club.

Formerly known as Maestro’s at the Van Dam, the restaurant has been renamed Maestro’s at McGregor.

In 2014, Bill Donovan and business partner Nick Adie started Symphony Catering to meet requests of patrons who were looking for catering and planning services for parties and events.

Donovan said he was not planning on reopening Maestro’s, but when McGregor Links became a viable option as the new home of Symphony Catering it made sense to consider operating a restaurant out of the clubhouse.

Renovations started in January. The restaurant had a soft opening for McGregor members in early April.

The restaurant is now open to the public seven days a week, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m.

Skidmore College Will Lead Teaching/Learning Collaboration Involving Three Other Colleges

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Skidmore College will lead an innovative collaboration on teaching and learning with on-campus museums through a joint exhibition with Colgate University, Hamilton College, and the University at Albany made possible by a three-year, $222,500 grant from the Teagle Foundation.

Project director Mimi Hellman, associate professor and chair of Skidmore College’s Art History Department, will lead this initiative by guiding museum staff and faculty members across disciplines at each institution in the development of courses, assignments, and curriculum that consider how subject matter, medium, authorship, physical and institutional setting, display and labeling strategies, audience, and museum programming shape learning experiences.

Officials said the catalyst for the development of new pedagogical modalities will be This Place, an exhibition of more than 600 images by 12 internationally acclaimed photographers that explores the rifts and paradoxes of the highly contested spaces of Israel and the West Bank.

This Place will be on exhibit simultaneously during the spring 2018 semester at the museums at each of the four participating colleges. In addition to the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, the institutions are the Picker Art Gallery at Colgate University, the Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College, and the University Art Museum at the University at Albany.

“Skidmore College and the Tang Teaching Museum have been national leaders in museum-based interdisciplinary undergraduate education,” Hellman said. “We now have the opportunity to do something that I don’t think has been done before: four institutions of varying types and experiences with museum practices will interrogate an art exhibition together and separately, break new ground in curriculum and course development, and discover new best practices that can be shared and replicated to enhance undergraduate education nationally and beyond.”

County Job Retention Initiative Unveiled By Two Chambers, Saratoga Prosperity Partnership

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, speaks from a podium at Shmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park where the Business First Saratoga initiative was announced.

Courtesy Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, along with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, announced on March 29 the details of their new Saratoga County business retention and expansion initiative they have dubbed Business First Saratoga.

Through problem-solving and advocacy, Business First Saratoga serves local business owners by developing relationships to better understand the opportunities and challenges of doing businesses in our region, the three organizations said in a news release. Some areas that this program can assist businesses with are workforce development, financing, international markets access, government regulations, resources for small businesses, and utilities.

“When people think of economic development, they often think about the big attraction projects. While that’s incredibly important, we also need to pay attention to the businesses that are already here in Saratoga County, whether they’ve been here for a year or are a multi-generational business,” said Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “A program like Business First Saratoga is an organized and deliberate way to build the foundation for our region’s future growth.”

The Partnership first outlined its intention to launch a business retention and expansion initiative in its two-year economic development plan, the Saratoga Strategy, released in December. In that plan, the Partnership also identified potential partners for the initiative and has since undergone training with both the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.

“Our Chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve our participation in the Business First Saratoga initiative because we believe in pulling out all of the stops to help local employers to succeed, grow and thrive,” said Todd L. Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

“We believe working together with our partners in this venture and other organizations that might join us in the future will help us to open more doors and to close more deals creating more jobs and investment in Saratoga County.” he said. “To win in economic development these days, you must first win by helping existing local employers to take advantage of new opportunities or to overcome challenges individually and collectively and that’s what this initiative promises to do.”

Gov. Cuomo Signs Law Boosting Minimum Wage, Establishing 12-Week Paid Family Leave

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

The newly approved New York state budget includes a minimum wage increase that is the result of several compromises.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on April 4 signed legislation enacting a statewide $15 minimum wage plan and a 12-week paid family leave policy.

For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage would rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2018.

For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage would rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2019.

SEDC 'Advance Saratoga' Plan Has Target Of Creating 9,000 Jobs, Expanding The Economy

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

By R.J. DeLuke

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) has launched Advance Saratoga, a five-year action plan that continues to accelerate economic growth in our county.

Advance Saratoga, SEDC said in a statement, “is our private-sector-driven plan for continuing to accelerate economic growth in Saratoga County.” It is a five-year plan with a budget of $3.5 million for which the agency is raising funds to support the effort.

A kickoff reception was held April 6 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.

“In putting together the Advance Saratoga initiative, we first looked back at the economic development success stories that helped make Saratoga County the hub of activity it is today,” said SEDC President Dennis Brobston. “You tally up the numbers and see that SEDC has played a role in the creation of more than 17,500 jobs. Projects we’ve been involved in generate over $34 million in tax revenues every year. And the cumulative investment of these projects total more than $13 billion.

“That’s the environment Advance Saratoga comes out of. But this is about more than our rich past. It’s about the future of Saratoga County. This is the private-sector plan that takes our economic development success and elevates it to the next level.”

SEDC projects it could generate 9,460 new direct and indirect jobs, $352 million in new payroll and more than $15 billion in capital investment.

“Through our Advance Saratoga initiative, we are asking private-sector SEDC members to commit to continuing their investment, taking our economic development efforts to the next level,” the agency said.

“Since our founding in 1978, SEDC has positioned Saratoga County as an ideal place to grow a business, invest in the future and create jobs. In that time, SEDC has assisted with more than 200 successful business attraction, retention and expansion projects, accounting for more than 17,000 new jobs, millions of dollars in annual tax revenue and $12 billion in business investments.”

SEDC said its plan is targeted to five industry sectors “that have proven track records of success in our region and/or complement existing businesses. These success stories — combined with SEDC’s worldwide relationships, bold new marketing strategies and tactics, and the financial and intellectual capital of our private-sector partners — will ensure that Saratoga County remains a premier destination to invest and grow a business for years to come.”

The agency said the aim of Advance Saratoga is to aggressively sell Saratoga County’s world-class assets with a new, highly targeted marketing campaign; accelerate highly strategic and targeted job creation and retention program to generate the highest possible return on investment; and build and strengthen Saratoga County’s capacity to expand economic opportunity.

Targeted industries are semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain, light manufacturing, corporate headquarters and warehousing/distribution.

SEDC said those sectors “will be made vividly aware of our many advantages: a highly educated and skilled workforce, build-ready real estate, in-place infrastructure and competitive incentives.”

Chamber of Southern Saratoga County Hands Out Awards, Reviews Its 2015 Achievements

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

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Three generations of DeCrescentes receive the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County’s Angel Award from new Chamber board chairman Josh Spain and Chamber CEO Pete Bardunias.Courtesy Chamber of Southern Saratoga County

The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County (CSSC) highlighted achievements and presented awards at its annual dinner on March 31 at the Hall of Springs at Gideon Putnam Resort, attended by 326 people.

“I’m honored to be the chairman this year,” said Josh Spain of Momentive Performance Materials. “With our great staff, dedicated volunteers and a diverse membership, it’s easy to see why this chamber is accomplishing so much.”

Pete Bardunias, celebrating five years as president and CEO, said, “We’ve made many things happen together as a community and what’s fueled our growth has been the generous financial support of our major partners and sponsors as well as the dedicated and active involvement of every member of this chamber.”

Bardunias said the past five years have seen membership jump 15 percent, from 927 members to 1066, making it the third largest chamber of commerce in the Capital Region and among the largest in New York state. During that time span, the chamber’s revenue has grown 25 percent, reversing negative trends and reeling off a four-year streak of finishing “in the black.”

He said the money has been reinvested, allowing for projects such as maintaining historic Lock 19 in Vischer Ferry, work at the Brookside Museum, the creation of the three Community Business Alliances and more.”

Eight awards were given out to members.

New Mexican Restaurant, Blue Agave, Occupies Space Near Race Track That Was Once Leon's

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

By Maureen Werther

Blue Agave Cantina opened in mid-March at 135 Crescent Ave., the site of the former Leon’s Restaurant.

Brad Smith is the new owner and Patrick Longton is the chef.

Native Saratogian Smith received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his master’s degree from UNLV School of Hospitality. His credentials include managing some restaurants in Las Vegas, including Wynn, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grille and three of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants.

In 2011, Smith returned to Saratoga and worked for DZ Restaurants for a period of time, before becoming part owner in 2014 of the Mexican Connection. Blue Agave is his latest culinary adventure. He said he is excited about his collaboration with Longton.

Longton has an American/French culinary background, but when he and Smith got together to talk about Blue Agave, “It was like two musicians jamming and feeding off each other’s passions,” said Smith. The menu is “kind of like Bobby Flay meets Rick Bayless.”