By Paul Post

A multi-billion dollar company with assets from coast to coast and the Caribbean is pursuing plans to expand and move to the former Fingerpaint building at 395 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

 Based at 85 Railroad Place since 2013, Prime Group Holdings purchased the building from Fingerpaint marketing firm owner Ed Mitzen for $11 million in late June.

 The company has $5 billion in total assets and is one of the largest private owners of self-storage units, totaling more than 22 million square feet in 28 states and the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix.

 “Prime Group is proud to be a longstanding member of the Saratoga Springs community and we look forward to expanding our operations in downtown Saratoga as our business continues to grow following the (2022) close of our third flagship self-storage fund,” said Robert Moser, company founder, principal and chief executive officer.

 The company website says Prime Storage Fund III, its largest commingled private equity fund, is the largest self-storage real estate fund ever raised by a vertically integrated owner-operator.

 Plans call for adding two more stories to the two-story, red brick building at the southwest corner of Broadway and Division Street, increasing space from 25,000 to 45,000 square feet.

By Christine Graf

Goldfish Swim School has opened its second Capital Region location in North Country Commons at 1208 Route 146 in Clifton Park. 

Franchise owners Dan, Tim, Jim, and Brian Gilbride operate a total of 11 schools including one on Wolf Road in Colonie.  

Established in Michigan in 2009, Goldfish Swim School has more than 150 locations throughout the United States and Canada. They offer year-round swim lessons for children 4 months to 12 years, using a curriculum that was designed to teach swim and safety skills through guided play.

According to assistant general manager Caitlin Laviano, the Gilbride brothers opened their first location about five years ago after recognizing that there was a very high demand for quality year-round swim instruction. 

“We are a perpetual swim school which means we are year-round and that we are not session based. If someone books into a class, they book a day and time and they are in that indefinitely until their child goes up a level or until they decide to no longer take lessons with us,” she said.

Matthew Lucas, a senior sales executive with a background in business strategy, marketing, sales, and global management, has been named Skidmore College’s 10th Harder Professor of Business Administration. 

Lucas, who will begin at Skidmore in the fall semester, has held multiple senior leadership positions at leading corporations, including global vice president of consumer sales at Bose Corp., senior vice president at Samsung U.S., and senior vice president of sales at Coty Beauty U.S. 

In these and other roles, officials said he has demonstrated extensive experience developing and executing strategic sales and marketing initiatives, fostering long-term business relationships, and achieving market dominance in highly competitive environments.

“As a globally recognized senior sales executive, Matt comes with a rich track record in defining brand and unique competitive positioning, establishing innovative alliances across diverse channels, and driving strategies with multicultural high-performance teams,” said David Cohen, associate professor and chair of the Management and Business Department. 

“Part of what makes Matt such a valuable asset to Skidmore is his extensive experience in digital sales, where he utilizes the very latest digital tools and techniques to drive business growth and deliver superior consumer experience. Matt is also committed to our mission of providing a business education firmly rooted in Skidmore’s liberal arts curriculum.” 

 Earlier in his career, Lucas also served in various capacities at Novartis Consumer Health and Procter & Gamble. 

An electric supply company based in Vermont will purchase a building  in Saratoga Springs and convert into  a distribution hub as well as offices, keeping jobs in the area and creating future job opportunities.

Green Mountain Electric Supply Inc. had expressed the desire to purchase a 143,000-square-foot office and distribution center from SKS Bottle & Packaging Inc. at 10 Skyward Drive, off Geyser Road.

The company has filed an application with the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency seeking a tax incentive package that would help finance the transaction.

In late July, the IDA voted to award $1.56 million in tax incentives.  That includes $91,000 in sales tax exemptions, $105,000 in mortgage tax exemptions and $1.4 million in property tax exemptions over five years.

The company, a lighting, cable, alarm system and electrical parts distributor, will purchase a 22.3-acre complex that contains the building. The structure would be converted into a distribution hub that also would house the firm’s financial team.

Green Mountain was founded in 1953 and is in its third generation of ownership. Headquartered near Burlington, Vt., Green Mountain has rapidly expanded its presence across upstate New York, growing to 16 branches and two distribution centers. The company expanded into New York in 2008 through the acquisition of Glens Falls Electric Supply in Queensbury.

Hospitality and catering giant Mazzone Hospitality is undergoing a change in leadership, the company announced.

Officials said the strategic move comes as part of the company’s commitment to strengthening its position and delivering exceptional experiences to clients and guests. The team comprises three key executives who bring extensive expertise, innovation, and passion to their respective roles. 

Tim Vennard takes the helm of the company as vice president. He began his tenure with the company in 2009 when he was hired as chef manager at the PRIME Dining client, Price Chopper. Throughout the years, his dedication and innovative approach to business has earned him several promotions, the company said. Most recently, he held the position of vice president of PRIME Dining since 2015. 

Under Vennard’s leadership, the division has experienced growth, boasting a portfolio of 11 of the region’s largest employers. PRIME Dining grew to represent more than 50 percent of the company’s overall revenue. 

“I am truly honored and excited to take on the responsibility of leading the Mazzone Hospitality team. Carrying on the legacy that has been built over more than 40 years is an honor. I’m here because Angelo (Mazzone, company founder) took a chance on a young chef and mentored me every step of the way,” Vennard said. “I look forward to building upon Mazzone Hospitality’s strong foundation of providing great food, great service, and exceptional experiences for our clients and guests.”

Justine Ochal moves into the role of vice president of sales and client relations. She started as a busser at the age of 16. After pursuing her education, Ochal returned to the company and soon rose through the ranks to lead the Human Resources team.