Saratoga Business Journal

Saratoga Springs Man Is Named President Of Fenimore Asset Management Firm

November 7, 2022

Christian Snyder, J.D., CFA, was appointed president of Fenimore Asset Management.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

Christian Snyder of Saratoga Springs, J.D., CFA, has been appointed president of Fenimore Asset Management, an independent, Capital Region-based investment advisory firm and manager of the FAM Funds family of mutual funds.

He succeeds Debra Pollard who is retiring from Fenimore at the end of 2022 after a tenure of more than 30 years with the company, the last six as president.

Snyder will work closely with Fenimore founder and Executive Chairman Tom Putnam, Chief Executive Officer John Fox, and the management team to guide the 48-year-old firm into the future.

“Fenimore prides itself on attracting and retaining associates who share our strong values, distinctive investment philosophy, and dedication to service excellence. Deb and Christian exemplify these traits,” said Fox.

“Christian has nearly two decades of experience in the financial services industry along with a solid track record of leadership and integrity. We are excited to have him on the team and look forward to working together to further our mission of preserving and growing our investors’ capital over the long term.”

Snyder joins Fenimore after five years as chief operating officer of the Wealth Strategies Group at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management. Prior to that, he served three years as associate counsel and then deputy general counsel for the company.

‘Stretch Zone’ In Clifton Park Helps People Get In Shape Without Weights And Equipment

November 7, 2022

John Bladek, owner of Stretch Zone at 54 Crossing Boulevard in Clifton Park says clients range from those needing the stretching experience to people with serious medical problems.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy

For people feeling a bit stiff and out of sorts after a day at the desk but too tired to head for the gym, the Stretch Zone, a new business in Clifton Park, may be the answer.

“Basically, it’s stretching,” said John Bladek, owner of the business, located at 54 Crossing Boulevard. There are no weights or machines involved, just the client and a practitioner, he said.

Stretch Zone is a franchise of a Florida company. Bladek worked for the parent company, certifying and managing trainers. He has a background in anatomy and physiology, as do the other four practitioners in his business. In addition, all of them have completed an accreditation and certification program at the company’s Florida headquarters.

Clients range from those needing the stretching experience to people with serious medical problems. Many are completing physical therapy programs and need further work, he said. The practice also works with people with medical conditions such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s.

New Acupuncture Practice In Wilton Treats A Variety Of Ailments And Illnesses

November 7, 2022

Cindy Rosenberg is a licensed acupuncturist with almost 20 years of experience.
Courtesy Cindy Rosenberg

By Christine Graf

Cindy Rosenberg, a licensed acupuncturist with almost 20 years of experience, recently opened a new practice in Wilton.

The Los Angeles native relocated to the Capital Region in early 2021. Her husband, Leigh Rathner, lived in Saratoga for 10 years before moving to Los Angeles to work in the television and film industry.

“We met in California about 12 years ago, and for as long as we’ve known each other, we’ve been visiting Saratoga,” said Rosenberg. “Every time we would come visit, we would say ‘Why are we living in L.A.?’ We had a long-term plan to get out of L.A.. When the pandemic hit, it sort of accelerated.”

After moving to Saratoga, the couple established Night Work Bread, a bakery that produces long-fermented sourdough bread products. They currently sell their breads and other baked goods at farmer’s markets but will be opening a store in Ballston Spa in 2023.

While living in Los Angeles, Rosenberg operated a thriving acupuncture practice.

“I had a really busy practice in L.A.,” she said. “I had a high-rise office with multiple treatment rooms and was seeing 12 patients a day. When I moved here, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep practicing. I had gotten a little bit burnt out.”

After devoting herself to Night Work Bread, Rosenberg realized that she missed seeing patients. She began returning to Los Angeles every two months to treat patients and recently made the decision to open a practice in her home office on Edie Road.

St. Peter’s Health Partners Sets Up Care Center in Malta Headed By Dr. Steven Shamoush

November 7, 2022November 15, 2022

Dr. Steven Shamoush stands with Haleema Osmany, a family nurse practitioner, in front ofSt. Peter’s Primary Care in Malta where they are part of the medical staff.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan Elise Campbell

Dr. Steven Shamosh a specialist in internal medicine with a focus on preventative care, has become a part of St. Peter’s Primary care in Malta and is hiring a staff to provide services for the community.

The facility is at 2537 Route 9 in the heart of Malta’s business district. According to Dr. Shamosh, this location will allow him to tap into the growth of the Malta community as well as provide resources of award-winning St. Peter’s Health Partners.

“The opportunity here in Malta is to be in a place where business, including nanotechnology, is flourishing,” he said.

“We are always looking for opportunities to meet the needs of growing communities,” said Meg Doherty, a practice manager focused on primary care and development for five of the past 10 years that St. Peter’s Health Partners has been serving the Capital Region.

Doherty said that with St. Peter’s practices in Clifton Park and Saratoga Springs, “it made sense to get involved in Malta, both for families and business folks in general.”

State Program To Expand Mental Health Services In Saratoga And Other Counties

November 7, 2022

New York state has launched a $5 million multi-agency pilot program aimed at reducing suicide among vulnerable groups in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.

Funded through a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by the state Office of Mental Health, Capital Connect will utilize data from state agencies and local partners to identify at-risk groups for focused prevention efforts in specific areas and industries in the four-county region.

New York is one of only six states to receive the grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.

“While our state’s mental health resources are among the best in the nation, we still lose far too many New Yorkers to suicide each year,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “With a focused approach to prevention, we can better identify groups and industries most at risk and ensure they have access to resources, and this $5 million grant announced today will help us provide critical support and foster connections among vulnerable individuals throughout the Capital Region.”

Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said mental health and wellness “are equally as important as physical health and Saratoga County is committed to offering services to assist those who face such daily challenges. The Capital Connect Program will help promote a healthier community by assisting at-risk populations including our young people suffering from the lingering effects of the pandemic and working-class men who’ve also seen an uptick in mental health crises, according to recent studies.

“These funds will help Saratoga County reduce the stigma surrounding mental health services while assisting those suffering with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.”

Business Briefs: November 2022

November 7, 2022

DeCrescente Distributing Co. of Mechanicville recently announced its employee-funded DeCrescente Scholarship Fund awarded $12,000 in college scholarships to 24 children of company employees for the fall semester.

Established in 1995, the scholarship fund has given more than $480,000 in financial assistance to employees and their children since its inception almost 30 years ago.

Over the years, the scholarship fund has transitioned from company funded to now being 100 percent funded by employees through voluntary payroll deductions. Currently, about 160 employees contribute to the fund.

Candidates can apply for the award every semester they attend college, but they must meet certain eligibility criteria, including attending school full-time and meet GPA requirements.

The $12,000 allocation is the first of two awards that will be granted for the 2022-23 academic year, with the next rollout coming ahead of the spring 2023 semester.

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The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s fourth annual Photo Finish exhibition has opened in the von Stade Gallery and will remain on display through Feb. 5.

The exhibit’s images will also be available on the Museum’s website at racingmuseum.org/exhibits/photo-finish-juried-photography-exhibition. The online exhibition will be available through October 2023.

Photo Finish features selected amateur and professional photographs that document the entire racing experience, from the farm and the backstretch to the winner’s circle. Each image captures an element of the strength, beauty, and emotion of the sport of racing. Photographers from 17 states and Ireland are represented in the exhibit.

Remi Bellocq, Alicia Hughes, Sally Jeffords, and Tod Marks, served as the judges for Photo Finish, providing representation from the racing and arts communities.

The call for submissions for the fifth annual Photo Finish exhibition will be announced in 2023.

For more information about the museum, including special events and program offerings, please call (518) 584-0400 or www.racingmuseum.org.

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Expansion Plans Continuing For Common Roots Brewing Co. In South Glens Falls

November 7, 2022November 14, 2022

This is a rendering of the new building and beer garden designed by Phinney Design Group for Common Roots Brewery’s expansion. V&H Construction Inc. is the lead contractor. Courtesy Phinney Design Group

By Susan Elise Campbell

What started as a plan to add more production and canning space has snowballed into an additional restaurant and event space that doubles the size of Common Roots Brewing Co. at 58 Saratoga Ave. in South Glens Falls.

Guests are already booking weddings and corporate events for up to 250 people, according to Christian Weber, who owns the brewery with his father, Bert Weber.

“The site has been cleared and the steel for footings has arrived,” said Weber. “We hope to have the new building up and closed in by the end of the year and opened to customers the end of spring.”

The new building and beer garden is being designed and built by Phinney Design Group of Saratoga Springs with V&H Construction Inc. as lead contractor. These are the same firms that rebuilt the modern Adirondack-style structure in 2020.

“We’re putting the team back together because we love what they did for us,” said Weber.

Tailored Real Estate Group Focuses Its Efforts On An Area From Clifton Park To Glens Falls

November 7, 2022

Tailored Real Estate occupies the third floor of the Bluth Building in Malta.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Andrea Harwood

Jaylene Leonbruno opened Tailored Real Estate Group, after working in real estate for over 15 years.

The office is located in the Bluth Building at 2452 Route 9 in Malta, on the third floor. The office opened around a year ago, and Leonbruno said she has had a very strong start to her first year in business.

Leonbruno began her career in real estate by helping sell properties her father-in-law purchased at tax auctions. She represented him in the selling listing.

“I became a broker-owner because I felt like there were things in the industry that I wanted more of from a company,” said Leonbruno. “I felt I could fill in the gaps in areas I thought were lacking. And I could offer that to someone else as well. I wanted to start a company where people could grow and evolve without the constraints of a big business.”

Leonbruno houses 10 agents in addition to herself. Her specialty is in new construction. She represents G.W. Luxe and Heritage Custom Builders with multiple subdivisions primarily in Saratoga County. She services from the Bolton Landing area as far south as Albany. Her primary focus is Clifton Park through Glens Falls.

Fundraiser At Hattie’s To Help Area Food Bank

November 7, 2022

Hattie’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs announces the long-awaited return of its Mardi Gras fundraiser.

After a four-year absence, the fundraiser is returning with The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York as its 2023 beneficiary and CNN’s Alisyn Camerota as emcee. It is set for Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Canfield Casino.

The inaugural Hattie’s Mardi Gras was held in 2001 and since its launch, has donated more than $1 million to nonprofits in the surrounding community.

“Not only will the gala be supporting a great cause, it will also be an evening of delicious dining and dancing,” said Business For Good restaurant operator Jasper Alexander. “I’ll be working with chef Phil Fitzpatrick and chef Mark D. Graham to bring the taste of New Orleans to Saratoga.”

Business For Good is a charitable business that owns Hattie’s.

Hattie’s director of hospitality, Beth Alexander, believes the upcoming event will be their most successful Mardi Gras yet.

“Returning this event to the community is such a wonderful feeling,” she said. “With CNN’s Alisyn Camerota as our emcee, it’s going to be a night to remember. We hope all of our regulars can join us for a good time and a great cause.”

Chips And Beer Fest To Benefit History Center

November 7, 2022

The Saratoga County History Center announced that DeCrescente Distributing Co. is sponsoring the Saratoga Chips and Beer Festival that will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 1-5 p.m. at Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa.

The famous Saratoga Chips are the feature of the museum’s current exhibit, “In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore.” Festival goers can enjoy Saratoga Chips, represented by Mechanicville’s DeCrescente Distributing Co.

The festival, a benefit for the Saratoga County History Center, is $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event, while designated drivers will be charged $10.

Snacks and the first beverage are included in the ticket price.

John Kirk and Trish Miller of Greenfield Center will provide live music that consists of fiddle tunes and folk songs.

To round off the festival, there will be a campfire, a silent auction, and a game of potato chip trivia.

“We are thrilled to start the Saratoga Chip and Beer Festival,” said Field Horne, Saratoga County History Center president. “We have a beautiful exhibit that tells the many stories behind the chip, and it’s natural to partner with DeCrescente, which not only distributes local craft beer and Saratoga Chips but is a historic, fourth-generation Saratoga County business.”