December 8 2025 Edition

CNYBJ CALENDAR:

December 15 Special Report: Construction/Design/Real Estate

December 15 List: Landscape Architects

December 22 Special Report: Nonprofit Directory

December 29 Special Report: Healthcare Quarterly/Excellence in Healthcare Spotlights NEW!

January 12 Special Report: Health Care Quarterly

January 12 List: Skilled-Nursing Facilities

January 19 Special Report: Employee Benefits/HR/Insurance

January 19 List: Employee-Benefits Consultants/Property & Casualty Insurers

January 26 Special Report: Manufacturing/High-Tech/Incubators

January 26 List: Manufacturing

February 2 Special Report: Banking & Credit Union Report

February 2 List: Colleges & Universities

Mehnert elected to SRC Ventures board of directors

CICERO — SRC, Inc. announced that its SRC Ventures unit has recently added the former president of L3Harris Communications Systems to its board of directors.

Dana Mehnert brings more than 38 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industries. At L3Harris, he expanded the business from $750 million to $5 billion in revenue. Mehnert also played a key role in the integration of Harris Corporation’s acquisition of Exelis Inc. and the merger with L3 Technologies to form L3Harris Technologies.

“Dana’s deep industry knowledge and leadership experience make him a strong addition to the SRC Ventures Board,” Kevin Hair, president and CEO of SRC, said in the announcement. “His insight will help guide our strategic direction as we continue to expand innovation across the world.”

Mehnert is currently founder of Invictus Strategic Advisors, providing counsel to aerospace, defense, and telecommunications industry leaders and investment institutions. He also serves as chairman of the board of EOS Defense Systems USA, is a member of the boards of directors of Epiq Solutions and Ultra Intelligence and Communications, and is a director-certified member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mehnert holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and applied physics and political science from Case Western Reserve University, and an MBA from the University of Rochester.

SRC is a not-for-profit research and development company that says it combines information, science, technology, and ingenuity to solve problems in the areas of defense, environment, and intelligence. It employs more than 1,400 people. In addition to its Cicero headquarters, SRC has locations across the U.S., as well as sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

CNYBJ BRIEFS

Lockheed Martin Owego awarded more than $15M Navy order for H-60 helicopter equipment

OWEGO — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) Owego plant has been awarded a more than $15.1 million order under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement from the U.S. Navy for the procurement of 12 receiver processors in support of H-60 military helicopters.

The delivery order does not include an option provision. All work will be performed in Lockheed’s Owego facility, and is expected to be completed by December 2028, according to a Nov. 19

contract announcement from the U.S. Department of War.

This announcement involves foreign military sales (FMS) from Australia. FMS funds for Australia in the contract’s full amount of $15,118,807 will be obligated at time of award and funding does not expire before the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support unit, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting authority.

American Heart Association names three new Syracuse–area advisory board members

SYRACUSE — The American Heart Association announced it has named three local leaders to its Syracuse–area advisory board. These volunteers started their board term just as the group was recognized at the national level by the American Heart Association.

The new local board members are:

Gwen Crossett — Crossett is CEO and founder of ConstantCare247, which offers comprehensive in-home care, nursing services, and skilled personal-care services. Crossett is a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience. She will also serve as the Giving Society Ambassador as part of her role on the American Heart Association advisory board.

Lekia Hill — Hill is the branch and community development manager for Community Bank, N.A. in the Syracuse region. She also serves as the lead consultant for Lekia Tech LLC and is the founder of the civic tech-based ecosystem application Powerful Voices App. Hill has dedicated her time to several community organizations over the last two decades, including the YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County and the Community Foundation’s Black Excellence & Equity Council.

Vanessa Szwejbka — Szwejbka is the community relations manager and executive director of the AmeriCU Charitable Foundation.

In her role, she focuses on expanding the foundation’s reach and strengthening partnerships with local organizations. Szwebjka spent 15 years in broadcasting as a meteorologist before transitioning to community relations.

“The American Heart Association has a mission to save lives, but we can’t do that without volunteers,” Heather Evans, executive director of the American Heart Association in Central New York, said in the announcement. “The Syracuse advisory board is a group of dedicated local leaders that is truly making a difference in the health of our community.”

The new members join an award-winning advisory board. The Syracuse–area advisory board has been honored with the national Gold Standard Board designation from the American Heart Association 12 times since 2012. The board was recently recognized again at the silver level.

Pratt Munson dean elected to

UTICA — Suzanne Snyder, dean of the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, has recently been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The association was established in 1944 to improve educational practices and maintain high professional standards in art and design education and now serves more than 320 institutions nationwide, according to a Nov. 25 announcement from Munson, the parent organization of the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design.

“Munson is proud of Dean Snyder’s election to the NASAD Board, a fitting recognition by her colleagues of her leadership and insight into the ever-evolving field of arts in higher education,”

national association board

and

NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art, design, and related disciplines; fosters the development of instruction while also encouraging varied and experimental approaches to teaching art and design; and counsels and assists schools in developing their programs.

In this national leadership role, Snyder will help guide accreditation standards, support peer institutions, and contribute to NASAD’s work with international equivalencies, according to the Munson announcement.

Snyder previously served as the site evaluator and chair for NASAD, and was the chair of

LaFayette Board of Education selects new superintendent of schools

LaFAYETTE — The LaFayette Board of Education recently named Kara Lux as its next superintendent of schools, pending successful contract negotiations.

Lux, who currently is director of special education and grants at the Marcellus Central School District, is expected to begin her new role at the LaFayette Central School District in December or January, per LaFayette’s Oct. 20 announcement.

She is set to replace Interim Superintendent Daniel Bowles, who has served as the district’s leader since former superintendent Jeremy Belfield left in July to become the new district superintendent for the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi BOCES) in Oswego County.

Lux has worked in her position in Marcellus for the past eight years. As director of special education and grants, she was responsible for special education programming. As part of that role, she also wrote and managed federal grants and provided a wide variety of professional development and instructional support to staff.

In her application to the LaFayette Board of Education, Lux said she was drawn to the district because of its “deep-rooted sense of community, commitment to educational excellence, and its unique and honored relationship with the Onondaga Nation.”

Ronald Shawn Reyburn, president of the LaFayette Board of Education, said Lux’s experience and leadership skills propelled her to the top of a carefully considered pool of more than two dozen candidates. Lux graduated from Bishop Ludden High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from SUNY Geneseo, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Syracuse University (SU), and a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from SU.

Lux began her career as a speech-language pathologist for the Syracuse City School District, where she worked with students in grades K-6 for eight years. Later, she transitioned to West Genesee, where she worked as a speech-language pathologist with students in grades K-5. In 2017, Lux took her current position in Marcellus.

As LaFayette’s top leader, Lux will oversee a district with about 800 students and 230 staff members spread across four school buildings. The district includes the Onondaga Nation School, which is dedicated to preserving and teaching the Onondaga language and culture.

education for the American Institute of Graphic Arts in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to joining Pratt Munson, Snyder served for 13 years as the program director in the Graphic Design and Visual Communications Department at Champlain College in Burlington. Her many initiatives at Champlain included launching and directing successful and innovative new programs and classes, in addition to teaching graphic design beginning in 2008 and reaching full professorship in 2021.

Munson is located at 310 Genesee St. in Utica. Pratt Munson College of Art and Design is a division of Munson and the upstate New York extension campus of Pratt Institute, located in Utica.

Munson President

CEO Anna D’Ambrosio said.

Crossett

Hill

Szwebjka

Mehnert

Lux Snyder

Upstate Medical startup wins $10K Rothschild Award in pitch contest

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

SYRACUSE — BiRed Imaging Inc. is an Upstate Medical University startup developing an AI (artificial intelligence)-powered contactless breast-cancer screening technology.

The company was selected as the winner of the $10,000 Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award at the Nov. 12 Biotech Innovation Pitch.

A panel of six judges selected BiRed Imaging after listening to brief pitches from the seven competitors at the pitch competition held at the CNY Biotech Accelerator, which is located at 831 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse.

One $5,000 runner-up prize went to sxRNA Technologies, which is developing an RNA “nanoswitch” that activates treatments only in targeted cells — offering new hope for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Another $5,000 runner-up prize was awarded to Ergami Endoscopy, which is creating a low-cost robotic colonoscope insertion system designed to improve procedural efficiency, reduce patient pain and the need for sedation,

and minimize endoscopy-related injuries among clinicians.

The finalists are all clients of the CNY Biotech Accelerator.

The Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award at the Upstate Foundation honors Rothschild’s life, “which was one of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and provides support to individuals and startups who demonstrate excellence in innovation,” Upstate Medical said. Its purpose is to “further the development and advancement of emerging science and new technologies.”

The Rothschild Award is the most recent success for BiRed Imaging. Earlier this year, it was awarded a $305,000 phase 1 grant from the National Science Foundation, Upstate Medical said.

Judges for the event included longtime Upstate Foundation donors Ann and David Rothschild, sponsors of Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award; Vicki Quigley; Eileen Pezzi, Upstate VP for development and executive director of the Upstate Foundation; Audrey Bernstein, a member of the Upstate faculty and founder and chief scientific officer of DUB Therapeutics, winner of last year’s Alan W.

Next Corning Community College leader starts in early January

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

CORNING — The eighth president of Corning Community College will begin his new duties on Jan. 2, 2026.

The SUNY board of trustees voted Nov. 14 to name Terence Finley as the school’s next leader.

Finley — who is a graduate of SUNY Brockport — currently serves as VP and COO at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri. His appointment in Corning will take effect on Jan. 2, 2026.

Corning Community College has been led by Administrator in Charge Kim Frock since June 2, 2025, following former president William Mullaney’s appointment as the new president of Rockland Community College.

“I am confident that Dr. Finley’s dedication to student success, retention, and completion, demonstrated through his work at Harris-Stowe State University, will further catapult Corning Community College forward as a regional and statewide leader,” SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. said in an announcement. “I want to thank Administrator in Charge Kim L. Frock for her service leading Corning Community College during this leadership transition and for her dedication to the local community served by this essential institution of higher learning.”

Finley earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership with an emphasis in higher education from Prairie View A&M University, which is located near Houston; an MBA degree in marketing and logistics from Penn State University; and a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in marketing and economics from SUNY

Rothschild Innovation Award; and Travis Millman, CEO of Valley of Death Partners, a life sciences and deep-tech startup consultancy.

About BiRed’s system

BiRed’s system uses AI and thermal imaging to detect tumors without breast compression or radiation.

The BiRed imaging system detects the altered temperatures on the surface of a breast due to the increased metabolic

activity of a cancerous tumor. It uses multispectral imaging that does not employ harmful radiation and is independent of breast density, which is a major concern in mammography. It uses well-established inverse heat-transfer analysis to detect the tumor and predict its size and location within the breast. In preliminary clinical studies, this approach was used to study 24 biopsy-proven cancer patients with accurate predictions of tumor size and location. n

Brockport.

“I have dedicated the last 15 years to higher education, championing the principles of access, adequacy, and equity for underserved, underrepresented, under-resourced, and in some cases underprepared student populations,” Finley said in the SUNY announcement. “My deep commitment to educational excellence is underscored by my unwavering belief in the transformative power of education to drive societal change, elevate communities, and create long-term impact through student success. I want to thank the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Corning Regional Board of Trustees for this opportunity.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Terence Finley back home to upstate New York, as the 8th President of SUNY Corning Community College,” Michael Wayne, chairman of the Corning Community College regional board of trustees, said. “His experience as a

SUNY (Brockport) graduate and a native of upstate makes him uniquely qualified to manage the opportunities and challenges of our college. His focus on student success and advocacy of non-traditional students will surely enhance

the successes we’ve experienced, at Corning, through the SUNY Reconnect program. We are thankful to our dedicated Presidential search committee for their comprehensive work to bring us to this successful appointment!” n

Terence Finley (right) will become the eighth president of Corning Community College on Jan. 2, 2026. He’s pictured here with SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. (left).

PHOTO CREDIT: SUNY

Celebrating the presentation of the Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award are, from left to right: Vicki Quigley; Hrishikeah Deo, Ergami Endoscopy; Scott Tenenbaum, sxRNA Technologies; Carlos Gutierrez, BiRed Imaging; Satish Kandlikar, BiRed Imaging; Anvi Rohamare, BiRed Imaging; Ann Rothschild; Eileen Pezzi; Audrey Bernstein; David Rothschild; and Travis Milman.

PHOTO CREDIT: UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Public phase of Landmark Theatre’s $8.7M Centennial Campaign is underway

Theatre marquee dedicated to Magnarelli family

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

SYRACUSE — The public phase of the Landmark Theatre’s $8.7 million Centennial Campaign is now open.

The campaign seeks to raise the final $1.8 million of its $8.7 million goal, following a successful silent phase that brought in the majority of funds through the support of lead donors, foundations, and public partners.

Community members are now invited to join this effort to ensure the Landmark’s next century “shines as brightly as its first,” the Landmark Theatre said.

Stephanie Crockett, CEO of Syracuse–based advertising and marketing firm Mower, and Andy Breuer, president of Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc., are serving as the campaign co-chairs.

Funds raised through the Centennial Campaign will support a range of improvements to the theatre’s facilities, including completion of the auditorium restoration; air-conditioning system upgrades; exterior door rehabilitation; and carpet replacement.

Supporters can learn more and contribute to the campaign at www.landmark100. org. Those interested can pledge donations over a period of three to five years, the organization noted.

In his remarks at a Nov. 14 event to launch the public phase of the Landmark’s Centennial Campaign, Mike Intaglietta, executive director of the Landmark Theatre, recognized local lawmakers, members of the organization’s board of trustees, both past and present, the Landmark Theatre’s Centennial committee, and the theatre’s staff.

“The dedication and talent of our team do not get called out nearly enough, from production to ticketing to operations, concessions, security and our volunteer ushers, some of whom have helped us here today, and especially our leadership team,” Intaglietta said. “They work long and exceptionally odd hours, and I regularly see them go above and beyond to make sure our guests at the theatre have an unparalleled experience”

Intaglietta spoke to a gathering that was seated on the stage looking out at the theatre’s lower and upper seating areas.

The event, attended by nearly 200 community members and supporters, also featured the dedication of the Magnarelli Marquee, honoring the Magnarelli family’s enduring commitment to the theatre and to Syracuse’s cultural life.

Grant funding awarded to five woman-owned businesses in Oneida, Herkimer counties

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

ROME — Five woman-owned businesses in Herkimer and Oneida counties are now using $5,000 grant awards to support their growth and development.

The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is behind the grant initiative with support from Baird Private Wealth Management and the Griffiss Institute of Rome, which hosted the award ceremony, per the Nov. 13 announcement.

The grant recipients include Barrio Builders of Utica; Bloom Nutrition Solutions of Utica; Can Chasers Company LLC; D. Furniture Upholstery; and Legacy Fiberoptics of Utica.

The grant applicants had to be 51 percent women-owned, located in Herkimer or Oneida Counties, and in business for a minimum of one year.

“Our financial support of women entrepreneurs in our area began in 2022,” Ellen Rainey, VP of The Women’s Fund

“It’s a great honor to have our family recognized in this way,” New York State Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli (D–Syracuse) said. “The Landmark has been part of my family’s life and that of our community’s for decades. Starting with Armond Magnarelli, I am proud to have played a role in helping preserve it. I encourage everyone to join this campaign to keep the Landmark shining into its next century.”

The late Armond Magnarelli was instrumental in forming the Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre and was one of the signers for the original charter. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, Armond’s cousin, has secured millions of dollars in New York State capital grants to support the theatre’s improvements and restoration efforts.

Carrie Lazarus, with WSYR-TV

NewsChannel 9, emceed the event, which included remarks from Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Mayor-elect Sharon Owens, each voicing their support for the campaign and the Landmark’s continued importance to Central New York.

Opened in 1928 as the Loew’s State Theatre, the grand movie palace quickly became a “treasured” gathering place for Central New Yorkers. When it fell into disrepair in the 1970s, a dedicated group of citizens formed a nonprofit organization to save what was renamed the Landmark Theatre and make it one of the region’s “most vital cultural institutions.” Today, the Landmark hosts world-class touring concerts, Broadway shows, comedians, and community events, contributing more than $9.6 million annually to the local economy. n

and chairperson of the Women Investing in Women committee of the board, said in the announcement. “Our initiative has been embraced by the business community; we had 38 women business owners apply representing Oneida and Herkimer Counties. The diversity of the applications was impressive making the judging process both exciting and challenging.”

The Griffiss Institute says it has supported the Women Investing In Women initiative since The Women’s Fund grant program began in 2022.

“Innovation thrives when community members support each other to be successful,” Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute, said. “These businesses are doing good deeds in our Mohawk Valley communities by creating meaningful careers and delivering products and services that improve our quality of life. We are proud to stand with The Women’s Fund and Baird to empower the business leaders who make our communities stronger.”

The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and

Oneida Counties describes itself as a grassroots, volunteer-driven nonprofit which is funded by donor contributions.

The Women’s Fund has donated nearly $1 million to individuals and organizations in their 28 years of service to Herkimer and Oneida counties.

Grant recipients

Ingrid

tion and housing rehabilitation firm based in Utica. It specializes in lead-safe renovations that protect families and revitalize underserved neighborhoods. The grant will help pay for a construction trailer. Alex Nicolette is a registered dietitian and the founder of Bloom Nutrition Solutions. In her grant application, Nicolette said, “The Utica area has limit-

The Landmark Theatre on Nov. 14 opened the public phase of its Centennial Campaign to help pay for improvements inside the downtown Syracuse venue. In this photo, Andy Breuer, president of Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc. of Syracuse, addresses a gathering of supporters seated on the theatre’s stage. Both Breuer and Stephanie Crockett (standing with Breuer), CEO of Syracuse–based advertising and marketing firm Mower, are serving as the campaign co-chairs.

ERIC REINHARDT / CNYBJ

Quiceno-Vela is the owner of Barrio Builders, a Latina-owned construc-

The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded a total of $25,000 to five woman-owned businesses to support their growth. Pictured here at the Griffiss Institute are the recipient business owners who include Brenda Carney, of Can Chasers; Alex Nicolette, with Bloom Nutrition Solutions; Ana Felicia Brito, of D. Furniture Upholstery; and Ingrid Quiceno-Vela, with Barrio Builders. The only grant recipient not pictured is Gabriella Marchesani, of Legacy Fiberoptics.

PHOTO CREDIT: GRIFFISS INSTITUTE

Allegiant Air to expand direct flights from Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

SYRACUSE — Allegiant Air plans to expand its nonstop flights from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in the early part of next year. Beginning Feb. 11, 2026, Allegiant Air will operate four flights weekly directly to the South Florida destination, doubling its average current frequency of two flights weekly, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced Nov. 17.

“South Florida is our top underserved market for Central New York travelers,” Jason Terreri, executive director of SRAA, said. “With this additional capacity, Allegiant Air is making it easier than ever to access one of our top leisure destinations.”

Allegiant Air currently provides nonstop service directly to seven destinations from Syracuse including Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Orlando, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg.

Flights went on sale Nov. 18 on the airline’s website (AllegiantAir.com), SRAA said.

Winter Fair 2026 set for late January with rides, reindeer, reminders of summer

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

GEDDES — The food, rides, music, and entertainment that people enjoy throughout the summer are again returning to the New York State Fairgrounds in late January 2026.

The event will also have a Healthcare Village, free parking, evening fireworks, and reindeer from Hanggi Farms in Ontario County.

The 2026 Winter Fair is set for the end of January in and around the Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in the town of Geddes. The 7th edition of Winter Fair is promoted as bringing “More Summer Fun into Winter.”

It is scheduled for Friday, Jan 30 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 31 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb.1 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Premier Promotions, which promotes the Winter Fair event, announced the details at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown on Nov. 20.

“We want to give people a chance to have more summer fun in the middle of winter. It’s great to have an event for all ages, where you can bring your friends and family to enjoy themselves. Plus at Syracuse Winter Fair 2026 the theme will also be ‘Look to the Children!,’ where the daytime entertainment will feature students

FUNDING:

Continued from page 4

ed access to nutrition-related care, while many individuals struggle with chronic illnesses requiring specialized dietary therapies. Additionally, a growing population of women diagnosed with eating disorders requires the expertise of a registered dietitian experienced in meal

from elementary school to college,” Steve Becker, owner of Premier Promotions, said in the announcement. “The New York State Fairgrounds have great yearround events and Syracuse Winter Fair has become an annual tradition in Making Memories. Also for Syracuse Winter Fair 2026, we are dedicating this community event to the Honorable Van B. Robinson. He was very instrumental in helping us to bring this idea to fruition!”

The event’s attractions include the Market 32/Price Chopper Syracuse Winter Fair Hoops where attendees shoot baskets and win prizes for donations to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse. Various Syracuse University and LeMoyne College student-athletes will meet and greet attendees in the Syracuse Winter Fair Hoops area.

More than $15,000 has been raised for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse in the previous six Winter Fairs.

In addition, the Healthcare Village will include organizations that will share information on staying well.

“Lead poisoning knows no city limits, it can impact any family, anywhere. At LeadSafe CNY Coalition, we’re proud to partner with Steve Becker and the New York State Winter Fair to bring this message to the heart of our community,” said LaToya Jones, director of the LeadSafe

planning and nutrition counseling tailored to this condition.” Nicolette will use the grant for marketing efforts to expand the group practice and increase client numbers.

The grant recipients also included Brenda Carney, of Can Chasers, which offers equine therapy to individuals with physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. Its work aligns with Herkimer County Mental Health Services’ goals

CNY Coalition, which is sponsoring the Healthcare Village. “Together, we’re raising awareness, promoting prevention, and reminding families that when we all come together, we can protect our children and build a healthier, lead-free future for Central New York.”

Attendees will also have a chance to take their picture with the reindeer from Hanggi Farms outside in front of the walkway to the Expo Center on Jan. 31 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Purchasing tickets

Online tickets are available now at www. nyswinterfair.com.

Online tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for teens/pre-teens and seniors plus a small fee. Children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. At the door, admission is $8 for adults and $6 for teens/ pre-teens and seniors. Children ages 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. In addition, Market 32/Price Chopper will be selling tickets at 130 stores in six states — New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. These tickets will cost $4.50 for adults and $2 for seniors and teens. Children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge.

to expand respite services by providing horse-centered and art-therapeutic activities. Carney will use the funding to purchase arena rails to expand the Can Chasers outdoor horse arena.

Ana Felicia Brito, of D. Furniture Upholstery, is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, and her business “bucks the trend of ‘disposable’ furniture,” per the Griffiss Institute announcement. Brito will use her $5,000 grant to purchase

AAA of Central and Western New York will also be offering discount tickets to its members. n

industrial machines, allowing her to work faster and with heavier fabrics.

Gabriella Marchesani is the owner of Legacy Fiberoptics of Utica, which provides repair and calibration services for fiber-optic test equipment for its customers around the globe. Marchesani will use the grant to purchase nine new electrostatic discharge benches for the company’s new facility to accommodate its increased workload and new customers. n

An airplane from Allegiant Air preparing to land at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

CNYBJ FILE PHOTO CREDIT: ZOEYADVERTISING.COM

Attendees at Winter Fair 2025 at the State Fairgrounds Expo Center in the town of Geddes. This season’s event is set for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.

PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIER PROMOTIONS

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT/ SUSTAINABILITY

SPONSORED BY:

Broome County’s first fully electric buses start transporting the public

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

VESTAL — Broome County Transit’s first fully electric buses have been transporting the public for nearly two months after they were placed into service in mid-October.

The new zero-emission buses replace older diesel models, “significantly improving” air quality and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions across the community, Broome County said in its announcement. The electric buses are also quieter, “creating a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers while minimizing noise pollution in residential neighborhoods.”

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, BC Transit Commissioner Greg Kilmer, and Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), gathered for the event announcing the deployment of the electric buses. Broome County

sees it as a “major milestone in the county’s efforts to modernize its public transportation system, reduce emissions, and strengthen sustainability,” per its Oct. 14 announcement.

Federal and state grants primarily paid for the six new 40-foot GILLIG battery-electric buses, with nearly 95 percent of the $10.4 million total project cost supported by outside funding sources, Broome County stipulated.

The project received $3.25 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle program, $4.3 million in federal formula funding, $1.54 million from the New York State Truck Voucher Inventive program, and $754,000 in state capital funding.

Broome County contributed just over $540,000, representing only about 5 percent of the total project cost, the county stated.

“Broome County depends on BC

Transit to connect our residents to work, school and essential services every day,” Garnar said in the Broome County announcement. “This investment allows us to modernize our fleet while protecting taxpayers. Nearly 95% of this project was funded through state and federal grants, helping us bring cleaner, quieter, and more reliable transit to the people of Broome County.”

To support the new fleet, BC Transit has installed six Heliox/Siemens 180 kW chargers featuring a retractable arm system that keeps charging cables safely overhead inside the transit depot. Charging-infrastructure design and construction was led by PlugIn Stations Online, with site management by the New York Power Authority. Additional plans call for solar panels and on-site battery storage at the Vestal Transit Center by 2027, ensuring service continuity and energy resiliency, Broome County noted.

“These six buses represent the first

step in the process of moving to clean air propulsion with seven more buses to come in 2026,” Greg Kilmer, commissioner of BC Transit, said. “This exciting moment is made possible by many talented and dedicated individuals who had the vision to legislate, fund, design and build the future of public transportation. I’m certain all the residents of Broome County will appreciate the clean, quiet and efficient operation as we serve thousands of riders daily.”

The six buses, built in California this summer, arrived in Broome County in August after being driven cross-country along a network of electric-vehicle charging stations.

BC Transit provides more than 2 million rides annually and operates up to 18 hours each day. Students, faculty, and staff at Binghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College ride BC Transit free with their university-issued IDs. n

New York State and Broome County officials on Oct. 14 placed six fully electric transit buses into service in Broome County during an event at the Broome County Public Transportation Facility in Vestal.

PHOTO CREDIT: NYSDOT X PAGE

Finger Lakes Land Trust acquires land in Spafford

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

SPAFFORD — The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) earlier this year acquired 850 feet of shoreline and 15 forested acres along the eastern shore of Skaneateles Lake in the town of Spafford in southern Onondaga County.

The property includes 1,120 feet of streambank on Barber Gulf and a portion of the Staghorn Cliffs, the site of an ancient, fossilized coral reef, the FLLT said.

Located near the south end of Skaneateles Lake, this acquisition will extend the FLLT’s protected shoreline to 3,000 feet in this area, preserving the staghorn coral fossils as well as habitat for bald eagles and other wildlife.

The property is adjacent to the organization’s 90-acre Staghorn Cliffs Preserve and 21-acre Cora Kampfe Dickinson Conservation Area, which together “encompass some of the most pristine shoreline remaining in the Finger Lakes region,” FLLT contends.

Due to the hazardous nature of the steep hillsides above the cliffs, FLLT will own and manage the property as a nature preserve accessible by canoe or kayak. Protection of this property will

“safeguard” wildlife habitat and the water quality of Skaneateles Lake by preventing development on its forested hillsides, the Ithaca–based organization noted.

The acquisition was made possible by an internal loan from the FLLT’s Opportunity Fund. The land trust is now launching a fundraising campaign to raise $1.1 million to cover the cost of the purchase as well as the long-term management of the site.

The property was identified as a priority for protection as part of the FLLT’s effort to create a greenbelt around the south end of Skaneateles Lake. Other nearby conservation lands include the High Vista and Hinchcliff Family preserves. The greenbelt is recognized as a priority project within New York State’s Open Space Plan and, because of its value for migratory birds, it is also recognized by National Audubon as one of the state’s Important Bird Areas, FLLT said.

Completion of this acquisition will also help ensure water quality within Skaneateles Lake, which is the unfiltered drinking-water supply for 220,000 area residents, including people living in the city of Syracuse.

“The quality of our lakes depends on the condition of the landscapes that surround them,” Andrew Zepp, president of

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FLLT, said in the announcement. “This acquisition will secure steep slopes and sensitive shoreline areas that would lead to increased erosion and runoff if they were developed.”

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landowners, and residents about conservation and the region’s unique natural resources.

By working cooperatively with landowners and local communities, the Finger Lakes Land Trust says it has protected more than 34,000 acres of the region’s undeveloped lakeshore, rugged gorges, rolling forest, and scenic farmland. The FLLT owns and manages a network of more than 45 nature preserves that are open to the public and holds perpetual conservation easements on 200 properties that remain in private ownership. n

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With Micron in mind,

Le Moyne to offer new physics major in 2026

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

SYRACUSE — Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) has plans to build a massive semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay, and Le Moyne College wants to help prepare future students to secure a job with the Boise, Idaho–based company.

The school is set to offer a bachelor’s degree in applied physics “as the region prepares for the arrival of Micron Technology within the next sev-

eral years.”

The New York State Department of Education approved Le Moyne’s request to offer the degree program, the school said in a Nov. 21 announcement. It’ll be available for new and current students starting with the 2026 fall semester.

The new major “unlocks the physical principles behind modern breakthroughs” such as semiconductors, sensors, renewable-energy systems, and other technological advances, preparing students to work in fields that are expected to “grow significant-

ly” over the next 10 years.

“Le Moyne is excited to offer the new applied physics major, which will strengthen Le Moyne’s position as a key player in emerging careers in engineering, as well as specific fields such as semiconductors and material sciences,” Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura said in the school’s announcement.

“Building from a foundation in liberal arts and sciences provided by our core curriculum, the program was created to meet the anticipated employment growth and a strong student interest within the region and across the state.”

These careers could include positions at the Micron facilities that will be built in the town of Clay. With an investment of up to $100 billion over the next

20 years, the firm estimates the fabrication (fab) plants could eventually result in 9,000 jobs at Micron and 9,500 jobs in businesses that supply Micron.

Le Moyne cites both state and federal labor statistics as indicating job growth in areas such as electrical engineering and materials science are anticipated to grow between 6 percent and 7 percent through 2034, higher than the average for all occupations.

The industries that will be hiring individuals with applied physics degrees include semiconductor and microelectronics (e.g., chip manufacturers, fabs); advanced manufacturing and materials; aerospace and defense; medical imaging and diagnostic sonographers; energy and

renewable technology; software developer (instrumentation, embedded systems); government and national labs; and analytics and quantitative finance, per the Le Moyne announcement.

“Applied physics has been described as where scientific curiosity meets hands-on innovation,” Christopher Bass, chair of Le Moyne’s physics department, said. “Applied physics fully embraces Le Moyne’s educational mission by incorporating ethical scientific conduct and inquiry into the curriculum. The program will offer personalized mentoring, advanced labs and research opportunities where students will gain the knowledge and experience that will allow them to step confidently into high-demand careers.” n

SUNY Sustainability Fellows include area professors

BY ERIC REINHARDT

ereinhardt@cnybj.com

ALBANY — Three Central New York college professors and one from the Southern Tier are among 11 of SUNY’s inaugural Sustainability Faculty Fellows.

They include Jean Yang, assistant professor of landscape architecture at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse; Augusta Williams, assistant professor of public health at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse; Jeremy Jiménez, associate professor of foundations and social advocacy at SUNY Cortland; and Neyda Gilman, associate librarian / assistant head of sustainability and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) engagement at Binghamton University.

The 11 fellows, representing 11 SUNY campuses, will assist other faculty in incorporating climate and sustainability topics into existing courses and develop new applied-learning opportunities.

SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. on Sept. 23 announced SUNY’s inaugural Sustainability Faculty Fellows as part of New York Climate Week.

“SUNY is proud to be a key partner in Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to build a resilient and sustainable New York,”

King contended in the SUNY announcement. “With climate change affecting all elements of our society, from extreme weather emergencies to the emerging clean energy field, our students will need to be knowledgeable about sustainability to thrive as citizens and in their careers. Today’s students are eager to participate in climate action, and SUNY is taking steps so that New Yorkers are prepared.”

The Sustainability Faculty Fellows will advance climate literacy and knowledge of sustainability topics throughout the SUNY system. They’ll develop pedagogical resources and provide support for faculty as they develop and teach courses across a broad spectrum of disciplines and levels of study from microcredentials through doctoral programs, SUNY said.

SUNY selected the group following an open call for nominations.

Jean Yang

Yang is a landscape designer, urban planner, and educator with a focus on design-driven, equity-focused, and benefits-based landscapes.

“Congratulations to Jean Yang’s for her selection as a SUNY Sustainability Faculty Fellow.

Professor Yang’s research reflects the critical role ESF plays in shaping a resilient and equitable future through design and environmental leadership,” ESF President Joanie Mahoney said in a Sept. 24 ESF announcement. “We are proud to have Professor Yang represent ESF at the table ensuring that sustainability education is rooted in both innovation and impact.”

Augusta Williams

different professions, many different perspectives at the table to be ready to respond to this.”

Neyda Gilman

Williams has a research interest in climate change, environmental health, and health benefits of sustainability and climate solutions. Williams, who joined Upstate in 2022, also serves as the assistant director of the Upstate Public Health Program and the assistant director of the Central NY Children’s Environmental Health Center.

“Climate change has been deemed over the last decade by multiple international bodies to be the greatest public health threat of this century,” Williams said in a Nov. 17 Upstate Medical announcement. “No matter what area of public health you work in climate change will impact it in some way and it really has the potential to exacerbate existing health disparities. It’s so wide-reaching that we need many

For Gilman, the fellowship is an extension of the work she does to advance the mission of the University Libraries. Through her involvement with the Sustainability Hub located in the Science Library, Gilman recognizes the importance of environmental literacy and the impact having these skills integrated with the curriculum.

“At its core, this fellowship is a way to further integrate sustainability and climate information into courses across SUNY,” Gilman, librarian for sustainability, STEM engagement, and health sciences, said in an Oct. 7 Binghamton University announcement. “This program combines three things I find to be central to my identity and work: sustainability, education and community. Participating in this fellowship will allow me to use my skills and knowledge as a librarian to find, evaluate and share information that will

New York State has approved Le Moyne College’s request to offer a bachelor’s degree program in applied physics. The school made the request knowing that Micron Technology,

Le Moyne College students working on their assignments. PHOTO CREDIT: LE MOYNE WEBSITE

Williams

Gilman

Sustainable Office Solutions prepares to close its doors

BY ERIC REINHARDT ereinhardt@cnybj.com

DeWITT — Sustainable Office Solutions, LLC — a 16-year-old small business that sells and rents out new and pre-owned office furniture — is getting ready to close.

Owner Andy Picco believes he will be ready to end operations in mid-December. Until then, he’s working to liquidate the firm’s remaining merchandise. Sustainable Office Solutions is located at 3955 Eastbourne Drive, off New Court Ave. in the town of DeWitt. It has operated in that location since 2022.

In a Nov. 26 interview with CNYBJ, Picco cited a change in the marketplace and financial reasons for closing the business.

“The market has changed completely here in Syracuse. In the furniture industry, what most people don’t realize is [the aftermath of] COVID is killing us,” says Picco. “Think about how many people are working from home that used to work in an office. Think about how much office space is wide open with nobody moving in. And lastly, what happened to all that furniture they had? It flooded the market … Nobody’s expanding. No one’s moving into [available] space, [and] people are still working from home. So, that killed us.”

Picco had hoped to hand the business over to one of his sons, but neither was interested. He has a nephew who expressed interest but is now dealing with a health problem. Another potential buyer showed initial interest, but in the end, decided against it.

“That’s why we’re closing. It’s financial and [there’s] no one to run the company,” says Picco.

Picco says he’s contacted a lot of furniture companies about his remaining merchandise, but very few are in the

used-furniture business. “No one’s really interested in my product … so that’s why I can’t sell it to them,” he adds.

So, he’s alerting people he knows, along with his customers, and the general public about the remaining office furniture that’s available. He plans to notify IMS (International Monetary System) Barter and its members.

Picco would also like to donate some of his remaining merchandise to interested nonprofit organizations.

“Instead of it going to a dump, or being turned into metal, I’d rather give it to nonprofits, and I have a lot of nice stuff for them,” he stresses.

Remaining products include more than 300 chairs, file cabinets, and desks.

Besides Picco, Sustainable Office Solutions currently has two part-time employees, both of whom are family members. He’s been leasing his Eastbourne Drive facility, and the lease is now complete.

Picco, age 69, says he’s looking forward to getting away from day-to-day business activities.

“I’m ready to enjoy life with my wife, so it’s not a bad thing that I’m closing,” he says.

Company history, owner advice

Sustainable Office Solutions launched on Nov. 1. 2009 at 1811 Le Moyne Ave. in the town of Salina, eventually moving in the same town to 900 Old Liverpool Road. The operations at the Old Liverpool Road location also included warehouse space in the former Will & Baumer candle factory at 100 Buckley Road, also in the town of Salina.

Picco says his business lacked a revenue-in-force (RIF) base, or ongoing revenue from a given client. He went on to explain that office furniture generally lasts 15 years, so once the product is sold, his

Cornell plants ash trees it hopes are resistant to borer insects

BY JOURNAL STAFF

news@cnybj.com

ITHACA — Newly planted ash saplings on Cornell University property are potentially resistant to destructive emerald ash borer insects, making the university the first propagation center in New York state.

The planting is part of The Nature Conservancy’s Trees in Peril project, seeking to restore disappearing ash trees across the United States, according to a Nov. 20 article on the Cornell Chronicle media relations website. The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit founded in 1951 in the U.S. Emerald ash borers usually kill all the trees in a stand, but studies by the USDA Forest Service have found that sometimes a few healthy trees — called lingering ash — remain, suggesting they have some natural resistance, according to the article. After finding several resistant trees in

business isn’t generating any more revenue from that client for several years.

Picco recommends to anyone that wants to start a business that they make sure to have an RIF base, and that they know their market.

“Make sure the products are always being consumed, so you have a steady market,” he notes.

Company legacy

Picco is referring future customers to Just the Right Stuff, which his former employer Hurbson WorkPlace Furnishings, is now part of following a merger. Just the Right Stuff is located at 103 Twin Oaks Drive in the town of DeWitt — situated between Carrier and Military Circles.

When asked if he believes he accomplished what he wanted to with Sustainable Office Solutions, Picco immediately replies, “No.”

“I did the best I could. If the market would’ve evolved like it was supposed to … go from a bleeding edge to a cutting edge where everybody had to have it …

I would’ve been in great shape,” he says, noting he was one of only two local dealers focusing on used office furniture. “The market didn’t evolve.”

Despite that, Picco says he is satisfied with how Sustainable Office Solutions conducted business, specifically how it treated its customers and vice versa.

“In 16 years, we’ve never been stiffed for one penny. Every customer we’re ever done business with … have paid us what we asked. I never had to sue one person. … I always made sure we gave the customers more than they expected,” he says.

Picco also recalls when he started a membership group called Sustainable Upstate Network, which focused on and had interest in sustainability.

“We had non-competing members. We could be referring [to] each other all the time and make it easy for the customer to really embrace sustainability … Save energy, insulation, lighting,” he says. It’s still in operation and now calls itself Sustainable Syracuse, Picco notes. n

its natural areas, Cornell Botanic Gardens is working with other conservation partners to propagate more-resistant trees. If successful, these trees and their progeny could be used to reforest decimated woodlands in New York state and elsewhere.

“Our goal is to propagate and conserve trees from 50 to 60 unique parents of green, white and black ash species, and we are thrilled that our first cohort of lingering ash have been planted out in their conservation banks,” Todd Bittner, director of natural areas for the Cornell Botanic Gardens, said in the article.

Emerald ash borer larvae have devastated black, white, and green ash trees by burrowing and eating the living tissue under the bark, which kills the trees. The insects have wiped out ash trees in 37 states, costing billions of dollars for tree removal, treatment, and replacement.

When emerald ash borer populations are at lower levels, natural resistance will

likely protect trees, but when populations and pest pressures are high, the trees will likely need additional protections, or otherwise would still get destroyed the borer, Bittner noted.

The Trees in Peril program includes The Nature Conservancy, the USDA Forest Service, experts from academia, research organizations, and other part-

ners — all of whom are collaborating to monitor, research and breed pest-resistant American beech, Eastern hemlock, and black, white, and green ash. For more information on this project, check out the Cornell Chronicle article at: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/11/cornell-ash-trees-aim-beatback-borer-insects n

Andy Picco, owner of Sustainable Office Solutions, LLC at 3955 Eastbourne Drive in the town of DeWitt, is getting ready to close the business after 16 years in operation.

ERIC REINHARDT / CNYBJ

Keith Miller, an arborist, and Missy Bidwell, a greenhouse supervisor, both at Cornell Botanic Gardens, plant a twoyear old lingering black ash sapling at the Botanic Gardens’ conservation bank site.

PHOTO CREDIT: CORNELL CHRONICLE / PHOTO BY SREANG HOK, CORNELL

THE LIST

Research by Vance Marriner vmarriner@cnybj.com (315) 579-3911 @cnybjresearch

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1. Gore Mountain 793 Peaceful Valley Road North Creek, NY 12853 (518) 251-2411/goremountain.com

2. Greek Peak Mountain Resort 2000 NYS Route 392 Cortland, NY 13045 844-846-9575/greekpeak.net

ABOUT THE LIST

Information was provided by representatives of listed organizations and their websites. Other groups may have been eligible but did not respond to our requests for information. While The Business Journal strives to print accurate information, it is not possible to independently verify all data submitted. We reserve the right to edit entries or delete categories for space considerations.

The geographic scope of this list includes Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Franklin, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Schenectady, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins, Warren, Washington, and Wayne counties

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3. Song Mountain Resort 1 Song Mountain Road Tully, NY 13159 (315) 696-5711/skicny.com

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. Snow Ridge Resort 4173 West Road, Co Rt 51 Turin, NY 13473 (315) 348-8456/snowridge.com

Marchello begins serving as DEC executive deputy commissioner

BY JOURNAL STAFF news@cnybj.com

ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a new executive deputy commissioner with the recent return of Michelle Marchello to New York.

Marchello joined the DEC in this position on Sept. 8, bringing more than a decade of experience advancing state and local-government priorities on climate, energy, and environmental policy at the federal level. The executive deputy commissioner reports to DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

Marchello previously worked in the New York State Executive Chamber for more than seven years, serving in several roles before becoming deputy director for federal affairs. Marchello then became senior advisor for state and local

governments for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she led the agency’s engagement with state and local leaders nationwide on a broad range of environmental issues.

Marchello most recently served as the director of federal affairs for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Her deep expertise in environmental policy and intergovernmental relations makes her a key leader in advancing DEC’s mission and strategic priorities,” according to her bio on the DEC website.

Originally from New Jersey, Marchello spent more than 12 years in Washington, D.C. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from American University. n

Marchello

The Central New York BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 8, 2025 VOL. XXXVIII, NO. 43

NEWS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Adam Rombel arombel@cnybj.com

STAFF WRITER

Eric Reinhardt ereinhardt@cnybj.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Zehr ewebb@cnybj.com

RESEARCH DIRECTOR Vance Marriner vmarriner@cnybj.com

COLUMNISTS Will Barclay Russell Gloor Lee Hamilton

Kelly Bailey kbailey@cnybj.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Raviv Nesher (315) 579-3927 circulation@cnybj.com

Marny Nesher mnesher@cnybj.com

OFFICE MANAGER

Patty Martino officemanager@cnybj.com

New York State’s Raise the Age Isn’t Working; Reform is a Must

The abject failure of New York’s criminal-justice reform has been evident for years. For example, “Raise the Age,” which calls for many cases involving 16-year-old and 17-yearold adolescent offenders (AOs) to be heard in family court rather than criminal court, has done nothing to make New Yorkers safer. That is much like other failed “progressive” policies such as the near elimination of bail and solitary confinement in state prisons.

One look at New York City clearly demonstrates how dangerous and ineffective this policy is. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the number of young shooters has nearly doubled since the law was changed and the number of children victimized by shootings is up 83 percent. However, this problem is far from a downstate-specific issue. In Albany, one incident involved 10 young people being shot, one fatally, and buildings were set on fire on the Fourth of July. Statistics indicate an overall increase in violent crime committed by 16-year-old and 17-year-old offenders across the state, while convictions plummeted.

The Central New York Business Journal (ISSN #1050-3005) is published every week by CNY Business Review, Inc. All contents copyrighted 2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Cover Price $3.00

Subscription Rate $95 per year Call (315) 579-3927

“The

Prior to Raise the Age, in 2017, nearly 60 percent of AOs, or 4,000, charged with serious crimes were convicted in adult criminal court, and more than 1,000 received a prison or jail sentence. In 2024, however, fewer than 10 percent of AOs, or 418, charged with a felony received a felony conviction. And less than 5 percent were placed in an Office of Children and Family Services facility for more than a year.

reason for this legislation is simple: These young men and women know what they are doing is wrong.”

“The data is telling us, over the past five years, a very clear, stark story. We need to listen to that data,” said Tisch. The Assembly Minority Conference has been listening. We have been tracking this data for years, and we have continued to call for criminal accountability, fair and appropriate judicial discretion, and meaningful reforms to criminal-justice legislation that respects the rights of all New Yorkers, especially the victims of violent crime.

As such, it’s no surprise that district attorneys, law-enforcement agents, victims’ advocates, and lawmakers from every corner of New York have been persistent in their calls for change. With major changes coming in 2026 — New York City’s socialist experiment will undoubtedly create new challenges for residents and state lawmakers — it’s criti-

Congress Needs to Rebuild its Political Muscles

Watching the media’s reaction recently to the recent 427-1 vote in the U.S. House and the Senate’s unanimous consent for releasing the Epstein files, I was struck by two things.

First, that even though the votes went against President Trump’s vehement opposition (until a few days before), they were hardly profiles in courage. As House Speaker Mike Johnson put it afterward, “None of us want to go on record and in any way be accused of not being for maximum transparency,” a recognition that GOP members were under great public pressure to override the president’s original wishes.

And second, as the insider publication The Hill wrote afterward, no one should take that vote as an indication that the president’s hold on his own party has been broken. “To the contrary, he still exerts a vise-like grip on Republicans on Capitol Hill on the vast majority of issues,” they argued. To be sure, others argue differently, and you can certainly find exceptions, like the Senate’s votes in October against the administration’s tariff regime and its willingness to rebuff the president when he sought to eliminate the filibuster. Still, it’s fair to say that on most issues, President Trump still gets what he wants from the Republican-led Congress.

I wish it were otherwise. That’s because I believe Congress has grown listless in the

face of presidential authority — and not just when it comes to President Trump. When I first went to the House in the mid-1960s, it was still in a decades-long period of vigorous legislating, muscular oversight of the executive branch, and even — at least in the Watergate hearings — a fierce determination to hold a president to account. The decades since have seen congressional authority erode drastically.

There’s a thread that ties together this journey from handing the president War Powers and budget-making responsibility — explicitly given to Congress by the Constitution — to what we have today: a majority party that mostly refuses to challenge the president, members who prefer to duck town halls rather than face their constituents, and committee chairs who shy away from calling agency and department heads named by a president of their own party to account. That thread, I’d argue, is pain avoidance. Over the decades, many members of Congress have lost their appetite for engaging with people who don’t agree with them and for standing up for what they believe despite presidential pressure.

True, these were both easier to do in the past, when Congressional leaders like Sam Rayburn, Mike Mansfield, and Howard Baker saw protecting Congressional prerogative as worth spending political capital on — they made it clear that they would endure pain on behalf of the institution of Congress, and that they expected their members to do so, too. These days, many members see Congress not as an institution to defend but as a platform for individual brand-building. In this world, taking

cal we continue to push this fight forward.

I have introduced legislation (A.4705) to prevent 16-year-old and 17-year-old adolescent offenders who commit serious felonies from escaping criminal liability by being shielded by family court, where records are sealed. The reason for this legislation is simple: These young men and women know what they are doing is wrong. The gang leaders who recruit them to do their bidding while shielded by this law know what they are doing is wrong. We must hold them accountable.

The Assembly Minority Conference will always advocate for the victims of crime. I look forward to working with my partners and colleagues in the Assembly and Senate in the upcoming session to hold perpetrators accountable and restore common sense to our criminal-justice system. Raise the Age simply did not work, and it’s long past time to move on from this failed policy.

William (Will) A. Barclay, 56, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

political risks doesn’t hold much appeal. Yet, if Congress is to reassert itself as a responsible branch of government, it will need both a leadership and a majority of members who embrace and understand that political give and take, and persuading people who are skeptical of their arguments, are crucial skills to develop in a representative democracy — especially when dealing with one another on Capitol Hill.

In other words, they need to rebuild a sort of muscle memory for persuasion, negotiation, principled disagreement, and compromise.

This is impossible if they opt repeatedly to take the easy route of letting others make tough decisions. Instead, people who serve in or run for Congress need to learn how to persuade and work with members who don’t agree with them — and to stiffen their spines when a president tries to browbeat them into relinquishing congressional authority. To do this, I believe, they need to build their abilities by running in competitive Congressional districts, holding regular town halls, holding floor debates that make more room for amendments, serving on committees that are empowered to make difficult decisions, and reasserting Congressional authority over tough issues like taxes and spending. In other words, they need to rebuild the skill sets that once served members of Congress — and the American people — so well. n

Lee Hamilton, 94, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.

DECEMBER 9

n GOFCC Holiday Social from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Kristen’s Kitchen at Battle Island State Park Golf Course, 2150 New York 48, Fulton. This festive event gives the business community an opportunity to network while enjoying food, beverages, and live music. Cost is $35 for members, and $50 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit: https:// centerstateceo.com/events/12/2025/ gofcc-holiday-social

DECEMBER 11

n Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce Connect Over Lunch event from 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Tri Cities Opera, 315 Clinton St., Binghamton. The chamber’s Connect Over Lunch is a popular networking event held on the second Thursday of each month at various locations throughout the community. There will be an opportunity to meet one another, display literature, participate in the included raffle, and give a brief introduction to the entire group. More information, including registration, is available through this link: https:// shorturl.at/MuXqy

n Tompkins Chamber Women in Business Roundtable from 3-4:30 p.m. at Viva Taqueria & Cantina. 215 E. State St., Ithaca. We’ll gather for meaningful conversation and connection with fellow women business and nonprofit leaders. As always, our Women in Business Roundtable gatherings are

SUNY:

BUSINESS CALENDAR

known for important conversations, realtime brainstorming, and a supportive environment. All women-identifying business owners, leaders, and employees from Tompkins Chamber or Trumansburg Chamber member organizations are welcome to attend. For more information and to register, visit: https://business. tompkinschamber.org/events/details/ women-in-business-roundtable-at-vivataqueria-cantina-194029

n INSPYRE Fireside Chats Presented by M&T Bank event from 4-5:30 p.m. at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub by CenterState, at 235 Harrison St. in Syracuse. Join CenterState CEO as it kicks off a new series, presented by M&T Bank, featuring serial entrepreneur Jeff Knauss, who is also CEO and co-founder of Arcovo AI, an INSPYRE tenant. Hear his remarkable journey and insights on turning bold ideas to meaningful success and impact. Through intimate and candid conversations, INSPYRE Fireside Chats share the pivotal moments, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped the entrepreneurial path of the featured speakers. Attendees will gain insights into building resilient businesses, navigating uncertainty, cultivating visionary leadership, and staying grounded while scaling big ideas. For more information and to register, visit: https:// centerstateceo.com/events/12/2025/ inspyre-fireside-chats-presented-mt-bank

DECEMBER 12

n Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards event from

Jeremy Jiménez

Jiménez, a faculty member in the Foundations and Social Advocacy Department in SUNY Cortland’s School of Education, earned his doctorate in international

11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Delta Hotel by Marriott, 200 Genesee St., Utica. The chamber’s annual Business of the Year Awards event honors finalists across five categories for their commitment to the region, staying power, and chamber involvement. The winners will be revealed at the awards luncheon, attended by a diverse group of individuals and organizations from the local business community. More information, including registration, is available through this link: https:// shorturl.at/HtEWV

JANUARY 7

n Dannible & McKee, LLP Annual Nonprofit Conference 2026 held virtually from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This virtual conference is designed to deliver valuable insights into the financial and operational challenges facing the nonprofit sector — and strategies to overcome them. You’ll walk away with practical knowledge and skills to better manage your organization or serve more effectively on a board. CPE credits are available for attendees. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your expertise and make a greater impact. More information is available at: https:// www.cnybj.com/event/annual-nonprofitconference-2026/. The event website is at: www.dmcpas.com/events.

JANUARY 22

n 2026 CenterState CEO Economic Forecast Breakfast from 8-9 a.m. at the Oncenter Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center, 800 South State St., Syracuse.

and comparative education from Stanford University in 2017. He previously taught high school social studies for more than a decade across the world, including Norway, Venezuela, and the U.S., per a Sept. 9 announcement on the SUNY Cortland website.

Join CenterState CEO members, business leaders, and executives for the forecast presentation. Registration & networking is at 7:30 a.m., with program & breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. Cost is $109 for members; $139 for non-members. For more information, including a registration link, visit: https://centerstateceo.com/ events/1/2026/economic-forecastbreakfast

FEBRUARY 18

n 2026 Greater Binghamton Chamber Annual Economic Forecast & Building BC Awards event from 7:30-10 a.m. at Holiday Inn Binghamton, 2-8 Hawley St., Binghamton. Registration & breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and program from 8-10 a.m. Attendees will hear from Luke Tilley, chief economist and head of economics, asset allocation and quantitative services for Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), the investment advisory arm of Wilmington Trust and M&T Bank. Attendees will also hear a local housing and market update from the Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors. The morning will conclude with the Greater Binghamton Chamber’s annual Building BC Awards, celebrating innovation and growth across the region through four distinct categories. For more information and to register, visit: https:// business.greaterbinghamtonchamber. com/events/details/2026-annualeconomic-forecast-building-bc-awards10551?calendarMonth=2026-02-01

Jiménez’s course topics explore race, class, gender and international issues in education and how they intersect with environmental justice. His current research focuses on how to prepare educators and schools for the transition toward life after fossil fuels, with special reverence for Indigenous conceptions of land stewardship. n

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE NEWS

SPONSORED CONTENT

Editor’s note: Submit your People on the Move news at https://www.cnybj.com/submit/people/

LAW

Hancock Estabrook, LLP announced that ASHLEY D. HAYES has rejoined the firm’s Litigation, Labor & Employment and Intellectual Property departments. She rejoins the firm after serving as an interlocutory attorney for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), where she was responsible for the pre-trial management of inter partes proceedings before the TTAB. Previously, Hayes spent nearly 20 years at Hancock Estabrook, representing clients on a wide range of issues in federal and state court litigation. She represents

a variety of clients, including publicly and privately held corporations, municipalities, and charitable organizations. Hayes has appeared regularly in federal and state court and arbitration to advocate on her clients’ behalf. Her practice areas include employment law, civil-rights litigation, product-liability litigation, trade secret and intellectual-property litigation, other complex contractual disputes, and large-scale real property and water-rights disputes.

REAL ESTATE-COMMERICAL

CBRE Upstate has welcomed two new brokers to its Syracuse Office, AMIE CULVER and EDDIE KIRSHNER. Culver brings strong experience in commercial

acquisitions, dispositions, market analysis, and client relationship management. She has supported investment sourcing, negotiated leases and contracts, led property tours, and leveraged technology to enhance deal flow and client service. Her background with the U.S. Department of State strengthened her project coordination, operational structure, and cross-team communication skills, while her lending experience deepened her financial analysis and contract knowledge. CBRE is excited to have Amie on board and looks forward to the value she will bring to the firm’s cli-

ents and team. Kirshner brings experience in investment sales, leasing, underwriting, and financial analysis across the Binghamton and upstate New York markets. He has supported acquisitions, dispositions, and full transaction processes during roles with Namdar Realty Group and CBRE, gaining strong skills in modeling, cash-flow analysis, and market research. Eddie also serves as VP of the Binghamton University Real Estate Society and is a licensed New York real-estate salesperson. CBRE is thrilled to have him on board and looks forward to his contributions. n

Ask Rusty: If We Both Collect SS, Will our Benefits be Affected?

DEAR RUSTY: I reached full retirement age (FRA) back in June, but I have not yet filed to collect Social Security (SS). My husband currently collects SS funds, and he waited until he had reached his FRA a few years ago. I am considering signing up now to receive my funds, but I am a little confused about whether I will receive my full benefit or is there some kind of adjustment made based on both of us collecting? We are a simple case. We have been married for 46 years, so there are no other exes involved in this equation. He did everything online when he was ready to start receiving his funds, but we didn’t consult with any advisor when my husband claimed. Now I think that adding me as a spouse might trigger some other things I should consider. Thank you for your advice.

Signed:ConcernedWife

Dear Concerned: Since you and your husband have both reached your respective full retirement ages, you are both entitled to receive your full benefits without any reduction. And since you haven’t yet filed, you are now accumulating delayed retirement credits (DRCs) at the rate of 0.667 percent additional benefit for each month you continue to delay. You will get your full SS retirement benefit (plus any earned DRCs) when you claim. The only question you need to consider is whether either you or your husband will be entitled to a “spousal boost” (an increase) when you claim.

If the SS retirement benefit you were entitled to at your FRA is less than 50 percent the amount your husband was entitled to at his FRA, then you will get a “spousal boost” on top of your own SS retirement amount (the “boost” amount would be the difference between your FRA amount and half

of his FRA amount). But if your SS amount at your FRA is more than 50 percent of your husband’s FRA entitlement, then you will only get your own SS retirement benefit based on your own lifetime earnings record. Spouse benefits are always determined from each partner’s FRA entitlement, and if one partner’s FRA amount is less than 50 percent of the other partner’s FRA amount, then a spousal boost will be given. And that also works if your FRA entitlement is higher than your husband’s — if your FRA amount is more than twice your husband’s FRA amount, then he will get a spousal boost from you. Otherwise, each of you will receive only your personally earned SS retirement amount, and both of you collecting SS will not negatively affect each other’s individual SS benefit.

FYI, the spousal-boost amount stops growing at full retirement age. So, if you are eligible for a spousal boost

from your husband, then you should claim your SS benefits now and ask for benefits retroactive to June (your FRA month). However, if you will not get a spousal boost from your husband, you have the option of delaying even further and earning more DRCs (thus a higher monthly benefit). You can earn DRCs up to age 70, at which time you will receive the maximum possible Social Security benefit (about 127 percent of your personal FRA amount if you delay that long). n

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other governmental entity.

New York State’s Effort to Replace the NLRB Is Enjoined

On Nov. 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction barring New York State from enforcing the recent legislative amendment that gave the New York Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) jurisdiction over private-sector labor-relations matters in New York. The court found that federal law preempted the state’s action and gave exclusive jurisdiction to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

As we previously reported, earlier this year Section 715 of the New York Labor Law was amended to provide coverage for private employees that are traditionally covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by granting authority to PERB to oversee labor disputes in the private sector unless the NLRB had affirmatively obtained a court order establishing jurisdiction. The legislation enabled PERB to certify new union representatives without elections, adjudicate unfair labor practices, and exercise authority over new and previously negotiated collective-bargaining agreements.

Two lawsuits to challenge the legislation were quickly filed. The NLRB sued New

York to protect its jurisdiction. That matter remains pending. At about the same time, Amazon.Com Services, LLC (Amazon) filed suit to enjoin the prosecution and investigation of an unfair labor practice charge filed with PERB under the new law. In granting the injunction, the federal court recognized that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution establishes federal law as the “supreme Law of the Land . . . any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding,” which means that when federal and state law conflict, federal law prevails and state law is preempted. In the context of private-sector labor relations, the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that when an activity is arguably subject to regulation under the NLRA, the states must defer to the exclusive competence of the NLRB and, as such, states are prohibited from setting forth standards of conduct inconsistent with the substantive requirements of the NLRA and from providing their own regulatory or judicial remedies for conduct prohibited or arguably prohibited by the NLRA. The court in the Amazon matter rejected all of New York State’s arguments to create an exception to these

established principles and defend the legislative amendment. Given that Amazon faced an immediate risk of parallel and potentially inconsistent proceedings from the state and federal regulatory schemes, the court found there was irreparable harm justifying an immediate injunction.

While an appeal is expected, the current result is very good news. In the NLRB’s action, PERB had already agreed to stay any proceedings initiated against private-sector employers. It is now enjoined from enforcing the New York law against private-sector employers. This action, however, does not impact employers already subject to PERB’s jurisdiction, including public employers and agricultural employers.

As a result, it is far less likely that unions will file representation petitions or unfair labor practice charges with PERB, and instead address complaints through the NLRB. Currently, the NLRB remains without a quorum; however, the NLRB’s regional offices and general counsel’s office are active again following the government shutdown and have restarted conducting elections, issuing complaints, investigating charges, holding hearings, and issuing interim ALJ (administrative

law judge) decisions. n

Thomas G. Eron is a member (partner) of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. Located in its Syracuse office, he exclusively represents private and public-sector employers in labor relations and employment law. Contact Eron at teron@bsk.com. Samuel P. Wiles is an associate attorney in Bond’s New York City office. His practice involves advising employers on labor and employment issues including matters related to compliance with federal and state laws. His practice also involves representing employers before federal and state courts, in addition to federal and state agencies including the NLRB. Contact Wiles at swiles@bsk.com. This article is drawn from the firm’s New York Labor and Employment Law Report on its website.

Hayes

Culver Kirshner

RUSSELL GLOOR Social Security Matters

THOMAS G. ERON & SAMUEL P. WILES Viewpoint

EASTERN SECURITY SERVICES

Founded in 1976 in Elmira, Eastern Security Services is a third-generation, family-owned security provider headquartered in Syracuse. We offer customized security solutions across New York state — from Buffalo to Albany, serving both residential and commercial clients. Our services include burglar and fire-alarm systems, access control, and video-surveillance solutions. With a commitment to award-winning service and 24/7 professional monitoring, we ensure our clients’ safety and peace of mind.

What are your biggest challenges?

The security landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats and risks emerging every day. Our challenge is staying ahead of these changes while providing personalized solutions. By closely collaborating with our technology partners, we ensure our clients benefit from the latest innovations, tailored to meet their unique needs.

What are your greatest successes?

Our expansion across New York state, from Buffalo to Albany, highlights nearly 50 years of adapting and thriving in a competitive security market. Our commitment to employee development has earned us recognition as one of Central New York’s Best Places to Work, as well as numerous local and industry awards.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

We aim to continue our statewide expansion, enhancing our service offerings with advanced technologies like AI-driven surveillance and mobile-video solutions. Our focus remains on providing tailored security solutions that meet the evolving needs of our diverse clientele.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

Eastern Security Services is more than an alarm company; we’re a trusted partner in protecting what matters most. As a family-owned business, we take pride in our deep roots in New York state and our commitment to delivering exceptional service to our communities.

Thank You!

LOCK 1 DISTILLING COMPANY

Lock 1 Distilling Company is a New York State Class D Farm Distillery that opened in 2017. All of our products are made from locally sourced grains and ingredients. In our tasting room, we support and promote other NYS farm-based craft-beverage producers, such as wineries, breweries, and cideries.

What are your biggest challenges?

Some of the biggest challenges we face are the rising costs of supplies, raw materials, fuel, and fertilizers. The economy today is far different than when we started and it’s a challenge to bring products to market and offer them for a reasonable price.

What are your greatest successes?

One of our greatest successes is that we were able to build our own equipment and produce products that are as good or better than some of the biggest distilleries in the world. We’ve gone toe to toe in blind taste tests and we consistently win.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

In the next 3-5 years, we hope to be able to grow our brand and expand our sales footprint outside of New York. Emerging markets, such as online sales and global exports, are within our reach and we hope to find ourselves in that space.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

None of this would be possible without the support of our family, friends, and the community in which we live. Our goal is to continuously strive to make better products by implementing innovative techniques while remaining loyal to traditional practices.

Transforming empty lots into gardens , planting fruit trees for our neighbors in need, & growing a greener tomorrow.

SUSTAINABILITYINACTION .

MOHAWK GLOBAL

Mohawk Global was founded in 1993 by Gar Grannell and partners as a logistics services company in Syracuse. Under Gar’s leadership as president and CEO since 2005, and sole owner since 2019, the company expanded to include customs brokerage, international and domestic transportation, and trade advisory services to become a full-service supply chain management firm. From 2018 to 2023, his three children joined the business, continuing a legacy of purpose and care. Guided by our core values — enrich purposefully, care personally, deliver professionally — Mohawk Global has been recognized as a great place to work every year since 2013.

What are your biggest challenges?

The current landscape of the trade industry presents significant challenges, particularly with the ongoing uncertainty and implementation of unprecedented tariffs. At Mohawk Global, we are fortunate to have a team of experts, many with direct experience in government organizations, who are well-equipped to navigate evolving trade policies and provide strategic guidance to our clients.

What are your greatest successes?

For more than 30 years, Mohawk Global has built a legacy of continuous growth and purposeful expansion. From our roots in Syracuse, we’ve grown to nine offices across the U.S. and an international presence in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Our reach now extends even further through strategic joint ventures, MGL Europe and MGL Asia, bringing the strength of a global network to our clients at home and abroad. Throughout this journey, one commitment has remained constant: enriching the lives of our people. As we grow, we continue to lead with purpose, guided by our values and vision to deliver world class, personalized logistics solutions.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

Our team is energized by the outlook ahead, with bold plans to expand both our services and footprint. Embracing innovation and advancing technology, we’re enhancing how we serve our clients — efficiently, smarter, and more customized. As the global supply chain grows increasingly complex, our commitment remains clear: to drive sustainable growth with purpose, agility, and resilience. This next chapter is not just about expansion, it’s about evolving with intention and creating lasting impact for our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.

What would you like the community to know about your family business? Mohawk Global believes in enriching the lives of all our stakeholders.

DAVE SCHNECKENBURGER, THOMPSON & JOHNSON EQUIPMENT

Founded in 1954 by George Johnson and Tommy Thompson as a Clark forklift dealer, Thompson & Johnson (T&J) Equipment began in Syracuse and has grown into an award-winning dealership with four locations in Binghamton, Horseheads, Schenectady, and Syracuse. With more than 175 employees — half of whom are technicians — T&J has built a reputation for superior service, repair, and leasing solutions for supply chain and manufacturing customers. For over 70 years, we’ve delivered industry-leading products from Toyota, Crown, and Clark, and more recently expanded through Northeast Dock & Door, specializing in loading-dock equipment and service.

What

are your biggest challenges?

The accelerating pace of business change is an ongoing challenge, compounded by increasing government rules and regulations. In New York state, human-resource teams face significant pressure from complex programs. At the same time, the shortage of skilled trades — especially mechanics and technicians — makes it difficult to operate a high-performing service department. The wave of retirements among the baby-boomer generation also challenges us with the loss of valuable institutional knowledge.

What

are your greatest successes?

Being a finalist for the Best Places to Work in CNY for eight straight years is a testament to how we work to take care of our employees, which is the foundation of customer satisfaction and growing a business. We are equally proud of our culture of community and corporate support, encouraging the support of local not-for-profits. T&J is proud to support a broad cross section including the Food Bank of CNY, Southern Tier and Capital District, The Most, The Boys & Girls Club, Clear Path for Veterans, In My Father’s Kitchen, and many more. Personally, I have had the great opportunity to help many local organizations grow as president or board chair, including CenterState CEO, Dewitt Community Church, The MOST, Young Life, and Dewitt Rotary. It is fulfilling to know you can make an impact on both individuals and organizations

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

We expect to increase our service area with a facility in Western New York, and add additional product lines.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

Believing that a rising tide lifts all ships, we remain committed to helping our employees, customers, and community thrive together.

COMSOURCE, INC.

ComSource was founded in 1989 by Kevin Hanlon with a strong foundation in family values and a vision for excellence. At its founding, the company sold three brands of technology and employed six people. After Kevin’s passing in 2019, his wife Denise continued the legacy as a family-run business. Under her guidance, ComSource has grown significantly, expanding its team by 56 percent to a total of 65 employees, and increasing revenue by 155 percent in the same period. ComSource now partners with more than 100 manufacturer technology lines, including data center, collaboration, security, networking, cloud, managed and professional services.

What are your biggest challenges?

Preserving a strong, unified company culture with nearly half of its team working remotely. While remote work has provided flexibility and expanded the company’s talent reach, it can also create obstacles to connection, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.

What are your greatest successes?

Building a family-oriented culture where employees are valued as more than just colleagues, they are treated like extended family. This environment has fostered loyalty, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose, resulting in long-term employee retention and lasting customer relationships. ComSource’s culture of trust and innovation has empowered teams to deliver tailored technology solutions that consistently exceed client expectations.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

ComSource is focused on further developing its talented team, nurturing a healthy work/life balance, and continuing to invest in the tools and processes that drive both innovation and long-term success. Externally, the company remains committed to growing as a trusted technology partner, expanding its service offerings, while staying true to its customerfirst approach. ComSource aims to deepen its expertise in emerging technologies such as AI, strengthen strategic partnerships, and scale operations to serve an even broader customer base.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

ComSource is proud of its family roots and the strong relationships it has built with more than 500 K–12 schools, universities, and businesses across New York state. The company’s mission goes beyond technology, with a focus on keeping students safe, supporting educators, and strengthening both local communities and the businesses that sustain them.

MORSE MANUFACTURING

Founded in 1923, Morse Manufacturing Company has proudly remained a family-owned business for over a century. What began as an innovative solution for safer drum handling has grown into a global leader in drum handling equipment. Now operated by the third generation of the Andrews family, the business continues its tradition of innovation, quality, and safety. Our American-made products are trusted worldwide to lift, move, and pour drums with efficiency and reliability. For three generations, Morse has built its reputation on family values, craftsmanship, and a commitment to providing dependable solutions for customers everywhere.

What are your biggest challenges?

Our challenges are all about relationships and people. One of our core values is family. We are a family business, but our employees are also a part of the Morse family, as well as our dealers, our suppliers, and our community.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

Morse is continuing to grow internationally. We expect to have multiple international distribution centers within the next 5 years.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

Morse provides jobs in engineering, machining, welding, assembly, design, quality control, and more. It also helps sustain specialized manufacturing skills in the region. Also, as a manufacturer, Morse’s supply chain (raw materials, subcontracting, local services) and employee spending have ripple effects in the local economy.

FANCHER SERVICES, INC.

In 1947, Fred Fancher started Fancher Appliance from Laurel Lake, Pennsylvania from his garage. In 1952, we became incorporated and built a building at 1036 Vestal Parkway East in Vestal. In 1992, Fred’s nephew Ron took over the business and continued until 2021, when Ron’s son Kyle took over the business. In 2023, we re-branded into Fancher Services, Inc. and added electrical services. We also remodeled the office area and transformed into the digital world.

What are your biggest challenges?

Keeping up to date with the changing technology of our industry as well as making sure we find the right employees to make up our team.

What are your greatest successes?

Giving back to the community we live and work in. Donating and sponsoring multiple youth sports teams, as well as nonprofit organizations to help our area thrive.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

Continuing to grow in all phases of plumbing, mechanical, and electrical services. Help and assist in residential projects and get into more of the commercial projects in our area — all while keeping great customer service and quality work being completed.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

As a 3rd generation locally family-owned business, the quality plumbing, heating, and electrical services we provide will continue for years to come — all while keeping everything local and supporting our community.

ROBERT L. KELLY GENERAL INSURANCE AGENCY

Robert L. Kelly started the agency in the 1960s with three colleagues who worked with him selling life insurance at Sears. They parted ways in the 70s and he continued as the sole owner of Robert L Kelly General Insurance, with the help of a neighbor acting as the office manager. His sons Joe and Mike came on board after they graduated from college and became partners once my grandfather retired in the 90s. They grew to specialize in insurance for small contractors, churches, not for profits alongside auto, home, and umbrella insurance, providing intentional, boutique service to our clients.

What are your biggest challenges?

Our biggest challenge is navigating the changing auto and home market for our clients. Also hiring the right people to maintain the level of personalized, client-centric service we are known for.

What are your greatest successes?

The connection I have cultivated with my family, friends, and professional mentors throughout my life, says Jacquie Kelly Kaden, insurance broker/partner. This village has sustained me through the most challenging moments in my family life and career journey. They have helped me mother my children, develop my teaching career, and grow our family insurance agency. I could not have accomplished all that I have over the last four years-transition to an automated management system, VOIP phones, QuickBooks and bring on full and part time staff without the love and support of my friends, family and mentors.

Where do you see your company in the next 3-5 years?

My vision is to be a million-dollar revenue insurance agency with four full-time staff serving our clients and the community of CNY.

What would you like the community to know about your family business?

Our third-generation business reflects our family’s values and my grandfather’s original mission — to give service to everyone who walks through our door or calls our office, while at the same time serving in our community. Our clients are our neighbors, friends, local downtown restaurants, upstate property developers, and downstate manufacturers. They are family and our priority every single day.

W

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