What Central New York Leaders Expect from the Trump Administration
OSWEGO COUNTY
BUSINESS December 2016 / January 2017
$4.50
OswegoCountyBusiness.com
Colette Astoria started a new business, Oswego Food & History Tours.
6 Promising
New Businesses December 2016 / Janaury 2017
What are their chances to succeed in today’s economy? $4.50
14
New Year’s Resolutions Small Business Owners Should Make
Become a Morn
In This Stage of Your Life….
Mornings Morningstar is a family always lo owned and operated skilled nursing and and most rehabilitation center that als to provides a competitive Oand SW E G O •wageWAT E RV I L L E comprehensive Whether and benefit package, comfortable and LPN or supportive atmosphere and high quality care and service. Aide, PT, UPDATE: Morningstar Care Center is working or if outpatient you are not a clinician and would like to open its community therapy service e a Morningstar! Morningstar Care Center in early is 2017! Stay tuned! keeping, laundry, activities or dietary. Pleas always looking for the best and most qualified individu- would love to meet you! mily owned and operated Assisted Living
We’re Here For You!
Become a Morningstar!
als to join our team. o, New York. Our mission is to provide Whether you are an RN, an active and comfortable environment Morningstar is a family owned and LPN or Certified Nurse iduality and independence. In addition Aide, PT, PTA, OT, COTA – are services and general support to help operated skilled nursing and Contact: Paula Whitehouse otadapt a clinician and would and like cognitive to work in houseto their physical rehabilitation center that provides 343-0880 or ry, activities or dietary. us a call. We at (315) chieve their individual bestPlease qualitygive of life. ng residents pwhitehouse@gardens-alf.com meet you! to our fourth floor! We have competitive andowned comprehensive The Gardens is a family and operated Assisted wage Living ul first six months and greatly appreciate Residence in Oswego, NY. Our mission is to provide our residents ort! Thankowned you Oswego and Onondaga County! If you and or a loved one is considering benefit comfortable and is a family with an active andpackage, comfortable environment that promotes Morningstarand is a family owned and operated esidence we would to meet you. skilled nursing andloveand individuality andteam independence. We provide healthcare services skilled nursing rehabilitation center that supportive atmosphere and high n center that provides and general support to help people overcome or adapt to their provides a competitive and comprehensive wage assisted living community being developed in Oswego NY. We are accepting d comprehensive wage quality care and service. physical and cognitive limitations so as to achieve their individual and benefitNurses, package,qualified comfort and supportive censed Practical home healthteam aides and personal care aides. ckage, comfortable andhigh quality care service. best quality of life. atmosphere and m atmosphere and high UPDATE: Morningstar Care Center is working to The Gardens is now accepting residents to our fourth floor! We care andopen service. have had a very successful first six months and greatly appreciate its community outpatient therapy service in WatervilleLife Resdiential Care Center is the a 92 bed, family owned in Balance community support! Thank you Oswego and Onondaga early 2017! Stay tuned! and operated skilled nursing and rehabiltation facility located County! If you or a loved one is considering an assisted living gstar Residential . . is part residence 17 Sunrise Drive -Care Oswego,Center. NY 13126 315.342.4790 in Waterville NY. The.• facility of a health care provider we would love to meet you. Please contact Paula continuum based here in Central NY. Please contactatJoe Murabito www.morningstarcares.com Whitehouse (315) 343-0880 or pwhitehouse@gardens-alf.com (845)-750-4566 or Judy Harding (315) 525-4473 We are accepting applications for Licensed Practical Nursed, e Drive - Oswego, NY 13126 315.342.4790 17home Sunrise Drive - Oswego, qualified health aides and personal care aides. NY 13126 www.morningstarcares.com
Li
Morningstar Residential Care
m, a better professional experience.
a better team, a better professiona
www.morningstarcares.c
132 Ellen Street - Oswego, NY 13126 • 315.342.0880 • Fax-315.342.5365
star Residential Care Center Waterville Residential Care Center is a 92 bed, le Residential Care Center family owned and operated skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Waterville The Gardens NY. The facility is part of a health care provider continuum based here in Central New York. Please contact Joe Murabito at (845)-750by Morningstar 4566 or Judy Harding at (315) 525-4473
Morningstar Residential Care Center Waterville Residential Care Center The Gardens by Morningstar
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017
Issue 147
PROFILE MARY CANALE She has been affiliated with SUNY Oswego since 1977, when she came here as a freshman. Today she heads the alumni relations, responsible for raising big bucks for scholarships and many other projects...................................12
SPECIAL FEATURES
COVER STORY
• Meet six promising new businesses • Sink or swim: New businesses must overcome tough odds to stay afloat Page 47
Economic Development • SUNY Oswego plans major move into downtown Oswego • SUNY professor co-edits book about best practices among business incubators Page 58
Where in the World is Sandra Scott? Honduras offers great sites to visit — just skip the big, unsafe cities ...................................... 16 Donald Trump & CNY What local leaders expect from the Trump Administration ............................................................................. 18 Pride of Pulaski At 84, Douglas Barclay — former NYS senator, ambassador — gears down a notch ......................................... 33 14 New Year’s Resolutions Business owners share what they think are the most important resolutions for 2017....................... 35 Job Growth Demand for jobs in health care will continue at least until 2022..................................................................................................... 46 Chip Reader Rollout Local retailers have transitioned to EMV with mixed results ..................................................................................... 64
SUCCESS STORY Joe Murabito took over ownership of a nursing home in Oswego in 2012, transforming and modernizing the business. From there, he created one of the largest networks of senior residential care facilities in the region...................76
DEPARTMENTS
Healthcare
• Oswego County a hot spot for heart attacks • Fighting Parkinson’s desease • Primary care shortage • ARISE turns 20 Page 66 4
....... 9 How I Got Started Joe Bush, Joe Bush’s Collision Center........... 10 Newsmakers, Business Updates.............................. 20, 37 Dining Out LD’s Alehouse has Upstate’s best chicken wings. ..... 30 My Turn ‘Journalese is alive, well... and flourishing’. ............ 44 Economic Trends Report highlights accomplishments . .......... 60 Last Page William Gregway, Oswego weather observer ....... 82 On the Job What do you like about being a business owner?
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Advertisers Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home....................27 ALPS Professional Services..25 Amdursky, Pelky, Fennell & Wallen.................................9 Amerigas................................25 ARISE....................................73 Bailiwick Market & Café.......13 Berkshire Hathaway ..............57 Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law...............27 Brewerton Pharmacy & Compounding Center................72 Brookfield Renewable Power.43 Bugow’s Driver Rehab........... 11 Burke's Home Center.............25 C & S Companies....................7 Canale's Italian Cuisine..........32 Canale’s Insurance & Accounting..................21, 23 Cancer Services Program.......73 Caster's Sawmill Inc...............22 Century 21 — Galloway Realty................23 Century 21 Leah Signature..................25
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CNY Community Foundation..........................8 Community Bank...................41 Compass Credit Union...........59 Crouse Hospital......................83 Disciplined Management Capital.................................5 Dusting Divas.........................59 Eis House...............................32 Entergy.....................................3 Exelon Generation.................15 Fastrac....................................14 Fitzgibbons Agency...............13 Foster Funeral Home..............57 Fulton Savings Bank................6 Glider Oil...............................14 Haun Welding Supply, Inc.....25 Hillside Commons.................28 J P Jewelers............................29 Joe Bush’s Collision...............21 Johnston Gas..........................22 Lakeshore Hardwoods...........29 Lakeside Artisans...................29 Laser Transit.......................... 11 Local 43 (NECA EBEW).......57
Local 73, Plumbers & Steamfitters...28 Local News, Inc.....................25 Longley Brothers...................13 Mimi's Drive Inn....................32 Mr. Sub...................................32 Nelson Law Firm...................43 Northern Ace Home Center.....9 Operation Oswego County.....83 Oswego County Federal Credit Union......................45 Oswego County Hospice........72 Oswego County Monuments........................22 Oswego County Mutual Insurance........................... 11 Oswego County Opportunities (OCO).........75 Oswego County Stop DWI....22 Oswego Food & History Tours.. 29 Oswego Health ......................84 Oswego Valley Insurance.......45 Oswego YMCA......................28 Over the Top Roofing.............25 Pathfinder Bank......................15
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Peter Realty — Simeon DeWitt..................73 Phoenix Press.........................43 Port City Copy Center............23 Pro-Build................................21 Riccelli Northern....................57 River Edge Mansion..............29 RiverHouse Restaurant..........32 Scriba Electric........................23 Servpro of Oswego County....23 Springside at Seneca Hill.......75 SUNY Oswego, Office of Business and Community Development.......................5 Sustainable Office Solutions....5 Tailwater Lodge.......................7 The Gardens at Morningstar.........................2 Trust Pediatrics......................72 Tully Hill Chemical Dependency Treatment.....73 Uniforms Etc..........................23 Valley Locksmith...................21 Volney Multiplex...................27 White’s Lumber & Building Supply................22
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Smart Giving for Tomorrow
COVERING CENTRAL NEW YORK OswegoCountyBusiness.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto
Associate Editor Lou Sorendo
Columnists
Linda Dickerson Hartsock joins her son, Peter, on the steps in front of Syracuse University’s Crouse College where he is a Visual and Performing Arts Student.
L. Michael Treadwell Bruce Frassinelli, Jamieson Persee Sandra Scott, Jacob Pucci
Writers & Contributing Writers
Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Matthew Liptak, Nicole Shue Carol Thompson, Ken Little Bernadette Mroz
Advertising
Peggy Kain Stacie Garafolo
Office Assistant Kimberley Tyler
Layout and Design
Many people believe that they must choose between providing for their family and giving back to the communities or charities they love. I learned that you can do both by finding the right balance. The perfect solution for me, and many others, was to establish a fund at the Community Foundation that will receive a portion of my assets through my will. Setting my fund up this way has enabled me to provide an inheritance for my children while leaving a legacy to the community that has so greatly enriched our lives. It makes me feel good knowing that my fund will provide resources to the next generation of community leaders to make a difference. I know that even after I’m gone, my fund will be extremely well managed by the Community Foundation, and will be in the hands of people who care about the community as much as I do.
Read more of Linda’s story at Hartsock.5forCNY.org.
Dylon Clew-Thomas
Cover Photo
Charles Wainwright Oswego County Business is published by Local News, Inc., which also publishes CNY Summer Guide, Business Guide, CNY Winter Guide, College Life, In Good Health– The Healthcare Newspaper (four editions), CNY Healthcare Guide and 55PLUS, a Magazine for Active Adults (two editions) Published bimonthly (6 issues a year) at 185 E. Seneca Street PO Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126. Subscription: $21.50 a year; $35 for two years © 2016 by Oswego County Business. All rights reserved. Third class postage paid at Syracuse, NY. Permit Number: 244
How to Reach Us
CNY Philanthropy Center 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 422-9538 www.cnycf.org 8
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-8020 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: Editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
ON THE JOB “What do you enjoy the most about being a business owner?” “I love working with people. When they get their items in the mail and I get a message back saying it was really special and it meant so much to their family, it makes me feel like I made a difference. It’s not just about making money. Whether it’s a sad time or a happy event, I like making a difference.” Rebecca Duger Owner, Uniquely Designed Items, Jordan
“It’s an opportunity to service the local community and to offer jobs for people in our community to provide for their families.” Ari Malzman VP, Cannon Pools and Spas, North Syracuse
“I’m not a corporate guy. I like dealing with the community. I like developing relationships. I like not having a lot of overhead so I can take care of people. The most important thing to me is developing relationships. I came from Western Massachusetts and almost everyone I knew was through the small businesses I had. Now I’m meeting new people here. I like not having someone walk in and feel pressured like they’re in a corporate place. That’s the most important thing. It’s a place I’d want to walk into, so that’s what I’m trying to give the people in the area. It’s a laidback, comfortable feeling in a small business. It’s personable.” Corey Bryant Owner, Sleeping Giant Mattress Company, Minetto
“I love being a small business owner. I like being able to cater to my customers’ needs, provide exceptional service without the restrictions of a corporate structure and the limits of that structure. I like being able to employ local people and provide some opportunities that are not available. Most of the jobs I have are not high skill jobs, so we’re able to employ and train some people at an entry level. I love being a thriving part of our local community.” Amy Lear Owner, Man in the Moon Candies, Oswego
“I like doing things my own way. I’m sitting here at home working right now. It’s challenging and fun and I like meeting everyone who comes in. I tell everyone who comes in they’re my boss. They’ll say, ‘What should I do?’ And I say, ‘What do you want me to do?’” Patty Haines Owner, Seams So Right, Oswego “I love the business. I love working with people and I’m passionate about being an advocate. I love owning my own business because of the creative aspect. I’m a new business owner, so it’s exciting to just create something. I started at the end of March.” Carrie Scholz Owner, Health Navigation of CNY, Skaneateles
“I’m doing what I love.” Cindy Swartwood Owner, Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery, Fulton
“I’m an owner and artist. I enjoy the personal contact. We can do anything from 12 shirts to 1,000 shirts, but if I can’t do a job, I will tell you who can. I’m hands-on with my customers and try to keep it local if I can.” Thomas Brady Owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton “I think that it comes down to the people and being part of a community, feeling you make a contribution to the community with the service you offer. For me, I like working with people, 99 percent of whom I enjoy. You get to know your customers and their family and interests and foibles. You get to know them in a way that only small businesses can. It comes down to having people know you, care about you and know how best to serve you. And it’s also great to have new people come in the door.” Linda Tyrrell Owner, Harbor Towne Gifts & Souvenirs, Oswego
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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How I Got
Started Joe Bush
Owner of Joe Bush’s Collision Center in Phoenix recalls starting his business from scratch with a $10,000 investment. He is now celebrating 30 years in business
Q.: What was your motivation to get into the auto repair business? A.: My dad Joe Bush owned his own shop — Joe’s Body Shop — and I worked for him beginning at around the age of 7. I remember jumping off the school bus and running out back to his shop behind our house. He actually had a big shop with six or seven guys working there. I used to go out there and help him work on cars. Q.: How did you first get established in your own business? A.: When vehicles went from body on frame to unibody construction, my dad, who was getting up in age, said, ‘I’m done working on this stuff.’ There’s a lot of expense associated with unibody, particularly unibody frame straightening machines. He was going to close his shop and work at Black Clawson in Fulton. I wanted to keep doing it and buy his shop from him. But he kept saying, “Nope, I’m going to do you a favor. These cars are getting to be throwaways and you’re not going to fix them. Find something else to do.” I then worked for Ken’s Body Shop in Oswego from 1981 to 1986. I kept driving past this building [1525 state Route 264 in Phoenix], which is where I’m at now, and noticed it used to be a body shop years ago. I noticed a “for sale” sign out front and stopped and talked to the real estate agent. I had some money saved up, but the problem was I couldn’t get a bank loan. The owner — Scott Whipple — ran a one-man shop and really didn’t do a lot, plus did not have a good balance sheet showing he was making money there. So I asked him if he would hold the mortgage, and he agreed. Q.: How much did it cost to establish the business? A.: I started on a shoestring honestly. I paid like $60,000 for this building when I bought it, and I gave the owner $10,000 down and he held the mortgage on the rest. It was a tough struggle for the first several months. I opened on Aug. 2, 1986, and when that first winter hit, I got into towing. One of the first things I did was buy an old tow truck, and I did towing for 20 years. That also helped a lot. Many times when you go to a car accident and tow a car, most of the time you’re going to fix that car. Q.: How did you manage to build your business? A.: In my first year, I started out as a one-man shop at 26 years old. After six
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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
months, I had to hire a couple of guys as it got busier. I started out by purchasing a used unibody frame-straightening machine and actually paid cash for it. After a couple of years, I ended up with about eight employees. I started to get leases and the lease system seemed to work. I bought a front-end alignment machine for about $40,000, two brand-new unibody frame-straightening machines at $50,000 apiece, and built a spray booth. By then, I paid off what I owed on my building. In 1994, I took out a $250,000 mortgage and we did a big expansion on the business. In 1999, I found a building on Route 31 in Baldwinsville and opened my second location. However, Northside Collision made me an offer I could not refuse, and I sold the building after five years. At that time, I also had a location in Fulton that I was leasing from Larry Rowlee — an estimating center with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
A. Finding the right employees was a little tough. I started out by getting a couple of interns from BOCES, which actually worked out pretty well. Barnes, who worked here for 24 years, also came from BOCES. Getting customers to trust me was also challenging when I first opened. I was also raising three small children that I had full custody of — that was another big battle.
Q.: You were involved in a bad auto accident. Can you reflect on that? A.: In 2009, I got into a bad car accident that laid me up for several years. Actually, I just came back to work last January. We got hit head on by a 10-wheel dump truck as I was taking my daughter to the dentist at 3 in the afternoon. It was not our fault — the guy in the dump truck crossed over the centerline and hit me head on. My daughter broke bones in both her feet and broke her arm. We were pinned in the car, and she got some burns on her legs. I was airlifted in pretty bad shape. They wanted to remove one of my legs. I still have both legs, but I have a lot of steel hardware in both of them. I broke my back and almost every bone in my body. I was at Upstate University Hospital for five weeks. I came home on a Monday night, and Tuesday had a stroke. I had blood clots in my brain. It was not pretty for quite a while, but actually I’m doing well now. At that time, I went back down to one shop again and have been just hammering away here at my original location. My son and longtime manager Lance Barnes stepped up to the plate to run the business while I was out. They actually came to the hospital when I was able to realize what was going on and I helped them with matters such as billing. I was in a wheelchair for over a year, and my son used to come over to the house, pick me up, and I would sit out in front. It killed me.
Q.: What kind of advice would you give someone starting now? A.: They need lots of enthusiasm and determination. My dad wanted to sell his shop because of the new unibody cars coming out, and that was the big fear. Today, technology is the biggest fear when it comes to working on cars. If you have to take a door mirror off a car, sometimes you have to take it to the dealer to get it programmed to the car. The technology of cars is changing and that’s the biggest fear today. We just go to training and get schooled on the new technology. Another big fear is the aluminum trucks being made. We’ve been working on cars that have aluminum hoods as well as doors for years. It’s not as strong as steel and you’re pretty much replacing a lot of panels. Also, you need to have a clean environment to work around aluminum.
Q.: What were some of the greatest challenges in launching the business? DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Q.: What were the keys to sustaining the business for over 30 years? A. We take care of our customers and have done that from day one. I bend over backwards for customers. If we’re painting a front fender because of a dent and there is a rust spot on the fender, we fix that rust spot and paint over it at no additional charge. A lot of shops paint over that rust spot because they are not getting paid to fix it.
Q.: You just turned 57 years of age. What is your ideal retirement scenario? A: My son Chad would like to take over my shop, and actually that would be an ideal situation. I could still come out here and help him. Like I told him, if he does take it over, I’m not going to leave him empty-handed. I also love to build classic custom cars. I have my own little body shop at home. My ideal retirement scenario would be being home working on my old classic custom cars and coming over here to help my son out. My favorite classics include ’55 Chevy trucks.
By Lou Sorendo OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Profile By Colin Nekritz
MARY CANALE
New head of alumni relations at SUNY Oswego ready to raise money, build stronger relationships with alumni
T
wenty-year fundraising profes- vice president for development. support the college’s mission and this sional Mary Canale has been wonderful vibrant campus community. named interim vice president of Being able to talk with people who have Art of listening development and alumni relations at Canale said her development work ideas and vision is what inspires me SUNY Oswego. requires her to build strong relationships every day.” The former associate vice president with people and that often involves lisHer work and success hasn’t gone for development is ready to continue tening carefully to their stories, interests unnoticed by another high-profile camthe successful period of growth that and passions. pus leader, SUNY Oswego President occurred under the leadership of her “For 20 years I’ve been on a listening Deborah F. Stanley. colleague, Kerry Dorsey, who retired tour of sorts, traveling the country, en“Mary has played an integral part in in October after 13 years of service to gaging alumni,” Canale said. “Everyone developing the major gifts program for the college. adds value — adds a unique per- the college and cultivating philanthropic Canale said she is ready for the new spective. In the big relationships,” Stanley said. “She has a challenge that will bring her even closer picture, friendly face alumni recognize, with an to her alma mater. “I came to Oswego as they all amazing energy level, enthusiasm and a freshman in 1977,” she said. “As one h e l p level of dedication.” of nine children, I took on a work-study The respect is mutual, as Canale said job as an information attendant in Hewitt she considers Stanley one of her mentors. Union to help pay tuition. Right away, “Watching how President Stanley works I immersed myself in the culture of the and engages people — really inspiring college, tapped into what was happenthem to be the best they can be — has ing, and found a love for the institution.” had a profound impact on my leaderThroughout her college career, ship,” Canale said. “She has articulated Canale worked her way into leadership a clear vision for the campus and that roles and tried to embrace every opportuhas been transformative to me and the nity that came her way. After graduating entire campus.” in 1981, Canale married Oswego resident and SUNY Oswego alumnus Steve Campus as a destination Canale, who made a name for himself as As a member of the campus and a businessman and currently owns the Oswego communities, Canale is acutepopular east side restaurant, The Press ly aware of the symbiotic nature of the Box. Together, they have four daughters. town-gown relationship. As the girls grew and started school, “For over 150 years, the campus and Mary Canale returned to SUNY Oswego city of Oswego have been in 1996 — this time intricately linked,” Canaas the coordinator le said. “The campus is a of the Oswego State community destination, Age: 57 Fall Classic, the mawith strong arts, cultural, jor fundraising event Personal: Husband, Steve Canale, daughters, Christine, Alison, Marissa, and Michele athletic and academic for the college. The Position: Vice president of development and alumni relations, SUNY Oswego programming, and the following year, she Career: Former associate VP for development and alumni relations, SUNY Oswego college community apbecame assistant preciates the services, Education: SUNY Oswego, class of ‘81 director of developshops and neighbors in Hobbies: Walking, reading and cycling ment, and in 2002, the Oswego community. Motto: Be the kind of person you would like to meet she instituted the What do you do when not working: Spending time with family, especially grand- We help each other. My major gifts program husband and I see it every children at the college as diday as members of the One thing most people don’t know about you: My eclectic taste in music and community.” rector of major gifts. love for attending concerts Since 2007, she has Canale mentioned served as associate the reciprocal nature of
Lifelines
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Canale said her work in fundraising and alumni relations also leads to mutually beneficial outcomes. “When you create opportunities to give back, it not only helps build a better institution, it builds better engagement and it gives alumni a sense of purpose,” Canale said. “Even after they graduate, they still feel a part of this college, and SUNY Oswego continues to add value to their lives. And obviously, their philanthropy and engagement with the college provides tremendous benefits to current and future students as well.” Louis A. Borrelli Jr., class of 1977 and founder of the college’s annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, was looking to make such an impact at his alma mater when he connected with Canale more than 15 years ago. “I have worked side by side with Mary for the better part of 15 years through two successful capital campaigns,” Borrelli said. “She was instrumental in the launch of the annual O’Donnell Media Summit, which is in its 12th year. Mary is perfectly suited to lead SUNY Oswego’s development and alumni efforts.” Borrelli praised Canale for her dedication and acumen in dealing with Oswego’s students and more than 85,000 alumni. “She cares deeply for our beloved college,” he said. “She’s never let me or our college down, and I don’t expect that she ever will.” Canale has no plans to slow down her work on behalf of the college. “We gained great momentum during the successful ‘With Passion & Purpose’ campaign,” she said. “We’re going to continue to build on that. We will broaden the culture of philanthropy and nurture relationships. I’m excited to be part of an institution that continues to grow as I grow into my new role.”
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the relationship. For example, many businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations benefit from the work of student mentors and interns, who in turn gain professional experience and the opportunity to put to use lessons learned in the classroom. Similarly, she mentioned Stanley’s efforts to open the campus and its resources up to the community, especially during the breaks and summers through such initiatives as “Cruisin’ the Campus.” “It’s one of the beautiful things I’ve witnessed over my decades here — how the campus and community have an enduring partnership,” Canale said.
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Publisher’s note By Wagner Dotto
B
etween the last edition of Oswego County Business and this one we published two blockbuster publications: The CNY Business Guide and the CNY Winter Guide. Both publications fill different niches in the market and provide information readers won’t find any other place or, if they do, they would need to do a lot of research to get it. The 2017 Business Guide lists the largest employers in Central New York, with emphasis on Oswego County employers. It’s a magazine with more than 100 pages organized by private and public employers and by different counties. Details on nearly 300 companies are provided as well as information about the latest development for each company, address, website, contact information and a great deal of related information. Many CEOs and business owners have their profiles included in it.
The CNY Winter Guide lists more than 1,000 events in which readers can participate — from the Adirondacks all the way to Cortland and Rochester — with focus on Central New York. In addition, the all-glossy publication brings information about entertaining, snowmobiling, bird watching and a number of feature stories. We even include some tips about where to play golf during the winter (no, it’s not in Florida. It’s right here.) We’re pleased with the content
and presentation of both publications and trust they add a great deal to the community. Subscribers to Oswego County Business receive both publications in their home or office free of charge. We also distribute the Winter Guide through more than 1,000 high-traffic locations; the Business Guide is available at select places and costs $20 per copy — or it’s free with a subscription to Oswego County Business ($21.50 a year). We hope readers will enjoy the new publications.
WAGNER DOTTO is the publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.
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Where in the World is Sandra Scott? By Sandra Scott
Honduras Why bother visiting this Caribbean country? There are some great things to see and do — just skip the big cities
W
hy bother visiting this Caribbean country? There are some great things to see and do — just skip the big cities Honduras is often on a list of unsafe countries and the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula always makes the list of unsafe cities. Their position on the list depends on who is generating the list and what their parameters are. There are many lists and it is even possible to see the United States and some of its cities on the lists of unsafe places. Does that mean you should not visit the countries on the list? Not if you travel
smart. There are problems everywhere. There are places in every city tourists don’t belong and there is no reason to visit. Tourism is a big money maker so countries try to insure that their tourist sites are safe. Flashing around American dollars and wearing expensive jewelry is an invitation to be robbed. As hard as it is to imagine, in some countries, like Honduras, the average monthly salary is about $250 so a $100 dollar bill is very tempting. So, should you visit Honduras? Yes, but be smart and avoid San Pedro Sula. There is a nice hotel near the airport
— Metrotel (formerly a Microtel) — so there is no need to go into the city. If you plan to rent a car, try to avoid driving at night. Some of the danger in night driving deals with roads that may have washed out spots. So why bother to go? Because there are some great things to see and do. Roatan Island is the most popular destination with some airlines flying direct. Roatan has long been popular with divers. Now that it is a cruise ship destination there are many things to do on the island. There are tours of Roatan’s Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum, which
Beach Turquoise Bay in the Roatan Island, about 45 miles off the coast of Honduras. The site is one of Hondurans’ most popular destinations with some airlines flying direct. 16
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
is great for bird watching. Besides diving and snorkeling, visitors can take a glass-bottomed boat tour to appreciate the underwater life. The adventurous can get their thrill on one of the several zip lines. Gumbalimba Park also has a zip line, water activities and a botanical garden. Not to miss is a dolphin encounter and marine museum at Anthony’s Key Resort. Honduras is home to one of the most important Mayan sites, Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is called “The Athens of the Mayan World” because of the glyphs that tell the history of the area. Between AD 426 and 820 it was ruled by a dynasty of 16 kings. Of most importance is the Temple of the Hieroglyphic Stairway with the longest Mayan inscription known to exist and Temple Rosalila. Temple Rosalila was discovered in 1989 and it is possible to walk through an archeological tunnel to see it — for a fee — but the Copan Museum has a replica of it along with other important artifacts. Also in the area is the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve — working to protect, preserve and breed macaws and then reintroduce them back into the wild —, a canopy zip line and natural hot water pools. The north shore of Honduras has 200 miles of sandy beaches with several resorts, some of which are all-inclusive. Near the city of La Ceiba the adventurous can repel off a series of waterfalls and go whitewater rafting. The eastern city of Trujillo is being developed as a cruise port destination. The real adventurous will want to take an excursion deep into La Mosquitia, a tropical rainforest with no roads. Americans do not need a visa. Spanish is the national language but English is widely spoken. Many people rent a car but there is good bus service and small plane flights connect Roatan with the mainland and major cities. The exit fee is nearly $40 payable by credit card. Go, but travel smart.
Sandra Scott, a retired history teacher and the co-author of two local history books, has been traveling worldwide with her husband, John, since the 1980s. The Scotts live in the village of Mexico. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Several macaws can be spotted at Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve that works to protect, preserve and breed macaws and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Garifuna Cultural Show in Honduras celebrates the Garifuna people who have been living in Central America, mostly along the Caribbean Coast of Honduras.
Snorkeling and diving are two of the best pastimes at Roatan Island OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
17
SPECIAL REPORT By Ken Little
Trump & CNY What local leaders expect from the Trump Administration
A
rea business leaders and elected officials are generally optimistic about the business environment following the election of Donald Trump as president and a Republican-controlled Congress. “Elections are times of uncertainty for all businesses, to include manufacturing and technology companies. With the election behind us and the outcome decided, businesses can again focus on being successful and remaining competitive,” said Randy Wolken, president and CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York. Wolken said that both presidential candidates talked about the importance of manufacturing to the national economy, “which we see as positive.” “We both expect and support action to grow manufacturing jobs in our country and to encourage investment in capital and equipment from the new administration and the new Congress,” 18
he said. Results of the races for office in New York state “produced few surprises and we expect the Legislature and the administration to advance pro-manufacturing and pro-business policies,” Wolken said. “New York state must continue to work to be competitive within our country and globally. Overall, we look forward to doing what we do best: working with Albany and Washington to help create policies that will support a strong business climate that will allow our manufacturing sector to thrive,” Wolken said.
Energy Assets
L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of regional economic development organization Operation Oswego County, said he was not surprised about Trump’s election. Like many Americans, Treadwell is taking a wait-and-see attitude as the OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
new administration develops policies. “Right now we don’t know what actually will transpire in terms of regulations and programs based upon the goals and objectives of the new administration,” he said. Based on some of Trump’s statements during the election campaign, it’s possible regulatory modifications will be made that could be beneficial to business development in Central New York, Treadwell said. “The emphasis on economic development and job growth certainly is a positive sign, especially in Oswego County,” he said. Trump’s statements about U.S. energy independence could also prove to be an economic boon to Oswego County, a diverse source of energy assets that include nuclear, hydro, fossil fuels, natural gas, solar and wind power. A Republican initiative to develop sources of reliable energy, such as nuclear DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
power, will create jobs, Treadwell said. Nuclear power is also in line with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard initiatives, he said. “Oswego County by definition is one of the energy capitals of the world,” he said. “We think we are positioned very well to benefit from [programs] of the federal government to grow these energy sectors.” Trump’s statements about rebuilding the nation’s crumbling infrastructure could also prove an economic boost to Central New York, Treadwell said. “There’s a lot of very, very good positive factors that would bode well for development,” he said. Operation Oswego County often partners with the federal Small Business Administration and receives tax-exempt economic development financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Treadwell will closely monitor the future of the SBA and how the new administration reshapes programs of government agencies like the USDA, which help fund industrial and manufacturing development. “I believe there needs to be some changes made for small companies. We would like to see some changes made to enhance that program,” Treadwell said. “Overall, until we see in black and white [what happens] we don’t know what will transpire. At least the president-elect is pro economic development and pro-jobs.” Revised trade policies may also benefit the Port of Oswego, Treadwell said. “I’m optimistic that this county can certainly improve its economic position in terms of job creation and job growth enhancing its position in terms of international trade,” Treadwell said. “We do have a deep-water port here.” There is cause to be positive about the next four years in terms of business, Treadwell said. “At this point in time from the standpoint of the economy and business development, I’m optimistic there will be some positive things happening.”
To ‘Remain Competitive’
State Assemblyman William A Barclay, (R,C,I-Pulaski), who represents the 120th District that includes much of Oswego County, also said there is cause for optimism about business development in Central New York. One area is embracing nuclear power as a dependable energy source, Barclay said. In general, the president-elect said DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
“He says he’s going to bring manufacturing back to the United States and New York state and Oswego County. It will be interesting to see if he can bring some foreign manufacturers back and improve the manufacturing climate in New York state and Oswego County.” State Assemblyman William A Barclay, (R,C,I-Pulaski) some encouraging things on the campaign trail. Still, “A lot of things aren’t known about Trump,” Barclay said. “He says he’s going to bring manufacturing back to the United States and New York state and Oswego County,” Barclay said. “It will be interesting to see if he can bring some foreign manufacturers back and improve the manufacturing climate in New York state and Oswego County.” Lowering the cost of doing business in Central New York and across the state is one challenge “to remain competitive,” Barclay said. “I think the one thing that’s different between him and [Hillary Clinton] is she had programs to increase the minimum wage,” he said. Since New York state has already enacted legislation addressing that question, the minimum wage questions are not a new factor affecting the business climate, Barclay said. In terms of infrastructure development, “It sounds like there’s common ground between the Republicans and Democrats,” Barclay said. Transmitting power generated in Oswego County to a major metropolitan area like New York City will result in economic benefits to this region, Barclay said. In terms of business development, Barclay said he thinks a Trump administration can help grow and attract companies to Central New York. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
It remains to be seen how Trump will work with the Republican-majority Congress. “The federal government has the ability to help the economy,” Barclay said. “Sometimes change is good. I think we will have to wait and see what the president does, but I’m optimistic.”
Cutting ‘Red Tape’
State Sen. Patricia Ritchie, (R,C,I), of the 48th Senate District that includes Oswego County, said she will continue to work “to create jobs and promote economic growth” in Albany as the Trump administration settles into Washington. “On a national level, I am hopeful that the President-elect will make changes resulting in a better climate for our business owners and increased opportunities for the people across the country, as well as right here in Central New York,” Ritchie said in an email answer to questions. “Since being elected, it has been my top priority to create jobs and promote economic growth in the region I represent. In recent years, I have been proud to cut red tape and reduce taxes and it’s these efforts that have helped to foster business expansions and new opportunities for people here in Central New York,” Ritchie said. On Nov. 17, the state Public Service Commission approved the transfer of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. to the Exelon Generation Co., “a critical step in the effort to protect local jobs and the reliability of the state’s energy grid,” she said. “For everyone in Oswego County this year, the focus has been protecting FitzPatrick and the jobs of its more than 600 hardworking men and women. Alongside community members, local leaders and state officials, we have made great strides toward this goal,” Ritchie said. “Most recently, I was on hand as the New York State Public Service Commission approved the sale of the plant, which is a major step in the right direction when it comes to protecting FitzPatrick, the economic benefits it supports, as well as the reliability of our state’s energy grid.” Ritchie serves as chairwoman of the state Senate agriculture committee. “Investing in key industries—like agriculture—has also been, and will con-
continued on page 80 19
NEWSMAKERS NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESS & BUSINESS PEOPLE
17 Entrepreneurs Graduate from the Emerging Leaders Program The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) honored the owners of 17 participating companies in its Emerging Leaders program at a graduation ceremony in Syracuse Nov. 2. Now in its sixth year, Syracuse is one of 51 participating Emerging Leaders locations nationwide. With the 2016 class, 95 Central New York entrepreneurs have completed the program since it launched in Syracuse. The Emerging Leaders program targets small companies that have the potential for rapid expansion and job creation. The intense program provides more than 40 hours of advanced management training. The graduates in the SBA Emerging Leaders class of 2016 are: 20
n Chris Belna, A La Carte Business Services Inc., Liverpool
Belna is the founder and president of A La Carte Business Services in Liverpool. She served as an operations and business manager for over 15 years in the restaurant, financial and construction industries prior to starting her own company in 2010. The company offers outsourced accounting, payroll, CFO and business management services, on a need basis for small to mid-size companies. Belna specializes in managing office operations, enhancing profitability, ensuring efficiency, as well as right staffing. Belna manages a staff of four, and together they have assisted more than 125 clients with ways to better operate, handle financial recordkeeping OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
and improve the bottom line.
n Richard Bozogian, AJ Medical Products, East Syracuse
Bozogian is the owner of AJ Medical Products, located in East Syracuse. He founded it in 2004 when he purchased the assets of Rothschild Medical Supply, where he worked for 14 years. Bozogian has a degree in electrical engineering from SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. Army. He has a wife of 24 years and one daughter, 19, and one son, 15.
n Cathy Comer, Cathy’s Corner Café, Syracuse
After attending both Onondaga College and Syracuse University, where she studied environmental design, Comer DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
started her working career as an interior designer and worked in that field for 15 years. In 1996, she started Cathy’s Corner Café in a small 600-square-foot location. Twenty years later, she purchased her own building at 929 Avery Ave. in Syracuse. In addition to serving diners on Friday and Saturday nights, her main focus is catering for gatherings of two to 2,000 people.
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n Jesse Daino, Recess Coffee, Syracuse
In 2007, Daino and his close friend, Adam Williams, bought what was an entirely different version of the Recess Coffee than exists today. Just a single, small-scale café at the time, Recess Coffee is now a pair of bustling shops in two Syracuse neighborhoods, the Westcott area and Hanover Square. The business has become a full-fledged artisan coffee roaster, roasting and supplying coffee to a growing list of amazing local restaurants, cafés and shops. Approaching a decade in business, Recess Coffee has become a staple of the Syracuse community.
n Mario DeMarco, Mario and Salvo’s Pizzeria, DeWitt
DeMarco moved to Syracuse from Sicily when he was 12 years old. He kept his Italian roots close, even wishing that someday he would become a pizza maker. After spending several years working with homeless youth at Covenant House in New York City, he moved back Upstate New York to make his childhood dream a reality. Since 1992, Mario & Salvo’s Pizzeria has served the DeWitt community. In 2012, the shop was voted “Best Specialty Pizza” by the Post-Standard.
n Jason Horne, Outdoor Power Equipment, Parts, and Service, LLC, Clay
Horne is the co-owner of Outdoor Power LLC, a locally-owned retail power equipment dealership. Horne graduated from CNS High School in 1991. He quickly found himself managing one of Syracuse’s largest power equipment dealerships, where he learned many of the skills required to run a business. After eight years, Horne left and opened Outdoor Power LLC, with his wife and partner Suzanne Horne. They have been running Outdoor Power LLC together for 14 years and now have three locaDECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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n Heather Hudson, Hudsons’ Dairy, Inc., Fulton
Hudson is the fourth-generation of Hudsons’ Dairy, Inc., located in Fulton. She earned her two bachelor’s degrees —in communications from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, and in accounting from SUNY Oswego. After college, she returned to the dairy and has worked to build the business with her father. Currently, she serves as the operations manager.
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n Jonathan Massett, Valley Auto, Onondaga
Massett founded Valley Auto in 2005. Since that time, he has grown the business to encompass a full range of automotive sales and repair services. He has overseen growth of the staff and a major physical renovation to the property, allowing for a diverse group of tenants to inhabit the building as well. Massett also has a record of success in residential property, and enjoys beautifying homes in disrepair.
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Meier operates Landscaped Interiors, a second-generation interiorscaping company in the Central New York area that has been providing live plants in commercial settings for almost 40 years. Meier was born and raised in the area, and she said she takes great pride in helping local businesses enhance their space and their employees lives with plants. She has accumulated 22 years of experience with the company and
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Every year thousands of people buy commercial or residential properties in Oswego County. Many of these people are new to the area and some are just buying newer, bigger properties. Either way, they all receive a complimentary subscription to Oswego County Business.
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n Jennifer Hartt Meier, Landscaped Interiors, Cazenovia
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n David Rice, Critical Link, LLC, DeWitt
Rice graduated from Penn State with bachelor’s degree in engineering, followed by a master’s degree from Syracuse University. After working for five years for GE in Syracuse, followed by two years with Mechanical Technology, Inc. in Albany, and five years at IBM in Kingston, he returned to Syracuse to work at Sensis Corp. In 1997, Rice, along with three fellow engineers from Sensis, formed Critical Link, LLC. Critical Link, a company which specializes in embedded hardware, software and system design, provides customers with custom designs, off-the-shelf processor cards, and scientific and industrial cameras. Critical Link employs about 40 people in its office in DeWitt, and serves customers throughout the US and around the world. Critical Link will celebrate 20 years of business in 2017.
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n Kathleen Rutishauser, Daughter for Hire, LLC, Clinton
Rutishauser is co-owner and founder of Daughter for Hire LLC. The company was formed in 2012 as a sole proprietorship, with the intention of helping seniors. The mission statement has remained constant and revolves around providing the optimal level of services to seniors in the community to allow them to age in place safely and happily, rather than to move to assisted living earlier than they would like or need. For 30 years prior to forming Daughter for Hire, Rutishauser held various managerial and leadership roles in investments, banking, sales and telecommunications. Rutishauser holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Siena College.
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over the past 21 years. The studio was reamed later as Metro Fitness and has been ranked as one of CNY’s best places to work.
n Andrew Schuster,
Ashley McGraw Architects, Syracuse.
Schuster is a principal at Ashley McGraw Architects and leads the firm’s housing and advanced building technology efforts. He is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Architecture and a licensed architect in New York state. Before coming to Ashley McGraw, he worked on housing and development projects in France, Ireland, and Slovakia as well as Central New York. His work is informed by an extensive research background in sustainability and ecologically-driven architecture, with a particular passion for how natural materials can enhance the quality of life for a building’s occupants while reducing its environmental impact. n Michael Speach, Jr.,
Speach Family Candy Shoppe, Inc., Syracuse. Speach Jr. is the fourth-generation president and head chocolatier of the Speach Family Candy Shoppe, Inc. With a degree in theatrical design, Speach Jr. has taken his creativity and emphasis on detail and molded it to chocolate making and running a successful small family business. With the support of his family and the local community, Speach Jr. and his company are currently celebrating 96 years in business. The candy shoppe now produces over 500 individual products that are available in their retail store, online and throughout the Northeast.
n Gregory Steencken, Immediate Care West, Camillus.
Steencken was born in Syracuse and grew up in Camillus. Steencken completed his bachelor’s degree in biology at SUNY Binghamton, followed by his medical degree from SUNY Upstate, where he met his wife, Amanda. He completed a residency in emergency medicine in Bethlehem, Pa., and pursued a sports medicine fellowship in San Jose, Calif. In 2009, the Steenckens decided to return to Upstate New York to raise a family. After a few assorted jobs in area ERs and urgent cares, Steencken decided to become his own boss and became a partner in Immediate Care West in 2012. 24
n Peter Wiles, Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., LTD., Skaneateles.
Wiles and his three siblings operate Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., LTD. He became president of Mid-Lakes in 1992. Mid-Lakes is a family business with a 50-year history of providing waterborne enjoyment on Skaneateles Lake and the Erie Canal. Mid-Lakes offers cruises lasting from 50-minutes to seven days, providing guests simple sightseeing or fully-catered affairs. Mid-Lakes Hireboats provide the opportunity to explore New York’s Erie Canal. Peter Wiles is a 37-year member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He serves on the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission and is a founding member of Canal New York Marketing and Business Alliance. Emerging Leader has been a collaboration of the SBA Syracuse District Office with CenterState CEO, CNY TDO, City of Syracuse Office of Neighborhood and Business Development, Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc., MACNY, Onondaga County Office of Economic Development, Onondaga SBDC, SUNY ESF, Syracuse SCORE, The Falcone Center, The Tech Garden and the WISE Women’s Business Center. Nationally, Emerging Leader graduates have secured more than $1 billion in government contracts and accessed $73 million in new financing. Graduates also reported having created nearly 2,000 new full-time jobs since the program’s inception. Sixty-two percent of surveyed participants reported an increase in revenue while 70 percent of those surveyed reported maintaining or creating new jobs in their communities. To learn more about the Emerging Leaders program, please visit www.sba.gov/ny/syracuse.
OCFCU Launches ‘Gloves With Love’ Oswego County Federal Credit Union (OCFCU), announced the second annual “Gloves with Love” program to collect new hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for kids, said Bill Carhart, CEO. OCFCU has partnered with Diane Cooper-Currier, executive director of Oswego County Opportunities, to launch the “Gloves with Love” program from Nov. 28, through Jan. 6, 2017. Baskets will be placed at each OCFCU branch. Slightly used or new adult hats and OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
winter scarves will also be collected. The adult hats and scarves will be placed on trees in various parks in Oswego, Fulton and Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 14. Offices are located at 90 East Bridge St., Oswego; 300 W. First St., also in Oswego; 707 S. Fourth St., Fulton; and 5828 Scenic Ave. (route 3), Mexico. “We wanted to come up an easy way for people to help make sure the kids of Oswego County will stay warm this winter,” said Mary Greeney, OCFCU vice president, member services. Greeney can be reached at 315-343–7822 for more information. OCFCU was chartered in 1975 and serves residents and business owners of Oswego County. OCFCU serves over 11,000 members throughout the county. For further information visit www. oswegofcu.org.
Szachta Earns ‘Above And Beyond’ Award Kathy Szachta, an account manager in the personal lines for Eastern Shore Associates Insurance (ESA) in Fulton recently earned the agency’s 2016 “Above and Beyond” award. “Kathy has endeared herself to our customers by always striving to exceed their expectations,“ said Martha Murray, the agency’s president. “In the process, she has made many friends, and exemplifies our motto: great service is our policy.” Szachta The Above and Beyond program is designed to recognize the individual who goes above and beyond their normal job duties to exceed the needs of fellow employees and customers. Szachta has worked at ESA since June 2004. A native of Clifton Springs, she resides with her husband, Tom, in Palmyra. They have a daughter, Brittany, and grandson, Jackson. “It was such an honor to be recognized with this award,” Szachta said. “I just believe in helping our customers to the best of my ability. After all, customer service can make or break your business. So I treat people the way I expect to be treated, and try to meet their needs the best that I can.” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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Zogby to Represent Agents, Brokers New Hartford insurance agent Stephen R. Zogby was recently elected by the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. to serve on the national board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc. Zogby, executive vice president of Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc. in New Hartford, will fill Zogby an unexpired term as national director of New York’s oldest state insurance producer trade association. He succeeds John R. Costello, who was recently elected to the IIABA executive committee becoming the first New Yorker since 1973 to serve on that national committee. Zogby will represent IIABNY as national director until May 2017 when he will be eligible for election by the full membership to a full, three-year term. Zogby, who co-founded the Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig agency in 1992, is a former IIABNY chairman of the board, leading the organization from 2007 to 2008. Since 2010, he has chaired IIABNY’s political action committee and was honored in 2014 as recipient of the association’s Vincent Alba Award for his contributions to IIABNY’s political effectiveness. In 2015, he received the 1882 Fellow Award, IIABNY’s highest honor, for his contributions to the association, the industry and his community. His current community activities include serving as a board member of the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency, Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation and Stanley Center for the Arts. He is also a member of the advisory board of directors of the Adirondack Insurance Exchange.
Burritt Adds Finance Manager, Salesperson Cheryl Camp and Frank George have recently joined Burritt Motors recently. Camp is a sales/leasing specialist and George is a finance manager. 26
“Cheryl and Frank are important additions to our sales team,” said Rich Burritt, owner. “Both are well-known and have many years of experience, and each has a reputation for ensuring that their customers are delighted with their Burritt Camp Motors experience.” Camp has more than 23 years experience in the industry, with positions in sales, leasing and finance. She holds a degree in automotive marketing from Michigan’s Northwood University, and resides in Central Square with her husband, Christopher, and son, Connor. George holds a degree in business management from SUNY IT, and has more than 25 years experience in the industry. He learned about fixed operations at his family-owned repair business in Rome, and expanded his experience in sales and finance at three Central New York dealerships where George he held the titles of sales manager, used car manager and finance manager. He resides in Brewerton with wife, Tracy, and children, Frank, Ashley and Olivia.
Beardsley’s Project Gets Design Award The Inside-Out Adirondack Camp, designed by Auburn-based Beardsley Architects + Engineers has been selected by the American Institute of Architects Central New York chapter to receive a 2016 design award in the residential category. The awards program recognizes outstanding achievements in architecture for recently completed projects by architects and firms based in Central New York. This year’s ceremony was held Nov. 4 at the newly renovated Marriott Syracuse Downtown (formerly the Hotel Syracuse). OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Michael N. Reynolds, Brian Levendusky and John MacArthur teamed to capture the essence of this unique home located in the remote High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park, which is a direct reflection of the owner’s love and respect for nature. Each design decision made on the path to this inclusive house design required a connection to and protection from nature’s powerful influence, to coexist as one. Architectural detailing was drawn from the owner’s love of medieval Scandinavian architecture, and appreciation for the traditional Japanese Mountain Homes from the Muromachi period, where design resistant to earthquake and sheltered against heavy rainfall and summer heat was employed. The architectural design is characterized by its horizontal lines, battered walls, low-pitched roofs, enormous overhanging eaves, and open plan, allowing the occupants to live in what is essentially an inside-out shelter.
Cazenovia Resident to Lead IIABNY Lisa K. Lounsbury, a Cazenovia resident, has been named interim president and chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. (IIABNY). She took over the position Dec. 1 after serving as IIABNY senior vice president. “Lisa has been a key part of IIABNY’s success since she first joined the association 17 years ago,” said Richard A. Poppa, IIABNY’s retiring president and CEO. “Our members can expect a smooth transition since Lisa has had dayto-day management of the association’s operations since she arrived in 1999.” Previously, Lounsbury was employed as a product specialist in the specialty division for Great American Insurance in Cincinnati, Ohio. She started her career at Great American as an agency operations representative for the insurer’s commercial lines division, developing an agency plant in Pittsburgh, Pa., and underwriting new business. Lounsbury then moved back to Great American’s home office in Cincinnati and assumed the role of implementation coordinator for the company’s national commercial lines interface initiative. “We’re extremely fortunate to have someone in Lisa, who is such an innovative and creative leader, to step DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
into the role filled so ably over the past 20 years by Dick Poppa,” said John H. Smith, Jr. chairman of the IIABNY board of directors. “Her extensive knowledge of the insurance industry and strong familiarity with IIABNY will be huge assets in her new role and to the agents and brokers we serve.”
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Former CNY Central CEO Joins WCNY as New COO Chris Geiger has joined WCNY Public Media in a newly created role of executive vice president and chief operating officer effective Nov. 1. In this position, Geiger will work with President and CEO Robert Daino on a broadbased expansion of the company, developing new revenue-generating enterprises, expanding program production to the national level, and working toward creating a new, more entrepreneurial model Geiger for nonprofit public broadcasting. Geiger was formerly the president and CEO of CNY Central WSTM TV. He returns to Syracuse after working as an executive consultant to Videa, a division of Cox Media Group in Atlanta, and as vice president and general manager at FOX Connecticut Media Group-WTIC in Hartford. While at CNY Central, Geiger rose through the ranks from sales manager to general manager to president and CEO. The CNY Central brand includes WSTM, an NBC affiliate; WSTQ, a CW
SHARPEN
YOUR VISION.
affiliate; and through a shared service agreement, with WTVH, a CBS affiliate. “I am extremely happy to be making this announcement and to have someone as talented as Chris joining our team” said Robert Daino. “In the past several years, WCNY has taken bold steps to diversify our revenue streams, making us less dependent on government and soft-money funding while at the same time increasing our ability to serve our members and the community. We want to continue this trajectory and increase our capacity which will ultimately increase the value of this community-owed asset.” “As we enter a new phase of growth, it takes strong, experienced, and strategic leadership to drive expansion and lead our successful endeavors such as Enterprise America and 415 Productions as well as to continue the development of a robust national presence for our programs and documentaries. Chris’ combination of media company management, digital platform development, and contract negotiation skills are the perfect fit—plus he brings a keen understanding of our regional market that will allow him to make an immediate, positive impact to our organization and the communities we serve.” Geiger is a native of the Binghamton area, a graduate of the University of Virginia and has spent his entire career in the broadcast television and digital industry. He lives in Manlius.
Bond with the right law firm and see your business with new insights. We will look at your needs proactively, with a fresh eye, and work as your trusted advisor to help you see your business, and its future, with new insight and sharper vision. Bond has been providing a full range of legal services in Oswego for 25 years. Want to learn more? Visit bsk.com or call John Allen, Scott DelConte, Douglas McRae or Sunny Tice in our Oswego office at 315.343.9116.
130 East Second Street, Oswego, NY 13126-2600
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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President Stanley Now Chairs State College Group
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Commercial & Residential Real Estate www.hillsideparkrealestate.com 28
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Deborah F. Stanley, president of SUNY Oswego recently became the chairwoman of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) board of directors. In this role, President Stanley will lead the national association in its vision to influence American public higher education through advocacy, leadership and service. In addition to working together as AASCU member institutions that share a learning and teaching-centered culture, Stanley Stanley points out that the more than 400 public colleges, universities and systems are committed to underserved student populations and are dedicated to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. According to Stanley, the association brings college and university presidents and chancellors together to support member institutions in their public mission. “I look forward to the leadership role that SUNY Oswego will play in the association’s efforts to prepare students to enter a competitive economy and global society; advocate for effective public policy; promote access and inclusion; and foster regional stewardship, economic progress and educational innovation,” she said. Before becoming chairwoman-elect in 2015, Stanley completed a three-year term on AASCU’s board of directors as secretary-treasurer. She also served on AASCU’s millennium leadership initiative (MLI) steering committee and as an MLI mentor; on AASCU’s financial review task force, the investment committee; the council of state representatives; the committee on international education; the nominating committee; and policies and purposes. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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Pick up a free copy at various high traffic locations in CNY or read it online at CNYwinter.com DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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DiningOut By Jacob Pucci
Restaurant
Guide
LD’s Alehouse T
For Upstate’s Best Chicken Wings, Head to Pulaski
he chicken wing is perhaps the most brilliantly designed food. Food with its own built-in handle is rarely appreciated for its depth of flavor or texture, but with its ideal meat-to-skin ratio to ensure a plump interior and shatteringly crisp exterior, all while the naturally-occurring nooks and crannies trap pockets of savory sauce, wings are worthy of praise. Of course, not all wings are created equal. Some succumb to flabby skin that slides off with the first bite, while others are overcooked to the point that a bath in blue cheese dressing is required to even choke down the sinewy meat. But at LD’s Alehouse in Pulaski, where the wings can be fried or grilled and tossed in one of more than 19 rubs or 30
sauces, the wings are indeed celebrated. In September, LD’s wings were named Upstate’s Best Chicken Wings by NYup. com, a sister publication of Syracuse.com / The Post-Standard. Aside from the half-dozen people huddled around the central horseshoe-shaped bar, the restaurant was largely empty when we arrived for dinner around 6:30 p.m. on a recent chilly evening. The restaurant’s wood-paneled walls, simple pew-like booths and worn wooden floor, rubbed bare in spots from the frequent footsteps of bar patrons, are not fancy, but comfortable. The dining room, complete with TVs, signs listing beer specials pinned to the wall and a large banner advertising the Salmon OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
River Fest Fishing Expo in October, was the kind of place where you could wear your cozy, worn-in sweatshirt and fit right in. We opted for an order of fried wings, slathered in LD’s house sauce and an order of grilled wings, tossed in the pub’s house rub (both $9.99). While some restaurants serve wings so tiny that they’re easily polished off in one or two bites — looking at you, every chain pizzeria — LD’s wings were among the biggest I’ve eaten. Some of the drummettes were bordering on chicken leg territory. They’re not as big as the smoked turkey legs served at Walt Disney World, but they’re close. LD’s serves a range of sauces, from DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Fried and grilled wings at LS’ Alehouse. LD’s has mastered two very different cooking methods to elevate the humble chicken wing into something worth admiring. mild to the spicy, crisis-inducing “I need an adult,” plus barbecue, garlic parmesan, teriyaki, Italian and others. In the case of the house sauce, its beauty lies in its complexity. The golden-brown glaze has obvious notes of barbecue, honey mustard and spice, but also a touch of Asian flavor. A bit of teriyaki or Thai chili sauce mixed in perhaps? While I’m not sure any dietitian would list chicken wings as a health food, the chargrilled wings, packed full of smoky flavor, is about as close as any bar food will come. Like their fried brethren, the grilled wings offered the same crisp exterior and juicy interior indicative of a properly-cooked wing. Grilled wings can go from raw to black chunks of coal within minutes and not only did LD’s perfectly cook all the wings, but all the skins remained intact, evidence that the wings did not stick to the grill. Any home cook will know that’s
no small feat. Unable to resist eating fried cheese on top of a cheeseburger, we also ordered the Fiesta burger ($11.99), a half-pound patty topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, chipotle sauce and two fried cheese sticks. Large slabs of beef topped with perfectly chewy bacon and two types of cheese — one of which is deep fried — tend to be delicious and this was no exception. The fries that came
alongside were homemade, a nice touch. Pulaski might seem an unlikely place to find some of the best chicken wings in Upstate New York, but LD’s has mastered two very different cooking methods to elevate the humble chicken wing, so often an afterthought served in a foil-lined takeout box next to a delivery pizza, or a sloppy source of sustenance after a few too many, into something worth admiring.
LD’s Alehouse
Address: 4861 N. Jefferson St., Pulaski. Hours: Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone: 315-509-4234 Website: www.facebook.com/LdsAleHouse DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Aside from wings, LD’s Aleshouse serves what they call Fiesta burger, a half-pound patty topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, chipotle sauce and two fried cheese sticks on top. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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SUNY Names Alok Kumar a Distinguished Teaching Professor
The State University of New York has recognized Oswego physics professor Alok Kumar as a distinguished teaching professor, one of the SUNY system’s highest honors. Kumar was one of only eight faculty in the system approved by the SUNY board of trustees as earning a distinguished honor in professorship, teaching or service announced by SUNY Nov. 10. Kumar is an internationally recognized scholar and teacher, Kumar a distinguished translator of ancient texts and a historian of the evolution of medieval science. He has been honored internationally by peers for his numerous contributions to teaching, and has served as a principal investigator on many research projects that have advanced the science of physics. He has been an ardent advocate for the inclusion of non-Western perspectives on science in the teaching of all sciences, not just physics. He is considered a world-class authority on the development of science and mathematics throughout antiquity, particularly among the ancient Hindus. Kumar and co-author Scott L. Montgomery’s 2015 book, “A History of Science in World Cultures: Voices of Knowledge,” published by Routledge, traces the origins of European scientific “discoveries,” demonstrating that many derived, at least in part, from much earlier work in China, India, Persia, Babylonia and other cultures. That work followed his 2014 book, “Sciences of the Ancient Hindus: Unlocking Nature in the Pursuit of Salvation.” Kumar joined the SUNY Oswego family in 1992. He holds a Ph.D. from Kanpur University in India, with his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from India’s Meerut University. 32
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DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
SPECIAL REPORT By Carol Thompson
Pride of
Pulaski At 84, former state senator, ambassador Douglas Barclay gears down a notch
At 84, H. Douglas Barclay hasn’t slowed down much, although he said he no longer gets up at the crack of dawn and doesn’t work into the evening hours. But four days a week, you’ll find him in his office at Barclay Damon LLP on East Jefferson Street in Syracuse where he specializes in banking and administrative law. On Fridays, he’s busy working at his fishing business in his hometown of Pulaski. Barclay is a former partner and presently of counsel to Barclay Damon LLP and its predecessors in name, with offices in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, metropolitan Boston, Washington, DC and Toronto. He began his law career in 1960 as a summer clerk and after graduating from Syracuse University law school in 1961, Barclay joined the oldest law firm in Syracuse: Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce & Mawhinney. Within seven years, he became a partner. In 1984, the firm was renamed Hiscock & Barclay and more recently, Barclay Damon LLP. As chairman of the board of Douglaston Manor, Inc., a high-end salmon sports fishing company that provides fishing and lodging, Barclay said the goal is to have the best fishing destination in the Western Hemisphere. Last year, the village of Pulaski welcomed 16,000 fishermen. “NineDECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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ty-five percent of them were from out of state,” Barclay said. For those visiting Douglaston Manor, he has added a welcome center as well as a staff of 40 river walkers. At the height of salmon season, there are six walkers on the river at all times. “The river walkers are here for safety and to answer questions. We want to provide a memorable experience,” he said. “These people are there to help.” Barclay said he’s in good health, and he regularly exercises by going to the gym. He hasn’t thought about retirement and his advice to those who are still able is to “do something. You’ve got to do something.” The law firm and Douglaston Manor aren’t all that keep Barclay busy. He also serves as chairman of the board of Q M P Enterprises, Inc., a coil manufacturer in Phoenix. He and his wife of 57 years, Sara “DeeDee” Barclay, are the parents of five children and grandparents to 10. Barclay has slowed down politically. Best known for his 19-year tenure in the state senate and for his service as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador from 2003-2007, he could have continued on in politics but “DeeDee said enough is enough.” It is lesser known that his political career spanned much further. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush appointed Barclay as a public board member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a position he held until
1993. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Barclay to represent the United States at the inauguration of the president of the Republic of Costa Rica and to serve as a member of the panel of conciliators of the International Center of the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Made mark in political arena
When asked if he missed politics, Barclay was quick to answer “no.” He added, “There’s a time to come and a time to leave.” Barclay may have left the political arena, but his contributions as a state senator are lasting. He established the Altmar fish hatchery, which boost-
Lifelines Name: Hugh Douglas Barclay Born: July 5, 1932, Pulaski Education: Pulaski Academy and Central Schools, Yale University, Syracuse University College of Law. Married: the former Sara “Dee Dee” Seiter Children: Five: three sons and two daughters. Career Highlights: 1961-2003, served as a partner with Hiscock & Barclay; 1965-1984 served in the New York State Senate. In 2003 was appointed by former president George W. Bush to serve as ambassador to El Salvador, a position he held until 2006. Community Service: Served on the board of trustees of Syracuse University from 1979-2003 and was the chairman of the board of trustees from 1992-1998. Has served on the boards of trustees of the New York Racing Association and Clarkson University, and as overseer of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, which is the public-policy research arm of the State University of New York. Ambassador Barclay is a former member of the panel of conciliators of the International Center of Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Honor: The law library at Syracuse University College of Law is named after him as is the Oswego County Courthouse in Pulaski. 34
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
ed the North Country’s fishing and tourist industry. In the late 1960s, New York City was in need of lowand moderate-income housing. In response, Barclay worked closely with then-governor Nelson Rockefeller to create the State Urban Development Corporation, building tens of thousands of apartments. He was responsible for more than 500 pieces of legislation, many of which made life in New York state better. Barclay grew up on a dairy farm, being the seventh generation to live on the property since his family first settled it in 1808. The Oswego County Legislature recently recognized the farm as the oldest in the county. While Pulaski is near and dear to him, Barclay’s life has brought him around the world. He served in the army as an artillery officer stationed in Korea from 1955-1957. He has traveled in Europe, Asia and Latin America. His father also served in the military and Barclay’s parents had lived in Brazil from 1923 until 1927. A 1955 graduate of Yale University, Barclay’s distinguished career also includes service on the board of directors, on the executive committee, and as chairman of the compensation committee of KeyCorp and formerly served on the board of directors of KeyBank of Central New York, N.A., Key Trust Company, Key Trust Company of Florida, N.A., Key Financial Services, Key Pacific Bancorp, Empire Airlines, Syracuse China, Giant Portland & Masonry Cement Company, Coradian Corporation, Mohawk Airlines, and Excelsior Insurance Company. He has served many other boards and chairmanships and he led the funding for the H. Douglas Barclay Law Library at Syracuse University. The Pulaski Courthouse is named after him and he has received honorary doctorate degrees from Clarkson University, the State University of New York, Le Moyne College, St. Lawrence University and Syracuse University. Despite his many accomplishments both politically and professionally, Barclay is down-to-earth, his office is modest, his wit quick and he has a sense of humor. When will he retire? “You never know,” he said. “The last one to know you’re senile is yourself.” For now, he continues to work and enjoy life. “I’ve got a good life,” he said. “I’m satisfied.” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
SPECIAL REPORT By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
14 New Year’s Resolutions We’ve asked six small business owners for the most important resolutions entrepreneurs should make for 2017. Here’s what they said
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“As entrepreneurs, we should not embark on a brand new year — a beginning of what we hope will be our best business year yet — with unorganized thinking or poor habits from the past. We must pull up the old, discard it and create open space for the future. “Commit to a new assistant, new system or new vendor to take the clutter out of your business life. Clarity in your work environment helps you think clearer. “If you have a staff member, current customer or vital merchant who makes your business life harder, let them go before the New Year begins and find their replacement.
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
4
“Many entrepreneurs complete their plan and tuck it away never reviewing it annually; yet the marketplace changes, what businesses offer or invests in changes, income projections get off track and staff doubles. These alterations need to be noted in your business plan to continue in the right direction.”
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham. Founder and president, Women TIES, LLC, Syracuse
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“Find an organization to join or step up to start one for networking purposes. You may stick to your clientele, but it doesn’t hurt to belong to a trade group or chamber where you OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
can meet people. Maybe you could join a committee or board. It helps your prominence in some way. It’s very cheap advertising. “Update your website. At the beginning of the year, Google is changing its algorithm, so any site that’s not mobile friendly will face penalties. You’ll be put behind your competitor if it’s not mobile friendly. “Embrace social media. If you have any competitors whatsoever, it gives you the chance to get a jump on them. You don’t have to do everything, but find some social media platform you can deal with. If you make products that are visually appealing, Pintrest may help because people share those with others. Or Twitter where you can put information. I don’t recommend Facebook for everyone. Join LinkedIn, where I think
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Just Published
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all businesses should be. “Come up with a way to increase your income by at least 10 percent. One way is to create products that maybe now you can sell to consumers. Decide to raise your prices, which is sometimes problematic, but if you have happy customers, they understand that the rate has to go up. You only need 100 true customers. Figure out how much you need from each and focus on them so you know what they want. That will pay for everything. If you satisfy those 100 customers, they’ll tell other people. “Find things that you can pay someone to take over for you. Maybe you send out a bunch of mailers every week. Hire a virtual assistant to do that. You can write off the expense that you’re spending on hiring someone.”
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T.T. “Mitch” Mitchell. Owner, T. T. Mitchell Consulting, Inc., Syracuse
Detailed information on hundreds of local companies in Oswego County, Northern and Central New York Get the 100-plus page annual guide free when you subscribe to Oswego County Business magazine. Only $21.50 per year See our coupon in this issue.
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“CNY small businesses need to establish and maintain a foothold online. Whether brick and mortar or virtual services, online marketing expands your reach, influence and, ultimately, your business. Small business doesn’t have to mean thinking small when opportunity is a click away. “A content marketing strategy based on sharing good value, attracting ideal customers, engagement and establishing relationships online can catapult even the solopreneur. Get clear on your core message, convey it in website copy, establish expertise with blogging, and engage and repurpose using social media. A comprehensive approach ensures a consistent online presence that can reach around the globe.”
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Deb Coman. Owner, DebComanWriting.com, Syracuse.
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“The primary focus should be to zero in and provide excellent service to repeat and referral clients. After being in real estate more than 30 years, we have a long list of satisfied clients and customers and we like receiving repeat business from them. It’s the same thing at the farm. People come back year after year. We’ve had as many as four generations. All small businesses should do that, if you’re established. It takes three to five years to create a positive reputation and build up a positive reputation. Once you’ve done that, work on focusing on those repeat customers.”
Faye Beckwith, broker and owner at Freedom Real Estate, Hannibal; co-owner of Beckwith Family Christmas Trees in Hannibal.
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“You should buy local or patronize local businesses whenever you can. It’s a trickle down situation, where if I buy locally, then those people can buy locally. It positively impacts any of the other businesses, like attorneys, accountants, bars, restaurants and hairdresser. It keeps the money in the community.”
Romey Caruso, owner R.J. Caruso Tax & Accounting, Oswego.
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“Look at your business from a customer’s perspective and ask the question, ‘Are we doing things the right way?’ As a business, are you providing the absolute best consumer-driven experience, built around quality service, diverse product offerings, competitive pricing, convenience in location, effective branding/marketing, and a strong, overall business model/approach? If you are not, be resolute in 2017, that these standards become your focus.”
Shane R. Stepien, president, Step One Creative, Oswego.
Also read “9 Steps to Propel Your Success in 2017 and Beyond,” by Jamie Persse. Page 77 36
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Bailiwick Market and Cafe in Elbridge
Off to a Robust Start
T
Food from local farms, an experienced chef, arts and crafts and a variety of displays have made the 4,000-sq.-ft. café a destination
housands of patrons have been through the doors of the new Bailiwick Market and Cafe since its opening in Elbridge in April. The feedback for the enterprise has been overwhelmingly positive, said its owner, Nancy Hourigan. “We’ve got a lot of positive feedback, very little negative,” said Hourigan. “Everybody just seems to love the place.” Bailiwick is a 4,000-sq.-ft. building at 441 NY Highway 5 in Elbridge near Tessy Plastics Corp. It offers simple fare in a homey atmosphere among the displays of many local artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. The idea behind the business was to support the local community, but the enterprise has become a hotspot for many DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
travelers too. “We have a bike [motorcycle] club that comes from Oswego,” said general manager Nona Gormley. “They emailed us before we were open and set a date to come out to have ice cream. I don’t think that we’re on their route. It just was a nice location and it was a great ride for them. The group came. They’ve come a couple times.” Bus trips have also stopped by the Bailiwick for a unique place to stop for a meal while on their way to events and activities. “It’s a destination,” Hourigan said. The management of the Bailiwick said it is a stickler for providing great
BUSINESS UPDATE
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
customer service. Both Hourigan and Gormley agreed providing excellence in customer service is their biggest challenge and goal. “All of our staff is very, very cognizant of the importance of greeting customers,” Gormley said. “That is our model. That is the most important thing.” Also important is providing a good meal made from local farms. The Bailiwick has an experienced chef whose background includes time at Pumpkinville, a farm and eatery in Western New York, the Aurora Inn on Cayuga Lake, and the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles. “We have a fabulous chef named Susan Wheeler,” Hourigan said. “We call her ‘Cookie.’ That’s what she goes 37
Owner Nancy Hourigan, left, started her Bailiwick Market and Café in Elbridge after researching the market and the model of café she wanted for about a year. Her café, on Route 5 in Elbridge, has become a destination, she said. Next to her is general manager Nona Gormley. by. She’s very good at using whatever we give her from here.” Hourigan is very devoted to focusing on the local environment in all that she does. She even incorporated timbers from the settler’s farmhouse, which resided at the Bailiwick’s location, into the building. The farmhouse was beyond repair, but that didn’t stop her from using its core to help reinvent this part of Elbridge. She also used old barn wood to construct some of the tables and other features of the Bailiwick. Entrees and sandwiches are often named after families that have been rooted in the community for generations. This has helped attract regulars. “People who are from around here will look at the menu and get a chuckle out of it,” Gormley said. “We really incorporated the history of the area into our menu.” Hourigan herself has lived on a dairy and crop farm in the area, with her husband, for over 50 years. They bought 200 acres and her husband asked her what to do with it. “I always thought how lovely it would be for my neighbor, who makes maple syrup, and my other neighbor, 38
Bailiwick Market and Café has hired an experienced chef and buys food from local farms. “What happens is people will walk in and look around a little bit, order food, and then while they’re waiting for their food they’ll go back out into the market” General manager Nona Gormley. who makes good cheese—I thought it would be a great spot for them to be selling their stuff,” Hourigan said. “Another person said ‘Well, I like to cook. Why don’t we serve food.’ And another said ‘I don’t want to go to Syracuse to get good coffee. Let’s have good coffee.’ (Bailiwick offers Cafe Kabul coffee from Syracuse). Then OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
we had another woman who had this great connection to the art world. She said ‘Why don’t we put my stuff in there?’ We sat around a table and we dreamed it up.” But Hourigan isn’t some farmer’s wife who just fell off the turnip wagon. She said they studied the successful business models out there before going ahead with development of their plans. It took one year to plan, and one year to build Bailiwick. Today the business has an email list of patrons with over 600 names and a rewards program to encourage them to come back. Bailiwick might bring to mind the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain as a model, except that it offers more. The food and goods offered are locally made, and are interspersed together, rather than separate. The market and cafe offers bookings for private parties and is also planning public parties and family activities for the holidays. “There’s a real synergy between the market and the restaurant,” Gormley said. “What happens is people will walk in and look around a little bit, order food, and then while they’re waiting for their food they’ll go back out into the market.” The Bailiwick employs about 30 people, about one-third are full-time and two-thirds part time. Twenty percent of sales have come from the retail end, which Hourigan has said has really added to the business. With the hybrid business model, Nancy Hourigan said her main challenges is keeping up with demand as the holidays roll in. “We’ve been overwhelmed at times by the reception of the public,” Hourigan said. “We’ve been working pretty hard and hustling just to keep up, and make sure that the customer service is top notch and giving people what they want.”
Want to Learn More? Address 441 NY Highway 5 in Elbridge near Tessy Plastics Corp Website: www.bailiwickmarket.com Phone: 315-277-5632 DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
New Hotel to Open First Quarter in Oswego
A new $9.9 million hotel project on the east side is taking shape rapidly. Visions Hotels, LLC, based in Corning and owner of the property, plans to open the facility in the first quarter of 2017
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new yet-to-be branded hotel is expected to be up and running during the first quarter of 2017, according to L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County and CEO of the county Industrial Development Agency The new 89-room hotel is being constructed by Oswego Lodging Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Visions Hotels, LLC, based in Corning. The hotel will encompass 52,000 square feet of space on four floors and is located near Rite Aid at 204 state Route 104 East. Visions Hotels is a hotel management company that operates a chain of hotels in Central and Western New York. It operates 39 hotels in the state. This is the second major hotel being built in the city of Oswego over the last several years. Recently, a new DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Holiday Inn Express & Suites opened at 140 E. 13th St. It features the exact number of rooms as the new Hilton Hotel. The county IDA recently approved a payments-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with the developers. The estimated development cost of the project is approximately $9.9 million. “There certainly is the anticipation from the developers that there is a sufficient market here to sustain another hotel facility, otherwise they wouldn’t be building this project,” Treadwell said. Treadwell said he is uncertain as to what brand the hotel is going to be. It initially began as an Extended Stay
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America facility, he said. “Whether it ends up being that or not, I’m not sure,” he added. Calls to Visions Hotels for comments were not returned. “They obviously must recognize that the greater Oswego area has substantial potential in terms of demand for lodging,” Treadwell said. Treadwell noted there is a flurry of activity occurring in the area, including the proposed Great Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. In addition, there is going to be development associated with the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative the city recently was awarded. Treadwell said continued growth at Novelis means more demand for hospitality resources. By Lou Sorendo 39
Oswego County Airport Interim Manager Brandon Schwerdt (left) and flight instructor Cameron Shepard. Schwerdt has worked at the airport for eight years until he was appointed interim manager in August, following the retirement of longtime manager Bruce Bisbo.
New Leadership at Oswego County Airport New interim manager hopes to secure a grant for a new terminal building to make the airport more accessible
Fuel tanks and hangar at Oswego County Airport 40
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he Oswego County Airport is getting some much needed improvements, and a new interim manager is hoping to secure enough grant money for even more upgrades. Brandon Schwerdt was named the interim manager in August, replacing longtime manager Bruce Bisbo, who retired. Schwerdt was no stranger to the airport; he has been working there for eight years. One of his hopes is to secure a grant for a new terminal building to make the airport more accessible to the public. Schwerdt would also like to construct larger hangars to attract new corporate tenants. The airport’s purpose is often misunderstood as being a place for “rich boys with big toys,” he said. However, it’s an active airport that is beneficial to the county, according to Schwerdt. Located in the town of Volney, the airport hosts a flight school, a repair service, a training track for law enforcement and a midget car track. There are 75 home-based aircraft and all pay rent. There are some privately-owned hangars that the county has land leases for and once a month from May through September the Experimental Aircraft Association hosts a pancake breakfast. The county’s airport is also used by the Coast Guard, Exelon, Sunoco, Gypsum Express, National Grid and DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
accommodates other corporate jets. “National Grid uses our airport quite a bit,” Schwerdt said. “They’re in here pretty frequently.” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer flies into the Oswego County Airport quite often as well, Schwerdt added. Flo Rida, a rap singer who performed at SUNY Oswego’s 2016 OzFest Spring Concert, also flew into the county’s airport. Along with the corporate and government planes, helicopters frequently fly in. The airport is almost self-sufficient, costing taxpayers approximately $40,000 per year to operate. Schwerdt is hoping to close the gap so that the facility won’t need to rely on any tax dollars. Along with revenue from hangar rentals and leases, the county makes money from fuel sales and it’s one of the airport’s largest revenue sources. Funding for improvement projects come primarily from federal grants that are comprised of taxes and fees paid by cargo shippers, passenger and other aviation activities. “Very little of these project costs are passed on to the local taxpayer,” Schwerdt said. The most recent grants provided the replacement of 40-year-old taxiway pavement, lighting and guidance signs. Also installed were new runway end identifier lights (REILs) that help pilots identify a runway during reduced visibility. Obstruction lighting was also installed to mitigate several obstructions to restore the nighttime approach procedure minimums. The airport has two runways, one 5196 feet and the other 3996 feet. It is not a controlled airport but it does have instrument approaches. Three employees along with Schwerdt oversee the facility. Currently, the office is the only building open for the public and it’s not easily accessible. That’s something Schwerdt wants to see changed. “The office is the only public access,” he said. “People have to cross an active apron and it’s just not friendly.” He’s seeking a grant that would allow for construction of a new terminal building with a lounge and large windows. When the weather is nice, the EAA’s pancake breakfasts draw many from the public, however, the on-site restaurant has not been in business as of late. The county leases the restaurant and is currently looking for someone to take it over. The training track is operated by the DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Department of Environmental Conservation and has seen an increase in use, Schwendt said. “They’ve been promoting and marketing it to others not in Oswego County,” he noted. In-county users don’t pay a fee; however, outof-county users do and that brings in additional revenue. The quarter-midget track, named Claytona after the late longtime legislator Clayton Brewer, draws people from all around, adding to the local economy, and that’s one of the main purposes of the airport—it helps bring people to the county and it’s good for economic
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
development. Many years ago, the Federal Aviation Administration designated the airport as a general aviation reliever to Hancock International Airport, located 25 miles away from the Oswego County Airport. For the past 20 years, county officials have been developing the facility and modernizing it. Schwendt wants to continue that practice and make the county airport more attractive to all users and visitors.
By Carol Thompson
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Willian and Bethany Ingersoll run their farm, Ingersoll Farms, near Fulton. They plan to expand sales of their produce in 2017 through the use of CSA — or community supported agriculture. Consumers buy a share in what’s produced at the farm and get fresh produce on a weekly basis. “Our ultimate goal is to have 150 to 200 customers,” Bethany said.
Ingersoll Farms to Focus on Community Supported Agriculture
Fulton farms sells its produce at area farmers’ markets. It plans to focus on membership service sales
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ngersoll Farms is a relatively small family operation near Fulton with big ambitions. They are showing indications that they will meet those ambitions with strong growth in the past year and plans to expand in 2017. The farm is a produce provider to many in Oswego and Onondaga counties. It grows tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, kale, a huge variety of hot peppers, eggplant, lettuce, Swiss chard, cabbage, broccoli and cut flowers and herbs on 25 acres. On other parts of the 300-acre farm the business grows sweet corn and garlic. “We do go to three farmer’s markets in the area,” said Bethany Ingersoll, co-founder of Ingersoll Farms. “We go to Fulton, Oswego and Clinton Square in Syracuse. We had always gone to the markets for many years, but as I was doing the research I real-
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ized the markets are only one avenue to connect with customers. The CSA is a lot bigger, because I could potentially obtain a lot of customers in Oswego County.” CSA — or community supported agriculture — works by having a local farm offer shares to local community members. The members get a weekly supply of fresh produce from the farm for the 16-week growing season and Ingersoll Farms receives a fee of $320. Ingersoll said they started slow with the CSA this year offering only 11 memberships. In 2017 they plan to expand to 25 memberships. “Our ultimate goal is to have 150 to 200 customers,” she said. “We’re
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not going to be able to do that as a family. We’re going to need to take on people.” Ingersoll said they might hire one or two additional hands if things go well as soon as 2017. Right now they operate as a husband and wife team — with her husband, Bill Ingersoll, doing the work, along with help from their three kids and extended family. The farm expects to extend its growing season by several weeks this spring too. They plan to construct a high tunnel. “It’s a greenhouse where we can plant in the ground,” Bethany Ingersoll said. “That’s our goal, to put that up this spring. That will extend our growing season too. With the high tunnel we could probably add on at least four to six more weeks and maybe even longer than that. It’s going to be a learning process because it’s new to us.” In early November the farm was finishing up with the garlic crop and getting ready for its winter routine. There’s machinery to be maintained and come February there will be a great deal of planning that needs to be done for the coming growing season. Bethany and Bill both have fulltime jobs, too. Bethany, 38, is a loan officer at Empower Federal Credit Union. Bill, 40, is a supervisor at Entergy Corporation. She said farming was in her husband’s blood. Both his grandfathers were farmers. The couple started with a garden, but it kept growing bigger and bigger. They needed something to do with all the excess produce so, at a friend’s suggestion, they brought some of the produce to a little farmers market in Volney. “We realized we had the potential to go to three, four farmer’s markets,” she said. Today they offer their produce at DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
farmer’s markets in Oswego, Fulton and Clinton Square in Syracuse. They started the vegetable farming operation in 2009, but after several years at the farmer’s markets Bethany went to Onondaga Community College Small Business Development Center for help. They developed a business plan. During research for the business plan Bethany discovered the CSA concept. “Throughout the whole United States it’s a growing trend,” she said. “That was something that I said, ‘Alright this is a program that many farmers have already been using. They’re able to market to a bigger part of your community.’ You can actually market to everyone.” Right now Bethany Ingersoll said 70 percent of their revenue still comes from the farmers markets, with 20 percent from the CSA and 10 percent from a roadside stand. But they expect that to change. The CSA is a more efficient use of their time, she said. They can spend more time on the farm planting and picking, while clients come directly to the farm to pick up the produce. Running their own prospering business is only part of the reason the Ingersolls became farmers, though. “The rewards from having your farm are endless,” Bethany Ingersoll said. “I’m hoping to do it till the day I die.” For more information on Ingersoll Farms or to buy a share in its CSA for 2017 call Bethany Ingersoll at 315-3961899.
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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Bruce Frassinelli bfrassinelli@ptd.net
‘Journalese’ Is Alive, Well and Flourishing Why we journalists say things that other humans would never dare say
“Are we perpetuating gender-bias if we use the term ‘you guys’? We can turn this argument on its ear and ask how a group of men would feel about being addressed as ‘you gals’”
BRUCE FRASSINELLI is the former publisher of The Palladium-Times and an adjunct online instructor at SUNY Oswego. 44
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e journalists are accused of using this is really important for Central New York arcane (there I go again) language journalists — is teeth-chattering. The first that most humans do not. They are reference for seasonal precipitation is “snow,” right, by the way. This specialspeak is called followed by “the white stuff,” then either “it” “journalese.” or “the flakes,” but not both. He goes on to We see it a lot in headlines. “Police nab say that the word “snow” may be used once burglary suspect,” “Mets rally to top Cardiagain toward the end of the report, directly nals,” “Bills blank Cowboys.” “Foes ink pact.” after discussion of ice-slicked or treacherous There is really a simple reason why some roads and the grim highway toll. of these words are used: They are small and Robberies always go bad, never good. tend to fit into the space given for a headline. We journalists say things that other “Nab” rather than “apprehend,” “top” rather humans would never dare say. For example: than “defeat,” “blank” rather than “shut out” and JOURNALESE COMMON USE “ink” rather than “sign” are all much more economical fled on foot ran away, words or phrases for headhigh rate of speed speeding line-writers. When it comes to news a working blaze on fire stories, I am here to tell reduce expenditures cut costs you that journalese is alive, well and flourishing, quipped said even though every editor terminate employment fire desperately tries to teach reporters to avoid these reduction in service layoff trite crutches at all cost. blunt force trauma injury John Leo, writing in the essay “Journalese, discharged the weapon shot or Why English is the lower extremities legs and/or feet Second Language of the Fourth Estate,” humorofficers observed police saw ously acknowledged that at this point in time now every cub reporter, for instance, knows that fires deceased dead rage out of control, minor failed to negotiate a curve missed a curve mischief is perpetrated by Vandals (never Visigoths, determine a course of consider options Franks or a single Vandal action working alone) and key male juvenile boy labor accords are hammered out in the 11th hour female juvenile girl by weary negotiators in commence begin. marathon, round-the-clock bargaining sessions, thus emergency personnel police, firefighters narrowly averting threatcomplainant victim ened walkouts. He goes on to say that fatally injured killed the discipline required for a winter storm report — and OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
We report that “a Skaneateles man was stabbed following an altercation outside a village bar.” Can you imagine a father saying to his wife, who just got back home, “I sent the kids to their rooms, because they got into an altercation.” This dad would say “fight” or “argument.” Let’s not forget the journalese cousins of “altercation” — “brouhaha” and “imbroglio.” Or, how about this one: “A Cazenovia man fingered his business partner in the theft of $30,000 from company proceeds.” You’ll never find mom telling Johnny, “OK, no dessert for you tonight, young man, because your brother fingered you for eating cookies before dinner.” In every fire report, you are likely to see this kind of phrase: “The blaze started in the living room.” Don’t expect Dad to say on a cold winter’s night: “Heck of a blaze I started in the fireplace, don’t you think?” After many municipal meetings, you are likely to read: “Oswego residents turned out at last night’s City Council meeting to express concern over a proposed tax increase for next year.” Picture mom telling Olivia, “I want to express my concern over your proposed trip to the mall with your friends.” Legions of (well, maybe a few) academics have compiled a list of these well-worn journalese phrases and the “human” way they are generally said (see table on opposite page). The list can go on and on.There are some words that are positively puzzling. “Coffers” means a “cashbox” but many confuse it with something to do with the box housing a body after death. Any event that ends with death or destruction might be described as “ill-fated,” as if its destiny had been preordained. “The Titanic sank during its ill-fated, maiden voyage.” When Hillary Clinton appeared before members of Congress about what went wrong with the Benghazi operation in Libya, Republicans “grilled” or “quizzed” her, rather than “questioned” her. So, when we come right down to it, what is journalese anyway? One definition that I really like is this: “Journalese is the artificial and sometimes over-abbreviated language regarded as characteristic of the popular media.” Another definition, by The New York Times’ Philip B. Corbett, also is spot on: He calls journalese “a strained and artificial voice more common to news reports than to natural conversation.” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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Job Growth Projection Highlights Hottest Jobs in CNY Area’s Strengths Demand for jobs in health care will continue at least until 2022 By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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he US Department of Labor recently listed the projected fastest-growing job titles for Central New York by 2022. Many of these professions involve health care. With several health care educators and many major and smaller health care employers in Central New York, it’s obvious why health care continues to grow in the area. Carrie Scholz, licensed social worker, patient advocate, and owner of Health Navigation of CNY in Skaneateles, said that continued growth in health care reflects several shifts in health care, including lowered reimbursement and increased costs. “With health care being more costconscious, they’re extending care with nurse practitioners and physician assistants for lower-cost service providers,” Scholz said. As the population ages, demand for healthcare — and health care providers — continues to increase. The Affordable Care Act also raises the need for providers as more people have entered the health care system now that they’re insured. Scholz said that the continued growth Scholz of health care in Central New York is good for the economy. “The need is never going to go away,” Scholz said. “People will always need health care. There’s not enough personnel to meet the anticipated need for the population 10 years from now and health systems are trying hard to gear up for that.” The Affordable Care Act has further complicated the delivery of health care as well. Patient advocates represent a newly formed — and, according to Scholz —
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• Computer & Information Research Scientists • Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary • Physical Therapist Aides • Home Health Aides • Physician Assistants • Medical Secretaries • Athletic Trainers • Bartenders • Ophthalmic Medical Technicians • Veterinary Technologists & Technicians • Cooks, Restaurant • Physical Therapist Assistants • Dental Hygienists • Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics
quickly growing field. “I get hired privately to help people navigate the medical system,” Scholz said. “It’s overwhelming for people when they’re sick. This is an up-andcoming field. Across the country, there may be 300 to 500 people doing this, but it’s growing.” Although hospitals and private practices • Medical Assistants may offer patient navigators or advocates, Source: US Department of Labor Scholz said that since their employer is the health system, is pretty easy to explain. Longevity that represents a conflict of interest. She is at an all-time high. The greatest believes independent advocates provide generation are living longer and the unbiased service. boomers are moving right in behind Scholz also thinks that more Internet them. The need for caregivers will security experts could help better ensure always be there.” security for electronic medical records. Similarly, information technology From feedback she receives from has grown to touch nearly every area clients, she thinks that the area could use of our lives. more practitioners of alternative health “Maintaining and, more impormodalities to work in both preventive tantly, protecting systems is critical,” and integrative efforts. Halleron said. “Networks are growing “People are looking at more local and qualified people will be needed to services,” Scholz said. “They don’t want keep up.” to travel 20 miles to go The surge in the need for bartendto a yoga class. They’re ers and cooks reflects the resurgence of so localized that there the area’s hospitality sectors. probably is room for “Have you ever gone out without growth in those areas.” a reservation and tried to get a table?” She wants to see Halleron posed. “Not easy. With more additional providers of disposable income, people are enjoying behavioral health and socialization again.” geriatric health. Just a Halleron views the list of the top handful offer the latter growing job titles as an indicator of a in Central New York. healthy economy because of its diverHalleron John R. Halleron, sity. But he believes that one area could senior business adviser with the Small use more growth: skilled trades. Business Development Center at SUNY “The stigma of trade schools or Oswego attributes the growth in the apprenticeships needs to be broken,” health care job titles, in part, to the “shift Halleron said. “The trades are desperfrom manufacturing to a service-based ately needed not only to grow, but to economy,” he said. “The health care sector maintain what we already have.” OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
COVER STORY
Meet Six Promising New Businesses DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Sleeping Giant Mattress Owner, Corey Bryant
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orey Bryant of Pulaski recently opened the Sleeping Giant Mattress Company in the town of Minetto. He is the sole owner/operator of the independent mattress and bedding furniture business. The business has been open since Oct. 1. Bryant relocated from Western Massachusetts to Oswego County in 2010. He was familiar with the area, as he used to take trips to fish on the Salmon River. In need of a change, Bryant said he put his Massachusetts home up for sale and moved to Pulaski with his two dogs. “It was the best decision of my life,” said Bryant. “As soon as I got out of my comfort zone, a lot more doors opened for me.” Bryant has spent his career working in retail and sales. Locals may recognize him as the former manager of the Verizon store in Oswego. For the past two years, he’s managed one of the local Metro Mattress locations in the area. Bryant wanted to locate his new business in the Oswego/Fulton area. He had stopped at a gas station in Minetto, noticed the building across the road for lease, and peeked in the windows for a look-see. It’s then that he met property owner Jeff Tonkin, a real estate agent in Oswego. Bryant signed a three-year lease with Tonkin, who renovated the property from floor to ceiling. Renovations took a little over a month to complete. His first order of business was making the building at 6 county Route 24 handicapped- accessible. The second was filling the showroom with mattresses and pillows. “I do not have 20 beds in my showroom just to have them, each one is thoughtfully and purposefully here,” said Bryant. Bryant decided on the mattress industry because of the benefit to the consumer.
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Corey Bryant of Pulaski in front of his new business, the Sleeping Giant Mattress Co. in Minetto.
“A mattress needs to fit a person’s lifestyle. A good night of sleep dictates their whole day,” said Bryant. A customer recently came into Sleeping Giant looking for a bed. He has lung cancer and was sleeping in a reclining chair due to his condition. Listening to his circumstance, Bryant sold the customer an adjustable base and mattress. These particular beds help with acid reflux, varicose veins and pressure relief. “Something so little can benefit someone so much,” said Bryant. A week and a half after his opening, Bryant reports that he’s sold 18 mattresses. Customer response, particularly on social media, has been overwhelmingly positive, he said. He said he had a lot more expenses than he originally anticipated, and had to turn to credit cards after having a hard time finding small business loans. But he said his investment is starting to pay off. “I’m not exactly sure how much money I’ve invested. It’s been a growing process so the investment has been split up since August. If I were to estimate its over $50,000 so far and still counting,” he said. “I’m a small town guy, and Minetto is even smaller. A lot of people have popped in just to welcome me to the neighborhood,” said Bryant. “I’m always going to be around, accessible and hands-on with my business.” By Nicole Shue OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Dino’s House of Burgers Owner, Jason Accordino
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gourmet burger joint with a family-friendly feel opened recently on 7 W. Bridge Street in downtown Oswego. Owner Jason Accordino has been dreaming up the concept for his new business for years. The name for the restaurant is a play on the owner’s last name. Dino was a nickname given to Accordino by his grandmother; he was Dino 1 and his brother, Dino 2. Accordino is the food service coordinator at Little Luke’s Preschool and Childcare Center. He is the father of four daughters, ranging in age from 7 to 20 and has lived with his wife in Oswego for the last 10 years. When Accordino took the job at Little Luke’s five years ago, his goal was to open his own restaurant within five years. “I’m right on track so far,” said Accordino, who opened on Sept. 21. “I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
busier than even Accordino anticipated, but he’s not complaining. “Even when we were putting on the final touches, and pairing down the menu before opening, I heard people in line at the bank talking about us,” said Accordino. “We are on the main road, so people could see that something was happening. It’s hard to keep a secret in a relatively small town.” Next year, Accordino is looking to give the buildings small outdoor seating area more attention. His goal is to recoup the funds he put into renovations within his first six months of business. He obtained a loan through the Small Business Development Center of Oswego (SBDC). By Nicole Shue
Crew working at Dino’s House of Burgers. Jason Accordino is the one wearing a ball cap on the lower left. for over 20 years, now it’s game on.” Accordino still maintains his day job, in addition to being as hands-on as possible at the restaurant. He works in the kitchen, greets guests and oversees operations. His career has been made up mostly in the food service industry. Accordino got his start washing dishes at a restaurant at 15 years of age. Now, as owner and operator of Dino’s Burgers, he supervises three cooks and four counter employees. Rather than the traditional waitress/full service establishment, Dino’s Burgers does things a bit differently, and offers counter service. The menu consists of shakes, smoothies, burgers, fries, loaded tater tots, flatbreads, hotdogs and coneys, mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and more. The star of the restaurant is the selection of burgers, made with Iowa premium beef. “The beef is a top quality product, the cows are corn-fed with no GMOs,” said Accordino. Accordino says he is big on buzzwords and what’s trending in the food industry. “Flatbreads are trending nationwide, as is Sriracha sauce, which is the base for a lot of our burger sauces, including one that covers our [Rochester-inspired] garbage plates. Dino’s Burgers has a diner feel DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
without being a traditional diner. As a Baldwinsville native and frequenter of the B’Ville Diner, Accordino is used to living near a place that stays open for the late night crowd. “I wanted to create a place appealing to everyone, including families with children. Where people could come for the food, but get an adult drink, too,” said Accordino. The restaurant is awaiting a liquor license to be able to serve beer and wine to patrons. There are also plans to have non-alcoholic root beer on tap. Accordino said that the downtown area has been a great fit for his business, and the location “ticked all of the checks.” Tony Pauldine, an Oswego developer and contractor is the leasing owner of the building. Dino’s Burgers, which is located next door to The Children’s Museum of Oswego, benefits from walking traffic, a bus stop across the street, King Arthur’s Suites upstairs and proximity to SUNY Oswego. Dino’s Burgers is open after midnight for the “Water Street crowd” Thursday through Saturday. “I want to give the late night group another option besides fast food or pizza,” said Accordino. Dino’s Burgers has been well received by the community, and has been OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Oswego Food & History Tours Owner, Colette Astoria
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or Colette Astoria, owner of Oswego Food & History Tours, there is a big difference between her newfound second career as a tour guide and her former life as a schoolteacher. “It’s different because they all want to be there. It’s nice to have a receptive clientele,” she said jokingly. Astoria retired as a schoolteacher after 33 years at Leighton Elementary School in Oswego. She has formed a business that blends the city of Oswego’s rich history with its high-quality array of restaurants, cafes and shops that feature unique culinary treats. Tours are offered three Saturdays a month and Astoria noted she would like to add an eastside loop to her established west-side route. Tours doing the winter will be dependent on weather. Astoria said the average tour size is eight people, although she could accommodate up to a dozen. Her husband Jim is a nuclear engineer who works out of town, leaving 49
Astoria to supper by herself. “That’s how I got to know a lot of business owners,” she said. Astoria took her dad to Sampling Syracuse Food Tours for his birthday last July, and it sparked her interest in terms of doing the same thing in the Port City. Being a former history teacher, she enjoyed touring folks around the city in the past and showing them various landmarks. “I said to myself, ‘I can do this and it would be fun,’” Astoria said. “I know a lot of the local businesses and am a frequent flyer at all the restaurants.” Once Astoria established her venues, she contacted former student and county historian Justin White. She attended a presentation that White did on local history as part of the county’s bi-centennial celebration. “I took copious notes, and then he went with me on my route to make sure I attached stories to the right places,” she said. Astoria also read books on local history from folks like Mike McCrobie, who penned “Our Oswego: Memories of growing up and growing old in the Port City of Central New York” in 2014. “After I got the history part done, then I needed stories. I didn’t want it to be just about buildings,” she said. Once people discovered what she intended to do, Astoria had no trouble gathering personal anecdotes. “Everyone has a story about Oswego, and I added several of them to the mix,” she said. Astoria said she has several ghost stories to thrill tour goers with, plus tales of famous and infamous people, such as Madam Malvina Guimaraes. She owned the Elks Lodge building in the 19th Century. “She was a cougar. Her third husband was 20 years younger than her,” Astoria said. “When she found out he just married her for money, she divorced him. It made national news because you just didn’t do that in the 1800s. For one thing, women didn’t own their own businesses, which she did.” Astoria said among her challenges in launching the business was preparing herself. She engaged in the Oswego County Micro-Enterprise Training Program administered through Operation Oswego County and SUNY Oswego’s Small Business Development Center. “I got an overview of what it takes and what I was going to have to do,” she said. 50
Colette Astoria started her Oswego Food & History Tours to take visitors to the main historic sites in Oswego as well as some of the best local restaurants. Astoria said she is in the process of applying for low-interest financing available through the micro-enterprise program, some of which she hopes will cover initial costs of launching her business. She opened a $2,000 business line of credit through Pathfinder Bank and used her own financial resources to get the business off the ground. Astoria estimates that it cost her $4,000 to cover startup costs, and she foresees a margin of about $5,000-$6,000 annually. The tour starts out in the Oswego YMCA parking lot, which is adjacent to the O&W Railroad Pedestrian Promenade & Bikeway spanning the Oswego River. The tour then extends north on West First Street as Astoria gives her group information concerning Oswego’s governmental buildings, including City Hall, built in 1870. The first stop is at La Parilla on West Second Street, where tour goers enjoy a bowl of soup while admiring the firefighting history of what was once Oswego Engine 1. From there it’s onto the Oswego Theater, mainly known for its Art Deco style created in 1940. The tour then hits West Bridge Street and to what White terms “Oswego’s answer to the Parthenon.” Reflecting that classical architecture is The Beacon OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Hotel, which once served as the home to the Knights of Columbus. The tour then visits the Franklin Square Historic District and the Penfield House, which features Greek Revival-style architecture. The group then heads east to West First Street, where the historic Cahill building and recently renovated Woodruff Building capture tour goers’ attention. After stops at US Beer Brewers at The Cellar Door and CupCakers, the tour visits the Water Street Café within Old City Hall and Dino’s House of Burgers. The gathering then enjoys woodfired pizza at Red Sun Fire Roasting Co. on West First Street. A visit to Canal Commons then ensues, where the tour stops in at Taste the World Specialty Foods & Coffee, Man in the Moon Candies and then finishes at the Hot Shoppe behind Canal Commons. Astoria also does a bio on each of the business owners during the tour. Astoria is originally from Palermo, and is a resident of the town of Oswego. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SUNY Oswego. The Astorias have five children and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include reading, sewing and bicycling. By Lou Sorendo
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Happy Hearts Childcare, Inc. Owner, Robin Walker
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obin Walker enjoys keeping the beat to happy hearts. Walker is the owner and director of Happy Hearts Childcare, 4 Butternut Drive, Oswego, which opened last August. She filed as an S corporation last January. During her past experience at established child care centers, she noticed they had waiting lists. “People would say, ‘I wish there was another choice. We don’t know what to do for our children,” she said. Walker has more than 30 years’ experience working with children in many different capacities, including in her own home, in a classroom setting, in a large, established day care center, and within church programs. She and her husband of 32 years, Paul, also raised three children. At first, she balked at the idea of opening her own business, but eventually became convinced that she could at least start out small and grow from there. “I just wanted to offer another option to people in the area that wanted an actual center and not an in-home daycare,” she said. The business offers full-time daycare and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Children are cared for in separate age groups: an infant room for those aged 6 weeks to 18 months; a toddler room for children 18 months to 3 years of age; and two preschool rooms, one for kids aged 3-4 and another for those who are 5 but not yet in kindergarten. While it is a daycare, the business offers a structure throughout the day where children interact through activities such as crafts. The center also helps preschoolers prepare for kindergarten. “I’ve always had a passion for taking care of children and for working with children in many different aspects,” she said. “It’s just been in the last five years that I really got a spark and passion for opening an actual small center.” “I love children. I’m very nurturing, loving and caring,” she added. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
“People would say, ‘I wish there was another choice. We don’t know what to do for our children,” said Robin Walker as she explains the reason she opened her childcare in Oswego last August.
For Walker, one of the biggest challenges in launching her business was finding out what agencies on the local and state levels needed to know that she was forming a business. The more she delved into the business, the more she realized how strict regulators are. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services oversees childcare services while the state Division of Code Enforcement and Administration ensures a safe facility. The regulation packet from the state is 90 pages long. “I’m supposed to know everything in there and I reread it just to make sure I’m aware,” she said. Walker said her experience working in a large, established daycare center for OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
several years helped in terms of understanding state regulations. “I was able to build on that as I formed my own daycare here,” she said. Initially, Walker and her husband put their heads together and estimated what they would need to get the business going. “We looked at some of our personal finances, and we did not have anywhere near enough to be able to finance the whole business,” she said. A Small Business Administration 504 loan that she was approved for was for $100,000 and filled those financial needs, while she and her husband also had to draw $35,000 from their own funds to inject into the business. “We emptied our personal savings accounts and IRAs,” she said. “My hus51
band has been working double shifts at work to bring in extra income until we get the business to capacity.” Her husband is employed at an ARC of Onondaga County work center. “It had to happen once we started making personal investments. We couldn’t back out of it. We had to keep it going,” she said. “There were lots of times when we were pretty fearful of being the ones putting money into it and being in charge. “But the foundations I built, knowledge I was gaining and support that I had really helped to strengthen me and help me be strong enough to keep going.” Walker needed to purchase a building that was acceptable to state regulators, and also was required to provide renovations to bring it up to fire and state codes. She also had to furnish each room with appropriate furniture and toys, and had to pay for all permits and inspections. Walker also had to hire and train staff. She has a staff of four, and future plans call for at least two more. Walker said her short-term goal is to fill the center. “I need to get to full capacity as quickly as I can,” she said. The center is approved for 23 children and as of mid-November, featured 11. Walker’s long-term goals are to “really get the business established and running very smoothly” for it to really begin to sustain itself, she said. She said realizing a profit margin will take some time. “At full capacity, I should see gross yearly earnings of $197,080. We are small, but those are big numbers when you think about putting your own personal money into it,” she said. Walker said there were several keys to establishing her business on a successful basis. “The first was we had a solid business plan and a clear goal,” said Walker, noting that the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Oswego was instrumental in helping hone the plan. She also commended a robust support group that included family and friends. She also sought and is still seeking counsel from several longtime business people. Another key is passion for “just providing another option, another safe, nurturing environment for kids to come to. That passion kept me going,” she said. “Our draw is that we are smaller, so 52
overall, we have fewer children in the whole building,” she said. “Each classroom size is smaller such that when you come in, you might have only six children in a class, with one or two teachers.” Interaction and care is enhanced with smaller classroom sizes, she noted. Walker, 53, was born in Johnson City. The Walkers reside in Scriba and have lived in the area for over 20 years. Walker earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and does as much ongoing training as she can through different avenues. Walker enjoys reading both for recreation and education, and spending time and traveling with her family. For more information, visit Happyheartsoswego@gmail.com. By Lou Sorendo
Destination Expeditions, LLC Owner, Jennifer Mays
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ntrepreneur and adventurer Jennifer Mays is on a mission: getting people active in the great outdoors in the region. A valued friendship during her teenage years in Oswego exposed her to hiking, biking and kayaking. These excursions left Mays with a greater understanding and appreciation of the area. “For many years I thought the business idea of Oswego Expeditions was just that — a great idea,” said Mays. “It wasn’t until I read about the Next Great Idea Competition 2014 sponsored by Operation Oswego County did I think my idea could become a reality.” Mays entered the competition and, much to her surprise, Oswego Expeditions was chosen to move into the next round. While Mays and Oswego Expeditions did not win the competition, the experience inspired her to pursue her vision. “For many months after The Next Great Idea Competition my focus was networking, attending meetings throughout the county and introducing myself,” said Mays. In order to get her OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
idea off the ground, Mays focused on core aspects of her business. “Around the same time I began investing in equipment such as kayaks, a passenger bus and in the summer of 2015 we began renting equipment and providing guided kayak trips on the Oswego Canal.” Since then she’s acquired more kayaks and bikes for rent, all used to tour the area’s diverse attractions by land or by sea. Mays’ business began as a “doing business as? Oswego Expeditions and later incorporated the business as Destination Expeditions, LLC. “I currently have two businesses that operate under Destination Expeditions LLC: Oswego Expeditions and Fitness thru Nature.” Said Mays, “For several months we contemplated which name we will use indefinitely. Currently, there is the flexibility to use any of the above, ultimately decided it is in the best interest of my company not to limit myself by using “Oswego.” Mays said that part of her vision is helping Oswego through state-wide tourism. “As a tour guide service, we have the ability to bring groups anywhere throughout New York state. If we organize a tour from Cayuga County to Oswego or from Oswego to the Adirondacks, Destination Expeditions LLC, it seems much more fitting, limitless.” Mays says she’s been surprised by how rewarding an experience it has been. “I have met people from all over the world, coming to participate in activities in the area that are enriching, empowering, educational and fun. I have met individuals, young and elderly couples, small to large families, school groups, wedding parties, friends — always in good spirits and looking to maximize their day. It is truly a beautiful thing to be a part of.” “Jennifer has always had a passion for wellness, constantly pursuing certifications and licenses involving all types of physical fitness, nutrition and outdoors exploration,” said Mays’ friend Amy Cavalier. “She has faced adversity, didn’t have the easiest of upbringings to now raising three young boys — challenges she faces with fearlessness, allowing them to reinvent her each time. I’ve watched with admiration as my friend has risen above every challenge put before her.” One area of the business Mays would like to see expand is Fitness Thru Nature. Citing a 2014-2017 Oswego County Health Assessment strongly suggesting a need for county residents to adopt lifestyle changes, she feels getting DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Port City Wedding and Event Planning, LLC Owner, Debbie Herrington
On a mission: Entrepreneur and adventurer Jennifer Mays started her business, Destination Expeditions, LLC, to get people active in the great outdoors in the region.
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people active is vital to the area’s health and wellbeing. “A year-round outdoor fitness program could greatly improve Oswego County’s statistics. While Destination Expedition’s monthly memberships are already quite low, much of the county’s poor health is linked to poverty and socioeconomic issues. I’m looking to form a nonprofit, meeting the region’s health needs, encouraging a healthier active lifestyle, regardless of financial abilities.” A mentor, Carol Misztal, says of Mays: “her focus has always been influencing the well-being of the community. She mapped out the ways in which she could involve others and worked tirelessly to secure the resources and connections to bring these to fruition, DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
evolving her life’s work into experiences that help herself and others to truly appreciate what the region have to offer.” In speaking of one of her favorite aspects of her job, Mays said it’s witnessing the joy and excitement someone has doing new things. “On several occasions, I have heard ‘[I can’t believe] I am kayaking,’ ‘I have never done this before,’ ‘This is awesome, thank you so much!’ There is always a lot of smiling, laughter and gratitude in my business” adds Mays. For more information about Destinations Expeditions, visit oswegoexpeditions.com or look for Destinations Expeditions LLC on Facebook. By Colin Nekritz
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
ebbie Herrington uses her nursing skills to help save lives in the emergency room at Oswego Hospital. If that isn’t stressful enough, she also spends time during her workday to design and coordinate the perfect wedding. Herrington is the owner of Port City Wedding & Event Planning, LLC, located within the Port City Day Spa, 9 Cayuga St., Oswego. “It’s all customer service. Nursing is customer service with a little bit of science and this is customer service with a little bit of champagne,” she said. Herrington has been working at Oswego Hospital for the past 26 years, currently as an emergency room nurse. “I’m used to working two jobs and usually have two nursing jobs going,” she said. “I’m not afraid to work. I’m used to working 12-hour shifts and working a lot,” said Herrington, who characterized herself as having a Type A personality. “I like to go-go-go and make sure everything is perfect,” she said. Born in Oswego, she grew up in the Pulaski area and has been a Mexico resident for the past 32 years. It was Cindy Reed, owner of Port City Day Spa, who helped inspire Herrington to open a business. Reed, who launched her own business five years ago, saw significant growth in the wedding component of her business but lacked ample time to grow it. Reed was impressed by Herrington’s ability to organize events on an informal basis in the past, and the pair decided to join forces and do 53
business from the same location. “We decided to keep it here together so one can build off the other,” she said. “Because it is more of a service-related business, there wasn’t a great deal of overhead,” said Herrington, noting renting a small space from Reed made it easier for her to get into business. The shop does feature retail items for sale, but primarily it is strictly service oriented. “It makes sense in today challenging financial times,” she said. After high school, Herrington spent 12 years working in the family restaurant business in Parish. She helped cater events and also did planning there as well. Herrington then went to Cayuga Community College, where she earned her associate of applied science degree in nursing. While pursuing the idea of her own business, Herrington attended the New York Institute of Art and Design in New York. Herrington said among her biggest challenges when launching the business was selecting local people from the community that she could promote and present to clients knowing they have the same values and goals she does. “I want to make sure my clients are perfectly happy,” she said. “It’s probably the biggest event that most people will ever plan in their lifetime,” she said. “You can’t get a better time to make people happy.” Herrington said obtaining her LLC was “a huge undertaking” as well as maneuvering through all the paperwork required by the state. “Sometimes I felt like a business lawyer,” she said. “New York state does not make it easy. It was kind of nerve-wracking.” She said among her most costliest items were establishing the LLC itself and web design. The business also specializes in bridal and baby showers, holiday parties, bachelorette and bachelor parties, birthday parties, family reunions and corporate events. Its website — http://portcityweddingevents.com/ — notes all the services it features as well as offers customers the opportunity to purchase items online. Living in the community all her life, Herrington knows many business 54
Debbie Herrington uses her nursing skills to help save lives in the emergency room at Oswego Hospital. But that hasn’t prevented her from opening a wedding planning business on the side. people, many through her experiences at Oswego Health. “I knew the right people to connect with and that was important,” she said. Herrington has networked with vendors such as the Broadwell Hospitality Group and The Beacon Hotel in Oswego, Colloca Estate Winery in Fair Haven and Rainbow Shores in Pulaski. “I’m reaching out to some of my favorite places,” she said. In terms of expected revenue, Herrington said she doesn’t know what the business is going to generate. “It’s really something new to the area. There are a few [like businesses], but some of that income is not public knowledge,” she said. The wedding industry in the United States is a gigantic one, with over 2 million weddings taking place across the country every year and over $53.4 billion spent annually. Herrington said it is common for customers to come in and not really know what they want. “I sit down with them and ask, ‘What are your biggest concerns and priorities? What do you feel most insecure with in terms of planning?’” she said. “You just have to get a sense of what they want when they come in,” she added. She said some people have all OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
their planning and vendors done, but they require a point person to pull everything together. “They don’t have that one person who can come in, help set up vendors, and actually walk through as the day progresses to make sure everything flows smoothly,” she said. What gives her a competitive edge is her attention to detail and the ability to deal with any type of situation or person, thanks to her experience in the high-stress fields of medicine and food service. Weddings can range from a small occasion in a restaurant to a full-blown wedding featuring up to 300 guests. The average cost of a wedding in New York state is $30,000. “Nobody has set plans and it’s totally what they want,” she said. “It could be on a boat somewhere with five to 10 people.” “There is no traditional way to put a wedding on these days. That’s what makes it fun,” she added. A shopping fanatic, the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce member has two children and five grandchildren. “My long-term goal is to retire from the hospital and do this fulltime,” she said. “I’ve been nursing for a long time, and they’ve been very good to me. But I don’t want to do it forever,” she said. By Lou Sorendo DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
COVER STORY By Lou Sorendo
Sink or Swim New businesses must overcome tough odds to stay afloat
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ight out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses crash and burn within the first 18 months, according to Bloomberg. According to Inc.com, 96 percent of businesses fail in 10 years. This essentially means that if you are not ready to play ball, don’t bother showing up at the park. John Halleron is the senior small business adviser at the Small Business Development Center, co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and SUNY Oswego through the Office of Business and Community Relations. He said there is a likelihood the numbers of business failures are a bit deceiving. “Maybe they didn’t all close because they weren’t doing well,” he said. “They could have reached a point where they said, ‘Hey, I’ve had enough and I don’t want to do this anymore.’” However, as a rule, one must closely watch cash flow in order to make it through the first year of doing business, Halleron said. “You can lose money and still be in business, and you can make money and go out of business. It’s all understanding cash flow,” he said. “It’s knowing what you start with, the products you sell and
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
expenses you have, and hopefully by the end of the month you have something to start over with again.” Halleron said some types of businesses require meticulous control of cash flow. “You have to be really careful, especially if you have accounts receivable and are waiting for someone to pay you. You still have obligations,” he said. “It’s knowing when you’re going to need money and preparing for it in advance. Managing that cash flow is absolutely critical at any stage of the business.”
problems. He also said failure to plan for taxes and inability to realize payments must be done on time is problematic as well. Halleron also said a cause for demise is not revisiting the business plan. “If you aren’t making your goals, maybe something in the marketing plan hasn’t kicked in yet and you forgot about it,” he said. Another reason for business failure is owners don’t realize they need help. “Everyone has areas they are comfortable with, and areas they are uncomfortable with,” Halleron said. Owners must discover where their No dough, no go strengths and weakness lie, and once Halleron said the most common rea- weaknesses are identified, find someone son for a business to collapse is because to plug those shortfalls, he added. Halleron also said a pitfall it is undercapitalized. for business owners is not com“Another reason is they municating with lenders and make poor personnel decisions. suppliers when problems arise. They hire the wrong people, and “Everybody is good talking that works against them. Think about the happy times. But you of how many times you’ve gone really need to talk to these folks into a location and have been when you’re having problems,” treated poorly by a person. You he said. “There are certain things don’t go back,” he said. they can do to maybe take some Also, Halleron cautions of the pressure off. As the golden against partnerships, noting Halleron rule of banking says, ‘They got a poor agreement can cause OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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all the gold, they can make all the rules.’ They can do things like interest-only payments or restructured loans. It’s one of those additional problems that will put you down and out.”
Build clout with knowledge
Halleron said staff at the SBDC mainly focuses on helping clients develop an effective business plan. The SBDC features an online template for business plans where correspondence can take place electronically, while the office also features samples that future entrepreneurs can view. “We help them format their story,” he said. “We will also work with them to prepare financial projections so we can prove to them or they can prove to themselves whether or not it can work.” “Once you sign up as a client with us, we can put you into the program,” Halleron said. The essence of a business plan captures what the entrepreneur needs in terms of resources required to accomplish specific goals, he added. Also, the plan should describe what the business does to make money. “Then, we need to talk about where it’s going to be located” and competition, he said. In addition, the plan will outline the market, or the targeted audience that will buy products and services. Halleron said it is critical to describe the manner in which potential customers are going to be reached through a marketing plan. Future entrepreneurs must also determine what kind of legal entity they are going to be, particularly to satisfy lending agencies. “They want to know who is running the show and who is in charge,” he said. Legal entities can range from sole proprietorships to corporations. “You want to talk to an attorney and accountant. There are plusses and minuses for every single one of them,” Halleron said. The SBDC does a radius search based on zip codes to describe a particular demographic. The office can also handle any questions related to regulations. The SBDC’s one-on-one professional counseling services are free and confidential.
Trained and ready
Meanwhile, the Oswego County Micro-Enterprise Program features small business training classes deemed 56
6 Most Common Reasons a New Business Fails 1. Undercapitalization, or more simply put, insufficient funding to support operations 2. Bad personnel decisions 3. Poorly structured partnerships 4. Failure to revisit business plan 5. Not communicating with lenders and s uppliers when problems occur
How To Get Help • Small Business Development Center, Office of Business and Community Relations, SUNY Oswego; call 315-312-3492, email obcr@oswego.edu or visit www.oswego.edu/obcr/small-business-development-center-obcr • Oswego County Micro-Enterprise Program; visit https://www.oswego. edu/obcr/oswego-small-business-development-center-training-course; for more information or to register for classes, call 315-343-1545, email ooc@ oswegocounty.org or visit www.oswegocounty.org/training.php • City of Oswego Community & Economic Development Office; call 315-343-3795, e-mail jrudgick@oswegony.org or visit www.oswegony.org/government/ community-development • City of Fulton Community Development Agency; call 315-593-7166, email fultonhousing@fultoncda.com or visit http://fultoncda.com
essential by Halleron. “Everybody knows how to do the job, how to produce and sell the product, and how to provide the service,” he said. “But they don’t know the business, the backroom stuff.” The 24-hour training program features experts in virtually every aspect of the business world, including attorneys, accountants, risk management and insurance professionals, and marketing and advertising specialists. “Those are the pieces you have to get a handle on, because if they get away from you, you’re in trouble,” he said. The training program also offers financial incentives. The three sponsoring development agencies — the cities of Oswego and Fulton and Operation Oswego County — not only provide scholarships, but also establish loan funds that participants can apply for upon completion of the coursework. OOC offers $25,000 in low-interest financing while the cities provide $50,000. “It’s not a guarantee you’re going to get the money, but it allows you the OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
opportunity to apply for it,” Halleron noted. The adviser said one of the greatest challenges for a new business owner is maintaining confidence, even “when he or she is sitting there wondering why people aren’t coming in.” “You have to keep the cash flow going. If you have inventory you can’t sell, sell it cheap. Keep the money going and don’t hang onto stuff,” he said. “If you got a service you are providing, get out there and beat the bushes. Be confident. “As long as you make sure you’re not buying yourself a job and you got a passion for what you want to do, you stand a fairly good chance of making it through the first year.” Halleron said the state is taking measures to improve the business climate, such as enabling business owners to make sales tax payments online as well as obtain licenses electronically. On the flip side, however, New York state is among the least favorable with a ranking of second to last, according to the Tax Foundation’s 2017 state business tax climate index. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
www.ibew43.org
THE OFFICERS OF IBEW LOCAL 43 Pat Costello – President Don Morgan – Bus. Mgr. Fin. Secretary
IBEW LOCAL 43 4568 Waterhouse Road Clay, NY 13041-9613 (315)422-0435
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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SPECIAL REPORT By Carol Thompson Joe Rotella, the new executive director at SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations.
SUNY Oswego: Major Move in the Works SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations moves into downtown Oswego
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oe Rotella has been at the helm of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County as the agency prepares a major move into the city of Oswego. SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley appointed Rotella last August. The WDB and SUNY Oswego’s Business Commons will be located at 58
121 E. First St. and SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations will be at 34 E. Bridge St. Both locations are undergoing renovations. When completed, the Bridge Street location will have 785 square feet of space and the East First Street location will have 2,430 square feet. Rotella is employed in the OBCR OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
as executive director. “SUNY Oswego is renovating both buildings and designed a facility that will bring us into the community,” Rotella said. “The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce is located next door.” The WDB writes and obtains training grants for the private and public sectors, and provides workforce needs assessments to area businesses. The board is comprised of representatives from many areas of business and industry. “Our purpose is to support individuals entering or reentering the workforce,” Rotella said. Supporting individuals is something Rotella has been doing for most of his adult life. He is a retired school superintendent with the Onondaga Central School District and served as the executive principal at Solvay High School. He was also the house principal for Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of a software development corporation and an associate professor of education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The WDB is doing many interesting things, Rotella noted. Among them is an extensive survey solicited to 127 businesses within the county in conjunction with SUNY Oswego’s Master of Business Administration program. “We are currently working very closely with the MBA program through SUNY Oswego to determine the skill level that businesses are looking for. The survey covers a vast majority of the businesses in the county,” Rotella said. The mission statement of the WDB is to “attract, develop and maintain a qualified workforce for the Oswego County community, to assist in economic development by convening community leaders to engage in strategic planning and facilitating dialogue to educate and train the workforce needed by today’s and tomorrow’s businesses.” Rotella said the move off-campus offers more opportunity for both the college and the community. “It’s offering more opportunity for the college to integrate more directly with the community and to DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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www.divasdusting.com Gift Certificates Available collaborate with local businesses. SUNY Oswego is more accessible to the community.” Rotella noted that public transportation is available right off the new location. “It’s a spectacular opportunity. “When you deal directly, it certainly gives us new perspectives and an opportunity to present new ideas and develop relationships with community partners.” Mayor Billy Barlow said he is looking forward to the opening of the new facility. “Having a SUNY presence in the heart of our downtown will only aid to the development and revitalization of our downtown and will further expedite the collaboration and involvement SUNY has in our community and all the beneficial aspects having a SUNY school as part of our community brings,” he said.
Rich in resources
The OBCR promotes sustainable economic vitality through job creation and training, economic growth, and community development and has sevDECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
eral services under its umbrella. n The Small Business Development Center is a public-private partnership between government and higher education. A team of professional counselors provides one-on-one services to small businesses and entrepreneurs, helping to create business plans and resolving organizational, financial, marketing, technical and other issues. n Leadership Oswego County prepares individuals to become the community leaders of the future. Over a nine-month period, the leadership class completes an intensive course of study of Oswego County, its resources, residents and vital issues, and develops crucial networking and leadership skills. n The Center for Non-profit Excellence provides programs for the development of all levels of nonprofit organizations from board member to CEO with offerings at SUNY Oswego facilities from the Oswego campus, the SUNY Oswego Phoenix Center and the Metro Center in downtown Syracuse. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
n The Oswego County Micro-Enterprise Training Program provides workshops and skills individuals need to start or expand a small business. Programs include classroom training designed to guide entrepreneurs through all aspects of starting and running a business, including expansion or diversification. n Public issues forums provide an opportunity to bring information about current issues and technologies to those who have a need or interest to know more. These forums bring individuals from business, industry, education, government and the public together to explore specific topics and provide opportunities for informal networking. n The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program places and supports people aged 55 and older in volunteer assignments they find meaningful and rewarding while at the same time satisfying community needs. RSVP targets Oswego County’s most pressing needs and develops mutually beneficial programming to address those needs. 59
L. Michael Treadwell ooc@oswegocounty.org
T ‘Agency’s programs supported creation of 484 new jobs, retention of 16 existing positions throughout Oswego County’
L. MICHAEL TREADWELL, CEcD, is executive director of Operation Oswego County based in Oswego. 60
Report by IDA Highlights Accomplishments
he County of Oswego Industrial De- and R&D Design and Associates in the town velopment Agency (COIDA) on Nov. of Schroeppel. The Straight Lease Transaction provides 28 presented its annual report to the Oswego County Legislature’s Economic financial assistance to companies via real Development and Planning Committee. property tax, sales and use tax and mortgage The report provides an account of COIDA’s recording tax exemptions as authorized by activities in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, which NYS General Municipal Law. The program also supported 16 projects estimated to create ran from Aug. 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016. During the fiscal year, COIDA support- 386 jobs. Some examples of projects assisted ed 28 projects that have or are about to have through this program include: • Oswego County Federal Credit Union, investments of more than $170 million in Oswego County. These projects are estimated which opened a new branch office in the city to create 484 new jobs and retain 16 existing of Fulton; • Altmar Genesee (Tailwater Lodge), positions over the next three to five years. COIDAprovided or approved assistance which is adding a 300-seat banquet center to through six of its nine financial assistance its facility in the town of Albion; • Port City Logistics in the city of Oswego, programs. The two programs that supported which acquired the former the greatest number of Economic Trends IP facility for warehousing; projects were the PILOT • Sunoco in the town Economic Development Fund and the Straight Lease Transaction of Volney, which is investing in a malting program, representing 11 percent and 57 operation that will use 2,000 tons of New York-grown barley annually to be used in the percent of the projects respectively. The PILOT Economic Development craft beverage industry. Other forms of assistance provided in Fund uses authorized portions of PILOT income to provide financial assistance to the 2015-2016 fiscal year included the USDA businesses that want to expand in, remain Intermediary Relending Program Economic in or move to Oswego County. This pro- Development Fund, which supported four gram has been in place since 1994 and has projects; the Housing and Urban Developbeen highly successful. During IDAs’ last ment Economic Development Fund, which fiscal year, the program supported three supported two projects; the Micro Enterprise projects estimated to create 74 jobs in Os- Program Economic Development Fund, which wego County. Projects benefitting from this supported five projects; and the COIDA Genspecific program include: COIDA incubator eral Economic Development Fund, which in the city of Oswego, Branch Development supported two projects. Business projects assisted were distributed (Holiday Inn Express) in the city of Oswego throughout Oswego County, located in eight towns and both cities. Projects represented numerous industry sectors, including manufacturing, warehousing, retail, services, housing, tourism/recreation and energy. Eight of the 28 projects were in manufacturing, representing 29 percent of all projects and 48 percent of capital investment. Detail on each is provided in the COIDA annual report which may be found at www.oswegocountyida.org. Members of the COIDA board are Carolyn Rush (chairwoman), Gary T. Toth (vice chairman), H. Leonard Schick (secretary/treasurer), Nicholas M. Canale, Jr., Donald Kunzwiler and Morris Sorbello. L. Michael Treadwell serves as the CEO and David S. Dano as the CFO. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Q A & with
Sarfraz Mian By Matthew Liptak
All About Business Incubators SUNY Oswego professor recently co-edited new book, “Technology Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation: Theory, Practice, Lessons Learned” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Q. Why did you co-edit and help write this book?
A. “This is my third book in this area. This came from there being a lot of research and studies and material available now after the last 20 to 40 years of the incubation movement. We don’t have any book which chronicles what’s happening in other parts of the world. We decided to write this book which chronicles incubators all around the world and see how different countries are benefiting from them and look at the trends and learn from that.”
Q. What can local incubators learn from the book you wrote?
A. “One of the things is that they need to provide a manual of rich services to the incubatees in the form of not only physical space, but also other value-added services, such as connection with the universities for some kind of professional input — knowledge-related and research related. The connections to the universities is something that’s a big value to their operations. They should also take care of their tenants’ other needs. With the passage of time there has been an improvement in service packages that 61
has been offered by incubation facilities. That’s one aspect; the other is there has been a lot of growth of accelerators which emphasizes coaching, seminars of different kinds, bringing in venture capitalists. The owners of these incubation facilities…buy a stake in the firm. They just focus on their quick growth. Usually it goes for about six months or so. It’s called focus-concentrated incubation or acceleration.”
Q. What makes up a successful incubator?
A. “Good, professional management which knows how to run the operation in a professional way and provide excellent customer service. [Also] the alignment of the incubators with the regional goals because of the environment of the region they are in. It is very important for their success. Rich services should be provided by involvement of the incubator managers in terms of mentoring and supporting the tenants. We have some facilities in the region like Upstate Venture Connect, which provide some help in terms of funding support. Then we have the New York Incubator Association. It’s good to be a member of that so that you get some
good tips and lessons from best practices. It’s very important once you set up those facilities that you have some sort of upfront donation or some kind of money so that you don’t have to keep fighting for its sustainability.”
Q. What are the advantages of going into an incubator versus going it alone?
A. “It has been debated quite a bit in the economic development circles over the years. Batavia, N.Y., is the birthplace of the first incubator. The early incubators were just a sharing of space and some services. More and more richness in services started kicking in over the years. With the richness of services, the support level has also been enhanced and the survivability also has significantly improved. The rule of thumb is if you are outside of the incubator, your chances of success are roughly 20 percent. The incubation industry claims that if you are in a good incubator your chance of success becomes 80 percent.”
Q. Why do businesses have more success in incubators?
A. “The reason being that in the early fledgling years people generally do not know a lot of business-related
$179 Million in SBA Loans for Upstate New York Volume is 14 percent higher than previous year. Top lender are M&T, Berkshire and Adirondack banks
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BA Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki recently released the fiscal year 2016 lending report, with 995 7(a) and 504 loan approvals valued at $179 million across the 34-county Syracuse district. “With 7(a) loan program fee reductions in effect and 57 active lenders in the district, our loan approvals increased over last year’s record by 14 percent,” said SBA Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki. Paprocki also announced the most active lenders in the Central New York region for the recently ended federal fiscal year 2016. M&T Bank, Berkshire Bank, and Adirondack Bank had the highest number of 7(a) approvals in their respective categories based on asset size. For the tenth year in a row, M&T
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Bank topped all large commercial banks in the Central New York region and the entire 34-county Syracuse district. This year M&T Bank assisted small businesses in Central New York with 128 loans at a value of $8 million and district-wide with 228 loans totaling $15.3 million. For the second year in a row, Berkshire Bank was the most active large community lender in Central New York and the Syracuse district. Berkshire Bank approved 117 loans to Central New York businesses valued at $6.3 million and 282 loans district-wide worth $18.8 million. Adirondack Bank was the top small community lender in Central New York for the eighth year in a row with 24 loan approvals valued at $7.1 million. Adirondack Bank was the most active small community lender district-wide OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
aspects. If someone develops some kind of technology, they know about the technology, but they don’t know how to incorporate a business; how to interact with customers; do market research; sell their product. All those kinds of business activities are provided in the form of support at incubation facilities — value-added inputs, shared services, low cost, use of expensive equipment on a needed basis. All of those let you start with confidence.”
Q. Can Central New York businesses benefit from more incubation?
A. “It would certainly benefit human-powered development, in terms of training entrepreneurs; in terms of future prospects in job creation; and making entrepreneurship more likable in the area and not losing educated people. I’ve been in the area for 20-plus years. You hear students after graduating from our good schools that they leave the area for other places. This [incubation] is a capturing tool for talent — to hold on to talented manpower in the region. That is needed by our area. Otherwise they run away. They go to other places where they get better facilities to create their businesses.”
for the first time with 27 approvals worth $7.5 million. Empire State Certified Development Corporation (ESCDC) was the most active 504 lender district-wide with 29 approvals valued at $25 million. “With the strong relationships we have with our lending partners, continued fee reductions through 2017 and streamlined application processes, we anticipate building on this past year’s momentum so that more Central New York entrepreneurs will use SBA financing to create jobs and invest in their businesses and communities,” noted Paprocki. Although SBA does not make direct loans to small business, the agency’s use of its guaranty authority enables commercial lenders to make loans to small businesses they would otherwise not have made. The 7(a) loan program is the most widely used access to capital SBA program, with flexible use of proceeds and loan maximum of $5 million. The 504 program offers long-term, fixed-rate financing for major assets such as land, building and equipment with loan maximum of $5 million. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Fulton Group Gets $100,000 from Shineman Foundation It’s the foundation’s largest award, given at the end of the year Fulton Block Builders, a new grass roots organization that is initiating a neighborhood revitalization program in Fulton modeled after the Oswego Renaissance Association’s highly successful program in Oswego, will receive $100,000 from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation. The group is one of 14 nonprofit organizations that received grant awards totaling $313,500 from the foundation in the last of three 2016 grant rounds at its November board meeting. According to a press release from Shineman Foundation, all funded projects will reach a wide range of people in Oswego County. “As with previous grant rounds, the projects represent a diverse cross section of community organizations in human services, education, arts and culture, nutrition, and community revitalization,” the release stated. The $100,000 award to Fulton Block Builders is a matching grant payable in the spring of 2017 following comple-
tion of fundraising in Fulton. Another matching grant of $25,000 was given to Operation Oswego County Foundation toward its grand prize for the winner of the upcoming 2017 Next Great Idea Business Plan Competition. Other community revitalization grants were given to the Art Association of Oswego for its Pottery Studio Revitalization and the Town of Schroeppel Community Services Department for resurfacing of the town park’s basketball court in the spring. In education, funding was provided by the Shineman Foundation to the Oswego County Historical Society for its online Teacher Resource Project for Oswego County schools. Peaceful Remedies received start-up funding for development of a marketing plan and holistic educational programs. Wisdom Thinkers Network received third year funding for capacity building. Human services grants were awarded to Oswego County Opportunities for its SAF Shelter and program as well as
to St. Luke Health Services for its new social adult day care program, the first of its kind in the county. Other projects include funding to Blessings in a Backpack’s Oswego and Fulton chapters in support of their expanded missions to provide nutritious food on the weekend to any Oswego or Fulton school-aged child who needs it. Several arts and culture grants were awarded by the Shineman Foundation: a capacity-building grant to LaVeck Concerts in Pulaski, a collaborative program called Vision of Sound Project brought to Oswego and Fulton by Society for New Music, culminating in a program of live music and dance at Waterman Theatre in February, and a grant to the Carrie Lazarus Fund for Extraordinary Talent to build a scholarship fund to assist talented middle and high school performing arts students in Oswego County. For more information on the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, visit www. shinemanfoundation.org or send questions to info@shinemanfoundation.org.
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SPECIAL REPORT By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Chip Reader Rollout Rough Local retailers have transitioned to EMV with mixed results
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our customers might not carry a chip on their shoulders, but they probably have one or more in their wallets. The shift from cards with magnetic strips to ones with EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) chips in late 2015 was meant to increase security. It’s estimated that “50 percent of the world’s credit and debit card fraud is happening in the United States, while only 25 percent of the world’s card transactions are conducted here,” according to Creditcall Corp., a New York City-based credit card payment business. Magnetic strips store personal information, making lost and stolen cards valuable to identity thieves, not just those looking for a spending spree until cardholders cancel the card. EMV chips use a one-use-only code per transaction. To implement EMV, retailers must install upgraded point-of-sale terminals. If they don’t, the liability for any stolen information shifts to their shoulders. Local retailers have transitioned to
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EMV with mixed results. Linda Tyrrell, owner of Harbor Towne Gifts & Souvenirs in Oswego, said that it’s been a smooth transition for her business. “We’ve had ours since January. It takes a little bit longer for processing, but the machine works well. I would think the fraud protection is a real benefit. Fortunately, I haven’t had to do that.” Oliver Paine, owner of Oliver B. Paine Greenhouses in Fulton, transitioned his business to the new card readers in May “We’ve had no problem,” he said. Cindy Swartwood, owner of Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery in Fulton, has experienced only two credit cards that would not run since her chip reader was installed in May. “Other than that, it works fine,” Swartwood said. Corey Bryant, owner of Sleeping Giant Mattress Company in Minetto, said that his equipment was updated OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
in mid-October. “It was very, very easy,” Bryant said. He did initially experience a hiccup in the transition. The first system he ordered didn’t accept chipped cards; however, switching systems helped. Overall, Bryant is happy with the new technology. “I know how much more secure it should be,” he said. “If someone hacks into it, it’s not my responsibility. It’s the credit card company’s responsibility then.” A few businesses have encountered larger issues with transitioning. Terra Organic Spa in Fayetteville uses an industry-specific booking system that uses its own preferred credit card processing company. Owner Rachel McClean said that upon asking for an updated chip reader, “they said they were still in beta. So many business are not updated. I don’t know anyone small or midsize that has the new technology,” she said. John R. Halleron, senior business adviser with the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Oswego, said that he has visited “many stores with chip machines that can’t be used yet.” Still other businesses have not activated their system. Amy Lear, owner of Man in the Moon Candies in Oswego, said her chip reading equipment is in place, but not working yet. “We’ve been waiting for a while,” Lear said. “I honestly have no idea how long it’s been. My sales rep came in and switched the machine and said we have plenty of time left to activate it.” No retailer is required by law to shift to EMV; however, as the financial world seeks greater security against consumer fraud, it’s clear that EMV will continue to replace magnetic strips. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
healthcare Special Report
n Oswego County: A Hot Spot for Heart Attacks n ‘My Fight Against Parkinson’s Disease’ n Shortage of Primary Care Doctors Continues n How Providers in Oswego County Deal with PC Shortage n ARISE in Oswego County Turns 20 n Many Diabetics in Upstate Ignore Basic Health Recommendations
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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HEALTHCARE SPECIAL REPORT By Lou Sorendo
Oswego County a Hot Spot for Heart Attacks Upstate, especially Oswego County, ranks poorly, according to latest data from NYS Department of Health report
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swego County is a heart attack waiting to happen. Upstate New York has the highest heart attack hospitalization rates in the state. That includes Oswego County, which is ranked the worst among the six counties that make up the Central New York region, according to the state Department of Health. The DOH tracks heart attack age-adjusted hospitalizations per 10,000 people for each county. According to the DOH’s most recent data, Oswego County has an age-adjusted heart attack hospitalization rate of 18.7 percent per 10,000. This is higher than the state average of 13.8 percent. Cayuga (15.1), Cortland (14.7), Oneida (14.2), Onondaga (11.5) and Madison (9.2) counties round out the CNY rankings. The region itself has an average rate of 13.2 percent. It is significant to note, however, that Oswego County’s heart attack hospitalization rate was 27.8 percent in 2011. Physician Michael Fischi is president of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advisory board in Syracuse and a cardiologist affiliated with St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. He said the relatively high heart attack hospitalization rate in Oswego County is linked to overall poor health behavior. Oswego County has traditionally been ranked among the worst counties in the state for overall health through community behavioral assessments. In the area of health factors, Oswego ranked a dismal 57th out of 62 counties in 2016, according to the County 66
Health Rankings & Roadmaps study sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Health factors represent what influences the health of the county, such as smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.
Lifestyle issues
Fischi says there are several reasons for the disparity. The number of people who chronically smoke in Oswego County is about twice as high as the rest of the state, he noted. “This is also an area that has become somewhat of a depressed area,” he said. “The number of uninsured people and OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
those not seeking regular medical care is higher in some of these rural areas.” The ratio of people to primary care physicians in Oswego County (2,690:1) is more than twice as high as the state average. Fischi also noted the diabetes rate is higher in Oswego County when compared to Central New York and the state as a whole, while childhood obesity is also relatively higher. Oswego County’s adult obesity rate (29 percent) is higher than the state average (24 percent). “We see that these are all factors that play a role. I don’t know that it’s necessarily a coincidence that we’re seeing higher rates of heart attacks in DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Age-adjusted heart attack hospitalization rate per 10,000 people in Central New York CITY
PERCENTAGE PER 10,000
Oswego
18.7
Cayuga
15.1
Cortland
14.7
Oneida
14.2
Onondaga
11.5
Madison
9.2
NYS average Source: New York State Department of Health certain regions that seem to correlate with higher percentage of smokers, diabetes, and childhood and adult obesity,” he said. These lifestyle issues also manifest themselves in other ways such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung-related diseases and infections. Fischi added Oswego County features a lower percentage of people seeking prenatal care, while it also has a higher suicide rate compared to other parts of the state. Also, the county has a higher percentage of excessive alcohol consumption. On the environmental side, Fischi also observed Oswego County has a higher incidence of mosquito-borne disease as well. Fischi said these kinds of population health statistics shed some light on why rates are where they are. “It does remain somewhat speculative, but clearly there is a high incidence of well-documented risk factors in some of these more rural parts of the state, particularly Oswego County,” he said. “It doesn’t take much of a stretch to extrapolate that that’s the reason for these higher hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease as well as other problems including cancer and lung disease. They are probably related.”
Causal factors
Significant risk factors for heart attack include diabetes, smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and a family history of coronary heart disease. Fischi said causes of coronary heart disease are a combination of environment and genetics, the latter of which he terms a “very powerful” risk DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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Physician Michael Fischi is president of the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association advisory board in Syracuse and a cardiologist affiliated with St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. factor. “It’s hard to fight genetics,” he said. He said two of the most powerful risk factors for the development of heart disease that are “somewhat under a person’s control” are diabetes and smoking. “I often will tell patients they may be able to get away with smoking or having diabetes, but you almost never see a diabetic smoker get away without having coronary heart disease. It’s almost a virtual guarantee,” he said. Through his role as AHA board president, Fischi stresses the importance of bringing awareness to the OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
kind of dietary and lifestyle modifications that would lead to a healthier life, including exercise. One of the key points is salt intake. “One of the things we do as Americans is consume about twice as much salt as we should,” said Fischi, noting it contributes to hypertension. He said people are consuming about 3.6 grams of salt daily when they really should be consuming 1.8 grams or less. “We eat too many calories and the quality of calories that we are consuming is not always the best,” he said. “We eat more red meat than our daily allowance, and we need to get more fruits and vegetables in our diet.” “These are basic things that hopefully with common sense, we all know about. However, there is a disconnect between what we know we should be doing and what we actually do,” he said. Fischi said eight portions of fruits and vegetables should be consumed in the course of the day. “Not many people actually do that. We need to start to pay attention to getting more color on our plates in the form of fruits and vegetables,” he said. “It’s not only adding something healthy, but we are also substituting for something that is perhaps less healthy.” Fischi said the AHA tries to take every opportunity it has to educate the community through various modes of outreach. The AHA has been reaching out to local grocery stores in underserved areas to see if they are offering fresh fruits and vegetables as an option. “They may offer beef jerky, alcohol, chips and snacks and stuff, but you can’t actually buy healthy food in these places,” he said. “We try to draw attention to that and may seek some funding to help reach out to these particular areas through education.” Fischi also strives to apply the same goals to his own personal life. “It’s easier said than done. Our diet is something that is ingrained in us. It’s a habit that we’ve spent our life developing. It’s not going to change overnight. It’s a process,” he said. “The more awareness we can bring to it, the better for all of us. It will drive down health care costs. Being an unhealthy population is not only bad for us as individuals, but bad as a society because it creates cost burdens to take care of its population,” Fischi added. 67
Standing up to Parkinson’s Despite debilitating condition, woman advocates for those with dreaded disease By Bernadette Mroz
“We live with an ugly disease that shows no mercy. It’s not prejudiced. It doesn’t care what it takes from what person. It teases us. It may move very slowly; it might run full tilt. It is moody. It is inconsistent. It is selfish. But don’t despair; we are strong people. We are resourceful people. We are hopeful people. We not only survive, we thrive. We are children of a loving God that is infinitely bigger and stronger than Parkinson’s disease. We win even when we lose. We are there for each other. I may not have felt your specific pain, but my pain makes us one.” — Anne Barcus (from www.myparkinsonsteam.com)
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Bernadette Mroz lives in Hannibal with her husband of 21 years, Mark Washburn, and their dogs. She is a volunteer for Oswego County Humane Society. Prior to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she was a certified business adviser (for the Small Business Development Center) working at Onondaga Community College, SU’s Southside Innovation Center, and SUNY Oswego. 68
he passage above describes my world — my life with Parkinson’s disease, also know as PD. It is not a pretty disease. It can be compared to Alzheimer’s or dementia — it is debilitating and degenerative. In 2004, I noticed my not-so-legible handwriting was getting worse. I could no longer take notes at meetings. Instead, I had to remember important points and then type them into a computer. I noticed when I was tired or stressed a slight tremor in my left hand would appear. Most significant was my inability to dance. Now I am not talking “Dancing with the Stars” dancing. I mean dancing to Chubby Checkers, The Rolling Stones or even Glenn Miller. My body would freeze, unable to move to the music. So it was off to the doctor’s. After two hours with a neurologist, I got the news that I would still have to go through numerous tests but he was fairly certain I had Parkinson’s. I was not surprised — I had been self-diagnosing via the web. The neurologist explained he had to rule out all other possible neurological causes as well as some non-neurological causes. The first test was blood work. I had never had that much blood drawn in my life. Of course, he sent me to have an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and CAT scan. Then there were the neurological tests, many of which I have no idea what they were called nor do I know exactly what they were testing. The bottom line was the doctor’s initial
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DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
diagnosis stood. I had PD. The symptoms of PD result from the shortage of a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine. In PD, nerve cells in the brain that generate dopamine gradually break down or die, decreasing the amount of this chemical in the brain and leaving a person unable to control movement properly. Dopamine regulates motion via the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia depend on a certain amount of the neurotransmitter to perform at peak efficiency. The lack of dopamine in the brain gives way to delayed, uncoordinated motor functions. Critical chemical Dopamine has the enormous job of regulating mood, behavior, sleep and cognition. It is also associated with motivation, gratification, and helps with decision-making and creativity. There is no cure or treatment to halt the progression of Parkinson’s. To counter the lack of the chemical dopamine, medication is used to replicate its reaction within nerve cells. Even though I may have the “same” symptoms as someone else and have the same body weight, the type and dose of medication can be completely different. Also, sometimes my medication will go “off.” It just doesn’t work as it should. When this happens, my world goes into a spin cycle. I cannot function mentally, emotionally or physically. Some of the effects associated with Parkinson’s cannot be distinguished between the disease itself and side effects of the medication. An example is I have nightmares, acting them out while asleep. My poor husband sometimes literally feels the effect of my dreams. I have been woken up by him because I am hitting him, screaming, or have fallen out of bed. Of course, Parkinson’s affects the love of my life as much as it does me. Having PD for nearly 13 years, I now lose my balance, cannot do many of the chores at home, tire easily, and the list goes on. I need him and he has to help take up the slack. Without his support, love and encouragement, I would not be able to function. My DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
reliance will continue to increase due to the degenerative nature of PD. I have not worked since 2010 and stopped driving shortly after. I miss driving a great deal, mainly because living in Oswego County there is no assistance for transportation. I rely on wonderful friends to cart me to doctors’ appointments or meetings. By the way, I am not someone to curl up and remain sequestered in the house. That is the worst thing someone with this disease can do. I work with the Oswego County Humane Society and also try to stay in touch with the Women’s Network of Entrepreneurial Training. I would like to participate in the Onondaga County Parkinson’s Conference Dance organized by Tumay Tunar (http://parkinsonsdance.weebly. com/). It is a combination of various dance movements to aid in balance, flexibility, coordination, while countering isolation and depression. Role of ambassador I believe as someone with Parkinson’s that I have an obligation, a responsibility or commitment to be an ambassador and advocate for Parkinson’s patients. I will try to the best of my ability for as long as I can to educate and inform those who don’t understand or are unenlightened about PD. I also volunteer for various trials listed in the Michael J. Fox Trial Finder (https://foxtrialfinder.michaeljfox. org/?navid=ftf). I have completed two trials with the University of Rochester and am starting another. I also am working with Rutgers University. I have been tested for the biomarkers related to Parkinson’s through private researchers. I will continue to work with University of Rochester in any trials it feels I can participate in. These trials measure and record my cognitive abilities and deficiencies, my coordination, and the emotional impact PD is inflicting. Mostly, these trials are measuring my “quality of life” and as the disease progresses, what it affects and how. I know there will be no cure for me in my lifetime. I volunteer for the trials in the hope that someone in the future, near or far, will benefit in some small way from what I have given. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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SPECIAL REPORT By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Shortage of Primary Care Doctors Continues New physicians often opt for specialties that pay more, which generates a shortage of much-needed primary care doctors
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as it been hard to get an appointment to see your primary care physician? Get used to it. In an April report, the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that in the next 10 years, the nation will experience a shortage of primary care physicians ranging from between 14,900 and 35,600. Why is this shortage happening now? Stuart Trust, a pediatrician in Fulton and a clinical professor of pediatrics at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, said that several factors have to do with economics. “So many of these young people come out of medical school with enormous debts,” Trust said. “It’s astounding the amount of debt. A lot of young people go into specialties that are more highly compensated instead of family practice, which is among the lowest compensated.” The average student loan burden for a medical student is $160,000. Contributing to the budget crisis, many insurers have not raised reimbursements to match inflation, which has contributed to more independent physicians selling their practices to
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large health systems. For some, that means adding thousands of potential patients to their care. “Declining payment and dramatically increasing costs are a formula for high volume and high stress,” said Vito Grasso, executive vice president of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians in Albany. “Those are two factors that are Trust deterrents for students gravitating toward careers in family medicine.” They’re also factors that lead to physician burnout and early retirement. Grasso said that 23 years ago, 90 percent of his organization’s members were independent. Today, two out of three work in practices not their own. When large health systems buy out solo practices, physicians lose more control and many times gain a host of new patients. Another factor that’s ramping up OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
usage is the fact that more people are using health care, including aging baby boomers’ growing need and those who now have health insurance. “We’ve always known we’ve needed more primary care physicians, but it’s increasingly urgent because of the Affordable Care Act,” said physician John Epling, professor and chairman of family medicine and professor of public health and preventive medicine at Upstate Medical University. The Health Resources and Services Administration attributes the effect of population growth and aging as 81 percent responsible for the growth in demand and the Affordable Care Act as responsible for 19 percent. Physician Carl Butch, an internist and medical director at Crouse Medical Practice in Syracuse, said that as the current population of primary care physicians ages — and one-third of them are now over 55 — the problem will really escalate. “We’re seeing intelligent, great docs retiring because they spend less than eight minutes with each patient and more than two hours each night at home entering information into electronic medical records.” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Electronic medical records (EMRs) have made accessing health records easier. But creating them ramps up administrative work for doctor’s offices and they can diminish the Epling doctor/patient relationship. Instead of speaking with patients, the doctor’s nose is buried in the laptop, “clicking a thousand boxes,” Butch said. “We’re forced to do it and we’re not enjoying it. I have to meet my meaningful use mandate, like, ‘Did you ask about smoking? Did you counsel them more than eight minutes?’ Someone other than a physician decided it was meaningful.” Many physicians cannot afford to hire more administrative staff since reimbursements are flat. “Most patients come into a visit with multiple concerns and symptoms,” Grasso said. “Following anything formulaic diverts questions from what the patient wants to bring up. If it’s not on the drop-down menu, you won’t get to it.” The hospitalist movement has also diverted more medical students from primary care. Starting in the Central New York area around the early 2000s, the hospitalist model establishes an in-house physician — the hospitalist — to provide primary medical care to admitted patients. The patients’ own physician won’t have to make rounds to approve or assess treatment, so in that regard, the hospitalist model saves time for primary care physicians. But since hospitalists are trained as primary care, internist or family practice physicians, that leaves fewer practicing in offices. Working as a hospitalist attracts more residents because for most of them, about 90 percent of their residency takes place in a hospital setting, a natural segue to working at a hospital. Plus, as a hospitalist, “there is mostly shift work associated with the job,” Grasso said. “You do a certain amount of hours in a row and when you go home at night, you’re done. There are no phone calls and paperwork.”
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Oswego County’s Primary Care Recruitment Efforts By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
By training and developing more physician extenders — physician assistants and nurse practitioners — local providers increase access to primary care in Oswego County
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ealth care systems nationwide have been experiencing a shortage of primary care providers. Oswego County is no exception. The shortage affects Oswego Health and Northern Oswego Health Service (NOCHSI), the county’s two major providers of care. Dan Dey, president and CEO of NOCHSI in Pulaski, said that there’s not much organizations can do to influence more students to study primary care. But by training and developing more physician extenders — physician assistants and nurse practitioners — NOSCHI has been able to dramatically increase access to primary care providers in the Oswego County area. “The mid-levels work closely in a team approach with our existing primary care providers to provide comprehensive care to our patients,” he said. The increasing number of extenders meshes with the move toward teams of providers offering patient-centered, holistic care. Dey said that RN care managers also take part in indentifying any social impediments to care, such as transportation. Retaining care providers also influences the number of primary care providers. Dey said that as a federally qualified health care center, NOCHSI can provide loan forgiveness through federal programs. “Once those obligations are met, we’ve had success in retaining those providers,” Dey said. Recently, NOCHSI has begun offering positions to these providers nearer where they live to further enhance their work/life balance. NOCHSI’s improved incentive program “rewards providers for productivity and quality, based on OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
objective assessment on the providers’ quality of care and the number of patients they attend to,” Dey said. “The incentives can enhance their salary.” The Affordable Care Act has added more patients to the population NOCHSI serves, as has the growing number of baby boomers needing additional care. “That offers somewhat a challenge for managing multiple chronic conditions,” Dey said. “In terms of staffing, we’ve been able to maintain a healthy balance between experienced staff and newly trained staff.” He views the best means of growing the number of primary care providers as “incremental and gradual improvement over time,” he said. “It’s not about an immediate panacea.” NOCHSI is involved in the Oswego County Integrated Delivery network, along with Oswego Health, Oswego County Health Department, Department of Social Services and Oswego County Opportunities. The leadership of those organizations has helped win grant funding and coordinate care with social services to better meet patient needs. “Three years ago, based on a long planned initiative, Oswego Hospital and Oswego County Opportunities turned over their primary care practices to NOCHSI so we could integrate our primary care under one organization, so we could enhance provider recruitment, retention and patience access,” Dey said. “Since that consolidation, we’ve recruited nearly two dozen new primary care providers, financially stabilized the practices and dramatically increased access for Oswego County residents.” He believes the success of these efforts lies in using the strengths of each organization. 71
Oswego Health’s public relations director Marion Ciciarelli said that collaboration with NOCHSI has increased primary care services in the region. “While Oswego Health has been fortunate to recruit physicians and other midlevel providers to several practices in Oswego County, we have a strong need to recruit additional providers to our communities,” Ciciarelli said. “The most recent medical staff development plan, completed in late 2015, lists primary care as the health system’s most pressing physician need.” Oswego Health has an entire department dedicated to recruiting physicians and mid-level providers. Led by Christopher Mitchell, senior director of physician services, the department uses nationally-known recruitment firms, attends physician recruitment events throughout the northeast, and uses established connections with many of the area’s medical school residency programs to ensure Oswego Health remains adequately staffed with primary care physicians and extenders. Ciciarelli said that Oswego Health’s physicians and hospital leadership also help by meeting with new recruits and assist them in establishing their own offices. The Oswego Health website allows employment candidates to learn about the health system and any available employment opportunities. Retention is as important as recruitment. “Chris Mitchell and the health system leadership are in frequent communication with primary care physicians,” Ciciarelli said. “The best example is the inclusion of these important providers in the primary care strategic planning process in 2016 that has involved physicians in a focus group and a survey of all practices. “We are also here to listen and collaborate with practices to assist them in successfully serving their patients. This may include providing recommendations on staffing, assistance with technology, or help with other business-related challenges they may encounter.”
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Many Diabetics in Upstate Ignore Basic Health Recommendations
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ens of thousands of Upstate New York adults who have diabetes jeopardize their health status by failing to take basic steps to keep their chronic illness in check, according to data gathered for an infographic issued recently by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. An estimated 387,000 adults in Upstate New York live with diabetes, a serious health condition where the body does not produce or properly use insulin to digest sugar (glucose). Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage many parts of the body, including blood vessels. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness, kidney disease and non-traumatic lower extremity amputation. It also is a major contributor to OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
the nation’s leading killer, cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). “Physicians can help patients manage diabetes, but patients must be active partners who take charge of their own health in order to maintain or improve overall health status,” said physician Martin Lustick, Excellus BCBS corporate medical director. “Our latest research focuses on whether patients are, by their own admission, adhering to the care recommendations necessary to keep their diabetes in control.” Using self-reported survey data collected locally and nationally by government health agencies, Excellus BCBS found that 64 percent of adults who have diabetes check their blood sugar at least once a day, as recommended by many health experts, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “That percentage means that nearly 140,000 Upstate New York adults with diabetes are not taking just one of several very important steps for their own health,” Lustick said. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Health Services Oswego Office 9 Fourth Ave Ph: 342-4088 TTY: 342-8696 Pulaski Satellite Office 2 Broad St Ph: 298-5726
Celebrating 20 years in Oswego County! Advocacy & Accessibility Basic Needs & Assistance Recreation & Art Education, Employment, & Skill-Building Health & Wellness
Fulton Mental Health Office 113 Schuyler St., Ste 2 Ph: 887-5156
Attention Businesses!
OFFERING PAID TIME OFF FOR CANCER SCREENINGS MAKES SENSE!
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED.
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150 E. 1st St. Oswego, NY 13126 315-343-0440
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100 Rochester St. Fulton, NY 13069 315-598-4700
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Cancer prevention keeps your staff healthy and makes business sense Cancer is the second leading cause of death in New York State and cancer prevention screenings help detect cancer early, when treatments can be most successful! Screenings for breast, cervical and colon cancers can prevent cancer from ever developing. Research has shown that offering designated time off for cancer screenings increases employee screening rates. A business can realize a return on investment for this policy. A cancer diagnosis is estimated to cost a business more than $1,600 annually per employee in lost productivity. Cancer is the second leading cause of long-term disability. Additional costs can be avoided from higher health care costs, short-term disablitity and life insurance premium. The sooner policies are implemented, the sooner businesses will realize the savings and a healthier workforce
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4920 N. Jefferson St. Pulaski, NY 13142 315-298-6101
THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR RENT
• Trash Collection • New Appliances • Bus for shopping/groceries • Heat, Electricity & Hot Water • Snow Removal & Lawn Care • Planned Activities • All repairs & maintenance Preference given for veterans & spouses of veterans Equal Housing Opportunity Supervised by NYS DHCR
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Carolyn Handville at 592-0830
Did you know it’s O CO? Celebrating 50 yrs. of service!
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Oswego County Business reaches nearly 25,000 readers in CNY. PLEASE CALL 342-8020. 73
SPECIAL REPORT By Carol Thompson
Cheryl Arnold, manager for consumer director personal assistance program and James Karasek, mangers of independent living services
ARISE Turns 20 in Oswego County
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swego ARISE is celebrating its 20th anniversary of providing services to Oswego County residents. The agency has a main office in Oswego, a satellite office in Pulaski and a mental health facility in Fulton. “We’re an independent living center,” said James Karasek who serves as the manager of independent living services. “People with disabilities have choices, and it’s our job to make it happen. Independence empowers them.” ARISE, a nonprofit agency, was founded in 1979 and became a part of the Oswego community in 1996. It’s housed at 9 Fourth Ave., a building that the agency is quickly outgrowing. Oswego County ARISE has approximately 140 employees working in-house or in the field and offers a plethora of services. It serves 1,200 people on a regular basis in Oswego County. Advocacy and accessibility programs include a home modification
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program, ramp construction assistance, medical equipment loan closet, advocacy groups and ADA accessibility evaluations. The agency also provides assistance in applying for social security, social security disability and food stamps. The agency works with consumers to find accessible housing within the community, respite services and many other services related to education, outreach, transition and education. ARISE provides education, employment and skill building as well as health and wellness services. Recreation and art are offered year-round. Karasek said the goal of the agency is to provide the disabled with the same opportunities as those without disabilities. “We partner with local and state agencies,” he noted. The Oswego office has a teaching kitchen complete with stove and microwave. “There’s always something cooking,” Karasek said. “We are always OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
accepting donations for the kitchen.” Along with the kitchen, there’s a community room with all sorts of activities from hula hoops to books and video games. A hallway is filled with wheelchairs, canes and other items that are on loan. The agency employees both the disabled and nondisabled, and there is a camaraderie that radiates the agency’s family atmosphere, and the employees are willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill a customer’s needs. Lisa Seguin, who is the manager of Medicaid services coordinator, in explaining her position said, “You name it, we do it.” Each year, ARISE serves more than 7,000 people from offices in five Central New York counties: Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and Seneca. All programs are consumer-directed, maximizing choice and opportunities for the people they serve. Karesek said he hopes to make the community aware of the 30 different programs offered out of the Oswego office. The better known are the ramp program and the job coaching. Among the lesser known is children’s mental health awareness that offers an early recognition screening initiative. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
ACR Health: Be Holiday Angel
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CR Health is recruiting volunteers who want to serve as “holiday angels” this season. “We have found ourselves in a tough spot — we have run out of holiday angels and we have 74 people left on our list who will go without this holiday season without your support,” read a news release issued by the organization. The long-standing holiday angel program pairs community members (angels) with a qualified ACR Health client and their family. The holiday angel gets a list of needs the family has, and then makes holiday purchases based on the list.” The lists usually contain requests for basic needs like clothing, bathroom items such as towels, kitchen supplies or personal items like shoes or a coat. Participating angels can buy as many or as few of the items on the list as they wish. Many community groups, churches, or extended families pool their resources every year to sponsor an ACR Health client and members of their family. Several hundred people rely on holiday angels for whatever holiday gifts come their way. “We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the angels,” said ACR Health Deputy Executive Director of Operations Carrie Portzline-Large. “Poverty is a constant companion for some of our clients and their families, who struggle financially yearround. They have nothing to give their loved ones at holiday time. Thanks to the Angels, they do.” ACR serves Cayuga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties. Holiday angels are needed across the nine-county service area. If you would like to be a holiday angel, email events@ ACRHealth.org or call 800.475.2430.
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Services for Better Health
Did you know… OCO provides a variety of health-related services to meet community needs, such as nutritional assistance through Women, Infants & Children (WIC); health education and outreach; education and support for cancer screenings; reproductive health services for men and women; migrant and seasonal farm worker health services; assistance in navigating enrollment in the health insurance marketplace; crisis services for those experiencing violence; a chemical dependence/addiction recovery program; wellness events for employees; and more!
239 Oneida Street Fulton, NY 13069 (315) 598-4717 www.oco.org
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Success Story
Joseph Murabito Healthcare Entrepreneur Creates Network of High-quality Senior Housing Facilities
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t’s a question of balance. For entrepreneur Joseph Murabito, striving to achieve balance in both his professional and personal life is goal one. Murabito, an Oswego native, took over ownership of the former Sunrise Nursing Home in Oswego in 2012, transforming and modernizing the business into the 120-bed Morningstar Residential Care Center, a skilled nursing facility.
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From there, Murabito created one of the largest networks of senior residential care facilities in the region. Murabito, who will turn 44 on Dec. 27, acquired the Waterville Residential Care Center in Oneida County in 2014 with partner Judith Harding-Staelens. It is a 92-bed skilled nursing facility. The 106-bed Gardens by Morningstar assisted-living facility, formerly a skilled nursing center OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
By Lou Sorendo operated by Loretto in Oswego, was renovated and opened by Murabito and business partner Atom Avery last February. His facilities employ 350 people while caring for 318 residents. Morningstar and The Gardens employ 195 workers. Murabito said his focus is on striving to keep personal balance at work and home. He and his wife Ana Maria have been married for nearly 18 years, and have two children: Isabella, 11, and Joseph, 9. Murabito noted Ana Maria has grown to be as much of a professional partner as a life partner. “It’s hard to separate work from personal life sometimes,” he said. “Work for me doesn’t ever stop, nor does being a husband or dad. I work hard to weave it all together. I think I am doing all right keeping the overall balance.” While his business network is impressive, Murabito said it is more a byproduct of other goals. “I am really not motivated by the scale I am creating,” he said. “The scale is simply a necessity in today’s healthcare environment. Like anything, scale can be as much of a good thing as a bad one. I try to live by our tag line of ‘Life in Balance’ daily.” Morningstar, Waterville RCC and The Gardens are a developing continuum of post-acute healthcare services in the community. The collaborative provides skilled nursing services, long-term residential care, short-term rehabilitation and assisted living services. In 2017, outpatient services will be offered in Oswego and Waterville and home care services will be offered in Oswego.
A star shines
“I enjoy seeing people be successful in their personal and professional lives,” he said. “I am motivated by positive energy and do my best to create a stable positive environment for my staff that I love very much,” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
said Murabito, a resident of Baldwinsville. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health administration from Ithaca College and a Master of Health Administration degree from Cornell University. Murabito said there is a general recipe for operational success in the skilled nursing profession, as all skilled facilities are governed by the same regulations and reimbursed by the same state and federal entitlement programs like Medicare. “Balance within one’s operations is important,” he said. “How do you keep nearly 750 people satisfied on a regular basis? It is a challenge.” Creating his network of organizations is not the fulfillment of a lifelong goal for Murabito. “I would say, however, that I have enjoyed throughout my life the opportunities I’ve had to work with people from all sorts of interest groups,” he said. “Growing up, I was an athlete and musician. I loved art and writing, fishing, hunting and cooking. I was blessed to have a large family and was surrounded by people both young and old. I have family members who are well-rounded people as well as my mentors.” Murabito said healthcare is a profession where he is surrounded by “all sorts of people, of all age groups, with all sorts of talents and interests and experiences. “Working in healthcare gives one a full life’s experience in a single day. I feel like I am doing what I was meant to be doing. I can’t say I knew my goals from the start, however. I was simply following my instincts like a lot of people do.” Murabito credited his success in the healthcare arena as being a product of persistence in a single service area and an interest in continuing to grow and develop personally and professionally. “I am in a position now where my focus today is very different than it was even a year ago,” he said. “I have a better sense of the scale I need to maintain a safe and comfortable working environment for all the staff, and at the same time assure the personal involvement and family management style that represents our collective culture.”
Morningstar
The Gardens
Waterville
Team-building focus
At work, Murabito spends a great deal of time daily working with adDECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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Fitness room at the Gardens by Morningstar assisted-living facility in Oswego. ministrators and regional support staff to help them lead and integrate their efforts into the bigger picture. “My professional goals are to create a strong high-level management team between the sites who work collaboratively together with some common understanding of our overall goals and a strong ability to reach consensus for the betterment of the whole,” he said. “My work life seems a bit more ambiguous at times because I need to stay at the correct distance to allow my partners and managers to work effectively within the organization. This is a learning curve for everyone.” Murabito said there are always challenges in helping individual people, or smaller groups of people, work better together. “This is the area I love the most. This is what keeps me going more than anything. There has been significant growth and development in and between people in the organization,” he said. “We have created and refined our operations greatly in the last few years especially.” Outside work, Murabito’s personal daily pursuits are busy as well. “Not only are the kids and Ana Maria busy with athletics, music and school, but I keep myself active and diversified personally all the time. “My mind needs the variation. I train in mixed martial arts three times per week, play trumpet in the Phoenix Community Band and coach Isabella’s basketball team. In between, I am an 78
avid hunter and fisherman, love to cook and make wine.” He also enjoys boating and playing the piano. “The more I stay in this game, the more my immediate family influences me. I ask myself everyday, ‘What am I working for?’ and ‘What am I working toward?’” he said. “Tough questions really.” Murabito said some of the most successful and reputable business people in the world are also some of the most un-centered and unbalanced people. “I don’t want this. Do I live to work or work to live? We have to move forward and be persistent in all we do, but at the same time not take ourselves too seriously,” he said. “Ultimately, we all only have about 30-40 years of individual professional productivity — some more, some less.”
Bureaucratic obstacles
Murabito has been met with challenges in terms of renovating and launching his new businesses. “Just because you think you have a good idea doesn’t mean it will work exactly the way you think it should,” he said. “The healthcare bureaucracy and the sheer number of people and entities involved in the provision and development of healthcare services make things very challenging. “It is like running a perpetual marathon with no finish line. One must gain satisfaction from running with others and enjoy growing a team OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
to run with. At some point, the baton is going to pass and the team needs to keep moving forward.” Murabito said he focuses on a servant leadership style as much as he can. “Trying to lead people in the best direction so they can pass it forward and do the same for another growing leader is very gratifying,” he said. “I love working with committed leaders who find their success within the company.” Murabito said there is a basic and fundamental working understanding of structure and roles that is a necessity. “The system is rigid in a lot of ways and if one doesn’t understand that structure and proportions of our system and how it applies to an individual facility, it is very difficult if not impossible to be successful,” he said. Most nursing facilities nationwide are made up of roughly 70-75 percent Medicaid residents. “We have a finite set of resources. We must have a positive operating margin and steady cash flow just like any other business,” he said. “Without this strong operational base of understanding, it is nearly impossible to grow a successful team and provide the care effectively in today’s more unforgiving market.” Meanwhile, baby boomers and millennials have a much different perspective on life than generations before them, Murabito said. “Technology and information are more accessible than ever before,” he said. “Statistics are endless and one can easily find numbers to match already formed opinions. While communication between people is at a volume and pace like the world has never seen, the actual human connections we have seem to be sinking in a sea of digital information. There is a dangerous sense of entitlement that divides us both as a nation and as individuals.” “Health care is about personal relationships and personal accountability,” Murabito said. “Always was and always will be. “We can’t forget this — no matter how much our phones and computers may be replacing our brains.” DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Jamie Persse
‘On a scale of 1-10, if your commitment to do whatever it takes is an 8 or below, you might need to revisit the importance of your goal.’
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jamie@jcpersseconsulting.com
Steps to Propel Your Success in 2017 and Beyond
he New Year brings with it opportunity: influences changed? Were goals set to low or the opportunity to reflect, adjust and unrealistically high? Further, were there distractions that, if eliminated, could contribute move forward. to your success? Traditionally, we have a tendency to make Alternatives. What options do you have New Year’s resolutions. To be “resolute” is to that can support your success moving be “admirably purposeful, determined, and forward. Is there a different path that unwavering.” Think of resolutions as goals. So why is it that so many fail to maintain their you could take? Are there other or different resolutions, or goals, over the long haul? Often, resources you need to succeed? Do you have the tools, knowledge, and it’s because a simple experience necessary? Are step is overlooked. Guest Columnist you in an environment that Though not spesupports your success? cific to just the New Affirmation. Successful people have Year, I’d like to share with you a blueprint for extremely positive “self-talk.” Do you success I use with clients in order to help them believe, affirm and re-affirm (daily if achieve their goals. Whether it’s achieving a personal goal — or a professional one — the necessary) that you can and will achieve your desired goal. components remain the same. Advice. Seek out a mentor (or mentors), Awareness. Experience alone has no valor a coach. One is too small of a number ue if it is not evaluated. Reflection and to accomplish anything great. You likely self-awareness are critical. Whether a personal goal, or a professional aspiration, know, or can get connected with someone take time to reflect on what it is you wanted that has achieved success in what you would to achieve. Reflect on what contributed to your like to achieve, or that could coach you. There is truly nothing more valuable than having success. Did you continue to do what worked? What about unmet opportunities. What were someone in your corner, to be that encouraging the roadblocks you encountered that stifled and supportive ear. However, be open. Allow the individual to challenge you if and when your achievements? Acceptance. Accept where you are. You necessary. Personally, I’ve found extreme value can’t change the past. No need to dwell on in having mentors and coaches in my life, and it. Nor do you need to shut the door on it. continue to! Action. Take action. Without action, nothLet the past serve you. Learn from it and move ing is accomplished. Start somewhere. Are on. Also, accept that it is your responsibility to you taking the little steps necessary to get take the necessary steps to get you to where you moving in the right direction. Progress you want to be, and no one else’s. Attitude. This is a critical one. What is happens daily, not in a day. Accountability. Whether it be to a peer, a your commitment level? On a scale of friend, a family member, or even a coach, 1-10, if your commitment to do “whatever accountability is crucial. Be transparent. it takes” is an 8 or below, you might need to revisit the importance of your goal. Do you Commit to be held accountable. Have benchpossess the passion and commitment in order marks to help measure your progress. Are these extravagant of difficult steps to to succeed? Are you willing to persevere? If you believe in your goal enough, and the reason take? Absolutely not! On the contrary, they are for the goal is compelling enough, you can relatively simple. Unfortunately, we often skip some of the basics and never realize our true and will succeed! Adjust. Where do you need to adjust? potential. You have the power within you to Does the goal you once had still exist achieve the desired outcomes and goals you or have they changed? Do your sights seek. I wish you well in your endeavors! I truly hope this serves you well. need adjustment? Have external variables or
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3 JAMIESON C. PERSSE is the founder and CEO of JC Persse Consulting. For more information, visit www. jcpersseconsulting.com and send an email to jamie@ jcpersseconsulting.com.
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Trump & CNY
What local leaders expect from the Trump Administration
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Just Published
continued from page 19
tinue to be, key to boosting the region’s economy,” she said. “I have been proud to fight on behalf of our hardworking farmers to secure record funding that has helped them to expand their businesses. “In addition, I’ve also worked to invest in the workforce of the future by delivering funds for programs — including those at Oswego County CiTi — that are helping young people to become more career-ready and to acquire skills for a variety of career fields, everything from culinary to manufacturing,” Ritchie said. Ritchie hopes leaders in Washington will look to Central New York when it comes to supporting existing businesses and attracting new ones. “Our region has tremendous potential for continued growth. As we prepare to head into 2017, I am looking forward to continuing to work to boost our economy, grow jobs and create a more vibrant Central New York for today and for future generations,” Ritchie said.
Albany Still Key
Raihan H. Khan, associate dean of the School of Business at SUNY-Oswego, was asked before Nov. 8 to assess the post-election area business outlook. Regardless of who is president, Kahn said that policies generated in Albany have greater relevance to Central New York’s economy. “The economic environment in New York state has not experienced major changes based on who has been in the White House,” Kahn said. “It is more influenced by the policies from Albany.” Important areas to consider “would be healthcare and education support, taxes, and support for places like Fort Drum,” Kahn said. He said that independent analysis reported by the media showed that Clinton offered a bigger tax break to the middle class, “whereas Trump’s decision to take away some deductions would likely raise taxes on the middle class.” Various analyses in the media have been generally consistent about what sectors will benefit from the election of 80
Donald Trump as president. The non-partisan Tax Policy Center analyzed Trump’s tax plan and concluded that it will cut personal taxes for everyone, with the top earners, making more than $699,000 a year, receiving average annual tax reductions of about $215,000. Trump promised a simplified tax code for business taxes that would have every business paying 15 percent. Many small businesses currently pay less than that amount, according to www.inc.com. Trump has also promised to utilize America’s ample resources of coal, natural gas by using the controversial fracking process, and oil. He promised to reduce regulations, some of which support the development of clean energy. The Washington Post has reported that winners in a Trump presidency will likely include the defense industry, oil drillers, gas pipelines, coal, banks, pharmaceuticals, construction and industrial equipment. Foreign trade could be adversely affected if the president-elect follows through on his plan to renegotiate trade agreements. “Without a doubt, the obvious beneficiaries are defense, transportation and energy. If there were more coal companies still on the market, they would be really hot right now,” Tim Loughran, a professor of finance at Notre Dame, told the Washington Post. Many in the retail industry disagree with Trump’s stance on trade. The retail industry strongly supports the the Trans-Pacific Partnership that the president-elect has spoken out against. Trump has also vowed to end the North American Free Trade Agreement.
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Where to play golf, where to spend time at the pool. It’s all in the new issue of CNY Winter Guide Plus maps and a calendar listing about 1,000 events Get the 52-page annual guide free when you subscribe to Oswego County Business magazine. Only $21.50 per year See our coupon in this issue. DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
Best Business Directory
AUCTION & REAL ESTATE
DEMOLITION
Dean D. Cummins over 35 years experience. All types of auctions & real estate. Route 370 Cato. Call 246-5407.
Fisher Companies. Commercial & residential demolition. Great prices. Fully insured. Free estimates. 46 years of experience. Call Fisher Companies at 315-652-3773 or visit www.johnefisherconstruction.com.
AUTO COLLISION Northside Collision, Baldwinsville. Upstate’s largest collision/repair center. Lifetime warranty, loaners or rentals. We assist with the insurance claims. 75 E. Genesee St., Baldwinsville. More information, call 638-4444.
AUTO SALES & SERVICE Bellinger Auto Sales & Service — Third generation business. Towing, auto repair & accessories, Truck repair. Oil, lube & filter service. 2746 County Route 57 Fulton, NY 13069. Call 593-1332 or fax 598-5286.
AUTO SERVICE & TIRES Northstar Tire & Auto Service. Major/minor repairs. Foreign & domestic. Alignments. Tire sales. Call Jim at 598-8200. 1860 state Route 3 W. in Fulton.
BUILDING SUPPLIES Burke’s Home Center. The complete building and supply center. Two locations for your convenience: 38 E. Second St. in Oswego (343-6147); and 65 N. Second St. in Fulton (592-2244). Free deliveries.
COPY + PRINT Port City Copy Center. Your one-stop for all of your copy + print needs. 184 Water St. Oswego (back of Canal Commons). 216-6163.
CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING Picture Connection. 169 W. First St. Oswego. Quality conservation matting & framing for your photos, prints, original artwork & objects. 343-2908.
EXCAVATING Gilbert Excavating. Septic systems. Gravel & top soil. Septic and tank pumping. 691 county Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 593-2472.
GLASS Fulton Glass — Oswego County’s only full service glass shop. Residential. Commercial. Shower enclosures. Auto glass. Window and picture glass. Screen Repair. Window Repair. Beveled Mirrors and Glass. Hrs:M-Th 8-4, Fri 8-noon. FultonGlass.net, 840 Hannibal Street Fulton, NY 13069, 593-7913.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
LANDSCAPING D & S Landscaping office. Servicing Oswego & surrounding areas. Quality work, prompt & dependable service. Free estimates. Fully Insured. Backhoe services, Lawn mowing, Snow plowing, Top soil, Tree work. Hydro-seeding & asphalt seal coating. 315-598-6025 (cell 315-591-4303).
LUMBER White’s Lumber. Four locations to serve you. Pulaski: state Route 13, 298-6575; Watertown: N. Rutland Street, 788-6200; Clayton: James Street, 686-1892; Gouverneur: Depot Street, 287-1892. D & D Logging and Lumber. Hardwood lumber sales. Buyer of logs and standing timber. Very competitive pricing. Call 315-593-2474. Located at 1409 county Route 4, Central Square, NY 13036.
OUTBOARD MOTORS Arney’s Marina. Route 14 Sodus Point, NY. Honda fourstroke motors, 2 hp to 250 hp. Repower your boat with the best! Call 483-9111 for more information.
OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT BJ’s Outdoor Power Equipment/ Sales & Service. 3649 state Route 3, Fulton, NY. www.bjsoutdoorpower.com. We sell Ferris, Echo, Central Boiler, and Simplicity products. Call 598-5636.
PAWN BROKER
KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS
Pawn Boss. We buy everything from game systems to gold & silver. Coin collections, guitars and flat screen TVs too! Check us out on www.newyorkpawnboss.com or call 415-9127.
Lakeshore Hardwoods. We stock kiln-dried cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, ash, oak, basswood, mahogany, cedar figured woods, and exotics. Also hardwood flooring, moldings, stair parts & woodworking supplies. 266 Manwaring Rd. Pulaski. 298-6407 or visit www.lakeshorehardwoods.com.
Quality fabrics, Notions, Classes for everyone. Explore a new hobby. The Robins Nest, 116 W. Broadway, Fulton, NY 315598-1170
Wet Paint Company. Paint, flooring, blinds & drapes. Free estimates. Call 343-1924, www.wetpaintcompany.com.
QUILT SHOP
LAND SURVEYOR
ROOFING/GUTTERS
Robert M. Burleigh, licensed land surveyor. Quality land surveying. Residential, subdivision, commercial, boundary surveying. 593-2231.
Over The Top Roofing. Mike Majeski. Commercial & residential roofing. Quality craftsmanship. 50-year manufacturer’s warranty for residential roofs. Best price on seamless gutters. Call 882-5255. 400 Co. Rt. 7 Hannibal, NY 13074.
HEADING: LISTING:
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Oswego County Business • P.O. Box 276 • Oswego, NY 13126
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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Last Page
William Gregway
William Gregway has been tracking weather conditions in the city of Oswego since October of 1968. The 82-year-old native Oswegonian is an official observer for the National Weather Service. Q.: How has the world of weather observing changed over the years?
A.: There used to be about 12,000 cooperative observers that covered the entire United States, but of course that has shrunk. With technology, they don’t need people on the ground. They only need people on the ground to measure snow. They’ve been able to invent a machine to do everything but measure snow. I officially record high, low and mean temperatures, any precipitation and snowfall. I also keep track of record highs and lows. For my own records, I keep track of sunshine, sky cover, barometric pressure, wind direction and lake elevation and temperature.
Q.: How have weather patterns changed over your lifetime?
A.: When I was a boy, my parents owned a cottage summer home on the lake and we spent all our summers there because of the threat of polio. At that time in the ‘30s and ‘40s, polio was bad news and prevalent in the city. So I spent all my summers on the lake and had a great time. However, I noticed that we had terrific thunderstorms in the ‘40s. If you look back through the records, we’ve always had very bad snowstorms. But I remember thunderstorms while living right on the lake and watching these storms come down. Winter and 82
summer storms seemed to have shifted where the pattern now — instead of coming Oswego way — the storms have moved more to Fair Haven, Hannibal, Fulton and Central Square. That is where the trough is now that seems to get the prevalent weather, whether it is a summer storm or even a winter snowstorm. We haven’t had the real bad ones we used to have. I’ve noticed that definite change due to a shift in weather patterns.
Q.: What are your thoughts on global warming?
A.: It’s here and it’s happening. If you look at the records, you can see our temperatures and average temperatures are gradually inching up. It hasn’t been that significant in Oswego, but of course worldwide it is. If you look at the world’s temperatures, this particular year is the warmest on record. Global warming tends to create extremes, whereas in the past weather pat-
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
By Lou Sorendo terns were more stable.
Q.: What do you enjoy most about being a weather observer?
A.: People recognize me, and they ask me my opinion on what’s going on with the weather. I enjoy talking about the weather, and I used to go to the different schools and talk about the weather. I just enjoy the public part of it.
Q.: What are your projections for the 2016-17 winter?
A.: I’m an awful forecaster. My ex-wife Dorothy used to say she could forecast the weather better than I could, and she could. I do call National Weather Service headquarters in Buffalo, and the consensus right now is we are not going to have the extremes of El Nino (warm) and La Nina (cold). So it looks like a general winter, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have storms and cold weather.
Q.: What are your own sources for weather reports?
A.: I don’t have a computer — I’m an old paperboy. I do a lot of reading and call Buffalo to see what they are saying. I watch the Weather Channel in the morning and Channel 9 (NewsChannel 9 WSYR) in the evening. Now, they depend a lot on computer models (numerical weather predictions). Back in the day, it was by the seat of your pants.
Q.: What was the most unique weather experience you’ve ever had?
A.: When I was a paperboy back in 1951, we had a hurricane that came up through here from the Southeast. It was a Saturday in November and I had to go get my papers. My uncle gave me a ride across the bridge because it was windy and rainy, and that’s the first time I saw hurricane-warning signal flags fly from the Coast Guard Station. I came back and I walked my route, and trees were falling down and transformers were on fire. I delivered my papers, and when I got in the house my mother was pushing a big chair against the front door out of fear of the high winds. We got up the next morning to go to church, and you literally had to walk and couldn’t drive because there were hundreds of trees down. We had big elm trees at that time, and it took down hundreds of them.
DECEMBER 2016/ JANUARY 2017
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CONGRATULATIONS
FIRST TO OUR TEAM for putting patients & safety
Thanks to you, Oswego Hospital earned the nation’s top distinction for patient safety with an “A” grade from the Hospital Safety Score. The “A” recognizes our high standards in patient safety. This honor belongs to every one of our 1200 team members, who work every day for our patients. Congratulations and thank you.
Oswego Health oswegohealth.org/safety
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is an elite designation from the Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit that sets the highest national standards for patient safety, quality and transparency in health care.
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315-349-5500