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DOUBLE-O JOE Supermodified race car driver Joe Gosek still competing after more than four decades
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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
7
CONTENTS
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023
ISSUE 187
52
DOUBLE-O JOE Supermodified race car driver Joe Gosek still competing after more than four decades
Features
60
TOURISM INDUSTRY
76
A fishing trip on Lake Ontario • Tug Hill activities • The travel industry • Struggles facingAirbnbn • Bleisure trips are back • Meet Bill Niver 8
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
HEALTHCARE
Why so many hospitals are closing • Training new nurses • Concierge medicine • Drug shortage leaves pharmacists scrambling
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023
88
MINORITY BUSINESSES
The Minority Chamber of Commerce in Syracuse sees influx of new members • CNY Latino newspaper about to turn 20
More Contents 36
Guest Columnist
44
Business Cards
40
Economic Trends
42
Tim’s Notes
46
Q&A
49
My Turn
How the new Supreme Court decision may affect your business By Steven E. Abraham Is this still a thing? OOC presents achievement awards By Austin Wheelock Scaring up business: The spooky industry of ghost stories By Tim Nekritz President of Cayuga Community Collge talks about enrollment, manfacturing, Micron
60
Politics tears at fabric of relationships By Bruce Frassinelli
New n in generatio a’s on V t a charge nt a r u ta Res
Departments 12 14
Publisher’s Note On the Job
16
How I Got Started
18
How has your business been affected by the pandemic? Tammy Lynn Wilkinson talks about starting her Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness
Profile
18 16
32
Allen Connely, the CEO of Mozaic, has also become the CEO of Oswego Industry, Arc of Oswego County
22
Dining Out
26 94
Biz Update / Newsmakers Success Story
98
Last Page
Oswego Tea Company
Barlow Concessions LLC — it’s all about the fried dough. Meet owners Billy Barlow Sr. and his wife Lisa Splash Indoor Water Park Resort is now open
22 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
9
ADVERTISING INDEX Allanson-GlanvilleTappan Funeral Home............39 ALPS Professional Services.........87 Associated Dental Arts.................10 BarclayDamon..............................47 Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law.....................83 Brennan Beach.............................21 Bristol Racing ATV.......................45 Builder’s FirstSource....................27 Burke’s Home Center...................31 C & S Companies.........................75 Canale’s Insurance & Accounting ......................27, 28 Cayuga Community College.........11 Century 21 - Galloway Realty.......59 CNY Arts.......................................45 CNY Community Foundation........45 Colonial Financial Group..............15 Compass Credit Union.................74 ConnextCare................................80 Crouse Hospital..............................2 E J USA..........................................4 Elemental Management Group ......6
Excellus - BlueCross BlueShield.............................100 Felix Schoeller North America.........................13 Finger Lakes Garage Doors.........27 Fitzgibbons Agency......................39 Fort Ontario..................................20 Foster Funeral Home....................10 Freedom Real Estate....................39 Fulton Savings Bank.....................35 Fulton Taxi....................................35 Fulton Tool Co..............................74 Gartner Equipment.......................75 Good Guys Barbershoop..............29 Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce...........21 Green Planet Grocery...................20 H. Lee White Museum..................21 Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY..................99 International Monetary System....................69 J P Jewelers.................................20 Johnston Gas...............................31
Associated Dental Arts of Oswego
“CREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES FOR A LIFETIME”
JTS Remodeling...........................28 Kathy’s Cake & Specialty Treats......................21 Lamb’s Handyman Service...........31 Laser Transit.................................74 LDI Logistics Dynamics................27 Longley Brothers..........................47 LW Emporium Co-Op...................21 MACNY.........................................48 Menter Ambulance.......................79 Mimi’s Drive Inn............................25 Mitchell Speedway Printing..........39 Murdoch’s Bike.............................20 NET Die Inc..................................48 Novelis..........................................73 Nucor Steel Auburn........................7 Operation Oswego County...........99 Oswego Community Development Office................19 Oswego County Federal Credit Union............................69 Oswego County Mutual Insurance................................15 Oswego County Tourism
There is a
Department...............................3 Oswego Health ............................83 Oswego Quality Carpet................27 Oswego YMCA.............................85 Pathfinder Bank............................24 Plumley Engineering.....................48 Port of Oswego Authority..............51 Press Box.....................................59 RiverHouse Restaurant................25 Scriba Electric...............................31 SUNY Oswego...............................5 Sweet-Woods Memorial...............31 Technology Development Organization (TDO).................74 The Rental Warehouse.................31 Tri County Heating Solution..........28 United Wire Technology...............50 Valti Graphics...............................29 Vashaw’s Collision........................28 WD Malone...................................31 Whelan & Curry Construction.......24 White’s Lumber & Building Supply.......................29 WRVO..........................................96
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Thomas P. Kearns, D.D.S. Travis T. Kearns, D.D.S. 327 West Seneca St., Oswego (Route 104 West at Gregory Street)
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www.associateddentalarts.com Always welcoming new patients 10 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023
❑ Handicap accessible & convenient parking. ❑ Memorial event planning. Handicap convenient parking. ❑ Third generationaccessible family experience. & ❑ Two comfortable, modern facilities. ❑�Pre-Nead Planning available ❑ Memorial event planning. ❑ Handicap accessible & convenient parking. ❑ Memorial event planning. ❑�Pre-Nead Planning available ❑ Pre-need planning available. Serving all faiths. Family Owned and Operated – Since 1919 910 Fay Street • Fulton • 315-592-2313 837 Cayuga Street • Hannibal • 315-564-6288 fosterfh@windstream.net www.fosterfuneralhome.com
and1919 Operated – Since 1919 Family Owned and Operated – Owned Since FamilyFamily Owned and Operated – Since 1919 910 Fay • Fulton • 315-592-2313 910Street Fay Street • Fulton • 315-592-2313 910 Fay Street • Fulton • 315-592-2313 837 Cayuga Street •Street Hannibal • 315-564-6288 837315-564-6288 Cayuga • Hannibal • 315-564-6288 837 Cayuga Street • Hannibal • fosterfh@windstream.net fosterfh@windstream.net fosterfh@windstream.net www.fosterfuneralhome.com www.fosterfuneralhome.com www.fosterfuneralhome.com
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Wagner Dotto editor@cnybusinessmag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Stefan Yablonski syablonski@twcny.rr.com WRITERS Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Christopher Malone, Stefan Yablonski Tom & Jerry Caraccioli Norah Machia
SUNSETS
T
here is a multi-million dollar industry in Oswego County but you won’t see it listed in a chamber of commerce directory. Its physical plant is the sky, the lake and the winter snow. And its inventory includes the fish in the county waters, the colors in the sunset and the smiles on the face of visitors. The mega-business is tourism. This was the lede of a story we published years ago in a special issue about the tourism industry. It came to mind the other day when my wife and I were walking around Breitbeck Park in Oswego. It was a perfect early evening. The weather could not be better, warm with a soft breeze — there was a band playing Glenn Miller tunes, families gathering around, kids playing in the playground — all of that with the backdrop of Lake Ontario. It was the type of evening you dream about in January and February. Of course, I couldn’t resist taking some photos. I’m not a native — I was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil — but I tend to agree with Oswegonians: sunsets at Lake Ontario are indeed some of the best. In a few days, Oswego will get at least 75,000 visitors who come to enjoy Harborfest. Most of those people, I think, come from Onondaga County — people who like to take the short trip to Oswego once a year. By all means, they should come over and enjoy the festival. But I urge those out of town — we have many readers outside Oswego — to take the time to come over a few other times during the year as well. The city has changed quite a bit in
the last few years. It has a lot to offer — a vibrant downtown with great restaurants and specialty shops, great sunsets, unique places, museums, coffee shops, pizza parlors, great neighborhoods and much more. Here’s my suggestion: start your visit with a stroll through the renovated Breitbeck Park — what a fantastic place. You can easily spend several hours there. Then take the boat at H. Lee White Maritime Museum to visit the lighthouse (I did that when the service started a couple of years ago and I plan to go back. It’s such a thrill to visit the lighthouse). Stop at rivers end bookstore, a family-owned establishment now in its second generation, get coffee at Coffee Connection and have lunch at places such as La Parrila or Steamers. In the afternoon, go for an ice cream at Bev’s on the shores of Lake Ontario and a stroll through SUNY Oswego. Finish your visit with a stop at Rooftop Lounge — I think it’s such a fancy yet casual place with great cocktails, delicious food and great views. Or you might want to try a wood-fired pizza at the Riverwalk Pizza, which opened recently. If you have the time, visit neighborhoods in the Franklin Square and Montcalm Park historic districts to appreciate great architecture. So much to enjoy — you may need to come back the next day as well.
12 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023
WAGNER DOTTO is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.
COLUMNISTS Austin Wheelock Bruce Frassinelli, Tim Nekritz Steven E. Abraham ADVERTISING Peggy Kain
p3ggyk@gmail.com Jamie Elen jamieelocalnews@gmail.com SECRETARY Alisson Lockwood localnewsoffice@gmail.com LAYOUT & DESIGN Angel Campos Toro COVER PHOTO Chuck Wainwright
OSWEGOCOUNTYBUSINESS.COM OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS MAGAZINE is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., publisher of the Business Guide, Upstate Summer, Fall, & Winter guides, College Life Newspaper, In Good Health—The Healthcare Newspaper (across four regions) and 55 Plus Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester and Central New York. Subscription rate is $21.50 a year; $35 for two years. Single-copy price is $4.50. PRSRT STD US Postage PAID, Buffalo, NY, Permit No. 4725. © 2023 Oswego County Business. All rights reserved. No material from this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. HOW TO REACH US: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. Phone: 315-342-8020 Fax: 315-342-7776; editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com
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ON THE JOB
How Has Your Business Changed Since the Pandemic?
Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
n many ways, the world will never be the same since the COVID-19 outbreak. In the business world, the pandemic’s effects are still felt in many sectors. We recently asked area business leaders, “How has your business changed since the pandemic?” Here’s what they said:
“It hasn’t been as crazy as it
was during COVID with everyone staying home and remodeling. We haven’t seen a big drop-off in sales. Right after COVID, the supply chain was really tough. Now things are starting to level off. We’re really close to being back to normal. Building material pricing has come back to pre-pandemic levels. Since the pandemic, we’ve been looking at our inventory a little bit more closely and get things in three to four weeks sooner than we used to.” CHARLES HANDLEY, Owner, Burke’s Do It Best Home Center, Oswego
“The pandemic put a big emphasis on becoming totally digital on work. Things that were put off on going fully remote for work in the accounting world became a high priority and got done because of necessity. Although at first it was difficult learning new technology, it has actually helped since streamline workflow and communication with
clients since. Doing more accounting work remotely has allowed for less wasted time in schedule and travel. The only drawback is not meeting face to face with clients.” Brenda Weissenberg Accountant and owner, Affordable Business Solutions, Central Square “It actually hasn’t changed at all. We maintained the same service and customer interactions all through COVID and since COVID. We didn’t change how we do business.” Dave Canale Owner, Canale Insurance and Computer Accounting Services, Oswego “COVID caused a drastic change. Now it’s like trying to build back up because we were closed over two years. I’ve never been open in the summer, only September through the end of April. My grandson, Jeffrey Geracci, is taking the property over and I need to slow down. Jeffrey has been there a couple of years with me. I’ll be there but not in charge.” Linda Tarbox Owner, 1880 House, Pulaski “Since the pandemic, not a whole lot has changed for us. We were an essential business with our cloth diaper and laundry service and operated fully during the entire time and kept our employees working providing our weekly laundry service and cloth diaper service
14 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023
to Rochester and Syracuse areas in addition to our local area. The largest impact as a result of the pandemic has been the cost of doing business requiring me to work many more hours to get the job done in an effort to keep our costs as low as possible. Our online sales have seen a boost too for toys and cloth diapers.” Lisa Emmons Owner, Mother Earth Baby LLC, Curious Kidz Toys and More, Breezy Kleen Laundry Service, Oswego “Things did pick up after COVID. Guests seem to be coming back. People are getting out and traveling. And there’s college parents visiting, and the Renaissance Fair and harvest fest. People are looking for places to stay while they go to these things.” Joy Moody Innkeeper and owner, Merriam Vincent Guest House, Oswego “The Friends of History at the John Wells Pratt House Museum in Fulton was closed the entire year of 2020. We re-opened in 2021, but still did not go forward with our annual Parade of Trees as many schools lacked the necessary transportation and children were still wearing masks. Other than that, we are back to our normal hours, etc. Other than our maintenance guy who works as needed, I am the only paid employee at the Pratt House. All others are volunteers. We have noticed a decrease in the amount that some of the sponsors
have given and it seems to be harder to get sponsors as well.” Theresa Jones Museum coordinator, Friends of History in Fulton and J.W. Pratt House Museum, Fulton “In certain fundamental respects, our business has not changed and in other ways our business is altering significantly. We are accustomed to adapting to the fluctuations in local and regional real estate markets, and we are seeing a return to a more typical seasonality compared to the extreme sustained volumes during the pandemic. Traditionally, businesses in our industry cater to attorneys and lenders, though we are seeing some indirect effects of regulatory enforcement shifting toward emphasizing the consumer — e.g., homebuyers — over the last several years. The pandemic has changed the way people work and live in some very permanent ways, particularly through the decentralization of work, expectations on delivery of goods and services, and a desire to interact through technology. With an increased reliance on technology comes an increased burden to ensure the proper safeguards are in place to protect against fraud and cyber crime, as well as to streamline the use of technology in day-to-day business operations. “I think one of the critical lessons of the pandemic was an awareness that we have to be more adaptable in our operations and ready to pivot quickly. We will likely not give up our brick-and-mortar operations, but we are learning how to build more flexibility into how and where we work without compromising the quality and personality in service to our customers. Another challenge we face is learning to grow in such a way as to make our operation feel local, but sophisticated enough to compete on a large scale with the increasing complexities that scaling up brings. One advantage we have over competitors is our ability to react quickly to changing demands and shift course easily without a lot of bureaucratic process getting in the way. I think we have led the way in our use of technology but keeping that focus as a true solution provider is getting harder as third-party technology servicers proliferate in the title and settlement space.” Patrick J. Corbett CEO, Vanguard Research & Title Services, Inc. Syracuse and Oswego
“More people, especially couples, are traveling in small groups. I see this with Alaska cruises, tours, European river cruises and escorted motorcoach tours in Europe. I escorted a group of 16 to Ireland in September and have a group of 24 I’m escorting on a Greek Island Cruise in August. People just want to travel together as friends and family after missing out on being together safely for so long. Now, we’re starting to go beyond ‘revenge’ travel, where people were traveling because they could. We’re going gangbusters, with people checking off things from their travel bucket list.” Michele McIntyre Owner, Travel Savvy, LLC, Jamesville “COVID definitely changed the way that we do business. We were fortunate to have telehealth already in place prior to COVID, but we weren’t really utilizing it. Once COVID hit, we turned all of our private practice to telehealth and started doing all of our meetings over Zoom. It was difficult at first but then we realized that we could take it to more locations and expand our reach nationwide. Over the COVID years we grew to 17 dietitians across the country and now have our workplace wellness solution in over 200 companies. COVID was the game-changer and made people think differently about how they receive their healthcare.” Kelly Springer Registered dietitian and owner, Kelly’s Choice, Skaneateles
“I know that at Curtis Manor, we lost all the wedding bookings for the year while everything was shut down. That was pretty serious. The following year, things were busier. Some people rebooked. Right now, it’s back to normal. The contracting has been busier than normal. Prices of materials skyrocketed. They’ve come down but are still high compared with pre-COVID.” TONY PAULDINE, Oswego contractor, owner of several businesses, including Curtis Manor
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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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