Voice of Business - Fall 2019

VOICE

OF

FA L L 2 0 1 9

A New Talent Strategy

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Yo u n g L e a d e r s B e g i n CLIMB

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Health Indicators

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W o m e n Ta k e T h e L e a d

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! COMPANY NAME

WEBSITE

110 Grill www.110grill.com 29 Design Studio 29designstudio.com ABODES www.abodesps.com Adecco www.adeccousa.com Glenna’s CBD Best Oil www.cbdbestoil.com Helvie Inc. www.helvieinc.com HempLab Inc. www.nyhemplab.org Home2 Suites by Hilton Greece Rochester

https://home2suites3.hilton.com

HR Works, Inc. www.hrworks-inc.com KMS Medical http://kms-medical.com Kovalsky-Carr Electric Supply Co., Inc.

www.kovalskycarr.com

Masis Staffing Solutions www.masisstaffing.com Mutual Choices www.mutualchoices.com Park Grove Realty www.parkgrovellc.com Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Rochester

https://greater-rochester.pauldavis.com

Paula’s Essentials www.paulasessentials.com Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore

www.healthypetsuperstore.com

Scott Brown Media Group, Inc.

www.sbmg.com

Sonrise Enterprise LLC www.kumon.com/pittsford-ny St. Vincent Press www.stvincentpress.com Staybridge Suites Rochester University

www.StayRoc.com

Syntec Optics www.syntecoptics.com WellNow Urgent Care www.wellnow.com

Companies highlighted in

represent Rochester Chamber Partner members

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Advocacy

2019 NYS Legislative Session Recap

By Marc Cohen, Rochester Chamber Chief of Staff

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dvocacy is a critical part of our role as your regional chamber of commerce. Ensuring that your voices are heard at the local, state, and federal levels is vital. In that spirit, Rochester Chamber overhauled the way we advocate this last session and are proud of the work we were able to accomplish.

2018, that decreased to 1.9%. Throughout the State of New York, taxpayers have saved $24.4 billion over the last six years.

In the Finger Lakes region that amounts to about $2 billion. Rochester Chamber CEO Bob Duffy chaired the statewide tax cap commission and the cap was successfully passed.

Several iterations of the “prevailing wage” legislation were presented with the proposed language calling for any projects receiving even one dollar of state money to be subject to the policy. Some versions of the legislation would have included non-profits, historic rehabilitation projects, affordable housing, universities/ colleges, and several other sectors.

Ensuring that workers receive fair pay for their work is a must. The legislation as presented, however, would have proved detrimental to Upstate New York if passed.

Rochester Chamber and our partners led the way on ensuring such a policy was avoided.

A policy called the Small Business Penalty Waiver was put forth again this session.

Under the policy, small businesses (no more than 100 employees) would be excused from first-time fines for breaching a state policy of which they were unaware. (i.e. if a business card says, “licensed real estate broker” vs. “real estate broker,” the $1,000 fine would be waived the first time.)

After years of hard work, New York State has a 2% permanent property tax cap.

From 2000 to 2010, property taxes grew on average 5.3% annually. From when Governor Cuomo took office through

Certain pieces of legislation were passed that will disproportionately hurt Upstate New York like the Farm Labor Bill and new rent regulations. Rochester Chamber is committed to fighting policies which serve

The agency issuing the fine will be required to provide the business with guidance on corrective action. Rochester Chamber strongly supported this legislation and it was passed by both houses.

to negatively impact our members and the communities we represent and will continue that effort in the session to come.

Recognizing the need for a strong, streamlined, and collective voice, Rochester Chamber is proud to announce the creation of the Rochester Area Chamber Advocacy Coalition. Comprised of chambers throughout the nine-county region, this coalition met for the first time in August and discussed legislative priorities, collaboration opportunities, and joint advocacy days. The Finger Lakes region is wonderfully diverse and, as such, calls for a nuanced approach to effective advocacy. This new body fulfills that need and will be instrumental in amplifying the voices of our thousands of collective members.

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2019-20 Sr. HR Executive Forum Registration in Progress Registration is now in progress for two popular human resource networking forums.

The Senior HR Executive Forums meet monthly, providing invaluable opportunities for networking and discussion of HR issues such as culture, strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, best practices, and more. These forums are organized by employee size of the participating companies (one for companies with more than 250 employees and one for employees with less than 250 employees, and are open to the senior HR executive or top HR professional of Rochester Chamber member companies at the Corporate and Partner levels.

A nonrefundable annual registration fee of $185 is required and covers all eight meetings for the series, which runs from October 2019 through May 2020.

For more information including meeting dates, or to register for one of these forums, click here to view a flyer and registration form.

The deadline to register is September 13, 2019. Early registration is recommended as space is limited and will be offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. Questions on this forum can be directed to Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618.

Sexual Harassment Prevention – New Online Training Option Last year, Rochester Chamber added a new membership benefit to all tiers at no additional cost - ThinkHR Workplace/Comply. This online HR knowledge solution is a value-added benefit that can save your organization time and money.

To help members comply with the sexual harassment prevention training required by October 9, 2019, we worked with ThinkHR to offer additional packages in addition to the existing Workplace/ Comply option.

One package is the NYS-compliant sexual harassment prevention online training, one course for employees and one for managers, at a cost of $1 per employee per month (paid by the member company), with a 1-year agreement required. There is also a Spanish version and courses for other states. This package includes access to the full Learn training module so employers can provide a wide variety of other training to employees.

For those companies that would like even more, we offer the full package, which adds the full Learn training module (including the harassment prevention training), the Live Advisor (similar to the Rochester Chamber HR Helpline), Benefits Document creator (SPDs, wraps, etc.), the Living Handbook (if you create your handbook on there, they will notify you of laws that change so the handbook can be updated and disseminated to employees), etc.

The cost for this package is $2.75 per employee per month.

Please contact Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618 for more information.

Human Resources NYS Salary Ban Law Signed; Effective January 2020

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law prohibiting employer wage or salary history inquiries. The law goes into effect January 6, 2020. Once the law goes into effect, NYS employers may not rely on the wage or salary history of an applicant in determining whether to offer employment to such individual or in determining the wages or salary for such individual. Employers also may not seek, request, or require, orally or in writing, the wage or salary history from an applicant or current employee as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, or as a condition of employment or promotion. Employers are further prohibited from asking the applicant’s previous or current employer about the applicant’s wage or salary history.

However, the law does not prohibit an applicant from voluntarily disclosing his/her wage or salary history for the purpose of negotiating wages or salary. If the applicant voluntarily discloses his/her wage or salary history in response to an offer of employment, the employer may then confirm such history with the applicant’s previous employer.

Employers with locations in multiple states may want to consider eliminating the salary history question from employment applicants and processes at all locations to avoid possible mistakes. Employers are encouraged to discuss preparations for compliance with this law with their attorney sooner than later, and begin making changes to the employment application, prescreen questionnaires, interview questionnaires, background/reference check questionnaires, and any other documents with questions on salary history. All those involved in the hiring process, including the hiring manager, should be trained on permissible questions to ask applicants about salary/wages, such as ‘what pay do you require if you are offered this job and why?’.

From a compensation perspective, employers seeking to be competitive in the market should not rely on a candidate’s current pay as it places too much importance on the pay at a single employer and not the market as a whole. Those involved in the hiring process should determine the appropriate pay range prior to the first interview, including job qualifications and skills that will be more valuable to the position and therefore garner pay at the higher end of the range.

The availability of local survey data will help ensure employers are paying competitive rates. Rochester Chamber conducts a variety of annual wage and salary surveys with members each January, covering over 300 local jobs. The 2019 Rochester Chamber survey calendar shows the timing of each survey and contains a description of each survey. Any questions regarding the wage and salary surveys can be directed to Jennifer Suppé at (585) 256-4608 or Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618.

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Biophotonic lasers help to diagnose major health concerns, correct vision problems, assist in drug or DNA discoveries, or enable major research discoveries which enhance lives on a daily basis.

The Future of Photonics in Upstate New York

By Mark Tolbert, President, TOPTICA Photonics, Inc.

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hotonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling, and detecting photons, which are particles of light. Photonics underpins technologies of daily life from smartphones to laptops to the Internet to medical instruments to lighting technology.

To fully understand the impact and the future of photonics it’s important to know the history and role of photonics in our communities to date. The upstate area for generations has understood and capitalized on many forms of optics. Since the founding of B&L (1853), Kodak (1888) and Xerox (1906) and the founding of The Institute of Optics (1916), the area has been a world leader in optics. This area has become a global hub of optics which in turn led to optics control photonics so it was a natural evolution for Rochester to expand in photonics.

It is exciting to be a part of a photonics company that has been fortunate for more than a decade to have experienced strong double-digit growth year over year and have been recognized on multiple occasions as one of the fastest growing companies in Rochester.

What’s even more exciting is that photonics is continuing to flourish. TOPTICA Photonics is proud to not just develop and bring to market leading technology in photonics but also bring awareness to the “cool” factor behind them. Our lasers are photonic devices and their applications and significance in society are mind bogglingly cool! We focus on three major areas: Quantum technology, biophotonics, and semiconductor test and measurement.

Semiconductor test and measurement adds to the cool factor in most of our daily lives and could be helping allow you to read this right now. Those lasers are used in testing and repairing the very type of semiconductor chip which might be in your cell phone or PC. Quantum may just become the coolest factor of all, literally.

Lasers like ours have been used to reach some of the coldest temperatures known to humankind! Quantum is also one of the newest buzzwords in the technology arena over the past couple of years, and while at early stages enables: • Quantum computers, which are expected to solve problems the most modern computers cannot solve today.

• Quantum communication, which can provide more secure data encryption.

• Quantum sensing has multiple applications including GPS replacement for existing technology including non-traditional GPS use, even under water.

Lastly my favorite “cool” technology we help to enable is with our Guidestar laser. In this case we integrate TOPTICA lasers into some of the largest ground-based telescopes on the planet! Rochester knows this arena because of the work done here on the Hubble Space Telescope and many others. In this case it is expected that amazing discoveries could be made, including more definite answers to what may be happening in nearby galaxies!

We are just one of the photonics companies among dozens in the Rochester area contributing to advancements in and around our communities! Job expansion and incubators for startups like NextCorps have become great contributors to the Rochester photonics community. State and federal funding continues to support photonics growth in our area.

The universities and colleges are on board as well. MCC, RIT, and U of R all have programs which are training the future photonics leaders of the world and conducting groundbreaking research.

“Photonics” is a GREAT word for this region and more importantly it is a significantly growing industry. If you ever wonder about and think of all of the things you do on a daily basis and ask what it would be like without photonics just remember your cell phone, Internet, car, and medical equipment, just to name a few, all include photonics!

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A New Talent Strategy

by Bob Duffy • President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

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reater Rochester Chamber

of Commerce has gotten

intensely involved in our region’s economic development initiatives over the past year. This is in addition to our core offerings of business advocacy, professional development, networking, promotion, human resources, and background screening and placement services. Rochester Chamber now also has a focus on a talent strategy to include retention and attraction of workers for our region’s employers. The need for talent is one of the main challenges that our region has identified in recruiting businesses or keeping businesses already here alive and thriving. Rochester Chamber member companies have told me that they often consider moving out of state to find the talent they need. It is our job to prevent that outmigration by preparing a workforce for now and the future.

The Rochester and Finger Lakes region has immense talent thanks to its 19 colleges and universities and outstanding legacy employers. On the flip side of that, we have one of the highest levels of poverty in the nation and countless job openings that employers struggle to fill.

The new chapter in Rochester Chamber’s talent strategy mission has included a series of meetings with stakeholders including company CEOs, college placement officers, human resource leaders, new and emerging business leaders, workforce development professionals, and others focused on the future of work. These meetings explore the talent recruiting and retention priorities and challenges of today and what we can expect five and ten years down the road.

So far, early in this process, we have heard common themes among our stakeholders. While our region has several internship and co-op programs, there has not been a formal collaborative effort to bring all the talent of our colleges and universities together to focus on nurturing relationships between students and employers well before graduation.

Our group is now working on programs that connect students to Rochester through both social and business interactions starting in their freshman year.

We want students, as they graduate, to see Rochester as a very viable place to start and maintain a career. Many of our college graduates are drawn to the east and west coasts for jobs at companies with great name prestige only to find out the cost of living is astronomical. What may appear to be a rather substantial starting salary in the Silicon Valley does not go very far compared to the quality of life a that job with even half that west coast salary can bring in the much more affordable Finger Lakes region.

Another challenge that our meetings have uncovered is competitiveness among employers in the Rochester area and beyond for existing workers.

Some may call it job-hopping. Through professional networks, talent migrates from company to company and even out of the state looking for enhanced opportunities. This is not a criticism of those looking to improve their situation.

This is a call for employers to place a greater emphasis on retention, especially of our younger professionals and the next generation of business leaders.

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We have also met with what is known as incumbent workers, men and women who are underemployed, some with backgrounds that include incarceration or dropping out of school. This is a population that we cannot ignore. The stigma of incarceration and undereducation as well as transportation and childcare issues pose immense challenges for this group of workers. We have listened very carefully to their concerns and have already identified proposed system changes that we plan to roll out to the public soon. These men and women want to work and better themselves, but do not want to be stuck in an entry-level job without an opportunity for a fulfilling career to provide for their families. Going back to my career in law enforcement, I believe that once someone leaves jail or prison, they have paid their debt to society. They should not have to keep paying that debt repeatedly by being impeded in gaining employment if they are qualified and willing to work.

Employers must get on board with this. If we are going to reduce poverty, we are not going to do it with forums, discussions, and meetings. We are going to do it with concrete action and commitment. Our group also calls upon the New York State Department of Education to review primary school curricula to include the instruction of basic skills to foster success in any workplace as early as fourth grade.

Another area under review is building our skilled trades workforce through career and technical education. Workers in this area are aging and there does not appear to be an influx of young talent in the pipeline interested in construction, machining, and other necessary trades. These jobs offer great opportunities for lifetime employment with strong wages and benefits.

Far too often, young people are steered toward college by parents or guidance counselors when the trades path may best suit them. The negative perceptions of these jobs, which have evolved into something high-tech and exciting, keep kids from pursuing them.

The sweet spot for economic development in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region is not only recruiting new companies, but also retaining companies that are here and helping them grow and prosper. We do that through workforce development. Talent strategy is critically important for the region’s economic future. The time has come for enhanced collaboration across the board on creating the best steps and metrics for success. We welcome your support, ideas, and suggestions to make it happen.

2019

IGNITE Award Winner

Taren Greenidge Attorney • Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce presented Taren Greenidge with its inaugural IGNITE Future Leader’s Award at the Re:Generation young professionals event. The IGNITE award honors an individual between the ages of 21 and 40 who has had a positive influence, both professionally and personally, on the present and future of our community. The award recognizes the courage to speak up, to push the envelope, and to inspire others.

Greenidge practices law at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP, where she counsels clients on state and federal anti-discrimination law and represents Fortune 500 companies.

As chair of the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys Diversity Committee, Greenidge was tasked with opening doors of opportunity for minority law students and attorneys. She received an Excellence in Leadership Award from the Rochester Black Bar Association, a peer acknowledgment of her crucial role in the success of multiple member and community-based initiatives.

An Urban League of Rochester board member, Greenidge works with the Black Scholars Committee, providing tips and tools on college readiness and the college application process to high school students, often serving as a long-term mentor.

Seeing a void in networking and fellowship opportunities for young professionals of color throughout the City of Rochester, Greenidge created the Black Young Professionals of Rochester, a flagship social and community-based enterprise that provides a myriad of important services from financial literacy and first-time home buyer programs to youth advocacy.

Rochester Chamber Welcomes CLIMB Class of 2019-20

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ochester Chamber’s CLIMB, or Chamber Leadership Initiative: Mentoring for Business, has selected young leaders from 23 organizations, representing a wide variety of roles and industries in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, to participate in the 2019-20 program. This marks the third cohort of young professionals to participate in CLIMB. An experiential leadership development program, CLIMB provides young professionals with education, peer connections, and resources to help them ascend to new heights of leadership and success within their organizations and community.

Throughout the year-long experience, participants undergo an in-depth exploration of the regional economy, receive personalized development training, and are matched with an executive from the business community for a one-to-one mentoring relationship.

Upon successful completion of the program, CLIMB graduates are asked to join the Future Leaders Advisory Council (FLAC) to provide key insight and engagement with Rochester Chamber leadership.

The Rochester Chamber CLIMB Class of 2019-20 includes:

Rochester Chamber thanks its 2019-20 CLIMB Executive Mentors:

Patrick Aldrich • ECC Technologies Josh Bosy • Paychex Katie Claire • FinFit at Paychex Richard Comstock • The Perfect Granola Veronica Dasher • RG&E Dawn Davison • Rochester Regional Health Eric Eason • Paychex Calvin Eaton • 540WMain Chelsea Engel • L3Harris Nick Greiner • Pennant Ingredients Janelle Harris • Rochester Chamber Emily Hessney Lynch • Serve Me the Sky Digital John Hill • Innovative Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson • Nazareth College Josh Jacobs • Simon Business School Andrew Knoblauch • Dixon Schwabl Danny Lang • Constellation Brands Ryan Nugent • Once Again Nut Butter Meghan Oosterling • Reliant Community Credit Union Jen Pierson • Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS Joshua Stampfler • Stamp Paints Courtney Stiles • REDCOM Laboratories Ryan Trevas • NYS Department of Labor Jessica Wright • Reliant Community Credit Union

Dave Beinetti • SWBR Steve Blowers • Once Again Nut Butter Christine Cantie • The Gleason Works Carin Cole • Simon Business School Chelsea Conway • Beam Mack Sales & Service Courtney Cotrupe • Partners + Napier Lauren Dixon • Dixon Schwabl Ray Isaac • Isaac Heating & Air Carrie LaDue • Carrie LaDue Coaching & Consulting John Loury • CAUSE + EFFECT Strategy and Marketing Faheem Masood • ESL Federal Credit Union Eloy Meira • CAUSE + EFFECT Strategy and Marketing Marc Natale • American Heart Association Wade Norwood • Common Ground Health Tyrone Reaves • TruForm Manufacturing Justin Roj • City of Rochester Jaime Saunders • United Way of Greater Rochester Donna Shultz • Mirror Show Management Lee Sommerman • LeChase Construction Services Joe Stefko • ROC 2025 Matt Tipple • JP Morgan Chase Will Wallace • Braveheart Consultants Tim White • KPMG LLP Suzanne Piotrowski • Badfish Consulting

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Your Property.

Your Tenant.

Our Priority.

RBA Staffing Enhances Tenant Screening Services

By Burt Parks • Sr. Director, Business Services

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BA Staffing, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce division, has recently enhanced its offerings by providing an exciting new tenant screening service. Tenant screening helps minimize risk exposure for landlords and property managers. Awareness of a potential tenant’s prior behavior and confirmation of their application information makes for more informed and empowered renters.

The Pew Research Center’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 36 percent of American households are renting, more than at any point since 1965. A key issue facing landlords and property managers is bringing in good, responsible tenants. Small and medium-sized property owners report finding it very time consuming to verify the qualifications of prospective tenants. The longer that units are not rented, the financial burden increases. Landlords often make “gut decisions” to save time that eventually end up costing even more time and money in evictions and property damage. Property owners say the average cost of an eviction is well over $3,000.

To mitigate that risk, many property rental companies and landlords use expensive tenant screening services based outside the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. RBA Staffing now offers tenant screening services technology that provides the convenience of fast, affordable national reach with local customer service. Each tenant screening order supports jobs and families right here in Rochester.

Even better, RBA Staffing can offer service to owners of just one apartment to 1000 or more units.

To learn more about RBA Staffing tenant screening services, contact Background and Reference Checking Services Manager Dominic Oliveri at (585) 256-4628 or Dominic.Oliveri@RBAStaffing.com.

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Health Indicators: Checking Up on the Region A

recent report shows promise for the Rochester and Finger Lakes region’s fight against high blood pressure, among other insights. Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce commissioned the inaugural Community Health Indicators Report compiled by Rochester RHIO. The report provides a glimpse into residents’ well-being across 13 counties: Allegany, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates.

This population health study is based on analysis of clinical data managed by Rochester RHIO, the region’s trusted health information exchange. The report summary is now available at rochesterrhio.org.

Four key health measures were assessed using full-year 2017 anonymized data, with a total sample in excess of 600,000 screenings:

Body Mass Index (BMI):

181,310 patients screened

Blood Pressure

147,116 patients screened

Diabetes Risk (HbA1C)

236,751 patients screened

Smoking Status

72,484

patients screened

13 The eye-opening report—the first of its kind for the community—is even more significant because it uses actual clinical inputs, which are considered the gold standard for health data. In nearly all other cases, population health statistics are based on health insurance claims data or may be self-reported. Due to the increased use of electronic health information, analysis of community-level clinical data is now possible.

The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) throughout the Greater Finger Lakes region (13 counties) is 41.9%. This is slightly higher than the latest national average (39.8%) reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The Community Health Indicators Report is rich resource for public analysis and planning, helping to measure the impact of regional health improvement efforts,” said Jill Eisenstein, president and CEO, Rochester RHIO. “We hope it encourages our community to better understand our region’s health status and how our own health compares, setting the stage for additional health improvement concepts and programs in the years to come.”

Nearly two-thirds of patients (66.4%) who had hypertension (high blood pressure) had their condition under control (systolic BP < 140 AND diastolic BP < 90). This is better than the national average by about 12%. According to the CDC, only about half (54%) of Americans have their high blood pressure condition under control.

The percentage of patients who say they smoke (status = currently smoking) is 22% of the population—higher than the latest national average (14%) reported by the CDC.

Almost three out of four (74.4%) patients with a diabetes diagnosis had their disease under control, indicated by an HbA1c level of less than <8.0%.

In addition to the leadership of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Rochester RHIO, several community organizations supported the report. These included the Monroe County Public Health Department, Common Ground Health, and the Center for Community Health & Prevention at the University of Rochester (CCHAP).

Rochester RHIO plans to publish annual Community Health Indicators Report updates, allowing year-to-year comparisons.

“What began as a benchmark initiative to assist our members with employee wellness programs took on additional depth and usefulness as the project got underway,” said Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy. “We’re eager to get the data in the hands of people who can immediately put it to use, enhancing what is already one of the most progressive communities for health care in the United States.”

While the Community Health Indicators Report is intended to serve as a benchmark for the community, it can also be used for incorporation by community leaders in their own health programs. An initial look at the overall findings offers some interesting observations:

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Informed analysis and management of essential legal issues A relaxed, casual atmosphere at fun + exciting venues

SEPT. 26 • “Our CFO Did What?!” Investigating Whistleblower Claims NOV. 12 • Wage and Hour Pitfalls: What NY Businesses Need to Know

SEPT. 17 • Explore Rochester DEC. TBD • Holiday Soiree

Addressing key areas of business concern with state, local + federal influencers OCT. 1 • Meeting the 2019 PAC-Endorsed Candidates DEC. TBD • Business Outlook

Signature Events

Make a difference!

OCT. 22 • Seneca Park Zoo Ongoing event • Pencils & Paper Drive

SEPT. 12 • ROC Tech Conference A full day event exploring the changing landscape of technology. Hit the refresh button and start transforming how you do business!

An open, interactive discussion with top executives SEPT. 10 • Educating Our Workforce

Timely information on today’s hottest topics NOV. 21 • The ROI of Business Investment in Healthier Communities

NOV. 6 • Rochester Chamber Top 100 Awards Dinner Celebration Celebrating the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the Greater Rochester region.

Topical expertise to help you keep your edge Leadership Series

SEPT. 19 • Leading With Your Heart OCT. 8 • Becoming an Empowering Leader

Click here to register for Rochester Chamber events.

Click here if you wish to sponsor our event series or signature events.

JAN. 23, 2020 • ATHENA International Awards Dinner Celebration Recognizing women who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession.

R O C H E S T E R C H A M B E R A F F I L I AT E E V E N T O F F E R I N G S

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Associated New York State Food Processors

The Small Business Council of Rochester

LiDestri Food and Drink Tour September 30 http://bit.ly/ANYSFP

Boot Camp: Using Assessments for Building Your Team September 11 http://bit.ly/SBC091119

Greater Rochester Quality Council GRQC Day of Quality October 3 http://bit.ly/GRQC100319 Health Care Performance Excellence October 8 http://bit.ly/GRQC100819 Quality for Leaders October 22-23 http://bit.ly/GRQC102219 Day of Quality Celebration October 24 http://bit.ly/GRQC102419 Rochester Hispanic Business Association Rochester Hispanic Business Person of the Year Luncheon September 24 http://bit.ly/RHBA092419 Business Lunch Series: Magaly Rosario October 15 http://bit.ly/RHBA101519 Business Lunch Series: Andrew Brady November 19 http://bit.ly/RHBA111919

Renee Tschetter Scholarship Golf Scramble and Networking Dinner September 19 http://bit.ly/SBC091919 2019 Business Person of the Year Celebration Luncheon October 10 http://bit.ly/SBC101019 Boot Camp: Be Your Own In-House Counsel October 16 http://bit.ly/SBC101619 Evening Boot Camp: Proactive Engagement Strategies November 13 http://bit.ly/SBC111319 SBC Cares Thanksgiving Drive Collection November 23-24 https://www.rochestersbc.com/programs Boot Camp: Making Sense of Marketing Analytics December 11 http://bit.ly/SBC121119 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council Headshot Happy Hour September TBD https://rocwomenscouncil.org

For more information on our affiliates, contact Susan George, Director of Events and Affiliate Relations, at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4612.

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CannaBusiness Opens Community Conversation on Hemp, Cannabis Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Flower City Solutions partnered to present “CannaBusiness: Capitalizing on the Cannabis Economy”. With the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana under discussion in New York State, the half-day symposium attended by more than 350 people opened a community conversation on the emerging cannabis and hemp industries.

• Click here for video of welcoming remarks from Rochester Chamber CEO Bob Duffy and Flower City Solutions Founder Zach Sarkis.

• Click here for a photo album from the event.

Keynote speakers included Constellation Brands EVP and General Counsel Jim Bourdeau with a look at industry insights (watch video), Consulate General of Canada in New York Deputy Consul General Khawar Nasim focusing on health and safety (watch video), and New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes exploring community impact (watch video).

Panel discussion topics following the keynotes included Legalization, Regulation, and Compliance (watch video) featuring Kaelan Castetter, founder of Sovereign Vines and Castetter Sustainability Group, Morgan Hopkins, CoDirector of DeJoy, Knauf & Blood’s Cannabis and Hemp Advisory Practice, Jason Klimek, Boylan Code attorney, and Jim Malatras, president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The Social Justice and Law Enforcement panel (watch video) included Korey Brown, Monroe County Undersheriff, Kassandra Frederique, Drug Policy Alliance New York State Director, Mary Kruger, Roc NORML Executive Director, and David Soares, Albany County District Attorney.

The Business, Innovation, and AgTech panel (watch video) featured Dasheeda Dawson, The WeedHead global cannabis advocate, Dennis DuVal, Acreage New York COO, Richard Glaser, founder of RochesterGrowth, and Julie C. Suarez, Associate Dean for Government and Community Relations for Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Health and Medicine panel (watch video) featured Corey Hewitt, Columbia Care New York State Director, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, Professor of Neurology and Oncology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Medical Director of the Dent Neurologic Institute, Dr. Michael Mendoza, Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County and Associate Professor at the University of Rochester in the Departments of Family Medicine, Public Health Sciences, and Nursing, and Harold C. Smith, Ph.D., cell and molecular biologist and full professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry.

• Have a question or comment about CannaBusiness? Click here to send us an email.

• Click here for the full program of speakers and panelists.

More CannaBusiness events will be added to the calendar. Stay tuned for more information.

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FEATURED SPEAKERS Crystal Peoples-Stokes New York State Assembly Majority Leader / 141st District

Jim Bourdeau EVP and General Counsel, Constellation Brands

Khawar Nasim Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Canada in New York

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Orlando Ortiz

Named Hispanic Business Person of the Year

T

he Rochester Hispanic Business Association, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce affiliate, selected Orlando Ortiz as its 2019 Hispanic Business Person of the Year. The award recognizes an individual who has enhanced the local community with positive contributions or has contributed to economic development and business interests in the Greater Rochester area.

RHBA Chair Grace Tillinghast said, “Mr. Ortiz is not only a business person as Manager of Component Manufacturing at Gleason, but perhaps he is better known for his role as president of the Puerto Rican Festival. It is also noteworthy that Mr. Ortiz was nominated by three Hispanic leaders in our community”.

A native of Cayey, Puerto Rico, Ortiz moved to Rochester in 1991. He graduated from Edison Tech and attended Monroe Community College where he received an associate degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He continued his studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he received a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Ortiz also carves out substantial time to volunteer in the community. He has been involved with the Puerto Rican Festival for 15 years, currently serving as its president. Ortiz also volunteers with Foodlink and Pathstone and is active in the RIT Alumni Association.

The Rochester Hispanic Business Association honors Orlando Ortiz as the 30th annual Hispanic Business Person of the Year at a gala luncheon Tuesday, September 24th at the Floreano Convention Center. For information on sponsorships and tickets to the event, contact Cassidy Franklin at Cassidy.Franklin@GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4665.

TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Floreano Convention Center Greater Rochester’s entreprenurial spirit is alive, well, and remarkable.

Join fellow business and community leaders as Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and KPMG LLP celebrate 33 years of growth and innovation, and proudly honor the 2019 Rochester Chamber Top 100.

General Reception with Vendor Showcase 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

We love to get the party started. But we don’t love to make a mess.

Feel free to bring noisemakers and props for celebrating.

But please—no confetti.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES STILL AVAILABLE

Awards Dinner 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Contact Events Director Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com

Digital Hyve Ribbon Cutting

Business Made Social at Central Rock Gym

OptiPro Ribbon Cutting

Eyemart Express Ribbon Cutting

Business Made Social at Iron Smoke

21 Classic Automation Expansion Groundbreaking

110 Grill Ribbon Cutting Game On! Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference

United Way Pie Throwing Fundraiser

Rochester Museum and Science Center Member Visit

22

Women Take the Lead Three Area Colleges Welcome First Female Presidents Three Rochester-area institutions of higher learning welcomed the first female presidents in their histories this fall semester. Dr. Angela Sims took the helm at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Dr. Joyce P. Jacobsen now leads Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Sarah Mangelsdorf became president at the University of Rochester. The three join Dr. Denise Battles (SUNY Geneseo), Dr. Anne Kress (Monroe Community College), Dr. Heidi Macpherson (The College at Brockport), and Dr. Deana Porterfield (Roberts Wesleyan College) as women leaders of regional colleges and universities. As the new college presidents begin the next chapter in their leadership journey, they shared their thoughts with the Voice of Business magazine:

Dr. Angela Sims President, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School I am encouraged by my welcome to Rochester. Individuals from multiple business sectors have shared their time, insights, and wisdom with me.

This is a gift, an investment in Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, that I respect and honor. With a focus on strengthening CRCDS’ infrastructure, my conversations with various community leaders offer insights into ways in which my vision for the school aligns with and complements missions of several faith and community-based organizations.

As we prepared for a campus relocation to Village Gate, my initial six weeks as the 13th president of CRCDS provided me with a unique opportunity to acquaint myself with the rich legacy of this 200 year old institution. Reading about the school and its historical timeline does not quite convey what I gleaned from a stroll through her halls; quiet time in the chapel; moments in the library, classrooms, and offices; a walk around the grounds.

Time spent at the current location suggests to me that CRCDS’ history is defined by nomadic experiences informed by strategic alliances and collaborations. The move from 1100 South Goodman Street to 320 North Goodman Street reflects this tradition.

Yet, even as I recognize the constancy of change associated with our institutional identity, I begin my tenure during a time of transition. It is a time marked on the one hand by questions, anxiety, and uncertainty and, on the other hand, by hope, excitement, and optimism. I am blessed to join a community where staff, faculty, and trustees are committed to the school’s mission to “prepare, equip, engage” students for service to church and world and to re-imagine simultaneously the ways in which we as an institution of higher learning are challenged to live our mission.

Given the economic realities of many non-university affiliated seminaries, for such a time as now CRCDS’ transition from our hillside location to an office park - that parallels railroad tracks - signals to me a need to be intentional about the manner in which priority is given to space and place. As president, I want to remain attentive to the ways in which persons grieve for that which is lost while at the same time acknowledging ways in which others embrace the present. If my first days are any indication, CRCDS is poised to honor its commitment to peace and justice and to do so in ways that take into consideration lessons from the past and challenges of the moment as we work together to position the seminary for its next centennial.

Dr. Joyce P. Jacobsen President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges It is the honor of my lifetime to be the president of Hobart and William Smith, and it is a special distinction to be the first woman to lead the Colleges.

I was initially attracted to HWS because of its reputation as a rigorous liberal arts institution. This is an academic environment dedicated to educating students to lead lives of consequence and meaning. The Colleges are well known for providing a personalized education with an exceptional study abroad program, a sophisticated approach to career and graduate school preparation, and a remarkably tight-knit alum network. Hobart and William Smith students are focused and inquisitive, staff are principled and hardworking, and faculty are exceptional scholars and teachers. As a result, our graduates are leaders in every imaginable field. Look to any high performing industry, inventive company, groundbreaking research or innovative non-profit and you will likely find Hobart and William Smith alums.

Our success has been accelerated by the community we call home. A wonderful symbiosis – cultural, social and economic – connects higher education institutions to their geographic areas. This is especially true in Geneva, where HWS is located.

For example, 15 years ago, Hobart and William Smith founded the Finger Lakes Institute in part to address the communityidentified challenges of protecting and promoting the lakes. Today, we work in collaboration with watershed groups, elected officials, county agencies, and businesses to improve water quality, and are doing research on a number of water issues including harmful algal blooms and invasive species. In 2017, HWS opened the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship in downtown Geneva, where students pursue projects and startups often inspired by and to the benefit of the local community.

Across Geneva, hundreds of community members have served as mentors to our students, guiding them through research projects and internships, sharing their expertise on a wide range of topics from sustainability to marketing, and demonstrating year after year what it means to be an engaged member of the community.

It was Geneva, the Finger Lakes, and the entire region, including Rochester, that ultimately made Hobart and William Smith such a compelling destination for me. Here in Upstate New York, communities and institutions of higher education are embracing each other in new and exciting ways. I look forward to building on these relationships and working with Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce to develop opportunities that elevate the important work happening both on our campus and in the Greater Rochester area.

Sarah Mangelsdorf President, University of Rochester It is my great honor to be here in Rochester to lead one of the world’s great research universities. Since becoming University of Rochester president on July 1, my priority has been meeting with and hearing from the people who make the University and the Greater Rochester region such a special place.

I am learning about the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, patients, alumni, and parents, and I am hearing about the positive things we are doing and should keep doing in our classrooms, laboratories, hospitals and clinical care centers, concert halls, and galleries. I am also listening carefully to people who have identified areas that need attention and improvement, so that the University of Rochester may be the best research, learning, working, and health care environment possible.

My impression is that Rochester is a city with a storied past, a vibrant cultural present, loyal and committed citizens, and a great economic future ahead of it.

Already I have been so impressed by the levels at which the University and its regional partners, including the City of Rochester, are linked to create such strong bonds of engagement and cooperation. The University currently can count more than 300 community collaborations with over 200 partner agencies in the areas of K-12 education, community health and wellness, arts and music enrichment, housing affordability, and more. Our Eastman School of Music and Memorial Art Gallery support the cultural life of our city with numerous concerts and exhibits; they also offer cultural experiences to Rochester youth through year-round music instruction, free gallery visits, and arts classes. And as the fifth largest private employer in New York, the University and its affiliates provide 56,000 regional jobs and $3.5 billion in total wages across the state. As president, I look forward to enhancing these strong community connections.

I am also energized by recent reports that Rochester is well-situated to become a hub of today’s agile and entrepreneurial tech economy, and how the University and its affiliates, such as the startup incubator at NextCorps and the Luminate business accelerator competition, helped create and support the region’s technology commercialization ecosystem. Additional University partnerships with economic development organizations, including Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Enterprise, and the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, are helping grow and expand the economy in the Finger Lakes region.

This momentum correlates with the University’s history and progress in producing consequential research and innovation from within our faculty ranks, as well as smart, bold thinkers from among our graduating classes. I have long been aware of the institution’s stature, the strength of its faculty, and the vital impacts of its research and scholarship, and I am truly committed to growing the institution’s production of innovation and knowledge. As a professor and researcher, I know that sponsored research from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense, makes a difference in our own community and in our world.

I am excited to be here in Rochester and I am optimistic about our shared future. I look forward to engaging with the many individuals and organizations that contribute to the vitality and progress of the city and region we all call home. I am certain that together we can make our community and our world “ever better” now and in the future.

CALL FOR

NOMINATIONS

Thursday, January 23, 2020

G

reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council affiliate have issued a call for nominations for the 2020 ATHENA International Awards. Rochester Chamber and the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council plan to present the awards, which recognize and empower women in business, at the 34th annual ATHENA Awards Dinner January 23, 2020.

The ATHENA International Award is given annually to a professional female leader who has demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women.

The ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes emerging female leaders in the 30 to 45 year old range who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession and serve as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.

The ATHENA Organizational Award goes to a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization that creates a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and supports leadership development opportunities for

women and girls in the community.

Former IBERO-American Action League President and CEO Hilda Rosario-Escher received the 33rd annual ATHENA International Award. Shaquana Divers, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Executive Program Manager, took home the fifth annual ATHENA Young Professional Award, and HCR Home Care received the second annual ATHENA Organizational Award.

To nominate a distinguished woman business leader for the ATHENA International Award, an outstanding emerging professional woman for the ATHENA Young Professional Award, or a woman-owned or woman-led organization for the ATHENA Organizational Award, visit http://bit.ly/ATHENAnoms.

Only online submissions will be accepted. The nomination deadline is September 27th.

For additional information, contact Cassidy.Franklin@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4665.

25

COLLABORATE. CREATE. INNOVATE.

9.12.19 â&#x20AC;˘ #RTC19

This premier technology conference offers amazing experiences for attendees, bringing together the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best and brightest business professionals for a day to drive innovation, collaboration, and creativity.

Brought to you by:

In partnership with:

Thursday, September 12, 2019 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Floreano Convention Center Visit www.ROCTechConference.com for more information, or contact Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com

27 getting to know rochester chamber’s

Cassidy Franklin Affiliate Liaison and Events Coordinator Cassidy Franklin is nearing her first anniversary at Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. In recognition of this milestone, the Voice of Business took a few moments to get to know Cassidy better.

VOB: Tell us about the career journey that brought you to Rochester Chamber.

Cassidy: I grew up in Rochester. I went to Brighton High School and then SUNY Geneseo where I studied sociology. I always knew I wanted to do something working with people.

After college, I switched gears and did an internship in event planning and marketing. That was more of doing social events like weddings, but I wanted to do corporate events, which led me here.

“ VOB: What do you find most rewarding about your job?

Cassidy: I just love the way people react to our events. There is a lot of work that people don’t know about that goes on behind the scenes. We run around like crazy, but once it’s the day of, we’re all good. It’s nice when people see the final product.

VOB: When you’re not running around like crazy, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Cassidy: I love going out to dinner.

I love the restaurant scene in Rochester. I think we have a lot of great places to go here.

Cassidy Franklin Affiliate Liaison & Events Coordinator (585) 256-4665 • Cassidy.Franklin@GreaterRochesterChamber.com

VOB: What are some of the day-to-day duties of your job?

Cassidy: The thing I love the most about this job is that I don’t have typical day-to-day duties. I’m always working on multiple projects.

I work with our affiliates, the Women’s Council, Greater Rochester Quality Council, and the Associated New York State Food Processors. I manage them and their events. I also work on Rochester Chamber signature events including the Top 100 and ATHENA Awards.

VOB: What’s something about you that may surprise people when they hear it?

Cassidy: Working in the events department, people think I’m completely an extrovert, but I’m really not. I can turn it on when I need to, but I also love my alone time.

Work hard. Party harder.

11.6.2019 â&#x20AC;˘ GreaterRochesterChamber.com