Glens Falls Business Journal - April 2021

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APRIL 2021

Adirondack Trust Branch Near Exit 18 Has Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages Has Been Two Drive-Thru Windows, Other Amenities Operating In Glens Falls Location Since 1960

The new Adirondack Trust branch houses nine full-time retail banking employees, and four additional professionals from commercial banking, lending, insurance and wealth management.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER The Adirondack Trust Company opened a new branch at 79 Main St. in Queensbury, near Northway Exit 18.

The branch opened for business on April 5 and has two drive-thru lanes, parking, a free WiFi hot spot, Saturday hours, a private conference room, and 24-hour ATM access with image capture capabilities.

Munter Enterprises of Middle Grove was the general contractor and Balzer & Tuck Architecture of Saratoga Springs designed the building.

Charles Wait Jr., CEO, said the bank has been seeking a convenient location with more building space for quite some time. The nearby Maple Street branch in Glens Falls did not have a drive-thru. The Maple Street branch is closed. The Bay Road branch will remain open.

“Our desire was to build a bigger and better

©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

location that was more convenient for our customers,” said Wait. “We’ll be able to service all of our customers from all of our major business lines, from one convenient location.”

The new branch houses nine full time retail banking employees, and four additional professionals from commercial banking, lending, insurance and wealth management. The branch will be managed by assistant treasurer and branch manager Lynette Matt. Amy Liles is the assistant branch manager, and Chiao-Link Blazejowsk is the head teller.

“We have a great team here,” said Wait. “Everyone working for and with the branch did such a nice job getting everything ready.”

The branch will be hosting games, giveaways, sweepstakes and promotional specials until May 3.

Continued On Page 12

Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages of Glens Falls got its start distributing various alcoholic beverages beginning in 1857 at this facility in Troy. Today they are on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls.

BY ERIN NUDI GlensFalls.com Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages of Glens Falls have installed the soda fountains at restaurants; stocked the soft drink coolers at convenience stores and hired people for summer jobs or full-time positions.

The company is a family-owned, sixthgeneration Pepsi distribution company in Glens Falls. Although they exclusively bottle and distribute Pepsi, Fitzgerald Bros. got its start distributing various alcoholic beverages beginning in 1857 in Troy.

Until Prohibition was enacted, they even brewed their own beer, Fitzgerald’s Beer and Ale. In 1960, the company purchased the former Pepsi Bottler on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls, and from 1986 to 2011, distributed all of the Coors

Courtesy Fitzgerald Brothers

brand products to area customers as well.

Today, Fitzgerald Bros. operates out of the same Dix Avenue location and provides Pepsi products and self-service vending to over 950 customers in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties.

All customers are within 60 miles of the Glens Falls facility and include schools, hospitals, grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and dozens of other types of businesses.

Fitzgerald Bros.’ connection to the community extends beyond customers. The company is involved in local nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Operation Santa Clause, Glens Falls Kiwanis, Glens Falls YMCA, South Glens Falls Marathon Dance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fitzgerald Bros. provided free beverages to a dozen local Continued On Page 3

Lake George Regional Chamber Of Commerce Park Theater To Host Record Club Listening Releases New Travel Guide For 2021 Season Session, Continues ‘Dinner & A Movie’ Series The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce 2021 Four-Seasons Travel Guide is out, featuring “pro tips” for visiting the region.

It also has photography submitted from locals and visitors alike in an effort to spotlight the people that mark the region as a destination.

Chamber officials said the submitted photography and pro tips will also be used in a social media campaign and considered for the 2022 Travel Guide.

Photos and pro tips are continually being accepted via this link.

The guide, which is available in both print and digital format, includes a lodging grid to help people sort through the region’s many accommodations. It also has Chamber member listings of attractions, dining, shopping, and other businesses.

This year’s guide also includes interactive features such as a coloring page and word puzzles to provide some extra activities for people of all ages.

The Chamber prints 70,000 copies of the guide annually and distributes them strategically around the Northeast, at AAA offices and through direct mail, by request.

“With COVID-19 restrictions and new intel from where our visitors were coming from, we were able to readjust our distribution plan in 2020 to place the guides where they’d be most likely to be picked up.

In 2021, we made similar changes to our distribu-

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce ‘Four-Seasons Travel Guide’ is out.

Courtesy Lake George Chamber of Commerce

tion plan to match current intel,” said Executive Director Gina Mintzer.

This year’s cover features Luke Dow Photography’s “All Four Seasons Combined,” a composite photo, as well as a collage of submitted photos showing various activities people can enjoy in the region.

Continued On Page 12

The Park Theater will host Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties from April through June.

Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, a Rochmon Record Club Listening Party is a multi-media event designed to educate and inspire listeners.

Audiences will learn about the history of the performers, and dive deep into the songs and stories that informed these iconic albums.

By listening together, we hear the music again for the first time,” said Vosganian.

The first listening party on April 29 will focus on the Eagles’ fifth studio album, “Hotel California” (1976). The second on May 26 will focus on Carole King’s second studio album, “Tapestry” (1971). The third on June 30 will focus on Queen’s fourth studio album, “Night at the Opera” (1975).

Audiences will have the opportunity to listen to these albums on the The Park Theater’s state-of-the-art sound system. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

There will be a bar and food available for purchase.

Tickets are $12 per person. There will be limited seating and tickets must be purchased in advance.

The Park Theater will host a series of listening parties for the Rochmon Record Club.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.parktheatergf.com or phone The Park Theater Box Office at 518-792-1150.

Learn more about Rochmon Record Club by visiting www.rochmon.com.

The Park Theater will also hots its next Continued On Page 4

2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021

•

Personnel Briefs

Peckham Industries Inc., which has locations in Warren and Washington counties, announced that its board of directors has named Damian Murphy as chief executive officer.

Murphy will serve as a member of the board.

He has over 25 years of experience in the construction materials sector, working with both public and privately held companies.

Murphy succeeds John R. Peckham, who has served as president and chief executive officer since 1992.

Most recently, Murphy founded OPL Advisors, an advisory firm to the industry. Prior to that, he was part of the original founding team at Summit Materials and served as regional president through its growth, initial public offering (IPO) and continued expansion. He also served in company and regional president roles for OldcastleCRH in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.

Prior to that, he served as vice president of Aggregate Industries’ Rocky Mountain region, responsible for aggregates and hot mix asphalt production and sales. Before joining Aggregate Industries, Murphy worked in the mid-Atlantic region for a top 10 privately held aggregate supplier and began his career in Europe.

Murphy received a bachelor of engineering degree with a concentration in minerals engineering from the Camborne School of Mines in the United Kingdom and holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Dayton, Ohio.

* * * Integrated Staffing in Saratoga Springs has hired Matt Nazarian as a talent acquisition specialist.

Nazarian was previously employed at Stewart’s Shops and as an assistant football coach/ He also worked for Wynn Las Ve-

Freedom Boat Club Starts $1.4M Overhaul, Part Of Many Lakeside Marina Activities •

gas as a slot supervisor.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and a master’s degree from Trinity College. He has also received a Management Achievement Award from Hartwick College and a corporate recognition award from Stewart’s Shops.

His responsibilities at the company will include recruitment for large corporations nationally as well as niche local placements.

* * * The physician board of OrthoNY has appointed Michele Brinkman interim CEO. Brinkman had served as Chief Operating Officer since June 2017, overseeing the practice’s 14 locations offering urgent care, clinical care, pain management, ambulatory surgery and physical therapy throughout the Capital/Saratoga Region.

Among her most significant projects in this role was developing a workflow and cross-training program toward implementation of a new electronic medical record system.

Brinkman also collaborated with the developer and construction team for a new 41,000-squarefoot medical office building, directing the internal operational team action list that resulted in the project coming in approximately $350,000 below budget. Most recently, she created and led an organizational emergency plan in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Brinkman joined OrthoNY just prior to the practice’s formation from the merger of Northeast Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Associates of Saratoga in January 2013. As director of human resources, she enhanced employee relations, strengthened recruitment and retention efforts, and provided benefits administration for approximately 300 staff members.

Previously, Brinkman was the human resources manager for Cascades Tissue Group in Waterford and held similar positions at Merak North America, NU Horizons Electronics Group and BSI of New York.

BY JILL NAGY The owners of Freedom Boat Club on Lake George have started a $1.24 million overhaul of the marina.

Matt O’Hara, one of the owners, said renovations will include a rooftop deck, an elevator, a new building facade and a members’ lounge.

His plans for the marina itself focus on growing the service department. He is also upgrading the wastewater system.

Phinney Design Group of Saratoga Springs did the design work for the project and BBL Construction Services of Albany is supervising the work. O’Hara expects the project to be completed by next fall.

It is part of a myriad of activities on Lake George regarding marinas.

The estate of John Salvador Jr. has sold Dunham’s Bay Boat & Beach Club on the southeast part of the lake for approximately $1.1 million, according to deeds that were filed in March in Warren County.

Two Florida holding companies managed by wealth management adviser Michael Chrys purchased the 9.2-acre marina on Lake George. The purchases were made under the names Mirada 7 LLC and Garner Holdings II LLC, according to the deeds.

Also, Shoreline Boat Sales & Services on Lake George is expanding again with the purchase of two properties on Canada Street in the heart of the resort community, according to deeds filed ion Warren County, also in March.

Jim Quirk Jr. and LG Boats Sales LLC purchased 43-47 Canada St., across from the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center—the former Smith Boys boat dealership location—from Craig S. Merrell and CSM Down East LLC. The 0.75-acre site sold for $695,000.

The Freedom Boat Club on Lake George allows its members to enjoy the joys of boat ownership without the responsibilities. For a

Freedom Boat Club on Lake George will get a $1.24 million overhaul. monthly fee, members have unlimited use of 20 boats and similar privileges at 265 Freedom Boat Company locations nationwide.

The club is located at the Queen Boat Co. marina, 10 Dunhams Bay Road. Owners Matt and Rebecca O’Hara bought the former Dunham Bay Boat Co. in 2018. They added more docks to the marina and moved the boat sharing club from Beckly’s Marina at Diamond Point where they had started it in 2016.

Members of the boat sharing club pay an entry fee of $5,500 to $6,000 and monthly fees of $315 to $415, according to O’Hara.

The cost is comparable to renting dock space, he said. The club’s fleet includes pontoon boats, outboards, and power boats. There are no sailboats and there is one boat with an electric motor.

O’Hara sees a strong future in sustainable, Continued On Page 10

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021 • 3

Owner Of J. Reid Menswear Shop Changes New Recruiting Company Helps Law Firms, Location, Opts For Downtown Glens Falls Attorneys And Support Staff In The Region

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER J. Reid Menswear has moved from its Aviation Mall location to Downtown Glens Falls at 166 Glen Street.

The menswear store, formally known as Jonathan Reid, has rebranded with a new name along with its new location. The store will continue to provide menswear and tuxedo rentals, suits, jackets, shirts, ties, shoes and tailoring services. The store has ancillary items and accessories as well.

“I wanted to return J. Reid Menswear to its original location in Hometown USA,” said owner Jeffrey Ives. “With all the negatives that COVID-19 has brought, I have needed the support of everyone associated with the business community of downtown Glens Falls.”

J. Reid Menswear originally had an office on Glen Street, when former owner Jonathon Segan ran the company, until the mid 2000s.

The store has been in operation for 53 years.

It will continue to provide menswear and tuxedo rentals, as it did at its Aviation Road location.

“Getting back to normal is right around the corner with the return to weddings, proms and in-person work. We will be there for all of it with the level of service the community has come to expect from J. Reid,” said Ives.

Most high schools are holding in-person proms this year, with the prom season dominating May and June.

J. Reid Menswear has historically been a strong financial backer of the Adirondack Theater Festival, LARAC, local hockey teams and other community programs.

“I figured, why not be located in the heart of the community that I am so privileged to support,” said Ives.

Fitzgerald Brothers Continued From Page 1 school districts to support lunch programs, and has provided free beverages to area nursing homes, Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls Housing Authority and others.

Fitzgerald Bros. is the second oldest family business in the Capital District. All of the employees live locally and over half have 10 or more years of service with the company (over 600 years total), according to the company.

“I like working outside and being active, and helping a driver helps afford me that opportunity,” said Jonah Gold, a driver helper who has been with Fitzgerald Bros. for three seasons. “Great group

Jeffrey Ives is now operating his J. Reid Menswear shop at 166 Glen St. Andrea Harwood Palmer

The business originally opened in 1965 in the Northway Plaza of Queensbury. In 1975, the store moved into the first area mall in Saratoga Springs, and soon after was one of the first tenants in Queensbury’s Aviation Mall. Through the 1980s and 90s the business expanded to include over 12 locations in the northeast. The business was sold to Jeffrey Ives, a J. Reid employee of over 15 years, in August 2015.

Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 11 am-8pm, and Sunday 12pm-5pm. The website is www.jreidmenswear.com. Ives and staff can be contacted at jreidmenswear@gmail.com or 518-502-1707. of people in an environment where everyone gets along.”

“I have enjoyed my time at Fitzgerald Bros. because it is still a family-owned, family-run business that truly cares about their employees, their customers, and the community around them,” Administrative Assistant Melisa Roberts said. She has been with the company for five years.

“I am treated like a valuable asset instead of just a number on a spreadsheet.”

Fitzgerald Bros. stands behind the employees they hire, and they believe in the products they sell, which is part of what’s led the company to be nationally touted by Pepsi-Cola.

Fitzgerald Bros. is recognized as the only independent Pepsi distributor franchise to have four winners of the Ring of Honor Award that was created in 1999.

Valiant Search, a search firm that focuses on recruiting for law firms, is now open.

Sean Macari, an experienced recruiter, said he saw an opportunity when many search firms dramatically scaled down or closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw the need to help attorneys, support staff, and law firms get back on their feet as the pandemic starts to subside.

There was also an absence of legalfocused recruiting firms in upstate New York, he said. That inspired him to launch his own company, based in Albany.

“Valiant Search is currently serving law firms in all counties in New York state, however, being based in the Capital Region, we have a particular familiarity and focus on firms in Saratoga and Warren counties,” he said.

“In the wake of COVID, many search firms went through dramatic changes as they shut down or shifted their focus exclusively to bigger firms in the Manhattan area. With this, I saw an opportunity to help those firms in Upstate New York (including those in the Saratoga/Washington/Warren counties area) get back on their feet. As an experienced recruiter myself, I was inspired to start my own company during the pandemic to make sure that these Upstate businesses could have someone to help support them as they look to reopen amidst COVID.” He said Valiant is the only search firm that specializes in the legal industry north of New York City, “so we have a much greater presence in these upstate counties— like Saratoga and Warren—than others that focus primarily on New York City. “ “Being from the area and having been through COVID myself, I know the struggle upstate firms have to go through when trying to find employees through these New York City-focused recruiting agencies.

A search group focusing north of New York City allows for people looking for a change

Sean Macari, an experienced recruiter, opened Valiant Search in the Capital Region.

Courtesy Valiant Search

or to get back to work the option to find something closer and quicker than going through New York City-based groups.”

Macari has developed a deep understanding of recruiting from his several years in the industry. Most recently, he served as the head legal recruiter with Albany-based Tully Rinckey PLLC, where he helped recruit attorneys and support staff to their offices upstate New York, as well as Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, and New York City.

Prior to becoming a recruiter, Macari worked in the Office of the Attorney General, where he focused on campus recruitment initiatives.

Valiant Search is currently looking for experienced legal recruiters from across the country to join the team. For questions about Valiant Search or to join the team, contact Macari at smacari@valiantsearch. com.

John Herbaly Owner Old School Pest Control Reads

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4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021

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KPM Restoration Outgrows Saratoga Facility, Moves Into New Warehouse, Offices In Malta

Construction Education / Training / Personal Development Health / Community Services Publication Date: May 13, 2021 Healthcare Financial Planning / Investments Building Trades Publication Date: June 16, 2021 Call Today To Reserve Space

(518) 581-0600 Fax: (518) 430-3020

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Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce P.O. Box 766 • Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com

Editorial: RJDeLuke@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Advertising: HarryW@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Associate Editor R.J. DeLuke Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon

Jamie Kennedy is the owner of KPM Restoration. The company repairs water damage, does mold remediation and other commercial cleaning throughout the Capital Region.

BY JILL NAGY KPM Restoration, a company that cleans up and repairs premises after fires, floods and other disasters, moved in January to a new facility in Malta.

It consists of a large warehouse and 12 offices.

It replaces a facility at 211 Maple St. in Saratoga Springs.

The company is still in the process of moving out of the Saratoga Springs location, according to business owner Jamie Kennedy. Only six years old, KPM outgrew its former quarters, he said.

The company is on-call 24 hours a day and, all 13 of its trucks are kept busy, said Kennedy.

The company repairs damages from water pipe bursts, fixes other water damage, does mold remediation and commercial cleaning .

A large part of the business these days involves COVID-19 cases. Kennedy said the company has done more than 200 COVID cleanups, which include cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. As a community service, they have done several free

clean-ups for schools and firehouses.

Kennedy came to the area from Milbrook, a downstate town near Poughkeepsie, where he had three businesses, a property management company (Kennedy Property Management), a landscaping service and a tree service. He sold them all and moved north.

“I want to spend more time with my family and children,” he said. He and wife, Rachel, have three children.

KPM serves an area from Poughkeepsie to Lake Placid as well as parts of Vermont and Massachusetts. Kennedy is considering expanding to Charleston, S.C., in the next year or two.

Kennedy was recently the recipient of an award for community service from the Brawny Paper Co. He was recognized as a “Brawny Giant” and received $10,000 and 1,500 rolls of paper towels, he said.

KPM Restoration can be reached at 518 8628228 or online at kpmrestoration.com.

Park Theater

Arugula Salad. The second course will feature a choice of Grilled Spring Vegetable Lasagna or Roasted Loin of Beef. All meals will be served with Milky Way Cheesecake for dessert.

The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner service will begin at 6 p.m. The film will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket price: $60.00 per person. There will be limited seating and tickets must be purchased in advance.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.parktheatergf.com or phone The Park Theater Box Office at 518-7921150.

Continued From Page 1 “Dinner & A Movie” series on April 28, featuring science fiction drama, “Arrival,” accompanied by a three-course prix fixe menu presented by executive chef Matthew J. Delos.

“Arrival” is a thought-provoking science fiction drama based on the award-winning “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang.

For the meal, the first course will feature a choice of Roasted Carrot Bisque or Baby

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Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Production Manager Graphic Precision Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Jill Nagy Jennifer Farnsworth Christine Gaf Andrea Palmer Rachel Phillips Glens Falls Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Warren and Washington counties.

Glens Falls Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, New York l2866 (518) 581-0600. Glens Falls Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York.

Glens Falls Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Warren and Washington counties and to provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York.

Rights to editorial content and layouts of advertising placed with Glens Falls Business Journal which are the creative effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Glens Falls Business Journal are the property of Glens Falls Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the specific authorization of Glens Falls Business Journal.

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Home / Real Estate

Coronavirus Pandemic Curtailed Business Southern Adirondack Realtors Hire New For Landscapers, But Business Is Rebounding President, CEO To Administer Operations

BY CHRISTINE GRAF When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many offices throughout the country, Glens Falls-based Plant Doctor lost half of its commercial clients. The interior and exterior plant design service company has customers throughout the greater Capital Region and Lake George.

But many of Plant Doctor’s previous corporate clients are re-enlisting her services as they transition their staff back into their offices.

“Most all of my business is commercial—a lot of law offices,” said owner Lanette Akerson.

“The lawyers are, by and large, working from home and I lost half of them. Half of them still retain our services even though the offices are half-manned or not manned at all.”

It was in the midst of this significant downturn in business that The Desmond Hotel in Albany reached out to Akerson and asked her to design the landscaping for the hotel’s two atriums. The $75,000 project was the largest project in her more than 20 years at Plant Doctor.

“It was a huge project. We worked on it together and came out with an amazing result,” she said.

As a result of that project, Akerson’s gross revenue for 2020 equaled that of 2019. Her net revenue was also positively impacted after she made the decision to significantly reduce her expenses.

“Before COVID, I had four commercial vehicles and a car. I’m down to one commercial vehicle and a car. I also had five part-time staffers, and after COVID, I now have two,” she said.

As corporate clients transition their staff back into their offices, “companies want employees to walk in and see a well maintained plant design,” she said.

As business rebounds, Akerson is finding it more and more difficult to source plants.

Greenhouses are not operating at pre-COVID levels and plants are in especially high demand.

“For the last few months, plants that I use all the time—like a common pothos—are not available,” she said. “I hear the same thing from interior landscapers all over the country.

They can’t get plants. We are really having to be creative and think out of the box and try to figure out what to do. I’ve been doing plants since the 70s, so I know my plants. But for new interior landscapers, it’s going to be very difficult for them to make that shift.”

Interior landscapers aren’t the only ones who have lost business due to the pandemic.

According to Jessica Marquard, managing

Lanette Akerson is the owner of Plant Doctor, based in Glens Falls.

Andrea Harwood Palmer

member of LARCH Landscape Architecture and Engineering in Saratoga Springs, her company experienced a ten percent decline in gross revenue.

She has clients throughout the state and is working on projects in the Capital Region as well as in Newburgh, Rome, and Syracuse. Her current clients include GE Global Research Center and Bonacio Construction.

“In 2020, things kind of kept going and we did planning board meetings and site plan permitting remotely in most of the communities,” she said. “In November, December, and January, it got really quiet which typically tends to happen with an election. But I think there as also a greater level of uncertainly.

“In February, there was a lot more interest in getting projects going that have been dormant.

I think by end of year, we will probably still have lost 10 to 20 percent compared to the 2019 year.”

Another sector of the landscape industry, landscape maintenance and installation, has not experienced similar declines. Revenue for local landscapers has been bolstered by increased homeowner spending fueled by federal stimulus money and a dramatic reduction in vacation spending. They have also benefited from the regional boom in new construction.

According to Craig Monroe, owner of Craig’s Mowing and Landscaping in Ballston Lake, business in 2020 exceeded expectations, and Continued On Page 10

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Southern Adirondack Realtors has a new chief executive officer.

The association has hired Densay Sengsoulavong as CEO. Sengsoulavong will administer the association’s operations including its financial management, governance, and member services. He will also collaboratively engage with elected officials, community leaders and other stakeholders on behalf of Southern Adirondack Realtors.

The hiring follows the retirement of Luisa Craige-Sherman, who led SAR affairs going back to 2015.

Sengsoulavong was selected after a nationwide search conducted by SAR’s Personnel Committee headed by Southern Adirondack Realtors 2020 President Catherine McDonough.

“We look forward to having Densay join us as our association grows over the coming years. His vast experience will help ensure SAR and its members continue serving the community and their clients through ever changing times,” said McDonough, emphasizing the association and real estate industry’s anticipated growth.

“Realtors are woven into the fabric of the community, and a vibrant housing market is the foundation for achieving great quality of place. It’s only fitting that SAR be engaged in the public conversation and its members be thought leaders,” said Sengsoulavong. “I admire the Southern Adirondacks Realtors commitment to the community. They demonstrate that for a region to grow and prosper, purposeful collaboration is needed, and I am excited to join those efforts.”

Prior to joining SAR, Sengsoulavong served as public affairs director then government affairs director for Cape Fear Realtors, the largest trade association in Southeastern North Carolina.

At Cape Fear, Sengsoulavong was instrumental in reorganizing public policy priorities of the association, increasing political engagement of members, and establishing advocacy efforts with elected officials and community stakeholders.

Densay Sengsoulavong is the new CEO of the Southern Adirondack Realtors.

Courtesy Southern Adirondack Realtors

Sengsoulavong represented over 3,000 Realtors at local, state, and national events and conventions. His service also includes leadership on industry peer groups—as a member on the National Association of Advisory Group and appointee to NAR’s Association Executives Institute Advisory Board, a 12-member group that plans professional development programs and events for Realtors Association Executives throughout the country.

Sengsoulavong also has a background in politics and grassroots engagement with local, state, and national political campaigns. He is originally from North Carolina where he attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Wake Forest University School of Law. SAR promotes and protects private property rights for local real estate consumers while enhancing the careers of its members through education, advocacy, and professional development.

SAR represents over 550 real estate professionals, including industry and affiliate members, in Warren and northern Washington and Saratoga counties.

6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021

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Entrepreneurship

‘Skin Renaissance’ In South Glens Falls Yvonne Manso Carved Out A Career as A Offers A Variety Of Treatments And Products Sales Director In The Construction Industry

Shelley Riopelle, owner of Skin Renaissance Spa in South Glens Falls, offers a full menu of skin treatments and modalities, body treatments, facial treatments, foot soaks and waxing.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Skin Renaissance Spa opened in early March at 142 Saratoga Ave., South Glens Falls, across the road from the Hannaford Plaza.

Shelley Riopelle has been a licensed esthetician for over 25 years. Previously, she worked at a spa in Saratoga for 10 years.

When COVID-19 hit and the state ordered businesses to shut their doors, she considered retiring. After time passed and businesses started to reopen, Riopelle realized she missed the work and wanted to get back into it.

“I decided that instead of going back to work for someone else, I would open my own spa,” said Riopelle. “Pandemic or not, I wanted to give it a go and see it where it takes me.”

The spa offers a full menu of skin treatments and modalities, body treatments, facial treatments, foot soaks and waxing.

Riopelle is a state licensed medical esthetician.

“I was a nail technician and owned my own nail spa in Red Hook, N.Y., for seven years.

I realized that my passion was skin care and helping others see a difference in their skin. I sold the business to go back to school,” she said.

When a new client comes in, Riopelle does a complimentary consultation to go over questions and concerns, current products, diet and lifestyle.

She makes customized skin recommendations, personalized to each client.

“The meaning of renaissance is rebirth. I chose the name Skin Renaissance to honor the rebirthing of skin at my spa,” said Riopelle.

Her website is www.skinrenaissancespa.com.

While the website posts hours of operation, Riopelle said clients can call her directly and she will work within their schedule. The phone number is 518-741-6001.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH It might be that Yvonne Manso has the ability to ensure confidence in her customers when it comes to the quality of the product, because quite simply Manso believes in herself.

As a sales director for D.A. Collins, Manso has spent the past 14 years earning a solid reputation in a historically male dominated industry. Her work ethic and spirit brought her to the forefront of the construction materials industry.

She is originally from Michigan. After high school, Manso served two years in the military and four years in the reserves. She later moved to Las Vegas, working in the hotel industry for 14 years. After meeting her husband, a native of Saratoga County, she found herself moving to the area and in need of a job. She landed a position at D.A. Collins as a sales coordinator.

“The hotel industry is so different and I had no experience in the construction field, but I was lucky enough to find a company that trusted I could learn the business. And I did,” said Manso.

When she first began, she could sometimes sense apprehension when contractors would see a woman show up on a job site. She said she did not let that deter her. In fact, It motivated her to learn the ins and outs of the business. Now, contractors know they are dealing with a seasoned pro.

“It has gotten so much better over the years, but I really had to prove myself, which I wanted to do.

I wanted to learn all that I could so that I would feel confident in what I was doing. I knew I had to spend time at the plants and really work hard to gain enough experience to have the confidence I needed,” said Manso.

She said part of the process centered around being able to help determine what is best for each individual project. Manso said she can talk concrete, stone and asphalt with anyone.

“I never thought this area would become my speciality, but I honestly love it,” said Manso.

The coronavirus pandemic, said Manso, made her reflect on just how important her sector of the job market is. While many industries were forced to scale back and shut down, hers did not because they were considered essential.

Expert electrical service.

Yvonne Manso is a sales director with the D.A. Collins family of companies, www.dacollins.com.

Courtesy D.A. Collins

“We just kept on working. Some were able to work from home, like accounting, but many were still out working. I realized just how important our work is,” said Manso.

She said that she would like to see her line of work be something that high school students think about.

“Maybe you don’t necessarily want to go into a trade, but we need not only carpenters, but engineers and project managers. People who work in the lab. Someone to deliver the product.

There are so many good jobs in this field,” said Manso.

Manso credits her success to a mentor she had during her time in Las Vegas. She strongly recommends younger people who are starting out, or looking to make a career change, to find a mentor.

“Find someone who can help you grow and connect with people. When you take a job, try to have a mentor. They can help guide you. That goes for any area of business,” said Manso.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021 • 7

Brad LaCross Operates ‘Legendary Auto Downtown Glens Falls Property Will Partner Salon,’ Helping Protect Car Exterior Finishes Restaurant With A Golf Simulator Experience

Brad LaCross gave up a career in IT and opened Legendary Auto Salon in Queensbury, a business that specializes in protective finishes for automobiles.

BY JILL NAGY A hobby became a full-time business three years ago when Brad LaCross gave up a career in IT to devote himself to automobile detailing.

His Legendary Auto Salon in Queensbury specializes in protective finishes for automobiles.

LaCross recently signed a 10-year lease on a facility at 75 Carey Road, near Exit 18 of the Northway. It is a brand new facility. In fact, “there are a few things to fix” before his certificate of occupancy becomes permanent.

The shop has 3,800 square feet of work space and includes a custom-built clean room and a training facility. The first training session was in October and attracted auto detailers from across the country. He hopes to help build credibility for a new industry, working with colleagues to develop standards and a certification process.

As an information technology person, LaCross worked as a systems administrator and operated data centers. His experience in running a business carried over into the current enterprise. It also helps in his effort to develop standard operating procedures for everything.

At the same time, he was preparing cars for auto shows and doing other detailing work, using space in the back of an automobile service shop.

He opened his own place in Burnt Hills and then moved to a shop on Route 9 in Queensbury before moving to his present location.

LaCross prides himself on his attention to detail, “an almost OCD level of perfection-seeking,” in his work, he said.

The company does three kinds of re-finishing: ceramic coating, urethane film, and paint correcting. A project typically takes from two or three days to a week to complete and can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

The ceramic coating replaces wax and sealant and gives an automobile body a high level of gloss.

“It looks like a really high-end wax and will stay that way,” he said.

The paint protection is a clear urethane coating.

The surface is “self healing,” able to repair surface scratches and nicks. And it can be pealed off.

A paint correction treatment consists of fixing uneven spots and blemishes in the car’s factory finish.

Currently, there are two people working at Legendary Auto Salon but LaCross is looking to hire additional people.

He is looking for people with some experience in auto body work. He will train the appropriate people, including sending them to the manufacturer’s training facility in San Antonio, Texas, where he trained.

Training can be a slow process. For example, LaCross estimated that it takes 300 to 500 car treatments to learn to properly apply the urethane film treatment. “You learn by doing it over and over again.”

He said that he often uses rental cars to train new craftsmen. The rental companies are happy to do it. “We return the car in much better condition.”

Typically, the shop can handle three or four cars at a time and, according to LaCross, they are booking now for June.

In the future, LaCross may expand into the unit next door to his and may refinish boats and small industrial equipment as well as cars. Recently, he did work on a small excavator and was able to “feel out what would be needed in the way of new techniques and equipment.”

More information about the business is available at www.legendaryautosalon.com. He can be reached at 518 932-5867.

This is a rendering of the exterior of 196 Glen St. in Glens Falls that will become One Below Urban Golf Club in 2022. It will be an eatery and also have a golf simulator for people to use.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER A man with local ties to the resort industry is planning to open a new restaurant in downtown Glens Falls, but won’t be ready until 2022.

Daniel McGurk is planning to renovate a three-story structure at 196 Glen St. for a project that is being called One Below Urban Golf Club.

McGurk and partners purchased the building in December 2019 for $435,000. The interior of the building is currently being renovated and modernized. A full modern kitchen, HVAC and modernized plumbing is being installed.

The building will include golf simulator machines for those who enjoy the sport. But, “We want people to be able to enjoy the space

Chuck Ciaccia 27 years

Jude Gosh 32 years

Courtesy Daniel McGurk

whether they golf or not. Having different levels will help separate that,” McGurk said.

McGurk has been working with AJA Architecture on modernization design and branding for the golf club and restaurant.

“AJA Architecture came highly recommended to us by mutual associates of ours at the Garrison and the East Cove. We liked their vision. They’re really good with utilizing our narrow space so it feels more open. It was a perfect fit to work with them,” said McGurk.

He said customers will “still get that club and restaurant feel. The first floor will be a classic restaurant. You wouldn’t know it’s a golf bar unless you actively tried to reserve golf time. It’s pretty separated,” said McGurk Continued On Page 10

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Insurance / Medical Services Dr. Andrew Garner Offers Membership- Adirondack Health Institute Starts Network Based Direct Primary Care (DPC) Plans To Strengthen, Promote Better Food System Dr. Andrew W. Garner, director of Adirondack Direct Primary Care in Glens Falls, has developed a membership-based model for his practice at 8 Harrison Ave. Adirondack Direct Primary Care is “a concierge level membership model” of care that provides patients with “prompt, personalized, high quality, physician-only medical care” for $100 per month, says Garner in a press release.

The fee for patients age 16-25 is $40 per month.

Membership includes all office visit costs. No insurance is required, but patients maintain their health insurance for hospitalization and other services they may require.

He is accepting new patients.

“There is value to this model way beyond the dollar spent,” he said, noting it is “Priceless when you need care.”

He said the service allows a smaller patient panel that allows Dr. Garner to spend more time with patients to provide highly personalized, coordinated and comprehensive care to get to the root cause of problems.

Garner also operates Adirondack Medical Infusion Center, a fully integrated IV infusion center staffed by registered nurses that provides toxic metal testing, EDTA chelation therapy, IV NAD, IV Myers cocktails, IV vitamin C, and other immune supportive infusion treatments. No membership is needed for the center.

He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and went to medical school at Wright State University School

Dr. Andrew W. Garner, director of Adirondack Direct Primary Care in Glens Falls. of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, graduating in 1987. He did his residency at Miami Valley Hospital, Family Practice, Dayton, Ohio.

Garner is board certified in family practice by the American Board of Family Medicine since 1990. He opened a solo family practice in Glens Falls in the summer of 1990.

More information is available at www. drandrewgarner.com. His phone number is 518798-9401.

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Adirondack Health Institute announced the launch of the Adirondack Food System Network, a collaboration of multiple organizations working together as equal partners to better understand system-wide issues, identify gaps, and develop realistic solutions to help strengthen and promote a more resilient food system.

Officials said that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, market supply chain and trade disruptions have limited food accessibility, especially for vulnerable residents lacking access to transportation and the means to purchase fresh food. At the same time, farmers have been faced with significant disruptions in market access, especially due to the closure of restaurants, retail, and other food establishments, and the threat of the loss of market access for area farmers.

A group of Adirondack food system stakeholders across the region have come together to start the Adirondack Food System Network with seed funding from Adirondack Foundation. The Network aims to help food system stakeholders mount a coordinated effort to build back better food systems as the region recovers from the pandemic, centered on the values of collaboration, equity, environment, and lasting success.

“AHI is pleased to be serving as the backbone organization, the coordinating body that will provide support, facilitation, and guidance, for this much-needed collective impact initiative,” stated Nancy Gildersleeve, executive director at Adirondack Health Institute.

“This past year, food assistance has been a big part of our COVID response grant making. By

connecting emergency food systems with the local food system, this cross-sector network has great potential to broaden access to healthy, fresh food for residents of all ages and strengthen ties with local producers. It’s a win-win,” said Connie Prickett, Adirondack Foundation vice president of communications and strategic initiatives.

“We now have a community platform for collective action focused on food and equity.

We have the opportunity to address low farmer incomes and rising food insecurity in our region simultaneously,” said Brittany Christenson, the executive director of ADK Action, and co-chair of the program’s Steering Committee. “With this network, we can connect the dots between problems and solutions across sectors and build our food system back better.”

The vision of the Network is an Adirondack regional food system that is resilient, just, environmentally-responsible and supports improved human health. The mission is to advance innovative solutions through lasting collaboration that strengthen and improve our regional food system for individuals, the environment, and the economy. Officials said collaboration will initially focus on connecting efforts in five areas: production, consumption, distribution, processing, and food waste management. The Network covers Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties.

For more information about the Adirondack Food System Network and to subscribe to the e-list, visit ahihealth.org/adirondack-food-systemnetwork

Regional Campaign Mounted To Urge NYS Residents To Get A Coronavirus Vaccine A powerful regional campaign, featuring voices of 15 community leaders encouraging everyone to have the COVID-19 vaccine, was launched today, according to the Capital Region Vaccine Network, led by Albany Med. Entitled “Don’t Hesitate. Vaccinate,” the campaign supports the work of the Capital Region Vaccine Network established at Albany Med to ensure the safe, efficient and equitable distribution of the vaccine across Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties.

The campaign includes television, radio, print, digital and social media ads that encourage residents to receive the vaccine when it is available to them.

“Don’t Hesitate. Vaccinate.” is underwritten

by Albany Med, CDPHP, MVP Health Care, Irving Tissue, KeyBank, The United Way of

the Greater Capital Region, and Community Care Physicians, PC. Ads will feature leaders from these organizations, as well as those from the Albany County Department of Health, the Black Nurses Coalition, Inc., the Capital District Latinos, the Capital District YMCA, the Glens Falls and Schenectady chapters of the NAACP and the Albany Med Health System affiliates Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital and Saratoga Hospital.

“The Capital Region has a strong tradition of pulling together when we face challenges,” said Albany Med President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, M.D. “The pandemic has presented us all with a challenge like no other, but there is a way out: the COVID-19 vaccine. It is safe and effective and enough of us must receive it to live without fear of the virus. I am proud to join with these organizations who exemplify our region at its best.”

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021 • 9

Lake George Association Members Approve Merger With The FUND For Lake George The members of the Lake George Association have overwhelmingly approved its merger with The FUND for Lake George to create a new, preeminent lake protection organization that officials called “a historic and inspiring show of support for the future of Lake George protection.”

Ninety-eight percent of LGA voters voted in favor of the merger. The plan now goes to the Office of the New York State Attorney General for final review and approval.

Officials said the newly created organization will retain the LGA name. The LGA was founded in 1885.

“The future of Lake George protection is brighter than ever,” said Pete Menzies, president of the LGA board of directors. “We are thrilled and thankful to the LGA membership for their tremendous vote of confidence in what these two outstanding organizations will be able to accomplish together. As they always do, LGA members have stepped up to protect Lake George.”

Jeff Killeen, chairman of The FUND for Lake George and the chairman-elect of the new organization, said, “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and responsibility that has been granted to us. With so many water quality threats looming, Lake George has never needed us more. And I can say without hesitation that our combined staff, board of directors, members and many community partners are up for the challenge. The new LGA will bring our Lake’s already-unrivaled level of protection to new and essential heights.”

The new LGA will be focused on action, working collaboratively with public and private sector partners to achieve breakthrough performance in water quality protection programs that are guided by worldclass science and supported by community education, awareness and advocacy, officials said.

Protection programs will focus on the Lake’s most pressing threats: harmful algal blooms; nutrient loading from wastewater and stormwater runoff; invasive species, both aquatic and the new terrestrial threat, hemlock wooly adelgid; and road salt contamination; all of which are compounded by the effects of a changing climate.

Mounting pressure on the Lake’s water quality was a driving factor in bringing the two organizations together.

The new LGA will be led by Eric Siy, currently executive director of The FUND for Lake George, who will become president of the new LGA, and Walt Lender, currently executive director of the Lake George Association, who

•

Lake George Association approved its merger with The FUND for Lake George. will serve as senior vice president.

“The incredible team that will make up the new LGA has been working closely together in preparation for the formal merger,” said Siy. “Their expertise and dedication, combined with the power of our many partners and the worldclass science and technologies of the Jefferson Project,create a truly one-of-akind commitment to protecting a one-of-a-kind natural treasure.”

“The threats to the Lake’s water quality are unrelenting, and the new LGA will be relentless in combatting them,” said Lender. “From our citizen scientists to world-leading research, from public education and advocacy to resultsdriven protection programs, we will employ state-of-the-art practices to keep Lake George clean and clear for generations to come.”

The following officers and directors have been elected to the new LGA board from among members of the existing LGA and FUND boards: Killeen, chairman; Menzies, vice chairman; William Creighton, treasurer; Roy Davis, secretary; Dr. Mary Caravella, member of executive committee; Keith Ferguson, member of executive committee; Thomas West, member of executive committee; I. Robert Wolgin, member of executive committee; and board members Bob Bailey, Lucinda Bhavsar, James Casaccio, Geoff Cook, Charles Crew, William Dutcher, Dr. Linda Schadler Feist, George R. Hearst III, Victor Hershaft, Blair Keller, Dr. John E. Kelly III, Ginger Henry Kuenzel, George Morris, Dennis O’Connor and Ken Parlin.

Business Report Long Term Care Strategy

BY BRIAN M. JOHNSON When it comes to where and how you live, and what you do with your money, you want the freedom of choice and confidence that you’re making the right decisions. The same is true with your long-term care strategy, helping you set the stage for the future and legacy you have planned.

Long-term care is quite simply assistance with simple everyday tasks, even as simple as eating or getting dressed. The need for care could arise from an accident, illness, cognitive impairment or the aging process.

You may never need it. But, the best time to start thinking about it is before the need arises and while you’re still able to take control.

Many Americans work hard, save diligently for retirement, yet fail to address the single biggest risk to their portfolio and families: extended healthcare.

When it comes to long-term care, do not be swayed by common misconceptions such as: “It won’t happen to me.”

People unrealistically downplay their personal risk. SOme 79 percent of people put off discussions about long-term care, but 98 percent of financial professionals say they have clients who have needed it. In fact, being healthy presents even a higher risk of needing long-term care services than someone who is managing chronic a condition.

“Medicare or Medicaid will cover me.”

If qualified, Medicare will likely be insufficient for long-term care needs and Medicaid does not account for your choices or preferences, and one must financially qualify for benefits.

“That’s what my savings are for.”

Many Americans significantly underestimate long-term care costs. Home care, assisted living and nursing care can run between $40,000-$150,000 per year in

•

Br ian John s on , direc tor, bu siness development at Advisors Insurance Brokers.

Courtesy Advisors Insurance Brokers

today’s dollars.

“My family will take care of me.”

This might not be a misconception; however, do you really want to put the burden on your loved ones?

Interestingly women and adult children are more likely than men to become family caregivers. Due to life expectancy rates, women are also more likely to need care. With an aging population, that contradiction means it’s more important than ever for women to be open and honest about the expectations for the future. 87 percent of caregivers surveyed say emotional challenges are among the most difficult aspects of providing long-term care.

When should you begin planning? Clients tends to wait until they age 60 before beginning their long-term care planning, but financial professionals suggest moving that timeline up a decade or more. The earlier we start, the more options we will have. Planning ahead not only protects our Continued On Page 10

10 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021

Freedom Boat Club Continued From Page 2 emission-free boating.

“A lot of people are really thinking about the environment,” he said.

The marina sells electric motors and just added a second line, ePropulsion. They are also dealers for Torqeedo electric motors.

The marina rents dock space, sells fuel and boating supplies, and services boats.

Both enterprises have seen considerable growth in the three years the O’Haras have owned them. Membership in the boat-sharing club grew from 14 to 140. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demand, he said, as people looked for safe ways to get outdoors.

“The people who tried boating for the first time last year, are not going anywhere,” he predicted. “We are really excited for another great summer.”

Once the current renovation work is completed, the O’Haras have no immediate plans for further changes, Matt O’Hara said.

Over the next few years, however, he thinks he might consider a second phase of renovations

including a new showroom.

The 60-slip Dunham’s Bay Boat & Beach Club on Route 9L in Queensbury was built by John Salvador Jr., who died in 2018. His son had been operating the business.

The sale of Dunham’s Bay Boat & Beach Club comes at a time of strong demand for dock space near the south end of the 32-mile lake, with five marinas changing hands over the past five years.

The majority of sales were motivated by the need for more boat slips to accommodate customers who have been purchasing boats from dealers around the lake.

Shoreline expanded its boat storage two years ago when it constructed a 12,000-square-foot warehouse at 21 Sewell St. near Adirondack Pub & Brewery and High Peaks Distilling.

Shoreline is part of a growing list of Lake George boat dealers that are expanding after interest in boating took off amid the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Golf Simulator Experience Continued From Page 7 of the design.

Entrances to the bottom level and second floor will lead patrons to the golf simulators.

Food and drinks will be available on those floors as well.

“We want the best air flow possible. We want the space to be energy efficient. Some of the decisions we’ve made, people might not have thought of a year ago. Our engineers have thought of everything,” said McGurk.

The space is around 2,500 square feet per floor. The basement used to be a dance club in the 1990s, and did not have direct access from inside the first floor.

The floor plan is being opened up to allow stair access to the renovated basement. The third floor currently houses a large AirBnb. The entrance to the AirBnb is being moved from the front of the building to the back.

McGurk had been using the golf simulators available at Bogey’s Pub & Grill over the

winter. He saw the foot traffic at the pub. At times, it was so busy that customers could not get time with the simulator. He thought a golf simulator partnered with a restaurant would be a good addition to the downtown Glens Falls space.

The menu has simplified lunch fare and more elaborate dinner offerings, such as steak, pasta and seafood. The menu will have a lot of food available for snacking while golfing, he said.

“A lot of golf simulators are free standing or part of a golf course. With this restaurant, the golf simulator can be a small part of your night, or the entire night,” said McGurk.

The simulators are being produced by locally owned AboutGolf Simulators, located at 79 Warren St., Glens Falls.

McGurk’s mother, Maureen, owns The Heritage Motel of Lake George and the Admiral Motel on Canada Street.

Business is Rebounding Continued From Page 5 2021 is on track to be another strong year. Last year was marked by major supply chain issues that continue to plague the industry.

“In June, we started running into major supply issues,” he said. “For example, for the irrigation systems we install we were running into problems getting heads and valves.

Hardscape materials—wall block pavers and all those sorts of things—we’re having major issues with that as well. Manufacturers were hit so hard with orders that they were choosing what they were producing.

“Some of the less commonly sold products weren’t being produced, and there was a backlog of two to six months to get those products. As a result, a lot of suppliers further refined their offerings for this calendar year.

Some of the oddball stuff has been completely discontinued.”

Monroe has been in business for 15 years

and employs 23 workers during his peak season. His company specializes in landscape construction, and their service area extends between Northway exits 8 and 12. They have traveled as far north as Queensbury for large jobs that have exceeded $100,000.

“When the stimulus package came, we definitely saw a surge of people looking to spend on larger projects—hardscaping, irrigation systems, grading,” he said. “We’re also seeing a huge surge in new construction landscape packages. People are buying houses so fast that builders can’t get foundations dug.”

According to Monroe, landscapers are riding the wave of increased spending, but have concerns about next year. After people resume spending money on vacations, it is likely that they will spend less on home projects.

“We think that those larger projects are going to dry up.”

Long Term Care Continued From Page 9 assets and loved ones, but it also gives us peace of mind. Long-term care is in the back of all of our minds and dealing with it up front can be extremely freeing.

When planning, we should consider: • Caregiving. Let your loved ones know your preferences. Do you want to be home, in assisted living, etc? Share your expectations with your loved ones and encourage them to discuss their intentions with you.

• Health-related decisions. Designate who has authority to discuss your medications and treatment and inform your physicians.

Give your designee your doctors’ contact information.

• Finances. Find out what the costs of different types of services may be where and when you retire. Take inventory of your assets, income, legacy planning, and any debt obligations. Let your loved ones know how you will cover care costs and establish who can manage your finances.

• Legal matters. Make sure you have a living will, a trust, a durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy. Be sure your attorney is also in tune with your wishes and desires.

Above all, planning starts with a conversation. Some of the most important conversations about your care are not the easiest, however, the easiest time to discuss the topic is when you’re healthy and not yet in need of long-term care.

In putting together a plan for longterm care services, people typically utilize insurance, a geriatric care manager, personal assets and pre-paid home health care plans. By talking with your advisor, you’ll be able to piece together a strategy that runs parallel to your goals and budgetary constraints.

Remember, it’s never too early to address long-term care and the sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll have that peace of mind.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021 • 11

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12 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • APRIL 2021

Adirondack Trust Continued From Page 1 Prior to moving and expanding, the bank surveyed customers and community members. Wait said the response to the survey was overwhelmingly positive.

The design is modern, with Adirondack overtones. The space was constructed with energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems.

“Glens Falls is a community that appreciates relationships—and that’s us. We’re a relationship

bank. That’s why we love doing business in Glens Falls and the surrounding area,” said Wait.

Adirondack Trust is an SBA lender, with lending expertise available for the small business community.

The bank is a Bauer 5-Star Rated Superior bank, and has over $1.4 billion in assets.

Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Queensbury Branch at 376 Bay Road will have the same hours of operation.

The bank’s website is www.AdirondackTrust. com.

Travel Guide Continued From Page 1 The 2021 travel guide was printed by Freeport Press of Ohio without any special coatings, in an effort to provide a publication that is as environmentally friendly as possible, officials said. It was also printed with water-based ink, which is thought to be more environmentally responsible than other options.

Print copies of the Travel Guide can be requested on lakegeorgechamber.com or by calling (518)

668-5755. The digital version can be accessed at lakegeorgechamber.com.

The Lake George Chamber of Commerce strives to drive year-round tourism to the region while fostering a vibrant business community. Its membership spans several counties in New York, offering programs and services to assist area businesses including the operation of the Taste NY Vending Market at the Adirondacks Welcome Center, located on the I-87 Northway between exits 17 and 18, staffing the Lake George Village Visitor Center and operation of the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail.

Learn more at lakegeorgechamber.com.

C A N YO U R B A N K M OV E A S FA S T A S YO U R B U S I N E S S ?

When you’re in business, sometimes you have to move quickly to make things happen. Your business banker should be just as quick. That means being smart enough to create solutions, and local enough to act on them right away.

At Adirondack Trust Company, we take your success personally. We’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

And we’re right here when you need us.

AdirondackTrust.com