Saratoga Business Journal - February 2022

Page 1

FEB 17-24

SBJ P.O. Box 766 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

VOL. 26 NO. 12

★★ The Business Newspaper of Saratoga County ★★

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GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600

FEBRUARY 2022

www.saratogabusinessjournal.com

Harness Racing Season Is Off And Running; Angelo Calbone To Retire This Year After Winter/Spring Meet Runs Three Days A Week 16 Years As CEO Of Saratoga Hospital

Jim Devaux was the top driver at Saratoga Harness in 2021 with 237 wins. The 2022 meet started in early February and runs into December.

Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo G. Calbone will retire this year. Under his leadership, the hospital now provides care on three campuses—in Saratoga Springs, Malta and Wilton.

Melissa Simser-Iovino

Harness racing has returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 81st season. The winter/spring schedule began Feb. 5 and features Saturday, Sunday and Monday racing. First race post time is 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon on Sundays and Mondays. The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with a post time of 6:45 p.m. Racing runs through midDecember. “We’re very excited to start our 81st season of live harness racing here at the historic spa oval,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing. “We want to thank our loyal fans for all their support and our horsemen for all their hard work during challenging times due to the pandemic. We’re looking forward to a great 2022 with 150 exciting live racing programs.” “This year, horsemen will be competing for

over $15 million in purses, averaging $100,000 in purses per program, so we’re expecting some great racing,” said Peter Iovino, race secretary. “We’ve also increased the purse of our signature race, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, to $250,000. We’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers.” New York State Sire Stakes action also returns in 2022, with two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers competing for over $1.5 million in purses. Saratoga Casino Hotel, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs, features slot machines, electronic table games, a luxury hotel, Vapor, Morton’s The Steakhouse, two full-service restaurants, a casual dining restaurant, three fullservice bars, deli and a variety of guest services. For a complete live racing schedule go to www. saratogacasino.com.

Courtesy Saratoga Hospital

Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo G. Calbone will retire later this year, ending a 16year tenure that transformed both the hospital and healthcare in the region. “Every family in Saratoga County has access to better healthcare because of what Angelo and his team have built,” said Michael J. Toohey, Saratoga Hospital board of trustees chairperson in lauding the impact of the CEO and his team. “They have expanded and improved services, invested in facilities, technology and talent, and elevated the quality of care and reputation of this hospital.” Equally important, Toohey added, “They have laid the foundation for Saratoga County residents to continue to benefit from excellent healthcare for years to come.” Calbone intends to step down by the end of the summer, fulfilling a long-standing promise to his family that he would retire at age 65. He informed

the board of trustees in January to provide ample time to name his successor, who will be recruited via a nationwide search that will include internal and external candidates. For Calbone, it has been a labor of love and, above all, a team effort. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community with this team,” he said. “Some of my most vivid memories will be of the courage and commitment they have displayed during the worst public health crisis in recent history. “When our community needed them most, our team stepped up—and continues to rise to the occasion,” Calbone added. “They are the driving force behind all our accomplishments. They are Saratoga Hospital.” Calbone took the helm at Saratoga Hospital in September 2006. Under his leadership, the hospital Continued On Page 9

Taft Furniture Sells Its Stores, Including Pleat Leads Saratoga County Chamber Of Route 50 Location, To Raymour & Flanigan Commerce Board Of Directors In 2022 Raymour & Flanigan, the largest furniture and mattress retailer in the Northeast and seventh largest nationwide, has acquired family-owned and operated Taft Furniture, including the Saratoga Springs store. The company will acquire two locations and a warehouse, including Taft’s Albany location at 1960 Central Ave., which will become a Raymour & Flanigan Outlet and delivery facility, and the Saratoga location at 121 Ballston Ave., which will become a Raymour & Flanigan showroom. Taft Furniture’s two locations will further expand Raymour & Flanigan’s presence in the area, joining three existing Raymour & Flanigan showrooms in the Capital Region. “After nearly five decades in business, it has been our honor and privilege to serve the Capital Region, and it was an easy choice to choose to sell the business to Raymour & Flanigan,” said a Taft Furniture spokesperson. “Our goal has always been to loyally serve our customers through superior service, and Raymour & Flanigan has demonstrated a passion and dedication to that same goal. “As we transition our business to Raymour & Flanigan, we thank our loyal customers for shopping with us, and know that they are in great hands going forward.” As a family-owned and led company, Raymour & Flanigan is committed to upholding the same values

and exceptional standards set by Taft Furniture in the region, providing unmatched customer service and top-quality furniture to its customers. “Our commitment to Taft Furniture’s customers is to continue the tradition of providing an exceptional shopping experience to each and every guest,” said Seth Goldberg, president, Raymour & Flanigan. “There’s something really special about shopping with a family-owned business, and we intend to bring that same care that Taft Furniture customers expect to our new locations. As a champion of every community we’re in, we’re looking forward to serving the Capital Region for many years to come.” The new locations will join three existing Raymour & Flanigan showrooms in the region, located in Latham, Niskayuna, and Clifton Park. With the addition of two Taft Furniture locations, Raymour & Flanigan now has more than 140 locations in its footprint. Customers at these locations have access to Raymour & Flanigan’s wide merchandise selection, highly trained and knowledgeable associates (both online and instore) as well as delivery seven days per week, with delivery in three days or less on all in-stock items. Raymour & Flanigan is the largest furniture and mattress retailer in the Northeast and seventh largest nationwide. The retailer has 104 showrooms, 36 outlet stores and five clearance centers.

Tara Anne Pleat, of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC, is the 2022 chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Pleat assumed the role on Jan. 1, 2022, succeeding Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs, Saratoga Casino Hotel, who becomes the immediate past chair. “After two years of shifting pandemic protocols and restrictions on business operations, hope abounds that 2022 is the year when the business community can focus on recovery and growth instead of survival,” said Pleat. “As chair of the Chamber’s 2022 Board of Directors, and as part of our expansive community recovery efforts, my goal is to bring back some of the Chamber’s most influential programming, including Leadership Saratoga and reimagined county-wide job fairs to support local employers challenged by the labor shortage. “The Chamber will continue to support the entire community in the hope that those who are able will support the Chamber in return. We believe our community has been, and always will be,Stronger Together.” The chair elect for 2022 is Amy Smith, of Saratoga Arms Hotel, who will become the chair in 2023. The 2022 vice chair is Chad Kiesow of Stewart’s Shops. The treasurer and secretary is Randy Metevier of

Tara Anne Pleat is 2022 chair of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board. Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Applied Materials. New members elected to serve a three-year terms on the board, running through Dec. 31, 2024, include Heath Ames, Cantina; Sue Commanda, Hudson River Community Credit Union; and Eric Continued On Page 15


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