The Saratoga Regional Health Center Will Provide A Full Range Of Medical Services
BY ROD BACON
Saratoga County is poised to be the home of a full service medical facility.
Plans call for the Saratoga Regional Health Center to have a soft opening in July.
Spearheaded by Rich Paulsen, founder of Albany-based Paulsen Development, and his sons, Matthew and Ryan, the twophase project will consolidate a wide range of medical specialities in a single location.
According to spokesman Dr. Lenny Goldstock, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoNY, Phase I, located at 612 Maple Avenue in Wilton, will house a branch of his practice as well as those of EyesNY, Albany ENT & Allergy Services, Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates, and St. Peter’s Hospital.
“I’ve been partners with Rich for twenty years doing medical development,” said Dr. Goldstock. “He has a history of sharing in the success of his projects by offering tenants ownership to develop ancillary revenue to the physician groups, and that’s part of the appeal of this project.”
He noted that Paulsen Development has been involved in nearly all of OrthoNY’s buildings in Albany, Schenectady, Wilton and hopefully Glens Falls.
OrthoNY will occupy approximately 35,000 square feet of the building that will house a large clinic space and a four-room ambulatory surgery center where physicians will be able to do everything from carpal tunnel to spinal fusion procedures. There will also be magnetic resonance im-
Continued On Page 9
Siena Poll Shows Two-Th irds Of New Yorkers Use AI Chatbots, Use Rising Yearly
Forty-three percent of New York state residents say the disadvantages of artificial intelligence are too great, while 37% say the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, according to a Siena Poll released April 14. 2026.
Nearly 1 in 5 respondents, 19%, said they do not know whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Two-thirds of New Yorkers, 67%, said they use AI chatbots, while 32% said they have never used an AI chatbot. Forty-four percent said they use AI at least weekly, including 21% who said they use it daily.
Compared with last year, 48% said they are using AI tools more, 39% said their use is about the same and 8% said their use has decreased.
Among those who use AI chatbots, 41% said they use them mostly for personal reasons, 24% mostly for professional reasons and 32% equally for both. More than half of users, 56%, said they double-check AI results always or most of the time. Twenty percent said they pay for an AI chatbot subscription.
Among New Yorkers who use AI chatbots at least weekly, 28% said they pay for a premium subscription, compared with 5% of those who use chatbots infrequently. Across users, ChatGPT was the tool used most often, followed by Gemini and Copilot.
Nearly 9 in 10 residents, 92%, said they have seen content in the last 30 days that appeared to be generated by AI. Thirty-five percent said they trust results from a traditional search engine more than information provided by an AI chatbot, while 8% said they trust AI results more. Twenty-eight percent said they trust both equally and 23% said they trust neither.
“Four years after ChatGPT was released to the public, AI is creeping into everyday life, whether you use a dedicated chatbot app or website, or use AI features embedded in other spaces. Almost every New Yorker, regardless of background, encounters AIgenerated content,” Associate Director of Data Management Travis Brodbeck said. “Like various forms of emerging technology, we see gaps in behaviors and attitudes between the youngest and oldest New Yorkers. These age-related differences risk creating a new element to the ‘digital divide’ where the ability to discern AI content and use AI tools is a new skill required in the digital age.”
The Siena University Poll was conducted March 3-14, 2026, among 810 New York state residents. It has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Survey cross-tabs are available at sri.siena.edu.
Provided by Siena Research Institute (SRI); edited for style and length.
Saratoga Springs Welcomes SLICFiber Expansion And New Broadband Choice
BY PAUL POST
Local government and civic officials took part in a recent event at Saratoga Springs City Hall to welcome upstate New York’s fastestgrowing internet provider to the city.
St. Lawrence County-based SLICFiber already serves Geyser Crest and expects to have full coverage in the Spa City within a year.
“We’re not a new company, we’re just new to your neighborhood,” SLICFiber CEO Kevin Lynch said.
Fiber optics is considered vital to future growth because it has almost unlimited capacity and much greater speed. A key element of modern economic development strategy involves attracting highly talented, skilled people who can work wherever and whenever they want to, but need to be sure they are connected to the rest of the world.
“Fast and reliable electronic communication in the 21st century is essential to economic development,” said Greg Connors, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation president and CEO. “It is among the top questions asked by investors contemplating their next capital investment when considering Saratoga County. SLIC’s expansion in the City of Saratoga Springs with plans to expand into Saratoga County is considered a ‘next generation’ fiber. It will replace legacy technology, provide pricing stability for its users and create full-time job opportunities.”
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said, “The presence of broadband fiber is an important asset for this community. It strengthens our ability to retain and attract businesses, supports our existing
Continued On Page 11
Saratoga Showcase Of Homes Returns This Fall For 30th Anniversary Event
The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee has announced this year’s dates and list of builders as of this date. Celebrating 30 years of exceptional homes, the annual tradition will be presented over four fall days, Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11. The lineup will include some of the region’s finest builders for the area’s premier new-home tour event.
The award-winning builders committed to this year’s event so far are Amedore Homes, Barbera Homes, Belmonte Builders, Kodiak Construction, Kohler Homes, Malta Development, Spa City Builders, Trojanski Builders, Urvalek Builders and Witt Construction, with a few more to come.
Last year, $66,000 was raised, and over the past 29 years, the community event has contributed nearly $1.7 million to two local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, www.rtsaratoga.org, and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties, www.glensfallshabitat.org. For more details on the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Follow the event on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available
To help celebrate this year’s milestone event, sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes. Sponsorship information can be downloaded and reviewed at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com/sponsor-
ship/.
About Saratoga Builders Association
The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the well-being and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, subcontractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, Realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, visit www.saratogabuilders.org.
The Saratoga Regional Health Center at 612 Maple Avenue in Wilton is nearing a July soft opening, with construction continuing on the two-story medical facility and surrounding parking areas.
Courtesy of BBL Construction Services
Local government and civic officials gather at Saratoga Springs City Hall to welcome SLICFiber, which now is expanding broadband service and competition in the city and Saratoga County area.
Courtesy SLICFiber
The Saratoga Builders Association’s Showcase of Homes returns for its 30th year this fall.
Courtesy Saratoga Builders
Personnel Briefs
Northern Insuring Agency, Inc. has added Chrystina Chaney to its Personal Insurance Division as a Retention Specialist Assistant in the company’s Glens Falls office.
Chaney joined the team in January and has obtained her NYS Insurance License. She and her husband live in Hudson Falls with their three children and pets.
“We’re excited to welcome Chrystina to the team,” said Melissa Kokofsky, manager of the Personal Insurance Division. “She brings years of face-to-face experience working with people from all walks of life, along with a strong commitment to providing exceptional service. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”
Northern Insuring Agency, Inc., founded in 1930, provides auto, home, business, life and health insurance, and employee benefits services.
Provided by Northern Insuring Agency, Inc.; edited for style and length.
Arrow Bank National Association has hired Cara Schroeder as Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager. In her new role, Schroeder will support small businesses by developing new relationships and strengthening existing ones with customized financial solutions. She will manage a portfolio of business customers, collaborate with internal partners to drive business growth and support retail teams across small business and business banking.
Schroeder has more than 20 years of banking experience. She began her career with TD Bank in 2004 and held roles including Teller, Head Teller, Customer Service Representative, Small Business
Specialist and, most recently, SBA Business Development Associate. A native of Averill Park, New York, Schroeder will support businesses throughout the region.
Arrow Bank National Association, part of the Arrow Family of Companies, is a commercial bank headquartered in Glens Falls, New York, serving eight counties in northeastern New York. It operates 38 banking offices and provides banking, wealth management and insurance services.
Provided by Arrow Bank National Association; edited for style and length.
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP announced that Emma E. Marshall and Matthew D. Mosdell have joined the firm as associates.
Marshall joins the firm’s Environmental and Land Use & Development Practice Groups. She has advised clients on regulatory, environmental and energy matters, including proceedings before the New York State Department of Public Service under Articles 10, VII and VIII and guidance through the State Environmental Quality Review Act process. Her work has included due diligence, hazardous waste compliance and telecommunications regulatory matters. She earned a Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Albany Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Binghamton University.
Mosdell joins the firm’s Litigation and Appeals Practice Group. Before joining the firm, he served as an Appellate Court Attorney with New York’s Appellate Division, Third Department, preparing reports and draft decisions for Justices. His background includes general litigation involving commercial disputes, personal injury, medical malpractice and estate matters. He earned a Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Albany Law School and holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Utah and a B.S. from Utah State University.
Provided by Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP; edited for style and length.
GlobalFoundries Celebrates Ferain As Champion, Coffey As Honoree In 2026 Awards
The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, honored two GlobalFoundries leaders at its annual STEP Ahead Awards.
Dr. Isabelle Ferain, vice president of product development engineering, based in Malta, New York, was recognized as a 2026 Champion. Kylee Coffey, senior director of integration, yield and controls engineering, based in Burlington, Vermont, was recognized as a 2026 Honoree.
The STEP Ahead Awards recognize leaders in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite.
The Champion category recognizes individuals who support others by fostering supportive cultures, opening doors and modeling leadership. GlobalFoundries said Ferain, the global executive sponsor of the company’s GlobalWomen employee resource group, supported growth and engagement across a network of more than 2,100 employees and expanded the group to eight chapters worldwide. The company said she helped launch a six-month group mentoring program with its Inclusion & Engagement team and worked with human resources to reform the company’s technical career ladder promotion process to improve transparency and standardization.
“Being named a STEP Ahead Champion is deeply meaningful to me, because allyship is not a title; it’s an action,” said Ferain. “In semiconduc-
tors, visible sponsorship and intentional support are essential to unlocking the full potential of our talent. I’m proud to work alongside so many leaders at GF who are committed to building inclusive cultures where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead and succeed.”
The Honoree category recognizes established professionals who have made sustained impact in their organization and community. GlobalFoundries said Coffey leads a global team of more than 125 people providing around-the-clock support to the business at its Burlington facility. The company said her leadership of a cross-functional yield-improvement initiative drove line yields above 98% and generated about $5 million in annual cost savings, and she led manufacturing readiness for the site’s newest technology offering.
“This recognition is truly an honor, and it reflects the incredible teams, mentors and community who have shaped my journey over the past 24 years,” said Coffey. “The Burlington team’s passion, collaboration and commitment to excellence inspire me every day, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back, whether through mentoring, strengthening our workforce pipeline or supporting the community that supports us.”
GlobalFoundries said the 2026 gala also recognized “Emerging Leaders” and included a leadership development conference in Washington, D.C. Provided by GlobalFoundries; edited for style and length.
Sen. Welch of Vermont, center, stands with GlobalFoundries leaders tied to the Manufacturing Institute’s 2026 STEP Ahead Awards, which recognized Ferain as a Champion and Coffey as an Honoree.
Saratoga Hat Shop Founder Built Boutique From Racetrack Inspiration
BY CAROL ANN CONOVER
Joyce Locks said a bad hair day at the racetrack helped launch Hatsational Haberdashery in Saratoga Springs.
Locks was in Florida watching her horse race at Gulfstream Park when she realized she had forgotten her hat and could not fi nd a store that sold one. Back home, she said, she found the same gap in Saratoga Springs.
“I started this business because I was having a bad hair day in Florida and I was at a horse race and I couldn’t fi nd a hat anywhere,” Locks said. “And I came home and realized there were no hat stores. So that’s what started this. And now I just make people happy.”
Locks founded Hatsational Haberdashery in 2007 as a home-based business, hosting hat salons and pop-up events before earning an invitation from the New York Racing Association to sell at Saratoga Race Course. In 2013, she opened her fi rst brick-and-mortar storefront on Broadway. The business now operates at 506 Broadway and keeps a seasonal presence on Artist Row at the racetrack.
Hatsational later expanded to three Broadway locations, including separate men’s and women’s shops. During the pandemic, Locks reduced the footprint and consolidated operations.
Today, Locks keeps the store open yearround, selling hats for a range of occasions and budgets, including custom, hand-sewn pieces. The shop also carries accessories, scarves, jewelry and pocketbooks. Locks sources headwear from countries including Italy, France, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Ecuador, Russia and Canada, as well as the United States. Th is spring, she launched a line developed with an English designer who has been in the business for more than 40 years.
“I try to make sure there’s new, different items every year that come into the store to
Saratoga County Chamber Of Commerce Honors Matt Jones With 2026 Service Award
make everyone just that much more special,” Locks said.
Locks said the goal is to help customers fi nd the right hat, not just to make a sale.
“We don’t sell to sell. We sell to empower,” she said. “It’s important that the person fi nds what they’re looking for at the price point and they look gorgeous. If I don’t like the way a hat looks on someone, I’ll ask them to take it off. I’ve got thousands of options and no one leaves my store — men or women — unless they look very good.”
Customers travel from outside the region to shop at Hatsational, Locks said. She ships to clients in states including California, Texas and Florida, and hats from the store have been worn at the Royal Ascot in England.
The business has also drawn national recognition. The Headwear Association named Hatsational Retailer of the Year in 2019, and Locks said she was the fi rst woman founder in the association’s 111-year history to receive the honor.
“It’s a national award by the Headwear Association, and I’m the fi rst woman founder ever to win the award,” she said. “And that’s like a big deal.”
Locks said she and a staff of about six work with customers on fit, style and care. She discourages buying hats as gift s and recommends gift cards instead.
Locks also said she does not sell hats directly online.
“I refuse to sell online. They need me. They need me to make sure that they’re buying the right hat for themselves,” Locks said. “So you can’t buy online direct. You have to go through me and my staff.”
Hatsational Haberdashery is at 506 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The phone number is (518) 587-1022, and the website is hatsational.com. The business also has Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Provided by Hatsational Haberdashery; edited for style and length.
Matt Jones, senior partner at Jones Steves Grassi LLP, has received the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award.
Jones was honored May 7 during the chamber’s Annual Chamber Celebration Night at The 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
“Volunteerism is such a huge part of the role of the Chamber of Commerce and making things happen here in Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County,” Jones said during his acceptance remarks.
The award, created by unanimous vote of the chamber’s board of directors in 2017, recognizes an individual who has been faithful and loyal to the Saratoga County community for more than 25 years.
Jones focuses his law practice on land use and development matters in Saratoga County, representing clients involved in major development projects. Over nearly five decades of practice, he has represented GlobalFoundries, Saratoga Hospital, Skidmore College, Regeneron and others.
Jones has held community leadership roles, including vice president of the New York State Bar Association and member of its Executive Committee; president of the Saratoga County Bar Association; president of the Saratoga Springs Board of Education; chairman of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board of directors; president of the Saratoga County YMCA Board of Directors; president of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation Board of Trustees; and vice chairman and founding director of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority.
He also has served on local civic and nonprofit organizations, including the West Avenue Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Saratoga Springs Committee on Recreation, Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission, Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Blue Streaks Hall of Fame Committee, Saratoga County Bar Association Mock Trial Program and Saratoga Springs Smart City Commission.
“Based upon the activities, involvement, and leadership in the community over the past 47 years,”
past Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient L. Clifford Van Wagner said in his nomination of Jones, “I can say without reservation that he has proven through his actions to be honorable, ready, relevant, innovative, and versatile while always doing what is right for the community.”
Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, said Jones has been a trusted community leader for decades.
“I worked very closely with Matt the year he chaired the chamber’s board of directors and his advice and counsel was always based on what was best for the community,” Shimkus said. “He’s given his time, talent and treasure to so many vital parts of our community for decades, and he is one of those leaders everyone respects for the positive difference he makes. The City Center, Saratoga Hospital, the Saratoga Springs School District, and the Saratoga Regional YMCA just to name a few are all better because of Matt’s leadership.”
Jones previously received the Leadership Saratoga Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement to the Community by a Graduate of the Leadership Saratoga program, the YMCA Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, the Community Leadership Association Distinguished Leadership Award and the 2024 Liberty Bell Award. He was inducted into the Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction in 2022.
The award is named for Joseph Dalton, who served as president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce from 1970 to 2010. During his tenure, the chamber’s membership, influence and impact grew through Dalton’s leadership and commitment to Saratoga County.
Past recipients include Steve Sullivan, Tom Roohan, John Munter Sr., Julie Stokes, L. Clifford Van Wagner, Dr. William Long, Cindy Hollowood and Colleen Carlson.
Tom Bellhouse of West Point Thoroughbreds also was honored for serving as the chamber’s 2025 board chair. Nil Ghoshal of Polyset is the chamber’s current board chair.
Provided by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; edited for style and length.
Inside Hatsational Haberdashery in Saratoga Springs, shelves and cases filled with hats reflect Joyce Locks’ year-round Broadway boutique and its ties to local racing-season shoppers at the shop.
Courtesy Hatsational Haberdashery
Matt Jones, senior partner at Jones Steves Grassi LLP, holds the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Construction
A Developer And Owner Of Multiple Subway Shops Set To Break Ground On Seventh Plaza
Eastern Heating Grows HVAC Business Through Service And New Construction
BY ROD BACON
Construction of a retail plaza on Wolf Road in Colonie is slated to begin this month.
According to developer Russ Faden, financing has been secured through Pioneer Bank and all approvals are in place except for a permit from the Department of Transportation.
“All the contractors are lined up and we’re ready to go,” he said. “We’re just waiting on that last permit.”
Scott Lansing of Malta-based Lansing Engineering PC did much of the work to secure the approvals and permits.
The 6,400-square-foot building, designed by C2 Design Group of Schenectady, can accommodate three tenants, one of which will be a Subway sandwich shop. The estimated cost is $2.5 million.
“I own the Subway shop and we’re assuming there will be two other businesses in there,” Faden said.
Faden owns 41 Subway franchises. Most of them are in the Albany area but his reach extends north to Lake George, west to Cobleskill, and east into Vermont and
Massachusetts. He said they are a combination of existing ones he purchased and others he built from the ground up, many in commercial plazas he has developed.
He started developing commercial plazas in 2018 and has built six since then. He said he likes to own the real estate where his Subway shops are located because he has control over the site and it’s the best way to generate long-term income.
He completed one recently in The Outlets at Lake George that includes 8,400-squarefeet of retail space and 24 storage units in the rear. It is fully tenanted with one of his Subway shops, a Silver Cannabis Dispensary, a Hi nails beauty salon, and a Tommy Bahama outlet. He still has a few storage units available.
“I built the storage units because it is the best use of the property,” he said. “They’re hidden behind the commercial building.
Now that I’ve had success with these I plan to look for opportunities to build more.”
He has two other commercial developments in Queensbury that are in the planning stages. One is retail and the other
Continued On Page 10
BY PAUL POST
Heating, cooling and ventilation are the unseen components of buildings that house some of the Capital Region’s largest and most important employers, including colleges, hospitals and senior living centers.
Founded 81 years ago, Eastern Heating & Cooling has evolved into a full-service mechanical contractor with $42 million in annual revenue. It specializes in design-build HVAC systems, controls, fabrication and longterm service, with commercial clients within a 100-mile radius of its Albany headquarters.
“We want to be the solution to the problems that keep customers up at night,” company
President Buddy Tricarick said. “If we can maintain their equipment, where they don’t have to worry about it, that’s the goal. That’s what exceptional customer service is. Preventive maintenance goes a long way.”
Business Development Manager Luke Schreiber said, “We meet with the customer, talk to them, ask questions and really try to understand what their business and equipment needs are, tailoring an approach that’s better aligned with their business versus a cookiecutter solution.”
In addition to HVAC, the firm’s highly trained technicians also take care of boilers, chillers, refrigeration and ultra-low-temperature freezers.
Service department maintenance agreements ensure that all types of mechanical equipment are kept running smoothly. “Just like any person is different, one from another, the equipment and business needs are unique to that business or facility,” Schreiber said. “It’s our job to understand what we need to adjust so everything’s running optimally so they get what they need, not what they don’t need.”
Maintenance programs include comprehensive annual servicing.
“We’re putting load on equipment and make sure we look inside and out, at every touch point, to make sure there’s no failure points,” Schreiber said. “If we find an issue that’s out of range of the optimal, we bring that to the customer’s attention and tell them how long it could last and what the best replacement alternatives are. We educate clients so they can make a decision that’s best for them.”
Retrofits for aging equipment account for
Continued On Page 5
tenant spaces in a 6,400-square-foot building being developed by Russ Faden along Wolf Road.
Dan Knapp of Eastern Heating & Cooling points to a control system display as the Albany-based mechanical contractor grows its HVAC service, controls and new construction work across the region.
Courtesy Eastern Heating
Continued From Page 4
about 60% of Eastern’s business, with the rest devoted to new construction.
“Our Controls Division is booming because of new construction and existing customers upgrading their systems,” Tricarick said. “Our total company backlog last April was $17 million. Th is April we were at $26 million and a lot of that is Controls.”
Eastern is the area’s only authorized dealer for Automated Logic building control systems that manage heating, cooling and energy use.
Recent climate change trends have not only presented new challenges but make what Eastern does more critically important to people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We’re seeing more and more extreme heat and cold for longer periods of time than what we’ve seen historically, which puts an exceptional load on equipment within the region,” Schreiber said. “Sometimes this far exceeds what the equipment was designed for, which is especially concerning for older equipment.”
Excessive temperature and humidity could make it difficult for office workers to do their jobs. In a health care setting, it could be potentially dangerous to someone’s life.
“One of our customers controls the grid system for New York state, so if there’s an issue and their system goes out there could be a statewide power outage or blackout,” Schreiber said. “So it’s important that we stay on top of any issues or concerns that we’ve identified.”
At present, Eastern is working on Glens Falls Hospital’s $25 million new emergency department. Other health care clients are Albany Memorial, Ellis (Schenectady), Samaritan (Troy), St. Mary’s (Amsterdam) and Albany Medical Center hospitals.
“And the area is booming with apartments,” Tricarick said. “That’s a big part of what we do, especially on the new construction side. Also, a lot of old warehouses are being converted into apartments in places like Cohoes and Menands.”
Siena College, Coburg Village retirement
community in Rexford and Washington County’s municipal complex in Hudson Falls are also significant clients.
Eastern has close working relationships with a variety of contractors, including Munter Enterprises and Pike Construction Services.
As with every project, HVAC is now integrated early in the construction planning process, and Eastern’s in-house sheet metal fabrication division allows tighter scheduling and quality control.
Eastern started as a family-run business in 1945, focused mainly on refrigeration, and continued that way for several decades until former President Fred Giardinelli co-founded Comfort Systems USA, which went public in June 1997 with 12 operating companies.
Houston-based Comfort Systems is now an $8 billion corporation with more than 45 companies in over 170 locations and 18,000 employees.
Th is relationship gives Eastern a great deal of support and outreach.
Considering the strength of the Capital Region economy, Tricarick said he is quite optimistic about Eastern’s business future.
“We’re adding five to 10 young technicians per year,” Tricarick said. “We have good relationships with colleges and BOCES programs. That’s how we do our recruiting. When we bring a young technician on, just out of school, they do a full year’s training with a senior technician before getting a van on their own.”
Eastern assigns each technician to specific accounts so customers become familiar with the person who provides service, and vice versa. Th is way, when technicians go to a building they are familiar with its equipment and do not have to be shown around and assess things, like a fi rst-time visitor would.
“Finding experienced technicians is very difficult, so the next best thing is to bring in young people and train them,” Tricarick said.
“Sometimes that’s better because they aren’t coming in with bad habits. We’re training them the way we would like them to do things. We’re successful and have a great reputation and it’s because of our talented, well-trained workforce.”
Northern Builders Expands With Focus On Trades, Workforce And Growth
BY ANN DONNELLY
When Mark Stewart and Nic Denno merged their independent contracting companies to form Northern Builders in 2020, they brought more than construction expertise to the table. Both men balanced successful careers in law enforcement with their building endeavors, an experience that forged a strong foundation for their business partnership.
Stewart, a former investigator who retired from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department in 2023, and Denno, who worked as a police officer and a contractor for about 20 years before retiring in 2025, met while working the 4 p.m. to midnight shift at the sheriff’s department. Today, their South Glens Falls-based company employs 22 to 24 in-house staff members and
manages 40 to 60 subcontractors daily. The team oversees 12 to 14 major projects at any given time, handling custom residential homes, commercial projects and high-end renovations.
“We really wanted to switch from being contractors and home builders to a construction company,” Stewart said.
For Denno, the partnership thrives on the mutual respect they built in their previous careers.
“When you work as side-by-side law enforcement, you gain an appreciation and a respect and a trust for somebody,” Denno said. “If you care about your people and you care about each other and the business that you’re growing, then it really takes the animosity and everything else out of it. We
Northern Builders owners Nic Denno, bottom left, and Mark Stewart, bottom center, are shown with team members outside the South Glens Falls-based company, which they formed together in 2020.
Empire State University Offers Extensive Curriculum For Those Seeking Degrees Online
BY ROD BACON
Empire State University was founded with the mission of providing adult student-centered education.
As New York State’s only online public university, it has graduated 105,000 alumni since it was established as a college in 1971. Currently, there are 18,500 students enrolled from all 50 states. The youngest graduate is 19 and the oldest is 83. The school is growing at 10 percent per year.
Publication Date: June 11, 2026
Publication Date: July 9, 2026
SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL
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According to President Lisa Vollendorf, Ph.D., there are significant challenges facing education today that are addressed by the school. She said there is a lot of questioning around whether there is true value to a college degree.
“There is a whole generation who have accumulated a lot of debt going to college and are having a difficult time paying down that debt,” she said.
In addition, there are about 42 million Americans with some college but no credential, meaning they took some college at some point but never graduated.
“Those two things together have created real challenges in the eyes of the public and policy makers around the true value of college and what the investment should be in college on the part of taxpayers,” she said.
Dr. Vollendorf emphasized that these challenges were not created by Empire State or institutions like it. Undergraduate tuition is less than $7,500 and credit is awarded for prior learning.
“Empire has a long tradition of being committed to full transferability,” she said. “One of the things that happens in education is people attend one college and transfer to another but a lot of the time more than forty percent of credits aren’t transferable. We award up to ninety-three transfer credits.”
The school offers online courses leading to more then 25 undergraduate degrees and five undergraduate certificates, as well as 29 graduate degrees and 27 graduate certificates. Eighty-four percent of students receive financial aid or scholarships. A variety of programs focus on military veterans or those actively serving.
There is an in-person apprenticeship program through Local Union No. 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers held at the Empire State University Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies in New York City in which students graduate with their journeyman card and an associate’s degree after a five-year apprenticeship.
Through its Center for International Educa-
tion it offers in-person courses at sites in Albania, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Dr. Vollendorf has over 30 years experience in higher education, much of it in the California State University system. She was a faculty member at Long Beach State, a dean at San Jose State, and a provost at Sonoma State.
Since accepting the position as president in 2022 she has implemented many forwardlooking initiatives.
In March 2023 the school transitioned from a college to a university, making it the first and only public online university in the state.
She also established a partnership with Northwell Health, New York State’s largest healthcare network and private employer. Together, she said, they are responsive to workforce needs and are helping to create more qualified healthcare workers across the state.
The school works with the state to address workforce shortages. It currently has a $1 million grant to help paraprofessionals in education earn bachelor’s degrees, giving them a pathway to a teaching career.
Integral to the success of the university is the Empire State University Foundation, a 510(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises private funds to support student scholarships, academic programs, and university infrastructure.
In December 2025 the foundation pur-
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President Lisa Vollendorf leads Empire State University, New York state’s online public university. Courtesy Empire State University
Northern Builders
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have a mutual vision and a mutual goal.”
To streamline operations and adapt to regional growth, Stewart and Denno are expanding Northern Builders’ capabilities. The company already operates its own excavation and hauling divisions, with a fleet of trucks. The owners are in the early stages of launching a standalone concrete business to secure their supply chain.
“We have great concrete subcontractors. They’re amazing. We owe them a lot, and they do a lot for us,” Denno said. “But the reality of it is, we don’t know how much longer we’re going to have them. So we’re going to be proactive. We’re going to see, we’re going to invest in it and put it together.”
Bringing specialty trades in-house reduces scheduling delays and keeps clients satisfied. “We really try to put out that great product in the shortest amount of time because our homeowners, when you put a shovel in the ground, they’re very, very excited,” Stewart said, noting they aim to turn over custom homes in an eight- to 12-month period.
Like many construction firms, Northern Builders faces industrywide staffing challenges as an older generation of skilled tradespeople prepares to retire. Rather than solely competing for a shrinking labor pool, Stewart and Denno are focused on the future. They recently partnered with the Workforce Partnership Coalition, an initiative closely tied to BOCES, to encourage students to explore careers in the trades. Stewart recently visited students at South Glens Falls High School to promote the industry, emphasizing that the narrative pushing all
Empire State
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chased the historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs from Cathy and Elliott Masie for $2.5 million. Th is was made possible, in part, due to a $1.1 million gift from the Masies.
According to Amanda Sbriscia, Ed.D., vice president for advancement and executive director of the Empire State Foundation, renovations expected to cost under $1 million are
students toward a traditional four-year college education, and the potential debt that comes with it, is shifting.
“The program supports that mission to have people get into the trades,” Denno added. “We’re lucky that people recognize that, and we’re lucky that there are organizations out there and the educational systems are actually promoting that.”
Fostering a supportive work environment is essential to their retention strategy. Northern Builders offers comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid vacation, aiming to treat its workforce like family.
“I always tell everybody, one of my lines that I used to use and I meant it was ‘I’m not interviewing for a job, I’m here interviewing for a career,’” Stewart said. “We want you to grow, we want you to show that growth.”
“We realize that being able to go to work every day and wanting to be there is huge,” Denno said. “We want that for our guys. We care about how they are doing.”
Despite its rapid expansion, Northern Builders remains deeply rooted in the community. Stewart and Denno regularly assist their neighbor, the Moreau Community Center, and help clients navigate the complexities of local planning and zoning boards. For the two former officers, success comes down to the people around them.
“Strong communication and supporting of your community is the base that builds companies within the community,” Stewart said.
For more information on Northern Builders, visit https://northernbld.com.
currently underway and scheduled to be completed by late summer. The home will serve as a venue for donor cultivation, alumni gatherings, community engagement, and other official university functions.
“There is a tremendous amount of passion for the work Empire State University does to enable students to achieve their dreams of higher education,” she said. “What is so wonderful about the Clarke Hose project is that it will be a space to do more of that work because we’ll be bringing people together to talk about philanthropy.”
Pitney Meadows Community Farm Expands Food As Medicine With Th ree-Year Grant
Pitney Meadows Community Farm has received a three-year grant from The Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region to expand its Food as Medicine: Clinical program with Saratoga Community Health Center.
The partners plan to scale the Nutrition Rx program and further integrate locally grown produce into patient care. The collaboration is entering its seventh year.
Over the next three years, the program is expected to grow from 20 to 40 to 80 participants per year across Saratoga Community Health Center and the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic.
Patients receive weekly prescription produce boxes during a six-month growing season, nutrition education in a group setting and ongoing support. Participants complete pre- and postprogram assessments to track changes in food access, health outcomes and behavior.
“This is a turning point for how healthcare shows up for people in our community,” said Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “Over the past seven years, our partnership with Dr. Rodriguez and CHC has proven that when you connect people to fresh, nourishing, local food, health outcomes change. Now, we have the opportunity to scale that work… embedding food not as a supplement, but as a fundamental part of care and overall wellness.
“This is what it looks like when healthcare expands beyond the exam room,” said Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote, Medical Director at Saratoga Community Health Center. “When patients have reliable access to fresh, nutritious food, combined with education and support,
we see real, measurable changes in their health. Food is not an add-on to care. It is essential.” The program is part of Pitney Meadows’ broader Food for All programming, which also includes Farm-to-Pantry and residential-based Food as Medicine efforts. Pitney Meadows said it contributes more than 100,000 servings of produce each year to food pantries and community partners across Saratoga County and offers free cooking and nutrition education.
Provided by Pitney Meadows Community Farm; edited for style and length.
A worker holds harvested beets at Pitney Meadows Community Farm as its program expands.
Health Community Services
Regional Childcare Shortage Pushes Families, Employers And YMCA To Adapt
BY CAROL ANN CONOVER
When a parent in Warren, Washington or Saratoga counties goes looking for infant care today, the search often ends before it begins. The wait list at the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s Malta Early Learning Center stretches two years. In some cases, families are signing up before they even try to conceive.
That reality is not an anomaly. It is the baseline. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of regulated childcare facilities in Warren County fell 40 percent, from 50 to 30, according to a 2023 needs assessment by the Southern Adirondack Child Care Network. Washington County lost 37 percent of its facilities over the same period. Across New York state, 60 percent of census tracts qualified as childcare deserts in 2023, a designation meaning at least three children under age five exist for every available slot, according to a February 2025 report from the Office of the State Comptroller. Rural upstate communities, the report found, are the most negatively affected.
Into that void, the Saratoga Regional YMCA operates a layered system of childcare programming across its six branches. The association expanded its footprint on Jan. 1, 2025, when the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area officially
Courtesy SRYMCA
merged to become its sixth branch, deepening the organization’s reach across Warren County. The programming spans a licensed full-day daycare center at its Malta Early Learning Center serving approximately 100 children from infancy through kindergarten, a half-day preschool program at its Saratoga Springs branch serving 45 children ages 2 through 4, Universal Pre-Kindergarten classrooms operated in partnership with the Saratoga Springs and Schuylerville school districts serving roughly 72 children, and a school-age beforeand-after-care program operating at 15 locations across seven school districts throughout the threecounty region, including Glens Falls, Queensbury, Ballston Spa, and Saratoga Springs.
“We believe that every child deserves great care and learning opportunities and no family should be held back by financial constraints,” said Rebeccah Potavin, the YMCA’s associate vice president of child care. “So we do offer financial assistance for all of our programming that we offer as well, regardless of income. So even people who think that they don’t qualify for something, we run them through our system and a lot of times we have generous donors who really want to make sure that you know, income is not a barrier to great
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WSWHE BOCES Partnership Wins State Honor For Career Education Program
WSWHE BOCES, working with SUNY Adirondack, has been named a “Champion of Change” by the New York State School Boards Association for its annual Manufacturing and STEAM Day.
The recognition, part of NYSSBA’s Champions of Change program, cites the event as an example of an innovative partnership that connects students to postsecondary options and careers in advanced manufacturing.
“We are honored to receive this recognition for a program that reflects the meaningful opportunities we strive to create for students,” said WSWHE BOCES District Superintendent Turina Parker. “Our partnership with SUNY Adirondack is a powerful example of how collaboration can open doors. Manufacturing and STEAM Day helps students see what’s possible and envision themselves in careers that are critical to our regional economy.”
The Oct. 17 event included a panel of PTECH graduates who earned Mechatronics degrees from SUNY Adirondack and discussed the transition from school to the workforce. Students also visited regional employers including Adirondack Studios, Cre-
atacor, Fort Miller Group and GlobalFoundries and met with industry professionals and faculty.
Two former SUNY Adirondack P-TECH graduates also represented their employer, Praxis Technology, during the career fair.
“The strength of this program lies in its ability to connect education and industry in meaningful ways,” said President of SUNY Adirondack Anastasia Urtz. “Th rough our partnership with WSWHE BOCES, students engage with industry leaders and discover exciting, in-demand careers. Together, we are illuminating pathways from classroom to career and supporting students to build a great future in our region.”
The event is coordinated by the WSWHE BOCES Innovative Programs Team led by Michelle Maddalla and SUNY Adirondack’s Continuing Education Office, led by Susan Wynkoop.
NYSSBA representatives presented the recognition and a commemorative banner at the WSWHE BOCES Board of Education meeting April 15.
Provided by WSWHE BOCES; edited for style and length.
Children take part in a Saratoga Regional YMCA activity as the organization expands child care programs across the region to help families and employers adapt to a shortage of available slots.
Champions of Change banners recognize WSWHE BOCES and SUNY Adirondack for Manufacturing and STEAM Day, a partnership linking students to postsecondary options and manufacturing career paths.
Courtesy WSWHE B OCES and SUNY Adirondack
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That financial assistance infrastructure is central to what the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s CEO, Allison D’Antonio, describes as the organization’s defining purpose. The YMCA also accepts DSS subsidies under New York’s Child Care Assistance Program, which serves families of four earning up to approximately $108,000 annually — a threshold that makes it relevant well into the middleincome range but one that not all area providers choose to navigate.
“We accept DSS, which not all providers do,” D’Antonio said. “There’s an administrative function to it that smaller providers don’t have the capacity to work with. So, we did see a large influx in people … unfortunately the state didn’t have enough funding to support all of them. So, we have done our best to accommodate those families through our traditional financial assistance program if they are no longer eligible for DSS funding, but … it’s a terrific program. It allows us as a provider to remain full while providing and making sure that a family can stay in the workforce.”
The state subsidy picture has grown more complicated in recent months. Liza Ochsendorf, director of Warren County Workforce Development, said that childcare consistently ranks among the top three barriers to employment for people coming through regional career centers. She noted that the CCAP subsidy program has been significantly constrained.
“There are families that have had to take their kids out of childcare because their subsidies ended or ran out,” Ochsendorf said. “That was also a barrier to us recruiting and opening more homebased providers.”
Ochsendorf framed the structural problem in terms that go beyond any single funding stream.
“There aren’t enough childcare slots, it’s not affordable for families, and the wages of childcare providers are not sustainable,” she said. “So, it doesn’t help to recruit or retain childcare providers with their livable, sustainable wages. So those three issues are constant … the childcare slots, the affordability for families, and then the providers not making a salary that helps us recruit and sustain them.”
New York state data bears that out. The median annual wage for childcare workers statewide was $38,234 in 2023 — more than $20,000 below the median for all New York workers — according to the state comptroller’s report. The state’s average annual childcare cost rose nearly 18 percent from 2018 to 2023, reaching $14,621 per child. A separate analysis by the First Five Years Fund placed New York’s average cost of care at $20,439 per year. The inaccessibility of childcare costs New York an estimated $13.6 billion annually in lost earnings and productivity.
At the Saratoga Regional YMCA, the half-day preschool program runs 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. and costs approximately $13 per hour, with swim instruction and adventure center time included beginning next year. The Malta Early Learning Center runs 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday year-round and is licensed by the New York State
Office of Children and Family Services for up to 96 children. UPK classrooms are fully state-funded and require no tuition or YMCA membership. The before-and-after school BASE program runs at sites spanning Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties, offering morning care beginning at 7 a.m. and after-school care through 6 p.m.
The workforce dimension of childcare access is no longer a background issue for area employers. D’Antonio said her team is in active conversations with multiple large organizations about employer-supported childcare models. Stewart’s Shops already offers its employees a 50 percent subsidy toward YMCA childcare, a partnership D’Antonio described as a meaningful example of what employer investment can look like.
“Employers are realizing they’re going to have to reserve childcare spots whether they have an employee to fill that spot or not,” D’Antonio said. “It’s more like a healthcare model, right? You’re paying for your employees’ healthcare whether they’re utilizing it or not … in order to recruit and retain staff they need to be in this childcare space.” She noted that healthcare sector employers in particular are taking notice after recognizing that nurses are leaving the field after having children due to a lack of care that accommodates their demanding schedules and longer shifts.
Ochsendorf pointed to a “thirds” model gaining traction in other parts of the country, in which the employer, the state or local government, and the family each pay one-third of childcare costs. She also flagged New York State regulations that currently prohibit most workplaces from housing on-site childcare centers. She called for localized sustainability funds that businesses and individuals could contribute to, helping providers absorb unexpected operational costs that can force closures.
“We’ve got to do something different. We’ve got do something else,” Ochsendorf said. “We can’t just keep throwing money at the problem. We need a system-wide overhaul.”
Back at the Saratoga Regional YMCA, D’Antonio said the organization’s financial assistance program is available to any family, regardless of circumstances, and is not limited to those in persistent financial hardship. “It’s not always just based on someone who might continuously be going through a financial struggle,” she said. “Things happen-- someone loses their job, someone’s out of work because of an illness, someone has a tragic life moment and they just can’t keep up. And that’s where we want to step in and support, and that’s what we do.”
Families interested in learning what they qualify for can visit any YMCA branch and ask to be run through the financial assistance program. The Saratoga Springs branch, which houses the association office and the half-day preschool, is located at 290 West Ave. The Malta Early Learning Center, which has openings remaining in its preschool and summer camp programs, can be reached through the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s main line at 518-583-9622. Job openings are posted at srymca.org.
aging (MRI) and physical therapy services.
“It’s a complete orthopedic destination for patients,” said Dr. Goldstock.
Under the leadership of Dr. Amjad Hammad, managing partner of EyesNY, there will be a multi-room, multi-speciality ambulatory surgery center and clinic space.
Drs. Gavin Setzen and Lawrence Kaufman will treat patients at Albany ENT & Allergy Services as well as starting a facial plastics program with a new partner.
Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates will have clinical space.
St. Peter’s Hospital is putting in a comprehensive cardiology center with acute care and a full laboratory.
Finally, Bear’s Cup Bakehouse, which has shops in Saratoga Springs and Lake George, will have space offering breakfast and lunch for those in the building.
The general contractor for the two-story, 125,000-square-foot facility, which cost $70 million, is BBL Construction Services of Albany. They worked with hcparchitects, also headquartered in Albany, on its design.
According to Cody Dutcher, director of business development for BBL, multiple locations were considered before settling on the 13.4-acre site in Wilton.
“There were a multitude of factors considered in the decision,” he said. “We had to make sure the site would accommodate a large building and associated parking. Also, the developers wanted access to Exit 15 and the Saratoga Springs area.”
Dr. Goldstock said planning for the project started five years ago and was originally a small facility for just OrthoNY. Many sites were considered, as were different designs. Because of the high costs of land, construction, and borrowing money they had to “go to scale” and add more medical providers. When completed there will be 155,000 square feet of commercial space.
Phase II of the project, called Maple Commons and located across the street at 631 Maple Avenue, will house imaging and primary care centers for St. Peter’s Hospital, as well as orthopedic implant company Prodigy Surgical and Empire Oral Surgeons. Bear’s Cup Bakehouse will also offer their delectable treats in this building.
This phase will consist of three buildings estimated to cost $52 million. Two of them will have 31,019-square-feet of mixed use commercial space that will house medical offices, a branch of Bear’s Cup Bakehouse and a Hotworx fitness studio. The third will consist of 125 studio, one- andtwo-bedroom apartments.
According to Dr. Goldstock, the apartments were included in the plan because it’s difficult to find housing in Saratoga County. He said the hope is that medical personnel working at the facility will appreciate the proximity of the living quarters to their worksites.
“That’s why we did it ... walkability,” he said. “There are going to be sidewalks from Maple Commons to the main facility and a crossing light on the road. We want to generate housing for those who work in that building.”
Financing for the primary building was provided by Beacon Bank and Key Bank financed the auxiliary buildings.
He said that because the project is creating significant job growth in the region it got support from the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). He estimated that over 450 medical professionals will be employed at the facility.
According to Dutcher, the first of the three buildings at this site is scheduled for occupancy in October, with completion of the other two staggered in three- to fourmonth intervals.
“We’re on schedule because of a very good relationship with BBL, a extremely competent builder,” Dr. Goldstock said.
Viva Empanadas Expands To Saratoga Springs With Th ird Capital Region Site
BY CAROL ANN CONOVER
Veronica Agama did not arrive in the Capital Region with investors, a business plan or a commercial lease. She arrived with a laundry cart loaded with empanadas, a portable frying pan and a customer base she had built one weekend at a time in a Queens park during the height of the pandemic. Four years later, her company, Viva Empanadas, operates two locations in the Albany area and is preparing to open a third in Saratoga Springs at 26 Congress St., inside Congress Plaza.
Agama, who immigrated to New York City from Ecuador at 18 and spent more than a decade working in restaurant kitchens — from an Argentine steakhouse in Queens to fine dining near Bryant Park in Manhattan — launched Viva Empanadas when COVID-19 shuttered the restaurant industry and left her without income and with two young sons to support. What began as a way to generate extra cash evolved, within a few years, into a multilocation restaurant business that has earned support from city officials and economic development organizations.
"Viva Empanadas is my dream," Agama said at her Albany grand opening in August 2024. "It was years in the making. I wanted to bring all Latin flavors together under one
Viva Empanadas’ new Saratoga Springs location is planned for 26 Congress Plaza this summer.
Courtesy Jaclyn Shyptycki
beautiful roof with an offering that everybody can experience no matter the type of diet restrictions, the circumstance, the budget."
The brand’s growth has been methodical.
Agama first established herself at the Galleria 7 Market in Latham, where she built a following for her empanadas — each variety distinguished not only by its filling but by its dough. A corn-crusted Colombian-style empanada, a cassava-dough version that is both gluten-free and vegan, a plantain-crust offering layered with cheese: The menu reflects Agama’s years of working alongside cooks from Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Peru and Ecuador, and her conviction that Latin cuisine, in its full range, deserves a dedicated showcase.
"Latin food is diverse and really friendly to all tastes as it’s predominantly gluten free, with lots of veggies, and flavor," Agama has said. "Across Latin America we all use the same ingredients and most of the time we make very similar dishes — we just name them very differently. I’ve carefully curated a menu that represents us all."
In August 2024, Agama opened the fullservice Viva Empanadas Latin Grill and Wine at 90 North Pearl St. in downtown Albany, transforming a vacant storefront in the former Bishop gastropub space into a 2,400-square-foot restaurant with a full bar, tapas menu and Latin cocktail program. The project received support from the Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program, administered by Capitalize Albany Corporation, which cited the opening as an example of the program’s ability to leverage new private investment in the city’s core. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan called Viva Empanadas “a welcome new addition” and a “major boost to downtown Albany’s core and its growing strength” at the grand opening.
The Saratoga Springs location will occupy a corner unit previously used as a fish market inside Congress Plaza, adjacent to Wendy’s on Congress Street. Agama said she intends to install an outdoor patio using the building’s corner access, a parrilla-style grill visible from the dining room and a cooking surface she described as an open cooking stone traditional to Ecuador’s coastal region. The restaurant is expected to open this summer, though Agama said permitting delays
have pushed the original June target and she is now aiming for late June at the earliest. "I’m hoping it’s still for June," she said. "But I know we’re behind already on that." She cited a kitchen hood installation as the central permitting bottleneck, noting that contractors have told her the build-out will take about one month once permits are in hand. "Once they get the permit, they’re going to take a month to do this. And we haven’t received the permit yet."
Saratoga Springs presents a market notably different from Albany. The city’s population of about 28,800 skews affluent — median household income exceeds $105,000, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimates — and its dining scene is oriented toward tourism and a high-spending visitor base, particularly during the summer racing season. Agama said she sees the city as an opportunity to reach an audience that has sought out her food at events and markets but lacks a nearby permanent location.
Her delivery and ordering operations run through Milio, a locally owned delivery service she said she prefers over national platforms because of its regional identity. "I think they are so far big companies and far ahead from what we do," she said of the national competitors, adding that she was drawn to Mealeo when she spotted its pink cars making pickups at neighboring vendors in Galleria 7. Customers can also order through vivaempanadas.com, where a catering menu is available for larger events.
Agama, who now lives in Clifton Park with her two sons, ages 11 and 15, says she does not yet see herself at the top of the hill she has been climbing. "I’m always like climbing the hill," she said. "I’m never on top of it. But what I do know is that whatever needs to be done to get it there, I’ll do that."
Viva Empanadas’ Latham location remains open at Galleria 7 Market. The Albany full-service restaurant at 90 North Pearl St. is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit vivaempanadas.com. is slated to have approximately 34 apartments.
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“We’re about to submit our conceptual to the town on that one, so it’s very early in the process,” he said.
Another project in the early planning stage is a 74-unit apartment building at the corner of West Avenue and Station Lane in Saratoga Springs. Plans call for one- and two-bedroom apartments. Lansing Engineering is working with local officials on securing the permits.
After earning a degree in criminal justice from Salem International University in West Virginia, Faden was a patrol officer with the Saratoga Springs Police Department for 12 years. He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2007 while still on the force when he purchased his first Subway shop on Broadway. He remained with the police force for five years before he was able to transition full time to the business.
In July 2017 Subway implemented its Fresh Forward initiative, requiring its franchisees to modernize their stores, giving them a brighter, more open look. To date, Faden has remodeled 35 of his locations to the concept and any stores he acquires in the future will be built to these specifications.
“Within two more years all my stores will be remodeled according to the concept,” he said.
With so many locations Faden obviously cannot oversee all of them on a daily basis. He said he has committed, hard working employees at every level who keep thing running smoothly. Every store has a manager and there are area managers and a maintenance crew as well. Between fulland part-time workers he employs 300 people.
“We have a big team of people and everyone does their part,” he said. “It’s definitely a team effort.”
employers, and helps position Saratoga Springs for long-term growth.”
Mayor John Safford of Saratoga Springs said, “SLIC represents another choice for our residents and businesses,” adding that SLIC has taken the time to work with the city every step of the way and that its commitment to serving the community sets it apart. He said the investment comes at no cost to the city and will add to its tax base, providing additional value to taxpayers.
SLICFiber evolved out of the former Nicholville Telephone Company, founded in 1902 near Watertown. Several years ago, it began providing fiber optics across northern New York, primarily to communities that previously had no internet service.
More recently, the company has moved south to Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties and is competing against Spectrum, the region’s legacy technology provider. SLICFiber offers internet and phone service only, but future plans call for television service, too.
The company’s installation contractor has been especially busy in Glens Falls recently, putting cable on National Grid-owned utility poles.
“We’ll be turning up service in new locations
as we continue our build,” Lynch said. “We use direct mail and digital ads to let people know we’re coming into the community,” he said.
SLICFiber also had a highly visible presence at Adirondack Thunder playoff games, with displays on Harding Mazzotti Arena’s large video screen.
Ballston Spa, Wilton and South Glens Falls are among the communities the company is also targeting.
On Feb. 4, World Cancer Day, the company made a highly visible entry to Mechanicville by installing the first-ever pink fiber-optic cable, with plans to donate $25 to a local charity for every residential and commercial connection.
The Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce was the first “Pink Drop” customer. Plans call for working with local officials to make the #FiberofHope initiative available in SLICFiber’s entire service area. Lynch said more than $16,000 has been raised to date.
Installing fiber optics is extremely expensive, and asking customers to change providers they have had for many years can be quite a challenge. “It is a big risk, but people are desperate for choice,” Lynch said. “We started in places that had no service at all. We’ve found a pretty good success rate in communities where there’s overlap. We’re confident that as people get to know us as a company that they’re going to appreciate getting services from us.”
