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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

VOL. 31 NO. 05

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JULY 2026

Racing Festival Jump-Starts Saratoga Tourism Season With Higher Attendance

BY PAUL POST The extended 46-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course got off to a strong start as the three-day July 4 Racing Festival generated almost $70 million in handle, a 1.7% increase from 2025.

This came despite a 40% reduction in computer-assisted wagering caused by new restrictions imposed by the New York Racing Association. Paid attendance, 43,446, rose 6.3% from last year’s July 4 Festival.

“The traditional Saratoga meet is off to a terrific start,” Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri said. “The July 4 Racing Festival helped build early excitement, and we’re seeing strong visitation as racing fans return for one of America’s great summer traditions. Racing remains an incredible economic engine for Saratoga County, supporting our hospitality industry, local businesses, attractions, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods are connected to tourism.”

Racing is taking place four days per week through Sunday, July 26, followed by fiveday weeks beginning Wednesday, July 29.

The summer meet will conclude with a sixday week from Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

“Every week through Labor Day, world class thoroughbred racing, economic opportunity and special events, make Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County and the Capital Region, the ‘Summer Place to Be’,” said Greg Connors, Saratoga Economic Development Corp. president. “And they’re off!”

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said the July 4 festival was tantamount to a “perfect storm” of positive factors giving the local economy a huge boost. “For years, the Chamber has hosted a July 4th celebration in an effort to encourage people to visit Saratoga for Independence Day,” he said. “This year with the race course open and Live Nation hosting concerts, our downtown celebration was bigger than ever. It was a fantastic way to kick off the 2026 racing meet and help our

Horses break from the starting gate at Saratoga Race Course as the 46-day summer meet begins with higher attendance and nearly $70 million in wagering during the three-day July 4 Racing Festival. local businesses succeed, grow and thrive, serving both locals and visitors as our nation celebrated our 250th anniversary.”

Racing began in June with the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, giving the track a total of 51 dates this year.

Plenty of highlights are still to come, but the biggest is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 29, when Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champion Golden Tempo tries to nail down Horse of the Year honors in the historic race.

This year’s meet has 20 Grade 1 races among 73 stakes worth more than $23.575 million in total purses.

But there’s plenty for fans to look forward to in addition to thrilling on-track racing action.

Some of the most popular dates are when NYRA distributes premium giveaways.

The list includes a Meet Me at the Spa pin

Courtesy NYRA Adam Coglianese

on Friday, July 24; a Saratoga stuffed horse for the first 5,000 children 12 and younger on Sunday, July 26; a Saratoga straw cowboy hat on Sunday, Aug. 2; a Whitney pin on Friday, Aug. 7; a Corgi pin on Sunday, Aug. 16; a 6-inch Mini Lawn Jockey Statue on Sunday, Aug. 23; a Saratoga summer pin on Sunday, Aug. 30; and a Saratoga flannel shirt on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

These are just some of the many special events scheduled.

Free guided backstretch tram tours are offered every live racing day except Travers Day and Labor Day. Fans can go behind the scenes to see how handlers care for horses.

Tours depart from the clubhouse entrance from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and run every 30 minutes. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are approximately 45 minutes long.

Another popular attraction is a series of

Breakfast and Farm tours, held each Thursday through Sunday except Saturday, Aug. 29, Travers Day. Tours start with a buffet-style breakfast at Saratoga Race Course from 7 to 9 a.m. against the backdrop of morning training on the main track. Fans then board a CDTA trolley at 9:15 a.m. for a scenic round-trip ride to that day’s featured farm, where they will enjoy a 60- to 90-minute guided tour before returning for an afternoon of live racing. Each tour accommodates up to 52 guests.

A portion of proceeds benefits the New York Thoroughbred Breeders scholarship fund.

Featured farms are Old Friends at Cabin Creek, an industry-renowned aftercare facility that provides a lifetime sanctuary for retired racehorses, in Greenfield Center, on Thursdays; Old Tavern Farm, a boutique breeding operation overlooking Saratoga Lake, on Saturdays; Sugar Plum Farm in Saratoga Springs, a breeding farm that also appeals to children with its miniature horses, goats, donkeys and other animals, on Saturdays; and Ironhorse Stallions in Schuylerville, the tour program’s first dedicated stallion farm, on Sundays.

A full schedule and ticket information are available at NYRA.com.

The track’s Taste NY Pavilion is a popular feature, too, offering New York craft beers, cider, wines and spirits. It is located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch. Fans must be 21 or older to sample and purchase alcoholic beverages.

Also just inside Gate A, the educational exhibit Horse Sense allows fans of all ages to pet a retired thoroughbred and learn fun facts about the life and career of a racehorse. It is offered from noon to 2 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

The NYRA STAR, or Students of Thoroughbreds and Racing, program is held each Thursday through Sunday, giving children 12 and younger and their families Continued On Page 16

Siena University Reports New York Consumer Cornell Cooperative Extension Appoints Confidence Remains Above National Level Greg Stevens As Interim Executive Director New York consumer sentiment edged up in the second quarter of 2026 and remained well above the national reading, according to the latest Siena Research Institute poll.

The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment stood at 66.5, up 0.9 points from the first quarter and 17 points above the national index of 49.5, which fell 3.8 points. New York’s current conditions index declined 1.5 points to 61.8, while future expectations rose 2.4 points to 69.6. For the sixth consecutive quarter, the state’s overall index remained below the breakeven point between optimism and pessimism.

Travis Brodbeck, SRI’s associate director of data management, said New York moved in the opposite direction from the nation, where consumer sentiment fell to a 50-year low. He attributed the state’s slight increase to stronger expectations for the future, even as confidence in current economic conditions declined.

Buying plans increased for most items. Plans to purchase consumer electronics rose to 46.7% from 41.6%, while vehicle-buying plans increased to 20.8% from 18.3%. Home improvement plans rose to 23.9%, and intentions to buy a home increased to 10.7%. Furniture purchase plans slipped slightly to 29.8%.

“Consumers are continuing to spend, but cautiously,” Brodbeck said. Compared with last summer, vehicle-buying plans rose three percentage points, while plans for home improvements, electronics, furniture and homes were largely unchanged.

Concern about gasoline prices rose sharply. Sixtythree percent of New Yorkers said gas prices were having a somewhat or very serious effect on their finances, up 12 percentage points from the previous quarter. Food prices remained the top concern at 78%, followed by utilities at 72% and housing at 69%.

Entertainment and streaming services were cited by 48%, and cell phone costs by 40%.

Fifty-eight percent said both gas and food prices were seriously affecting their finances, while 53% cited food, utility and housing costs. Twenty-four percent said all six expenses measured were weighing heavily on their finances, up from 19% in the previous quarter.

Brodbeck said six in 10 residents reported gasoline prices were squeezing their budgets for the first time since 2023, adding to pressure from food, utility and housing costs. He said the strain is especially severe for New Yorkers with the lowest incomes and fewest resources.

The Siena University Poll was conducted July 1-8, 2026, among 814 New York state residents by telephone, text-to-web and an online panel. The sample included 365 telephone respondents and 449 members of a proprietary online panel across New York state. Data was weighted to match state population estimates and party registration patterns. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

For details visit www.siena.edu/sri/.

Provided by Siena University; edited for style and length.

Effective July 1, 2026, Greg Stevens was named Interim Executive Director for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County.

Stevens brings more than 28 years of experience to the role. He began his career in 4-H Youth Development, providing classroom education through the School Outreach Program and administering an Academic Enrichment Program during the summer. He developed and administered the Reality Check Youth Empowerment Program and later partnered with school districts to strengthen anti-smoking policies through the Tobacco-Free Schools Program.

In 2015, Stevens was promoted to 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences Issue Leader. In 2023, he was appointed Assistant Director, assuming responsibility for the Adirondack Welcome Center Taste NY Program and expanding his work to include collaboration with the agriculture team.

Stevens received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh in 1993. He returned to SUNY Plattsburgh for a master’s degree in Science in Liberal Studies- Administration and Leadership, graduating in 2011.

“I’m extremely excited about the next chapter for CCE Saratoga,” said Stevens. “We have an incredibly talented staff, and it is an honor to work with such dedicated individuals while providing leadership to this Association on an interim

Greg Stevens leads CCE Saratoga County as its newly appointed interim executive director.

Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension

basis—and hopefully continuing in a full-time role in the future. I’ve learned from the best over the years, and I hope to carry forward their outstanding qualities in this new endeavor.”

Provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County; edited for style and length.

2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

Personnel Briefs •

AAA Northway announced the addition of travel agents Nadia Traslavina and Taylor Robertson.

Traslavina will work from the Halfmoon branch office at 1647 Route 9. Robertson will serve customers from the Schenectady branch office at 220 Harborside Drive, second floor.

AAA Northway provides travel services to members and nonmembers. More information is available at AAA. com or by calling 877-222-8283.

Provided by AAA Northway; edited for style and length. ******** Julie & Co. Realty has welcomed Natalie A. Caruso to the brokerage as an associate broker.

Caruso specializes in luxury homes, custom homes, new construction and residential real estate. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Tulsa and began her career in finance and information technology before obtaining her real estate license in 2014.

As the primary Realtor for Caruso Builders, Caruso has spent more than a decade working with architects, designers and construction professionals. She has guided clients through the custom home process and represented buyers building with Capital Region builders, giving her knowledge of construction and the local real estate market.

•

Saratoga Hospital Graduates Inaugural Family Medicine Residency Class Of 2026

For more information, call 518-350-SOLD (7653), email info@juliecorealty.com or visit www.JulieCoRealty.com.

Provided by Julie & Co. Realty, LLC; edited for style and length. ********

Teri Kleinmann has joined Roohan Realty as an Associate Real Estate Broker.

A lifelong Capital Region resident, Kleinmann has helped buyers and sellers navigate the real estate market since 2008. She combines real estate experience with a legal career. A New York State licensed attorney since 1989, she has practiced law in Chicago, New York City and Albany and served as counsel in the New York State Assembly.

Kleinmann is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, Wellesley College and the Academy of the Holy Names. She emphasizes knowledge, preparation and clear communication when working with first-time buyers, longtime homeowners and clients relocating to the area.

Kleinmann lives in Malta with husband, Joel Howard, a construction attorney, and their cat, Casper. She has served on the boards of the St. Margaret’s Center Foundation and St. Anne Institute Foundation and led fundraising efforts for the Center for Disability Services and nonprofit organizations.

Outside work, Kleinmann enjoys traveling, walking, exploring Saratoga, attending live music and spending time at the beach.

Roohan Realty, founded in 1969, serves residential and commercial property clients from 519 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. The locally based, family-owned company has more than 50 licensed agents.

Provided by Roohan Realty; edited for style and length.

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Five attendees pose during Saratoga Hospital’s inaugural Family Medicine Residency Program graduation ceremony, marking a milestone in the program’s preparation of community-focused physicians.

Saratoga Hospital celebrated the inaugural graduation of six physicians from its Family Medicine Residency Program, marking a milestone in the program’s mission to prepare community-focused physicians.

The Class of 2026 includes Alina Bazarian, MD; Awais Chaudary, MD; Anna Kaoutskaia, MD; Elena Mejery, MD; Carolyn Miller, DO; and Zeynep Ovacik, MD. Established through a collaboration among Saratoga Hospital, Albany Medical Center and Hudson Headwaters Health Network, the program provides hospital and outpatient training with an emphasis on community health, behavioral health, addiction medicine and leadership development.

Residents train in multiple clinical set-

Courtesy Saratoga Hospital

tings with multidisciplinary teams and prepare to serve rural and underserved communities.

“Our graduating residents have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their patients, colleagues and communities throughout their training,” said Ephraim Back, MD, Program Director of the Saratoga Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. “We are proud of their accomplishments and confident they will make meaningful contributions wherever their careers take them.”

The ceremony also recognized faculty and leadership. Graduates will enter independent practice or pursue fellowship training.

Provided by Saratoga Hospital; edited for style and length.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 3

Gaffney’s Restores Caroline Street Venue New York Wine & Grape Foundation Adds With Lounge, Pub Fare And Sunday Brunch Adirondack Winery President Sasha Pardy

The Parlor at Gaffney’s pairs chef-driven dishes with specialty cocktails in a 1920s-inspired upstairs lounge, one of two dining experiences introduced with the Caroline Street venue’s reopening.

Courtesy Saratoga.com

BY ERIN NUDI Gaffney’s has reopened on Caroline Street with new leadership, renovated spaces and a second concept, The Parlor, designed as a 1920s-inspired lounge.

The restaurant reopened May 1, 2026, after about two years of closure. Co-owners Mike Morgan and Mike Malone led extensive renovations, structural reinforcements and aesthetic updates to preserve the building’s historic character while creating two distinct experiences.

Downstairs, Gaffney’s remains a social hub for casual gatherings, sports viewing, live music and pub fare. Upstairs, The Parlor offers a casual fine-dining environment with a chefdriven menu, specialty cocktails and mocktails, and a quieter entertainment lineup.

“I’ve seen it sit empty for a couple of years. I grew up in this town and it’s a staple here, it’s an iconic space,” Morgan said. “I wasn’t really looking to get back into the bar business per se, but I knew it was a good opportunity.”

Chef Patrick Curley said The Parlor was developed as a welcoming, approachable dining space rather than an ultra-fine-dining concept.

“The Parlor from its inception was always going to be a casual fine dining space,” Curley said. “Gaffney’s, when it first started, always had food up there. It was always a gastropub of sorts, with a little bit of a bar atmosphere, and it was just always cozy and comfortable.

When they brought me on, their vision was to have a 1920s speakeasy vibe, with chef-driven comfort food. And that’s pretty much what we’ve accomplished.”

Curley’s menu draws on his culinary roots in North Carolina and South Carolina, with coastal and Southern influences. He said the menu will change seasonally and feature as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.

Signature dishes include jumbo lump crab cakes, shrimp and grits, halibut, watermelon salad and brunch items such as Carolina Crab Cake Benedict, chicken waffles, biscuits and gravy and the Dough-Nutty, a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a yeast-risen doughnut.

The Parlor has specialty cocktails created for the upstairs bar, with some drinks designed to pair with brunch and dinner items.

Mocktails also are available.

Entertainment in The Parlor is intended to support dinner and conversation, with acoustic acts, two-piece sets and jazz nights. Larger party bands are scheduled for the patio rather than the lounge.

The downstairs bar and patio serve scratchmade pub fare, including a crispy chicken thigh sandwich, Gaffney’s burger, wings, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, house chips, shrimp cocktail, lobster roll and salads.

Sunday brunch is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Parlor serves dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. and remains open as a lounge until 2 a.m. The bar and patio serve lunch Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with lighter dinner fare available afterward.

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited for length and style. The complete article is available at https://www.saratoga.com/ guides/food-and-drink/the-parlor-at-gaffneys Provided by Saratoga.com; edited for style and length.

Adirondack Winery President and Co-Owner Sasha Pardy has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF), a statewide organization that supports New York's grape and wine industry through marketing, research, education, sustainability and advocacy. Established by New York State in 1985, the Foundation works to strengthen the competitiveness and reputation of the state's wine and grape industry.

Pardy began her three-year term July 1, 2026, joining a board of winery owners, grape growers, researchers, distributors and industry leaders from across New York State. The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight for the Foundation and helps guide initiatives supporting the growth and long-term success of New York's wine and grape industries.

Earlier this year, the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) named Pardy one of its 2026 "10 Women to Watch" in Hospitality, an honor recognizing emerging female leaders in New York's hospitality industry.

As President and Co-Owner of Adirondack Winery since its inception in 2008, Pardy oversees sales, marketing, customer experience and business development for the winery and sister brand, Extreme Heights Cidery. She is also the founder of the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival.

The 10th Annual Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, held June 27-28 in Lake George, drew nearly 6,000 attendees and featured more than 120 New York wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries, artisan food producers, food trucks and other vendors. The festival has generated tourism spending while promoting New York's craft beverage industry and small, family-owned producers.

"Sasha Pardy is exactly the kind of forwardthinking industry leader NYWGF needs. I've admired her work over the past decade building Adirondack Winery and the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival into two of the region's biggest success stories—she'll be a tremendous representative for the Upper Hudson AVA." — Sam Filler, Executive Director, New York Wine & Grape Foundation Pardy has more than a decade of nonprofit board and industry leadership experience. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB for more than 15 years, helped establish the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail and the Upper Hudson Valley Wine Trail, and previously served on the board of the Adirondack Ballet Theater.

Under her leadership, Adirondack Winery has sponsored Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks for more than a

Sasha Pardy, co-owner of Adirondack Winery, appointed to NY Wine & Grape Foundation.

Courtesy Adirondack Winery

decade, helping raise over $150,000 for breast cancer research and patient services. Through the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, Pardy has also helped raise more than $100,000 for local nonprofits, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Soroptimist International and the SUNY Adirondack Foundation.

"I'm incredibly honored to join the Board of Directors of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation," said Pardy. "For nearly two decades, I've had the privilege of introducing hundreds of thousands of people to New York wines through Adirondack Winery and the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival. I'm excited to help champion our state's wineries and growers, strengthen New York's reputation as a world-class wine destination, and ensure our small family-owned producers continue to thrive for generations to come."

Pardy's experience includes direct-to-consumer sales, hospitality, tourism, marketing and experiential events. The Foundation works to expand awareness of New York wines and support wineries and grape growers across the state.

Founded in 2008, Adirondack Winery produces more than 15,000 cases annually. The company operates tasting rooms in Lake George and is headquartered in Queensbury, New York; ships to over 35 states and sold in over 400 stores and restaurants across New York. Adirondack Winery is also the parent company of Extreme Heights Cidery and producer of the annual Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, under parent company Adirondack Festivals LLC. Provided by Adirondack Winery; edited for style and length.

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4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

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Cottrell Paper Company’s mill stands along Kayaderosseras Creek in Rock City Falls, where the fourth-generation family business has produced electrical insulating papers for a full century now.

BY ROD BACON Last month, Cottrell Paper Company celebrated a century of producing high-quality insulating papers for a variety of electrical applications.

The fourth generation of the family continues to operate the mill established by Frank Cottrell Sr. and his two sons, A. Frank Cottrell Jr. and James T. Cottrell, on Kayaderosseras Creek in Rock City Falls.

“We have a reputation for reliability, innovation, and superior craftsmanship,” said Chief Executive Officer Josh Cottrell. “We have proved that stewardship of place and people can outlast market swings and industry consolidations.”

Cottrell explained that in the early years the company focused on producing rag paper, a type of electrical insulating paper made from high-quality cotton fibers. With its proven track record of strength and insulating properties in electrical applications it was ideal for use in motors, transformers, and other electrical components as well as being a sustainable option. They continue to use this method, sourcing materials from overseas. The proprietary name for this material is Copaco.

“These are automotive and electrical insulating grades, he said. “It’s used mostly in small fractional horsepower (FHP) motors but there are a lot of automotive applications as well.”

In the 1990s the company introduced Cottrell Kraft, a product made from virgin fiber electrical kraft pulp. It is produced by treating wood chips with hot alkaline chemicals to dissolve the lignin that binds the wood fibers together.

Cottrell noted that the products made from cotton material are a bit stronger and more puncture resistant than those made from the kraft option, but clients that don’t need the properties of rag paper can choose it. It is slightly less expensive.

While a precise, universally agreed-upon consensus of every micro-manufacturer does not exist, 360 Research Reports identifies 3050 globally recognized companies. Cottrell Paper is listed as a key U.S.-based manufacturer.

The mill has converting capabilities from its master rolls to produce sheets, rolls, and coils of various sizes to meet customer demands. They provide these to their clients, who

Courtesy Cottrell Paper Company

manufacture the products they need.

“We’re small enough to manufacture products exactly the way the customer is looking for them,” Cottrell said. “They don’t have to just pick something off the shelf” During COVID-19, when business slowed, the company met the challenge and kept all employees working. They made part of the nose piece for the N95 masks as well as developing products made from hemp. Marketed under the trade name Mill26, they manufacture hemp paper lunch bags, filter tips/crutches, paper drinking straws, and business cards.

They bought a bag machine and can print a company’s logo on the purchaser’s bags.

“We were able to develop the world’s first thick one-hundred percent hemp paper made on a machine in a long time,” Cottrell said.

They are actively marketing the lunch bags to local companies and dispensaries.

Josh Cottrell’s brother, Jimmy, was a driving force behind the establishment of Mill26.

As vice president/director of maintenance, he is responsible for keeping the manufacturing process running smoothly.

Business has increased significantly since the pandemic, requiring the hiring of additional employees that took the workforce from 38 last year to the current total of 50. The mill has gone from running five or six days a week to 24/7.

Cottrell attributes the increased need for their products to a growing demand for electrical power worldwide. He noted that electric cars are now a viable market segment and AI data centers are coming online. The populations of China and India are expanding rapidly, creating the need for more electricity.

“Those countries, as well as others, all need more transformers and a lot of our products go into wrapping wire inside those transformers.

All this electrification requires us to supply more material. There’s a shortage of companies manufacturing transformers and they’re growing their facilities so we’re trying to grow our market share,” he said.

The Cottrells have always been excellent stewards of the environment, and numerous initiatives over the years have helped sustain it.

From the company’s inception they have utilized hydroelectric power produced by a Continued On Page 5

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 5

LayerEight Brings The ‘Human Layer’ Discover Saratoga Captures Three New York Of IT Services To New Glens Falls Office State Tourism Excellence Honors In 2026

LayerEight account executive Bryan Carr and sales and marketing director Vicki Marking stand beside a company vehicle as the IT services firm expands with a new dedicated office in Glens Falls.

BY ANN DONNELLY A Plattsburgh-based managed IT services firm has cemented its commitment to the Greater Glens Falls and Saratoga region with a dedicated office on Broad Street in Glens Falls.

LayerEight, which launched its current brand in January 2021, previously maintained a fulltime technician in the area. In 2026, the company decided to establish a dedicated office adjacent to the new South Street developments. The firm brought on account executive Bryan Carr to staff the location and spearhead local growth.

Vicki Marking, director of sales and marketing, said the new office positions the company amid local growth. “There’s so much going on around us right now,” Marking said.

Carr, who lives in Saratoga, is tasked with building relationships across the region.

“I love what I do here,” Carr said. “Being able to go out to different ribbon cuttings, seeing these new businesses, introducing them to the LayerEight brand and telling them what we do is something that I’ve done a little bit before, but never on this scale.”

Carr is no stranger to the local business landscape. Before transitioning to the IT sector, he spent nine years in the U.S. Navy. During his last two and a half years of service, he worked as a Navy recruiter with stops in Colonie, Clifton Park and Saratoga.

“What drew me to LayerEight is the focus on building real, long-term partnerships,” Carr said. “We are not just here to sell a service. We are here to be a trusted resource for businesses as they navigate IT, cybersecurity and the technology decisions that impact their day-to-day operations.”

While the LayerEight name is relatively new, its roots in the community run deep. Many staff members previously worked for PrimeLink, which provided telephone and internet services throughout the North Country, the Lake Champlain corridor and the Capital Region, including the Glens Falls area. When PrimeLink was sold, a core group of employees retained the IT services division and rebranded it as LayerEight, which now operates as a subsidiary of the 123-year-old Champlain Technology Group.

“I got the fun part of completely branding the new company,” Marking said. She explained that the name LayerEight stems from the IT industry’s OSI model, a seven-layer framework used

Discover Saratoga has received three 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards from the New York State Tourism Industry Association. The awards recognize achievements in tourism marketing and destination stewardship across New York and will be presented Sept. 17 in Corning.

Discover Saratoga received an award for its public relations program, developed with Travel Alliance Partnership; an award for its “Trip Ideas” trails and itineraries, developed with LIFT Marketing; and a sustainable stewardship award for Chowderfest, developed with Sustainable Saratoga.

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized by the New York State Tourism Industry Association with three Tourism Excellence Awards,” said Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga. “These awards reflect the creativity, dedication, and collaboration of our team and partners, who work every day to showcase Saratoga County as a premier destination. We’re grateful to NYSTIA for this recognition and remain committed to creating innovative marketing initiatives and memo-

rable visitor experiences that strengthen our local tourism economy.”

“It seems that each year the standards of excellence recognized by the NYS Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit are both elevated and evolved,” observed Bob Provost, President of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. “They reflect the increasing sophistication of the visitor industry and the enlightened perspective of the intricate ecosystem of the visitor economy. The addition of Tourism Excellence Workshops in 2025 further enhanced the attendee experience, enabling them to learn from and appreciate the significance and relevance of the work being recognized.”

The awards are open to tourism professionals and organizations statewide. Recipients are selected through a competitive evaluation process conducted by a panel of industry experts.

More information is available at www.nystia.org.

Provided by Discover Saratoga; edited for style and length.

Cottrell Paper

“It’s very clean,” Cottrell said. “We pride ourselves on putting it back in the creek as clean as we took it out. We also believe that the cleanliness of the water gives us very pure paper for electrical purposes.”

Fifteen years ago, realizing that fuel oil prices were increasing, they took out a loan to run a natural gas line three miles to the plant and installed a high-efficiency boiler.

“Not only did this save us on fuel costs but it significantly lowered our carbon footprint by replacing more polluting heating methods,” said Cottrell.

Finally, all fiber waste that can’t be used is composted as a nutrient-rich soil enhancement.

For further information about Cottrell Paper Company go to cottrellpaper.com.

Courtesy LayerEight

to identify network functions. “The eighth layer is really not part of the model. It’s known as the human layer. It’s the user,” Marking said. “Technology is great, but if it’s not doing what the user needs it to do, then none of the rest of it really matters.”

Operating as a fully outsourced IT department, LayerEight provides daily troubleshooting, consulting and advanced cybersecurity. The relationship begins with an on-site “discovery” evaluation, followed by customized recommendations. Clients pay an all-inclusive, flat-rate monthly fee, a model Marking said is designed to encourage communication rather than having employees suffer through slow computers to save money.

As Carr meets with business owners in the Glens Falls and Saratoga regions, he has noticed a recurring misconception: that a basic home Wi-Fi network provides adequate security for an office. Small and medium-sized businesses have become prime targets for hackers because they often lack robust defenses.

Rather than forcing their way into networks, today’s hackers often “walk right through the front door” using stolen credentials. “People tend to get in the habit of using one single password,” Carr said. “It just takes one password to unlock everything if you use the same one over and over again.”

To combat these threats, LayerEight provides cybersecurity training for clients’ employees, helping them identify phishing scams and malicious links. The firm also assists businesses in navigating compliance requirements, such as the New York State SHIELD Act, a 2019 law designed to protect consumer data. Recently, the company has begun helping clients draft artificial intelligence policies to prevent employees from inadvertently sharing sensitive company data on platforms like ChatGPT. Despite technological advancements, Carr emphasized that the Glens Falls office remains focused on personal connection. “I enjoy getting to know people, learning what matters to them, and being someone they feel comfortable reaching out to when they need guidance,” Carr said. “There are no stupid questions. If you have a question, we want you to reach out to us and let us know.”

For more information on LayerEight, visit thelayereight.com.

Continued From Page 4 small plant on Kayaderosseras Creek. In recent years it has contributed only a minor portion of the energy required, but there are plans to increase that in the future.

The raw materials for their Copaco and Kraft papers are sourced from post-manufactured waste, which decreases the demand for virgin fiber and reduces the landfill burden.

Internal recycling at the plant recaptures, repulps, and reincorporates all paper trim material into the manufacturing process.

The water used comes from the Adirondack Mountains and ultimately from the Kayaderosseras Creek.

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6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

Summer Construction Munter Enterprises Expands Portfolio With Queensbury’s Hilltop Construction Celebrates Major Commercial And Community Projects 50 Years And Third-Generation Growth

The newly completed Hudson River Community Credit Union branch in Greenwich is among the commercial and community projects delivered by Middle Grove-based Munter Enterprises this year alone.

BY ROD BACON The crews at Munter Enterprises are looking at a very busy year. The Middle Grovebased construction fi rm has numerous projects underway or nearing completion.

Munter is one of a few Capital District contractors awarded work at the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals facility in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs.

“We are honored to be among those chosen to move this project forward,” said Vice President Mike Munter.

Regeneron’s $2 billion investment, estimated to create 1,000 permanent jobs and 500 construction jobs, is slated for full completion in June 2033. The start of pharmaceutical production is scheduled for 2030.

In June, Munter completed the fi rst phase of a two-phase rebuild of Stewart’s Shops’ food and ice cream production facility in Greenfield.

Munter is quarterbacking the project, which will modernize and expand Stewart’s ice cream and milk production while more than doubling the size of the convenience store chain’s commercial kitchen.

The project will position Stewart’s to grow for decades.

Munter is just starting phase two, an 11,000-square-foot expansion of its ice cream production and milk silo pad, as well as a 12,000-square-foot addition to the minus-10-degree freezer. These projects will

Courtesy Munter Enterprises

carry into 2027.

The company is starting a 48,000-squarefoot expansion at Boat N RV Condos, a storage facility on Saratoga Lake. Plans call for 86 units in two buildings to provide yearround storage for boats and recreational vehicles. Completion is scheduled for this fall.

“I don’t know where the time goes but this is actually an addition to the original project we did twenty years ago,” Munter noted.

In September, the company will start construction of a 25,000-square-foot, $6 million building for the Code Blue Shelter, a division of Shelters of Saratoga that provides beds, meals and critical care to those in need from November through April. There will be a large kitchen and living spaces divided according to residents’ needs.

“Working closely with the shelter’s staff our design team came up with a wellplanned and attractive design to meet the community’s needs and shelter’s budget while incorporating the many standards and regulations by which a facility of that nature must abide,” Munter said.

The design team comprised Paone Architecture, Cotler and Gribulis Architecture, and The LA Group.

Also on the schedule is an 8,000-squarefoot addition at Precision Valve & Automation (PVA) in Clifton Park. The company manufactures automated mechanisms for Continued On Page 7

From left, Cindy Albrecht, Tom Albrecht Sr., April Washburn, Daniel Washburn and Tom Albrecht Jr. gather at Hilltop Construction as the Queensbury family business marks its 50th anniversary.

BY PAUL POST Tom Albrecht Sr. launched Hilltop Construction with a dollar and a dream.

Now marking its 50th anniversary, the firm is one of the area’s best-known residential and commercial builders, with projects from Saratoga to the southern Adirondacks and from Great Sacandaga Lake to Lake St. Catherine in Vermont.

But Albrecht says he never worked a day in his life.

“That’s because I loved the business, every aspect of it,” he said. “But more importantly, I loved building people’s dreams.”

A celebration for clients, current and former employees and business friends is planned for August at Hilltop’s new headquarters at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury’s Airport Industrial Park.

Albrecht and his wife, Cindy, recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.

Now retired, they enjoy spending time with grandchildren and traveling, especially to major league ballparks across the country.

Their son, Tom Albrecht Jr., daughter, April, and her husband, Dan Washburn, now co-own and manage the company. A third generation, Noah Albrecht and Cameron Washburn, recently joined the business.

“The goal, since we took over ownership five years ago, was to set this up to go an-

Courtesy Hilltop Construction

other 50 years,” Tom Jr. said. “We’re putting Noah and Cameron in the field, the same way we learned, so they understand all facets of how to run the business and develop continuity with our young employees who will probably be here 25 or 30 years.”

Like many self-employed people, Tom Sr. initially found much of his work through family and friends. Relentless hard work, integrity and sound business practices, from financial decisions to human relations, helped drive Hilltop’s growth and success.

Perhaps most importantly, he never turned down a job, taking on challenges such as home remodeling projects that others avoided. “I always felt, bring it on!” he said.

“Everybody wants to build a new house because it’s easy,” Tom Jr. said. “We do a lot of remodeling at a high level.”

Diversity is also key.

Hilltop’s portfolio includes some of the area’s most impressive custom-built homes. But the company also handles a wide range of renovation work, including porches, decks, kitchens and baths.

“You’ll never see a slowdown if you use that philosophy,” Tom Jr. said.

Tom Jr. oversees most residential jobs, while Dan Washburn handles the comContinued On Page 15

TIM SEELEY, JR. TSEELEYJR@SEELEYOFFICE.COM

518-744-0087

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 7

KPM Targets Larger Restoration Projects Through Regional Expansion

KPM Restoration employees gather beside company vehicles as the firm expands across the Capital Region, Hudson Valley and Vermont to pursue larger residential and commercial restoration projects.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL KPM Restoration now has five fully staffed offices in the Capital Region, three in the Hudson Valley and one in Vermont, allowing it to handle 30 or more jobs each week, according to President and founder James Kennedy. The firm restores homes and buildings damaged by water, fire, mold and sewage caused by natural disasters or system failures due to age or accidents.

Kennedy said clients range from Lake Placid to Long Island and that the Bronx is the latest market he is entering. He is moving into the boroughs by “getting out there networking and keeping relationships tight,” which has been his approach since starting KPM Restoration in 2017.

“The growth we are experiencing goes back to taking a chance and getting a network of good vendors, building managers, insurance companies, construction project managers, plumbers, and others to partner with,” he said. “And it is about making a foundation of people with grit who are like family to me.”

The firm is shifting to larger jobs from its new location in southeastern New York because, as Kennedy said, “bigger buildings need bigger restorations.”

“We bought three vans for the Westchester location and the warehouse is storing air movers and dehumidifiers to handle the volume of demand among hotels, residential complexes, and commercial buildings,” he said.

That brings KPM’s total to 45 employees and 26 vans kept on the road to respond promptly to property owners’ calls.

“If we are not there within the hour, the homeowner will call someone else,” Kennedy said. “We show up fast, communicate clearly, and treat every property like our own.”

As many staff members as possible are trained as water restoration technicians and applied structural drying technicians, certifications that take a week to complete. The technicians also receive on-the-job training, and Kennedy does not require prior experience in the restoration field.

“I look for people who enjoy working with people, who are honest and value doing a job right,” he said.

Courtesy KPM Restoration

KPM currently has openings for 10 more employees in project management, sales, administration and field services.

As a business, KPM faces the challenge of responding to a growing clientele while upholding its reputation for quality service. That requires ensuring Kennedy’s “team is connected” and that he “stays very involved” with every employee, he said.

“We are happy we can help homeowners during their time of distress,” he said. “We know we have done a good job for them on our walkthrough and they see everything has gone to plan.”

After restoration and remediation are complete, the home or building may need further repairs and construction. Kennedy said his staff works with the client’s insurance representative to start the next stage and arrange direct billing, which can ease other burdens on the homeowner.

“It’s important to keep it honest with the adjustors and never hide a problem,” he said. “Sometimes people mess up, so just be honest and fix it and move on.”

Homeowners and building managers can take proactive steps to help prevent certain types of costly damage. Kennedy, who started in business doing foreclosure work for banks, said regular furnace cleaning and keeping smoke detectors and fire alarms in working order are imperative. They also should protect water pipes during winter and check attics for moisture.

Kennedy describes himself as a family man who emphasizes “giving back to the community,” especially “working with children who need help.”

The company donates to and sponsors events for high school and youth sports, hospitals, fire departments and local chambers of commerce, examples Kennedy shared of its community support.

“I’m a dad myself and my kids are my life,” he said. ”They know they come first, but have been very understanding of how busy Daddy can be.”

“My kids are aged 15, 11, and 5, and they have sacrificed a lot for me to help me out,” he said.

For more about the full range of restoration services and to meet the KPM team, visit kpmrestoration.com.

Munter Enterprises Continued From Page 6

fluid dispensing and selective conformal coating for a wide variety of applications.

Underway now is the renovation of Adirondack Trust Co.’s Malta branch. Half the building and the drive-thru were torn down and are being rebuilt with timberframe elements to bring the building closer to the look of some other branches. The drive-thru is scheduled to reopen at the end of August, and the entire branch should be fully operational in October. Adirondack Trust Co. engaged Phinney Design Group and Studio A to design the project.

A project started last winter for Fort Miller Precast in Greenwich is nearing completion.

The 35,000-square-foot building will house three large cranes used to manufacture components for bridges, highways, walls, erosion control, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) structures and custom products.

Munter recently completed two projects.

The company built a 35,000-square-foot building in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park for Ambrave Corp., a company that designs and manufactures advanced tactical gear for military special operations forces and law enforcement under the Direct Action brand and for outdoor enthusiasts under the Helikon-Tex brand.

Headquartered in Poland, the company’s U.S. headquarters were in Ballston Spa before its move to the industrial park.

Also recently completed is a 2,500-squarefoot branch of Hudson River Community Credit Union in Greenwich. A unique aspect of the project, according to Munter, is that because of the Amish population in the area, there are a hitching post and water hydrant for horses in the parking lot.

In Glens Falls, Munter is doing an $8 mil-

lion renovation of the Glens Falls YMCA using a multiphase approach to help keep programming and use of the facility as seamless as possible for staff and members.

Phase one, which is underway with an anticipated completion date this fall, is the redesign of a family locker room, a women’s locker room and a men’s locker room.

Phase two will be a dedicated group fitness studio.

Phase three creates a multiuse indoor sports complex.

Phase four is a complete redesign of the wellness floor.

Phase five redesigns the front lobby, creates a youth STEAM area and includes a new cycle studio.

And somewhere in the mix of the other phases, the pool deck on the Fire Road side of the building will be expanded to include an on-deck restroom, sauna and hot tub.

Instead of a typical groundbreaking with shovels to kick off the project, YMCA officials and local dignitaries smashed cinder blocks with sledgehammers to signify the major renovations in a more exciting manner.

Munter closed by saying, “John and I have taken the foundation that our parents laid out to build a reputation that, thankfully, has attracted the attention of some of the largest and most successful manufacturers in the region as well as a variety of amazing organizations of all sizes. We have found that if there is one thing all of our customers need, it’s trust, reliability, and the ability to determine how long it will take to get their products and services to market and the cost to do so.”

To learn more about Munter Enterprises, go to munterenterprises.com.

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8 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Office/Technology

SUNY Adirondack Students Explore AI- TickDetect Brings AI-Powered Tick Driven Technology Careers at StoredTech Screening To Warren County Residents

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER StoredTech, a managed IT and cybersecurity firm, capped off the spring semester by hosting cybersecurity students from SUNY Adirondack in late May for a hands-on look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping day-to-day work in the technology field and the career paths now opening because of it.

The visit came together, fittingly, through an unplanned encounter. “Interestingly, the connection started through a conversation during a DoorDash delivery,” said David Andrade, StoredTech’s president. “It’s a great reminder that in a close-knit community, opportunities often come from unexpected places. We saw this as a great chance to connect students, see the many pathways available in the technology field.”

During the visit, StoredTech staff led students through a live demonstration of the platform the company uses to support its clients, including a walkthrough of how a support ticket is completed and how the company gathers and analyzes data for client reporting. The students’ reaction stood out to the StoredTech team members who participated.

Staff also spent time with students discussing how AI is changing the way StoredTech’s teams work and how that shift will shape the jobs those students are training for. The team shared practical tips on prompting, providing context and adapting to this new way of working, lessons that Zac Barber, a pre-sales engineer at StoredTech, described simply. “The most value in AI comes from the context you give it,” Barber said. “The more clearly you explain what you need, the better results you get.”

That shift is already creating jobs that did not exist recently, StoredTech said, describing it as a fast-growing area within managed service providers and other technology organizations as AI adoption accelerates. Roles focused on building structured playbooks, standard operating procedures and decision logic to guide AI systems are among the positions that have emerged within the past six months.

Andrade said that pace of change is central to how StoredTech develops its own workforce.

“We’re focused on helping our employees continuously learn and build new skills so they can grow alongside these changes,” he said. “Some of the most exciting opportunities in technology today didn’t exist a year ago. We’re creating

SUNY Adirondack students meet with StoredTech staff to discuss new careers shaped by AI. Courtesy StoredTech

new ways of working, including developing playbooks, SOPs and decision logic that helps guide AI to operate within our systems and enable our teams to work smarter and faster.”

Those systems are also opening new internal career paths at StoredTech. Employees who started as level 1 engineers, or even in coordinator roles without an IT background, now have a route into positions such as AI solutions architect or business process analyst, jobs built around the same AI-driven tools students saw firsthand during the visit. StoredTech staff who participated said they understood exactly what the students were feeling because many of them started in similar entry-level roles.

StoredTech leaders said they hope the visit is the first of many with SUNY Adirondack. “Absolutely,” said Aleks Pavlinik, StoredTech’s chief information security officer, when asked whether the collaboration would continue. “Building connections between education and industry is important for developing the next generation of professionals. Our industry needs curious minds who are willing to learn, adapt and solve problems. We’d love to continue partnering with SUNY Adirondack through hands-on learning Continued On Page 9

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER When Tim Montgomery’s daughter made three visits to the emergency room in a single week, the diagnosis wasn’t the flu. It was babesiosis, a tick-borne parasite that attacks red blood cells. “She ended up spending three visits to the emergency room over a week with a temperature of north of 103 for the whole week,” Montgomery said. His sister also has battled Lyme disease for years, and his brother has been infected twice. “It’s just an awful thing,” he said.

Those family experiences, along with a tick Montgomery recently had removed from his back at Hudson Headwaters, led the Queensbury entrepreneur to build TickDetect, a free artificial intelligence tool that helps people — and their pets — check for ticks and tick-related rashes before the bites become more serious.

Montgomery founded TIMIT Solutions in January 2012 after a 20-year career at GE and a series of executive roles running global technology, health care and staffing businesses.

The Queensbury-based firm primarily serves midsize companies, generally those with $10 million to $1 billion in revenue, by building custom soft ware, modernizing legacy systems and offering chief information officer coaching and mentoring, Montgomery said.

TickDetect, the company’s newest project, runs entirely in a phone’s web browser — no app store download is required. Users photograph their skin or a pet’s fur, and the tool uses Claude AI Vision to identify tick species, attachment status and rash patterns, generating a private report users can bring to a doctor or veterinarian. “There’s no reason to download an app at all,” Montgomery said.

Privacy was central to the design, Montgomery said. Photos are analyzed and then discarded rather than stored, and the tool collects no names or other identifying information unless a user opts in to share anonymous usage data. “It records no personal information. Nothing is ever stored. It’s totally encrypted,” he said. The platform is built to comply with European and California privacy regulations, according to Montgomery.

The idea grew out of a simple frustration, he said: It is nearly impossible to check hardto-see spots such as the scalp or the middle of the back for a tick bite. “I thought, gee, it’s so hard to, you know, for example, look at the top of my scalp or the back of my neck or my back,” he said. TickDetect also works for dogs, cats and even horses, whose fur can make a bite easier to miss.

The tool is free during its public beta roll-

Tim Montgomery demonstrates TickDetect, an AI tool that screens for ticks and rashes.

Courtesy TickDetect

out in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties, and Montgomery said a paid tier is planned at $4.99 a month for an individual or $9.99 a month for a family of five, with a limited free option remaining available. Montgomery said he also is considering developing an opt-in feature that would let users anonymously share their general location to help track tick density regionally. “I think that’s a great idea that I’m going to follow up with local agencies on that,” he said.

The region provides an obvious testing ground. Warren County sits in one of New York’s higher-incidence zones for Lyme disease, according to TIMIT Solutions, and the county began building its own tick-tracking website this year to monitor bite reports. The county’s tracker had logged nearly 240 ticks as of spring, according to Warren County Planning and Development. Statewide, New York has averaged more than 17,500 new Lyme disease cases annually over the past three years, with more than 19,000 reported in 2023 alone, according to the state Department of Health.

Montgomery, who grew up in the Glens Falls area and returned in 2014 after years working abroad, said he sees TickDetect as a natural extension of his technology career.

“It’s nice to be back home and I like that I can help keep people safe while they enjoy this beautiful area,” he said. More information is available at timitsolutions.com/tickdetect.

Always wear a life jacket.

safewaters.com/public-safety

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 9

•

Business Report

• •

Business Report

•

Businesses Improve Visibility in AI-Powered Search When It’s Time To Stop Patching And Start Replacing

BY VALLERI JAMES For years, local businesses have focused on improving their visibility on Google so customers can find them through search.

Now, the way people discover businesses is changing.

Instead of typing “best accountant near me” or “top roofing contractor” into a search engine, more consumers are turning to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and Microsoft Copilot for recommendations.

According to BrightLocal’s 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey, 45% of consumers had used ChatGPT or another generative AI tool to find local business recommendations, up from just 6% the previous year. The survey found AI had become the third-most-used source of local recommendations, behind Google and Facebook.

Rather than scrolling through pages of search results, users increasingly see a short list of businesses and an explanation of why they may be a good fit.

That means your online presence now needs to serve two audiences: the customers you want to reach and the digital tools connecting those customers with answers.

The good news is that most businesses do not need to rebuild their websites or master complicated new technology. The fundamentals that have always helped customers choose a business — clear information, helpful content and proof of credibility — also help search engines and AI tools understand your company.

Start With Your Homepage Your homepage should immediately answer three questions: What do you do?

Where do you operate? Who do you serve?

A headline such as “Welcome to ABC Company” provides little context. A more descriptive message, such as “Local Insurance Agency Providing Personalized Coverage for Families and Businesses Across the Capital Region,” immediately tells visitors what they can expect.

The clearer you are about your services, location and customers, the easier it is for people and technology to understand when your business is a good match.

Give Each Page a Clear Purpose Every page on your website should have a specific purpose.

A page titled “Services” is vague. A page titled “Managed IT Services for Small Businesses in Glens Falls” immediately communicates what the page covers.

Use descriptive page titles, headings and content. If your company offers multiple services or serves different customer groups, create dedicated pages instead of trying to explain everything in one general overview.

Valleri James, Director of Digital Sales and Strategy at Mannix Marketing.

Courtesy Mannix Marketing

Clear, focused content helps customers find information faster and gives search tools a better understanding of your expertise.

Answer the Questions Customers Are Asking Some of the most valuable website content comes directly from conversations you already have with customers.

Think about the questions prospects ask before making a decision: How much does it cost? How long does it take? What areas do you serve? What makes your company different?

Start sections with clear answers to the questions your customers are most likely asking. AI tools look for this helpful, straightforward information when deciding what content to include in their responses.

A contractor might explain the steps involved in a kitchen renovation. A law firm could provide an overview of the probate process. An accountant might answer common tax questions.

Consider organizing these into an FAQ section and adding FAQ schema markup.

While schema doesn’t guarantee better visibility, it helps search engines understand your content and makes your questions and answers easier for AI systems to interpret.

McKinsey & Company reported in 2025 that more than 70% of users who rely on AIpowered search ask questions early in the buying journey, when they are researching products, services, brands or categories.

Providing answers before customers contact you builds confidence and can lead to more productive conversations with prospects who already understand your services.

Show Customers Why They Should Trust You Continued On Page 14

BY DAVID ANDRADE PRESIDENT OF STOREDTECH There’s a quiet problem I see across a lot of businesses, and it’s worth naming. That’s technical debt, or sunk cost. Sometimes a business bought the wrong system years ago or outgrew a setup that used to work fine. They keep pouring time and money into propping it up. At some point, you’re not maintaining it anymore; you’re just patching the same holes each year. It’s a hard thing to admit at times, but the businesses that recognize this and make the change save themselves more years of frustration and wasted budget.

Every business maintains something: a building, a piece of equipment or a fleet of vehicles.

But none of them would drive a 15-year-old car without getting the brakes inspected, getting an oil change or changing the tires. We understand instinctively that things wear down, that maintenance is cheaper than a breakdown and that waiting too long to replace something usually costs more than replacing it on your own schedule.

For some reason, we don’t always apply that same logic to the technology running our businesses.

“End-of-life” or EOL is one of those technology terms that sounds more dramatic than it actually is. It’s a change that happens behind the scenes.

Your applications open. Your computer turns on.

Business continues as usual. What changes is that the vendor, Microsoft in this case, stops fixing the vulnerabilities discovered after that point, and new issues remain unresolved. That’s why endof-life isn’t really about functionality. It’s about security, stability and reducing unnecessary business risk.

There are two dates worth knowing if you don’t already. Windows 10, the operating system running on a huge share of computers across our region, reached end of life on Oct. 14, 2025. Windows Server 2016, which many companies still rely on to run their file storage, email and core business applications, loses support on Jan. 12, 2027.

StoredTech

Continued From Page 8 experiences that help students prepare for careers in the field.”

Pavlinik pointed to the asymmetry that defines cybersecurity work as a reason that mindset matters so much in the field. “The threat actors only have to get it right once,” he said. “The

David Andrade, president Stored Technology Solutions Inc. (StoredTech).

Courtesy StoredTech

The businesses that handle this well don’t do it alone. They’ve got someone in their corner flagging what will be affected and building the plan months before the deadline. By the time it arrives, it’s a nonissue. An emergency replacement done in the middle of a failure is a crisis with a much bigger price tag attached. That’s the real value of treating technology like any other maintained asset: having someone watch the calendar for you well before you need to look at it yourself.

None of this means every company needs a wholesale technology overhaul tomorrow. In fact, the opposite is true, and it’s probably the most useful thing I can tell you. The businesses that handle this well don’t do it all at once. They treat technology refreshes the same way they treat fleet maintenance or equipment depreciation: a predictable line item that’s budgeted in advance.

Replace the oldest and riskiest pieces first. Plan the next round for next year’s budget. When done this way, staying current isn’t a big hit; it’s just the cost of doing business, the same as insurance or vehicle upkeep. defenders, us, need to get it right every time.”

Michael Hatalla, StoredTech’s director of information technology, said the same quality that helps students succeed in the classroom will serve them well as the field keeps shifting under their feet. “What’s most important in this field is lifelong curiosity and a willingness to keep learning,” Hatalla said. “Technology is always changing, so the people who grow the most are the ones who stay curious and adapt.”

10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

50 Plus

AAA Northway Highlights Trust As Travel Long-Term Care Planning in New York: Demand Grows Among Older Adults Why Waiting Can Limit Your Options

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER As more adults 50 and older look to travel rather than downsize their plans, AAA Northway says it is seeing steady demand for hands-on trip planning, along with a renewed emphasis on the trust between traveler and travel agent.

Amy Roode has spent 20 years with AAA Northway and now serves as managing director of travel operations, based out of the organization’s Queensbury office. AAA Northway’s footprint spans five locations, from Vestal in the Binghamton area up through Schenectady, Saratoga, Halfmoon and Queensbury. Roode works with more than 50 preferred vendors, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Line and Trafalgar escorted tours, managing marketing contracts, training and travel events while coaching the sales team one-on-one.

Roode said travel habits among the 50plus set have shifted noticeably since the pandemic. “I think COVID has helped us,” she said, describing a mindset she now sees regularly among clients. “They’re like, travel while you can. They have that mentality.” River cruising, in particular, has grown. “River cruises have picked up in the past eight years in our area,” Roode said, noting it appeals to travelers who want the intimacy of a smaller ship and closer ports alongside the variety of an escorted tour.

Multigenerational trips have also increased, Roode said, with grandparents footing the bill to bring the whole family along. “I completely love when I see grandparents taking their families and paying for it,” she said. “It’s all about life. Spend your money now while you have it. You earned it.”

AAA Northway books everything from domestic trips built around national parks and Alaska cruises to bucket-list international travel across Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and Africa.

Roode noted that travelers do not need to be AAA members to book trips through the agency, though membership unlocks additional vendor perks such as onboard credit or special cabin pricing.

Group travel remains a core offering, including hosted motorcoach trips, escorted tours and cruises with a AAA host traveling alongside guests from pickup through the full itinerary. Roode said one of the most rewarding parts of her job is watching those trips build lasting friendships among travelers from different branch communities. Smaller group tours, capped at about 16 travelers, have also grown in popularity,

Amy Roode leads AAA Northway travel operations as demand grows among older travelers.

Courtesy AAA Northway

particularly among travelers 70 and older.

“That happened a lot from COVID, too,” Roode said, noting those smaller trips allow for deeper cultural immersion, including dinners with host families.

Booking timelines vary widely, Roode said. Some clients plan 12 to 18 months ahead for in-demand trips such as river cruises, which can sell out three months out, while others book an all-inclusive vacation with just two weeks’ notice. AAA Northway also offers installment payment plans so clients can pay down a trip’s cost over time.

Roode’s team includes 12 travel agents with a combined 250-plus years of travel experience, each completing roughly 50 hours of continuing education annually with AAA’s vendor partners. She said the agency strongly encourages clients to buy travel insurance, even though many view it as an unnecessary expense. “If you were to cancel your trip, it’s going to cost you a lot more,” she said, noting standard medical insurance typically does not cover care outside the United States. AAA sells travel insurance policies through Allianz that can also help travelers navigate a medical emergency abroad, including language barriers with local doctors and hospitals.

AAA membership also comes with lesser-known travel perks, Roode said, including free TripTik route planning, foreign Continued On Page 15

Market • Delicatessen • Restaurant

BY BRIAN M. JOHNSON, MBA, CLTC Ask most Capital Region residents about retirement planning, and they’ll likely talk about 401(k) s, IRAs, Social Security, investment portfolios, or estate planning.

Ask about long-term care planning, however, and the conversation often becomes much quieter.

That’s surprising considering that long-term care may represent one of the largest financial risks facing retirees today. Whether care is received at home, in an assisted living community, or in a nursing facility, the costs can have a significant impact on retirement savings and family finances.

In New York, those costs are among the highest in the nation. According to Genworth and CareScout’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, the median annual cost of a home health aide in New York is approximately $77,792, assisted living costs roughly $75,600 annually, and a semiprivate nursing home room costs approximately $176,660 per year.

For many families, the challenge isn’t simply paying for care; it’s understanding their options before a health event occurs.

Why Waiting Can Reduce Your Options One of the biggest misconceptions about longterm care planning is that it can be addressed later.

The reality is that many planning options depend on both age and health. Traditional long-term care insurance and many hybrid long-term care solutions require medical underwriting. As people age, premiums generally increase, and certain medical conditions may limit eligibility or reduce available choices. A strategy that may be available at age 55 could be unavailable at age 70 following a major health diagnosis. That’s why many financial professionals encourage clients to begin evaluating long-term care funding options in their 50s and early 60s, while they are still healthy and insurable.

A Capital Region Perspective Long-term care costs aren’t just a concern downstate. The Northeastern Region—which includes Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Warren, and Washington counties—has average nursing home costs of approximately $177,396 annually. For a married couple, a prolonged care event can significantly affect retirement income, investment assets, and legacy plans.

Long-Term Care Planning Has Changed Many New Yorkers still view long-term care planning through assumptions that were accurate 15 or 20 years ago. For decades, Partnership policies were viewed as a unique planning tool because they combined private insurance benefits with Medicaid asset protection. However, New York State currently has no insurers offering new Partnership-qualified policies for purchase, although existing policyholders retain their benefits.

The Rise of Hybrid Long-Term Care Solutions One of the most notable developments in recent years has been the growing popularity of hybrid long-term care policies. These solutions generally combine life insurance and long-term care benefits into a single strategy. If qualifying long-term care services are needed, benefits may be used to help pay for care expenses. If care is never required, a death benefit may be paid to beneficiaries.

Potential Advantages of Hybrid Solutions

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Courtesy Advisors Insurance Brokers

Benefits available for home care, assisted living, memory care, or nursing home care; predictable premium structures; a dedicated pool of assets designated for future care needs; preservation of retirement assets for a spouse or family members; and a death benefit if long-term care services are never needed.

Understanding Medicaid’s Role Medicaid remains a critical source of longterm care funding for many Americans. However, Medicaid eligibility rules can be complex and are subject to ongoing policy discussions and regulatory changes. Individuals considering Medicaid planning strategies should consult qualified elder law attorneys regarding asset transfers, trusts, lookback provisions, and other legal considerations.

The Goal Isn’t Insurance. It’s Choice.

Long-term care planning is often viewed through a financial lens, but the real objective is choice: where care is received, who provides that care, how retirement assets are used, and whether family members become caregivers by necessity rather than preference.

Five Questions Every New Yorker Should Ask About Long-Term Care Planning 1. If I needed care tomorrow, how would I pay for it?

2. Would I prefer care at home, assisted living, or a nursing facility?

3. How would a long-term care event affect my spouse’s retirement security?

4. Have I explored both traditional and hybrid long-term care solutions?

5. Have I consulted qualified legal and financial professionals regarding Medicaid and asset protection strategies?

Brian Johnson is a Senior Business Development Advisor at AIB in Clifton Park, New York, specializing in long-term care planning, traditional longterm care insurance, and hybrid long-term care solutions. He works with individuals, families, and business owners throughout New York to help them evaluate strategies for addressing future long-term care expenses.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 11

Hinman Construction Builds Aging-in-Place Cerrone Builders Advances Two Residential Business Through Remodeling Demand Projects in Warren, Saratoga Counties

A remodeled kitchen illustrates Hinman Construction’s design-build work as growing numbers of homeowners age 50 and older choose to update their existing homes rather than move elsewhere today.

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER Ballston Spa-based Hinman Construction, a family-run design-build firm, has built a growing share of its business around a demographic shift familiar to communities across the region: homeowners age 50 and older who want to remodel rather than move.

Nationally, 75% of adults age 50 and older say they want to remain in their current home as they age, according to AARP’s Home and Community Preferences Survey, and 73% of remodelers report increased client demand for aging-inplace features over the past five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Owner Kim Hinman said she sees that demand play out in a few distinct ways among her clients.

“I would say almost like three groups,” Kim Hinman said. One group built a large home within the past decade or so and later realized they wished they had a first-floor bedroom and bathroom, whether for an aging parent or for themselves as mobility needs change. A second group modifies existing space to make it work, converting a closet into a shower area or turning a dining room into a bedroom. A third group sells a larger house and hires Hinman Construction to fully renovate a smaller, existing home to suit their needs going forward.

Whatever the approach, Kim Hinman said the goal is the same. “The goal is to kind of make it still feel like it’s part of the house and not just, you know, we stuck this random room there,” she said.

Hinman Construction was founded decades ago by Kim Hinman’s husband, Jami, who started as a builder and framer. Kim Hinman came to the business from an advertising career and became involved after the couple married and started a family. “We decided that we would focus on the construction business, so I got involved with that,” she said. “And we became more of a remodeling company.” Over the past decade or so, the company evolved into a full design-build operation, using photorealistic rendering software so clients can see selections in place before construction begins.

Both of the couple’s children have joined the business. Their daughter, Caroline, works alongside her mother on design and planning, while their son, Jesse, manages projects alongside his father. “The way we operate right now is my daughter Caroline and I will do the initial

Courtesy Hinman Construction

phase, the design and the planning and the prep work for the project,” Kim Hinman said. “And then my husband, Jami, and son, Jesse, actually will manage the project.” The company keeps its workload deliberately small, bringing in trusted subcontractors, whom Kim Hinman calls the company’s “team players,” for specialty work on larger jobs. “We’re a small family business,” she said. “I don’t need to be the big, big company that takes on 100 different projects.”

That scale has helped the company build a national reputation through the Chrysalis Awards, a remodeling and construction awards program that has honored the country’s top residential and commercial remodeling projects since 1993, judging entries regionally before considering them for national honors. Hinman Construction has won both a national and a regional award through the program, including recognition for a mudroom and laundry room project that concealed a client’s cat litter box inside custom cabinetry.

“It’s a national remodeling and construction award,” Kim Hinman said. “You basically have to submit your projects in different categories, and it’s kind of considered like the best of the best.”

Trust, built over years of repeat referrals, is central to how the company operates, Kim Hinman said. She described one long-distance client who initially planned to rent out a fully renovated home before ultimately deciding to sell it instead, and said many clients simply hand over their house keys during a project rather than track every detail themselves. That trust extends to how the company handles permitting, she said, noting that skipping permits can complicate a home sale later. “We want customers to know that when they call, I answer the phone,” Kim Hinman said. “Our specialty is kitchens, bathrooms, whole house remodels.

We have the ability to handle everything from start to finish.”

For Kim Hinman, the most rewarding part of the job comes at the end of a project, when clients see the finished result. “We love what we do and we think it shows through our work and the way that we work with people,” she said. “Clear communication is key, clearly defined scope and understanding, because it really should be an enjoyable process, and we try to make it that way.”

A newly built home at The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury reflects Cerrone Builders’ response to demand for smaller homes, flexible floor plans and maintenance-conscious living options.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL Cerrone Builders Inc. is addressing continued demand for varied housing choices in Saratoga County and the North Country with smaller homes and maintenance-conscious options for buyers who may not be seeking a traditional subdivision with larger lots.

Following its success with The Village at Sweet Road off Northway Exit 19, Cerrone launched a similar maintenance-free community two years ago: The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury, said Steven Cerrone, one of the managing partners of the family-owned residential construction business. “‘Upper Sherman’ has been very well received, with more than half of the 45 lots sold,” said Cerrone. “The first six builds are waiting on permits right now.”

“Two model homes have been sold, and we got a building permit last week to build another one,” he said.

While the newer development was intended to mimic the Sweet Road project, Cerrone said The Village at Upper Sherman has larger lots and appeals to a broader demographic than the anticipated market of people 55 and older and empty nesters.

“Some clients do not want to do home maintenance, even on smaller lots,” he said.

“We are happy to offer more of these properties in the Town of Queensbury.”

For a monthly fee, residents receive lawn mowing and trimming, mulching and fertilizing, snow removal and trash removal. The benefits can be just as attractive to busy couples and families.

Most of the acreage is zoned for lots ranging from one-half to three-quarters of an acre,

Courtesy Cerrone Builders

and the largest is 1.57 acres. Homeowners can build to almost any floor plan, he said.

“People are spending $625,000 to $900,000 for new, custom construction at The Village at Upper Sherman,” Cerrone said. “And they are doing a lot of upgrades, perhaps looking at this as their last home.”

“More often than not, home buyers in several of our communities want one-floor living, so ranch houses are our most popular style,” he said. “We haven’t built a two-story residence in a while.”

The development has about three-quarters of a mile of internal walking trails in the center of the 50-acre parcel, along with pickleball courts and a basketball court. It also has a pavilion for outdoor community gatherings.

The Village at Upper Sherman is on Dean Thomas Way off Upper Sherman Avenue. The area has easy access to the Adirondack region, Saratoga County and destinations in between.

“It’s a really nice place to live,” said Cerrone.

Cerrone Builders is also moving forward with Jacobie Parkside Farms, a planned residential development in the town of Moreau near the entrance to Harry J. Betar Jr. Recreational Park. The project has been presented in town planning records as a mixed-housing neighborhood, and Cerrone said the 180-unit proposal includes single-family residences, townhouses, duplexes and several apartment buildings.

Cerrone Builders Inc. of Fort Edward, New York, has built custom homes around Saratoga, Glens Falls and Lake George for three generations. Visit cerronebuilders.com for photos, floor plans and more information.

More To Read . . . More Leads For You. (518) 581-0600

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

12 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH

Saratoga Builders Association Awards Two Annual Scholarships To Local Students

PROVIDED BY: ROBERT SCHERMERHORN, CFP

18 DIVISION ST.-SUITE 305, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866 (518) 584-2555

SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH: LPL FINANCIAL / MEMBER: FINRA AND SIPC

Stock Name

Closing Price Closing Price 6/12/2026 6/18/2026

Closing Price 6/26/2026

Closing Price 7/2/2026

Closing Price 7/10/2026

Albany International

70.95

71.08

76.29

73.39

72.57

Arrow Financial

39.86

38.80

41.05

41.29

40.60

AT & T Inc.

23.58

22.01

22.72

20.58

21.13

Ball Corporation

56.98

57.72

61.79

63.39

61.69

Ballston Spa Bancorp, Inc

75.90

75.13

74.86

77.00

75.00

Bank of America

56.02

56.20

57.88

58.73

59.67

Best Buy Co., Inc

78.53

74.73

77.71

77.99

82.80

Citizens Financial

67.65

67.08

70.40

70.98

70.34

Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp

59.26

60.97

67.12

64.97

59.92

GE Aerospace

335.30

357.64

369.00

377.52

359.27

Hilton

345.95

348.84

332.86

338.12

335.48

The Home Depot, Inc.

328.39

334.28

348.86

357.90

343.30

International Paper

36.15

36.82

38.76

38.79

37.93

KeyCorp

22.70

22.59

23.26

23.02

23.30

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. 220.78

222.20

222.48

227.50

211.63

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

577.33

609.12

616.06

599.42

577.72

M&T Bank Corporation

231.88

225.12

237.26

238.88

242.34

McDonald’s

284.81

278.61

269.76

280.63

274.60

National Grid Plc

81.84

79.44

83.01

82.85

82.59

NBT Bancorp Inc.

48.18

46.68

49.59

50.08

50.28

Plug Power Inc.

2.76

2.85

2.54

2.64

2.23

Starbucks Corporation

103.04

100.65

104.60

104.27

106.01

Sysco Corporation

79.19

78.70

82.82

84.83

73.83

Latham Group, Inc.

5.60

5.82

6.41

6.14

6.15

Target Corporation

135.23

130.74

140.39

130.21

135.14

The TorontoDominion Bank

117.33

119.29

119.62

119.30

120.53

Trustco Bank Corp NY

55.25

52.24

54.66

54.54

54.48

Verizon

48.11

45.37

46.54

42.56

42.12

Walmart Inc.

121.04

117.18

115.69

111.84

113.90

*Data sourced from Morningstar **Stock investing includes risks, including fluctuating prices and loss of principal. This is for informational purposes only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendation for any individual.

Scholarship recipients Porter Sasko, left, and Lucas Jakubiak hold $1,000 awards from the Saratoga Builders Association as they pose with six others outside a building in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Saratoga Builders

Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. announced the recipients of its two annual $1,000 student scholarships: the SBA Scholarship and the “Bob Best" Memorial Scholarship.

Porter Sasko of Gansevoort was scheduled to graduate from Saratoga Springs High School in June and plans to attend the University of Buffalo to pursue a degree in Architecture.

Lucas Jakubiak of Ballston Spa is attending New York City College of Technology and pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering.

The Saratoga Builders Association makes the two scholarships available annually to high school seniors or college

students who plan to pursue careers in the construction industry.

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. is a professional trade association representing the construction industry in Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. Its annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes benefits local charities. More information is available at www.saratogabuilders.org.

Provided by Saratoga Builders Association, Inc.; edited for style and length.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 13

Children’s Museum at Saratoga Opens Fab Capital Region SBDC Brings Practical Lab With GlobalFoundries Partnership AI Training To Small Businesses

Fab Lab at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga uses a wafer display and magnifying glasses to show visitors how contaminants and scratches can damage actual semiconductor chips during production.

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga opened Fab Lab on June 13, an immersive, hands-on exhibit that introduces visitors to semiconductor manufacturing. The exhibit was made possible through a partnership with GlobalFoundries, which provided $250,000 in support.

Fab Lab transforms the museum’s STEAM space into an interactive look at how semiconductors are made and why they matter. Visitors explore how microchips power everyday technologies, including smartphones, gaming systems, cars and computers.

The exhibit follows the semiconductor manufacturing process, showing how materials move through precise, controlled steps to become finished microchips. Hands-on activities cover wafer production, cleanroom environments and the importance of precision.

“At GF, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators by helping them under-

Courtesy Children's Museum

stand the technologies that power our world,” said Ashley Castle, community affairs lead at GF Malta.

“Fab Lab brings semiconductor manufacturing to life in a way that is accessible, engaging and meaningful for young learners, and we’re proud to support an experience that connects our community to the future of technology.”

“This exhibit brings our mission to life, helping children learn through play while connecting them to real-world industries in our community that can shape their future,” said Sarah Smith, executive director of The Children’s Museum at Saratoga.

“Thanks to GF, we’re able to introduce a globally significant technology in a way that is engaging for school-aged children and their families.”

The museum is at 65 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Admission details, memberships and hours are available at cmssny.org.

Provided by The Children’s Museum at Saratoga; edited for style and length.

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER The Capital Region Small Business Development Center will host “AI in Action: Practical AI for Small Business” on July 30 at the ETEC Building on the Harriman State Campus in Albany, bringing together industry experts, local business owners and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko for a three-hour session to help small businesses put artificial intelligence to practical use. The seminar, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon, is part of the center’s ongoing AI Fundamentals programming and is sponsored by the New York State SBDC network, the Massry School of Business at the University at Albany and America’s SBDC, with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Greg Chanese, assistant director of the Capital Region SBDC and leader of the ASBDC AI Interest Group, said the event builds on training the center previously offered. “This is a continuation of similar AI training that we have conducted out of the Center,” Chanese said. “AI evolves very quickly, and we want to make sure that we are helping the small business community navigate the technology safely and effectively. Everyday more and more people are starting to implement AI within their business, and we want to make sure that we help them with it.” He said the seminar will pair a presentation with hands-on work, focusing on “helping the business community use AI for real-world, practical small business operations.”

Tonko, who represents New York’s 20th Congressional District, will speak at the event after his office approached the center about his involvement, Chanese said. “We’ve worked with the Congressman’s office on different topics over the years, and this is something that they approached us about having the Congressman be involved with,” he said. Chanese said Tonko’s remarks will address AI’s broader reach, while the center’s presentation will focus on practical applications. “AI is something that effects large swaths of people and businesses, so the Congressman will be there to talk about it briefly on a larger scale than we will during our presenta-

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tion, which will be more focused on practical application of AI,” Chanese said.

Attendees will leave the hands-on portion with skills they can apply directly to their operations, according to Chanese. “What we want the businesses that attend to be able to walk out with is a comfortable level to be able to apply what they’ve learned at their business,” he said.

The workshop will cover AI applications in marketing, business operations and ideation, using examples from participants’ businesses. “They’ll be able to use examples straight from their own business but with the advantage of having someone helping them use it more effectively,” Chanese said.

Small-business AI adoption has climbed sharply in recent years. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Trends and Outlook Survey found that 8.8% of small businesses reported using AI in the production of goods or services as of August 2025, up from 6.3% six months earlier. The SBA Office of Advocacy reported that the adoption gap between small and large firms had narrowed significantly over the same period. Chanese said the technology can benefit businesses across sectors when treated as a tool rather than a wholesale replacement for existing operations.

“If you utilize it as a tool, realizing that it’s not the entire business but just a helper, there are a number of different industry sectors that could use it,” he said. “It’s not something that needs to be used, but it can be a business tool just like so many others to help along the way.”

The July 30 seminar will be the first in a regional series the center plans to hold throughout its coverage area, though Tonko’s participation is limited to the initial session, Chanese said. “This seminar will be the first in a short regional series that we will be hosting,” he said. “We’ll be traveling around our coverage area so that we can help as many small businesses with this topic as possible throughout our coverage area. The Congressman will only be participating in the event on the 30th, but we will be taking this on the road.” Registration information is available at capitalregionsbdc.org/course/ai-in-action.

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14 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

AI-Powered Search

Casual Dining And Restaurants In And Around Saratoga Springs New York After a long day of shopping in Saratoga or a day spent visiting the Saratoga Race Course, you'll probably work up quite an appetite! Saratoga Springs has become well known for its many wonderful restaurants featuring a variety of diverse cuisines, dining options and styles. The Saratoga Region is home to many fantastic restaurants which includes those right here in the heart of the city of as well as those near Saratoga Springs.

Carson's Woodside Tavern

With spectacular views of Saratoga Lake and the Vermont mountains, our cozy dining room and gorgeous new Lakeview Room are the perfect spots for great food, drinks, and entertainment. Only 7 miles from Saratoga Spring.

We're serving up an irresistible assortment of American fare that includes sandwiches, hot and cold, wraps, excellent burgers, the perfect prime rib, delicious steaks and so much more. And of course, we have house-made soups daily, a wide variety of side and entree salads, and vegan and gluten-free options. In other words, there's something for everyone at Carson's! Plus we offer Happy Hour in the bar every Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 3-6 p.m.

The Brook Tavern

Just a short walk from the Saratoga Race Course and walking distance from Congress Park, The Brook Tavern is a favorite neighborhood gathering spot nestled at the intersection of Union and Nelson Ave., right in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs.

Taking the entire first floor of what was once an 1800’s horse carriage factory, the bar and restaurant has a warm and upbeat interior that tastefully combines hints of nostalgia with contemporary style.

The Brook Tavern offers both casual and more formal dining, and can meet the needs of the local who wants to stop in for a plate of oysters and a craft beer, families with children, or larger dinner parties who want to migrate from the historic bar to the clubby or more formal dining room.

Wheatfields Restaurant

You can't go wrong with freshly made pasta prepared right on-site using local ingredients! But Wheatfields is much more than pasta: Patrons rave about the hand-stretched pizza, the salmon entrée,

and the fried calamari appetizer, to name a few.

Wheatfields supports local farmers, wineries, and area products, bringing the finest the region has to offer to its guests. The pasta is handcrafted daily with options including chicken rigi, chicken sausage scarpetta, radiatori pesto, mac and cheese, sausage and mac cheese, ziti with three meatballs, and lasagna. Entree options comprise steak, chicken, and seafood dishes, and the to-die-for woodstone pizza comes in five varieties with optional add-ons of whole wheat or gluten-free crust.

The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill

The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill in Saratoga Springs, NY offers year-round dining, weekend brunch, live music, and private events. Located near Saratoga Race Course, it’s a go-to spot for great food and entertainment.

The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill offers a diverse menu designed to satisfy a variety of cravings, whether guests are stopping in for a full meal or a quick bite. The kitchen focuses on approachable, crowd-pleasing dishes.

Dock Brown's Lakeside Tavern and Beach Bar

Dock Brown's Lakeside Tavern offers an inviting atmosphere and lakeside dining right on Saratoga Lake. They specialize in upscale pub fare, unique craft beers, specialty artisan cocktails, and they often have live music or special events going on.

Dock Brown's Lakeside Tavern takes pub fare you know and love and kicks it up a notch for a unique, upscale twist on your favorites. Explore the variety of burgers offered for dinner or lunch, hearty dinner entrees like the black Angus NY strip steak, and a selection of tempting sandwiches like a turkey bacon raspberry wrap or smoked pulled pork.

Continued From Page 9

When customers decide whom to hire or where to spend their money, credibility matters.

Your website should show why customers should choose you. Include customer reviews, years in business, awards, certifications, staff information, examples of completed projects and authentic photos of your team, location or work.

Real photos help customers connect with the people behind your business. Stock images may look professional, but photos of your actual team and work create a stronger sense of trust and credibility.

Trust signals also extend beyond your website. Mentions from chambers of commerce, industry organizations, community groups and local publications can reinforce your reputation. AI tools compare information from your website with reviews, directories and other online sources when determining which businesses to recommend.

Write Like You Talk Clear, straightforward language works best.

Marketing phrases such as “innovative, best-in-class solutions” provide little value unless specific details back them up. Explain what your company does, whom you help and what makes your approach different.

The goal is not to sound impressive. The goal is to be understood.

Keep Your Information Accurate An outdated website can make a successful business appear neglected. Incorrect information can also cost you customers.

If someone cannot confirm your hours, services or contact information, they may choose a competitor who appears easier to do business with.

Regularly review your website to ensure your hours, contact information, services, staff information, photos and promotions are up to date.

Customers may also find you through Google, Facebook, review sites, local directories, chamber websites and tourism platforms. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, website and hours are consistent everywhere.

One of the most important steps businesses can take is to claim and maintain their Google Business Profile. Make sure your profile includes accurate information about your business category, service area, website, phone number, hours and services.

Google states that complete and accurate Business Profile information helps businesses appear in relevant searches on Google Search and Maps. Local ranking considers factors such as relevance, distance and prominence, along with signals like reviews and links from other websites.

The Bottom Line As AI becomes another way people discover local businesses, the fundamentals of a successful online presence have not changed.

Businesses that clearly explain what they do, answer customer questions, demonstrate their experience and keep their information accurate will be easier for customers to find, trust and choose.

There is no magic button or secret formula that guarantees AI will recommend your business. Companies that succeed will provide clear, credible and useful information while maintaining a well-structured website that makes that information easy for search engines and AI tools to understand.

A helpful, technically sound website has always been good business. Today, it is also one of the best ways to help ensure your company is found.

Sources: BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026; Google Business Profile Help; McKinsey & Co., New Front Door to the Internet: Winning in the Age of AI Search, 2025.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026 • 15

AAA Northway

Hilltop Construction

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mercial sector. Since joining the firm in 2005, Dan has expanded commercial projects, including numerous Stewart’s Shops, auto dealerships and several commercial and industrial projects as a Kirby Steel Building Systems dealer.

April Washburn keeps operations running smoothly as business manager, using skills she learned from her mother, Cindy, who handled the books for Tom Sr. when they started out.

“I went to work for Continental Insurance because we needed health insurance,” Cindy said. “So I worked there 10 years and did books at night on the dining room table.

There were lean years, including the early 1990s, when work slowed to a crawl because of economic conditions. But Hilltop stayed out of debt by avoiding “financial adventures,” never buying equipment or new vehicles until it had enough money to pay for them.

The Albrechts built a solid reputation through fair dealing and delivering more than promised. “If I had advice for a young builder just starting out, I would tell them don’t focus on money, focus on customer satisfaction,” Tom Sr. said. “When you’re chasing money you’re headed down the wrong road. That goes for whatever it is you’re doing. Don’t cheat on materials.

Don’t say you’re going to give them hemlock and you’re giving them pine. That happens in this industry.”

“We didn’t build homes just to sell them, we wanted to help customers,” Cindy said.

“We enjoyed relationships.”

“If you give people customer service, treat them with respect and do what you say you’re going to do you’ll have all the work you’ll want in this world,” Tom Jr. said.

Giving back has also long been one of Hilltop’s core values.

The company supports many local organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, a 100% local organization that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families throughout the region.

With families facing increasing challenges, mentorship matters more than ever. Whether as a donor, volunteer, partner or advocate, everyone has the power to positively inf luence a child’s future.

Hilltop is also using its 50th anniversary to help a company family member whose two children are battling cancer. Financial donations can be made at https:// www.gofundme.com/f/standing-togetherfor-the-kilmartin-family.

“Our success would not have been possible without the incredible people who have been part of the Hilltop family over the years,” Tom Jr. said. “As a family-run business, we believe our employees are family and we strive to treat them that way every day. In 2026, we are especially proud to celebrate numerous team members who have dedicated 10 to 21 years of service to our company.

“We also take time to remember those we have lost,” he said. “One of those individuals is Tom VanNess, a longtime employee, trusted mentor and dear friend.

His impact on our team, our company and our lives will never be forgotten.”

Hilltop employs 40 people, and both its residential and commercial businesses are extremely healthy. Although no longer involved, Tom Sr. and Cindy know the company is in capable hands and believe its future is bright.

“It’s so exciting to see the grandsons joining in,” Cindy said.

“Not all families have the luxury of family members who want to take over the business,” Tom Sr. said. “It’s a real blessing to have them carry on the Hilltop name.”

currency exchange, a AAA credit card with no foreign transaction fees, and the International Driving Permit, a document required to legally drive in many countries that AAA is the sole authorized seller of in the U.S. Local vendor discounts, from restaurants to auto repair, are listed at AAA. com. The organization also connects travelers with adventure-focused vendors, including National Geographic, for hiking, biking and rafting trips, matching clients to trips suited to their fitness level and interests rather than simply following a friend’s

•

recommendation.

There is no age limit for membership, Roode said, and no additional AAA fee for booking tours, cruises or motorcoach trips, though airfare bookings can carry a fee depending on membership type. Roode said AAA, founded in Chicago in 1902, has built its reputation over 124 years on trust. “We try to promote the whole travel with someone you trust,” she said, adding that many of the agency’s local travel agents build relationships with clients that last for years. “A lot of their folks have become family.”

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16 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JULY 2026

Racing Festival

Continued From Page 1 insider access to the world of thoroughbred racing. Participants experience the sport through exclusive on-track events, educational opportunities and kid-friendly communications designed to ignite their interest in horses and racing.

Free registration can be completed on-

line at NYRA.com/STAR or in person at the NYRA STAR booth in the Family Zone.

Local officials are also doing everything possible to heighten interest in Saratoga’s critical role in the American Revolution, with a goal of bringing people back to the county next year for 250th anniversary ob-

servances of the Battles of Saratoga. Those battles, fought on Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, 1777, followed by British Gen. John Burgoyne’s surrender near present-day Schuylerville, were a major turning point in the war.

“As we move through the racing season, we’re encouraging visitors to discover everything that makes Saratoga County such a remarkable destination,” Leggieri said.

“This year is also an opportunity to begin building excitement for Saratoga’s role in

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America’s 250th anniversary in 2027. Next year’s commemoration will shine an international spotlight on our region’s history.

We’re inviting visitors to experience that rich heritage now by exploring our historic sites, museums, battlefields, and communities while enjoying the excitement of the racing season. It’s a natural way to extend their stay and gives them another reason to return as we prepare for what will be a truly historic year for Saratoga County.”

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