Saratoga Business Journal -

Saratoga’s Community Federal Credit Union Opens Branch, Adds Services, In Ballston Spa

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

Don Denofio and Megan Armstrong of Saratoga’s Community Federal Credit Union.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Jill Nagy

Saratoga’s Community Federal Credit Union has opened a new office in Ballston Spa and added new services, including a new mortgage service division.

The Ballston Spa office opened in February. The new branch is located at 444 Geyser Road, at the intersection of Geyser and Roland Street, in the center of the town of Milton.

The Geyser Road office is a full-service branch, including a drive-through window, a 24-hour ATM and an Interactive Teller Machine (ITM).

The new office is a single-story, red brick building with 2,500 square of space. Interior renovations were completed by Munter Enterprises Inc. of Middle Grove. Work began in December and was completed in February.

This is the credit union’s second location; the first is at 23 Division Street in Saratoga Springs.

The ITM is an enhanced ATM. On the system, a customer can get a staff person, live, on a video screen by pressing a “help” button. The ITM hours will be longer than regular branch hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

While an ATM is intended for cash withdrawals, balance inquiries and transfers, customers can call up an ITM online teller for deposits, credit card payments, loan payments, as well as questions.

The new machine has not yet gotten much of a workout, according to Megan Armstrong, chief operations officer for the credit union, because “members are coming in the front door to see the new building and say hello.”

SUNY Empire State College This Year Marks 50 Years Of Academic Achievements

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

Founded in 1971, SUNY Empire State is celebrating its 50th year in operation.

SUNY Empire State College is celebrating 50 years of academic achievements and excellence throughout 2021.

Founded in 1971, SUNY Empire State began as a bold re-imagining of higher education, one focused on increasing accessibility and opportunities for students.

Officials said that for the past five decades, SUNY Empire has transformed the face of student-centered, accessible, equitable education, ushering in a world of possibilities for busy adult learners. The college began utilizing mail-in correspondence and satellite feeds in the 1970s and was one of the first to move to internet-based and blended coursework in the mid-1990s.

Since then, SUNY Empire has been at the forefront of distance and online education and continues to explore new pathways for students of all ages to pursue their educational and career aspirations.

SUNY Empire’s mission aligns with that of the State University of New York’s, which aims to provide students with accessibility to the highest quality academic, professional, and vocational programs, officials said.

During his State of the University System address, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras not only highlighted SUNY Empire graduate student Nelson de Jesus Castilla Jr., who became the first Latino deputy police chief to serve on Stony Brook’s security team while pursuing his master’s degree at SUNY Empire, but he spoke of the recently announced SUNY for All campaign.

Fox Sports Expands Partnership Agreement With NYRA To Televise 2021 Track Season

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

FOX Sports and NYRA have developed an expanded partnership agreement.
Courtesy NYRA

FOX Sports, a unit of Fox Corp. and the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) have developed an expanded partnership agreement that establishes FOX Sports as the official wagering partner of NYRA Bets and the leading media provider for elite thoroughbred racing through the next decade.

The prior FOX Sports/NYRA media rights agreement provided a FOX Sports subsidiary with an option to acquire a 25 percent stake in NYRA Bets LLC. The FOX Sports subsidiary will exercise this option by the summer of 2021, pending final regulatory approval.

The newly announced agreement provides a FOX Sports subsidiary with a future opportunity to increase its equity interest in NYRA Bets.

As an unprecedented year interrupted live sports around the world, horse racing operated safely and continuously.

Under the new deal, FOX Sports expects to air at least 700 hours of coverage each year from Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course and, outside of prior commitments, gives the network exclusive national broadcast rights at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course through 2030. NYRA will serve as the production arm for all horse racing events during the term of the partnership.

Golf Simulator Company Has Plans To Open Two New Facilities In Saratoga County

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

This is The Bunker, a Guilderland-based business that has golf simulator technology.
Nicole McCutcheon

By Christine Graf

The Bunker, a Guilderland-based business that offer golfers the opportunity to use golf simulator technology in an indoor, country club-like setting, has plans to open additional locations in Clifton Park and Malta.

Owners Troy Miller and Burl McCutcheon will invest approximately $1 million to get both sites up and running. Because there are tenants currently occupying both existing spaces, exact addresses will not be released until next month, they said.

According to Miller, both are centrally located near exits 9 and 12 of the Northway.

Miller is the owner and broker at CM Fox Real Estate and also owns Troy Miller Construction. In his free time, he is an avid golfer.

“I’ve been in the development world, and when golf and my past development work collided, out came the Bunker,” he said.

The 4,000-square-foot Guilderland location opened at the end of 2019 in the CM Fox Real Estate building at 2390 Western Turnpike. Before being temporarily shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, business exceeded expectations and plans for expansion were already underway, he said.

Personnel Briefs: April 2021

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

Roohan Realty announced that Jeana Labas has joined the team as a licensed real estate salesperson.

Labas has been with Kodiak Construction for seven years as office manager and client selection representative. She helps new construction clients throughout the process of building a home. She also joins Roohan Realty as Kodiak Construction’s seller agent, while maintaining her office manager duties.

The Saratoga Springs native attended Clarkson University, and returned to the area after school to build a home in Wilton.

* * *

Timothy E. Blow, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31.

Since joining BSNB in 2005, his responsibilities include strategic financial planning and oversight of the finance, IT, operations, compliance, and facilities functions. Blow’s leadership at BSNB caps a 33-year career in the Capital Region working in audit, advisory and corporate banking roles.

“Tim’s contributions have been instrumental in helping BSNB achieve high levels of fiscal and operational effectiveness, the development of a sophisticated technology infrastructure, market expansion, and record financial performance. Of particular note was Tim’s leadership in the development of the company’s new corporate headquarters building in 2011,” said Christopher R. Dowd, president and chief executive officer at BSNB.

‘Little Market At 5 Points’ Serves Customers Inside, Online And Through Take-Out Window

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Business partners Michele Morris and Jim Morris (not related) opened the Little Market at 5 Points in Saratoga Springs at 42 Park Place in late March.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The Little Market at 5 Points in Saratoga Springs is now open on the city’s east side.

Business partners Michele Morris and Jim Morris are not related. They opened the store at 42 Park Place in late March and they are ready to serve the community they love.

The new owners say the “quintessential” corner store deli is more than a place to grab a quick bite to eat. Michele and Jim said they are “refreshed, re-imagined and ready to bring you delicious eats, everyday conveniences, thoughtful gifts and fast and friendly service.”

The new store is on a site that was a deli and market for many years.

“It is with gratitude that we continue in the spirit of those who came before us,” said Jim Morris. “We look forward to getting to know you and your families over a warm breakfast sandwich and cappuccino, a hotdog, or a deli sandwich made your way.”

The Little Market at 5 Points is a place with many necessities, including milk, fresh produce, candy bars, ice cream, craft beers and hard seltzers. It also has a gift shop with items like dish towels, speciality soaps and artwork.

Michele Morris said they have 10 employees ready to serve people inside the store and through a take-out window.

State Will Allow Spectators At Saratoga Race Course, Capping Attendance At 20 Percent

April 19, 2021April 26, 2021

NYRA will allow spectators at Saratoga Race Course when the annual meet begins. A limit of 20 percent of full capacity has been set. Courtesy NYRA

New York state will allow some spectators at Saratoga Race Course when the annual meet begins in July, officials announced.
The announcement also applies to Belmont Park as of April 22. Spectators will be subject to the state’s safety guidance, which is currently in effect for other professional sports competitions with fans.
The Saratoga meet runs from Thursday, July 15, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.
Attendees must show proof of a recent negative test or completed vaccination series prior to entry and are subject to the state’s health and safety protocols on face coverings, social distancing, and health screening.
The New York Racing Association “looks forward to welcoming fans back to Belmont Park this spring and to Saratoga Race Course this summer,” said CEO Dave O’Rourke. “We thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the opportunity to host fans at our historic tracks for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
“We will announce ticketing options for fans once we further review the guidelines and protocols set forth for thoroughbred tracks in New York state.”

Food At Spice Malabar Restaurant In Clifton Park Influenced By North And South India

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

A new Indian restaurant is open in Clifton Park.

Spice Malabar, 7 Southside Drive, opened in The Shops at Village Plaza on March 16.

The owners also operate Karavalli of Latham, also an Indian restaurant.

The cuisine at Spice Malabar is influenced by the flavors of north and south Indian.

Vince George, chef and owner of Spice Malabar, said North Indian cuisine includes dishes and breads cooked in the tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. Traditionally, meats and vegetables slowly cook in tomato, onion, and tree nut-based sauces, which are seasoned to each dish.

South Indian cuisine brings together the cuisines of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mangalore and Goa with a range of healthy dishes.

Seafood is at the heart of Spice Malabar’s menu, which also includes poultry, game and vegetarian selections.

Visitors to Spice Malabar can experience a lunch buffet that includes tandoor, vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian specialties. Convenient take-out lunch box specials and other à la carte menu options are also offered mid-day.

New Recruiting Company Helps Law Firms, Attorneys And Support Staff In The Region

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

“In the wake of COVID, many search firms went through dramatic changes as they shut down or shifted their focus exclusively to bigger firms in the Manhattan area. With this, I saw an opportunity to help those firms in Upstate New York (including those in the Saratoga/Washington/Warren counties area) get back on their feet. As an experienced recruiter myself, I was inspired to start my own company during the pandemic to make sure that these Upstate businesses could have someone to help support them as they look to reopen amidst COVID.”

He said Valiant is the only search firm that specializes in the legal industry north of New York City, “so we have a much greater presence in these upstate counties—like Saratoga and Warren—than others that focus primarily on New York City. “

Soft-Tex International, A Pillow Making Company In Waterford, Is Growing Fast

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Soft-Tex International, a leading producer of bedding and home comfort products based in Waterford, has opened a facility in Sugar Land, Texas, which it said will provide an immediate improvement in overall shipping efficiency and double the company’s production capacity for fiber-filled products, adding hundreds of new jobs over the course of 2021.

In the first half of 2020, Soft-Tex previously announced an expansion doubling capacity and set an aggressive target of continued domestic expansion by at least 20 percent per year for the next five years. The ramp up of the new facility will double the total of domestic capacity, far exceeding the annual growth target.

The company also has plans to add 40,000 square feet of storage and office space. The mattress and pillow maker received approval from the Halfmoon Planning Board in March to add warehouse space at 430 Hudson River Road in Halfmoon, next door to an existing Soft-Tex factory.

The Sugar Land facility will begin immediate warehousing and distribution operations that will improve overall shipping efficiency to both retailer warehouse networks and direct-to-consumer shipments with three-day or better ground service coverage, as Soft-Tex scales inventory balancing, officials said in a news release.

In parallel, Soft-Tex will add new production equipment for fiber-filled products and personnel in Texas and hopes to begin manufacturing at the facility by June 1.

“As promised, Soft-Tex has delivered and now continues to expand upon its commitment to growing its domestic footprint,” Soft-Tex principal Mark Smiderle said at the opening of the Sugar Land facility. “These efforts will continue to improve Soft-Tex’s, and in turn, our partners’, overall service quality, speed, and costs, which we recognize is critical to driving continued growth.”