By Rod Bacon

One of the most effective ways to learn something is to immerse yourself as completely as possible in the subject.

Battlefield Leadership, under the guidance of President and CEO Col. (Ret.) Kevin W. Farrell, Ph.D., provides total immersion leadership programs based in history throughout the United States and several sites overseas. Clients attend multiple-day seminars at locations where some of the most significant military decisions were made, influencing the destinies of the people at the locations in which they occurred. Based on the traits of Character, Courage, and Competence, facilitators use the lessons of history to prepare attendees for leadership positions in their companies.

One example is the Saratoga Leadership Experience, in which participants visit the historic battlefield and study the event considered the turning point of the American Revolution. Case studies of Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler, and Sir William Howe are used to illustrate key leadership lessons that show attendees how to seize the initiative, align a complex organization, overcome adversity, and defeat complacency.

By Paul Post

Excitement in the Spa City has reached a fever-pitch for the upcoming five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from June 4-8.

The Grade 1, $2 million Belmont has all the makings of a classic showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and runner-up Journalism, who broke through a crowded field to capture the May 17 Preakness in dramatic fashion.

“This will be a great race, maybe a blockbuster!” said veteran handicapper Mike Campanile, a frequent visitor to the Spa Oval.

The festival will have 27 stakes races and purses totaling more than $11 million, the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the festival’s inception in 2014.

But excitement at the track is only part of the fun, which begins on Wednesday, June 4 (7-10 p.m.) with a Belmont on Broadway concert in downtown Saratoga Springs featuring Gin Blossoms, an alternative rock band whose single, “Hey Jealousy,” became a Top 25 hit; and the Uprooted band that includes Michael Glabicki, original singer-guitarist with the former Rusted Root, which sold more than three million albums.

By Rod Bacon

An idea floated at a breakfast meeting at Shirley’s Diner in Saratoga Springs six years ago has finally come to fruition.

Three local residents — Cheryl Hage-Perez, Ray O’Conor and Tiffany LeAndrea — were planning the annual Veterans’ Ball, a fund raiser for the Ballston Spa-based Veterans & Community Housing Coalition. 

Eventually, the conversation turned to the unmet needs of veterans. LeAndrea, an Air Force veteran with two children, mentioned the fact that there wasn’t a facility where veteran women in similar situations could find housing and support services while they are making the often difficult transition from the military to civilian life. 

“Later that night Ray called me and said ‘We need to do something for veterans in this situation’,” Hage-Perez said. “That’s how Foreverly House started to take shape.”

The inspiration for the name came from a song entitled “Foreverly” penned in 2017 by local singer/songwriter Jeff Brisbin.

Foreverly House is comprised of two separate living spaces, each with its own entrance and each featuring four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, pantry, and laundry room, ensuring privacy and comfort for the families. It will welcome its first residents June 1.

“Beyond housing, Foreverly House provides on-site counseling and facilitates access to essential services, empowering veteran mothers to rebuild their lives while keeping their families intact,” said Hage-Perez, executive board liaison for the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition.

The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) has announced the selection of Heather McDaniel as chief economic development officer. This key position, which reports to CEG’s president and CEO Mark Eagan, is responsible for development and implementation of strategies and initiatives to drive regional economic growth and broad-based prosperity.

McDaniel has more than 20 years of experience in economic and community development. She most recently served as president of Ithaca (NY) Area Economic Development. She has served the organization for 18 years. McDaniel was hired as an Empire Zone coordinator in 2007, becoming director of economic development services in 2008, and vice president in 2014. She served as president for the last seven years. Prior to Ithaca, she worked in cooperative housing and redevelopment in New York City and began her career with Cushman Wakefield in Los Angeles.

“Heather brings balanced experience as a collaborative and results-oriented economic development leader,” said Mark Eagan, president and CEO, Center for Economic Growth. “She joins a strong team, which positions us well as we advance strategies to help the Capital Region realize its true economic potential.”

“I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey at CEG and contribute to the advancement and development of the Capital Region,” said McDaniel. “I look forward to working with the team and stakeholders to ignite a dynamic and prosperous economic future.”

Recently, the Manufacturing Institute (MI)—the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers—honored Jean Blunt from GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) at their annual MAKE Awards. Blunt, director of manufacturing operations at GF Vermont, has been named a 2025 Honoree for her exemplary leadership in manufacturing, science, technology, engineering and production. She is one of 130 recipients recognized with this prestigious honor. 

Over the past 35 years, Jean Blunt has made significant contributions to the semiconductor industry. As the director of manufacturing operations at GF Vermont for the past five years, Jean has built a production-control team that increased quality output by 40 percent. She then took on the management of the 600-employee manufacturing organization, introduced the first mobile robot to production and achieved the highest operator productivity and manufacturing quality performance at the site. Jean is also dedicated to coaching and mentoring emerging leaders and has served as the executive sponsor for the Community Engagement Team at GF Vermont. Under her leadership, participation in employee engagement has notably increased, with volunteer hours up by 300 percent and total attendance at events rising by 60 percent last year. 

“I feel powerful when I help others grow in their careers, use my passion to build a positive workplace culture and make a meaningful impact in the community,” said Blunt. “It is truly an honor to receive MI’s Honoree Award, and I am grateful for the opportunity to further support the manufacturing workforce.” 

These prestigious annual awards recognize employees who have excelled in their careers and showcase leadership across all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite. 

“I am thrilled to congratulate Jean on her MAKE Honoree Award! She is an exceptional and innovative leader who leads by example and consistently makes a positive impact at GF and throughout Vermont, both in business and community engagement,” said Ken McAvey, general manager, GF Vermont. “Along her 35-year career, Jean has built strong relationships, improved the workplace for her teammates and encouraged lifelong careers in manufacturing. Her unwavering dedication to her employees, team, community and business outcomes are the driving forces behind their success. We are deeply grateful to have Jean’s outstanding service and leadership and look forward to her future achievements at GF.” 

By Susan Elise Campbell

A specialty grocery store such as Saratoga has never seen is soon to open at 3078 Route 50 in Wilton. According to owners John and Maria Biagini, the magnitude of the space, the wide variety of fresh foods and in-house dishes prepared, the volume of local and imported products in stock, plus authentic Brooklyn bagels, make this market unique.

The Biaginis designed their newest venture in the style of the markets that dot New York City with flavors from around the world. This is the food to which they have long been accustomed. Maria lived in Brooklyn all her life and was a school teacher by profession. John was always in the food business, and the couple spent summers in Saratoga before joining other downstaters who now call this community home.

“We always said that if we ever decide to leave Brooklyn, this would be our place to live,” said Maria. “But when we moved into our new house, we didn’t think we would open this market within only a year and a half.”

The catalyst? They missed the food in the city, and traveling to pick up their favorite bagels and ethnic dishes to put it in their freezer “was getting to be a little too much,” she said.

By Rod Bacon

The advent of spring ushers in warmer weather and the promise of outdoor family gatherings. It also brings the annual invasion of pesky insects and other pests that can dampen the fun of such events. A business serving Warren and Saratoga counties in New York and parts of Western Vermont can ensure that these invaders are vanquished and the party can be one to remember fondly.

Started as a one-man shop in 2008, Hudson Falls-based Bug U Pest Control has grown to include eight technicians and a significant number of clients, many of whom have been utilizing its services since the beginning. 

“I started in the business in 1998 with a national pest control company,” said owner Brent Brewer. “That’s where I got my initial training, and I discovered I was good at it and enjoyed the work.”

While he and his team work year round, Brewer is coming into his busy season, which runs from April through October. He said warm weather brings out the pests most likely to concern homeowners and business people. These include mosquitoes, wasps, carpenter ants, termites, ticks and fleas.

The Bug U technicians use both traditional and eco-friendly products to deal with these intruders. According to Brewer, the traditional products that have been developed over the years are safe and last longer after application than those that are eco-friendly. He noted that some clients simply prefer the latter and there are situations where they are required. For example, if treatment is being done close to water or a runoff area eco-friendly products are required by law.

The company offers clients seasonal contracts to ensure pests are kept at bay. Eco-friendly products need to be applied once a month while traditional ones can be done every other month because they are micro-encapsulated and time released.