Month: February 2026

Tax Policy, Chips, Jobs Fuel Optimism At Saratoga County Economic Outlook 2026

February 16, 2026

Ben Chuckrow (right), Stifel senior vice president, investments and branch manager, discusses local and national trends during a 2026 Economic Outlook as Charles Wait Jr (left) and Dave DeMarco (center) look on.
Paul Post photo

By Paul Post

Federal tax refunds from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill are expected to be $150 billion higher this spring, helping all kinds of business as people purchase everything from lawn tractors to new homes.

That’s what keynote speaker Robert Doll said during a recent 2026 Economic Outlook program hosted by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at the Excelsior Springs Event Center with more than 100 attendees on hand.

The bill, which the president signed into law last July 4, includes tax deductions for tips, overtime pay, auto loans, and creates Trump accounts allowing parents to create tax-deferred accounts for their children, all set to expire in 2028.

“That’s real money and creates a tailwind for consumption,” said Doll, CEO of Houston-based Crossmark Global Investments. “The economy is improving. Economic growth in the United States in 2026 will be 50 basis points higher than it was in 2025 and there’s nothing embarrassing about 2025.”

Saratoga Casino Opens 85th Harness Racing Season With 150 Dates, $17M Purses

February 16, 2026

Harness racing returns to Saratoga Casino for its 85th season with 150 race dates and more than $17 million in purses, which began Feb. 1 at the Spa Oval.
Courtesy Saratoga Casino

Saratoga Casino Hotel announced the return of live harness racing for its 85th season, which began Sunday, February 1. The 2026 schedule at the Spa Oval will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December, including several Saturday matinee race cards throughout the season.

Horsemen will compete for over $17 million in purses during the season. In addition, the track will host eight New York Sire Stakes programs featuring the best New York bred horses in the state racing for an additional $1.5 million in purses.

“I expect a very strong season of racing,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “The horse population has been abundant the last few years and this gives us the ability to offer a high-quality product for our fans.”

Saratoga Casino’s premier event, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Invitational Pacing Series, will kick off on Saturday, July 11 with a new format better suited for local horsemen participation. This year, competitors will vie for points in the $20,000 Invitational over seven consecutive Saturdays, with the top point earners advancing to the $100,000 final on Saturday, August 29. Total purses for the Gerrity Invitational series are $240,000.

Thousands Attend Saratoga Chowderfest As Discover Saratoga Reveals 2026 Winners

February 16, 2026

Thousands sample chowder during Saratoga’s 27th annual Chowderfest.
Courtesy Discover Saratoga

Discover Saratoga announced the winners of the 27th Annual Saratoga Chowderfest, held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thousands of attendees braved winter temperatures to sample a wide variety of chowders from participating vendors and vote for their favorites. Winners were recognized in eight categories during the annual awards ceremony at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.

The 2026 Chowderfest winners are:

• People’s Choice, 500 bowls or less: Artisanal Brew Works

• People’s Choice, 501–750 bowls: The Mill on Round Lake

• People’s Choice, 751–1,000 bowls: Whitman Brewing

• People’s Choice, 1,001–1,500 bowls: The Parting Glass

• People’s Choice, 1,501–2,000 bowls: Rhea

• People’s Choice, 2,001–3,000 bowls: Wheatfields Restaurant

• People’s Choice, 3,001–4,000 bowls: Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro

• People’s Choice, 4,001-plus bowls: Druthers Brewing Company

First New York Federal Credit Union Announces New President And CEO

February 16, 2026

First New York Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Vik Muktavaram as its next President and CEO.

Muktavaram, the ninth chief executive in the credit union’s 88-year history, joins First New York following the planned retirement of current President and CEO Lucy Halstead.

Muktavaram is currently the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Sunmark Credit Union. He joined Sunmark as the Chief Risk Officer in 2022 and was named Interim Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Prior to joining Sunmark, he was a Principal with Satori Consulting, a New York City-based management consulting firm. Before that, he served as Chief Risk Officer for Old Mutual Bermuda, an investment management company, and spent over a decade in management consulting.

New Mentorship Program Aims To Strengthen Local Small Businesses

February 16, 2026

The Innovation Center at Saratoga Announces “Entrepreneurship is Everyone’s Business”

New multi-phase program designed to strengthen local small businesses with mentorship that extends beyond the classroom

The Innovation Center at Saratoga Inc. announced the launch of “Entrepreneurship is Everyone’s Business,” an entrepreneurship program designed to strengthen the local economy by helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

The program is supported by NBT Bank and Phillips Lytle LLP, with partnerships including SUNY Adirondack, Saratoga Arts and SCORE.

“One of the great strengths of any community is the success of its small businesses,” said Beth Moeller, founder of the Innovation Center at Saratoga. “This program is designed to support the businesses that shape our region’s identity and vitality — the local shops, restaurants, consultancies and creative makers and artists that make our community special.”

Entrepreneurship is Everyone’s Business is tailored to support Main Street, hospitality, business consultancies and creatives, including visual artists, photographers, jewelry designers and more. Other business types are welcome, and the program is open to both not-yet-open ventures and early-stage businesses seeking to improve and grow.

A Unique Approach: Four Phases covering Learning, Mentorship, Pitching and Long-Term Support

Unlike a traditional business boot camp, the Innovation Center at Saratoga emphasizes continued coaching, mentorship and community accountability over time. The program is structured in four phases.

Former SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy, Ed. D. Joins Behan Communications

February 16, 2026

Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., former SUNY Adirondack president, joined Behan Communications.
Courtesy Behan Communications

Behan Communications announced that Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., former president of SUNY Adirondack, has joined the firm. Duffy will work with crisis communications and public affairs clients and assist with business development.

Duffy served as president of SUNY Adirondack for 12 years, retiring in 2025 as the second-longest-serving president in the college’s history. During her tenure, the multi-campus community college served approximately 6,000 students annually with a $31 million operating budget and 385 employees. Under her leadership, graduation rates increased by more than 12 percent, more than $50 million was invested in capital improvements, and workforce-focused degree and short-term training programs were expanded. She also secured millions of dollars in grant funding to support equipment, classrooms, and student success initiatives.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Duffy on our team,” said Ryan Moore, president and CEO of Behan Communications. “Her leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, and economic development will be an asset to our clients.”

Mark Behan, chairman and founder, said Duffy’s career has been defined by relationship-building and community impact across the region.

Franklin Community Center Welcomes New Directors, Recognizes Board Leadership

February 16, 2026

At its recent board meeting, Franklin Community Center (FCC) proudly voted to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors. For more than 40 years, FCC has been an active force in Saratoga County, dedicated to helping to improve the quality of life in our community and to bridge gaps in community needs by providing support, services, and resources that ensure core needs are met.

FCC is pleased to welcome Cliff VanWagner, a long-time volunteer and dedicated community member. Cliff spent his professional career at The Wesley Community, where he served as a licensed pharmacist and later advanced to Director of Pharmacy, a role he held until his retirement in spring 2025. Among his many accomplishments, Cliff led the design and implementation of a drug distribution system serving more than 350 residents. Beyond his professional work, Cliff remains deeply engaged in the community, supporting fundraising efforts for the Saratoga Springs Police Department Canine Unit, Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation, and Leadership Saratoga.

“After spending the last 10 years working with FCC to assist with the food pantry expansion and fundraising for the new building, I am honored and humbled to join the Board,” said VanWagner. “My goal is to help further FCC’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring its continued success.”

FCC also warmly welcomes Christine Hogan Barton to the Board of Directors. An Associate Real Estate Broker at Roohan Realty, Christine has long been involved in the Saratoga Springs community through her support of events such as the North Country Festival of Trees, Touch-A-Truck, and recreational sports programs within the Saratoga Springs School District.

ADKtechs Trades Volume For Strategy Relocates Headquarters To Fuel Growths

February 16, 2026

Jared Humiston, president and CEO of ADKtechs, leads the firm into its next growth phase.
Courtesy ADKtechs

By Ann Donnelly

For Jared Humiston, the journey from a rented apartment in Argyle to the cutting edge of the regional tech industry has been defined by a single, unwavering mission: to make technology work for the client.

As Adirondack Technical Solutions — known more commonly as ADKtechs — marks its 20th anniversary, the company is preparing for its most significant transformation yet. On March 1, the firm will relocate its headquarters from its longtime home in Washington County to the new Moreau Commons, a strategic move designed to fuel the next decade of growth.

The company’s origins are humble, born from a conversation between a landlord and a tenant. Humiston, now President and CEO, recalls that “literally how we started was with one customer, who was looking for consistent support services.”

“It started as kind of like a side hustle, and then he told somebody, then they told somebody,” Humiston said. Within four years, the business had scaled to 40 accounts through word-of-mouth referrals.

In those early days, the industry was tethered to hardware. “Most everything was built around hardware sales and physical on-premises solutions,” Humiston explained, noting that the company essentially built “small clouds” for individual firms, hosting their email and websites locally.

Management Training Program Returns To Strengthen Regional Leadership Pipeline

February 16, 2026

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Empire State University, announced the return of its Saratoga County Institute of Management program.

Designed for emerging or new managers, SCIM provides essential skills and strategies needed to thrive in a dynamic workplace.

The program is organized into two six-week tracks meant to rapidly enhance skill sets and complement each other.

Track One focuses on foundational skills for new and emerging managers, including self-awareness, communication, conflict resolution and leadership strategies to help them transition from individual contributors to effective team leaders.

Track Two centers on advanced managerial competencies — such as talent recruitment and retention, performance management, strategic planning, leading change and financial acumen — to expand participants’ strategic impact and organizational leadership.

Participants may enroll in one or both tracks, as Track One is not a prerequisite for Track Two.

The SCIM program was initiated as a pilot before the COVID-19 pandemic and relaunched in 2025. The original program was also a collaboration between the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and then Empire State College and was funded with financial support from the Saratoga County Capital Resources Corporation.

“The Saratoga County Institute of Management underscores our dedication to developing strong leadership across every sector of our economy,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “SCIM offers local organizations a powerful opportunity to invest in their most valuable resource — their people.”

New Upper Glen Street Showroom Focuses On Custom Design And Energy Efficiency

February 16, 2026

Tim and Michelle Schultz with Sarah Walsh at the new multibrand showroom on Upper Glen Street.
Glens Falls Business Journal

By Carol Ann Conover

Homeowners looking for personalized design guidance rather than off-the-shelf solutions now have a new local option with the opening of a collaborative home design and improvement showroom on Upper Glen Street.

Tim and Michelle Schultz are launching a multi-brand showroom at 704 Upper Glen St. that brings together custom window treatments, interior design services and energy-efficient replacement windows and doors. The space unites Gotcha Covered of Saratoga, Designs on Glen and Window Depot of the Adirondacks, offering what the owners describe as a consultative, one-on-one alternative to the stock selections and self-guided experience typical of big-box retailers.

The concept is designed to help homeowners make cohesive decisions that balance aesthetics, performance and budget, rather than purchasing products in isolation. Clients can work directly with experienced professionals to evaluate everything from fabric and light control to insulation value and window performance.

“We’re really focused on the personal side of design,” Tim Schultz said. “Big-box stores serve a purpose, but many homeowners want guidance tailored to their space, their home and how they live. That’s what we’re providing here.”