Month: June 2026

The Owner Of 2 Check Electric Has Carved Out A Unique Career Path For Herself

June 22, 2026

Sarah Heddell, owner of Glens Falls-based 2 Check Electric, works at an electrical panel as she builds her one-woman business and plans for sustainable growth through a future apprentice hire.
Courtesy 2 Check Electric

By Rod Bacon

Sarah Heddell has an adventurous soul.

Sixteen years ago, she embarked on a career path that was unusual at the time for a woman: She decided to become an electrician.

The owner of Glens Falls-based 2 Check Electric, Heddell started her entrepreneurial journey shortly after graduating in 2009 from Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station on Long Island.

She attended SUNY Albany for one semester, majoring in political science, before deciding that sitting in a classroom wasn’t for her.

“I like to be busy, I like to be outside,” she said. “I’d always been handy growing up, helping my stepfather build decks and things. I also worked on a horse farm during high school.”

She said the trades didn’t “come into her reality” until after she dropped out of college. She knew a Teamster who drove for United Parcel Service, and he recommended she look into a career in the trades. She considered both plumbing and electrical work, deciding on the latter because she didn’t want to deal with sewage.

Construction Workforce Coalition Expands Effort To Inspire Future Trades Workers

June 22, 2026

Participants and volunteers gather outside a house during the Girls Construction Camp, one of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition’s hands-on programs for local young students.
Courtesy NCTWC

By Susan Elise Campbell

Every building, road and bridge relies on workers with skills that artificial intelligence will not replace. As communities grow, they need more workers on job sites and behind the scenes.

High demand and relative job security make the construction trades attractive. But the workforce shortage has grown so severe it has been described as a national crisis.

In Saratoga County, a nonprofit serving the Northeast has spent the past eight years building awareness between young people and potential construction careers.

“At Saratoga Builders Association board meetings, builders would talk about how we could build more if we could hire more,” said Doug Ford, then president of and now senior adviser to Curtis Lumber Co. “I said we need to do something or take this off the agenda. I was immediately assigned to head a task force.”

Ford said that “on day two” as task force leader he brought in Pam Stott, also an executive of Curtis Lumber, and co-founded the group that received nonprofit status three years ago as the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition.

HK Wealth Management Expands Client Base In Capital Region, Washington County

June 22, 2026

From left, seated, Joel Bennett and Kevin Hedley join standing team members Shelly DeCicco and Jennifer Casey as HK Wealth Management Group expands in the Capital Region and Washington County.
Courtesy HK Wealth Management

By Rod Bacon

Earlier this year, HK Wealth Management Group, headquartered in Clifton Park, expanded its reach with the acquisition of two area financial advisors.

Burnt Hills Financial and Wilbur Financial Group of Greenwich were brought into the HK family. The client base from both practices and some physical assets in Greenwich were purchased.

Burnt Hills Financial was founded in 2016 by Thomas Lansing Jr., while Wilbur Financial Group was established in 2005 by Larry J. Wilbur. According to Kevin M. Hedley, MS, CPA, PFS, HK’s founder and principal adviser, the acquisition of these firms is a good fit because they all use the same broker-dealer and money managers, so the transition has been seamless.

“This acquisition allows us to continue serving more individuals and families throughout the region while maintaining a local presence,” he said. “It also enables clients to benefit from the resources of our broker-dealer partners and leading asset management platforms such as AssetMark. As one of AssetMark’s higher-tier firms we are able to provide a broader ranger of planning and investment solutions than may have previously been available.”

Saratoga Private Wealth Focuses On Communication, Planning And Growth

June 22, 2026

Harrison Xu and Joseph Vidarte, founders of Saratoga Private Wealth, lead the Saratoga Springs firm with a focus on active communication, coordinated planning and long-term client relationships.
Courtesy Saratoga Private Wealth

By Staff Writer

When Harrison Xu and Joseph Vidarte launched Saratoga Private Wealth in Saratoga Springs in November 2025, their goal was not simply to establish another wealth management firm.

Instead, they set out to build a business centered on greater client engagement, active communication and a more coordinated approach to financial planning.

Based at 229 Washington St., Saratoga Private Wealth provides investment management, retirement planning and wealth preservation services for individuals and families. Xu is president of the firm, while Vidarte is vice president and partner.

Their launch reflects a broader movement within the financial advisory industry. Over the past decade, many experienced advisers have chosen to establish independent firms, citing greater flexibility in client service, technology selection and long-term planning strategies. At the same time, clients increasingly seek more personal guidance and ongoing communication rather than periodic portfolio reviews.

Business Report: “Safe” Retirement Portfolio A Speculative Tech Bet?

June 22, 2026

Stephen Kyne, partner, Sterling Manor Financial LLC in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Sterling Manor Financial LLC

By Stephen Kyne, CFP®- Sterling Manor Financial, LLC

A structural shift has been emerging for investors who rely on low-cost index funds within their personal and retirement accounts for an easy source of diversification. Over the past several years, driven by market interest and expectations surrounding artificial intelligence, several technology companies have drawn outsized investment. As a direct result, these companies have claimed a much larger share of indices than many investors may realize, thereby potentially reducing the true diversification historically provided by these funds.

With prominent private firms like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic preparing for potential public market debuts, a massive wave of equity could soon enter public markets. While highly anticipated, these mega-cap listings introduce specific risks for everyday passive investors, potentially altering the risk profile of traditionally diverse index funds.

Historically, companies tended to go public early in their growth cycles. When Amazon launched its IPO in 1997, it was valued at a modest $438 million. Public index investors who held the stock captured its long-term upward trajectory. Today, the environment has shifted. Venture capital and private markets now frequently sustain companies until they reach massive valuations. SpaceX is reportedly aiming for a valuation near $2 trillion, while OpenAI and Anthropic are discussed at levels approaching or exceeding $1 trillion.

Consequently, a significant portion of the exponential, early-stage growth may already be realized by private institutional backers before a public listing occurs. When these companies enter an index, passive investors are not necessarily getting in on the ground floor; instead, they may be purchasing shares at peak private valuations, potentially reducing the historical margin for error.

Ballston Spa Business Group Launches 2026 Farmers Market Season In Wiswall Park

June 22, 2026

Visitors gather at the Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market in Wiswall Park, where the 2026 season will bring local producers, artisans, live music and festivals to the village from June through October.
Courtesy Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association has announced the return of the Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market for its 2026 season. The market will run Saturdays from June 13 through Oct. 3 in Wiswall Park, at the corner of Front Street and Low Street in the Village of Ballston Spa.

Market hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Since 2003, the Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market has connected local producers directly with consumers while supporting small farms, artisans and makers throughout the region.

This year’s market will feature locally grown produce, farm-fresh products, artisan breads, baked goods, honey, flowers, handcrafted jewelry, maple syrup, prepared food and more. The 2026 season will include returning vendors and new vendors.

Visitors can also enjoy live music throughout the season. The market will host the second annual Ballston Spa Peach Festival on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, and the second annual Ballston Spa Autumn Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Both festivals will take place during regular market hours in Wiswall Park.