Jake Van Ness, Author at Saratoga Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2079 Articles

Investors Still Being Sought For Affordable Housing Project On Putnam St. In Saratoga

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

This vacant lot on Putnam Street in Saratoga Springs will be the site of an affordable housing apartment complex funded by a local investment group.
©2023 Saratoga Photographer.com

The owner of Putnam Resources LLC is continuing to accept proposals from private investors to move the project along.

The group has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, and the city of Saratoga Springs to take advantage of state and private funding sources and other initiatives geared toward increasing the amount of workforce and affordable housing available in the state.

The project—Putnam Commons, at 53 Putnam St., Saratoga Springs—is a private-public endeavor that will transform a cleaned-up brownfield in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs into residential condominiums offering homeownership opportunities for members of the local workforce. The property is across the street from the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

The developers have guaranteed that at a minimum 30 percent of the units in the building will be offered at a price affordable for buyers earning 80 percent of the average median income of the area. Driving the project is a collaboration of entities with common goals of ameliorating the prevailing shortage of workforce housing in the Spa City.

drb Business Interiors Uses Falkbuilt Products For Digital Component Systems

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

Pictured are digitally designed framing components manufactured by Falkbuilt.
Courtesy drb Business Interiors

By Christine Graf

It was while working to construct the interior of a third Saratoga CoWorks Space at 92 Congress St. in Saratoga Springs that owners Dorothy Rogers-Bullis and Dan Bullis first discovered Falkbuilt, an interior digital component construction company.

They were so impressed with the company that they now operate Falkbuilt’s Northern New York branch as part of their own commercial design and furniture company, drb Business Interiors.

“Falkbuilt was the solution that we were looking for,” said Rogers-Bullis. “We wanted better acoustics, better design, and faster lead times.”

Had they not used Falkbuilt for the interior buildout at 92 Congress St., she estimated that the work would have taken four times as long.

Founded in 2019, Calgary-based Falkbuilt has 450 employees and more than 90 branches in North America, the Middle East and India. The interior construction manufacturing company uses next-generation technology to manufacture components efficiently and precisely in their factory. Falkbuilt systems are being utilized in hospitals, offices, and even a research station in Antarctica.

Denise Romeo Is Named First Executive Director Of Alliance180 Program For Veterans

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

Alliance180, a peer-to-peer, purpose-driven program that aims to prevent suicide for veterans, first responders and frontline healthcare workers facing the effects of trauma through a transformative equine experience, has hired its first executive director. Denise Romeo, former executive vice president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, was named to the position. “Denise brings...

Business Report: Nurses Are Part Of Florence Nightingale Legacy

May 8, 2023May 11, 2023

Donna Kirker, VP patient services and chief nursing officer, Glens Falls Hospital.

By Donna Kirker MS RN NEA-BC

Each year National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, the day that Florence Nightingale was born. Florence Nightingale is known for her selflessness, dedication and commitment to serving others and for revolutionizing nursing as a profession.

Her work was remarkably progressive for the time, utilizing her own data to establish credible evidence upon which actionable conclusions could be drawn. Because of her meticulous work, it was demonstrated that simple sanitation techniques such as handwashing could stop the spread of infectious diseases in hospitals.

Her legacy of compassion and selfless service set the bar high for the nursing profession. Nurses are often recognized for their unwavering commitment and for making sacrifices to serve others during major events and other important health issues. They work extended hours, through the night and often without enough resources to deliver care effectively.

The national shortage of nurses and other healthcare workers that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has put incredible strain on the health care system. Many long-tenured nurses left the profession for retirement, while others left the clinical setting choosing less demanding career options.

Those who remained at the bedside have been commended for their resilience. The American Nurses Association (ANA) reminds us “we must see and celebrate our nurses as whole humans, not as a fictitious image of an all-powerful, all resilient hero.” For the past 3 years, nurses have put aside their own needs and feelings to push forward through the pandemic and its aftermath. We must value them and promote their well-being.

AIM Services Opens New Facilities Offering Day Programs For Traumatic Brain Injuries

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

Heather Harple, center, assistant director of DOH services at AIM Services, talks with clients at the organization’s new STRIVE facility in Wilton.
©2023 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Paul Post

A new facility offering day programs for people with traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s and dementia is now open, after a three-year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

STRIVE, which stands for Supportive Techniques for Rebuilding Independence & Vital Experiences, is a program of nonprofit AIM Services that supports people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including those with traumatic brain injuries and those looking for nursing home transition or diversion.

STRIVE is for people in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, but participants may also come from the immediate Capital Region along with Fulton and Montgomery counties as well.

AIM is headquartered at 4227 Route 50 in Wilton, near the intersections of Old Gick and Ingersoll roads. Previously, STRIVE was housed at a somewhat remote location in Fort Edward, which presented transportation obstacles for many people.

Albany Medical Center First In Region To Get Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Verification Status

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has verified Albany Medical Center as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

Saratoga Hospital is part of the Albany Med heath care system.

The Massry Family Children’s Emergency Center, which opened in 2018 as the region’s only designated pediatric emergency department, is the referral center for all seriously ill and injured children in a 25-county area of northeastern New York and western New England. Physicians in the center are fellowship-trained and board-certified in the specialty of pediatric emergency medicine.

The Level 1 verification is the highest a hospital can attain and comes after a rigorous review by the ACS Committee on Trauma to ensure the hospital is meeting all aspects of trauma care, prevention, rehabilitation, and more.

“The comprehensive and expert care provided to pediatric trauma patients at Albany Medical Center is second to none,” said Dr. Dennis P. McKenna, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System. “As the region’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, we are demonstrating our commitment to elevate the level of critical and emergency care provided to our youngest patients.”

“Our trauma services provide a safety net for patients who sustain serious and life-threatening injuries,” said Dr. Mary Edwards, division chief of pediatric surgery and medical director of the Pediatric Trauma Program. “In the pediatric emergency center, parents, caregivers, and families place their trust in us. Our physicians, nurses, and staff strive every day to continue to earn that trust when these serious injuries occur.”

Skidmore College Hires New Vice President For Communications And Marketing

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

Elizabeth Stauderman, Skidmore College VP for communications and marketing.
Courtesy Skidmore College

Elizabeth Stauderman, a communications expert and strategic adviser with decades of experience in public affairs and external relations, will join Skidmore College as vice president for communications and marketing.

She takes the job effective on June 1.

As chief communications officer, Stauderman will champion a bold vision for promoting Skidmore and its mission through compelling and innovative marketing and communications efforts.

“Elizabeth brings exceptional depth and breadth of experience that will bolster the work of the Office of Communications and Marketing here at Skidmore,” said Skidmore President Marc C. Conner. “Her passion for the liberal arts, commitment to collaboration, and keen attention to the ever-evolving opportunities and challenges facing higher education will support the college as we continue to adeptly share our unique story, distinctive value, and dedication to creative thought.”

Stauderman formerly served as vice president for communications at the University of Rochester from 2015 to 2022, overseeing all media, public relations, and communications matters, including strategy and crisis communications. Previously, she held multiple positions at Yale University, including chief communications officer and special assistant to the president.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University and a Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School.

Business Report: Are You A Humble Sales Leader

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

By Alan VanTassel In today’s business landscape, it is far too common to have bosses who yell, threaten and micromanage their way to the top—at the expense of their employees. Anyone who has ever worked for someone who has exhibited these characteristics will tell you that it is not an effective management style. These...

Business Report: Managers Still Need Training

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

By Rose Miller I was asked to speak recently on the value of training programs. I was excited to speak on this topic because I’ve witnessed many examples of the damage caused by untrained managers, who are not self-aware nor able to embrace a culture of learning. More managers are being asked to take...

Empire State University Creates New Master Of Public Administration Degree Program

May 8, 2023May 9, 2023

Empire State University has a new Master of Public Administration program.
Courtesy Empire State University

Empire State University has launched its new Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, a degree designed for civil servants and others who aspire to career advancement in public service or the not-for-profit service sector.

Applications are open for the fall 2023 term.

The MPA is a 30-credit master’s degree program that involves 10, three-credit courses and a final project. The program prepares students for careers such as social and community service managers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

The degree will provide students with advanced skill sets that are necessary for supervisory and managerial positions. It will also introduce students to the history of the field, as well as recent trends in public administration. By understanding the interplay of governmental interventions, political factors, and ethical implications, students will be able to analyze, evaluate, and formulate policies.