Category Archives: Business Briefs

The Round Lake Library Malta branch will be hosting a Social Security retirement information program on Tuesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. in the Holden Room for pre-retirees wanting to make a more informed claiming decision.

Topics covered include: When is the best time to file for benefits; navigating the new Social Security rules; Choosing between worker and spousal benefits; and how to get all of what you’re entitled to.

The hour-long program entitled, “Getting Serious about Social Security,” is designed to help individuals better prepare for the financial challenges of retirement given the potential for living longer. The program is being offered as a public service by John N. Kalil, Jr., financial coach and president of Retirement Solutions LLC. 

Saratoga Financial Services has partnered with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Confidata, the Saratoga Business Journal and Fingerpaint to host the seventh annual Shred Event on Saturday, April 28, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, in recognition of Earth Day.  The event will take place at the Fingerpaint parking lot at 18 Division St....

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) will host its 2018 community mixer and annual meeting on Monday, March 19, at the Next Door Kitchen & Bar, 51 Front St.

The event will celebrate the association’s 35 years of service to the Ballston Spa community. With the support of its members, the BSBPA promotes local businesses and organizations, presents events and activities that bring people to Ballston Spa, and helps beautify and enhance the downtown village through gardens, plantings, directory signs and more.

The event is an opportunity for BSBPA members and non-members to review the events and accomplishments of 2017 and preview what is planned for the coming year.  The association will also honor outgoing board members and welcome new ones.

Olivia Huffman is the newest addition to Keller Williams Capital Region in the office in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Prior to her move to Keller Williams, Huffman worked for a year and a half with Amy Sutton and Gerard Wise at Roohan Realty.

In her time at Roohan, she executed over $500,000 in commercial sales and leases, including offices, retail, property management, land for development, and storage, the company said. She also created a monthly architectural blog on unique buildings in Saratoga Springs, with professor James Kettlewell. She will continue this effort at Keller Williams.

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The Adelphi Hotel has hired Connie Cook-Slocum, a hotel professional with over 19 years of experience, as the new director of event sales.

Prior to starting with The Adelphi Hotel, Cook-Slocum was director of catering sales at the Desmond Hotel.  She was the previously off-premise catering sales director at Mazzone Hospitality.

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association will hold a networking breakfast 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, hosted by Rebuilding Together Saratoga County at 132 Milton Ave. in Ballston Spa.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County partners with volunteers year round to help homeowners in need live independently in safe and healthy homes and build healthy neighborhoods through their programs. Its resale shop in Ballston Spa sells donated items at a fraction of the cost and all proceeds are used to provide home repairs for veterans, seniors, individuals living with disabilities and families in need.

Cost for the breakfast is $5 with advance reservation—prepayment available at www.ballston.org—or RSVP to info@ballston.org and pay at the door. Non-reserved walk-ins pay $10.

Business and community members are welcome. They need not be a BSBPA member to attend this event.

The 2017 Holiday Match charity program conducted annually by Stewart’s Shops raised $1.89 million for local children’s organizations.

Company officials said the fund drive set a record for the fourth consecutive season.

From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, Stewart’s customers donated $945,000 to the program, which is an increase of approximately $19,000 over last season. Each individual donation is matched penny-for-penny by Stewart’s Shops.

There are no administrative costs and 100 percent of the funds benefit local, nonprofit children’s organizations.

“This program is proof that your small change can really add up and make a big impact on local kids,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake. “Teaming up with our customers to support our communities is just another reason why we say, we are closer to you.”

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association will hold a networking breakfast 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, hosted by Rebuilding Together Saratoga County at 132 Milton Ave. in Ballston Spa.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County partners with volunteers year round to help homeowners in need live independently in safe and healthy homes and build healthy neighborhoods through their programs. Its resale shop in Ballston Spa sells donated items at a fraction of the cost and all proceeds are used to provide home repairs for veterans, seniors, individuals living with disabilities and families in need.

Cost for the breakfast is $5 with advance reservation—prepayment available at www.ballston.org—or RSVP to info@ballston.org and pay at the door. Non-reserved walk-ins pay $10.

Business and community members are welcome. They need not be a BSBPA member to attend this event.

Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. has again been named a Top Small Community Lender by the U.S. Small Business Administration for the Capital Region.

This is the fourth consecutive year Saratoga National Bank has received the award.

The SBA recognizes the most active 7(a) lenders in three asset-size groups. In the 2017 federal fiscal year ended Sept. 30, Saratoga National Bank approved 12 loans worth over $550,000 in SBA loans, making it the top-performer in its category for the Capital Region.

Saratoga National Bank has been an SBA lending partner since 1988. Its commercial lending team covers the greater Capital Region from Albany to Saratoga counties.

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Mannix Marketing Inc., a digital marketing agency and SEO company based in Glens Falls, was named the winner of the 2017 US Search Awards in the Best Use of Search/Retail  category.

Mannix was recognized for its work on an organic SEO campaign for Gettysburg Flag Works, beating nine other nominees named to the shortlist. The fifth-annual US Search Awards recognize leading SEO, PPC and digital marketing organizations based or working in the United States.

Saratoga Casino Hotel presented a $15,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

The donation came off funds raised from the casino’s All-Star Sports Festival on Sept. 23.

The All-Star Sports Festival featured over a dozen revered former professional athletes, including Super Bowl champion Lawrence Taylor, World Series champion Wade Boggs and Triple Crown winning jockey Steve Cauthen. The athletes participated in a full day of activities including autograph signings, a celebrity softball game and a home run derby contest.

A portion of all tickets sold, as well as proceeds raised from home run derby, comprised the donations.

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Mannix Marketing, Inc., a digital marketing company based in Glens Falls, has made the 2017 US Search Awards’ shortlist in the “Best Use of Search – Retail” category.

Recognized for its work on an organic SEO campaign for Gettysburg Flag Works, Mannix Marketing was named to the list along with nine other organizations.

The fifth-annual US Search Awards recognize leading SEO, PPC and digital marketing organizations based or working in the United States.

Developed and facilitated by Senior Digital Marketing Strategist Jessica Tracy and Digital Marketing Strategist Amberly Rundell, Mannix Marketing’s shortlisted campaign focuses on increasing organic search traffic from individuals and businesses looking to purchase products from Gettysburg Flag Works, a leading provider of fully customizable flags and banners.

The Malta Business & Professional Association (MBPA) recently hosted the ninth annual Taste of Malta at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART in Malta.

The evening featured a variety of area restaurants who served samples of their best fare to over 200 attendees. As they have for the past seven years, the MBPA donated event proceeds to the Ballston Spa Central School District to support educational enrichment programs and initiatives.

This year’s event raised $4,000 for the Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. The funding will be used to support the district’s Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School, implemented at TEC-SMART in partnership with Hudson Valley Community College.

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Campagna Restaurant in Malta is hosting its annual charity dinner to benefit the Malta Veteran Appreciation Program (MVAP), a local organization that provides charitable support services to veterans. Last year’s event raised over $4000 to help fund MVAP’s many activities including special projects and facilitation of needed services.

The event begins Sunday October 8th at 5 p.m. and will include a champagne happy hour, a  four-course meal prepared by Campagna’s Executive Chef Mark Graham, numerous raffle and silent auction items, and live entertainment.

Tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased in advance calling Campagna at 518-289-5693.

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Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women, is seeking women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families and are in need of financial assistance to go back to school. 

In addition to being the primary wage earner, the applicant is required to: have a financial need; be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program; be a resident of any of the locations where there is a Soroptimist chapter; and not have previously been a recipient of this award,

Soroptimist members are ineligible.

To apply for the grant, email a request for an application to Cynthia Eletto at cynthiaeletto@gmail.com Applications must be returned to Soroptimist International of Saratoga County by Nov. 15.

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