Category Archives: Business News

The state Office for the Aging recently honored 94 older adults for their volunteerism, including Marlene Hathaway and Cheryl Wood of Saratoga County, as part of its annual Older New Yorkers’ Day celebration.

“The word ‘volunteer’ cannot capture fully the accomplishments of this group of incredible individuals,” OFA Director Greg Olsen said in his remarks at the event. “Older adults impress us all with their commitment to a greater good and a greater cause. You tell the real story of what’s good about people, what’s good about New York. Through your deeds and actions, time and again, you show us how valuable you all are to those you touch, to those you serve, to the families and communities and lives you make better.”

During Hathaway’s more than three years of volunteer services, the Mechanicville resident has contributed as a meal delivery driver, delivering hot meals to homebound seniors, and currently as a transportation assistant, driving  older adults to and from medical appointments throughout the county.

She is also a Telecare caller, supporting a program that began during the pandemic as a way to connect with older adults who may feel lonely and isolated. Hathaway continues to make these calls, which provide vital social connection while also serving as a wellness check.

She has a lengthy history of volunteering with other organizations. Hathaway graduated from Shenendehowa High School and then entered the U.S. Air National Guard, where she served for 20 years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. “It is so rewarding to volunteer with seniors,” she said. “There is such a need to help and I absolutely love doing it.”

by Mark Shaw

The economic outlook for 2023 is the dreaded R word—Recession. 

It`s here. We know the media and our government are not exactly forthcoming saying it’s here, but if you are a consumer you see the change. Technology is often the canary in the coal mine. When tech companies start cutting jobs, that is when we see things starting. 

Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and just a few days ago Salesforce, recently cut their workforce. Additionally, the news was just released that the financial sector cuts are coming. These two major driving economic forces are the first to start the layoffs. Next up, all of us.

But as a small business owner there is some comfort in the fact that you can probably find some places to cut costs and save money. Ideally, you have probably been doing this all along as the inflation numbers have grown. When it comes to your technology, if you currently have an IT staff, even if it’s just one person, you can use some cost-effective, time-tested methods to meet your needs. 

In today’s world you can outsource your information technology for often a fraction of the cost of retaining a fully loaded employee. Multiple studies shown that firms with 1-10 IT staff members have seen significant savings by outsourcing to an IT consulting firm. I have first-hand experience of the best ways this can and has been done.

By R.J. DeLuke

Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Center at 500 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, is closing this month as the property is being purchased by a New Hampshire group that owns and develops luxury hotels.

After more than a quarter century in business,  Steve and Yvonne Sullivan and David Powers are selling the property to Hay Creek Hotels of Exeter, N.H.

Price has not been disclosed. The Sullivans and Powers also own the Olde Bryan Inn, 123 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, and will continue to operate it.

“After almost 50 years in hospitality, it’s time to step back,” said Steve Sullivan. “I believe Longfellows is in good hands. Going forward, we plan to continue to own and operate the Olde Bryan Inn for many years to come. I also look forward to time spent coaching those around me, as well as working on social service projects, some that I’ve already been involved in for many years.”

The 2022 Holiday Match Program conducted by Stewart’s Shops has raised over $2 million for local children’s organizations, the company said. 

From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, Stewart’s customers donated $1,011,281 to the program. Each individual donation was doubled by Stewart’s Shops. With no administrative fees, 100 percent of the funds benefit local, nonprofit children’s organizations.

“We are continually amazed by the generosity of our customers. We are proud to double their gifts allowing us to share more with our communities. These gifts have the power to accelerate progress where it’s needed most and support projects and services that can fuel real change in our communities,” according to Jennifer Frame, Stewart’s Shops director of corporate philanthropy.

Some 1,716 children’s organizations received funding from last year’s Holiday Match campaign. The grants help children all year long.

By Paul Post

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp.  helped secure $1.5 billion in new business construction, which created and retained thousands of jobs during Dennis Brobston’s tenure as the nonprofit agency’s president.

This doesn’t include the GlobalFoundries’ $15 billion investment at Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta, where plans are in the works for a second computer chip manufacturing plant that might cost up to $10 million and create 1,000 more jobs.

Brobston, 63, retired Dec. 31 after 14 years with SEDC.

As he looked back at his tenure, he said he expects the Malta project to fuel a whole new wave of business and job growth. That’s why SEDC’s focus the past few years has been on providing the industrial space and workforce housing needed for related, support firms to locate here and succeed.

“We’re seeing the need for these things because of the economic viability of our county for new jobs,” Brobston said. “My concern with Global is that when they pull the trigger on Fab 8.2 and start to get new people in here, that we have enough capacity to handle that.”

“It’s hard to get workers if you don’t have workforce housing,” he said. “You’ve got to have a place for people to live. It’s something people all across the country are talking about. It’s definitely needed in our county because it’s difficult for some people to afford rents, which have grown to $1,200 to $1,500 for sometimes outdated apartments, let alone buy a house.”

The Wesley Community announced a series of management promotions among its senior leadership team. 

Katie Lahoff was named chief financial officer, Katelynn Ethier was appointed executive director of The Wesley Foundation and Greg Dixon was promoted to chief development and marketing officer. 

In addition, Heather Roselan was hired as director of assisted living at Woodlawn Commons.

“We are pleased to announce the promotions of these exceptional individuals to their new leadership roles at The Wesley Community,” said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “It is always a source of great pride when our existing leadership team members advance with us in their careers. Additionally, we remain committed to identifying and recruiting new talent as we embrace the future of senior care.”

Lahoff began her career at Wesley in 2006 as controller before being promoted to director of finance in 2018 and charged with overseeing all business office operations. In her new role as CFO, Lahoff will expand her oversight of business office operations to include admissions to The Wesley Health Care Center.

“Working for a mission-driven organization has given my career more meaning and purpose. The compassion Wesley provides to our residents, their families and our staff makes me proud to be part of a community that cares for all who walk through our doors,” said Lahoff.

Ethier joined The Wesley Community in 2016 as a foundation assistant. She earned a series of promotions beginning in 2017 to marketing and advancement associate, development manager in 2018 and assistant director of The Wesley Foundation in 2021. During her tenure as assistant director, Ethier led The Wesley Foundation’s event series and oversaw its grant program. 

In her new role as executive director of The Wesley Foundation, she will work with Wesley’s Senior Management team and the foundation’s board of directors to generate funding to enhance the lives of Wesley’s residents and clients.

By Paul Post

Cohoes-based Prime Companies has a project approved in Saratoga Springs and is waiting for the stars to align, financially speaking, before going ahead with construction.

That’s the firm’s strategy for a proposed upscale apartment and townhouse complex to be called Saratoga Station Square on the south side of Station Lane, off West Avenue, in Saratoga Springs, near the Amtrak station.

Plans call for a 2024 construction start on four, four-story apartment buildings with 338 units, 48 townhouses, a 376-space underground parking garage and amenities such as a saltwater swimming pool, outdoor fire pits, pizza ovens and kitchen, putting greens and bocce courts.

“Saratoga Springs is arguably the best place in Capital Region to live,” Prime Companies principal Dean Devito said. “It’s regularly voted one of the best small cities in America. When you get people coming in from out of town, deciding where to live, Saratoga constantly gets ranked as having the best quality of life.”

“Anybody who wants to take a train, you can just walk from the property and go to Montreal or New York City,” he said.