Category Archives: Education/ Training/ Personal Development

Skidmore College Creates Fund To Support Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Innovation

May 8, 2022

Rob Sands, a Skidmore graduate, is chairman of the board of directors of Constellation Brands.
Courtesy Skidmore College

Skidmore College has created a $10 million initiative in support of its longstanding commitment to a liberal arts experience rooted in creativity that prepares students for thriving professional and personal success.

Officials said a $5 million one-to-one matching pledge along with additional matching gifts created the Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Skidmore College.

A century ago, Lucy Skidmore Scribner founded Skidmore College with the vision that it would help students connect the power of their minds and their hands in a new model of liberal education, college officials said. That ambition takes a dramatic step forward with the new initiative, said college President Marc C. Conner.

“This extraordinary gift celebrates what Skidmore has always done—nurture creativity and prepare students for life after graduation—and moves us forward in our ability to offer the very model for a 21st liberal arts education,” Conner said.

“The essence of innovation and entrepreneurship is an eagerness to be bold, take risks, look at tough problems with fresh eyes, and be unafraid to fail—the hallmarks of a great liberal arts education. This gift from the Sands Family Foundation emphasizes the incredible impact that our commitment to developing exceptional creative and critical skills can have on students,” said Conner.

Office Of Strategic Workforce Development Created To Help Meet Needs Of Employers

May 8, 2022

A state Office of Strategic Workforce Development has been created that is charged with improving the programs and practices to better align with the needs and priorities of today’s employers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed the new office in her State of the State address earlier this year and committed funding that was approved in the state budget.

The $350 million investment in state funding will support wide-reaching, historic and coordinated investment in workforce development across state agencies and authorities and includes $150 million in multi-year funding for new grant programs that will primarily support employer-driven, high skilled workforce training programs.

“New Yorkers are still struggling to find work and opportunity due to the economic disruption of the pandemic,” Hochul said. “This issue is personal to me. I’ve seen steel plants close leaving workers with nowhere to go. With our brand new Office of Strategic Workforce Development, we are doubling down on our commitment to help train and connect New Yorkers with the good-paying jobs of the future.”

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Hope Knight said the new office will optimize ESD’s relationships with the state’s industries and employers “to generate new opportunities for New Yorkers and encourage regional economic growth. Together with our State University system and our agency partners, we can provide businesses with a talent pipeline to catalyze new investments throughout the state.”

Chamber Scholarship Slated For U.S. Veteran

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021

The Veterans Business Council (VBC) of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announced in April the 2021 Veterans Business Council Scholarship Program.

Under the Program, one $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a veteran or service member that lives in, attends college in, or works in Saratoga County.

The mission of the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate opportunities for our military veterans residing in Saratoga County. Efforts will be to connect them with the business community to enhance their knowledge of employment opportunities, job or entrepreneurial training, and new business development.

The council will also seek additional opportunities in support of our local veterans.

Veterans interested in this opportunity should reach out to Denise Romeo at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at 518-584-3255 or dromeo@saratoga.org. More information, to include online application, is also available at www.veteransbusinesscouncil.com.

The Veterans Business Council operates under the Saratoga County Foundation of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and is made up of a select group of veterans who are business leaders in the region. The council works to facilitate opportunities for military veterans residing in Saratoga County, including offering scholarship opportunities and connecting them with the business community to enhance their knowledge of employment opportunities, job or entrepreneurial training, and new business development.

Leadership Program Is Established For Women

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors has launched the Saratoga County Women in Government Leadership Program, an initiative designed to educate high school girls about the functions and responsibilities of local government and inspire them to take on leadership roles at the local level.

The program was launched by the three women on the board of supervisors, Jean Raymond, of the town of Edinburgh, Tara N. Gaston of Saratoga Springs and Sandra Winney of the town of Providence.

“We need more women present in all levels of government, and there’s no better place to begin one’s public service journey than at the county level,” said state Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. “As a former county clerk, I know firsthand how invaluable experience in local government can be and I’m proud to support this new program to educate and inspire our next generation of female local leaders.”

The program, developed in coordination with Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, will engage participants on topics including setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and building confidence. Saratoga County government women in leadership roles will apply these lessons to their experiences in local government.

“Representation and engagement lead to better communities,” said Gaston. “These experiences and relationships gained will benefit Saratoga County.”

Spark Saratoga Mentorship Program Partners With National Entrepreneur Group

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

Local business program Spark Saratoga has started a new partnership with Ureeka, a nationwide virtual community that empowers entrepreneurs.
Spark Saratoga, founded in 2017 by the Saratoga Economic Development Corp., was created to align early stage businesses with proven resources to accelerate growth. The program brings experienced business mentors, professionals, educational content and entrepreneurs together to help entrepreneurs’ bring their ideas to life.
Officials said now, Spark Saratoga is a community-based partner of Ureeka, which will provide access for area entrepreneurs and professionals to a curated network of experts.
As part of the Spark Saratoga 2.0 rollout marking its three-year anniversary, the collaboration with Ureeka will enable more efficient delivery of real time solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses frequently struggling to find the right resource to help overcome problems in the way of their growth, according to the group.
Ureeka’s online community provides the scale and efficiency to democratize access to world-class expertise, business tools and access to capital. Spark Saratoga and its Innovate518 partners can utilize the platform to privately organize their members, facilitate conversations, make mentor connections and introduce qualified business resources.

Business Consultant Sees Need To Examine How Companies Will Look Post-Pandemic

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

Brian Rollo helps businesses through his company Brian Rollo Consulting.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Brian Rollo, a leadership coach and cultural business strategist, is re-examining his business model in response to the business climate caused by COVID-19 and challenges employers will face.
“I’m always thinking, ‘What is three steps from now? How is this going to change business for me, and for the people I help?’ There are three key things businesses will need to think about as we move into a new normal,” said Rollo, who does business as Brian Rollo Consulting.
“First, in what way do we bring people back into the office now that we’ve built the infrastructure for them to work remotely. How many and who? Or is it more efficient to allow people to work from home? Do we build a hybrid workforce?” said Rollo.
“Second, there’s going to be real conversations going forward on social distancing and wearing masks. If everyone is back at work, how do we navigate some staff feeling comfortable attending closely-packed meetings when others don’t? What does that look like? What if some people are more comfortable wearing a mask while others are not, and will that become its own source of unintentional bias?

Learning Center Tutoring Service Can Help Students In COVID-19 Troubled Times

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

Susan Kiley is the owner of Saratoga Learning Center based in Saratoga Springs.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
At the Saratoga Learning Center, owner Susan Kiley is working to help students meet their educational needs during the upheaval of normal schooling caused by coronavirus pandemic.
The virus temporarily closed schools for a time, then more recently the closing was made permanent for the 2020-21 academic year.
That leaves parents, students and educators in a place that is unfamiliar, trying to navigate through the process of distant learning. Kiley said the nature of her business is to provide that extra support to students, and she said her staff is ready to help.
Saratoga Learning Center is offering additional online tutoring and proctoring services to students due to the COVID-19 virus.
“We are closely following the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines and recommendations on steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus, including utilizing the practices of hand sanitizing, social distancing, and masks,” she said.

SUNY Empire State Expands Its MBA Degree Programs Available Through Online Study

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

SUNY Empire State students take advantage of online study programs. The college has added seven new concentrations to its online MBA in Business Management program.

SUNY Empire State College announced seven new concentrations in its online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Management program aimed at providing the skills needed to enter growing fields like healthcare management, IT management, global trade, innovation and entrepreneurship, and more.
The new concentrations have received approval from SUNY and the state Department of Education.
SUNY Empire’s graduate business programs have seen an 80 percent increase in credits taught from the 2016-2017 academic year to the 2019-2020 academic year. SUNY Empire expanded its areas of study for MBA candidates to allow them to tailor their program to suit their interests, and in response to employers’ growing needs, officials said.

P-Tech Program Offered Through BOCES Helps Address Local Skilled Labor Shortages

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

By Christine Graf
New York State P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) programs have been designed to address critical skilled labor shortages that are impacting manufacturing and technology companies throughout the state.
Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative (WSWHE BOCES) was the first to offer the program locally. It is called Southern Adirondack P-TECH.
“We were one of the first 16 cohorts (partnerships) in New York state to receive a seven-year grant to create the program. We received the grant in 2013, and that was a planning year for us. Our first cohort of students started in 2014 and are graduating this year,” said Kim Wegner, lead coordinator for Innovative Programs at WSHWHE BOCES.
“There wasn’t a lot of guidance. It was a thought and idea based off a program that launched in 2009 at a school in Brooklyn. (The state) decided they wanted to expand program across state. There were some guidelines, but we built the program as we moved through it. Where we are today is not where we were six or seven years ago.”
Each of the New York State P-TECH partnerships features a three-way alliance that includes local school districts, local businesses, and one or more SUNY or CUNY educational institution. Southern Adirondack P-TECH partners with SUNY Adirondack and local businesses and school districts. The program is currently offered to students at Saratoga Springs, Queensbury, Hudson Falls, South Glens Falls, Corinth, and Hadley Luzerne school districts.
P-TECH is a six-year program that offers an integrated high school and college curriculum with a heavy emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Students who complete the program receive a Regent’s diploma, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, and industry-specific credentials. The program is offered at no cost to students.

SUNY Empire State 1-Stop Staff Moves To Newly Renovated Building On West Avenue

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

This building houses the SUNY Empire State College 1-Stop student services staff.

Saratoga Springs-based SUNY Empire State College 1-Stop student services staff are now located under one roof at the newly renovated building at 111 West Ave.
“SUNY Empire’s statewide footprint requires the college to provide the same level of service to students in real time during normal business hours, online, by telephone and in person, at the college’s 34 locations across New York state,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer-in-Charge Mitchell Nesler. “SUNY Empire’s adult, nontraditional and part-time student population requires approaches distinct from the traditional campus-based model, which focuses on a younger, residential, full-time student population.”