SUNY Empire State College has launched its first doctoral program in the college’s nearly 50-year existence.
The Ed.D. in educational leadership and change will prepare current educational leaders to advance their education and careers while learning how to lead positive change in colleges, universities and communities, officials said om Aug. 27.
As educational systems face mounting challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and a rapidly changing workforce, the program will address both day-to-day and long-term issues confronting educators to prepare them for leadership positions in higher education institutions, college officials said.
Applied coursework will focus on educational trends, organizational issues, and policy, including rigorous training in research methodology enabling graduates to analyze challenges facing their institutions in a broader national and global context.

By Christine Graf
Momentive Performance Materials in Waterford announced plans to invest $15 million in specialized electronics materials production at its Waterford plant.
The company is investing $40 million overall as part of its global transition from commodity basics chemicals to specialty silicones.
Momentive officials also said they are moving forward with recently announced plans to sell its consumer sealants business to Henkel, a chemical and consumer good company headquartered in Germany. Although the sale will include GE-branded consumer sealants, GE-branded construction sealants are excluded.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed, and Momentive will continue to manufacture consumer sealants in Waterford through 2021, the company said.
The company has been in business since 1947 and has 36 offices in 17 countries. Its products are used in many industries including healthcare, telecommunications, electronics, personal care, construction, transportation, agriculture, and energy.
“The $15 million investment we are making is really going to augment our capabilities and our capacities in one of our most exciting, fastest growing business—electronic materials,” said Sandip Tyagi, president and general manager of formulated specialties. “This is really in line with our overall strategy of continuing to transform our company into a more specialty chemical business.”
The specialty chemical business targets several end markets that Tyagi described as “extremely exciting and fast growing.” They include telecommunications infrastructure, and e-mobility. The e-mobility market encompasses fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fueled vehicles as well as other electric powered technologies.

NBT Capital Management, a business unit of NBT Bancorp Inc., has launched NBT Guided Investor, a new digital investment solution in partnership with Schwab Performance Technologies.
Guided Investor is a digital solution that offers fully-online investment management capabilities. According to bank officials, accounts can be opened in as little as 10 minutes and are supported by a dedicated financial advisor.

Brian and Mark Johnson have officially launched StayHomeNY.com, a start-up business focused on providing remote monitoring technology to home care agencies, independent, assisted living and memory care facilities.
Using 4D thermal imaging technology, nurses, staff and family members can remotely monitor a senior living at home or in a residential care community 24 hours per day, according to the owners, who are brothers.
The senior is not required to wear a bracelet or lanyard there is no video monitoring, ensuring the senior’s privacy. The technology detects all types of falls (gradual, fast and concealed) and recognizes activity of daily living patterns, such bathroom use, in bed sleeping, or wandering in the middle of the night, they said.