Saratoga Business Journal

Adirondack Ortho Adds New Guilderland Office

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Adirondack Orthodontics, which has an office in Clifton Park, has acquired Guilderland Orthodontics, which has provided care and treatment to patients for more than 30 years.

Dr. Charles Buchanan, who founded Guilderland Orthodontics in 1986, will relocate to Adirondack Orthodontics’ present office at 1465 Western Ave. in Albany,.

Dr. Sergey Berenshteyn founded Adirondack Orthodontics in 2012. The business also has a location in Latham.

With this acquisition, Adirondack Orthodontics now serves more than 1,700 patients and employs 15 people, said Berenshteyn.

Application Period Is Open For New Regional Economic Development Council Grants

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

New York state has launched Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, officially kicking off the 2018 competition for more than $750 million in state economic development resources.

The consolidated funding application is open, enabling businesses, municipalities, nonprofits and the public to begin applying for assistance from dozens of state programs, through a single application, for job-creation and community development projects.

The deadline for applications is Friday, July 27 at 4 p.m.

“The Regional Economic Development Councils have redefined how economic development is done in New York State, creating new jobs, stronger local economies, and more unified regions,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “We are once again empowering regions to chart their future, while providing the necessary tools to implement their vision for community and economic growth, creating a positive impact across the Empire State.”

Personnel Briefs: May 2018

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) announced that Georgeanna M. Nugent of Saratoga Springs was elected to serve as chairwoman of its board of directors. Nugent was appointed to the CDTA board in May 2009. In addition to being chairwoman, she is a member of the board’s Operations Committee and the Strategic and Operational...

Witt Construction Plans ‘Downton Walk,’ Condos On The East Side Of Saratoga Springs

May 3, 2018May 21, 2018

This is a rendition of Downton Walk, a condominium neighborhood to be developed by Witt Construction at 27 Jumel Place in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Witt Construction

**Project Name Corrected May 21, 2018**

By Maureen Werther

Witt Construction is getting ready to begin construction on a new project, Downton Walk, in Saratoga Springs. The condominium project at 27 Jumel Place includes seven upscale English-style homes that will offer privacy combined with a feeling of community, according to the company.

The parcel, which was cleared last year, was formerly home to a small manufacturing facility and a ballet studio with apartments.

The intimate cluster of seven homes will be situated on one parcel of land, offering the feel of a small, intimate neighborhood enclave, but with the advantage of private yards. The homes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, with an abundance of optional spaces that could be used for such things as additional bedrooms, entertainment areas, gyms, wine cellars or lower level garages.

Teakwood Builders Will Move Its Offices Into Building It Is Renovating On Church Street

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

This is a rendering of what the new headquarters of Teakwood Builders will look like at 75 Church St. in Saratoga Springs. The work is expected to be completed by August.
Courtesy Teakwood Builders

By Maureen Werther

Teakwood Home Builders is about half way through its renovation and expansion of the 1940s-style box garage and former home of Mangione Locksmiths at 75 Church St. in Saratoga Springs.

When it is complete, the building will serve as headquarters and showroom for the company. But it will also be an homage to an industrial age style of architecture that has faded from the landscape in this part of the country, the company said.

Jim Sasko, owner and president of Teakwood Builders, said he conducted in-depth research into the history of the architectural style of the 1940s box-style garages. The typical design consisted of two overhead doors with a glass front that wrapped around one corner of the structure.

Business Report: Want To Grow? Reinvest In Your Staff

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury. Courtesy Lighthouse Advisors LLC

By Michael Cruz

Good news. The economy is doing well. Bad news. That will shrink the labor market. Often, I write about hiring and its associated pains. There is one way you can reduce that pain. It is investing in the people you already have.

We already know that it costs less to keep our customers than it does to acquire new ones. The same is true about the people that work for you. Hiring is difficult, it is expensive, and it is not a 100 percent solution.

Many years ago, I worked for a very fast-growing software company. When I joined it, the company’s sales were $18 million. When I left 7 years later, sales topped $450 million.

Business Report: Which Structure Fits Your Project Best?

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Sarah Lewis Belcher is senior counsel with Bond, Schoeneck & King. Courtesy Bond, Schoeneck & King

By Sarah Lewis Belcher, Esq.

Property owners have a number of options for structuring a construction project: general contractor, construction manager or design/build. There are differences among the three that are important to understand when deciding which structure best fits.

A general contractor (GC) enters into contracts with and coordinates the work of subcontractors to complete the project. General contractors are not involved in the design of the project and instead become part of the process once the plans and specifications have been completed.

General contractors are often selected by competitive bidding, so are incentivized to keep the bid price low to be more competitive. Once the project is awarded, the GC will endeavor to keep the cost within budget, particularly since the GC will retain any unexpended amounts up to the contract price as profit.

U.S. Military Academy Grad Builds Career As A Trainer, Motivational Speaker And Writer

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Jay Rifenbary, president of Rifenbary Development in Saratoga, named “Speaker of the Year”
Courtesy Rifenbary Development

By Maureen Werther

Jay Rifenbary, president of Rifenbary Development in Saratoga Springs, was recently honored by Vistage Worldwide Inc. with the 2017 Speaker of the Year Award.

According to Vistage, the award “recognizes the MVP of the Vistage speaker community, which includes nearly 1,000 experts on topics ranging from leadership to health and wellness.”

Vistage Worldwide is a business advisory and executive coaching organization based out of San Diego.

Skidmore College Reports It Received Largest Number Of Applicants In School’s History

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs received 10,750 applications this year.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

The number of applicants for the incoming class at Skidmore College has broken the record in each of the past three years, college officials said.

This year, Skidmore received 10,750 applications, the largest number in college history, representing a 7 percent increase over 2017 and a 30 percent increase in applications over the last five years.

College officials said Skidmore continues to experience growth in applications from international students, as well as domestic students who self-identify as students of color. In the past decade, the percentage of domestic students of color in the college’s applicant pool has increased to 30 percent from 21 percent, and the percentage of international student applicants has increased to 30 percent from 6 percent.

Community Emergency Corps: Providing Ambulance Service For More Than 50 Years

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018

Bill Smith, right, Community Emergency Corps director of operations, poses with Tim Thomas, assistant chief, and EMT Jaqueline Bryant at the corps Ballston Spa facility.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell

Imagine calling for an ambulance and wondering when it will arrive, if at all. Yet that was the reality for first response some 50 years ago.

“Each township had different response territories, and it could take a long time for an ambulance to get from one end of a territory to another,” said William Smith, a recently retired career firefighter and chief of operations for Community Emergency Corps based in Ballston Spa.

Community Emergency Corps is a nonprofit organization Smith has been a member of since 1998. Founded in 1966 by a group of concerned citizens, it provides emergency transport for the Village of Ballston Spa, Milton, the northern part of Ballston, and Middle Grove, an abutting section of Greenfield.