Saratoga Business Journal

Cerrone Builders Advances Two Residential Projects in Warren, Saratoga Counties

July 20, 2026

A newly built home at The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury reflects Cerrone Builders’ response to demand for smaller homes, flexible floor plans and maintenance-conscious living options.
Courtesy Cerrone Builders

By Susan Elise Campbell

Cerrone Builders Inc. is addressing continued demand for varied housing choices in Saratoga County and the North Country with smaller homes and maintenance-conscious options for buyers who may not be seeking a traditional subdivision with larger lots.

Following its success with The Village at Sweet Road off Northway Exit 19, Cerrone launched a similar maintenance-free community two years ago: The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury, said Steven Cerrone, one of the managing partners of the family-owned residential construction business.

“‘Upper Sherman’ has been very well received, with more than half of the 45 lots sold,” said Cerrone. “The first six builds are waiting on permits right now.”

“Two model homes have been sold, and we got a building permit last week to build another one,” he said.

While the newer development was intended to mimic the Sweet Road project, Cerrone said The Village at Upper Sherman has larger lots and appeals to a broader demographic than the anticipated market of people 55 and older and empty nesters.

Saratoga Builders Association Awards Two Annual Scholarships To Local Students

July 20, 2026

Scholarship recipients Porter Sasko, left, and Lucas Jakubiak hold $1,000 awards from the Saratoga Builders Association as they pose with six others outside a building in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Saratoga Builders

Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. announced the recipients of its two annual $1,000 student scholarships: the SBA Scholarship and the “Bob Best” Memorial Scholarship.

Porter Sasko of Gansevoort was scheduled to graduate from Saratoga Springs High School in June and plans to attend the University of Buffalo to pursue a degree in Architecture.

Lucas Jakubiak of Ballston Spa is attending New York City College of Technology and pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering.

The Saratoga Builders Association makes the two scholarships available annually to high school seniors or college students who plan to pursue careers in the construction industry.

Children’s Museum at Saratoga Opens Fab Lab With GlobalFoundries Partnership

July 20, 2026

Fab Lab at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga uses a wafer display and magnifying glasses to show visitors how contaminants and scratches can damage actual semiconductor chips during production.
Courtesy Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga opened Fab Lab on June 13, an immersive, hands-on exhibit that introduces visitors to semiconductor manufacturing. The exhibit was made possible through a partnership with GlobalFoundries, which provided $250,000 in support.

Fab Lab transforms the museum’s STEAM space into an interactive look at how semiconductors are made and why they matter. Visitors explore how microchips power everyday technologies, including smartphones, gaming systems, cars and computers.

The exhibit follows the semiconductor manufacturing process, showing how materials move through precise, controlled steps to become finished microchips. Hands-on activities cover wafer production, cleanroom environments and the importance of precision.

“At GF, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators by helping them understand the technologies that power our world,” said Ashley Castle, community affairs lead at GF Malta. “Fab Lab brings semiconductor manufacturing to life in a way that is accessible, engaging and meaningful for young learners, and we’re proud to support an experience that connects our community to the future of technology.”

Capital Region SBDC Brings Practical AI Training To Small Businesses

July 20, 2026

By Carol Ann Conover

The Capital Region Small Business Development Center will host “AI in Action: Practical AI for Small Business” on July 30 at the ETEC Building on the Harriman State Campus in Albany, bringing together industry experts, local business owners and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko for a three-hour session to help small businesses put artificial intelligence to practical use. The seminar, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon, is part of the center’s ongoing AI Fundamentals programming and is sponsored by the New York State SBDC network, the Massry School of Business at the University at Albany and America’s SBDC, with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Greg Chanese, assistant director of the Capital Region SBDC and leader of the ASBDC AI Interest Group, said the event builds on training the center previously offered. “This is a continuation of similar AI training that we have conducted out of the Center,” Chanese said. “AI evolves very quickly, and we want to make sure that we are helping the small business community navigate the technology safely and effectively. Everyday more and more people are starting to implement AI within their business, and we want to make sure that we help them with it.” He said the seminar will pair a presentation with hands-on work, focusing on “helping the business community use AI for real-world, practical small business operations.”

Tonko, who represents New York’s 20th Congressional District, will speak at the event after his office approached the center about his involvement, Chanese said. “We’ve worked with the Congressman’s office on different topics over the years, and this is something that they approached us about having the Congressman be involved with,” he said. Chanese said Tonko’s remarks will address AI’s broader reach, while the center’s presentation will focus on practical applications. “AI is something that effects large swaths of people and businesses, so the Congressman will be there to talk about it briefly on a larger scale than we will during our presentation, which will be more focused on practical application of AI,” Chanese said.

Attendees will leave the hands-on portion with skills they can apply directly to their operations, according to Chanese. “What we want the businesses that attend to be able to walk out with is a comfortable level to be able to apply what they’ve learned at their business,” he said. The workshop will cover AI applications in marketing, business operations and ideation, using examples from participants’ businesses. “They’ll be able to use examples straight from their own business but with the advantage of having someone helping them use it more effectively,” Chanese said.

Saratoga Looks To Build On Belmont Momentum During Summer Racing Season

June 22, 2026

Jockey Jose Ortiz crosses the finish line with Golden Tempo to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on June 6. Trainer Cherie DeVaux is expected to enter the champion 3-year-old in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Courtesy NYRA

By Paul Post

Golden Tempo’s dramatic come-from-behind Belmont Stakes victory set the stage for what promises to be an exciting summer season at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux, a Saratoga Springs native, made history by becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby and the first to win multiple Triple Crown races.

DeVaux has already mapped out a schedule targeting the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 29, which should no doubt bring huge throngs to the Spa.

“I think the timing is perfect for Golden Tempo to run in the Travers,” said longtime fan Mike Campanile of Long Island. “He is only getting better and the two-plus months between races is perfect. Then it’s almost exactly two months to the Breeders’ Cup. I hope he stays sound.”

Campanile, along with family and friends, is among the legions of visitors who help make Saratoga Race Course one of the Capital Region’s most significant economic engines.

Each day of racing generates an estimated $9 million economic impact. So the benefit from this year’s 51-day schedule is almost half a billion dollars.

Such activity includes direct spending and broader ripple effects, giving a huge boost to local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and retail stores.

The Children’s Museum At Saratoga Advances Expansion With Historic $750,000 Gift

June 22, 2026

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga announced a $750,000 gift from the Esler Family, the largest gift in the organization’s history, for its $1.3 million capital campaign. The gift brings the campaign total to $1.05 million and will support the Esler Family Room and other changes intended to serve children, families, educators and community partners.

The museum relocated to the Lincoln Baths in 2021 and has expanded exhibits and programs. Recent projects include an interactive train station in the lobby, a universally accessible playground and an outdoor learning space.

The campaign will fund an Adirondack-inspired Esler Family Room and allow the museum to reconfigure space for staff and operations. The museum said its staff has grown from five to 18 employees over the past five years as visitation, programming and community engagement increased.

The Esler Family Room will be used for field trips, hands-on learning and museum programs. It also will provide a lunch area for visiting school groups.

“This gift represents an investment in the future of the Museum and the families we serve,” said Sarah Smith, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. “As our programs and attendance continue to grow, so does the need for spaces that support meaningful learning experiences. The Esler Family’s generosity allows us to create an exciting new environment for children while ensuring we have the resources and infrastructure necessary to continue serving our community for years to come.”

“The Children’s Museum at Saratoga represents everything we believe learning should be; joyful, curious, hands-on, and accessible,” said Matt Esler, CEO of Esler Companies, and more importantly “Grandpa.” “This commitment is about investing in a place that sparks imagination and confidence in children, not just for today, but for generations to come. We’re proud to support an organization that has such a meaningful and lasting impact on families throughout Saratoga County and far beyond.”

The Esler Family has been museum members for three years.

Parillo’s Sausage In The Process Of Significant Growth Under Leadership Of Third Generation

June 22, 2026

Marisa Parillo Rahman and Jack O’Callaghan stand at Parillo’s Sausages summer pop-up grill.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Rod Bacon

“Three generations of flavor, tradition, and heart.”

For Marisa Parillo Rahman, this tagline encapsulates everything she loves about the family-owned Saratoga Springs company she has been running since November 2024, after her father, Marc Parillo, died.

When Rahman assumed leadership of the business, she had plans to significantly expand its market and upgrade its facility to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture standards.

“We’re one hundred percent at code with the city, state, and federal government,” she said. “The equipment required to make the sausage has been upgraded and we’re in the process of making improvements to the building.”

Latham Roofing & Siding installed a new roof, the bathroom and office have been renovated, new appliances have been purchased, electrical service has been upgraded, and some interior painting has been done. Future plans call for the repair of a large walk-in freezer that will allow for the storage of large quantities of product.

Ernie LaBounty, a longtime employee of Marc Parillo’s, has been named manager to oversee day-to-day operations. He is responsible for all aspects of making the sausage, as well as running the pop-up grills held in the company’s parking lot each Friday and Saturday through the summer. He also greets walk-in customers when Rahman is not available.

Personnel Briefs: June 2026

June 22, 2026

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP said Cynthia-Clare Tagoe has joined the firm as Of Counsel in its Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Information Management and Business, Corporate and Commercial practice groups. She will focus on intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, commercial and technology transactions, data privacy and protection, risk management and subsidiary management.

Tagoe has more than two decades of experience advising global organizations on commercial transactions, intellectual property, compliance, technology matters and litigation. Most recently, she was vice president and general counsel at QSC, LLC, overseeing legal matters for the company’s global operations, including mergers and acquisitions, technology transactions, litigation, ethics and compliance, data privacy and protection and risk management.

She previously served as assistant general counsel at Lockheed Martin Corporation and spent more than a decade as senior corporate counsel at Caterpillar Inc.

Tagoe earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a J.D., cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and a B.S., summa cum laude, from Central State University. She is admitted to practice in New York and California and is also admitted before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP has more than 125 attorneys and has served public and private sector clients for 50 years across a range of practice areas, including intellectual property, cybersecurity and data privacy.

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The Arrow Family of Companies promoted Harry Kabalian and Amy Merchant to senior vice president roles on May 27, 2026.

Kabalian is senior vice president and director of financial planning and analysis and treasury. He has been with Arrow since 2019 and has more than 35 years of accounting experience, including 10 years in banking. A certified public accountant, he leads financial planning, analysis and budgeting and supports the company’s financial strategy and performance.

Merchant is senior vice president and director of employee total rewards. She recently marked 25 years with Arrow and has more than 35 years of human resources experience. She manages compensation, payroll, benefits, human resources information systems and leave management.

“Harry and Amy are exceptional leaders whose experience, dedication and commitment to our organization have made a meaningful impact on Arrow’s success,” said President and CEO Dave DeMarco.

Arrow Financial Corporation is headquartered in Glens Falls, New York, and is the parent of Arrow Bank National Association and Upstate Agency, LLC.

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Whalen’s Horseradish Products Plans Wholesale and Private Label Expansion

June 22, 2026June 22, 2026

Tim Bibens, owner of Whalen’s Horseradish Products, stands behind a product display as the Galway specialty food company pursues wholesale and private-label growth beyond its regional market.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Susan Elise Campbell

“Things are about to get hotter in Texas,” said Tim Bibens, owner of Whalen’s Horseradish Products, the iconic, local specialty food company now in its 101st year.

In a first for the company, 10 Central Market grocery stores in the Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio areas began stocking Whalen’s brand of handcrafted horseradish condiments in their refrigerator sections at the beginning of June.

Distribution has been regional since Bibens and his wife, Holly, purchased the company from his cousin 14 years ago. Gourmet food shops, trade shows, craft fairs and farmers markets around New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont have continued to be successful outlets to taste and purchase Whalen’s sauces, cheeses, mustards, pickles and other products, where the horseradish they prepare by a proprietary method is the star ingredient.

One of the early changes the Bibenses made when they relocated from the Rochester area to operate the company was moving the business from Milton to Galway. This enabled them in June 2014 to open a stand-alone retail shop on a busy road, Whalen’s Root Cellar at 1710 Route 29.

“We were also motivated to consolidate production, shipping, and receiving for our retail operation into a single space,” he said. “Galway is my Mom’s hometown, so it’s a good sign that we are here.”

The Pearl Will Bring Fine New England Cuisine to Saratoga Springs Gastronomes

June 22, 2026

Renovations are underway at 44 Lake Ave., the future Saratoga Springs home of The Pearl.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Rod Bacon

A well-respected Saratoga Springs restaurateur is creating his second restaurant in the Spa City.

Ronnie Solevo, who has owned Solevo’s Kitchen + Social on Phila Street for eight years, plans to open The Pearl this fall.

“The Pearl is a reference to my New England roots growing up in southern Connecticut on the shoreline,” Solevo said.

While The Pearl’s menu is still being developed, Solevo said the restaurant is installing an ice display raw bar that will feature live shucking in front of patrons. There will be daily changing seafood selections, as well as meat options and choices for vegetarians and vegans.

“We have incredible access to purveyors in Boston, New York and southern New England, where seafood could come out of the water in the middle of the night and make it onto your plate a few hours later,” he said.

Solevo purchased the business and furnishings of the former Scallion’s on Lake Avenue from owners Eric and Liz Swoyer. Renovations are underway by Ballston Lake-based Carter-Lamansky Construction. Kennedy Taylor, owner of Studio K in Saratoga Springs, is leading the design team.

He noted that if the building is listed for sale, he is interested in purchasing it.

Upgrades include new electrical and plumbing systems, as well as cosmetic improvements, which he is not divulging at this time.