Saratoga Business Journal

Inn At Saratoga Renovates Space For Use As Gathering Place For Guests And Customers

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

The Inn at Saratoga recently completed a restoration project creating the Side Room, a gathering space that was the original lobby of the building dating back to 1843.

By Liz Witbeck

The Inn at Saratoga recently completed a restoration project, opening up a space called the Side Room, a gathering point for guests and the public alike.

The room was the original lobby of the hotel when the building was erected in 1843. It eventually was used as a formal dining room.

“The room was under utilized,” said Liz Israel, general manager of the hotel. Her family has been involved with historic preservation in Saratoga Springs for several decades.

Israel and her team envisioned the room as a space where guests could come, relax and talk.

The carpeting in the room was taken out, revealing a thick cement foundation. Beneath that, there was hardwood flooring, which was restored. One of the stark elements in the room are the windows, which are pocket doors that can be opened up in the summer.

Contractor Builds 130-SF 'Tiny House;' Would Consider More With Enough Public Interest

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Clifton Park contractor Karl Schnitzer displayed this ‘tiny house’ recently at SUNY Adirondack and Skidmore College. The cottage has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen area and storage space.

Courtesy Kurt Schnitzer

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The trend of tiny houses–cottages of small square footage that give owners bare living essential–is being seen in home and garden magazines and on home improvement television shows, particularly over the past year. Now, it is making its way to the local region thanks to Clifton Park contractor Karl Schnitzer.

Building a tiny home model was not something Schnitzer created overnight. In fact, he said he spent over eight years researching them, looking for a blueprint that met all the amenities of a home, and all within a tidy 130-square-foot space.

In New York City, he met designer Jay Shafer, who is somewhat of an expert on building tiny houses. He bought Shafer’s blueprints and from those created a house that was fit for upstate New York residents.

Schnitzer recently showcased his tiny house model at an Earth Day celebration in April at the SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury. He also displayed the house at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs Housing Authority Policy Establishes Its Three Complexes As Smoke-Free

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

This high-rise apartment complex on South Federal Street, Stonequist Apartments, is one of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority’s complexes that is now smoke free.

Courtesy Saratoga Springs Housing Authority

Saratoga Springs Housing Authority said in April that to protect the health and safety of its residents it has implemented a no-Âsmoking policy in all 339 of its housing units. It also limits smoking elsewhere on its properties.

The policies went into effect May 1.

“We are proud to take this important step in protecting the health and safety of our residents, employees and visitors,” said Executive Director Paul Feldman.”Whether it’s second-Âhand smoke filtering into neighboring apartment or common areas through doorways and ventilation systems, or the fire dangers associated with cigarettes, smoking presents risks that needed to be addressed.”

The policy is in effect at all three of the authority’s housing complexes: Jefferson Terrace, Vanderbilt Terrace and Stonequist Apartments.

In addition to prohibiting smoking indoors, the policy establishes a 25-Âfoot smoke-Âfree boundary around all outside entrances and exits and windows and a 50-Âfoot smoke-Âfree boundary around the authority’s playgrounds.

Feldman said the policy was discussed and developed over the past year in collaboration with Glens Falls Hospital’s Health Promotion Center, through its state-Âfunded Living Tobacco-ÂFree Initiative.

Citizens Committee For Mental Health Names Laurie Nelson As 2016 Citizen Of The Year

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Laurie Nelson,Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health Citizen of the Year .

Courtesy Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health

Laurie Nelson was selected as the Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health 2016 Citizen of the Year for her 30-plus year career serving people living with mental illness.

Nelson was honored on May 4 at the Mental Health Matters benefit at Longfellows Restaurant.

Nelson was formerly the deputy director for Transitional Services Association, where she worked for many years and in several capacities. She began her career working for the state Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, which is now the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities.

After joining Transitional Services Association, she worked in the community residences and served as a program supervisor for Hammond House.

'Hands For Hope' Give Casino Employees Opportunities For Local Community Service

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Saratoga Casino Hotel has unveiled a new community service, company-wide initiative, Hands For Hope, that provides opportunities for employees to get involved with hands-on volunteer projects and community causes in the communities where they live.

“Hands For Hope represents all the things we do in the community,” said Tom Wiedmayer, general manager at Saratoga Casino Hotel, formerly known as Saratoga Casino and Raceway until a rebranding announced at the end of April.

“From support for the personal causes of our team members, to our annual charitable donations made to local organizations, to the thousands of hours volunteered by our team members in their communities, Hands For Hope brings these things together and represents our belief in the importance of supporting the communities where we live and work,” he said.

In 2015, the facility donated over $240,000 to charities across the Capital Region. More than $2.5 million in monetary, sponsorship and in-kind donations has been made since the facility first opened in 2004.

Joan Johnsen Receives Empire State College Foundation Award For Professional Excellence

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

President Merodie Hancock and Alec Meiklejohn presented Joan Johnsen, center, with the 2016 Empire State College Foundation for Excellence Award in Professional Service.

Courtesy Empire State College

Joan Johnsen, director of academic review for the Northeast region of SUNY Empire State College,has received the Empire State College Foundation Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Johnsen received her award at the annual All College Conference held in Saratoga Springs at the end of March.

In announcing the award, last year’s recipient Alec Meiklejohn said Johnsen “has worn many hats in the past 10 years at the college and actively participates in a number of collegewide initiatives and committees outside the scope of her own work. With great attention to detail and a deep knowledge of college policies, she excels in her service to students and works with her colleagues across the college.”

“President Hancock told me she could feel my heart beating,” said Johnsen, upon receiving the award. “It is the students that inspire my work. I feel that it is the students who do the hardest work.”

Personnel Briefs: May 2016

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

p brief - kathleen fialkowski.jpg
Ballston Spa National Bank announced that Kathleen Fialkowski, business development officer, received the 2016 Summit Employee of the Year award.

Fialkowski was recognized for her exceptional dedication to customer service and the bank’s core values of teamwork, respect, accountability, integrity and leadership, bank officials said.

Fialkowski joined BSNB in 2014 as a branch manager in Burnt Hills. She was promoted later that year to business development officer, which is her current position.

The following monthly Summit Award winners were also recognized for their contributions and commitment to the bank’s customer service objectives: Christine Kernochan, Chris Rowland, Joanna Simard, Matthew Howard, Lydia Griffiths, Bethany Russell, June Lane and Noelle Kahler.

* * *

p brief - lou izzo.jpg
Lou Izzo was named president of the Select Sotheby’s International Realty franchise in Saratoga Springs.

Izzo joined the firm as co-owner and real estate broker. He has more than 25 years of experience in real estate, including serving as president of HUNT Real Estate ERA in Buffalo. He is also CEO of Real Estate Leadership, an international consulting firm.

The company also announced director of operations Andrea Demoracski was promoted to vice president.

'Maestro's At McGregor' Is Now Open To The Public At Well-Known Wilton Golf Club

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

This is part of the dining area at Maestro’s at the McGregor at McGregor Links in Wilton.

Courtesy Maestro’s at McGregor

Maestro’s, a former downtown Saratoga Springs bistro housed in the Rip Van Dam building on Broadway, re-opened in the newly refurbished clubhouse at McGregor Links Country Club.

Formerly known as Maestro’s at the Van Dam, the restaurant has been renamed Maestro’s at McGregor.

In 2014, Bill Donovan and business partner Nick Adie started Symphony Catering to meet requests of patrons who were looking for catering and planning services for parties and events.

Donovan said he was not planning on reopening Maestro’s, but when McGregor Links became a viable option as the new home of Symphony Catering it made sense to consider operating a restaurant out of the clubhouse.

Renovations started in January. The restaurant had a soft opening for McGregor members in early April.

The restaurant is now open to the public seven days a week, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m.

Skidmore College Will Lead Teaching/Learning Collaboration Involving Three Other Colleges

May 5, 2016November 8, 2017

Skidmore College will lead an innovative collaboration on teaching and learning with on-campus museums through a joint exhibition with Colgate University, Hamilton College, and the University at Albany made possible by a three-year, $222,500 grant from the Teagle Foundation.

Project director Mimi Hellman, associate professor and chair of Skidmore College’s Art History Department, will lead this initiative by guiding museum staff and faculty members across disciplines at each institution in the development of courses, assignments, and curriculum that consider how subject matter, medium, authorship, physical and institutional setting, display and labeling strategies, audience, and museum programming shape learning experiences.

Officials said the catalyst for the development of new pedagogical modalities will be This Place, an exhibition of more than 600 images by 12 internationally acclaimed photographers that explores the rifts and paradoxes of the highly contested spaces of Israel and the West Bank.

This Place will be on exhibit simultaneously during the spring 2018 semester at the museums at each of the four participating colleges. In addition to the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, the institutions are the Picker Art Gallery at Colgate University, the Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College, and the University Art Museum at the University at Albany.

“Skidmore College and the Tang Teaching Museum have been national leaders in museum-based interdisciplinary undergraduate education,” Hellman said. “We now have the opportunity to do something that I don’t think has been done before: four institutions of varying types and experiences with museum practices will interrogate an art exhibition together and separately, break new ground in curriculum and course development, and discover new best practices that can be shared and replicated to enhance undergraduate education nationally and beyond.”

County Job Retention Initiative Unveiled By Two Chambers, Saratoga Prosperity Partnership

April 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, speaks from a podium at Shmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park where the Business First Saratoga initiative was announced.

Courtesy Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, along with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, announced on March 29 the details of their new Saratoga County business retention and expansion initiative they have dubbed Business First Saratoga.

Through problem-solving and advocacy, Business First Saratoga serves local business owners by developing relationships to better understand the opportunities and challenges of doing businesses in our region, the three organizations said in a news release. Some areas that this program can assist businesses with are workforce development, financing, international markets access, government regulations, resources for small businesses, and utilities.

“When people think of economic development, they often think about the big attraction projects. While that’s incredibly important, we also need to pay attention to the businesses that are already here in Saratoga County, whether they’ve been here for a year or are a multi-generational business,” said Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “A program like Business First Saratoga is an organized and deliberate way to build the foundation for our region’s future growth.”

The Partnership first outlined its intention to launch a business retention and expansion initiative in its two-year economic development plan, the Saratoga Strategy, released in December. In that plan, the Partnership also identified potential partners for the initiative and has since undergone training with both the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.

“Our Chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve our participation in the Business First Saratoga initiative because we believe in pulling out all of the stops to help local employers to succeed, grow and thrive,” said Todd L. Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

“We believe working together with our partners in this venture and other organizations that might join us in the future will help us to open more doors and to close more deals creating more jobs and investment in Saratoga County.” he said. “To win in economic development these days, you must first win by helping existing local employers to take advantage of new opportunities or to overcome challenges individually and collectively and that’s what this initiative promises to do.”