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Insurance.

GRANTS AWARDED:

Shineman Foundation awards $300K in grants to Oswego County, CNY nonprofits.

CENTRAL NEW YORK BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SBH TO EXPAND PROGRAMS

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SYRACUSE, UPSTATE MARKETS TO BENEFIT FROM KEYBANK FOUNDATION DONATION

PHOTO CREDIT: JUMPSTART, INC. WEBSITE

WEEKLY EDITION I VOL. 31 I No. 31 I AUGUST 7, 2017 I $2.50

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THE LIST: COMPUTER/IT CONSULTANTS

PHOTO CREDIT: OHA COLLECTION

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HISTORY FROM OHA: THE STORY OF E.C. STEARNS AND THE 'YELLOW FELLOW'

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CNYBJ Data & Details August 21 List: Lifestyle List: Wineries August 21 Special Report: The Anniversary Issue August 28 List: Medical-Equipment Providers August 28 Special Report: Construction/ Real Estate/SportsBiz September 4 List: Engineering Firms September 4 Special Report: Small Business September 11 List: Risk-Management Providers September 11 Special Report: Energy/ Environment/Sustainability/Manufacturing

WRITERS/EDITORS: Eric Reinhardt [email protected] 315.579.3915 Norman Poltenson [email protected] 315.579.3916 Adam Rombel Editor-in-Chief [email protected] 315.579.3902 Maria Carbonaro Associate Editor [email protected] 315.579.3910

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Here are the results of the latest poll on cnybj.com:

What do you think about company team-building activities?

tweets

16%

CNYBJ CANVASS

Team-building exercises can actually backfire

Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various business, career, personal, and web/social-media tips:

36%

They can be fun and worthwhile as part of a company's overall HR plan

23%

They're effective at building rapport with co-workers, strengthening morale

http://ow.ly/whjt30dWWPx 8 idea-killing habits you need to avoid #entrepreneur #business #Ideas Vanessa Dunford @vaniccilondon Our business scars today will be our medals tomorrow! Do not quit! #Entrepreneur #tips Yetunde Joyce YJ @iamyetundejoyce

25%

Such activities are a waste of time & don't help people work better with their colleagues

Total Responses:

110

11 Essential #Tips for Effective #DataCollection http://bit.ly/2tbfG71 Lee Baker @eelrekab 3 ways to help keep your aging brain agile | Oswego Health https://oswegohealth.netreturns.biz/HealthInfo/Story. aspx?StoryId=5d625ed0-9069-4c51-a13d9e4e57093782#.WXJQ99LThfU.twitter … Oswego Health @oswegohealth

CNYBJ Briefs

O’Reilly Auto Parts buys former Fast Lane Car Wash property in Fulton for $350,000 FULTON — O’Reilly Auto Parts Enterprises LLC has purchased the former car-wash facility at 28 W. First St. in Fulton from Rome Gas Inc. for $350,000. Greg Hamel of Cushman Wakefield/ Pyramid Brokerage Company exclusively marketed the property and represented the seller in the transaction, the real-estate firm said in a recent news release. The facility was formerly home to Fast Lane Car Wash. The sale of the 4,924-square-foot building, situated on 0.61 acres, closed on May 30, according to Oswego County’s digital property records. The property is assessed at $185,000 for 2017. It was last sold in late 2011 for $120,000. The structure was built in 1988. O’Reilly Auto Parts, which currently has no stores in Central New York, has also in the last eight months purchased the 9,000-square-

foot former Dollar Tree building at 339 Route 104 in the city of Oswego from GB JB PR & TM Oswego LLC for $1.05 million. Hamel of Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage also facilitated that sale. O’Reilly Auto Parts (NASDAQ: ORLY) operates more than 4,800 auto-parts retail stores in 47 states.

Pathfinder Bancorp boosts quarterly dividend by 5 percent OSWEGO — Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBHC), holding company for Pathfinder Bank, recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of 5.25 cents per share on its common stock for the fiscal quarter ending June 30. That’s up 5 percent from the 5 cents a share it paid the previous quarter. The new, increased dividend is payable to all Pathfinder shareholders of record on July 14 and was to be paid on Aug. 4, the banking company announced in a news release. At Pathfinder’s current stock price, the dividend payment yields about 1.4 percent on an annual basis.

Need Marketing Inspiration? Here Are 12 Places to Find Great Examples http:// bit.ly/1WdLVhY #socialbiz #marketing #socialmedia Joanne DelBalso @JoanneLDelBalso

PHOTO CREDIT: JEN MARRINER

August 14 List: Staffing Firms August 14 Special Report: The Tech Pulse

Pathfinder Bank is a New York State–chartered savings bank headquartered in Oswego. The bank has nine fullservice offices located in its market areas of Oswego and Onondaga counties. Pathfinder Bank ranks second in deposit market share in Oswego County with a 24 percent share of all deposits, according to the latest FDIC data from June 30, 2016. However, it has the most branch offices in the county with seven. Thomas W. Schneider is president and CEO of Pathfinder Bancorp.

10 Commandments For Effectively Using Social Media to Grow Your Startup https://www. linkedin.com/pulse/10-commandmentseffectively-using-socialmedia-grow-dr-emad … by @DrEmadRahim Mitch Mitchell @Mitch_M 5 #Tips on How to Use #Facebook Groups for Your #Business | #SocialMedia Today http:// ow.ly/6jAa30dRMTn #marketing #advertising #sales Colling Media @collingmedia Avoid These 3 Self-Sabotaging Social Media Mistakes http://bit.ly/2uwKuRg by @MegGuiseppi #PersonalBranding Hannah Morgan @careersherpa

New York milk production rises more than 2 percent in Q2 VANCE MARRINER/BJNN

COMING UP:

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New York dairy farms produced 3.85 billion pounds of milk in the second quarter, up 2.3 percent from 3.76 billion in the year-ago period, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently reported. The number of milk cows on farms in New York state totaled 624,000 head in this year’s second quarter, up from 620,000 in the year-ago period, NASS reported. In neighboring Pennsylvania, dairy farms produced 2.83 billion pounds of milk in the second quarter, up 1.5 percent from 2.79 billion a year earlier, according to the USDA. New York is the largest producer of milk in the Northeast, while Pennsylvania ranks second.

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SBH to expand programs as certified community behavioral health clinic SYRACUSE — Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare’s (SBH) outpatient clinic at 329 N. Salina St. is now a federally certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC). The certification enables SBH to expand its programs for individuals seeking help for substance use and mental-health disorders, the organization said. It also includes new services for children and adolescents dealing with the same problems. To accommodate these new services, SBH is adding a 9,500-square-foot child and adolescent center to its existing outpatient clinic, which offers open-access hours for care and family services. SBH is one of 13 such CCBHCs in New York. “A certified community behavioral health clinic is basically a place where people can go and receive comprehensive care … whether you’re a child or a you’re an older teenager or you’re an adult or you’re in the older years of your life. If you need help with a substanceabuse disorder or a mental-health disorder, or some combination of both, this is a place that you can come,” Jeremy Klemanski, president and CEO of Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare, said in his remarks at the formalopening event held July 21. Its services include outpatient care for substance abuse and mental health for children, adolescents, and adults; targeted case management, and 24-7 crisis-response teams. “So, if you’re not here and it’s after hours and you’re struggling or there’s something going on in your life that’s causing you concern, there’s a team that can come to you and help stabilize the situation,” said Klemanski. It’ll also include targeted services for veterans and ancillary withdrawal services.

ERIC REINHARDT/BUSINESS JOURNAL NEWS NETWORK

BY ERIC REINHARDT [email protected]

Jeremy Klemanski, president and CEO of Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare (SBH), delivers remarks on July 21 as the SBH launched its federally certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC), one of 13 such CCBHCs in New York. The certification enables SBH to expand its programs for individuals seeking help for substance use and mental-health disorders, the organization said.

About CCBHCs

As a CCBHC, SBH’s outpatient clinic meets requirements across six core areas, including staffing, availability and accessibility of services, care coordination, scope of services, quality, and organizational authority, governance and accreditation, according to SBH. The program provides accessible, “personcentered and trauma-informed” recovery care to adults, children, adolescents, and families. A CCHBC is a federal demonstration project, Klemanski noted. New York was among eight states selected for the project “because New York State is working very hard to demonstrate creative and innovative ways to make access

to substance abuse and mental-health care more available to people and to improve its efficacy,” said Klemanski. New York has 13 such CCHBCs that opened July 1. CCBHCs were created through section 223 of the “Protecting Access to Medicaid Act” (PAMA), which established a demonstration program based on the “Excellence in Mental Health Act.” In addition to SBH’s existing outpatient services, the CCBHC will provide crisis mental-health services, emergency crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, targeted case management, psychiatric rehabilitation, and 24-hour mobile crisis services to individuals living in the Central New York region, the organization said. n

SUNY Oswego’s Kay named to lead SUNY-wide faculty BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected] OSWEGO — SUNY Oswego history faculty member Gwen Kay, director of the college’s Honors Program for the past four years, was recently sworn in as president of the SUNY University Faculty Senate. She is also a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees. Kay is the first woman to serve as president of the University Faculty Senate since Karen Markoe of SUNY Maritime from 1987-91, and the first president from SUNY Kay Oswego. She will serve a two-year term, with an option to run for a second term, according to a SUNY Oswego news release. Formerly VP and secretary of the organization for three years, Kay now will serve as

the top SUNY-wide representative for some 30,000 faculty members across more than 30 four-year SUNY campuses. “I represent all faculty, so I want to, within System Administration, be the voice for faculty,” Kay said in the release. Though she is a non-voting trustee of member of the SUNY Board of Trustees, Kay will participate in policy discussions, speak to faculty issues and concerns, and participate in searches for positions such as a new provost for SUNY. She also chose to serve on four board of trustees committees that have a “strong impact” on faculty across the SUNY system, SUNY Oswego said. As part of her agenda, Kay plans to visit all of the campuses of SUNY-operated, four-year schools, including the four university centers, two medical universities, three doctorate-granting colleges, 13 university (comprehensive) colleges, five statutory colleges, and seven technology colleges. The faculty of SUNY’s 30 community col-

leges have a separate governance group, called the Faculty Council of Community Colleges. SUNY Oswego has named chemistry faculty member Casey Raymond the acting director of the university’s Honors Program, replacing Kay. The university has also appointed Chris Lalonde of English and creative writing as the acting associate director. Kay formerly served as SUNY Oswego’s University Faculty Senate representative. The college now has two reps: sociology faculty member Evelyn Benavides Clark and history chair Frank Byrne. Specializing in the history of medicine and science, Progressive Era America, and women’s history, Kay has a doctorate in the history of medicine and science from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and history from Bowdoin College. Her current research project is focused on gender and science in higher education in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. n

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BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected] OSWEGO — Thirteen Central New York not-for-profit organizations, a large percentage of which are based in Oswego County, received a total of $300,000 in grants from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation in its second grant round of 2017 at its July board meeting. Projects cover a wide range of focus areas, including health and welfare for children and adults, training and education, arts and culture, neighborhood parks, and capital campaigns, the foundation said in a news release. The largest award of $125,000 was given to Oswego Industries for its capital campaign to renovate a building on its campus in Fulton into an upgraded space for the agency’s expanding community-based services, as well as a licensed childcare center open to the community. Health and welfare grants were awarded to Friends of Oswego County Hospice and the Oswego Health Foundation. The Fulton Family YMCA received funding for its LIVESTRONG cancer program, as well as Purpose Farm to build its capacity to serve at-risk children through adult mentorship and pairing with rescued animals, the release stated. In the training and education area, the Shineman Foundation awarded the Oswego City School District scholarship funding to send teachers and administrators to the National Math Foundation’s Summer Institute on Math and Movement.

Another scholarship grant was given to The Research Foundation for SUNY on behalf of Prevention Support Partners for its Circle of Security Parenting 201718 scholarship program. That initiative will train staff members at six agencies in Oswego County on this “internationally recognized, evidence-based parenting program.” Leadership Oswego County received a grant to expand and enhance its programming for the upcoming 2017-18 program year. Two arts and culture grants were awarded by the Shineman Foundation to the Research Foundation for SUNY to develop collaborative programs in the community. The SUNY Oswego art department will offer an expanded day option to its “At the Art Studio” program for children in grades K-12. The American Red Cross received funding to support its blood services capacity-building project. Other funded projects included a grant to Preservation Revitalization of Pulaski (PROP), and a grant to the Frederick Leighton Home and School Association. The Richard S. Shineman Foundation is a private foundation established by the bequest of Richard S. Shineman, who was a tenured professor of chemistry at SUNY Oswego. He made a provision in his will for the establishment of a foundation that will serve the broad needs of Oswego County and Central New York. The foundation says it seeks to improve the quality of life in the communities it serve by working with and funding not-for-profit partners. n

Investment-management firm renews lease on Syracuse office

Business Journal

2017

Shineman Foundation awards $300K in grants to Oswego County, CNY nonprofits

BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected]

Congratulations to Crest Cadillac-Acura, a 2017 Best Places to Work Honoree!

SYRACUSE — Blue Water Capital Management, LLC recently renewed its lease of 2,287 square feet of space for its office at 1001 James St. in Syracuse, CBRE/Syracuse announced. Larry Van Der Bogart of CBRE/Syracuse represented the tenant in the transaction. Blue Water Capital Management, which provides investment management and financial-planning services, has been a longtime tenant in the building, the real-estate

firm said. The landlord is MESA of NY. Financial terms were not provided. Blue Water Capital Management says it is an SEC-registered investment advisor providing investment management and financial-planning services to individuals, retirement plans, and financial advisors. The firm says on its website that it employs a “rigorous fundamental and active management approach and is intensely focused on risk management, seeking to protect client capital during periods of market decline while providing attractive returns during positive market environments.” n

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PHOTO CREDIT: JUMPSTART, INC. WEBSITE

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The KeyBank Foundation has awarded a four-year, $24 million grant to a business program that will benefit markets in Ohio and upstate New York, including Syracuse. Cleveland, Ohio–based JumpStart, Inc. will administer the program. Pictured following the July 31 announcement (from left to right) are Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart, Inc.; Beth Mooney, CEO of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), parent company of KeyBank; Kip Clarke, KeyBank’s Cleveland market president; Margot Copeland, CEO and chairperson of the KeyBank Foundation; and Cathy Belk, president of JumpStart.

Syracuse, Upstate markets to benefit from KeyBank Foundation $24M donation to business-assistance program BY ERIC REINHARDT [email protected]

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yracuse and upstate New York are among the markets that will benefit from a donation that the KeyBank Foundation has made to a business-assistance program. The organization has awarded a fouryear, $24 million grant to the “KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program, powered by JumpStart.” On its website, Cleveland, Ohio–based JumpStart Inc. describes itself as a “privatepublic partnership” that provides venture capital and “intensive, high-impact assistance to diverse entrepreneurs and smallbusinesses owners.” The program is designed to “stimulate economic growth and workforce development by fostering small-business success” in communities across Ohio and upstate New York, including Syracuse. The grant represents the KeyBank Foundation’s “single largest philanthropic commitment to date, at more than six times the size of any past gift,” according to its news release issued July 31. The “KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program, powered by JumpStart” grant and initiative support KeyBank’s $16.5 billion “National Community Benefits Plan,” which established a $175 million philanthropic commitment in 2016, the bank said. Founded in 1969, KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization funded by Cleveland, Ohio–based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), the parent company of KeyBank.

About the program

The “KeyBank Business Boost & Build

Program, powered by JumpStart” will provide “support and structure” for individuals, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners; create “thousands” of jobs; and prepare students for careers in the “growing” technology, service, and manufacturing industries. Specifically, the program will work to create a “minimum” of 5,350 jobs and connect 800 individuals to open job opportunities in the targeted markets. It’ll also “accelerate the growth” of more than 2,500 small businesses and microenterprises in the targeted markets, the “majority of which” will be women or minority-owned businesses. The program will “accelerate the growth” of more than 2,000 tech startup and scale-up companies. The initiative will also provide support for participation in the tech economy by meeting business needs or enabling workforce training for 1,000 individuals It will prepare more than 1,000 students to enter the workforce after graduating high school. KeyBank and JumpStart contend they’ll “accomplish their aims” by providing small business technical assistance in Cleveland, Ohio, along with Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany. They’ll offer technical assistance and grant/equity capital for technology startups and scaleups. In addition, they’ll work to establish the KeyBank Center for Technology, Innovation and Inclusive Growth to serve individuals across Ohio. The effort will include vocational education and workforce training for students in Cleveland. n

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CNYBJ.COM HISTORY FROM OHA

Cycling Through History:

The story of E.C. Stearns and the ‘Yellow Fellow’

Edward C. Stearns inherited his entrepreneurial ability from his father, George, who unfortunately died when Edward was only 15 years old. George ran a small, but highly successful hardware business. Utilizing the skills taught by his father, E. C. quickly expanded the business. When the bicycling craze seriously began in the late 1880s, Stearns quickly recognized that manufacturing bicycles would be profitable. He downsized his hardware business and geared up to manufacture bicycles. The E. C. Stearns Company became the national forerunner of all the major bicycle manufacturers at that time. Its business, in turn, greatly benefitted the city of Syracuse. The company employed, at its peak, almost 1,000 people, and was located on four acres of land occupied by nine buildings housing the various workings of the factory. The factory faced Oneida Street and extended all the way back to Onondaga Street. Every part of the bicycle, with perhaps the exception of the tires and the handlebar grips, was manufactured by the E. C. Stearns Company and began with exacting workmanship using the high-

est quality materials. Once completed, the resulting bike was subjected to numerous tests before it was made available for sale to the public. The company developed its buildings with efficiency in mind. In the main building, the basement housed the stockroom and storehouse. This was also the location of the fireproof vault that held the finished bikes before they were shipped out for sale. The bike frame was constructed on the third floor where 200 employees measured parts, polished steel tubing, and filled joints before sending the frame upstairs. All the steel used in the tubing was rolled and cut in another building. The enameling department was located on the top floor. All parts of the bike were polished further with pumice before most of the bikes received several coats of bright yellow enamel paint. Other colors offered included black, blue, and carmine. The frame was then placed in very hot ovens that baked on the enamel for a long-lasting and durable finish. The company enameled 275 bike frames a day when it was at its manufacturing height. The bicycle wheels were constructed with an interchangeable process. There were four weights of wheels

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BICYCLE SEXTET RACING A TRAIN IN 1896.

depending on the size was most well-known of the rider and whether for its bicycles, the the rider chose to use company never forgot the bike for racing or its roots and continued pleasure. All the wheel to locally manufacture rims were yellow-orange a variety of hardware (earning the Stearns items such as sliding bicycles the nickname door hangars, window of Yellow Fellow). The screen frames, door saddles and pedals were locks, lawn mowers, and produced on yet another stable fixtures —along floor. Once finished, the with many other related bike included a tool bag fixtures. and pamphlet that gave Unfortunately, as illustrations, the number the 1890s progressed, and price of each part, the bicycling craze retogether with directions gressed. In 1900, the for adjusting and repairAmerican Bicycle ComMARJORIE SPENCER, 4 YRS. OLD, RIDING E.C. ing the bike and how pany formed. Known STEARNS BICYCLE. to care properly for the as ‘the trust’, it began tires. buying up many of the Stearns did not just produce single-rider bicycles. country’s bicycle manufacturers (initially 42 with Eventually eight styles of bikes were made — all over 70 ultimately being absorbed). This came with the distinctive orange rims. Also manufactured about in an effort to lessen competition and exert were tandem, triplet, and six and seven-man bikes. more controls over supply and pricing. SuccumbThe company experimented with different styles of ing to pressure, E. C. Stearns, one of the largest bikes to appeal to a variety of riders (i.e., bikes with manufacturers at the time, sold its rights to manusails and those with a leather hammock for more facture bicycles to the American Bicycle Co. in 1900. comfortable riding). The sextet bike was most fa- It is worth noting, that after several iterations, the mous for having raced a train locally and beaten it. American Bicycle Company eventually evolved into The course was laid out just east of Solvay and the today’s Columbia Bicycle Manufacturing Co. race occurred in 1896 when the company was in its E. C. Stearns continued its hardware manufacturheyday. Stearns shipped its bikes all over the world ing through the mid-1950s. Edward Stearns himself and eventually opened factories in Buffalo, San died of a heart attack in 1929 after leading a remarkFrancisco, Paris, Toronto, and Berlin. The company able manufacturing career. n sponsored popular bike races all over the country, some of them transcontinental races. Karen Y. Cooney is support services administrator at It should be mentioned that although Stearns the Onondaga Historical Association in Syracuse. PHOTO CREDIT: OHA COLLECTION

BY KAREN Y. COONEY

PHOTO CREDIT: OHA COLLECTION

During the ‘Gay Nineties’ (1890 – 1899), between the horse and the advent of the ‘horseless carriage’ many Syracuse residents took up the national hobby of bike riding. Eventually, this city became known as one of the primary bicycle manufacturing centers in the country with E. C. Stearns Co. leading the way.

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Report: Oneida County visitor spending rose nearly 9 percent to surpass $1.4 billion in 2016 BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected] UTICA — Tourism is on the rise in the Mohawk Valley. A recent study released by Empire State Development and the I Love NY, Division of Travel & Tourism reports that visitor spending in Oneida County increased by 8.8 percent to more than $1.4 billion in 2016. Oneida County represents 64 percent of the Central New York vacation region’s travel and tourism sales. The Central New York vacation region is comprised of Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie, Broome, Chenango, southern Herkimer, Madison, and Montgomery counties. Visitor spending across the Central New York vacation region totaled $2.2 billion in 2016, supporting 35,609 jobs. Traveler spending in the 7 1/2 county region rose 6.4 percent in 2016, representing the largest regional growth reported for New York state, per the study. Tourism supported 19,214 direct and indirect jobs in Oneida County in 2016 —generating $810 million in household wages. Travel and tourism sustains 18.5 percent of all jobs in Oneida County. State tax coffers gained $79 million while local tax revenues reached $87.7 million

NYSAR: New York home sales dip almost 3 percent in June BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected]

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ew York realtors sold more than 12,600 previously owned homes during June, down 3 percent from the year-ago period when nearly 13,000 homes changed hands. That’s according to a housing-market report that the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) issued recently. The trade group blamed the sales decline on a drop in the number of homes available for sale and contends there remains strong buyer interest. Despite the slight decline, the June data was part of a “record high” for second quarter home sales, reaching a total of 32,444 homes sold, NYSAR boasted. “Homebuyers, buoyed by a healthy economy and still low mortgage rates, have set sales records for two consecutive quarters in 2017,” Duncan MacKenzie, CEO of NYSAR, said in a news release. “Exceptionally strong buyer demand throughout the first half of 2017 has driven a nearly 3-percent growth in home sales compared to the first six months of 2016,” he said. “As we look ahead to the second

County Tourism, said in a news release. “Tourism is economic development. Recent investments in new lodging facilities, restaurants, expansion at the AUD, coupled with successful regional campaigns like BrewCentralNY.com and BikeThruHistory.com will continue to position Oneida County a rising destination and a leader in the state’s travel industry.” In Oneida County, all industry sectors realized an increase and generated the following visitor spending in 2016: Lodging $411 million, Recreation $375 million, Food & Beverage $253 million, Retail & Service $316 million, Transportation $42 million, and Second Homes $21 million. The “Economic Impact Study of Tourism in New York” for 2016 was conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company of Oxford, United Kingdom with U.S. offices in n Wayne, Pennsylvania.

in 2016 from tourism-generated spending in Oneida County. “We were thrilled to see the growth reflected in the 2016 research. An 8.8 percent increase in visitor spending is remarkable growth across the industry sustaining jobs, sales tax receipts and household wages in Oneida County,” Kelly Blazosky, president of Oneida

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half of the year, we continue to closely monitor the ongoing decline in the number of homes listed for sale,” said MacKenzie. “If the trend continues, we expect an impact on home sales and selling prices.”

Sales data

A decline in the number of homes for sale, coupled with robust buyer interest, pushed the statewide median sales price up more than 9 percent to $264,000 compared to a year ago. Pending sales during June rose 4.5 percent from a year ago to reach 14,388. The months’ supply of homes for sale dropped 17.1 percent at the end of June to 6.3 months of supply. It stood at 7.6 months at the end of June 2016. NYSAR considers a 6 month to 6.5 month supply a balanced market. Inventory stood at 71,064, a decrease of 14.8 percent compared to June 2016.

Southern Tier data

Realtors in Broome County sold 187 existing homes in June, up 28 percent from 146 a year ago, according to the NYSAR report. The median sales price

rose over 10 percent to nearly $112,000 from more than $101,000 a year ago. In Chemung County, 80 homes changed hands in June, unchanged from a year earlier. The median sales price fell almost 20 percent to nearly $112,000 from $139,000. Realtors in Chenango County sold 49 existing homes in June, up 26 percent from 39 a year prior. The median sales price jumped 43 percent to $103,000 from nearly $72,000 a year ago. NYSAR also reports that realtors sold 25 homes in Tioga County in June, down nearly 17 percent from the 30 homes sold during June 2016. The median sales price rose 17 percent to $130,000 from over $111,000 a year ago. In Tompkins County, realtors closed on 108 homes in June, up 7 percent from 101 a year before, and the median sales price increased nearly 12 percent to almost $254,000 from $227,000 in June 2016, according to the NYSAR data. All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York state and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing singlefamily homes, according to NYSAR. n

Onondaga County hotel occupancy rate falls 7.5 percent in May BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected]

H

otels in Onondaga County were emptier in June than the year-ago period, according to a recent re-

port. The county’s occupancy rate slipped 7.5 percent to 64 percent in June from 69.1 percent in the year-ago month, according to STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics company. Onondaga County’s occupancy rate has now declined in nine of the last 11 months. Revenue per available room (RevPar), an important industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, fell 8.8 percent to $62.81 this June from $68.88 in June 2016. RevPar in the county has also dropped in nine of the past 11 months, per STR. Average daily rate (or ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, dipped 1.5 percent to $98.17 in June, from $99.63 a year earlier. A trend that may be playing a role in Syracuse’s slumping occupancy rate and RevPar statistics is the increase in supply of hotel rooms in the market in the last year with two key projects adding nearly 400 rooms, alone. That includes the opening of the 134-room Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor hotel last July and the reopening of the former Hotel Syracuse as the 261-room Marriott Syracuse Downtown last August. A number of other hotels have also opened n in the county in the past three years.

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8 I CNYBJ.COM


THE LIST Research by Vance Marriner [email protected] (315) 579-3911 Twitter: @cnybjresearch

Just Missed the List: Excelsior Solutions, LLC

1

Upcoming Lists: August 14: Staffing Firms August 21: Wineries

ABOUT THE LIST Information was provided by representatives of listed organizations and their websites. Other groups may have been eligible but did not respond to our requests for information. Organizations had to complete the survey by the deadline to be included on the list. While The Business Journal strives to print accurate information, it is not possible to independently verify all data submitted. We reserve the right to edit entries or delete categories for space considerations. Central New York includes Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.

NEED A COPY OF A LIST?

Electronic versions of all our lists, with additional fields of information and survey contacts, are available for purchase at our website: cnybj.com/Lists-Research

WANT TO BE ON THE LIST?

If your company would like to be considered for next year’s list, or another list, please email [email protected]

OPINION


Business Journal

News Network AUGUST 7, 2017 VOL. XXXI, NO. 31

NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Adam Rombel [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR Maria J. Carbonaro [email protected] STAFF WRITERS Eric Reinhardt [email protected] Norman Poltenson [email protected] CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Zehr [email protected] RESEARCH DIRECTOR Vance Marriner [email protected] COLUMNISTS Twila Brase Brian M. Kolb

SALES Mary LaMacchia [email protected] Dony Kuriakose [email protected] MARKETING BBB Marketing Inc.

CIRCULATION Circulation Management (315) 579-3927

ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLISHER Marny Nesher [email protected] PUBLISHER EMERITUS Norman Poltenson [email protected] BUSINESS MANAGER Kurt Bramer [email protected]

HOW TO REACH US MAIL: Send letters to: Editor, The Central New York Business Journal 269 W. Jefferson St. Syracuse, N.Y. 13202-1230 EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: (315) 579-3902 THE CENTRAL NEW YORK BUSINESS JOURNAL (ISSN #1050-3005) is published every week by CNY Business Review, Inc. All contents copyrighted 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Cover Price $2.50 Subscription Rate $89 per year Call (315) 579-3927

I 9

Transit Priorities Need to be Put in a New Light T

here are countless reasons why I feel fortunate to live Upstate. The “Summer of Hell” New York City commuters are facing is now among them. The deterioration of the city’s mass transit system has resulted in daily subway delays, overcrowded stations, riders trapped on trains, and ongoing chaotic events. The situation is adversely affecting the quality of life for milOpinion lions of New Yorkers on a regular basis. Yet as problems continue to plague riders, and commuters demand action from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Gov. Andrew Cuomo has diverted responsibility and resources away from the problem at hand.

BRIAN M. KOLB

Another questionable project without many answers

The MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels are being fitted with decorative lighting displays, capable of offering choreographed light shows. And the yet-to-be disclosed

cost of the project isn’t cheap. In what has become standard operating procedure for the governor, there is no clarity on the exact price (estimates range from $200 million to $350 million), or precisely what agency (or agencies) will fund the project. Despite the lack of specifics, a few things are crystal clear. At the end of the day, taxpayers will be picking up the tab. And as the city’s mass transit system continues to crumble, a $200 million lightshow is hardly the best use of state resources. The governor’s devotion to this lighting project screams government waste and turns a blind eye to his obligation to the residents and visitors to our great state. People who ride the subway system need to get to work, doctors’ appointments, and their children to school and daycare. Fancy bridge lights won’t get people to their destinations on time.

Complete absence of accountability

In the midst of the crisis, the governor has completely sidestepped responsibility. His office went so far as to blame New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying that the city “owns the subway and is solely responsible for funding its capital plan.” In fact, it’s the MTA, an entity effectively under the

CNYBJ.COM

governor’s control, which runs New York’s expansive transportation system. Accountability has never been a hallmark of this governor’s administration. The budget process remains shrouded in secrecy and is conducted almost entirely behind closed doors. The governor’s own aides were arrested for corrupting state economic-development programs, yet transparency in those programs is still sorely lacking. Construction to build the new $4 billion Tappan Zee Bridge began in 2013, but there is still no public spending plan on how all the costs will be covered. The nearly 6 million New Yorkers who ride the subway every weekday are getting a firsthand look at how Albany handles a crisis. They surely are not impressed. As transit issues mount, it’s long past time to tackle the issue head-on, devise solutions in an open manner, and put the public on top of the priority list. n Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C–Canandaigua), a former small-business owner, is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. Contact him at [email protected]

A full repeal of Obamacare would make real solutions possible T he U.S. Senate on July 25 voted down a partial repeal of Obamacare, then an attempt at a “skinny repeal” failed in the early hours of July 28. Even though the American people voted into office many politicians who promised a full and complete repeal, many of those same lawmakers, perhaps for political reasons, are too afraid of what real repeal would mean. Only a full repeal will restore freedoms that the Affordable Care Act snatched from the Opinion American people. Government health care is about force. Americans are forced under the thumb of thousands of pages of regulations, compelled to pay taxes and penalties, forced into narrow networks, and required to share their private and personal medical information with numerous entities. An Obamacare repeal wouldn’t come with more problems, as many claim, but instead would pave the way back to freedom — back to real and affordable solutions. Among those solutions, are:

TWILA BRASE

1. Catastrophic coverage 2. Self-pay / third party-free payment 3. Health-care sharing 4. Charity First, a full repeal of Obamacare would give way to the return of catastrophic coverage, which is what insurance is meant to be: affordable financial protection against insurable conditions, not payment for routine and minor care. Second, “cash-pay,” “self-pay” or “third party-free” practices allow patients and doctors to be free from the costly and intrusive shackles of insurance, regulations and government programs. The Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) aims to restore health freedom, for both patients and doctors, through the innovative initiative “The Wedge of Health Freedom” (www. JointheWedge.com). Today, more than 200 medical practices in 44 states around the country have joined The Wedge, which is using third-party-free direct payment to transform the entire health-care system back to freedom and restore simplicity, affordability, and confidentiality. Third, with repeal, some patients would be free to make health-care decisions without interference in a supportive community through health-care sharing ministries,

the four largest of which are: Christian Healthcare Ministries, Liberty HealthShare, Medi-Share, and Samaritan Ministries. CCHF issued a report in January 2010 on health-care sharing before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Because health-care sharing members are exempt from ACA mandates, the membership of these groups has climbed steadily each year. Health-care sharing can be a wonderful way to avoid enrolling in costly and intrusive Obamacare coverage. And the stories of those impacted by health-care sharing are uplifting — much different than the horror stories of government health care. And fourth, being free from government health care would allow doctors to engage in charity again, as they were free to do years ago when health care was truly about care rather than coverage. n Twila Brase, RN, is president and co-founder of CCHF (www.cchfreedom.org), which says it is a nonprofit, patient-centered, national health-freedom organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota that exists to protect health-care choices, individualized patient care, and medical and genetic privacy rights. This opinion piece is drawn from a news release that CCHF issued on July 31.

10 I


CNYBJ.COM

Business Calendar AUGUST 10

SEPTEMBER 14

n Talent Development – It’s a Puzzle! workshop from 8 to 10 a.m. at WCNY, 416 W. Fayette St., Syracuse. CNY ATD will discuss the transformation of the talent-development profession and the influence of changing roles in organizations. The cost for ATD members is $20; nonmembers pay $35. For more information, email [email protected], call (315) 546-2783, or visit www.cnyastd.org.

n CNY ATD Orientation from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at CXtec, 5404 South Bay Road, North Syracuse. Learn about CNY ATD, the local affiliate chapter of Association for Talent Development (ATD), and how to make the most of a membership in CNY ATD. No charge to attend. To register, visit www.cnyastd.org. For more information, call (315) 546-2783 or email: [email protected]

n Greater Oneida Chamber Business After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m. at Oneida Printshop, 212 Farrier Ave., Oneida. Free for chamber members; nonmembers pay $10. RSVP to [email protected] by Aug. 8.

AUGUST 16 n Shop Talk from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Finger Lakes on Tap, 33 Fennell St., Skaneateles. CNY ATD hosts an informal gathering with group discussions on varied talentdevelopment topics. No charge to attend. To register, visit www.cnyastd.org. For further information, email: info@ cnyastd.org, or call (315) 546-2783.

AUGUST 17 n CNY BEST Information Session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Suburbane Propane, 5793 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt. CNY ATD will hold an informational session regarding the CNY BEST Talent Development Program and the awards-application process. Call (315) 546-2783, or email: [email protected] for details. n 4th Annual Cayuga County Chamber Clambake from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Yawger Brook, 989 Chamberlain Road, Auburn. The cost is $45 per person. Register by calling (315) 252-7291. Registration deadline is Aug. 10.

AUGUST 22 n Foundation Center Seminar – Introduction to Proposal Writing and Budget Development from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, 2 State St., Auburn. This event will provide you with an overview of how to write a project proposal to a foundation. Visit www.cayugachamber.com for more information or to register.

SEPTEMBER 6 n ExportNY is an interactive course on global business development combining classroom training, market research support, tools for analysis, and handson resources. Starting Sept. 6, participants meet twice a month at Syracuse University over four months. For more information about embarking on a journey of international expansion, contact Sue Kuhns at TDO at (315) 425-5144 or [email protected], or Steven King at CNYIBA at (315) 470-1925 or sking@cnyiba. net. Or, visit: http://www.cnyiba.net/events-calendar/ extended-training/=

SEPTEMBER 13 n CenterState CEO Business After Hours event at the Jefferson Clinton Hotel from 5 to 7 p.m. at 416 S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Join CenterState to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Jefferson Clinton Hotel. This after-hours event will include appetizers, drinks, and live entertainment. For more information or to register, visit CenterStateCEO.com or email: dejoseph@centerstateceo. com

SEPTEMBER 15 n 7 Habits of 7 Highly Successful People 2017 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, One Conservation Place, Syracuse. This is an opportunity to hear from seven of the region’s most influential executives and community leaders who will share seven lessons that they have learned and used throughout their careers. For more information or to register, visit CenterstateCEO.com or email: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 19 n Upstate Unleashed Conference & 2017 Venture Ecosystem Awards from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse. More than 300 entrepreneurial leaders will come together at this event. Meet upstate New York’s CEOs who are building the future today and celebrate more than 300 ecosystem builders at the luncheon. Visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/upstate-unleashed-conference2017-venture-ecosystem-awards-tickets-32232965668 for tickets and details. n CNY ATD Micro-Learning Discussion from 8 to 10 a.m. at WCNY, 416 W. Fayette St., Syracuse. CNY ATD will discuss micro-learning or learning nuggets: what they are, why they can be beneficial, and when and how to incorporate these short learning activities. The cost for members is $25; non-members are $40. To register, visit www.cnyastd.org. For further information, email info@ cnyastd.org or call (315) 546-2783.

SEPTEMBER 20 n Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence professional-development course from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Syracuse-Liverpool at 441 Electronics Parkway. The one-day event — hosted by CenterState CEO and put on by the Disney Institute — will allow area professionals to identify the personal and organizational values that drive them as leaders to carry out their organizations’ vision and their role in operationalizing culture-building and team support. For more information, contact Lisa Metot at (315) 470-1870 or email: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 22 n 5th Annual TEDxUtica 2017 beginning at 6 p.m. at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Dr. Michael I. Schafer Theater, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica. Eight speakers were chosen from across Central New York and beyond to give talks about a diverse range of topics relatable to this year’s theme: Press Pause. The speakers are: Mike Ballan, “The Artistic Power of Garbage Cans”; Maria Lallier, “Discover the Child”; Dina Radeljas, “From a Refugee Camp to a PhD”; Ame Wren, “The Spiritual Void: Cultivating Meaning in a Secular Society”; Ralph Simone, “Slow down to Go Faster - The Power of Pause”; Big Mike Morrill, “Kaizen at Home!”; Time Huenke, “Sustainable Humanity”; and Michele Yulo, “My Journey Parenting a Gender-Nonconforming Child.” Tickets are $35 and on

sale now at tedxutica.com

OCTOBER 4 n 17th Annual SyracuseCoE Symposium Water + Energy + Design: Innovations for Healthy, Vibrant Communities at the Crowne Plaza, Syracuse. The symposium will feature presentations by keynote speakers, faculty fellows, and collaborating researchers that target innovations in water, energy, and design for healthy, vibrant communities. For more information and updates, visit syracusecoe.syr.edu/symposium

OCTOBER 5 n 2017 Sun Awards from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The 4th annual SUN Awards recognize excellence in sustainable efforts throughout Central New York. This event provides education on current trends, opportunity to network with SUN members, honorees, and other working within upstate sustainability initiatives. For more information, visit: https://www.cnybj. com/bizeventz

OCTOBER 26 n 2017 Excellence In Healthcare Awards from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The 6th annual Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognizes our region’s top health-care industry leaders, innovators, and companies. This awards-recognition event will honor those individuals and/or organizations that have a significant impact on the quality of health care and services in Central New York. Nominations open Aug. 28. For more information, visit: https://www.cnybj.com/bizeventz

NOVEMBER 16 n 2017 40 Under Forty Awards from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SRC Arena & Events Center on the OCC campus. This event recognizes 40 ambitious, hard-working, civicminded individuals, who are under the age of 40. These individuals have excelled in the workplace and in the community. They are our next leaders who will be making decisions for their businesses or nonprofits. For more information, visit: https://www.cnybj.com/bizeventz

NOVEMBER 17 n NEXT Conference from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Syracuse University at 801 University Ave. in Syracuse. This is a technology, manufacturing, and biotech conference focused on cutting-edge trend and NEXT generation innovation. The keynote speakers will be Hod Lipson, Ph.D., author of “Artificial Intelligence and the Road Ahead” and Dave Warner, M.D., Ph.D., author of “Convergent Futures: Cofnitive Neuroscience Meets Deep Learning.” Registration fee is $25. Visit next-syr.com for the full agenda and additional information.

ONGOING EVENTS n Every Tuesday, Cayuga Toastmasters Club from 6 to 7 p.m., at Cornell University, Ithaca, Rhodes Hall, Hoy Road, 6th Floor Conference Room #655. Free parking is available on first floor of parking garage across from Rhodes Hall. For more information, visit the website at 4998.toastmastersclubs.org and select “Contact Us,” or email: Jeff at [email protected] n Every Tuesday, Gung Ho Referrals Group, the premier networking group in CNY since 1999, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Gem Diner, 832 Spencer St., Syracuse. The cost is $10 and includes lunch. No reservation required. Please bring 30 business cards. For more information contact Paul Ellis at (315) 475-0392 or email [email protected] or go to www. GungHoReferrals.com

n Every Tuesday, CNY Referral Group from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Denny’s Restaurant, 201 Lawrence Road, North Syracuse. Looking to expand your network and increase referral business? For more information, call Matthew Hunt at (315) 416-8881, or email: huntm24@nationwide. com n Every Tuesday, Syracuse Executives Association luncheon meeting, beginning at 11:45 a.m. at Bella Domani Banquet Facility, 5988 East Taft Road, North Syracuse. For more information, contact Linda Bennett, executive director, by email at: [email protected] n Every Tuesday, Syracuse Networking Connections at 8 a.m. at Dunkin Donuts, 7th North St. (Conference Room). No charge to attend. Contact Kim at (315) 4148223. n Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups at 9 a.m. at Syracuse CoWorks, 201 E. Jefferson St., 2nd floor, Syracuse. 1 Million Cups is a weekly educational program designed to engage, educate, and accelerate local startups/unique businesses. No cost to attend. For more information, visit www.1millioncups.com/syracuse n Every Wednesday, Syracuse Business Networking from 6 to 7 p.m. at Barbieri’s Restaurant (upstairs level) located on Main Street in the village of North Syracuse. For more information, call Kim Bachstein at (315) 414-8223 or email: [email protected] n First and third Wednesday of each month, Preferred Toastmasters from noon to 1 p.m. at Golden Artist Colors, 188 Bell Road, New Berlin. Contact Jonie Bassett at (607) 847-6154, x1217. n Fourth Wednesday of each month, Preferred Toastmasters from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Chenango County Council of the Arts, 27 W. Main St., Norwich. Contact Jonie Bassett at (607) 847-6154, x1217. n Every Other Thursday (Aug. – Sept.), Empire Statesmen Toastmasters meets at 6:30 p.m. at Denny’s Restaurant, 201 Lawrence Rd., North Syracuse. Note: Except on the 3rd Thursday, the group meets at Denny’s at 6591 Thompson Road (off Carrier Circle). For latest information, visit http://1427.toastmastersclubs.org/ or email [email protected] n Every Thursday, Free Business Counseling with SCORE from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, 80 North Ave., Owego. Contact the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce to make an appointment at (607) 687-2020. n Every Thursday, Syracuse Business Connections meets from 8am - 9 am in E. Syracuse. The group’s purpose is to network, exchange referrals, leads and share community news. For more information, contact Deb Angarano at [email protected] n Every second and fourth Thursday of the month, The North Star Toastmasters from noon to 1 p.m. at Northland Communications One Dupli Park Drive in Franklin Square. For more information, contact Sandy Jurkiewicz at [email protected] or call (315) 470-1802. n Every Friday, 40 Above: Workers in Transition from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Helping workers/job seekers aged 40 and above in search of work. Contact John A. Cruty at (315) 569-3964, or at [email protected] n Every Friday, Tip Club of Syracuse, at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel, 801 University Ave., Syracuse, 8 to 9 a.m. Call Bernie Bregman at (315) 430-5249 or email: [email protected]

BUSINESS CARD GALLERY Bernie Bregman Todd M. Storie Professional Employer Consultant • Human Resources • Employee Benefits • Workers Comp Administration • Payroll

149 Northern Concourse N. Syracuse, N.Y. 13212 315-641-3600 Cell: 315-409-6352 Fax: 315-641-3601 800-31-STAFF (78233) [email protected]

We let you concentrate on the business you know best.

Free Network FREEConsulting NETWORK Session CONSULTING SESSION

Cell: (315) 430-5249 [email protected]

B BB MARKETING

I 11


People on the Move NEWS ACCOUNTING

CONSTRUCTION

Dannible & McKee, LLP has promoted SHANNON T. FORKIN to tax partner and WILLIAM R. MICHALSKI to audit partner. Forkin started with the firm in 2004 after graduation from SUNY Forkin Oswego. She has experience in all areas of income taxation. Forkin is a CPA and a chartered global management accountant. Michalski, a CPA, joined the firm in 2004 after graduation from Le Moyne College. He Michalski has significant knowledge and experience in audit, assurance, and advisory services, and expertise in Federal Acquisition Regulation overhead audits.

RANDOLPH SKINNER has joined the accounting department of the Charles A. Gaetano Construction Corp. as the firm’s controller. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University Skinner with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Skinner has more than 25 years of experience as a controller in the construction industry. Gaetano Construction has added JOSH ROWLANDS Rowlands to its project management staff. He has an associate degree in construction technology and a bachelor’s degree in technology in construction management from SUNY Delhi. While a student, Rowlands worked as an intern with various construction groups including Gaetano Construction. He has carpentry skills and has assisted in estimating and project management.

BANKING Generations Bank has promoted AG CUTRONA to senior VP – director of growth & profitability at the bank’s Seneca Falls headquarters. He joined the organization as VP – director of Cutrona growth & profitability in 2016. Cutrona brings more than 30 years of banking experience to his position. He is a graduate of the Wharton School with an executive leadership certificate, the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from St. John Fisher College. KENNETH WINN has been promoted to senior VP – director of credit administration at Generations Bank’s Seneca Falls headquarters. He joined the organization as VP – director of credit administration earlier this year. He is a graduate of Columbia College and served in the U.S. Air Force.

EDUCATION & TRAINING DAVID LIND has been appointed as the new director of the English Language Institute at University College. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell University and an Lind M.Ed. in applied linguistics from Open University. For the past two years, Lind has been project manager for the British Council in Uruguay, where he administered a live, remote teaching program that delivers 3,500 English lessons weekly to some 80,000 public school children across the country, via high-end videoconferencing from locations in the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Argentina, and Uruguay. Throughout 27 years devoted to English-

Central New York LEADS ONONDAGA COUNTY BUSINESS CERTIFICATES JULY 1218, 2017 JULY 12 ACADEMIC ENGLISH EDITING 216 DORCHESTER AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13203 BROWN, MICHAEL D AG SEVICES 5 MAPLE PKWY E SYRACUSE, NY 13057 GALLO, ANTONIO T ARK SIDING AND CONCRETE 14 BATTERY TERR BALDWINSVILLE, NY 13027 HARKOLA, DENNIS JOHN EVENT D J (THE) 1020 BELLEVUE AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13204 SALEEM, KEVIN J

FDIS OF CNY 102 DEMONG DR SYRACUSE, NY 13214 MERRICK KENNETH T SYRACUSE AIRPORT CAB AND DISPATCH 2713 BURNET AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13206 PUMA, CARMEN J, JR. TANGLEWOOD SHAVINGS 3440 LAFAYETTE RD JAMESVILLE, NY 13078 STANTON, SARAH B STANTON, MARK E 3RD EYE PRODUCTION 1633 HAWLEY AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13206 BOATWRIGHT, STARAEISHA TURNER CONSULTING 2630 ROSE HILL RD MARIETTA, NY 13110 TURNER, KATHY J JULY 13 CAVENDER CONSTRUCTION 3 SMALLWOOD ST

BALDWINSVILLE, NY 13027 CAVENDER, MICHAEL HIGHBAR TALENT SOLUTIONS 301 CLEVELAND BLVD FAYETTEVILLE, NY 13066 ROGERS, LISA ANN JTL TRANSPORT 110 ONTARIO PL LIVERPOOL, NY 13088 LIZALOVIC, TARIK LAKESIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 1940 COLLARD RD SKANEATELES, NY 13152 VALENTINO, JOSEPH P NIKKI’S PHOTOGRAPHY 4549 VINEGAR HILL RD SKANEATELES, NY 13152 KEATOR, NICHOLE L LAROCHE, KAITLYNN D JULY 14 CNY COMPUTER TECHNICIANS 217 GRAVES ST, APT 1 SYRACUSE, NY 13203 GONZALEZ, MICHEL

Information to build your business COBBLER CREATIVE CONSULTING 111 BROOKFORD RD SYRACUSE, NY 13224 NOBLE, STEFANIE D & C UNLIMITED 99 SUNFLOWER DR LIVERPOOL, NY 13088 CASTILLO, JOSEPH LUIS DAVIS, ADAM DO IT RIGHT CONSTRUCTION 145 REED AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13207 HEMINGWAY, CHRISTOPHER GA COMMERCIAL CLEANING 1612 CALEB AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13206 GALSTYAN, ARMAIS IRON FLOWER BEAUTY 4480 MILLSTREAM DR CLAY, NY 13041 JACKSON, TENAE M JACK KING CONSULTING 119 VIEWPOINT LN CAMILLUS, NY 13031 KING, JOHN G

CNYBJ.COM language teaching, Lind has logged more than 20,000 hours in diverse settings, for the British Council in Spain and at the Intensive English Program at Cornell University.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES JOE BURNS has joined JAS Recruitment as a recruitment and accounts manager. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bentley University and graduated high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse.

Burns

ENGINEERING Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC has hired three new employees. RACHEL BARNHART is a survey technician in Delta’s Surveying & Mapping Group. She is a recent Barnhart graduate of SUNY ESF Ranger School in the area of land-surveying technology. WILLIAM BOCCHI is a survey technician in Delta’s Surveying & Mapping Group. He is a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community Bocchi College (MVCC) with an associate degree in civil engineering and land surveying technology. KYLE MITCHELL is a survey technician in Delta’s Surveying & Mapping Group. He is a Mitchell graduate of MVCC with an associate degree in criminal justice. Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. (B&L) has added five new employees to its Syracuse office. EVAN CANDEE has joined the firm’s Environmental Group as an industrial-hygiene technician. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental-science systems from Le Moyne College. GREGORY S. DEFAYETTE has joined B&L’s Solid Waste Group as an engineer II. He received his SECURE315 129 MELROSE AVE SYRACUSE, NY 13219 BOWERSOX, JEFFREY VARIANCE 9670 BREWERTON RD APT REAR BREWERTON, NY 13029 PULIS, SYLVIA WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE 105 HUNTER DR BALDWINSVILLE, NY 13027 GAGAS, ANDREA M YOU SAY WE CLEAN 217 GRAVES ST, APT 1 SYRACUSE, NY 13203 GONZALEZ, MICHEL IFA, Y SANTERIA JULY 17 ALLEN FLOORING 8 DONALD PL LIVERPOOL, NY 13090 ALLEN, MICHAEL S CANINE RUNNINGS 1008 TULIP ST LIVERPOOL, NY 13088 STINSON, TINA MARIE HONORABLE MEN MUSIC 107 WILKIE PL SYRACUSE, NY 13203 CROSBY, ROMERO

bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from SUNY Buffalo. NICHOLAS R. JOHNSON joined the firm’s Environmental Group as an industrial hygiene technician. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from SUNY ESF and is currently pursuing his MBA at Le Moyne College. BRIAN M. NICHOLSON has joined B&L’s Sustainable Planning & Design Group as an engineer III. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental resource engineering from SUNY ESF. MATTHEW J. WIDAY has joined the firm’s Environmental Group as a senior project engineer. He received both his bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and his master’s degree in civil engineering from SUNY Buffalo with concentrations in environmental and hydrosystems engineering.

NONPROFITS ALLEN CONNELY has taken over as the new executive director for Arc of Seneca Cayuga, having replaced Kevin Smith, who retired after 35 years. Connely has worked in a variety of setConnely tings — ranging from the international arena as senior manager for the Amway Corporation to establishing his own company, supplying quality assurance inspection services to the auto industry, to being the VP and COO of Keystone Independence Management, Inc.

RECYCLING Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman has announced the hiring of GEORGE OSTENDORF, a tenured veteran in the metals-recycling industry, as the new general manager of Ben Weitsman of New Castle. Prior to joining Upstate ShreddingWeitsman Recycling, Ostendorf spent nearly a decade with scrap company Metalico. During that time, he managed Metalico’s operations in the Rochester and Buffalo areas. Five years ago, he moved to Austin, Texas to open his own yard, Worth Metal Recycling, before recently returning to the Northeast. n

THOMAS, KENYAN RICE, COLLINS NAIM

SYRACUSE, NY 13203 MAKAMBU, KALULU

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HR/INSURANCE

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THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL REPORT:

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS N.Y. adopts regulations implementing paid familyleave law

CNYBJ.COM

Paid Family Leave is designed to phase in over four years, starting Jan. 1, 2018. Schedule:

BY ERIC REINHARDT [email protected]

N

ew York has adopted regulations implementing the state’s paid family-leave law. The regulations outline the mandates on employers and insurance carriers in implementing the paid family-leave program. The program is mandatory for nearly all private employers — any employer with one additional employee. Public employers may opt into the program. Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, employers will be required to provide paid family leave, providing employees with wage replacement and job protection to help them “bond” with a child, care for a close relative with a serious health condition, or help “relieve” family pressures when someone is deployed abroad on active military service.

Employees with a regular work schedule of 20 or more hours per week are eligible after 26 weeks (or a half year) of employment, Cuomo’s office said. Employees are also entitled to return to their job when their leave ends and to continued health-insurance coverage during their leave, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued July

SOURCE: NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT

19. If the workers contribute to the cost of their health insurance, they must continue to pay their portion of the premium cost while on paid family leave. The regulations address eligibility, coverage, the phase-in schedule for paid family leave, and more information on how employees, employers, and insurance carriers will interact to pay benefits. “There is a time in everyone’s lives where being there for a loved one in need is more important than anything and, finally, New Yorkers will no longer have to choose between losing their job and being a decent human being,” Cuomo contended in the release.

The regulations

Paid family leave provides coverage for parents during the first 12 months following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.

It also provides coverage for employees caring for a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild with a serious health condition. And, the program covers employees assisting loved ones when a spouse, child, domestic partner, or parent is deployed abroad on active military duty.

Employee eligibility

Employees with a regular work schedule of 20 or more hours per week are eligible after 26 weeks (or a half year) of employment, Cuomo’s office said. Those employees with a regular work schedule of less than 20 hours per week are eligible after 175 days worked.

Insurance coverage

Paid family-leave coverage will typically be included as a rider to an employer’s ex-

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isting disability-insurance policy, and will be “fully funded” by employees through payroll deductions, the state says. In 2018, the maximum employee contribution is 0.126 percent of an employee’s weekly wage up to 0.126 percent of the annualized New York State average weekly wage.

Phase-in

New York will phase-in paid family leave over four years, beginning Jan. 1, 2018. In 2018, employees may take up to eight weeks of paid leave at 50 percent of an their average weekly wage — up to 50 percent of the New York State average weekly wage. That increases to 12 weeks of paid leave in 2021, paid at 67 percent of an employee’s average weekly wage — up to 67 percent of the New York State average weekly wage. Employers are not allowed to ask their workers to use any of their sick or vacation days while they are on paid family leave. n

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Hancock Estabrook starts student-loan repaymentassistance program BY ERIC REINHARDT [email protected] SYRACUSE — Syracuse law firm Hancock Estabrook, LLP has started a studentloan repayment-assistance program for its younger attorneys. “All of our younger attorneys — our associates and junior partners — are eligible to participate in this program,” says Janet Callahan, the firm’s managing partner, noting that it went into effect in May. Callahan spoke with Callahan CNYBJ on July 27. Under the program, Hancock Estabrook will contribute a monthly amount to qualifying associates and income partners to help them pay back their education debt, the firm said in a news release. Callahan says associate attorneys are the youngest attorneys in the law firm, while income partners “are like junior partners” in the firm. She declined to disclose how much Hancock Estabrook will contribute, but described it as a “straight across-the-board figure” that the law firm provides to those eligible. “We polled the attorneys who are eligible for the program and what we tried to do is come up with an amount that for the most part would cover their loan payment,” says Callahan. Those younger attorneys who have worked for the firm for two years are eligible for the benefit, she adds. About 14 attorneys are already participating in the firm’s student-loan repayment-assistance program, Carrie T. Ryder, marketing director at Hancock Estabrook, tells CNYBJ.

Why offer the program

The purpose of the program is to enhance the firm’s ability to attract and retain talented young lawyers by acknowledging and addressing the “financial challenges”

faced by this group, according to the firm’s news release. Hancock Estabrook hopes the studentloan repayment-assistance program helps “to ease their financial burden a little bit,” says Callahan. When they finish law school, attorneys start earning “what seems to be good money” and they should be able to buy a house and start a family, the law firm says. But they also have to set aside a “big” sum of money every month to pay off a student loan. “It really interferes with your goals,” notes Callahan. When asked how long the firm had been thinking about adding this benefit, Callahan said for “the past year.” “Our executive committee has been looking at different ways to provide benefits for our younger attorneys,” she added. The firm views the repayment assistance as another of the benefits it offers its lawyers, which includes programs such as flexible work and parental-leave arrangements. The Hancock Estabrook news release on the topic also cites a highereducation expert as saying law-school graduates arrive at law firms with an average of $185,000 in student loans. That expert was Mark Kantrowitz, a mathematician, author, and founder of finaid.org, according to Ryder. The Alexandria, Virginia–based Society for Human Resource Management indicates that only about 3 percent of companies in the U.S. offered to help employees with their loans in 2016. Hancock Estabrook said it decided to provide eligible attorneys with direct financial support “rather than just offer its employees various options and information on repayment programs.” Besides its headquarters in Axa Tower I in downtown Syracuse, Hancock Estabrook also operates offices in Ithaca, Rome, and Albany. The firm employs 107 people, including 52 attorneys, according to Ryder. Hancock Estabrook has 34 partners. n

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DFS launches online relicensing for agents, brokers seeking a return to business in N.Y. BY ERIC REINHARDT [email protected]

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he New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has launched a new online-application process it says will “speed the relicensing” of insurance agents and brokers whose original licenses have been expired for more than two years. The online relicensing process is available to property/casualty and life and/or accident/health insurance agents and brokers, as well as life and general insurance consultants, and life-settlement brokers, DFS said in a news release. “DFS continues to implement and leverage technology to better serve the department’s regulated persons and the New Yorkers they serve,” Maria Vullo, financial-services superintendent, said Vullo in the release. “The DFS relicensing process is now significantly more efficient compared to the old paper-based system. DFS will continue to modernize its processes to better serve consumers across New York State.” The DFS offers a next-business-day turnaround for applicants with no “disqualifying conditions,” such as disciplinary actions in other states. The department will require applicants

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DFS relicensed more than 1,200 agents and brokers in 2016. to “attest to the completion” of pre-qualifying courses and furnish course numbers. Lapses in individual licenses may occur for various reasons, such as the result of career changes or for personal reasons. DFS relicensed more than 1,200 agents and brokers in 2016, the department said. New York state residents seeking relicensing must have completed a relicensing exam within the last two years or hold another license with the same lines of authority being applied for in the relicensing application. Non-residents must be in good standing and currently licensed in their declared home state with the same lines of authority being applied for in their New York re-licensing application. Licenses, which will no longer be mailed upon issuance, can now be printed by licensees through the online system. The relicensing of individuals whose licensing expired is one of a number of licensing transactions available through the DFS website, the department said. Other available online-licensee transactions include filing an original application to act as an individual agent or broker, renewing an individual license, or changing individual licensee-address information. n

CNYBJ.COM

ASK THE EXPERT

What is Fiduciary Liability and how does it affect you and your business?

M

anaging a company’s insurance needs can be complex and stressful. It doesn’t need to be when adding certain specialty insurance products, like fiduciary liability insurance. It protects the sponsoring company; its directors, officers and employees; its employee benefit plans and the plan’s fiduciaries, against claims alleging error in the administration of a plan or a breach of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), in either a civil suit or a criminal proceeding brought by the Department of Labor. Given this unique exposure, which includes litigation costs and the personal liability to directors, officers and plan fiduciaries, and the relatively inexpensive cost of the coverage, fiduciary insurance should be part of your company’s insurance program. Here are six additional reasons why: 1. You may be a fiduciary whether you know it or not. According to ERISA, a person or entity can be a fiduciary either through designation in the plan document or by virtue of control over the assets and management of a plan. 2. Being a fiduciary can put you and your organization’s directors and officers at risk. A fiduciary must adhere to ERISA, its duties and its obligations. Under Section 409, a breach of ERISA shall hold the fiduciary personally liable, and potentially threatens the fiduciary’s home and other personal assets. 3. Fiduciary duties and liability cannot be contracted away. There is a misconception that hiring a service provider for your retirement plan, or a third party administrator of your health plan, transfers all fiduciary liability from the organization, its plans and its fiduciaries. The selection and monitoring of service providers, including those who are hired to manage a plan, are duties under ERISA that cannot be contracted away.

4. ERISA litigation is costly and frequent. While headlines over the past 12-18 months could lead one to conclude that only large companies and “jumbo” plans are targets of claims, do not be misled because small employers are also at risk. From 2013 to 2015, U.S. District Courts received an average of 7,326 ERISA suits each year. The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), which is charged with the enforcement of ERISA violations, has been active as well. In 2016, EBSA recovered $352 million on behalf of plans, their participants and beneficiaries, and closed 333 criminal investigations, resulting in the indictment of 96 individuals. According to the latest Tillinghast Survey, the average cost of a paid fiduciary claim was $994,000, with an average defense cost of $365,000. 5. Breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA is not covered by other insurance policies. There are other policies (Employee Benefits Liability, Directors & Officers Liability, ERISA Bond) frequently confused with the coverage provided by fiduciary liability. A fiduciary liability policy is the only one that provides coverage both for errors in administration of a plan and for breach of duties under ERISA. 6. Fiduciary liability insurance is readily available in the marketplace and relatively inexpensive. There are a number of insurance carriers offering fiduciary liability insurance. Depending on the risk, the cost can be relatively inexpensive compared to most property casualty or specialty insurance policies. Given its coverage, low cost, and broad protection of directors, officers and employees’personal assets, the purchase of fiduciary liability insurance makes sense. Make sure to contact your local independent agent to review if Fiduciary Liability insurance is right for you and your organization. Contributed by Wendy Von Wald, Fiduciary Product Manager, Travelers

Next Month’s Ask the Expert Topic: Paid family time leave and what it means for your company?

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CNY ATD wins Chapter Excellence Award from ATD BY JOURNAL STAFF [email protected] SYRACUSE — CNY ATD, the Central New York affiliate chapter of ATD (Association for Talent Development), has been awarded the 2017 Chapter Excellence Award by the national association, according to a recent news release from the local chapter. The ATD Chapter Excellence Award is a national recognition honoring chapters that have achieved excellence in strategic partnership. ATD lauded CNY ATD for demonstrating the best effort in making a significant impact in the local community with its CNY ATD Scholarship Program. Since its start in 2011, CNY ATD has awarded 13 scholarships to talent-development professionals pursuing professional development and continuing education in the talent-development field. “CNY ATD successfully captured the spirit of this award with its successful Scholarship Program. This impressive program encourages and supports professional development and continuing education in the field of talent development and addresses a need in the local community for financial support for talent development professionals to pursue professional development and continuing education,” the ATD noted in the release.

“The impact our chapters have in their local communities and in support of the talent development profession is impressive. Winning a Chapter Excellence Award shows the chapter’s level of dedication to meeting ATD’s mission of empowering professionals to develop knowledge and skills successfully,” Jennifer Homer, ATD’s VP of communications, added in the release. The Association for Talent Development says it is the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations. ATD’s members hail from more than 120 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD has more than 125 local chapters, as well international strategic partners and global member networks. Started in 1943 as the American Society of Training Directors, the organization evolved to become the American Society for Training & Development. In 2017, CNY ATD celebrates its 45-year anniversary. The local chapter currently has more than 140 members from various businesses covering 16-plus counties from the Canadian border to the Pennsylvanian border in the central area of New York. CNY ATD says it has received 16 ATD awards since 2006. n

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Baby-Boomer-Owned Businesses in Transition W

ith more than 50 percent of all businesses with employees currently in the ownership hands of the Baby Boomer Generation, our society is poised to experience one of the greatest transfers of capital ever. In New York state alone, that translates to 181,370 businesses employing 1.6 million people (according to a Project Equity report using U.S. Census, 2012 Survey of Business Owners). Different options for sellers exist such as selling to other, younger boomers who are still the most likely demographic to buy. It may also be that these younger baby boomers are being downsized and need to “buy a job.” Other options, Viewpoint such as selling to family members, are becoming less likely due to smaller family sizes and the different interests of younger generations. One option not getting much publicity, yet, but which has much potential to fill in the gaps of sellers needs for buyers, is that of a purchase by current employees. As an example locally, BizBuySell.com recently listed “One of Syracuse’s most beloved restaurants….. Having won numerous awards…. their stellar reputation is well known all throughout Central New York. The same recipe has been used for their pizza in excess of 50 years.” Although a buyer might be found from the general public, the fact that “the owners are getting older” and listing retirement as the reason for selling indicates time may be an important consideration. The fact that “they wish to pass the traditions while everything runs efficiently and wonderfully” would seem to speak to passing it on to those who know those traditions and efficiency the best — the employees. Everyone from the New York Times, to Public Radio’s Marketplace program, to YES! Magazine, are spreading the word about the option to convert to a worker-owned cooperative business by selling to employees. And that’s with good reason. Beyond the fact that employees are a ready-made buying demographic right under the owner’s nose, New York State declares as policy within Cooperative Corporation Law Article 1, Section 2, that worker ownership is a “means of improving the economic welfare of its people . . . to encourage their effective organization in cooperative associations for the rendering of mutual help and service.”

FRANK CETERA

Employee ownership prevents the closing of neighborhood and family businesses beyond the lifespan of the current owners, retains good jobs in a community beyond entry-level positions, and stabilizes neighborhoods by preventing vacancies and overall loss of employment. New York State recognizes how cooperative ownership translates into greater economic stability for the communities that the business calls home, as well as stability for the worker owners as opposed to investors in traditional stock-ownership corporations. Article 5-A, Section 80 of the Cooperative Corporation Law states: “It is expected that cooperative ownership . . . will enable workers to receive the fullest economic benefits from their endeavors. It is also expected that the establishment of cooperatives under this article will . . . discourage the movement of capital and jobs out of this state.” The sale of businesses to employees should also translate into a more diverse ownership by women and minorities, which are a higher percentage of the up-and-coming business-ownership cohort. Traditionally, these types of buyers have been more likely to not possess the necessary capital for starting or buying a business, but doing so cooperatively may be more feasible with the pooling of money and capital for purchase. Also, it may be less risky for success (as opposed to new business entrepreneurship), because pre-existing businesses have client and customer bases, operating history and institutional knowledge, and working capital and assets. We have just 10-15 years to manage and implement most of these transitions as 100 percent of baby boomers will be over 65 years of age by the year 2029 (per the U.S. Census Bureau). A high majority of businesses do not have succession plans in place, which leads to the #1 preventable cause of job loss. Our first step moving forward will be to continue to raise awareness and demystify the employee-ownership culture and process, not just for employees and business owners, but also for technical service providers. These support providers that include legal services, business planning and analysis, and financing/capital acquisition, among others, will be as necessary for conversion sales to employee-ownership as they are for any traditional business transaction. n Frank Cetera is a NYS-certified business advisor at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Onondaga Community College. Contact him at [email protected].

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New York adopts final Paid Family Leave regulations Answering some common employer questions

KERRY LANGAN & CAROLINE WESTOVER

he New York Workers’ Compensation Board on July 19 published its final regulations implementing the New York Paid Family Leave Law (PFL). The final regulations largely mirror the proposed regulations issued on May 24, but the board provided further clarification in certain areas. For example, in its commentary, the board clarified the rules applicable to coverage of out-of-state employees, the measurement of “days worked” as applied to part-time employees, and how to calculate an employee’s average weekly wage. Core provisions, such as PFL coverage, eligibility, and interplay with other leave laws, remain the same. Now that the regulations are final, employers should begin, in earnest, to modify existing leave policies and processes to incorporate PFL requirements, and to develop new PFL policies that provide employees with information about their rights and obligations under the law. We held a webinar on New York’s PFL on July 25, where we received hundreds of questions. While we didn’t have the opportunity during the webinar to address all the inquiries that we received, we noted afterwards that many employers raised the same questions. Accordingly, this article is dedicated to answering some of the most frequently asked questions we received. We hope this follow-up will be helpful to employers in preparation for the launch of PFL in 2018. This batch of questions and answers focuses on taking leave to provide care for a family member with a serious health condition. Q: Can I use PFL to care for my family member with a serious health condition, if the family member lives in a differ-

ent state? A: The PFL regulations are not entirely clear on this point. However, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) takes the position that an eligible employee may take PFL to care for a family member who lives in another state. The key here is that the employee is in “close and continuing proximity to the care recipient,” which the WCB has interpreted to mean in the same general location as the family member receiving the care. So, for example, if an employee requests PFL to care for a grandparent living in Texas, the employee would need to physically go to Texas to provide care in order to be covered under the PFL. Q: What constitutes “providing care” for a family member with a serious health condition? A: Providing care includes necessary physical care, assistance with essential daily-living matters, assistance in treatment, and personalattendant services. It also includes emotional support, visitation, transportation, and/or arranging for changes in care. Q: Can I take PFL to care for an adult child? A: Yes. Unlike the FMLA, which contains limits on an individual’s ability to take leave for an adult child, the PFL permits a qualified employee to care for any child with a serious health condition, regardless of the child’s age. n

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Viewpoint

Kerry Langan and Caroline Westover are labor and employment law attorneys at Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC in Syracuse. This viewpoint article is drawn from the firm’s New York Labor & Employment Law Report blog. Contact Langan at [email protected] and Westover at [email protected].


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CNYBJ.COM

Think Outside the Benefits Box to Attract and Keep Top Talent

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e’ve all heard the stories about For tune 500 companies offering incredible employee perks. Google feeds its people free gourmet meals throughout the day and offers daycare, Starbucks covers full tuition for eligible employees to earn a bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program, and Netflix boasts unlimited vacaViewpoint tion time. Not everyone can compete with what these multi-billion-dollar corporations offer, but it’s good inspiration to help managers reimagine traditional perks and benefits. Standard competitive benefit packages today typically include health insurance, personal time off, life insurance, and retirement plans. But how can your company stand out to recruit and retain top talent? Your culture and the perks you offer employees can be the deciding factor in a candidate choosing whether to accept your job offer, or in keeping your current employees. Data tells us that today’s job seekers weigh the value of benefits more than ever while considering a position. According to a survey from Glassdoor, nearly three in five people report benefits and perks among their top priorities while researching jobs.

CHRIS PANEBIANCO

Competitive benefits will keep your employees both happy and productive. I can reaffirm this, as Bankers Healthcare Group is often recognized as a best place to work and having a top company culture with differentiating perks and benefits. This recognition reinforces that going the extra mile for our people is good for both them and us. Here are some ideas that can help spark fresh ways of thinking about what you can offer employees to help boost employee morale and enhance productivity.

Celebrate employees who excel

Recognizing and rewarding employees who help drive your business success are clear motivators for them to keep up the good work. Anything from cash incentives, gift cards or trophies can demonstrate that you value your people and can help boost morale. If you already hold company-wide meetings, this is a great opportunity to recognize the standout people. If you have an intranet or internal newsletter, consider a monthly “Employee Spotlight” feature that tells the stories of those who go the extra mile.

Empower employees to boost their health and wellness

Encouraging employees to make healthy life choices can have multiple benefits for both themselves and the company: • Wellness, energy, motivation, and reduced stress • Greater engagement, productivity and increased morale, according to the Harvard

Business Journal • Lowered health-care costs Consider giving employees time during the workday to exercise, offering reduced gym memberships, and promoting internal wellness programs. In addition, you can bring in someone to lead a group exercise class like yoga or provide on-site fitness equipment.

Rally together

Getting your department or entire staff out of the office can help to rejuvenate people and boost morale. It can help offer relief following a busy season, get the creative juices flowing for new business ideas, or simply provide a forum for people to get to know each other better. Some of the benefits of teambuilding events include creating and strengthening relationships, building trust, and encouraging new dynamics in the workplace. Volunteerism is another way. Coming together as a team to give back to the community can also foster positive outcomes — it encourages people to work together toward a common goal and provides the satisfaction of making a positive difference.

Help build their knowledge

Paying for employees’ college degrees may not be in your company budget, but there are other cost-effective ways to help them learn. Consider setting aside an employee-development budget that can be used for webinars, industry conferences,

and continuing-education courses throughout the year. Investing in employees’ skills and knowledge can demonstrate value and help groom them for higher-level positions.

Little things can make a big difference

Oftentimes, going the extra distance to help your employees can go a long way. Unless your budget matches that of Google, Starbucks, and Netflix, then free catered meals, paid-in-full college tuitions, on-site daycare, and countless vacation days are probably off the table. However, with a little creative thinking, you may be able to afford or reallocate existing budget money to make your employee benefits that much more interesting to prospective and current employees. For more ideas on the unique benefits that can make you stand out from the crowd, you shouldn’t have to look too far. Provide an open forum for your employees to share ideas. Just listening to your employee’s suggestions is a step in the right direction toward tailoring your culture and benefits package to both attract and retain the best talent. n Chris Panebianco is the chief marketing officer at Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG), which focuses on providing health-care professionals with medical-practice financing. BHG has worked with more than 110,000 practitioners to provide more than $2.8 billion in capital funding.

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CNYBJ.COM

SYRACUSE THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION

3 Ways to Make Company Priorities More Clear to your Employees

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ood communication is a key to success in any endeavor. Yet in the business world there is often the sort of “failure to communicate” referenced in the movie “Cool Hand Luke.” That failure in the movie resulted in the premature demise of the hero. In real life, when leaders are unclear about their expectations, employees often muddle through blindly, work at crosspurposes or pursue unintended, unproductive directions. The result is poor organiViewpoint zational performance, if not an early obituary for the leader and his or her vision. Ambiguity is pervasive in every organization, but is rarely recognized and poorly remedied — keeping organizations from achieving success. For example, most business leaders will say their top priorities include service and customer satisfaction. Yet seeking improvement in those areas without being clear on what you mean by them is a fool’s errand. To make the journey from ambiguity to clarity, leaders need to do the following: n Define what “service” means. Ask any 10 employees, representing different levels and functions, for their one-word definition for service. You are likely to find at least eight unique responses. If we can’t even agree on what service means, how will we achieve excellence? Define all work as products that can be unambiguously characterized, measured, and improved. This focuses on deliverables, not activity. n Know the customers. Ask those same employees who “the customer” is and you will get a similar lack of consensus. Who is to be satisfied? Are all customers equal in priority? How does ambiguity affect performance of the employee, the depart-

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ment, and the enterprise? The solution is to identify which of three roles a person can play with any product: end-user, broker, or fixer. Empower and seek to satisfy end-users first. n Make sure your company has a customer-satisfaction policy. If customer satisfaction is a top priority of leadership, does the organization have a customersatisfaction policy? Sadly, I have found in over 30 years of cultural-transformation work that fewer than 2 percent of organizations can answer yes to this question. They do have policies on hiring, money management, quality, supplier selection, cost control, and myriad other issues. But not on customer satisfaction. With no policy on it, how important can customer satisfaction really be?” Ambiguity can cause chaos, confusion, conflict, and unproductive competition in an organization. n Robin L. Lawton is a leadership strategist, executive coach and motivational speaker. (www.C3Excellence.com). He is the author of “Mastering Excellence: A Leader’s Guide to Aligning, Strategy, Culture, Customer Experience & Measures of Success.”

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