Fulton
Montgomery
REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2016
3rdAnnual
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Celebration Cocktail Party
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Program • 5:30pm – 6:30pm: Cocktail Hour Stationary and butlered hors d’ouevres throughout the Reception Area, Community Gallery, Grand Gallery. There are two full bars (in the Grand Gallery and in the rear of the Reception area); wine/soft drink/water bar in the Transitions area. Seating is available throughout the building. • 6:30pm – 7:00pm: Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony Grand Gallery and hallways and rooms outside of that area • 7:00pm – 8:30pm: Dinner Stations & Complimentary Wine Service at all three bars – 7:00pm to 8pm Please sample all of the wonderful dinner selections from 7pm-8:30pm Antipasto Station – Gift Shop Roast Porcini Tenderloin of Beef Station – Reception Area Pasta Live – Teaching Kitchen Pistachio-Crusted Salmon – Café Chicken Medallions – Café Seating is available throughout the building. • 8:15: Dessert Amuse & Basket Raffle/Silent Auction Displays throughout the building; coffee/tea/soft drinks in Reception area and in Transitions area. Seating available throughout the building. • Entertainment in the Grand Gallery from 5:30pm – 7:30pm (Mark Hitrick on piano) and in the Transitions space from 7:00pm 8:30pm (Brass & Ivory) • Selfie Booth: Available 5:30 – event end. PLEASE use #FMChamberParty when posting photos on Social Media • Rest Rooms: South side of the Grand Gallery (near bar area); in hallway between Reception Area and Café • Coat Room: Near the Bar at the back of the Reception area
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222015 Officers of the Chamber Board of Directorssss Chairwoman of the Board
Terri Easterly, Coldwell Banker – Arlene M. Sitterly, Inc.
Chairman Elect
Brennen Parker, Rose & Kiernan, Inc.
First Vice Chair Paul Connelie, Benjamin Moore & Co., Inc.
Second Vice Chair
Amy Karas, Ruby & Quiri
Treasurer
Jim Landrio, Holiday Inn, Johnstown-Gloversville
22222222222015 Board of Directorssssssssssss Michael Bowker NBT Bank
John Mancini Hays and Wormuth, Inc.
Vic Giulianelli St. Mary’s Healthcare
Diana Marshall Gloversville Sewing Center
Scott Hohenforst Empire Chemical Sales Inc.
Kevin McClary The Recorder
Larry Kelly Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home
Lana Ruggiero Ruggiero Realty, L.L.C.
Don Wicksell Kingsboro Lumber Co., Inc
Jeanne So Sarah Jane Sanford Adult Home
Sam Zimmerman Mohawk Valley Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Dr. Dustin Swanger Fulton-Montgomery Community College
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ccccccccccccccChamber Staffffffffffffffffffffffffffff Mark Kilmer President/CEO Terry Swierzowski Vice President, Communications and Member Services Casey Croucher Marketing Specialist Becky Dutcher Financial Administrator and Office Manager Gina DaBiere-Gibbs Director of Tourism-Fulton and Montgomery Counties Alex Ruggeri Director of Membership Nicole Walrath Business & Education Partnership Coordinator Kelly Montayne Fulton County Tourism Assistant Tara Ryzcek Montgomery County Tourism Associate
ccccccccccccccccccChat Room Sponsorssssssssssssssssss • Coldwell Banker-Arlene M. Sitterly, Inc. • DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design • State Farm Insurance – Jenny Rulison-Fisch • Ruggiero Realty, LLC •The Shults Agency
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBasket Rafflessssssssssssssssssssss 25 tickets plus one door prize ticket (Chamber Check) for $20
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cClassic Car Club Sponsor / Valet Parking Sponsorr A.G. Cole Funeral Home/Barter & Donnan Funeral Home 1 North Melcher St. Johnstown, NY 12095
(518) 762-7116
215 East Main St. Johnstown, NY 12095 518-762-3919 www.agcolefuneralhome.com kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
A big thank you to the following members of the 2015 Ambassador Committee for all of their hard work: • Lana Ruggiero Ruggiero Realty LLC • Carl Marucci Patriot Federal Bank • Krissy Gilmore RicMar Design & Print Shop • Kristen Bleichert Automatic Data Processing, Inc. • Patty Laux NBT Bank • Michele Harder River Ridge Living Center, LLC
The Chamber would like to thank these businesses who generously donated items for this event: • Ruby & Quiri • Barney’s Sign Company • Paul Nigra Center For Creative Arts & Transitions • SW Skin Care • Fox Run Golf Club • Castiglione Gem Jewelers
• Lisa Rice Bouchey & Clarke Benefits, Inc.
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Centennial Award
The Amsterdam Recorder The Amsterdam Recorder celebrated its centennial in 1978 (which would make it 138 years old in 2016), but its direct lineage is traceable to 1833. That was the year of the founding of the Mohawk Gazette, a weekly, which was changed to The Intelligencer in 1834, and under the successful proprietorship of Wing & Davis, James Riggs, and L.H. Nichols, continued to serve a struggling community until 1836, when it passed into the hands of Simeon B. Marsh. Marsh remained its editor and publisher for eighteen years. In 1854 the weekly Intelligencer was sold and the new publishers changed the name to The Recorder. This paper, which had become The Evening Recorder, continued through a succession of owners until 1893 when it was purchased by William J. Kline, a native of Fultonville. Kline is seen as the paper’s founder. Kline came to Amsterdam in 1873 from New York, where he had been employed following his graduation from Union College in 1872. In 1878 he changed his weekly paper to a daily, The Daily Democrat, and in 1893, he acquired his competition – The Recorder – and the paper became The Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat. William’s son, Gardiner Kline, became a partner of the paper. In 1930, after his father’s death, he became publisher and went into business with his nephew, William B. LeFavour. LeFavour became publisher in 1965 after two decades of managing the newspaper as junior publisher. In 1972, Charles Miller became publisher, the first non-Kline-family member to do so. After Charles’ death in 1980, his son, Scott, became publisher in 1981. Scott left the paper in 1982 to start his own commercial printing business in Amsterdam. Frank Gappa was brought in the same year to be the next publisher. Gappa retired in 1995 and Richard Barker took over until his retirement in 2006. Kevin McClary, the papers’s current owner, joined the paper as an employee in 1982; he was named General Manager in 1985 and publisher in 2006 after Barker left. The Kosineski family bought the paper from the Kline Trust in June of 2013 and greatly improved the print quality and upgraded the paper’s current building at One Venner Road, on Route 5S in Amsterdam. Kevin bought the paper from the Kosineski family in December of 2014, and created McClary Media from Port Jackson Media, whose holdings now include The Recorder, the Fulton County Express, the Hamilton County Express, the Adirondack Express, and the Courier Standard Enterprise. Continued on page 6
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Through its storied history the paper has carried on the traditions that have made it strong – emphasizing local over national and international news, covering Amsterdam and the surrounding areas with news that their readers care about. As the news business has changed, so has the Recorder, with the addition of its website, apps, social media and more; Kevin believes that you will never see the end of print, but media companies have to have a good mix. There are papers that went online only, but then went back to a print edition because that’s what people wanted. With McClary Media, Kevin continues to publish a complementary media mix with the regional news weeklies, along with the Recorder, and online components. Kevin and his team are continuously looking at ways to improve and better deliver the news to our region. In 2015 the Chamber partnered with the Recorder to produce a new magazine entitled Focus: Fulton Montgomery Region, NY. All the articles were written by Recorder staff, ads were sold by the Recorder’s sales team, the magazine was designed in house, and was printed in our region. Prior to 2015 the project was published, sold and produced out of state. The project was the most successful magazine project to date, because the Recorder’s staff knows our region best. The Amsterdam Recorder 1 Venner Road Amsterdam, NY 12010 518-843-1100 www.recordernews.com
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Barbara V. Spraker Tourism Partner Award Frank’s Gun and Tackle Shop-John Havlick Frank’s Gun Shop, on Route 30 in Gloversville, and its owner John Havlick, are partners in tourism in every sense of those words. John Havlick has continuously supported the promotion of our region’s outdoor resources. He has been involved with organizing and sponsoring many hunting and fishing activities in our region while at the same time operating a highly successful outdoorsman store. Frank’s Gun Shop has been a main sponsor of this month’s Walleye Challenge since it began eight years ago; has sponsored and been a speaker at the Outdoor Channel’s two visits to our region to tape its show Fishing University; and helped sponsor, promote and organize the visits to our region of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association – three visits within five years, is a main sponsor of the Chamber’s Big Buck Contests, with the last one held this past November, and John even appeared on an episode of Big Deer TV on the Sportsman Channel. He works tirelessly to help us promote our region. Frank’s Gun Shop was originally owned by Frank and Fran Havlick. It started in 1981 when Frank, who was in real estate at the time, sold an apartment house and was given 27 guns as a deposit, and became a gun dealer. At first the shop was in Frank’s and Fran’s house on Phelps Street in Gloversville. Then in 1984 their current building on Route 30 came on the market (at the time was Bud & Betty’s Sporting Goods), they bought it and had their Grand Opening on June 21, 1984 and are still at that location. When they first opened at their new location, they sold guns and ammunition alongside groceries and beer. Frank Havlick Jr. was in the operation with his parents since its beginnings on Phelps Street, John Havlick worked when he could, when he was not working at his full-time job. Six years ago, John decided to buy the business from his parents; his Mom died four years ago, but his Dad still lives in the house on Phelps Street. Frank’s Gun & Tackle Shop is the largest gun dealer in our region, and one of the biggest in the state. John tells us that the gun industry has changed a lot in the last 15 years. Hunting and fishing have become very much mainstream now. There are about 500 hunting and fishing shows on television and radio currently. Hunting is now seriously considered a sport. He also believes that people are becoming more educated about guns and gun ownership, and that locally-owned and operated gun shops like his can provide better customer service and a better knowledge base than the big box stores can. He and his staff (Frank Havlick and Mark Autilio) constantly keep updated on the laws and the industry at trade shows.
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About four years ago, Frank’s Gun Shop was selling canoes and kayaks in a rather large section of the store, but decided to turn that space into a reloading area that has become a very popular part of the business for them. There are not many gun shops who do it, and people come from all over the state to buy supplies and reload shells there. Although the weather this year has not been great for ice fishing, Frank’s Gun Shop carries all kinds of sportsman clothing, knives, fishing supplies and much more, so whatever the weather, they carry anything that the outdoorsman would need. Frank’s Gun & Tackle Shop is, as the staff puts it, “just on the other side of the woods,” and the Chamber’s Tourism Department is forever grateful for their support and their help in the past and for the future. Frank’s Gun and Tackle Shop 3549 State Highway 30 Gloversville, NY 12078 518-883-5053 www.franksgunshops.com
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Thomas B. Constantino Entrepreneurial Award
Darrin Romeyn, DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design, PLLC This award is named for Thomas B. Constantino, founder of The Noteworthy Company in Amsterdam, who exhibited exemplary leadership skills, determination, creativity and vision. This year’s award recipient, Darrin Romeyn of DM Romeyn Civil Engineering, PLLC, embodies these characteristics. Darrin was nominated for a Chamber award by three people – David Karpinski of Taylor Made, Mike Teetz of Glove City Realty, and Tim Mattice of the Gloversville Housing Authority. After working for various engineering firms in Albany for 10 years, a family tragedy caused Darrin to rethink his future which called him back to his hometown in 2011, the same year that he opened up his own engineering firm. “Darrin has not only successfully started a professional engineering and design company in downtown Gloversville, he has had a significant and positive impact on everything from home designs and expansions, commercial projects and downtown renovation designing in the area,” writes David Karpinski. He continued, “He has volunteered his time and talents to a few not for profit agencies, trying to create a better future for Gloversville. He designed the future of Parkhurst Field (at the Gloversville Little League Park) as a destination and has rendered the Burr Street renovation project. He cares about this community and its future success; he is professional and talented and deserving of this honor.” Mike Teetz said of Darrin, “I have worked with him on a few projects and his commitment to his client’s satisfaction and improving the downtown area is unmatched. I also serve on the Gloversville Business Improvement District (BID) and Gloversville Housing & Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (GHNIC) with Darrin. This desire to improve his hometown is evident by his dedicated participation to the local community. He uses his personal time and resources to assist in administrating more than $250,000 of government money to improve homes in Gloversville. I can think of no one else more deserving of this award.” Besides his work for the GHNIC and BID, Darrin also serves as a PTECH Mentor, belongs to the Fulton County Museum, and has also mentored students from Gloversville Middle School. He is proud to have strongly supported tax incentives to encourage the conversion of existing commercial buildings into mixed-use buildings.
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Darrin grew up in Gloversville and worked in construction for a number of years along with his family, learning a great appreciation for leaving a legacy through solid, attractive structures. He is a graduate of Fulton-Montgomery Community College and then Union College, receiving his Civil Engineering Degree in 2001. After graduation, he was juggling work in Albany with work in the family business – Maryann’s Restaurant in Broadalbin – that caused him to rethink his plans and look at opening up his own engineering firm closer to home. His firm has been growing ever since. In 2015, with three employees, the firm worked on 100 projects from small inspections and residences to large commercial projects. He designs new commercial and residential buildings, additions, renovations, septic systems, site plans, utilities and drainage, roadway design, structures, deck design and renderings. No matter the size of the project, Darrin and his team are fully involved from design through construction. Darrin’s office in Gloversville is one of the most attractive in downtown Gloversville and he is committed to the city’s improvement. He likes the path that leaders in Gloversville are taking and where the City is going. He likes being able to design projects locally, that will be around for years to come. He is happy to be managing his own firm, and happy that he drives by his childhood home every day on is route to work. That visual reminds him every day of how far he has come and of the possibilities of his City and of our region. DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design PLLC 28 South Main St. Gloversville, NY 12078 518-725-5167 hwww.dmromeyn-civileng.com
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Agricultural Business of the Year Award Peaceful Valley Maple Farms
At age 15, Steve Savage started collecting sap in buckets on his grandfather’s farm. His grandfather, Gordon LaGrange, taught him the process of making maple syrup, from tapping the correct trees, to using wood for the boiling process. Since then, Steve has grown that passion into a family business. Today, the farm includes approximately 10,000 taps that pour sap into over 125 miles of tubing. Sap for Peaceful Valley Maple Farms is collected from nine different locations throughout both Fulton and Montgomery Counties. In 2005, Steve built a sugar house in its current location on LaGrange road in the town of Johnstown. The sap house includes a wood-fired evaporator used in the production of their maple syrup. They still produce their maple syrup the old-fashioned way, with wood. In early spring you can see the smoke billowing from the sap house, which is a sign that they are in full production of maple syrup as the smoke indicates they are in the middle of their boiling process. Steve also built a country retail store as an addition to the sap house that sells their maple syrup products, gift baskets, pancake/muffin mixes, and much more. In 2008, Steve’s mom, Barbara Kirk, had a vision to create a restaurant that featured their NY-produced maple syrup, and together they built a restaurant on the LaGrange Road property next to the gift shop. The original restaurant seated 36. The delicious, family style breakfasts featured pancakes, French toast, eggs, sausage and ham, corn fritters, home fried potatoes, applesauce and coffee, tea and juice and, of course, their own pure maple syrup. The restaurant was an instant hit, and in 2010, they expanded the restaurant by an additional 26 seats. Breakfast service is on weekends from mid-January through Mother’s Day and includes Father’s Day, and then from mid-September through mid-December. Hundreds of people attend the Peaceful Valley Maple Farms Open Houses every weekend in March. Attendees can learn about the process of making maple syrup, see demonstrations of the boiling process, ride the horses on the property, have a great pancake breakfast and visit with “Goober” the bull. In addition, private groups and school tours are often held at Peaceful Valley. You can also rent out the restaurant for small weddings, showers or other special occasions. 2016 will be an exciting year for Peaceful Valley Maple Farms. On January 16, the restaurant opened for the season with its new addition that seats a large table of 10 to 12, with extra room for food prep and storage.
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And later the same week, they extended their repertoire to include family-style dinners on Thursday and Friday nights with specials changing each night, with offerings such as maple-glazed pork loin, herbed baked chicken, and batterdipped haddock, served family style with soup, salad, starch, vegetable, beverage and dessert. We are sure they will find success with this new venture. Peaceful Valley Maple Farms is a destination in our region – people come from all over the region, and beyond, to eat at the restaurant, shop local products in the store, or to see the production of syrup from sap. And, Steve keeps busy all year round – there is 125 miles of sap tubing to be maintained, the restaurant, sap house and store that keep him hopping, as well as his excavation and firewood businesses in the summer months. Plus the marketing, social media, and everything else that goes with a successful business. Steve says that it is this hard work that is the key to his family’s success; like many agricultural business owners, he works 7 days a week. But he doesn’t look at it as work. He likes doing a “little bit of everything” and loves how his work changes with the seasons. He is quick to say that what he does doesn’t seem like work because he loves what he does so much. Peaceful Valley Maple Farms 116 LaGrange Road Johnstown, NY 12095 518-762-8936 or 518-762-0491 www.facebook.com/peacefulvalley.maplefarms
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Young Professional of the Year Award
Anne Boles- Director of Community Relations, Community Health Center In her nomination for Anne, her co-worker, Anita Allen, wrote, “Anne’s enthusiastic nature provides a positive work atmosphere at Community Health Center. Her confident approach to projects is admirable. She is an excellent advocate for our agency. She strives for perfection and is willing to pitch in wherever there is a need. She is versatile and involved in many community volunteer projects. Anne is loyal to her vocation, her family, and her community.” Anne was born and raised in our region – she graduated from Gloversville High School, attended Hudson Valley Community College, and graduated from Keene State College with a B.A. in Communications. Her professional experience began as the Adult Day Services Manager, for the former Heart & Home Day Center, which closed due to funding changes. At that time, she was offered an in-house opportunity as Community Relations Coordinator for CHC. She was recently promoted to Director of Community Relations and just received her 10-year service award at CHC. Anne says that she is grateful to CHC for their “generosity with education opportunities, such as her experience at the Fulton Montgomery Leadership Academy, and supporting her with taking classes on foundation work and grantwriting.” She also truly enjoys the work atmosphere at CHC, she says everything is truly a real team effort, and everyone is very supportive of one another. She also is grateful to CHC for investing in younger employees, from clinical to support staff. With a young son, Lorenzo, and husband, Justin, she is a busy young woman, but still finds time to get immersed in the community, and be very supportive of Chamber programs. She loves being a part of the PTECH mentor program through the Chamber. She very much enjoys her communication and relationship with her mentees, both sophomores at the school, and is excited about the possibilities that PTECH provides for the education of our region’s students. She is the reason for CHC getting involved with the mentor program and serves as a panelist at PTECH whenever she is asked. You can also find Anne attending our new Young Professional Network events. She is the President-Elect of the Amsterdam Rotary Club; he is a volunteer for the Fulton/Montgomery Counties chapter of the National Alzheimer’s Walk and has been the captain of CHC’s Walk team since 2006; he fundraises and participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life; coordinates donations for the community at CHC, such as a giving a tree to local families in need during the holidays; and she coordinates a free Veterans Day Breakfast in Johnstown. She credits her villages – at home, at work, and in the community – with helping her be the person she is, and hopes to be.
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Small Business Award Pine Tree Rifle Club Assemblyman Marc Butler, in his nomination for a 2015 Chamber Award for the Pine Tree Rifle Club, located in the town of Johnstown, writes, “The history of Fulton County is one that is entwined with the use of firearms – meat for families, protection of hearth and home as well as international conflict.” The Pine Tree Rifle Club was established in 1937 by local riflemen who wanted a place to gather and shoot. When the group began its journey the thought was to honor all shooting sports and the many Fulton County men and women who enjoyed the sport of shooting, hunting and marksmanship. However, today’s Pine Tree Rifle Club is much more than a rod and gun club. Their mission statement says everything about the club: encouraging rifle and pistol shooting, clay target shooting and archery with a view toward a better knowledge of the safe handling and proper care of firearms and improved marksmanship; to propagate, protect and aid in the distribution of fish and game; to aid in reforestation and the prevention of forest fires; to work for the enactment of sound conservation measures; to instruct junior members in the proper handling of firearms and the meaning of sportsmanship and to support sound legislation pertaining to ownership and use of firearms. Safety and knowledge is at the forefront of everything that they do. Some of the programs they present to their 1,000 members and to the public are NRA programs, Women on Target, Refuse to be a Victim, Firearm Safety, Range Safety Officer, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, Basic Pistol, In Home Defense, and Personal Protection Outside the Home. In addition, they offer the Department of Environmental Conservation Hunter Education Course, and Bow Hunter Education Course. All of the instructors of these courses donate their time to the programs and all the money raised by the classes goes back into the Club’s education efforts. They are the group that provides the pistol safety course to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department officers. They also offer a Youth Program where children ages 12 to 17 can learn Rifle and Archery safety and shoot on the range, accompanied by their parents. They play host to 4H groups and Boy Scouts. They hold a number of competitions each year –including the American Rimfire Association and USRA IR 50/50 Benchrest shooting competition and will host the National Championships for Center Fire Benchrest this year with competitors and spectators ranging coming from states all the way from Maine to Georgia. The Pine Tree Rifle Club is the birthplace of Benchrest shooting, which now is international. Benchrest shooting is a sport in which very accurate and precise rifles are shot at paper targets. The club and its members are also active with advocacy efforts in support of 2nd Amendment rights. Continued on page 16
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The Pine Tree Rifle Club and its members are very active in our communities. For a number of years, Pine Tree has supported the K9 efforts of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department; they have raised over $17.5K for the program over the last five years. They are involved with the local Toys for Tots, the local SOCKS program (Save Our Cats and Kittens), they have a Pine Tree Rifle Club Scholarship Fund that in 2015 awarded three $500 scholarships to high school seniors or those attending college, award scholarships to NYS DEC Sportsman Camp, and this year are working with Fulton-Montgomery Community College to help bring the Vietnam Memorial Wall to the college this spring. They are participants in the Honor Flight program. They hold a number of events to support their community work, including a Motorcycle Ride, Swap Shop, Steak Bake, Chicken BBQ, August Raffle, among other events and programs. They also hold a Veterans Dinner to honor their veteran members which is free of charge to those members, and hold a Schutzenfest and Oktoberfest in coordination with the Concordia Club. Pine Tree Rifle Club has supported the Chamber and Fulton County tourism program in a number of ways – they help promote the Chamber’s Big Buck Contest to its members, and have hosted a number of tourism events at the club, including the New York State Outdoor Writers Association conferences each time they visit. For 2016, the members of the Executive Board of Directors are Paul Catucci, President; Paul Christman Vice President, Steve Raich, Membership Secretary and Mark Wendt Recording Secretary, and Treasurer Maria Cozzolino. We are sure that they will continue the good work of the club for this year and plan for its exciting future. Pine Tree Rifle Club 419 Johnson Ave, Johnstown, NY 12095 518-762-4033 www.pinetreerifleclub.com
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Chamber Family Award
Lee Publications, Inc., The Lee, Button, Stanley and Snyder Families This Palatine Bridge company is a publisher of 14 trade publications for the agricultural, aggregate, commercial horticulture, heavy construction and solid waste industries. Their flagship publication, Country Folks, is a highly respected weekly magazine serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic agriculture industries. The coverage area reaches from Maine to North Carolina with four regional editions. They also publish The Mohawk Valley Pennysaver, one of the best known of their publications. Lee is also in the trade show business, with the Empire State Producers Expo, the Hard Hat Expo, WHEN Recycling Expo and others under their purview. They are also an active commercial printing company. With 90 employees (12 off site – mostly sales people all over the country), they are one of the largest employers in the Palatine Bridge area. They mail about 85,000 pieces from their plant every week, print on 40,000 pounds of paper weekly, and spend about $1M at the Palatine Bridge post office each year on postage. Lee Publications is truly an economic driver for the western part of Montgomery County, and for our entire Fulton-Montgomery region. Lee Publications started in 1965 by Frederick Lee and his wife Carole. Fred had owned an edition of the Pennysaver in Clinton County, but found there was a lot of competition for publications in that area. He decided to move to the western part of Montgomery, which he thought held more promise and more opportunity for a new publication business. They moved their children Mark and Janet to Palatine Bridge into what was an old fish market with an apartment on the top floor – the same building in which Lee Publications is housed today. Fred published the Pennysaver in this building, then grew the business to include Country Folks, and other publications. Janet has many fond memories of living above the business as a child. She remembers riding bikes with her brother Mark in the press room and editorial offices, which were set up in an oval shape back then. The business was so much a part of her family and her childhood. Janet really started getting to know the business when she was in first grade, and was put on the payroll at 14, when she started proofreading ads after school. Her brother, Mark, also “cut his teeth” in the business at an early age. Janet tells us that her father, Fred, is “tenacious,” and she attributes the long-term success of the business to this tenaciousness. Forever an optimist, he was also a realist and knew when the business might be floundering, always looking for ways to fix the problems.
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He had a stick-to-itiveness that kept the business going, and thriving. He expanded when his accountants, lawyers and staff told him not to. “Can’t do” was never in his vocabulary. And save for a few small mistakes along the road, his intuition about the business was, and still is, spot on. Lee Publications has a long lineage, started by Fred and Carole. Their daughter, Janet, took after her father and went into sales and holds the title as Vice President/Treasurer of the company. Fred and Carole’s son, Mark, went into the production side of the business. He was an excellent mechanic and could fix anything, including the presses. Mark sadly passed away last year. Carole served as the Corporate Secretary until she passed away in 2004. Daughter Janet married Bruce Button (they are now divorced), who is currently the Vice President/General Manager. Janet’s current husband, Matt Stanley, is in charge of sales of The Editor. John Snyder, Fred’s nephew, is the Manager of The Pennysaver and The Country Editor. John’s wife, Beth Snyder, is the Manager of Commercial Printing. And now, the third generation has taken hold of the company. Janet and Bruce’s daughter, Lindsay Bock, is now the Controller and her brother, Travis, is in charge of IT at the company. Kristen Lee, Mark’s daughter, works at Lee Publications in sales for the Mohawk Pennysaver and in commercial printing sales. The family at Lee Publications is proud that their business is seen as a great place to work, and they place high value on their employees’ family time by being a flexible workplace. They treat people the way they want to be treated. Lee Publications has a lot of great people who work, or have worked, for them and the majority are long tenured. It is not uncommon to see employees with 20-25-30 even 40 years of employment at Lee, on a full-time or part-time basis. The company also treats its community like family. There is a program called Lee Publications Outreach where the company’s employees raise money throughout the year – including at a huge garage sale in August – to support local people/groups who may be in need. During the holiday season, a local church provides names/sizes/info for needy families and the employees adopt these families and provide them with gifts. The employees raise money all year round for community causes, including a weekly 50/50 Raffle, bake sales and more – all proceeds raised goes to local community organizations. Lee Publications is truly deserving of the Chamber’s Family Award, because for them, it really is all about family. Lee Publications, Inc. PO Box 121, 6113 State Highway 5 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 518-673-3237 www.leepub.com
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Edward L. Wilkinson Industry of the Year Award Stewart’s Shops
In the nomination for this award, Linda Lambo, a regional manager for Stewart’s Shops, who lives in our region, wrote “Stewart’s Shops’ dedication to economic growth in Fulton and Montgomery Counties should be recognized,” and we agree wholeheartedly! Brothers Charles and Percy Dake purchased the Dake family dairy farm near Middle Grove from their father in 1917. In 1921, the brothers diversified from milk production to start selling butter in local stores, but their first real success came when they decided to make and sell ice cream. They sold 4,000 gallons in their first year. In 1945, the brothers purchased a small dairy farm and ice cream business from Don Stewart, and the storefront of the business became the first Stewart’s Ice Cream Shop. The Dake family continued to add stores and became the Stewart’s Shops of today, still owned and run currently by the 3rd generation of the Dake family. 2015 was a year of amazing growth for Stewart’s Shops in our region; over the past two years, Stewart’s Shops has been investing in, and improving its stores with the construction of five shops, four of them opened last year alone. These new locations are in Northville, Perth, Palatine Bridge, Fort Plain and the town of Johnstown on the Gloversville border. Each of these new stores is a story in its own right – Fort Plain and Palatine Bridge were both rebuilt after flood waters almost destroyed the original stores in 2014, the Northville store was relocated and enlarged and is the hub of activity in the village, the Perth store moved into a larger facility that had previously been closed, and the town of Johnstown store sits on a property that was vacant, and quite frankly, an eyesore for decades. Many cheered as the old Loblaws building was demolished to make room for the new store on Fulton Street. The business model for the company is unique and quite successful. The convenience store chain is based in Saratoga Springs and is 1/3 employee and 2/3 family-owned. Today, there are 332 Stewart’s Shops located across upstate NY and southern Vermont. The chain realizes more than $1.6 billion in annual sales. Stewart’s Shops owns all of their own real estate and has no debt, ensuring the long term stability of the company. Stewart’s makes a $9 million contribution to its employee profit sharing plan each year, and also firmly believes in giving back to the communities where the shops are located. Stewart’s Shops and related family foundations support local charities, donating $7.5 million annually. The company employs over 4,500 people in the shops, dairy, ice cream plant, distribution center and corporate ownerships. Stewart’s Shops is in our neighborhoods and employs our neighbors. No matter which shop you visit, you are always assured of a great cup of coffee, and a smile from any of the employees. And, with the continued success of the business, we can be assured that these bright, familiar stores will always be a vital part of our region. 18
Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie Workforce Solutions Center Fulton County 2015 Business Partner of the Year Award CDL Associates Insurance Agency CDL Associates Insurance Agency is a full-service insurance agency in Northville, NY. The agency specializes in personal, commercial and transportation insurance coverage. It is owned by Heidi Colson, Victor Lange and Dean Shepard. CDL is licensed in 41 states and represents multiple insurance companies. They provide excellent, hometown-friendly services to their customers. CDL evolved from the operation of CDL Freedom that offered services to professional truck drivers and companies throughout the United States. With over 30 years of truck experience, the company realized there was a need for a full-service agency that could provide services to local people and businesses as well as throughout the U.S. CDL Associates began utilizing the Workforce Solutions Centers services this past year. They placed three youths as their business this past summer through the Workforce Solutions Summer Youth Program. They provided a great opportunity for the youth to gain valuable work skills and develop a professional reference for future use. CDL also took advantage of the Customized Upgrade Training Program and upgraded three of their employees. They continue to strive to be consistent in the in their efforts to hire and train both new and current workers and maintain a stable work environment for their employees.
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Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie Workforce Solutions Center Montgomery County 2015 Business Partner of the Year Award Beckmann Converting Beckmann Converting, Inc. was formed in 2006 when Gem Urethane Corporation was purchased from Fab Industries. Klaus Beckmann is the President of Beckmann Converting and served as the Vice President of Gem Urethane for over 30 years. Mr. Beckmann has extensive experience and expertise in the processing of non-wovens, fabrics, films, and membranes through lamination, coating, and most other secondary processes. The company operates out of a 100,000 square foot facility in Amsterdam, NY and specializes in ultrasonic and hot melt gravure lamination. Beckmann Converting has been utilizing the Workforce Solutions Centers’ services for years – even previously as Gem Urethane. Mr. Beckmann took advantage of the On-the-Job Training and Upgrade Training Programs on several occasions. The company strives to maintain a stable work environment for their employees.
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HopePeace Compassion We are
www.MVHcares.org
108 Steele Ave ~Gloversville, NY 12078 ~518-725-4545
In print . On the web. Mobile app. Facebook & Twitter.
Wherever you want your news, we are there.
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Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie Counties Workforce Solutions Centers
BUSINESS Get the Workforce You Need! We Help You Save Valuable Time and Money o Screening for quality applicants o Assisting with the cost of training o Helping you save money by upgrading your established employees while backfilling positions with workers eligible for tax credits and/or public training funds We can help! Tell us your workforce needs!
JOB SEEKERS Get the Job You Want! Visit our Career Resource Rooms Today Everyone is welcome! No appointments necessary! o o o o o o
Job listings Computer Tutorials Labor Market Information Individualized Resume and Cover Letter Assistance National Work Readiness Certificate Workshops • Basic Computer Skills • Job Search Techniques • Resume Writing • STEM Careers
o o o o o
High School Equivalency Prep Courses (formerly GED) Paid Work Experience National Work Readiness Credential Career/College Exploration Job Readiness Classes
WIA YOUTH AGES 16-21
43-47 North Main St. Gloversville, NY 12078 (518) 725-6473
Upper Level, Riverfront Center 795 East Main St., Suite 4 Amsterdam, NY 12010 Cobleskill, NY 12043 (518) 842-3676 (518) 234-4254 Visit us at: www.fmsworkforcesolutions.org
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800-836-4455 • www.hillnmarkes.com • Fax: 888-842-1207
Congratulates
Sustainability Social Responsibility Customer Education Green Technology
Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber Award Recipients
We’ll Bring It To You • JANITORIAL • FOOD SERVICE • INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING • OFFICE SUPPLIES • CLEAN FOODS
A Family Owned Business 24
Best Deals Around! Visit our website to shop our entire inventory of wine and spirits!
TARGET / KOHL’S PLAZA, AMSTERDAM COMMONS STATE HIGHWAY 30, AMSTERDAM
843-7311 www.route30wine.com 518
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Shop with us for local, fresh, and healthy produce and products
organIC, gLUTEn frEE, SUgar frEE, & gMo frEE ITEMS
A Market with a Mission… providing employment and training to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.
Made-to-Order Deli Sandwiches BULK ITEMS: Spices • Pastas • Baking Supplies • Candies
4867 State Hwy 30 • Amsterdam
LibertyFreshMarket.com
•
212.6758
10–6 Monday through Saturday • 10–3 Sunday
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Serving Our Clients Since 1973
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING: Public Schools, Governmental, Non-Profit and Closely Held Businesses TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION: Business, Individual, Estates and Trusts MANAGEMENT CONSULTING Elmer J. Washburn, CPA ■ Larry J. Sheeler, CPA Neil W. LaMere, CPA ■ Trisha Rogers-Byrns, CPA John P. Sawitzki, CPA ■ Michael W. Rossi, CPA James A. Del Savio, CPA –MEMBERS AICPA & NYSSCPA– 97 North Main Street, PO Box 1219 ■ Gloversville, NY 12078-0354 (518) 725-7127 ■ Fax (518) 725-7835 60 Railroad Place, Suite 302 ■ Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 587-5111 ■ Fax (518) 587-0029 www.westcpapc.com
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Philip Beckett CPA, P.C. 132 East State Street Gloversville, NY 12078
Accounting Auding Tax and Management Services
Phone 518 773.7226 | Fax 518 725.4921
[email protected]
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The Fulton County Board of REALTORS® was established in 1964 & has been a local business for over 50 years. The Fulton County Board of REALTORS® members have been providing local residents & businesses their expertise in a variety of Real Estate fields from listing & selling, property appraisals and laws to mortgage financing, staying knowledgeable in the ever changing Real Estate Market. With all Fulton County has to offer, The Fulton County Board of REALTORS® is a great place to start when looking for any of your real estate needs. Located at 32 Spring Street, Gloversville. Phone: (518) 725-5523, Email:
[email protected], or visit our website www.fultoncountyboardofrealtors.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest & Google+. With over 80 experienced, participating members be sure you work with a member of The Fulton County Board of REALTORS® & their Multiple Listing Service.
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Lexington congratulates all of tonight’s Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce award winners. For over sixty years, Lexington has committed to providing the best possible programs and services to adults and children with disabilities and their families. We don’t do it alone. We wish to take this opportunity to thank our many Chamber business partners who believe in and help us achieve this mission by employing and supporting individuals with disabilities in our community. We look forward to forming new mutually beneficial partnerships in the coming year. For more information about Lexington’s Employment Resources, please call Kathy Simone at (518) 773-4646 or email
[email protected].
Lexington Dinner Program Ad 2015.indd 1
12/15/2015 1:40:35 PM
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Whatever you need, whenever you need it, We will be here to assist you. Just ask our customers! “We cannot say enough good stuff about Krissy and her team at Ricmar! Not only did they perfect our logo, they helped us create new business cards, flyers, and order forms. Thanks to Ricmar, our print materials now look as cool and classy as our products! Ricmar’s prices are very reasonable, the quality is excellent, and the care and dedication they put into their products is second to none. And best of all, they are FUN to work with! Thank you, Ricmar for all you have done for us!” Gina & Fred LaVilla Dog Works, LLC
marketing design print
Serving the Community for over 20 years!
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We Make It Easy!
Sales • Service Parts • Body Shop
Rt. 30A Johnstown 762-4609
Rt. 30 Amsterdam 843-4600
www.brownsford.com 32
Caring About Each Other. Committed to the Community. Individuals in Liberty’s programs are busy every day: ✔ Building relationships ✔ Making a difference
in our community ✔ Impacting lives
ns Congratulatio 2015 rd Chamber Awa Recipients!
Volunteer Ken H. enjoys helping OFA deliver meals to area seniors.
libertyarc.org
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Congratulations to this year’s award recipients and best wishes in 2016! From Your Friends at
AH Rediscover Family, Fun & Savings
Your Source For Fun For Over 52 Years!
Recreational Vehicles • Boats • Skis & Snowboards • Pools & Spas • Snowmobiles • Fitness Center Route 30 North, Amsterdam | 843.4400 Route 5S, Amsterdam | 842.5900 alpinhaus.com | fb.com/alpinhaus 34
is proud to be the recipient of the
Centennial Award We would also like to congratulate the other award recipients: BARBARA V. SPRAKER TOURISM PARTNER Frank’s Gun Shop, Gloversville YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Anne Boles, Community Health Center SMALL BUSINESS AWARD Pine Tree Rifle Club, Johnstown THOMAS B. CONSTANTINO ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD Darrin Romeyn, DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design, PLLC, Gloversville AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Peaceful Valley Maple Farms, Johnstown EDWARD L. WILKINSON INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR Stewart’s Shops CHAMBER FAMILY AWARD Lee Publications, Inc., Palatine Bridge – The Lee, Button, Stanley and Snyder Families In addition, at the event, the Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie Workforce Solutions Center will present its annual business partner of the year awards to: Fulton County – CDL Associates Insurance Agency Montgomery County – Beckmann Converting
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NATHAN LITTAUER HOSPITAL 99 EAST STATE STREET GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK 12078
518.725.8621
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