Thursday, May 17, 2007

Success by Design

Northern Design & Building Associates attended the 2007 ABC Small Business of the Year Awards at the Fort William Henry Conference Center to receive the Distinguished Business of the Year Award.



R. Kent McNairy, President and Treasurer, demonstrated that he had more than a knack for business as he had ARCC President Todd Shimkus in stitches within seconds of stepping up to the podium.

Bravo Northern Design & Building Associates!

Legally on Top

FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth P.C. received the Professional Business of the Year Award at the 2007 ABC Small Business of the Year Awards Breakfast..


Partner Carl Baker accepted the award on behalf of the firm, which had 2 tables of proud staff on hand to celebrate


Congratulations to FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth, P.C.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

King of the Mountain

Or Hill as it were.

The crowd at the Fort William Henry's Room of the White Lions was in high spirits Tuesday morning as Carl Cedrone, of Edward Jones Investments and Chair of the ARCC Board, kicked off the 2007 Small Businesses of the Year Awards Breakfast.



Scott Schwartz, President of Hill Electric Supply Company, accepted the Steven M. Sutton Small Business of the Year Award from Kevin Mahoney, of Mahoney Notify Plus.



In his speech Scott had the crowd laughing as he chronicled his first years with the company and the relief he felt at not running the into the ground as a recent college graduate. Today Hill Electric Supply Company has a staff of 37 and a president who appreciates the contributions of each of those individuals.

Congratulations Hill Electric Supply Company!

Explore: Success and Family

Janice Holding, owner of Explore, LLC was presented the Rookie Business of the Year Award by the Chair of the ARCC Board Carl Cedrone, Edward Jones Investments. Also on hand was last year's recipient, Anne Marie Flores, of Studio 71.



During her acceptance speech Janice explained how she and her husband Andrew relocated to this area with two young children. A former corporate America success story turned stay at home mom, Janice was looking for activities to share with her children and found very little to do. Several years later (and a lot of hard work which involved bringing her contractor husband out of retirement to pitch in and using her kids as quality control) Explore! was born.

It was with great pride that she called her kids, Alan and Charlotte, up to the podium with her.




Later Charlotte shared some quality time with her dad while Janice networked with other members of the ARCC.


Charlotte was entrusted with the plaque, upon seeing it up close she asked, "Is this writing made of gold?"

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Cloud Nine Rewards


The Leadership Adirondack Class of 2006-07 presented checks on Monday, May 7th to representatives from the two organizations chosen to receive the proceeds from their class project. The project, called Cloud 9, was a benefit held at The Sagamore Resort which featured gourmet chefs from The Sagamore; The Lake George Club; The Inn at Erlowest; Springwater Bistro; The Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark; and Harvest.

Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan was the guest speaker for this event benefiting the Cornerstone Soup Kitchen of Hudson Falls and the Domestic Violence Project of Washington & Warren Counties. The Chefs and Ms. Hogan both did an incredible job at the event, however the two women attending on behalf of the charities stole the show. Sister Charla Commins for the Domestic Violence Shelter and Rev. Doreen Koch for the Cornerstone Soup Kitchen, shared stories that chronicled many years, decades even, of tireless work with very little press. After impassioned speeches on the people they serve, Doreen and Sister Charla had the crowd of more than 200 cheering as each joked about how long they lived and worked in the area without having ever been to The Sagamore. They really were on Cloud 9.

The first organization the Leadership Class presented a check to was the Domestic Violence Project, representing the organization were Sister Charla Commins and Ms. Rachel Gardner. The check was for $6,480.43.

Todd Shimkus, ARCC President & CEO, Raymond Canavan, Rachel Gardener, Steve Stockdale, John Zanghi, Jeff Meyer, Andrea Deepe, Mark Ripley, Dennis Buckley, Tonya Sumner.

Steven Stockdale, the class member who raised the idea of helping this group, pledged to stay in touch and help Sister Charla Commins in anyway he could.


The second organization was the Cornerstone Soup Kitchen of Hudson Falls, led by Rev. Doreen Koch. When presented with the $6,480.43 check Doreen's eyes welled up. Stomping a tiny foot with surprised delight she exclaimed, "I had no idea how much this was for! Oh you guys, you guys, you guys. Most people don't reealize it cost $5,000 a month to run this place. This will help so much!"


Jeff Meyer, Doreen Koch, Steve Stockdale, Tonya Sumner, Dennis Buckley, Andrea Deepe, Raymond Canavan and Kevin Rosa.



The companies represented in this year's class were: Boston Scientific; Glens Falls National; TD Banknorth; Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom; Christina Holbrook McEntee LLC; FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth; KeyBank; Tribune Media Services; The Sagamore; Glens Falls Hospital; CR Bard; CWI; Warren Washington ARC, Warren County Sheriff's Department.

Applications are now available for next year's LAdk program which will kick off in September. Email Amanda Magee if you are interested in participating

Ground Breaking News



20 Elm Street Realty Co., LLC is pleased to announce the ground breaking for the 20 Elm Street Condominium Project located across te street from Glens Falls Hospital in the center of downtown Glens Falls, NY. The project will be a mixed use building housing 65 high end condominiums ranging in size from 1,200-3,500 square feet on the upper 6 levels and 15,000 square feet of commercial space at street level. This project's concept embrace the new urbanism which has evolved nationally with the emphasis promoting living, working and socializing all within walking distance from downtown. Articles citing the popularity and increasing demand for this style of living have been published in the New York Times and The Business Review.

*Editor's Note: The recent ARCC trip to Hillsboro, Oregon included a visit to Orenco Station, a highly regarded new urbanism success story.

Unit owners will enjoy two common area sun terraces on the top floor with panoramic views of the Adirondacks and Vermont. Additional common areas are located on each floor and each unit comes with a covered parking space adjacent to the building, large windows and high ceilings.

A furnished sales office displaying a variety of finishes and upgrade packages is located adjacent to the project at 24 Elm treet. The project is expected to be completed within 15 months. Pricing for the units will range from $224,000 to $950,000. To receive brochure or to be invited to our Open House in May 2007, please contact the listing broker, Diane Prendergast, Merlin Properties, LLC at (518) 584-5601 or email The Mill.




Visit The Mill website for more detailed information

Sunday, May 6, 2007

David Brown of Sawchuk Brown
Remembered & Celebrated



David Brown, the CEO of Sawchuk Brown who died in February, was awarded The Outstanding Achievement Award, formerly the Distinguished Service Award, at the Albany Ad Club's Nori Awards on Friday, May 4th, 2007. Accepting for Mr. Brown was his wife, Pamela Sawchuk.

Visit this link for an article written by the Albany Business Journal shortly after Mr. Brown's death.

Behan Communications
Trampoline Design Bring Home Trophies

All told 13 ARCC member organizations were recognized at the May 4th, 2007 Albany Ad Club Nori Gras Awards Ceremony.



Proudly representing the Glens Falls marketing and public relations community, Sean Magee, Principal, Brand Strategy of Trampoline Design and Mark Behan, President and Founder of Behan Communications, celebrated their respective wins at the Albany Ad Club Nori Awards.


The Nori awards are an annual competition presented by the Albany Ad Club recognizing those who have made significant contributions to the profession of advertising, public relations and marketing. The finalists were listed in February and between the two agencies there were 20 nominations. Friday evening's festivities saw both agencies make the victorious walk to the podium.

Mark Behan and Troy Burns, Vice President and Partner before the announcement of the evening's winners.
Behan Communications won:
Buiness to Business Campaign - Finch Paper Postcards
Client: Finch, Pruyn & Co.

Separate from the Noris, this postcard campaign also received recognition with an American Graphic Design Award and a Communicator Award of Distinction


Derek and Paula Slayton respond to the announcement that work Trampoline Design did for a Massachuesetts organization won an award.

Trampoline Design, received Nori Awards for the following:


Public Relations - Campaign: Explore What's Next
Client: Glens Falls Business Improvement District
Print Advertising - Newspaper Public Service Announcements, Sounds of the Season
Client: Glens Falls Business Improvement District
Music - Original Music: Sequin Flash Presentation Score
Client: Tribune Media Services
Printed Materials - Announcement, Greeting or Holiday Card:
Trampoline Design Jumpin' Jacks
Public Service Program - Event for Not-For-Profit Oragnization: Bug Out of the Box Campaign Materials
Client: Berkshire Museum
Public Service Program - Campaign for Not-For-Profit Organization: A Wider Window, annual report
Client: Berkshire Museum
Campaigns - Integrated Communications Program, Consumer: Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale
Client: Davidson Brothers Restaurant
Consumer Newspaper, Single Ad or Spread Less Than 1/2 Page - Newspaper: Great Expectations Maternity Ad
Client: Great Expectations Maternity, LLC



In the category of Collateral Materials for Not-For-Profit Organization Trampoline and Behan were both finalists, the former for the Lake George Watershed Conference State Report and the latter for the Opera Ball Invitation for the Lake George Opera Company.

Behan Communications was also recognized as a finalist for:
Menu or Calendar - The Colon Club Colondar
Client: The Colon Club
Business-to-Business Website - www.finchpaper.com
Client: Finch, Pruyn & Co.
Web Advertising - Finch Paper Video Ad
Client: Finch, Pruyn & Co.

Trampoline Design's other nominations were:
Corporate Identity Program - Stationery - The Acupuncture Studio
Sales Promotion - Package Design - Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale Packaging
Sales Promotion - Poster - Explore What's Next Poster
Print Advertising - Saratoga Imaging Center New Facility Awareness Campaign, Client: Adirondack Radiology Associates
Never Saw the Light of Day - Tech Meadows Business Park Collateral

In addition to these great showing, ARCC Members: Dinner by Design, Price Chopper, General Electric Company, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, and Sawchuk Brown.

The entire list of winners is available here.

Pre-Nori Buzz
Here
And here
Post-Nori Buzz

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Success is their bag

Another ARCC member, another award.

You guys are incredible, all 1000+ of you. Today let's shine a light on Cost Control Associates. Keith Laake let us know today that Cost Control Associates will receive an SBA Small Business Excellence Award in Albany on May 7th. The full press release is below:

QUEENSBURY - Cost Control Associates, an independent utility consulting firm headquartered in Queensbury, NY announced today that it will be a recipient of the Small Business Excellence Award. The award will be made to Cost Control Associates jointly by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the New York Business Development Corp. at an awards ceremony in Albany on May 7th. The ceremony will recognize Cost Control Associates along with 24 other award recipients for consistently showing excellence in the operation of a growing business.

Company President, Keith Laake, states “We are pleased to receive this award that recognizes our accomplishments. It especially gives recognition to our employees who have worked hard to make our Company a great success.” In its history, Cost Control Associates has twice-received SBA funding. First in 1999 when working capital loan was received and then again in 2001 when an SBA 504 Loan was obtained to help in financing the purchase of its office building.
According to Mr. Laake, “We are fortunate to have found lending partners, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust and the New York Business Development Corp. who worked with us in obtaining SBA financing. Without this financing, we would have been unable to grow the company to today’s levels.”

From its beginnings in 1991, Cost Control Associates has emerged into a national presence through the assistance it provides businesses, governments, and other organizations in reducing energy, cellular, and telecommunications costs. Their cost recovery and reduction program identifies errors and savings opportunities in clients’ energy and telecom bills. They also assist clients in buying energy, cellular, and telecommunications services. Over the past fifteen years, Cost Control has produced millions of dollars in recoveries and savings for its clients.


Congratulations to Cost Control Associates!

If you have a story about yourself or another ARCC member, let us know!