Unemployment figures remain steady in Central New York, and an upstate New York banking company expands again. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

VIP Structures of Syracuse is overseeing the project in a design-build capacity and work should wrap up next spring. VIP announced the initiative in a news release today.

The state added 29,000 private-sector jobs in July, but the unemployment rate was unchanged from the previous month at 8.2 percent, according to a Labor Department news release. That's down from 8.7 percent in July 2009.

First Niagara and New Haven, Conn.-based NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:NAL) announced that they will combine in a cash and stock transaction worth $1.5 billion. NewAlliance shareholders will receive 1.10 shares of First Niagara stock for each NewAlliance share they own.

Federal funding is paying for a study on storing gas emissions, and a Skaneateles man is buying an historic village restaurant. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Energy. The initiative will also receive $250,000 in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Adam Weitsman, president of Upstate Shredding, LLC and Ben Weitsman & Son of Owego, has confirmed "a signed contract" to purchase The Krebs, a 111-year old seasonal eatery that operates at 53 W. Genesee Street Road (Route 20) in the village of Skaneateles.

Gov. David Paterson signed a bill into law on Aug. 15 allowing restaurants and vendors to sell glasses of wine, according to a news release from the fair.

A new survey says New York mortgage-closing costs are the highest in the country, and a New York state official wants a review of Medicaid-reimbursement rates. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The new location gives OASIS/HealthLink 11,000 square feet of programming space, doubling the size of its original space in the mall.

The company released its 2010 Closing Costs Survey on Monday. The survey found that New York led the nation with average origination and closing costs of more than $5,600. Arkansas was the least expensive area with average fees of more than $3,000.

The finding is part an audit New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released today.

SEFCU is acquiring an Albany area mortgage-banking company, and Empire State Development Corp. is helping the city of Oswego with its harbor project. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center on Friday announced the appointment of Richard Ketcham as its next president and CEO.

He'll begin his new job on Sept. 8, the hospital said in a news release. Ketcham most recently served as president and CEO of Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk in Western New York from 1986 to 2009.

Home Funding Finders, which also has an office in Syracuse, will become a subsidiary of SEFCU when the transaction closes Sept. 1. Terms were not disclosed.

SALINA — Thomas J. Pirro, Jr., a member of the family that previously operated Pirro & Sons Funeral Home in Syracuse, has opened a new funeral home in the town of Salina.

DeWITT — A new, 119-room hotel has opened in the Carrier Circle area.

DeWITT — Anaren, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANEN) could make another acquisition soon.

CICERO — Mary Ann Tyszko, president and CEO of SRCTec, Inc., has resigned from her position, effective this week.

ELMIRA — A strong surge of orders helped push machine-tool manufacturer Hardinge, Inc. to a smaller loss in the second quarter than the company has seen in a year or more.

The reason is unclear

ONEONTA — Douglas C. Gulotty has left Wilber Corp. (NYSE Amex: GIW), where he served for 25 years, most recently as president and CEO.

Family life! The United Nations is child’s play compared to the tugs and splits and need to understand and forgive in any family.
            — Mary Sarton

In a recent column, I talked about how the strengths and weaknesses of individual family members affect the overall success of a family business.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Aug. 4 announced a settlement agreement with Tops Markets, LLC over the “potential anticompetitive effects” created by its acquisition of former Penn Traffic grocery stores.

Ken Walsleben sent me a letter recently sharing his experience teaching scores of students who want to be entrepreneurs.

The Democrats must be ordering a lot of makeup these days — along with wigs, masks, and camouflage gear. You see, they will have to keep a lot of the Bush tax cuts and will need to disguise this.

ACCOUNTING

Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, P.C. has hired Christine H. Fleischman as a staff accountant in the tax department.

FAYETTEVILLE — During these difficult economic times, the Fayetteville Free Library (FFL) has stepped into the breach, providing local community members with low or no-cost alternatives for entertainment and access to technology.

The nation's retail sales rose in July, and a Southern Tier hospital buys the assets of a physician's group. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The increase matched analyst expectations, according to the department. Vehicle sales rose 1.6 percent during the month while sales excluding auto dealers climbed 0.2 percent.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The agreement formalizes a "longstanding medical partnership" between the two Southern Tier health-care providers, St. Joseph's said in a news release.

KMT offers construction material testing services. The firm operates at the corporate offices of Keystone Associates Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors, LLC at 58 Exchange St. in Binghamton.

A new survey indicates optimism among a sampling of New York employers. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The Business Council of New York State, Inc., a statewide business group, released results of the electronic survey of about 3,000 members today.

The "Work Opportunity Tax Credit," which was part of the federal economic stimulus package, is meant to encourage companies to hire veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The CEO of a Cicero frim has resigned, and the Sunoco ethanol plant in Volney includes something new. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The utility is partnering with EnerPath of Rochester, a firm that specializes in energy-efficiency assessments.

Linde North America's carbon dioxide plant can produce 600 tons of the gas per day. The gas is captured from ethanol-production emissions, purified, and liquefied for sale to customers throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New England.

Tyszko has led SRCTec since it launched in 2006. SRCTec is the for-profit manufacturing subsidiary of nonprofit research company SRC. Tyszko resigned for personal reasons and to move on to new challenges, says Lisa Mondello, a spokeswoman for the company.

Carrols Corp. reports a decline in its second-quarter profit. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Erickson's co-chair is Joseph Panetta, president and CEO of BIOCOM in Southern California. Syracuse-based MedTech is a trade association representing medical device and technology firms in upstate New York.

An impairment charge of $3.6 million reduced the net income figure to $2.4 million, the company said in a news release.

A new report says per-capita personal incomes in Syracuse fell during 2008 and 2009. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Wilber announced the news Aug. 6 but did not say if Gulotty retired or left the company for some other reason. Gulotty, whose Facebook profile lists his current occupation as "self employed," could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the latest personal-income statistics today. Per capita personal income fell 0.5 percent in the Syracuse area to $36,784 in 2009 and dropped 0.7 percent to $34,116 in the Binghamton area.

Cyber Defense Institute offers security training and consulting

SYRACUSE — Two veterans of Syracuse University’s (SU) Center for Business Information Technologies (CBIT) have launched a new consulting and training firm focused on security.

New Yorkers remain hesitant to spend their money on big-ticket items and aren’t optimistic about the national or statewide economic outlook in the months ahead.

SYRACUSE — A month into her tenure as the new managing partner of the law firm Hancock & Estabrook, LLP in Syracuse, Janet D. Callahan is still unassuming about it and grateful to her fellow partners.

SYRACUSE — The Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings recently issued the report, “Export Nation — How U.S. Metros Lead National Export Growth,” which compares export data among the top 100 metropolitan areas in the United States.

ONEONTA — The Wilber Corporation, parent company of Wilber National Bank, said its second-quarter profit fell 30 percent as it set aside more money to cover potential loan losses.

The New York State Senate has approved legislation that would suspend hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas or oil until May 15, 2011.

Saying Medicare and Medicaid fraud is costing New York taxpayers billions, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) is introducing a bill she believes will reduce wasteful spending and preserve health-care services for senior citizens and younger New Yorkers.

The upcoming open-enrollment period for health-care insurance “will be more challenging than ever” as plan sponsors adjust to new requirements for plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23 (Jan.1 for calendar-year plans).

CAROLINE — The New York State Insurance Department has agreed to a $1 million reduction in reserve requirements for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium. The move should help the municipal consortium, the first of its kind in New York State, get off the ground.

The average total-medical spending for a “typical American family of four” has reached $18,074 in 2010, an increase of $1,303 over last year.

COO Scholefield named interim president and CEO

UTICA — Sister M. Johanna DeLelys retired as president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Medical Center on July 16 after six-plus years, and the hospital has begun the search for her replacement.

SYRACUSE — St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has named Kathryn Howe Ruscitto as the hospital’s 13th president and CEO. She will replace Theodore Pasinski on Jan. 1, 2011.

BINGHAMTON — Southern Tier Health Link (STHL) New York recently introduced its enhanced master patient-index service, which seeks to help local health-care organizations consolidate patient information and reduce duplicate patient medical records.

COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tracy Fenner has been named manager of labor relations at Community General Hospital.

The economy in the first half of 2010 has been disappointing, especially to investors and job-seekers.

ADVERTISING AGENCIES

Pinckney Hugo Group has hired Trisha Bombardo as an art director in the agency’s creative services department.

ITHACA — The clocks at the end of the Ithaca Commons had fallen into a state of disrepair; over time, they had gone from unreliable to completely nonfunctional. Tompkins Trust Company donated the $20,000 to replace the three time and temperature clocks, and on June 25, a ribbon cutting was held. This is but one example of the company closely knitting itself to its community.

A Central New York county wants to upgrade its public-safety communications system. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Magna International, Inc. (NYSE: MGA) today announced earnings of $293 million in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $205 million during the same time period in 2009.

The company's earnings per share totaled $2.59 in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $1.83 per share in the year-earlier quarter.

Steve Wynn, the famed Las Vegas casino and hotel developer who was raised in Utica, doesn't mince words when it comes to his views on Washington's policies. Check out the video of his interview on CNBC this spring if you haven't seen it.

Cayuga County and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced a $13.3 million contract for a public-safety communications system.

GateHouse Media, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: GHSE), the parent company of Utica's The Observer-Dispatch and several other local newspapers, announced Thursday it lost $5.3 million in the second quarter ending June 30.

Another month brought more disappointing news on the pace of hiring. Businesses added fewer jobs than expected in July, and previous estimates of private-sector hiring were revised downward, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

The Federal Trade Commission wants Tops Friendly Markets to sell some stores, and Anaren, Inc. reports a rise in its profit. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Anaren, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANEN) earned $3.8 million in its fiscal fourth quarter that ended June 30, up from net income of $3.5 million during the same quarter in 2009.

The DeWitt-based firm's profit translated to 26 cents per diluted share, compared to 24 cents in the year-earlier quarter.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday announced a settlement agreement with Tops Markets, LLC over the "potential anticompetitive effects" created by its acquisition of former Penn Traffic grocery stores.

Tops acquired 79 stores in bankruptcy court in January from the Penn Traffic Co. of Syracuse.

State lawmakers consider a bill to suspend hydrofracking, and a local telephone company receives federal help to offer broadband service. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The Port Byron Telephone Co., Inc. in Cayuga County and the Deposit Telephone Co. Inc. in Broome County will use federal grant money to provide high-speed Internet service to their respective customers in rural areas.

Unshackle Upstate on Tuesday announced the launch of a new website for its political-action committee, UPAC.

The site enables New Yorkers to contribute to UPAC's efforts to bring about change in Albany, the organization said in a news release.

Consumer confidence in upstate New York declined 3.5 points to 54.5 in July, according to the latest monthly survey from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI) released today.

The New York State Senate has voted to suspend hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas or oil until May 15, 2011.

The legislation, which now heads to the Assembly, would halt the issuance of new permits for such drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation, which is found in much of the Southern Tier and stretches into Central New York.

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center has named its next president and CEO. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Jiffy Lube International, Inc. on Monday announced the Syracuse area as one of its targets for franchise growth in 2010.

Former New York State Fair Director Peter Cappuccilli, Jr. is accused of diverting state funds totaling $78,000 for personal use and "squandering" $870,000 in state money on lavish parties and weddings for his two daughters.

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center today announced the appointment of Kathryn Howe Ruscitto as the hospital's 13th president and CEO.

She will replace Theodore Pasinski on Jan. 1.

Another local college partners with Upstate Venture Connect, and a late Central New York business man helps an organization he played a role in forming. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The estate of the late founder of Gallinger Real Estate has designated the Eldercare Foundation to receive $1 million, estate president, Sandra Martin, announced Friday.

The Wilber Corporation, parent company of Wilber National Bank, reported that its second-quarter profit fell 30 percent as it put aside more money to cover potential loan losses.

CONKLIN — From a busboy to an executive chef, a new service called WyckWyre provides restaurants and food-service companies a one-stop shop for hiring new staff.

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) today announced that Le Moyne College has signed on as the third founding partner to support its efforts in accelerating high-growth entrepreneurship in the region.

KIRKWOOD — It took four years of talking and making it through a recession before the deal could happen. But Rexford Albany Municipal Supply Co., (RAMSCO) Inc., a Watervliet–based water and sewer supply company, has finally made good on its plans to acquire Kirkwood–based Jones Water Supply.

New York could have already missed out on $11 billion in economic benefits from natural-gas drilling, and could lose a whole lot more if horizontal drilling isn’t allowed in the state, a Washington, D.C. petroleum-industry group says.

CHENANGO — Less than a year after merging with an Albany–area long-term care broker, Dan Ross Financial Services has moved to a new location.

Hardinge getting ready to report 2nd-quarter earnings

ELMIRA — More than six months after it launched efforts to acquire Hardinge Inc., a Brazilian company has given up.

Welcome to The Greater Binghamton Business Journal’s annual Architecture & Eng-ineering Directory.

We contacted regional architects and engineers and asked them to submit the most recent highlights of their work. The directory showcases the top professionals in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga counties.

The types of projects and structures include university buildings, retail stores, and health-care facilities.

We hope you will find this informative, interesting, and, most of all, useful.

ADVERTISING AGENCIES

Kursten Brown will be joining Howell, Liberatore & Wickham, Inc. (HL&W) as an account manager. Brown graduated with a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in May.

SYRACUSE — HSBC will relocate its offices and branch in downtown Syracuse to the nearly complete Washington Station building located on the doorstep of Armory Square.

The bank plans to move its corporate offices Nov. 22 and its branch Dec. 6. The new six-story, 126,000-square-foot office building will also be home to its developer, The Pioneer Cos., and engineering firm O’Brien & Gere (OBG) of DeWitt.

ITHACA — Novomer, Inc. won additional federal funding in July that will help the firm continue moving toward full-scale production of its materials.

Novomer, a Cornell University spinoff, is developing a line of plastics, polymers, and other chemicals based on renewable feedstocks.

Meinking starts new job at Rochester firm Aug. 2  

DeWITT — The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Inc. has a new president and his predecessor has accepted a new position at an ABC member.

SYRACUSE — Visitor-travel spending declined 7.9 percent in Onondaga County last year compared to 2008 figures, but the decline was smaller than several upstate New York cities and the state as a whole.

SYRACUSE — The State University of New York Upstate Medical University expects design work for planned renovations at two vacant apartment complexes on Harrison Street to begin by September and continue for about nine months.

Consumers in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, and Binghamton areas believe now is a good time to buy a home, but a tough time to sell one.

Bankers are wary of uncertainty and added burdens

When President Barack Obama signed a massive overhaul of the nation’s financial regulations into law in July, it was the end of a more than two-year effort for lawmakers.

A lower loan-loss provision, higher fee income, and controlled expenses helped KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) produce its first quarterly profit in two years during the second quarter.

DeWITT — Leaders at DeWitt–based Community Bank System, Inc. expect to reap solid benefits in the coming years from natural-gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania.

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNFG) leaders say they are pleased so far with how the company’s recent acquisitions in Pennsylvania have boosted its financial performance.

SYRACUSE — An increase in net interest income and a lower provision for loan losses helped drive net income higher at Alliance Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ALNC) in the second quarter.

M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) says it has been seeing soft loan demand lately, but the company is high on its deposit business, its CFO said.

ITHACA — Tompkins Financial Corp. (AMEX: TMP) earned $9 million in the second quarter, up more than 21 percent from a year earlier and higher than analysts’ expectations.

Most of us fully expect to be charged a fee if we withdraw more money from our bank accounts than we have.

But that way of thinking is now in the past.

No one ever excused his way to success.
— Dave Del Dotto

It’s no secret that I’m a proponent of strategic planning. If you’ve read any of my columns over the years, you know that I believe every business — especially closely held companies — should implement a strategic plan to align the organization around key objectives and create accountability for results.

“At approximately 8:30 a.m. on the first Friday of every month, the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases a snapshot showing what the U.S. labor market looked like in the previous month.” So begins an article in the Summer 2010 issue of National Affairs, authored by Rea Hederman, Jr., the assistant director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis.

ADVERTISING AGENCIES

Kursten Brown will be joining Howell, Liberatore & Wickham, Inc. (HL&W) as an account manager.

ITHACA — In 1988, as part of his master’s-degree project at Cornell University, graduate student Andrew Zepp proposed the creation of a regional land trust in the Finger Lakes. Less than one year later, the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) was founded as a nonprofit organization “to conserve those lands that define the character of the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York,” according to the organization’s website.

A Central New York marketing-communications firm confirms layoffs, and the quarterly profit for a Syracuse-area bank has doubled. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Eric Mower and Associates (EMA), the largest advertising agency in Central New York, has confirmed the layoff of seven employees from its Syracuse office earlier this month.

ROME - Griffiss Local Development Corporation (GLDC) has acquired TJL Enterprises and will take over grounds maintenance and snow removal at Griffiss Business and Technology Park.

GLDC bought TJL for $290,000, which includes all equipment and contracts, from retiring owner Thomas Ladd.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Thursday announced that its newly designed website will launch this fall.

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc.'s profit jumped in the second quarter to $1.5 million, or 24 cents per share. Its growth was led by a rise in net interest margin as its cost of funds fell sharply. Beacon Federal's provision for loan losses also declined compared to a year ago.

A Syracuse company installs wind turbines on the Carousel Center, and ConMed Corp. of Utica reports a higher profit. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

UTICA - ConMed Corporation (NASDAQ: CNMD) today reported that its second-quarter net income soared to $7.3 million, or 25 cents a share, from $1.4 million, or 5 cents, in the year-ago period.

PowAIR Sail, Inc., a Syracuse-based manufacturer specializing in vertical-wind turbines for the residential and commercial markets, says it has installed three units on the roof of the Carousel Center.

The Thomas J. Pirro Funeral Home recently opened for business in the town of Salina, marking a return to the industry for its owners.

A new state law aims to expand technology-commercialization clinics, and an Oswego banking company reports a rising profit. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The Syracuse area added 100 construction jobs between June 2009 and June 2010, making it one of only 25 metropolitan areas nationwide that added construction jobs during that period.

The Utica-Rome lost 400 construction jobs, while the Binghamton area lost 100 construction jobs during the same stretch.

Earnings per share in the period totaled 17 cents a share, up from 1 cent per share in the second quarter of 2009.

The Technology Commercialization Clinic at SU's law school has been helping move technology from research to market for 24 years with business and legal information and analysis for early-stage companies.

The Sensis Corp. of DeWitt announces a job-cut figure, and HSBC has plans to move to a new home in downtown Syracuse. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The company first announced last week it planned to eliminate jobs in response to changes in some of its markets. Beth Larson, a spokeswoman for Sensis, confirmed the number of jobs to be cut today.

The bank plans to move its corporate offices Nov. 22 and its branch Dec. 6. The new six-story, 126,000-square-foot office building will also be home to its developer, The Pioneer Cos., and engineering firm O'Brien & Gere (OBG) of DeWitt.

You can feel it can’t you? I’m talking about the palpable sense of unease many business owners and consumers have about the economy and their own financial condition.

CLINTON — Beading fans have a new, larger place in which to check out supplies and work on a new project now that EmMi Beads has a new location.

Owner Kim Schweitzer moved her bead shop to 4 W. Park Row about a month ago to take advantage of a larger space that sees much more foot traffic than her old location on Fountain Street.

UTICA — Come Aug. 1, clients of Day, Scarafile & Read, Inc. will have a new place in which to do business with the insurance, accounting, financial-planning, and tax-services firm.

UTICA — Just about a year after converting his insurance agency, Nor’easter Insurance, into a full-time venture, owner Everett Thompson is moving the business from his home to an office. At the same time, he’s working to get another business up and running.

COO Scholefield named interim president and CEO

UTICA — Sister M. Johanna DeLelys retired as president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Medical Center on July 16 after six-plus years, and the hospital has begun the search for her replacement.

Welcome to The Mohawk Valley Business Journal’s annual Architecture & Eng-ineering Directory.

We contacted regional architects and engineers and asked them to submit the most recent highlights of their work. The directory showcases the top professionals in our region.

The types of projects and structures include university buildings, corporate offices, and health-care facilities.

We hope you will find this informative, interesting, and, most of all, useful.

MARCY — SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica–Rome has a new fundraiser.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

USC The Business College announced the addition of four new adjunct faculty members to its Utica campus.

SYRACUSE — One of the largest hotels in the Syracuse area, which is visible to drivers along Interstate 81 in the heart of downtown Syracuse, has new ownership. And it will soon have a new brand name.

DeWITT — Sensis Corp. plans to cut an undetermined number of jobs in the coming weeks in response to changes in some of its markets.

VOLNEY — Sunoco, Inc. has restarted the former Northeast Biofuels plant, and the company says ethanol production could be a big part of its future.

SYRACUSE — The New York Family Business Center is planning a boot camp for Aug. 9 aimed at future generations of family-business leaders.

Upstate Medical University hopes to save $2.4 million annually

SYRACUSE — National Grid and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on July 19 launched a program to help the utility’s
hospital customers reduce their energy costs.

Alexander Pope wrote that “hope springs eternal in the human breast” — but in my experience as a patent attorney, I’ve found that some people’s hope springs are wound tighter than others.

The recent brouhaha surround the latest version of the popular iPhone sheds interesting light on the early adoption of new technologies.

Welcome to The Central New York Business Journal’s annual Architecture & Engineering Directory.

We contacted regional architects and engineers and asked them to submit the most recent highlights of their work. The directory showcases the top professionals in our 16-county region.

The types of projects and structures include university buildings, restaurants, and health-care facilities.

We hope you will find this informative, interesting, and, most of all, useful.

America’s current recession once again teaches the lesson of a need for higher education in order to ensure job security. Knowledge is power. From the neck down, your income is limited to whatever they’re paying to flip hamburgers at McDonald’s. From the neck up, there is no limit to your earning power.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

ABC Creative Group has hired Jamie Leszczynski as an account manager/media supervisor. Prior to joining ABC Creative, Leszczynski spent the last few years in development and marketing at SUNY Oswego. She has also managed marketing projects and campaigns for several organizations such as Oswego County National Bank, Young Professionals of Oswego County, and a variety of other nonprofits.

SYRACUSE — Raymond V. Grimaldi’s entry into the accounting field was by chance more than by design. In 1959, Grimaldi, the founding partner of Grimaldi & Nelkin, CPAs, PLLC, attended Syracuse University on a gymnastics scholarship, majoring in math and science, and interested in chemical engineering. He later changed his mind.

Second-quarter revenue was $56.2 million, up from $54.5 million a year ago. Net income jumped from $238,000, or 2 cents per share, in the second quarter last year to $849,000, or 6 cents per share.

A Syracuse law firm has a new managing partner, and Rome Memorial Hospital will have a new CEO in 2011. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The company earned $2.5 million, or 69 cents per share, for the quarter, compared with $695,000, or 19 cents, a year ago.

Janet Callahan is the new managing partner of the law firm Hancock & Estabrook, LLP in Syracuse.

Callahan joined the firm in 1984 and became a partner in 1989. She leads the firm's litigation and appellate practice groups and has been on the executive committee since 2003.

The Rome Memorial board of directors selected Basil Ariglio, the hospital's senior vice president and chief operating officer, as Burns' successor.

The banking company reported net income of $814,000, or 10 cents per share, compared to $1.1 million, or 14 cents per share, a year ago. Oneida announced its results Friday.

The Sensis Corporation plans job cuts, and an Ithaca firm receives millions in federal funding. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Robert Half Management Resources, a division of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half International, released the survey Thursday. Robert Half International specializes in the placement of skilled administrative professionals.

The company will know how many jobs it will eliminate by Aug. 1, Beth Larson, a Sensis spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. The cuts will include a mix of technical and corporate positions.

The company, a Cornell University spinoff, will get $18.4 million. Novomer is developing plastics created from renewable sources that can be used to produce everything from containers to coatings and laminates.

Earnings per share in the period totaled 48 cents, up from 28 cents in the second quarter of 2009. Analysts were expecting earnings of 41 cents a share, according to Yahoo Finance.

Upstate Medical University acquires two buildings for student housing, and KeyCorp reports its first quarterly profit in two years. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University today announced its acquisition of two vacant apartment complexes on Harrison Street in downtown Syracuse.

The acquisition of Townsend Tower at 500 Harrison St. and Harrison House, located across the street from Townsend Tower, is part of the medical school's plan to offer additional student housing.

Earnings per common share in the period totaled 3 cents, compared with a loss of 68 cents a share in the second quarter of 2009. Earnings per share from continuing operations in the period totaled 6 cents.

Earnings per share in the period totaled 10 cents, up from 8 cents a year ago. Operating income, which excludes nonrecurring items, was $44.9 million, up from $25.5 million in the second quarter of 2009.

The [U.S.] Senate [Wednesday] approved an extension of federal unemployment benefits to a maximum of 99 weeks. This move is likely to create unintended negative consequences which will have effects throughout the economy. The unintended result will be more unemployed Americans.

M&T Bank Corp. announces second-quarter results, and Sunoco, Inc. breathes new life into a plant in Volney. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Earnings per share totaled $1.46, up from 36 cents a share in the second quarter of 2009. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.01 per share, according to Reuters.

Earnings per share totaled 83 cents in the period, up from 69 cents in the second quarter of 2009. Analysts were expecting earnings per share of 78 cents, according to Reuters.

The plant, located at the former Miller brewery in Volney, can produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year when operating at full capacity. That's enough to supply about one-quarter of Sunoco's ethanol needs.

A Syracuse hotel has new owners and will soon have a new name, and a Mohawk Valley hospital has a new interim president and CEO. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The finding is part of the first quarterly survey of consumer real estate sentiment from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI) and the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR).

Richfield Hospitality, a Denver-based hotel-management company, and Shelbourne Falcon Investors now own the hotel in a joint venture.

Five area companies win commercialization grants. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

National Grid and NYSERDA announced the $10 million program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University.

COOPERSTOWN — For a year, Donna Petit of Rock Hill, S.C. planned a family trip to Cooperstown All-Star Village where her son, R.J., would play in a baseball tournament. Those plans changed earlier this year when Petit was unexpectedly laid off from her job.

OWEGO — Upstate Shredding, LLC and its sister company Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. will soon add to their growing collection of acquisitions with the addition of a scrap yard in Jamestown.
Earlier acquisitions included Matlow Company, Inc. near Syracuse as well as a business in Tioga County.

Upstate New York consumers became less confident about economic conditions last month as they worried about jobs and reduced plans to buy big-ticket items.

JOHNSON CITY — For the past two years, Meier Supply Company, Inc. was busy opening two new branches, but even as the company backed off on that type of expansion during the recession, the business was still busy promoting its employee stock-ownership plan (ESOP).

CHENANGO — By next February, Chenango consumers will have a new grocery-store choice when a 60,000-square-foot Price Chopper opens at the intersection of Routes 12 and 12A.

A new private-equity fund will launch in the coming months to focus on growth investments and acquisitions of companies throughout upstate New York.

BINGHAMTON — Southern Tier HealthLink (STHL) New York recently introduced its enhanced master patient-index service, which seeks to help local health-care organizations consolidate patient information and reduce duplicate patient medical records.

Upstate New Yorkers could potentially avoid more than two million “adverse drug events” if all physicians started using e-prescribing systems.

Hospital’s photos show where the $70 million effort stands

BINGHAMTON — Lourdes Hospital has proceeded to phase two of its three-year, $70 million expansion and modernization project, dubbed “Mission 2012: Building Tomorrow’s Healthcare Today.”

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Terrence Deak, associate professor of psychology and deputy to the president, has been appointed chief of staff by Binghamton University Interim President C. Peter Magrath.

GEDDES — The organizer of one of Central New York’s biggest summertime attractions — the DuPont Syracuse Nationals — is expecting to attract a more geographically diverse crowd for the 11th edition of the popular car show.

OWEGO — Upstate Shredding, LLC and its sister company Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. will soon add to their growing collection of acquisitions with the addition of a scrap yard in Jamestown.

SYRACUSE — A DeWitt real-estate company and a Syracuse investment-brokerage firm have teamed up to buy a downtown Syracuse building. One of the firms will soon move into the structure, while its partner is satisfied with its current office location.

SALINA — Local business officials on July 8 discussed exporting during a meeting with Rick Wade, senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.

Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.  — Will Rogers

Back in March, USA Today published an article which stated that federal workers averaged $75,419 in annual salary. The article went on to note the substantial jump in the number of those earning six figures, excluding overtime and bonuses.

That ought to be the slogan for this period in America. For, in case you’ve missed it, lots of folks are angry. Writer-historian Victor Davis Hanson recently listed what he thought angered us most. For me, one item rankled more than the others — law or what law?

ACCOUNTING

Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, has promoted Michelle C. Perry to supervisor in its audit and accounting department.

SYRACUSE — On June 10, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse, a community-wide visioning program created with the goal of making Syracuse a better place to live, held its inaugural Wisdom Keeper Award and Auction event honoring Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, founder and executive director of F.O.C.U.S.

SYRACUSE — The State University of New York Upstate Medical University (SUNY Upstate) has launched an institute to support cancer research.

Rounding out services should boost growth

CORTLAND — Plan First Technologies, a Homer–based computer and network consulting firm, acquired Odyssey Networks in June in a deal Plan First’s president says offers opportunities for growth.

ITHACA — Mezmeriz, Inc., an Ithaca–based startup commercializing a new type of projector technology, is adapting its system for use in mobile devices.

ONONDAGA — Since launching in 2007, Symphony Video, Inc. has been growing steadily, despite a tough fiscal environment in education, its chief market.

SYRACUSE — The 2010 edition of the Syracuse Tech Garden’s student sandbox program is up and running and this year has expanded to 12 teams of student businesses.

SYRACUSE — Brand-Yourself.com plans to roll out a version of its product for business users in the next two months.

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers podcasts on exporting on its website, and Elmira Savings Bank posts a second-quarter profit. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse. 

The number of new business corporations licensed rose 1.6 percent from the second quarter of 2009 to more than 18,700 and the number of limited liability corporations licensed jumped nearly 10 percent to more than 14,500.

Earnings per share in the period totaled 44 cents, up from 38 cents in the second quarter of 2009.

The agency announced the podcasts today. They feature interviews with business representatives from Uganda, Cameroon, and Bahrain and are part of the SBA's effort to support President Barack Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI).

The New York State Department of Labor has released June unemployment figures, and Alliance Financial Corp. reports second-quarter earnings. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The unemployment rate declined from 8.3 percent in May to 8.2 percent in June, according to data released today by the state Labor Department. In addition, the state lost 8,500 private-sector jobs in June, the second straight monthly decline in the private-sector job count.

A more than 5 percent increase in net interest income and a more than 39 percent decrease in the company's provision for loan losses drove the rise in profit. Earnings per share for the period totaled 64 cents, up from 28 cents in the second quarter of 2009.

The companies plan to offer an advanced version of Sikorsky's UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. Under the agreement between the two firms, Sikorsky would be the prime contractor with Lockheed the major subsystems supplier.

Consumer confidence remains mixed in Central New York, and National Grid starts a recycling program for refrigerators. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

That's according to the latest quarterly survey of nine metropolitan statistical areas in New York by the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). SRI released the new data today.

The funding will help the center expand its capacity to provide care for hepatitis C and treatment for patients who are infected with both HIV and hepatitis C.

The utility is giving customers a $30 rebate if they call to schedule a pickup of second refrigerators or freezers. National Grid and its vendor, JACO Environmental, remove the appliances at no charge and then dismantle and recycle them.

A Brazilian firm's takeover deadline approaches, and a new report says e-prescribing could save lives in upstate New York. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Excellus, Central New York's largest health insurer, released the report today. E-prescribing involves sending prescriptions to pharmacies electronically, instead of writing them out, telephoning, or faxing them.

Hayne has been in the position since January 2008. The United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area announced the move today.

Industrias Romi S.A. has a $10 per share offer on the table, hoping to capture two-thirds of the 11.61 million shares of Hardinge's outstanding stock. As of June 18, the last date Romi released a figure, about 5.5 million shares were tendered, representing just over 48 percent of outstanding shares.

The top executive at Paychex, Inc. will resign at the end of the month, and a Southern Tier shredding business completes an acquisition. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

"The state parks are open and families are traveling," New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association President Jan Marie Chesterton said in a news release. "It's encouraging to see people returning to the days of the family vacation."

The deal gives Upstate and its sister company, Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., a second location in Owego, Upstate's headquarters. Upstate-Ben Weitsman also has scrap-metal facilities in Binghamton, Ithaca, and Syracuse.

Jonathan Judge, CEO and president of Paychex, Inc., will step down at the end of this month, the payroll and human-resources services company announced today. An executive committee will take over until a replacement is found.

For the second month in a row, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued sobering news on the jobs front with its June employment report.

ROME — Sometimes it just makes sense to join forces with a bigger company when it results in offering more and better services to your customers.

UTICA — Generally, when you give something or someone a vote of “no confidence,” you expect some kind of reaction.

MARCY — A new $33.9 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) could mean a 50 percent jump in annual revenue and more than 10 new jobs at Quanterion Solutions, Inc.

NEW HARTFORD — Utica National Insurance Group completed its purchase of Founders Insurance Company of DesPlains, Ill. July 1 with all the necessary regulatory approvals in place.

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) has placed its small-business human-resources (HR) services under a single program providing two different options.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Alen Smajic, who began work at Paige Marketing Communications Group three years ago as a graphic designer, has been promoted to the newly created position of director of media and technology.

SYRACUSE — The Near Westside Initiative is launching several new entrepreneurship programs aimed at sparking more business development in the city’s Near Westside neighborhood.

Upstate New York consumers became less confident about economic conditions last month as they worried about jobs and reduced plans to buy big-ticket items.

SYRACUSE — A new private-equity fund will launch in the coming months to focus on growth investments and acquisitions of companies throughout upstate New York.

SYRACUSE — A grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will help researchers at Syracuse University (SU) develop software that could solve some challenges in designing energy-efficient buildings.

SYRACUSE — U.S. Rep. Daniel Maffei (D–DeWitt) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) on July 6 announced a bill that would put the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in charge of the cleanup of Onondaga Lake.

But do realtors see the gains lasting?

New York realtors sold more than 6,500 existing single-family homes in May, up nearly 5 percent from the sales total in April.

SYRACUSE — AXA Financial, Inc.’s new retirement-plan administration subsidiary builds on some of the company’s existing experience in the sector.

Within the next 15 years, as baby boomers retire, trillions of dollars in business ownership will be at stake, and these owners will need a planned, controlled exit from their businesses to fund their retirement. Without proper planning and execution of a succession plan, there’s trouble ahead.

No doubt all of us have less-than fond memories of instances in which we’ve seen someone stronger who unfairly and cruelly intimidated, ridiculed, or otherwise took advantage of someone weaker. Perhaps you were once a victim of bullying, or even a perpetrator.

“Have you had enough yet?” That is the simple, straight-forward question I want to ask all New York taxpayers who are concerned about the troubling direction of our state and are ready for real change.

ACCOUNTING

Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, P.C., CPAs has hired Michael A. O’Shea as a senior manager in the tax department. He has two years experience in the private sector and 20 years experience in public accounting. He is a CPA and a graduate of SUNY Oswego.

Paul Brooks, vice president for entrepreneurship programs at the Syracuse Tech Garden, will leave the facility's staff July 14.

The Carrier Corp. is investing in its DeWitt facility, and the CEO of a New Hartford firm plans to retire. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The premiums on coverage for specialties, such as neurosurgery and general surgery, will be higher, Dr. Robert Dracker, medical society president, said in a news release.

In a letter Sammon released, he said this is a good time to retire since the company is well-positioned for growth thanks to recent efforts to boost profits. PAR produces hardware and software for the restaurant and hospitality industries.

The funding is part of $300 million in grants for bus and trolley projects that the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

An official from the U.S. Commerce Department hosts a discussion on exporting, and Syracuse University inks a new contract with one of its unions.  Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The Central New York Technology Development Organization at 445 Electronics Parkway in Salina hosted the roundtable discussion. About 25 people attended the event.

The fund is meant to provide capital for minority and women-owned enterprises and other entrepreneurs having difficulty accessing regular credit markets, the governor's office said in a news release.

SEIU Local 200United is the largest union at the university, representing more than 800 workers. The negotiation process began in early May.

CBD Cos., LLC and Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. have closed on their purchase of a building in downtown Syracuse. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Upstate's confidence level of 58 is 5.4 points below the state's overall confidence level of 63.4, which is down nearly five points from May and at its lowest level since April 2009, according to SRI. The institute released its latest data today.

CBD Cos., LLC and Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. have formed a joint venture to purchase the HSBC Tower at 360 S. Warren St. in downtown Syracuse. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Road Runner Mobile and Business Class Mobile will give users access to a fourth-generation (4G) wireless network covering more than 780 square miles in both markets. Time Warner Cable will also give customers the option of choosing a mobile hotspot option that will allow a variety of mobile devices to connect to the company's 4G and third-generation networks.

A petroleum company and an insurance firm complete acquisitions. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The lawmakers outlined their proposal, which would officially be known as the Onondaga Lake Restoration Act, during a press conference at Syracuse's Inner Harbor.

The deal will add 10 employees to S&W and increase its market in Western New York, according to the company. S&W, founded 15 years ago, specializes in petroleum equipment, service, and construction.

ENDICOTT — Engineering-design firm Stantec is moving its local office to a smaller location to boost efficiency while also providing room for new growth.

ENDICOTT — Joining Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. (EI) does more than just bring Joseph Zachman back to the Southern Tier where he grew up; it also brings him back to the electronics industry that he dearly missed.

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC), a nonprofit aiming to encourage the development and growth of more small, innovative companies in upstate New York, has new partnerships with Cornell University and Syracuse University (SU).

DeltaPoint Capital Management, LLC,  a Rochester–based firm focused on upstate New York investments, added six new operating directors to help manage portfolio companies in its fourth private-equity fund.

The board of directors of Empire State Development Corp. (ESD) approved funding for several upstate New York projects at a meeting June 24.

VESTAL — Interest in green innovation means not just thinking big, but also very, very, very small. At least that’s the way Omowunmi Sadik, director of Binghamton University’s Center for Advanced Sensors and Environmental Systems, sees it. She’s working to develop sensors that would detect and identify engineered nanoparticles. Her research will advance the understanding of the risks associated with the environmental release and transformation of these particles, according to a news release from Binghamton University.

UNION — Longtime golf buddies Jeffrey L’Amoreaux, Martin Klein, and Randy White enjoy going out and playing a few rounds together. They never planned on running a business together, but jumped at the chance when the opportunity presented itself earlier this year.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

The Binghamton University Alumni Association has appointed three new members to its board of directors.

SALINA — Zerodraft of CNY, Inc. has brought its heating and air-conditioning business in-house and has added more employees as a result.

SYRACUSE — A favorable contract between a local union and National Grid helped Syracuse land a facility that will create more than 250 jobs in downtown Syracuse in the next two to three years.

SYRACUSE — SUNY Upstate Medical University officials have been in discussions with their counterparts at Community General Hospital for a month about a possible acquisition of the hospital on Onondaga Hill or some other arrangement.

SALINA — U.S. Rep. Daniel Maffei (D–DeWitt) on June 28 announced $900,000 in federal funding to help connect prominent Syracuse–area health-care providers to an electronic health-information exchange.

If you’re in sales, you know the feeling. It’s the middle of the night about two weeks after starting a new job. You were enthusiastic and could hardly wait to get going. Now, your head is full of doubts. You try to shove them aside, but they don’t go away. “Everything is new,” you tell yourself. “I just need to give it a little more time.” But the doubts keep coming back.

CLAY — After serving several years in different branches of the military, Gregory (Greg) Tiemann and Heidi Grosser are planning to marry and are operating a business together.
Each has been a long-time pet owner, and their company aims to help other pet owners.

SCHROEPPEL — The Baldwin Law Office, which attorney Gloria Flores Baldwin operates from her Clay home, has opened a new location in the town of Schroeppel in Oswego County.
The office’s client list is growing and she wanted a larger office where she could meet with clients, Baldwin says.

MANLIUS — Less than a year after launching, retzcanter, a local advertising and design firm, has opened a new office in Manlius.

Retzcanter is the result of a partnership between the former dcanter creative of DeWitt and retzdesign of Fayetteville.

SYRACUSE — Betsy Rengert is no stranger to Mill Pond Landing, a building in Armory Square near Onondaga Creek that stretches from West Fayette Street to Walton Street.

Many people who use tax-computation software don’t understand the changing structure of the U.S. tax code. They fill in the blanks, click “compute,” and pay the tax. Then they forget about the torture until next year.

Six characteristics typify small business owners who projected revenue increases and business expansion even as the recession peaked. That’s according to a new research report from The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

Summer is here — the books are closed, and the balance sheet looks clean. By definition, a balance sheet “balances,” meaning that assets equal liabilities plus equity. The balance sheet provides a snapshot in time of your enterprise’s worth — and potentially so much more.

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed … When the sun comes up, you’d better be running. — African saying

In the late 1980s, David Birch, the president of the research firm Cognetics, Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., visited Syracuse to talk about gazelles.

ADVERTISING AGENCIES

Tom Frost and Katie Krebs have been hired as junior designers at retzcanter, a full-service advertising and design firm. Both Frost and

SYRACUSE — This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Syracuse Salvation Army’s Booth House, a shelter and counseling service for runaway and homeless youth, ages 12-17. Booth House provides emergency housing, counseling, and crisis services for youth and their families in residential and non-residential settings, says Linda M. Wright, executive director for professional and community services.

Meridian Group, with annual revenue of approximately $1.3 million, provides life, health, and other employee-benefits products and services to individuals, businesses, public entities, nonprofit organizations, unions, and associations. Ross Kraft, Meridian president, and Andrew Biernat, vice president, and their staff will combine their operations into Brown & Brown's Rome office under the leadership of David Carello.

The U.S. Small Business Administration sees growth in its Patriot Express loan program, and the state applies for federal help for the uninsured. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

For the second time in a month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today issued more sobering news on the jobs front.

The BLS reported that the national unemployment rate fell to 9.5 percent in June, from 9.7 percent in May. Good news, right? Normally, that would be considered improvement. The problem is the size of the national labor force plunged by 652,000 people last month, according to the BLS survey.

In that time period, the SBA district office in Syracuse backed 86 loans totaling nearly $6.7 million, according to the office, which covers a 34-county area of upstate New York.

Paterson expects New York will receive nearly $300 million of the $5 billion available in the federal health-care reform legislation over the next three years.

SU is one of 11 winners of the sixth annual Campus Technology magazine Campus Technology Innovators Award. The awards recognize colleges and universities for excellence in using technology.

The Syracuse area adds construction jobs in the last 13 months, and Syracuse-area computer users now have a new network for wireless-Internet service. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The network covers about 230 square miles and more than 265,000 people in the Syracuse area. The service extends from Brewerton south to Nedrow, Auburn, and Cortland, west to Village Green, and east to Fayetteville and Manlius.

The Utica-Rome and Binghamton areas both lost 100 construction jobs during the 12-month period.

With expected enrollment growth of anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent for this coming fall, BCC President Kevin Drumm says the school is stuck without resources to fill vacant positions or expand services because of the late budget.

Wireless Grids announces a partnerships with a local biomass-energy company, and Mohawk Valley Community College wins a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Part of the fifth and final round of Community-Based Job Training Grant awards, the money is part of $125 million awarded to 41 community colleges and organizations.

Trainor Associates of New Hartford designed a new website to help visitors plan trips to the region. It targets regional, national, and international visitors and tourists with an interest in Oneida County.

Wireless Grids will deploy its software product for automated control of Summerhill's biomass energy systems at several locations in New York. The product will allow Summerhill's systems to be managed and share information through mobile devices.

SYRACUSE - The State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees announced Tuesday that Upstate Medical University is considering acquiring Community General Hospital. And the SUNY Board says it supports the move if current analysis shows it would benefit the institution.

SUNY Upstate Medical University is in talks to possibly acquire Community General Hospital, and a Cortland County firm acquires a neighboring Internet-service provider. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

Odyssey has been providing Internet service and web hosting in the Cortland area since 1995. Plan First launched in 2006 and provides computer and network services for business clients throughout Central New York.

The program is aimed at providing training for health-care professionals on how to serve as liaisons between law and medical science, the school said in a news release.

The Key4Women Confidence Index launched in April 2009 and since then has shown a steady increase in optimism, with about 60 percent of women business owners surveyed now saying they believe business conditions will improve in the next six months. That compares to 48 percent who expected improvement a year earlier.

Federal grant money will help build a local health-information exchange, and Empire State Development approves funding for local projects. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The funding will help launch "HealtheConnections," Central New York's regional health-information organization (RHIO), which is a policy-making body for the electronic information exchange.

Birnie officials did not immediately respond to media inquiries. The company is headquartered in Rome.

The board approved a total of $30 million in funding, which it said will help retain more than 500 existing jobs and create 29 new ones throughout New York. ESD noted in a news release that all funding is contingent upon final passage of the state budget.

NEW HARTFORD — People shopping on a hot summer day in the New Hartford Shopping Center have a new choice for refreshing treats now that Euphoria Smoothies has moved from the Orchard Shopping Center.

HERKIMER — When Kevin Crosley arrived here more than four years ago, he set an ambitious goal for the Herkimer Area Resource Center (HARC).

NEW HARTFORD — Visions Hotels, LLC, which operates the Hampton Inn of North Utica, is the new owner of the Ramada in New Hartford.

Consumer confidence in upstate New York declined nearly 3 points in May to 60, according to the latest monthly survey from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

UTICA — The Rescue Mission of Utica, Inc. grossed nearly $80,000 from the sale of the historic Swancott Home and its fixtures at an auction May 22.

Four area colleges have teamed up to create the Central New York Recruiting Consortium (CNYRC), a project designed to connect area employers with job seekers from those colleges.

The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) wants to help businesses across the region tap into the $100 million in rebates available through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for energy-efficiency improvements.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Paige Marketing Communications Group has promoted Carrie McMurray to the position of account planning director.

SALINA — Anchor QEA, LLC, an environmental and engineering-consulting firm, has expanded into new space at the Thruway Office Building as the company focuses on projects associated with the cleanup of Onondaga Lake.

NEW HARTFORD — GreenView Energy Management Systems, a one-year-old startup that analyzes energy use in buildings, is hoping in the coming years to build a portfolio of hundreds of structures to monitor.

BINGHAMTON — Between two different vehicle programs, Binghamton University is trying to make it easier to find a ride and a place to park on campus while reducing the college’s carbon footprint.

CORTLAND — Intertek, which employs 400 people in Cortland, is adding new capabilities at its local facility after winning renewable-energy grants at the state and federal level.

MIDDLEVILLE — At the Herkimer Diamonds KOA, campers can experience almost all the amenities of a luxury hotel while generating the same environmental impact as a tent.
That’s because the campground recently opened KOA Solar 1, a 100 percent off-the-grid lodging option. The lodge, which opened in May, not only pampers guests, but also educates them on the importance of reducing their impact on the environment.

ITHACA — The CEO of e2e Materials says his growing company is establishing a new prototyping facility in Ithaca.

LEONARDSVILLE — When you’re dining out, do you ever stop and think about where that baked potato or steak came from?

SKANEATELES — Nestled along a rural road in Skaneateles, Nature’s Chemistry, LLC is dealing with a growth spurt.

Nature’s Chemistry, which launched at 4022 Mill Road in Skaneateles nearly three years ago, produces dietary supplements; organic, gluten-free foods; herbal extract; and health products.

More locations may be on the way in the future 

LIVERPOOL — Voss Signs, LLC, a Manlius–based sign manufacturer, has opened its first retail location at 310 Oswego St. in the village of Liverpool.

The retail store opened for business in its 3,000-square-foot space on June 16. It sells custom signs, stock signs, sidewalk signs, vehicle wraps, magnetic signs, and banners.

SYRACUSE — Upstate Venture Connect (UVC), a nonprofit aiming to encourage the development and growth of more small, innovative companies in upstate New York, has a new partnership with Syracuse University (SU).

JAMESVILLE — Lodestone Banking Consultancy, Inc. is adding new people to its staff with an eye toward growing its business in New York and elsewhere.

CAMILLUS — The man who operates the Mustard Seed Natural Food Market in Oswego has opened a second store under a different name.

All good businesses are personal. The best businesses are very personal. — Mark Cuban, owner, Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise

My column [in the May 21 issue of The Central New York Business Journal] on the darker sides of managing a family business generated a lot of response. Numerous owners of family businesses gave me feedback about the accuracy of my experiences. Given that 80 percent to 90 percent of businesses in the United States are family-owned, I’m not surprised that many of you are interested in the challenges and opportunities these companies offer. So it seems only fair to focus this month on the many positives of managing and working for a family business. Here are just a few.

In the dark days of World War II, when it seemed inevitable that Germany and Japan would prevail and the world would be ruled by incredibly evil regimes — two leaders of men and country stood against world devastation.

“The economic development program agreed to by the Governor and legislature will limit New York’s ability to compete in the race to create and retain jobs as the nation moves out of the recession,” said Ken Pokalsky, senior director of government affairs for The Business Council of New York State, Inc.

ACCOUNTING

The Syracuse Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants has elected and installed the following officers for the 2010-2011 fiscal year: John B. Dubiel, Grimaldi & Nelkin CPAs, PLLC, president; Anthony Abboud, Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, P.C., president-elect; Eric T. Campbell, Fust Charles Chambers LLP, vice president; Diana Kanfer, Testone Marshall Discenza CPAs, treasurer; and Steven A. Stanek, Grimaldi & Nelkin CPAs, PLLC.

WATERTOWN — The $10 million Rochester–area company today known as Relph Benefit Advisors got its start more than 45 years ago as Robert G. Relph Agency Inc. in the rural North Country.

Sales of existing, single-family homes in Onondaga County remained steady in May, and the federal government is helping a project at Syracuse University. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The money will help establish a virtual design studio that will allow designers to evaluate architectural and mechanical measures to increase energy savings in commercial and residential buildings. The project is led by Jensen Zhang of SU's L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science and Michael Pelken of SU's School of Architecture.

The figure is also up about 13 percent from the 5,800 homes sold during the same period in 2009. The New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) released its latest sales data today.

The directors, all seasoned professionals who have been successful throughout their careers, will commit 20 percent to 25 percent of their time to work with DeltaPoint, says Christopher Brodhead, DeltaPoint vice president for business development. They will act as mentors to portfolio companies, serve on boards, and help DeltaPoint find potential deals.

Paychex says its profit was up for the quarter, but down for the year, and the Near Westside Initiative wants to generate business development in that neighborhood. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

The new projects include creation of a micro-lending program, formation of a business association, a peer mentoring program, and an entrepreneurship training program. They are the result of recommendations from the Near Westside Initiative's Small Business Development Committee.

The contract, with the department's Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia, is worth a maximum of more than $43.6 million and is good for one year.

Diluted earnings per share of 32 cents were "flat" compared to the same quarter in 2009, the company said in a news release. The firm's fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31.

The state's top fiscal officer plans to sue BP in hopes of recovering damages for investors in the state-pension fund. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

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The village of Liverpool is the latest community in Onondaga County to award Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VZ) a franchise for its FiOS TV service.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced today he has hired a law firm to represent the New York State Common Retirement Fund in a class-action lawsuit against London-based BP, p.l.c. (NYSE: BP).

The state-pension fund will seek lead-plaintiff status in the action that stems from BP's explosion and spill at its Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Upstate Venture Connect agrees to a partnership with Syracuse University, and a Brazilian firm gives shareholders of an Elmira company more time to consider a takeover offer. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

SU signed on as Upstate Venture Connect's first founding partner. Upstate Venture Connect launched earlier this year.

By June 18, the original expiration date, Romi reported that more than 5.5 million shares were tendered, representing just over 48 percent of Hardinge's outstanding shares and up from 38 percent just a few days earlier. That led Romi to extend the offer of $10 per share until July 14 in hopes of attaining two-thirds of Hardinge's shares.

A ninth facility partners with Cornell University on its JumpStart program, and the state- budget proposal includes help for the New York State Liquor Authority. Hear details in this recording of "Business Briefs from The Central New York Business Journal," as aired on NewsRadio 570 WSYR in Syracuse.

A total of nine centers sponsored by the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology, and Innovation now participate in the initiative.

The society's Foundation for Accounting Education is offering its Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program to 28 high school juniors from June 27 to June 30. Recruitment for the program is focused on minority groups historically underrepresented in the accounting profession, according to the society.