MADE IN THE USA - Strictly Business

Transcription

December 2015
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
INSIDE:
NOVA BUS
NORTHE A
STE R
PERRYWINKLE’S / KNEUCRAFT
NOMAD AIRSTREAM
N NE W Y
ORK
PRE-TECH
POINT POSITIVE
SUNY PLATTSBURGH
DECEMBER 2015
STRICTLY BUSINESS | 1
Published by The Northeast Group
2 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
CONTENTS
F E AT U R E S
COLUMNS
6
20
Nova Bus
INSIGHT
10
38
Perrywinkle’s / Kneucraft
CHAMBERWISE
ADVERTISE
WITH US!
GETNOTICED
TODAY
16
Nomad Airstream
22
ProCat 320
26
Pre-Tech
30
Happy
Holidays
Point Positive
32
The Impact of Buy America
on Clinton County
from the
Northeast
Group
34
SUNY
CONTACT
AARON PATTERSON
AT THE NORTHEAST GROUP
TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE.
Phone: 518.324.5135
Mobile: 518.534.0539
A Northeast Publication©2015
All Rights Reserved
Vol. 26, No. 12, December 2015
aaron.patterson@thenortheastgroup.com
DECEMBER 2015
Publisher’s View
T
here was a time when this area of New York State was known for three
things: Plattsburgh Air Force Base, SUNY Plattsburgh and dairy farming.
There was some manufacturing — Imperial Wallcoverings which closed
in the late 1990s, Diamond International (now PACTIV) and Georgia Pacific
(celebrating more than 50 years in Plattsburgh).
Today much has changed. While SUNY Plattsburgh is still a critical part of
our economy, manufacturers such as Nova Bus, Bombardier Transit, Mold-rite,
and others have taken center stage and there are rumors of exciting announcements to come.
In this issue of Strictly Business entitled “Made in Northeastern New York” we
offer you a look at Nova Bus as it moves into a new construction phase, but also
smaller companies that are making products to meet the needs of local, regional,
national, and international buyers.
You may have seen shiny silver Airstream travel trailers on the road, but a visit
to Nomad Airstream’s plant located on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base will show you the amazing
new uses for these American classics that partners Steve Clement and Guillaume Langevin have devised.
If you think catamarans are just for pleasure boating, the people at ProCat in Rouses Point will share
the history of this ancient craft with you and show you how valuable the catamaran is as a work boat
throughout the world today.
Pre-Tech Precision in Mineville may be one of the best kept secrets in our region. Working with its sister facility in Williston, Vermont the company is producing high-tech state of the art parts for industries
world-wide and offering good jobs for people in that area.
And while most of the companies we have featured in this issue of SB are connected to manufacturing, we also wanted to offer you a look at two companies that are making a different kind of product.
Perrywinkle’s & Kneucraft, jewelers extraordinare, are making beautiful original designer pieces that
reflect their creativity and appreciation for the beauty of our region.
And don’t miss this month’s Insight feature, an interview with Fred Smith, the interim president of
Clinton Community College. His enthusiasm, drive and stamina will amaze you and his candor will
make you laugh.
In many areas of the country, manufacturing is a thing of the past. But not here in Northeastern New
York. Instead of seeing those kinds of jobs disappear, we’ve seen them grow. We are an area that makes
things, all kinds of things and that’s good for business.
As we celebrate this holiday season may I offer the best wishes of all of us at The Northeast Group to you
and yours for health, happiness and prosperity in 2016.
Herb Carpenter, Publisher
Are you an experienced writer with an interest in local business?
Strictly Business is looking for new talent to join our team of writers.
Please send a brief bio and writing sample to meg.lefevre@thenortheastgroup.com.
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DECEMBER 2015
P U BLI S HE R
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David Coryer
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DECEMBER 2015
COVER STORY
1968
1987
1993
Volvo Buses was created
as an independent division
within the Volvo Group
General Motors sold its bus
division, including the Nova
plant in Canada, to Motor
Coach International (MCI)
MCI separated its transit buses from its highway
coach business to create
Nova Bus which produces
transit buses
Volvo bought Prevost
6 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
1995
N O VA B U S
NOVA BUS:
BUSES FOUR WAYS
By Christine Andola
Photos by Ty Kretser
N
iagara Frontier Transportation Authority just received its first compressed natural gas
(CNG) bus to run in the city of Buffalo, a first for Buffalo and for Plattsburgh. That was the
first CNG bus to roll off the line at the Nova Bus manufacturing facility on Banker Road.
Nova Bus, a subsidiary of Volvo Bus North America, supplies transit authorities
across the country with buses powered by diesel engines, diesel-electric hybrid engines and
now compressed natural gas. The company is even starting to make a full electric bus for
the international market.
“The Volvo Group has strong environmental core values, but most transit authorities are looking for the most reliable and economical solution to their transportation needs,” explained
Jason Martin, plant manager at Nova, when asked about the reason for the diversification of
engine types. Nova recently produced its first all electric bus which is being tested in Montreal.
In addition to metro buses for some of the largest cities in the U.S. including New York City,
another Volvo subsidiary, Prevost, produces commuter buses at the Nova facility. These are
designed for longer routes and equipped with large luggage compartments underneath the
coach.
All of the buses run through one assembly line at Nova with each station on the line building to the individual specs of that vehicle. Then, they move to a separate finishing area based
on the type of bus, finally being test driven around the streets of Plattsburgh.
“With 21 work stations and eight finishing stations, we have 30 buses going at once,” explained
Martin. “We were producing two completed buses a day back in September. In October we
went to three, and by January we will be producing four.”
2002
Nova Bus closed plants in
New Mexico and New York
but maintained operations
in Canada
2004
Volvo Bus bought out
Nova Bus
2009
Nova Bus opened its plant
in Plattsburgh, NY
2015
Nova Bus doubled its
production output in
Plattsburgh
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Jason Martin, Plant Manager
“The Volvo Group has strong
environmental core values, but most
transit authorities are looking for
the most reliable and economical
solution to their transportation
needs,” explained Jason Martin,
plant manager at Nova, when
asked about the reason for the
diversification of engine types in
their products.
24/7
24/7
24/7
24/7
24/7
In addition to doubling its production capacity, Nova plans to build a showroom adjacent
to its existing facility. When customers come
to the Plattsburgh facility to take delivery of
their vehicles, they inspect the final product
and initiate any final transactions. Then, the
buses are driven to their location. The new
showroom will house final delivery products.
Martin explained that the delivery miles
are not a concern for transit authorities.
“Customers are more concerned with reliability than miles. These vehicles are meant
to run for up to 15 years, and the customers
know they may rebuild the engine once or
twice in that time period.”
1-800-562-0228
www.agencyins.net
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DECEMBER 2015
Many of the transit authorities do the
rebuilds themselves, but Nova provides them
with training for that purpose. “Our buses
have some advantages over the competitors’. They all include a full
stainless steel structure and composite floor to resist corrosion from
weather and road conditions,” added Martin who is relatively new
to Nova Bus although he is a manufacturing veteran. Sixteen years
of his career was spent with an international agricultural equipment
manufacturer. Throughout his tenure there, Martin moved through
five different facilities around the world.
Most recently, Martin moved his family from Burlington, Iowa to
take the position with Nova Bus in Plattsburgh. “Most of the plants
where I’ve worked were in small municipalities, so my family is very
comfortable here in Plattsburgh,” he explained. “We like the access to
the lake and mountains and the proximity to larger places for travel.”
The location of Nova Bus in Plattsburgh is convenient and comfortable, as well. Martin cites proximity to Montreal, the birthplace of
Nova, and New York City, the largest transit authority in the U.S.,
as important factors. He also mentioned the existing transportation
industry in the Plattsburgh area, making it easier to coordinate the
support services Nova needs.
The local workforce is another advantage Martin sees. “I’ve worked
in five locations around the world, and this is one of the best work
forces I’ve seen.” We see commitment, dedication, hard work, and
good attitude. Employees are cooperative and engaged. When we
have people with these traits, we can invest in the skills training
necessary. We can teach them to build a bus.”
Nova Bus
260, Banker Road
518 566-6682
www.novabus.com
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DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
Jewels
OF THE
NORTH COUNTRY
Diamonds and precious metals are not among the natural
resources of this region and therefore this may seem an
unlikely story in Strictly Business’s Made in Northern
New York issue. However our entrepreneurial spirit runs
deep as evidenced by two jewelry stores who have developed their own unique niche in the area.
P
by Christine Andola
erry Sporn started selling jewelry in New York City to pay his college tuition and
opened his first jewelry store in Saratoga Springs in the early 1980s. Today Sporn
has 20 stores and 550 employees throughout the Northeast and Quebec.
After selling national brand jewelry made all over the world, Sporn was inspired to create
his own line designed and produced right here in the North Country. The inspiration for the
Devotion line came out of a desire to create an affordable American luxury brand. “Well over
99% of diamond jewelry in the world is produced in Thailand or India,” explained Sporn,
who holds four patents for the diamond cuts he developed and uses in Devotion pieces.
“Diamonds are judged by four criteria: cut, clarity, color, and carat,” explained Alicia
Blanchard, manager of Perrywinkle’s Plattsburgh store. The cuts create the flat surfaces
and angles that refract the light and create the sparkle. “Normal diamonds have 58 facets,
Devotion diamonds have more,” continued Blanchard.
Perry Sporn
10 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
All of the diamonds for the Devotion line are hand-selected by Perry. “About 99% of the diamonds in the world do not meet our Devotion standards,” clarified Sporn. The diamonds
that make the cut are brought back to the North Country to Perrywinkle’s exclusive diamond cutting facility.
PERRYWINKLE’S / KNEUCRAFT
Devotion rings are handcrafted in 18 karat gold or platinum. “Each
design is made to order with the diamonds the customer selects from
our inventory,” explained Blanchard.
“Most people don’t know that Perrywinkle’s has always made custom jewelry,” noted Blanchard. “Customers come into the store and
work with one of our designers to create the look they want. Once
they approve the sketch, a wax mockup is created and then the final
product is created,” Blanchard explained. “Custom is a great way to
get what you want and stay within your budget.”
The jeweler in Perrywinkle’s Plattsburgh store has over 30 years experience in the industry. Perrywinkle’s brought Neva Peat to Plattsburgh
eight years ago. Now she is right at home both at Perrywinkle’s and
in Plattsburgh.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this area reminds me strongly of
my home in Colorado,” Peat observed. “And Perrywinkle’s has the
professionalism and the vision that inspires an artist like me.”
Peat has a passion for jewelry design and customer service. “There
is simply no feeling quite like sharing the joy of a young couple just
starting out together by designing their wedding set, or commemorating a life’s memory by combining family stones and personal
stories into a new piece of wearable art,” explained Peat.
Custom designed jewelry is not the cost-prohibitive gift it once was
Blanchard explained. “Our custom pieces start at about $1,000. When
custom designing a piece of jewelry we can adjust the amount and
types of metals and stones to fit within a customer’s budget. Custom
offers a lot of flexibility.”
C
Shawn and Kim Kneussle
ustom design is also a common theme at
another North Country jewelry store. Shawn
Kneussle designs custom pieces that reflect
the spirit of the region and are big sellers in
and outside our area.
“A customer from this area brought some of
our jewelry on a visit out west. The uniqueness of the design got some attention and
now we are doing custom work for people in
Colorado, Montana, California, and Florida,”
explained Kneussle.
After 20 years in the jewelry industry,
Kneussle opened his own business, Kneucraft
Fine Jewelry, with his wife Kim in 2005. Since
its beginning Kneucraft has grown into a
3,000 square foot facility with four full time
jewelers and a full time wax carver.
One of Kneucraft’s focuses is on the nonprofit and charity world where custom design
is essential. Kneussle has designed a number
of exclusive pieces for fundraisers for school
and athletic associations, as well as diseasefocused non-profits and even private clubs.
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DECEMBER 2015
do all of their repair work without
sending their jewelry out.”
“We are finding that we have a great niche
as jewelry designers,” stated Kneussle. “I was
approached at a local event by a man who
shot an elk and wondered what we could
create with the antlers.” Kneucraft designs
all sorts of decorative items from pendants
to knife handles.
“I thrive on oddball ideas that are out there
and we create them,” Kneussle stated. He
attributes the popularity of his design work
to affordability. “The ability to do everything
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our local business. It is comforting for customers to know that we can do all of their
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and skill they have assembled at Kneucraft.
His team includes some experienced talent and some “homegrown” bench jewelers
Kneucraft sent to school to learn gold-smithing, master stone setting and hand engraving.
Despite a small labor pool in the region for
this skilled industry, Kneucraft manages to
be fully staffed. “We have a great team,” he
explained. “At any given time we have 20-30
custom pieces in production. We don’t really
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a half weeks of the year.”
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DECEMBER 2015
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Both Kneussle and Blanchard recognize
recent changes in the jewelry market. What
used to be considered a market for those
with large disposable incomes has opened
up to everyone. National brands like Pandora
are featuring lines of less expensive jewelry,
encouraging small, multiple and repeat purchases. Jewelry stores are seeing a whole new
group of customers coming through the door.
Through custom jewelry lines, Kneucraft
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some local flare through their designs — jewelry designed and produced right here in the
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F E AT U R E
NOMAD
by Julie Canepa
E
Guillaume Langevin, Ed Marin and Steven Clement
instein has been quoted as saying, “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” The
owners of Nomad Airstream, a full service Airstream travel trailer customization and service company based in Plattsburgh, NY, can relate. The story of Nomad president Steven
Clement and CEO Guillaume Langevin is one of small serendipities, enormous challenges and
more recently, seemingly endless possibilities. From a chance meeting that brought the owners together in Montreal to a brief foray into running an Airstream dealership, the company is
settling into a comfortable groove of doing what it does best, producing customized Airstream
trailers for commercial and specialty use in its 35,000 square foot facility on Nomad Drive on
the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and sending them off into every corner of the world.
16 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
NOMAD AIRSTREAM
Becoming Nomad
People and the place
Co-founders Clement and Langevin make a rather unlikely pair of business partners: Clement’s energy and enthusiasm is a polar opposite to
Langevin’s calm, pragmatic demeanor, but it works. Both are natives
of Montreal. Clement brought his childhood love of the Airstream, an
iconic symbol of luxury road travel, adventure and world class craftsmanship, and his experience in retail with Copenhagen-based luxury
designer Carli Gry (now known as IC Group). Langevin took a circuitous route to entrepreneurship, starting university in pre-med, segueing
to Hotel Management, and later acquiring a degree in Business. After a
Marketing internship at Cirque du Soleil, Langevin was hired to work
in Cirque’s Montreal headquarters, in a cubicle on a floor with over 700
other employees. From there, he moved to a smaller marketing firm.
Customers come to Nomad with the desire to turn an already amazing
work of craftsmanship into an even bigger dream, whether for personal
or commercial use. Nomad’s job is to take Airstream vehicles which
are recognized feats of engineering and design and modify them to
their customers’ specifications without ever compromising the integrity of the original brand. “We have an amazing staff,” said Clement.
“We are a team, a group of passionate individuals linked together. Our
employees always go above and beyond what is expected.” Without
prompting, employees covered a desk in Nomad’s front lobby with the
signature riveted aluminum, echoing the exterior of the “silver bullets” undergoing transformation in the warehouse.
The two men joined forces in 2009, with a plan to purchase Airstream
trailers, renovate, customize, and rent them out for corporate events in
Montreal. A life threatening medical emergency with Clement almost
prevented the partners from continuing their plans. When he regained
his health the men went on to purchase the Plattsburgh-based company, GSM Vehicles that had been renovating and repairing a small
fleet of trailers. They moved the business from its original Florida
Street location on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base to its current residence in 2011.
With an endless stream of inquiries and more work coming in,
management has a strong incentive to give its hardworking employees top priority. Nomad’s crew recently completed a project with
an intense deadline and employees were noticeably worn out from
being on their feet all day. Clement called a local esthetician, who
came in at a moment’s notice and took care of each individual with
personalized hand and foot massages. “It makes the team closer. It
says, ‘We respect you.’” said Clement. The refrigerator is routinely
stocked with healthy foods that the staff can help themselves to during lunches and breaks. “When you eat healthy you perform better,”
said Clement. Staff and management share a large dining table for
meals, a practice Clement retained from his days at Carly Gry, where
the CEO and shop employees shared the same table.
DECEMBER 2015
The Custom Fleet
Nomad’s group of A-list clients includes MGM Resorts International,
specifically The Mirage in Las Vegas. With a continual need to knock
the socks off its clientele, The Mirage plans to replace the former
Cirque du Soleil-owned, Beatles-themed Revolution Lounge with
a new concept restaurant called The Still. Dark wood and tufted
leather banquettes recalling the classic whiskey bar will replace the
psychedelic, fuchsia-lit interior of Revolution and one of Nomad’s
Airstreams, custom modified into a food trailer, will hold center
stage inside the 9,000 square foot lounge. Set to open in March of
2016, the installation of the food truck will take a well choreographed
effort, including the removal of walls and massive chandeliers inside
the casino. Tapas and other fare will be served from the Airstream,
which will not be road worthy, but anchored in place for stability.
The company recently transformed a vintage 1969 Airstream
Tradewind, named Planet Caravan, expanding it to a thirty foot food
trailer, complete with griddle, salad bar, plate warmer, heat lamps,
refrigeration, and outlet plugs that are 50 Hz, the frequency of electrical current in Europe and the Middle East, where many of their
clients reside. The mobile restaurant they have created stands up to
the California Retail Food Code, the highest standard in mobile food
facility regulations in the U.S. Customized in Plattsburgh with interior steel components fabricated in the North Country, it is headed
via ship to Manama, the modern capital of the Persian Gulf island
nation, Bahrain.
The explosion of wealth from banking and other industries in that
region, combined with a lust for Americana of any sort makes the
custom Airstreams that Nomad can supply a hot property. Word
of mouth about the company’s work has spread in the region, and
Nomad now has contracts with customers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Qatar.
18 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
From Dream to Design
Growth in the
food truck
industry is a
clear niche. Now
restaurateurs
can follow the
crowd, rather
than investing
in a brick
and mortar
establishment.
Transforming a unique piece of Americana
into a custom dream on wheels is the stuff of
reality show reveals. Plans are in the works for
a possible cable TV series depicting Nomad’s
process from initial client meeting and quote
to the finished product. With a cast of characters in the ranks worthy of a reality show,
including the owners, the show, if realized,
will be highly entertaining.
Ed Marin, a consultant with a background
in engineering and the aerospace industry is
keeping the entrepreneurs’ feet on the ground.
“We began with a business plan that recognizes that people retain Airstreams at a very
high rate, and seventy percent of the original
vehicles are still on the road. We want to be
clear on where we fit in,” said Marin.
Growth in the food truck industry is a clear
niche. Now restaurateurs can follow the crowd,
rather than investing in a brick and mortar
establishment. Specialty projects for corporate branding are also growing. Many may
have seen the #campaigncamper, a tricked out
Airstream travelling the country, bearing the
CNN and Facebook logos. AT&T ordered a
customized Airstream to be used as an office
at this year’s South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX. It was there that Clement
met “Stefani”, who went gaga over the AT&T
Airstream. Clement and Stefani took a selfie in
the unit, with Clement only later realizing he
had just made an Airstream fan of Lady Gaga.
With each project highly customized, Marin
hopes to find ways to standardize certain elements of the construction process; however
cutting off one whole side of the vehicle to
create a door where none existed before does
pose unique engineering challenges. It is necessary to do a detailed analysis of the frame
design on many projects. Despite major structural changes, the integrity of the vehicle must
remain roadworthy and able to maintain a
dynamic load. A mobile hair salon contract
posed the problem of how to distribute the
extra load of six hundred gallons of water for
the shampoo station. Clement maintains a
constant optimism. “Anytime there is a problem, there is always a solution.” Successfully
implemented, the client now wants two more.
Although many of the projects seem high
tech, employees need to have conventional
trade skills like plumbing and woodworking to make them happen. The employees are
part of a team and Nomad’s owners hope is
to develop the staff to leadership positions.
The staff vets new personnel, with everyone
not just pulling their weight, but going above
and beyond at all times.
Cutting corners is not an option. Marin will
assist with the growing pains inherent in a
company that does not currently have to fight
for business, keeping a watchful eye on overhead and adding a second shift if necessary,
rather than more space and equipment. “We
will take on personnel to meet the demand.”
Staff has doubled in recent weeks. Nomad’s
new Creative Director, Andrea Knoll, will
work to create a cohesive brand and image
for the business going forward.
Clement’s fondness for the vehicles is evident.
“Every Airstream has a story.” He spends his
summers living in an Airstream on the lake
and continually pinches himself in disbelief
that business is flooding through Nomad’s
doors. As its reputation for quality work
and service grows, customers are calling
from all over the world and each one will be
treated like family. “We literally roll out the
red carpet when someone comes to pick up
their vehicle,” said Clement. The business is
fun, exciting and changing and at Nomad
Airstream, the adventure is just beginning.
Nomad Airstream
167 Nomad Drive
(518) 324-6225
www.nomadairstream.com
DECEMBER 2015
INSIGHT
Name: Fred Smith
Current Position: Interim President,
Clinton Community College
Hometown: Evans Mills, New York
Education: B.S. in Accounting from SUNY
Albany; M.B.A. from Syracuse University
Civic involvement: Honorary Rotarian,
Board of Directors service to various
organizations including Lake Forest
and the Plattsburgh Old Base Memorial
Chapel
Fred Smith personifies the adage, “The reward
for good work is more work.” Smith currently
serves as the interim president of Clinton
Community College. Sitting in his office on
the hill is a bit of déjà vu for him. It was 1989
when he was first asked to join CCC to fill a
one-year vacancy as Academic Dean. At that
time he was 23 years into a satisfying career
teaching accounting at SUNY Cobleskill,
but he welcomed the new challenge. Smith
went on to fill a variety of executive positions at Clinton, including Vice President for
Academic Affairs.
Fred
Smith
by Michelle St. Onge
20 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
In 1994 Smith retired from higher education and became the Director of the Alice T.
Miner museum in Chazy. “That was a whole
new wonderful world. It fed my interests in
colonial revival and antique collecting,” he passionately recalled. In 2006, Smith retired once
again. “You have to understand, I’ve retired
four times,” Smith said with a chuckle. Twice
more during his retirement, he received and
accepted invitations to fill temporary vacancies in higher education leadership. Smith
held the interim presidency at North Country
Community College for two years and, most
recently, returned to CCC where he is today.
SB: How did you discover your love for teaching?
FS: I was first introduced to college teaching at Syracuse University
as a graduate assistant. At a large university many classes are not
taught by faculty, they are taught by graduate students. In my second
semester I taught a section of elementary accounting to undergraduates. I wasn’t so thrilled with graduate school, but I loved teaching.
It almost took over my life. When I graduated I wrestled with wanting to make lots of money and become a CPA or teach. At that time,
community colleges were popping up all over so there were plenty of
teaching jobs to be had. I ended up taking a job at SUNY Cobleskill.
SB: What inspired you as a teacher?
FS: One of the things I loved about teaching accounting was the challenge. I would have students say to me, ‘I’m not going to be good in
accounting because I’m not good at math.’ I loved the challenge of
saying to that student , ‘I’m going to push you and you are going to
succeed.’ I always prided myself on the success of my students and
I wasn’t one to give away grades.
Good teaching is like a theater performance and it takes a lot out of
you. I don’t know that I could teach a full load at this time in my life.
It requires a unique kind of energy that can be very draining. You
don’t walk into a classroom thinking, ‘Oh, I’m tired today; we’ll see
how it goes.’ You’d better be ready to be ‘on’ from the minute you
walk in. Good administrators should teach from time to time, too.
During my administrative career at Cobleskill, I usually taught one
class each academic semester. I think that’s good policy. If you want
to be a good administrator, you’d better be in touch with what is happening in your classrooms.
SB: How do you approach your work as interim president?
FS: I don’t believe in an ‘open door’ policy. I’m not opposed to seeing
people in my office, but I know you have to get out and about in order
to know what’s really going on. You have to get out and talk with people. That’s what I really believe in.
SB: What is it like being the president of a college?
FS: One of the things I learned quickly when I went to North Country
Community College is that being a college president is a different
world. I think everyone should be a president for a month. I notice
that now when I walk down the halls people speak to me. I’ve come
to realize that people are often responding to the position and not
the person. Many people call me President Smith, but I’m really Fred.
The position puts you in another category of sorts. You get invited to
events not as yourself, but as the president of the college. There is an
identity of “the president” without any regard for the person, Fred
Smith. When people say, ‘I hear good things about you,’ you aren’t
sure if they mean you, the person or you, the position. You lose a certain amount of that when you become the president. I never would
have understood this if I hadn’t been in the position.
SB: What qualities do you believe are necessary for
success?
FS: First you have to understand that what I construe as success
isn’t necessarily what anyone else thinks. To be successful you’ve
got to be committed. You have to be honest with yourself and others about what it is that you are looking for, how are you going
to get it and what are you going to give to it. Don’t be afraid of
failure. You can’t be afraid of failure if you want to be successful.
SB: Have you failed?
FS: Oh, sure. I have failed in personal relationships, I have failed
at times in how I treat others. I have failed in aspects of every job
I’ve ever had. I tend to spend a lot of time analyzing what I do. I
think it is really important professionally. If you think you are the
end-all, be-all, I’ve got a surprise for you. You are probably going
to face failure with a capital F. I am quite capable of being humble
even under the façade of self-confidence.
Here at the college I often tell people that we are doing a very
good job, but we can do better. You’ll never do better if you don’t
look at and analyze how you did something. Is that failure? No.
That recognition that you can do better is very, very important.
SB: If you could have dinner and spend an evening with
any well-known person, living or dead, who would you
choose and why?
FS: Eleanor Roosevelt. The reason why is partly because I did have
dinner with her as a college student when she came to speak to
us at Albany State. I regret that at the time I didn’t appreciate the
wonderful opportunity that I had. I don’t even remember what we
talked about. It’s like having a chance for a wonderful romance
that I just let go. I’ve learned a lot about her in the interim, and
I’d like to have my second chance.
SB: How do you want to be remembered?
FS: If I died tomorrow, I would die knowing that I had done my
best at whatever the professional endeavor was. Am I perfect? No,
I wouldn’t say that. There are a lot of things I know, and there are
a lot of things I don’t know. I will be only as good as the people
I surround myself with. In my mind, that is so critical in whatever you are doing. I have given it my all, and I recognize my
strengths and weaknesses. I don’t have an ego; that is not who I
am. I am just doing a job.
When I talk about the shortcomings of my life, I can tell you that
I don’t have the healthiest balance. I often work late, and many
people ask me why I put in such long hours. It is because I answer
first to myself. I drive myself. I always have.
DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
The Boat of the
FUTURE:
PROCAT 320
22 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
P R O C AT 3 2 0
Story and Photos by Karen Bouvier
P
roCat U.S., owned by Magguy Thibodeau and
Michel Pachiaudo, has begun to produce the
ProCat 320, a catamaran work boat that is more
than a redesign of a classic vessel. It is a fiberglass symbol of how perfectly applied vision can spur
an innovative business, stimulate economic growth in a
North Country village and provide a valuable working
tool for those involved in fishing, education, government,
and as a logistic solution in remote places in the world.
“Many places do not have roads,” said Pachiaudo from
his manufacturing plant in Rouses Point. “Travel by water
is more practical and efficient. We want to increase the
use of boats for the transportation of goods and services.
Since the ProCat 320 only needs 18 inches of water, it can
go in shallow ports, rivers, almost anywhere.”
Coming from the Tamil word kattumaram, which means
“logs tied together”, catamarans originated about 2,500
years ago in South India and Polynesia (think outrigger
canoe). Simply put, a catamaran is a twin-hulled vessel
with a deck built on top of a wide beam. A catamaran’s
longevity and flexibility are due not only to its shallow
draught, but its stability in rough waters and bad weather,
as well as its fuel efficiency (the twin hulls cut, rather than
push, the water). Powered by sails and the wind, and later,
by outboard motors, catamarans were consistently and
successfully used throughout the world as ferries and work
boats. Today, the U.S. Navy uses them for military cargo
transport, they work as survey ships in China, Indonesia
and India, and Norway uses them to ferry people among
the most populated of its 50,000 islands.
Americans may be familiar with the popular pleasure
boat, the Hobie Cat, introduced in the 1950s. While the
catamaran was not previously known for speed, in 1967
Rodney March of England designed the Tornado catamaran for the Olympics and literally blew the competition
out of the water. Re-designed in 2000, the Tornado continues to win races in the America’s Cup.
With this pedigree it is understandable why Pachiaudo,
boat builder, manufacturing consultant and forward
thinker chose the catamaran as the basis for the ProCat
320. By constructing it from fiberglass (the first manufacturer in the U.S. to do so) rather than aluminum, the
ProCat 320 is not subject to electrolysis corrosion. In
addition, Pachiaudo added unique rounded tips (bulbs)
to each hull, giving the vessel 30% more fuel efficiency,
a deck awning and two 300 horsepower outboard (or
stern drive) motors. His 32’x15’x10’ workboat with 328
square feet of deck space is suitable for a myriad of operations around the world: Coast Guard operations, bridge
construction support, fishing, windmill and buoy maintenance, firefighting pump and rescue, as an on-water
research laboratory, commuting, logistical solutions, and
delivery of medical personnel to hard-to-reach areas.
“The original design is British, but we incorporated the
naval engineering modifications for commercial boating
in North America,” explained Pachiaudo, as he showed
this writer the ProCat 320 prototype. “Our boat is completely customizable and is outfitted to order. A client
may request any kind of accessories.”
Duey Hampton, Keith Gadway, Mario Contreras, David Gooley, Scott Cayea, Stephen Patrick—Plant Manager, CJ McKethan
DECEMBER 2015
We’re in business to help your business.
Fast forward nearly three decades. Pachiaudo
was ready to retire from a rewarding career
and wanting to start a business that embodied his passion of building a boat of his own
design that incorporated his values (environmentally and community conscious and
a sustainable economic opportunity). He perfected his catamaran work boat design, then
enlisted his wife’s partnership. “It wasn’t hard
to convince her to join me in this new exciting phase of our life,” confirmed Pachiaudo.
“She is passionate about boats and evolution.”
• Assembly
• Packaging
• Sorting / Sealing
• Labeling / Tagging
• Pick and Pack
• Collating and Mailings
• Janitorial Services
Champlain Valley
Industries
9 Industrial Boulevard
Plattsburgh, New York
Tel: 518-563-0037
Sheryl Esposito, Production Coordinator
sesposito@cviarc.org
Kathleen Stygles, Director
kstygles@cviarc.org
A native of Brazil, Pachiaudo built his first boat
at 17, and owned and managed a fishing fleet
for over a decade. After accepting a consultant position from Mercedes Benz to manage
its manufacturing assembly lines, Pachiaudo
immigrated to Canada 27 years ago.
Turning subcontracting
opportunities into jobs for Clinton
County developmentally disabled
adults
His wife, business partner, co-visionary, and
president of ProCat U.S., Magguy Thibodeau,
is a successful stock broker and financial
advisor in Montreal. Her vision and attention
to the human element in business, as well as
her financial and administrative skills, round
out their collective skill set for ProCat U.S.
Thibodeau and Pachiaudo began to write a
business plan in June 2014. “Karen Stehlin
at the Small Business Development Center
helped us develop it and counseled us on how
to negotiate with an investor. Donna Fessette
at One Work Force connected us to our foreman, Steve Patrick who is my right arm and
has been with me since the beginning. Bill
Ferguson from Empire State Development
and Sue Matton from the North Country
Chamber of Commerce were also instrumental in helping us get this business going.”
Thus prepared, Pachiaudo pitched his business plan to Point Positive, a group of angel
investors in Saranac Lake in December 2014,
and with their financial support, started
ProCat U.S. After he found manufacturing and office space at 5 Lincoln Boulevard
in Rouses Point and with Thibodeau overseeing the operations and sales, Pachaiudo,
Patrick, and a team of six workers began construction of a full-scale model in April of
this year. He will bring the finished boat to
the New Orleans World Work Boat show in
December and Maine Fisherman’s Forum in
March 2016. After that, the ProCat 320 will
tour the Eastern seacoast for 60 days. As consignment orders come in, the work crew will
be expanded to 50, 27 for the assembly line
and, under full production, produce a completed boat each week.
24 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
“This is a very exportable product,” explained
Pachiaudo, “and the ProCat plant’s Rouses Point
location, with its connection to the St. Lawrence
and Hudson rivers, makes it a perfect boat building hub. We are hoping the success of ProCat
will encourage other boat-related businesses to
open here. Good business brings more business
and the need for skilled workers.”
As the ProCat 320 moved toward completion,
Pachiaudo discussed his vision for someday
building a totally “green” catamaran. As he
held up a flap of golden woven fabric, he
explained, “This fabric is a natural cellulosebased product from Bangladesh. It is made
of jute (a long, strong vegetable fiber made of
course threads) and coated with a resin made
from soy and pineapples. It is flexible, waterproof and very strong. Using jute would help
the economy of Bangladesh as well as create
a truly biodegradable boat. We have to be
flexible with our idea. The potential for this
is infinite,” he emphasized.
ProCat US Inc.
5 Lincoln Boulevard
Rouses Point, NY 12979
(518) 297-2102
(318) 264-6818
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DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
NOT JUST
NUTS AND
BOLTS
PRE-TECH
PRECISION
By Julie Canepa
F
or over a hundred years, the tiny hamlet of Mineville, New York played a vital
role in industry that reverberated outside its
immediate region. Ore was discovered there
in the early 1800s, and first the WitherbeeSherman Company and later Republic Steel
ran the mine there until it closed in 1971.
Railroad and Lake Champlain barge routes
were established and the town of Moriah, of
which Mineville is a part, was integral to the
iron industry.
Jim Kahler
26 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
Ore from Mineville, Moriah and Lyon
Mountain was used to build the most widelyrecognized suspension bridges in the United
States including the George Washington,
Golden Gate and the earlier hybrid suspension Brooklyn Bridge. While it may maintain
a much lower profile, Pre-Tech Precision
Machining supplies custom components of
critical use within the aerospace, defense,
biomedical, and computer/electronic industries from Mineville, putting the region on
the map once again.
PRE-TECH
Founded in Williston, Vermont in 1984 by Rick Dolliver and Ed
Paya (who has since retired), Pre-Tech opened its satellite manufacturing facility in the Moriah Business Park in Mineville 17 years
ago to increase capacity. The 22,000 square foot shop produces precision components for several high level leaders in the aerospace
and biotechnology industries. Production Manager Jim Kahler has
been with Pre-Tech at the Mineville location since its inception in
1998. Kahler brought his experience in manufacturing from a factory environment to the team of six original employees. He was
promoted to production manager in 2009 and has seen the location
grow to thirty-two employees. Pre-Tech has made thousands of different custom components since it opened. “I learn something new
every day,” said Kahler of the challenges inherent in manufacturing high precision parts.
The Pre-Tech facilities on opposite sides of Lake Champlain are mirror images of each other, which gives them the capability to mitigate
their risk and maintain their demanding production schedules in
the event of an unforeseen disaster. “Employees from Mineville are
sent to Vermont to cross-train on similar machines and processes
so that there are no hiccups,” said Kahler. He communicates daily
with the company’s corporate headquarters in Williston to confirm
production schedules.
The Process
In the world of precision manufacturing, patience is a virtue; the
process is painstaking. Pre-Tech engineers work with a customer’s
initial design, contributing their expertise to facilitate a prototype.
Upon completion, the part is sent to the customer where it may be
given the thumbs up with instructions to commence production. On
occasion, the customer may decide the component needs re-engineering and possibly even a full scale return to the drawing board.
Once production begins on an order, Pre-Tech puts the part through
its paces. For example, product may come in with rough edges, having been forged by an outside company from molds designed by
Pre-Tech. In that case the parts are placed in a rock tumbler until
they are smooth.
Next, the product might be shipped out to another outside service
provider to receive a chemical process known as anodizing. These outside processes can take time; one company that completes this stage
is located outside of Springfield, MA. All outside service providers
are routinely audited to ensure they are able to meet specifications
and monitor defects and delivery data as well as comply with all pertinent accreditation standards.
When a snowstorm in Boston last winter kept Pre-Tech’s plate supplier closed, the company didn’t skip a beat. It has more than one
supplier in place for each process, thereby mitigating the risk of line
disruptions. “What we do is only one piece of the puzzle,” said Kahler.
Last year, Pre-Tech purchased two state-of-the-art high-speed, thermallystable horizontal machining centers, adding to its already robust arsenal
of innovative equipment. The Okuma 5000 and 4000 provide thermal
dynamic compensation. In layman’s terms, they equalize ambient temperatures so they compensate for the internal temperature of the shop.
The contract on the machines provides training, service and maintenance, but the machines are also able to self-diagnose. The machine’s
computer will shut down operation if a tool is broken or has reached its
life use and notify staff by sending a text message, e-mail or even calling a designated phone number to inform them of its current position,
eerily reminiscent of “HAL 9000” in the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
The new machines allow a level of mass production that human
machining cannot meet. Components are placed on a horizontal
attachment called a “tombstone”. Initial set-ups can be complicated
and in-depth, however, once certified, the job is a snap to set-up
going forward due to elaborate fixturing, set-up sheets and program
validation procedures.
DECEMBER 2015
The tombstone is placed in the programmed
machine and using the tools in its arsenal,
many of which were created in house, the
components are modified accordingly. “The
4000 can add on to a single load, so it is possible to have six tombstones with eight parts on
each in the machine. That is sixty-four parts
that are machined without an operator ever
touching them,” said Kahler. The 4000 can
run a full tombstone in two hours and fifteen
minutes on its existing product line. The goal
is to operate the machines 24/7. Right now
they turn on at five a.m. on Monday morning and shut down on Saturday morning.
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An ultrasonic cleanser removes foreign objects
and debris from the threads in the machined
parts. The machines are cleaned daily, more
often if a different metal is used, as parts will
lose their accuracy if the machines are dirty.
Cleaning is done manually, by hand and
with shop vacs. All metals that run off in the
machining process are recycled including
aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, and
exotic steels. The shop fills one dumpster full
of metal chips and shavings on average per
day. Coolant used in the machining process,
a water soluble oil-based product with the viscosity needed to keep the tools lubricated, is
also drained for recycling and reuse.
The employees who work on the Burr Bench
literally remove burrs and any sharp edges that
would cut a wire placed in a housing. Parts
are then measured for accuracy to specifications with sophisticated tools including gauges
measuring air volume, precision rulers and a
ruby probe. The ruby tipped probe’s function
is to probe certain surfaces of a part to allow
the machine to locate itself in varying axes.
A Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
runs tolerances, a measure of the permissible
limit of variation in the component in relation
to its original specifications. The desired tolerance is tight. “Our goal is for a margin where
the permissible limit of variation is equal to
what you would have if you split a hair on your
head thirty times,” said Kahler. That’s close!
The ruby tipped probe can also be used for
inspection inside a machine, so that if a part
does not meet tolerance it can be rerun before
removing it from the machine. If a measuring device is out of order, Kahler’s team can
go “old school”, using more traditional measuring devices including a machine called the
shadow, also known as an optical comparator.
Employing the Community
With some skilled manufacturing companies expressing dissatisfaction over the lack
of skilled employees in the region, Pre-Tech
has been successful in sustaining employment balance. They offer 100% on the job
training for the right individual, but coming in with a good skill set from a variety of
fields is key. Prior factory work, an ability to
read blueprints, a background in construction, and good hand-eye coordination from
something like crocheting make for a good
job candidate at Pre-Tech. “Some of these
people can tear apart a four-wheeler and put
it back together. If you can, I have a job for
you,” emphasized Kahler.
Many of Pre-Tech’s employees are recent
local Moriah Central School graduates. Most
employees have a commute that is under
fifteen minutes. “They never thought they
would have the option to retire at a business in the town where they graduated high
school,” said Kahler. With a goal of operating
seven days a week, Kahler hopes he can find
more qualified employees from the region.
“Unfortunately, industrial arts classes do not
offer much in the way of hands-on experience. Anyone skilled in basic machining,
drilling, drafting, lathe work, or mechanical drawing will have a trade they can use
anywhere in the world.”
Pre-Tech’s customers demand a 3-5% savings from one year to the next. That is where
the company’s Continuous Improvement
Plan comes into play. “Can we make it better? Can we reduce the production cost?
We work hard to find the highest driver
of expense and reduce it,” said Kahler. For
instance, a component that used to be made
in three parts is now made in one piece.
With challenges like that, and new custom
projects coming in all the time, job satisfaction is high at Pre-Tech. “You feel like you
have accomplished something, that you are
making a difference. You are making something that is going to be used in everyday
life,” Kahler concluded.
Pre-Tech Plastics, Inc.
Pretech Precision
12 Tom Phelps Lane
Mineville NY 12956
(518) 942-5950
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DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
HELP
FROM
A
High Places
by Karen Bouvier
ngel investor: Someone who provides financial backing for
startups or entrepreneurs. The capital they provide can be
a one-time injection of seed money or ongoing support to
carry the company through difficult times. Angel investors give
more favorable terms than other lenders because they are focused
on helping the business succeed rather than reaping a large profit
from their investment. Often retired entrepreneurs or executives,
angel investors may want to keep abreast of current developments
in a particular business arena, mentor another generation of entrepreneurs or make use of their experience and networks. Therefore,
angel investors can often provide valuable management advice and
important contacts.
The term “angel” originally came from Broadway theatre where
it was used to describe wealthy patrons who invested in a show
that would have otherwise shut down. In 1978, William Wetzel,
then a professor at the University of New Hampshire and founder
of its Center for Venture Research, completed a pioneering study
on how entrepreneurs raised seed capital in the U.S., and began
using the term “angel” to describe the investors that supported
them. Beginning in the late 1980s, angels started to coalesce
into informal groups with the goal of sharing deal flow and due
diligence work and pooling their funds to make larger investments. Angel groups tend to be local organizations made up of
10-150 accredited investors. As of 2006, there were over 200 angel
groups in the United States.
30 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
In April 2014, one such angel group, formed in Saranac Lake calling
itself Point Positive, began investing. According to Melinda Little,
Executive Director, “Point Positive currently consists of 15-16 members of high net worth and significant means who have a deep, abiding
interest in helping strengthen the economy in the North Country. We
reach out to entrepreneurs, with a creative vision and a strong business
plan, who show that they are able to create a sustainable, environmentally conscious, regional business that can grow and create local jobs.”
Working as a liaison between entrepreneurs and its angel investors
who decide on an individual basis whether or not to invest in a business, Point Positive hosts two formal “pitch sessions” each year. To date,
24 different business ventures have been pitched and Point Positive has
invested in two early-stage and one startup business: Wholeshare, an
on-line distributor of organic and natural food and household goods
based in Potsdam, New York; ADK Packworks, of Vergennes, Vermont,
a maker of collapsible baskets and totes based on the iconic Adirondack
basket, and ProCat U.S., a Rouses Point, New York manufacturer of the
ProCat 320, a catamaran workboat. In addition to the formal pitch sessions, Point Positive evaluates business ventures throughout the year.
Extending its scope beyond investing, Point Positive works to foster an
entrepreneurial ecosystem within the North Country through partnerships with Clarkson University, North Country Community College,
Paul Smiths, Hamilton and Colgate Colleges, SUNY Plattsburgh, and
other colleges and universities. It partners with other angel investment
groups and supports emerging initiatives such as the Essex Farm Institute.
POINT POSITIVE
Point Positive grew out of the ABC (Adirondack Business Creators) Initiative undertaken in 2013 under
the aegis of the Adirondack Foundation (formerly ACT). ABC’s aim was to create or expand Adirondack
businesses for local, national and international markets. In order to help fledging business owners prepare to sell their idea to investors, Point Positive provides a checklist to make sure the idea is a good fit.
Considerations such as market size, profit potential, target customer, sales strategies, and distribution
systems are addressed as well as how much capital is needed and for how long. By the time the bi-annual
pitch session arrives, entrepreneurs are well prepared to present their idea to the angel investors.
“I really enjoy getting things started, but I don’t have the fire to start another company myself,” said
Little. “In this job, I reach out to entrepreneurs and get to stay involved working with new companies.
There’s a lot of mentoring that goes on. I sometimes help prepare companies get ready for their pitch
and I try to check on new businesses. Some businesses will also reach out and we welcome them.”
Point Positive
P.O. Box 1281
(518) 354-0202
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
www.pointpositiveadk.com
Melinda Little, Executive Director
Photo by Jack LaDuke
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DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
THE IMPACT OF BUY AMERICA
ON CLINTON COUNTY
T
By William Owens, Photo by Ty Kretser
he presence of Bombardier and Nova Bus are the face of Buy
America in our community. Buy America has many different
statutory foundations as well as colloquial meaning. It first came
to life in the “Buy America Act” (1933). In 1979, the Trade Agreements
Act (TAA) that provided for a system of exemptions became law.
Buy America at the governmental level (federal, state or local) is about
the percentage of U.S. content required to meet statutory obligations.
This concept flows through to NAFTA compliant products as well
as to products sold to consumers as “Made in America”.
Federal legislation enacting “Buy America” provisions can be found
not only in Defense and Transportation legislation, but many other
federal statutes which also require Buy America compliance. In our
region the Buy America requirements are embedded in railroad car
and bus production because those products are sold to municipalities
who receive federal and state funding. Many states and municipalities
have also adopted Buy America provisions that are more stringent than
federal law which translates to a higher requirement for U.S. content.
Vendors to Bombardier and Nova Bus come to assist in boosting the
U.S. content of the end product, so that that product meets the Buy
American provisions of the applicable statute, most often around 50%.
In order to qualify as NAFTA goods to avoid the payment of duty
yet another standard for U.S. content is imposed. NAFTA rules
32 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
generally require evidence of fifty or more percent of raw materials
coming from a NAFTA country that are incorporated into a product as determined by the Customs and Border Protection Division of
Department of Homeland Security. This is an issue about which our
local Customs brokers are quite knowledgeable as it impacts whether
or not an item being imported is subject to duty.
During a recent panel at the Conference du Montreal, attended by
about 3,800 people, one of my fellow panelists who operates a steel
manufacturing business mentioned that he had frequently been
questioned about opening an American facility of equal size to his
Quebec business. He indicated that his response to such questions
was that he finds Buy America to be very helpful because once in
the United States, he was able to block-out, if you will, competitors
not located in the U.S. from any solicitations that had Buy America
provisions. This obviously will not work for every potential seller,
but it is an interesting insight into the process, and one which all of
us involved in economic development should consider as a potential marketing tool.
The TAA and NAFTA contain provisions that provide for exemptions which are based upon the “public interest”. A clear example is
the defense industry in which it has been determined that “it would
be inconsistent with the public interest to apply the restrictions of
the Buy American Act with respect to certain supplies, which have
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been determined to be of a military character or involved in programs of mutual interest
to the United States and Canada,” thus allowing the sale of certain defense products made
in Canada to our military.
If we move to the private sector and look at manufacturers touting their products as American
made, what does that really mean? For most products sold to the public, unless they are
automobiles or items made from textiles or wool, there is no law requiring manufacturers
and marketers to make a “Made in USA” claim. But if a business chooses to make the claim,
the Federal Trade Commission’s Made in USA standard applies which requires that “all or
virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin, which is a significantly higher
standard than Buy America or NAFTA.
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Phone: 518-643-7946
Fax: 518-643-8136
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Our Canadian neighbors are legitimately concerned about the utilization of Buy America
as a protectionist device that adversely impacts their ability to export into the U.S. This is
clearly not an unreasonable concern.
It’s obvious that the imposition of Buy America has benefited our region. Nonetheless, we
need to be sensitive to our largest trading partner Canada.
William Owens is a former member of Congress representing the New York 23rd, a strategic
advisor at Dentons out of its Washington, DC, office, and a partner in the firm of Stafford,
Owens, Piller, Murnane, Kelleher & Trombley, PLLC, in Plattsburgh, New York. Mr. Owens is
available to consult on US/Canadian trade, as well as to provide legal advice and assistance.
Securities offered through
Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member
FINRA/SIPC. CFA Insurance Agency
and Cadaret, Grant are
separate entities.
DECEMBER 2015
F E AT U R E
PERSONNEL:
AN ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR
STRONG BUSINESSES
I
By Christine Andola
Photos by Briana Taft, Student Photographer
t’s impossible to discuss business in the North Country without
the topic of workforce development creeping into the conversation.
The economy is recovering, businesses are moving here from other
regions, start-ups are up, and the manufacturing sector is growing.
With all of these exciting developments, the conversation always
turns to the challenges of staffing in this region.
In true Adirondack style this problem may have a homegrown solution. “As the number of companies relocating to the region increases,
we are seeing more and more opportunities for the many graduates
of our region’s community, state and private colleges and universities,” stated David Coryer, vice president of ETS.
34 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
Twice a year SUNY
Plattsburgh invites
recruiters to campus.
Fall semester
brings the School of
Business & Economics
Internship & Career
Fair; in spring semester
it is the Career
Development Center’s
Career Fair.
One institution helping to expand the workforce with quality applicants
is SUNY Plattsburgh. “The university has been an important part of
providing qualified graduates for the local workforce since it was established in 1889 as a normal school for the training of teachers,” Keith
Tyo, chief of staff to the president of SUNY Plattsburgh, pointed out.
As the needs of the community grew and changed, SUNY Plattsburgh’s
programs expanded to encompass a wide variety of offerings and it
stepped up its efforts to develop a local workforce to grow with the
economy. Through a number of initiatives, the school not only prepares students for robust careers, but attempts to integrate graduates
into the community. “We are trying to keep Plattsburgh graduates
here, but they need job opportunities,” Tyo explained.
SUNY PLATTSBURGH
SUNY is one of the largest university
systems in the world.
New York State Senator Benjamin
Feinberg of Plattsburgh introduced the
legislation that established the SUNY
system.
Plattsburgh became part of the SUNY
system when it was established in
1948.
Number of employers who recruit from
SUNY Plattsburgh: 1035.
Number of job and internship postings
from 2014-15 academic year: 2481.
The Career Development Center (CDC) on
campus is where the academic and professional worlds seem to come together. Tyo
gave the center’s director, Dr. Julia OvertonHealy high praise for carrying out the CDC’s
mission: to empower students toward a
meaningful career and life-long professional
success. “She is a very caring individual who
is deeply committed to providing the necessary resources for our students and working
with employers who can benefit from our
campus resources,” added Tyo.
According to Overton-Healy, the consistent expectation from employers in all areas
is people who produce great outcomes. In
addition to classroom learning, Plattsburgh
students gain leadership, team work and
communication skills that help them excel
outside of the boundaries of the campus and
beyond their college education.
Experience is another key component
to success. The CDC brings opportunities for experience to students through
CardinalConnect, its online system. “We
work with students to prepare them to compete for these experiences by way of resume
development, interview skills and on-boarding preparation,” Overton-Healy explained.
In addition to the many services provided for
employers by the CDC, SUNY Plattsburgh’s
School of Business & Economics (SBE) has
its own unique program designed to place
students in local businesses and agencies
where they gain practical work experience
DECEMBER 2015
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DECEMBER 2015
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Dr. Julia Overton-Healy
each semester. Mary Carpenter, Director of
Internships & Career Opportunities, works
with accounting firms, banks, manufacturers, hotels and restaurants, high schools, the
Medical Center, our public television station,
local governments, not-for-profits, and a
multitude of service providers to make successful matches.
Asked about the SBE’s program Carpenter
explained, “There are so many benefits to
the working relationships we have developed
with the business community. Students see
the area in a whole new light when they go
off campus and learn about the diversity of
businesses. And at the same time employers
get to know our students, they develop personal relationships with them. They see them
grow and develop; they see their potential and
in an increasing number of cases they see a
future for them in their businesses. That is
a win-win for everyone.”
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Tyo pointed to the legacy of progress SUNY
Plattsburgh has in growing with the community it serves. “While we continue to prepare
qualified teachers for public and private
schools throughout the North Country and
New York State, we also graduate students
who are prepared for positions in various other fields. As the needs of businesses
across the region change and grow, SUNY
Plattsburgh continues to support them with
qualified personnel.”
“SUNY Plattsburgh produces more than a
workforce,” Overton-Healy concluded. “We
help prepare young adults for meaningful
lives of productivity and community engagement. Our students know their academic
disciplines and they also know how to be
great employees, citizens and neighbors.”
DECEMBER 2015
CHAMBER
WISE
By Garry Douglas
A NEW YEAR AND AN
UPDATED AGENDA
E
ach year, the board and management staff of the North
Country Chamber engage in a Strategic Planning Retreat, assessing our
progress over the past year, looking at changing needs and opportunities, and developing refined strategies and a comprehensive business
plan for the year ahead. This year’s retreat was held in Lake Placid
in November, with our friend and partner Howard Zemsky, president of Empire State Development, speaking at the opening dinner.
Over the next full day, we had sessions devoted to Government
Affairs, looking at key issues in Washington and Albany in 2016;
to Workforce Development, with a panel discussion involving several of our partners helping to frame some of the priorities we must
focus on; to the Regional Economic Development Council and
its “IMPACT” plan for strategic action and investment over the
next five years, and to Small Business, including revitalization of
our SCORE chapter and other heightened small business support
efforts. For the first time, we were pleased to welcome two representatives from each of our fifteen Partner Chambers for part of
the day’s discussions, something which will be a regular feature in
the years to come.
In preparing for the great work and opportunities ahead, we paused
to recognize what we believe our “core strengths” are so that we will
value these and look for ways to sustain and expand upon them:
• Regionalism. A core commitment that grew from the lessons of
losing Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
• Our unique model of advocacy, and of relationship building and
management in Washington and Albany.
• Our established commitment to strategic economy building: Vision
plus Time and Perseverance.
We also affirmed our key “power centers” as:
• Expertise, as in our expertise in cross border matters.
• Connectivity, as in our effective political relationships.
38 | sbmonthly.com
DECEMBER 2015
• Reputation for strategy, as in our ability to see or find the best
ways forward. • In terms of our plan of work and priorities for 2016, they now
stand as follows:
1. HUMAN CAPITAL: Not only meeting our changing and growing
need for workforce and skills, but grasping opportunities to use our
future successes to attract new talent and residents, thereby “transforming” the size and character of our workforce pool.
2. QUEBEC-NEW YORK: Continually broadening, deepening,
broadening, deepening.
3. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: Staying relevant and effective, and
punching above the North Country’s weight, particularly on regional
issues and projects.
4. PLATTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Moving firmly
towards achievement of the “international” dimension of our airport and towards the ultimate development of aerospace and air
industrial activity in the Plattsburgh region.
5. REGIONALISM: The framework for all else. This must include
steady and determined implementation of the Regional Economic
Development Council’s vision and strategies, and sustaining and
building our very special and powerful network of partners both
within the region and outside. With firm commitment to this framework, we foresee a very solid
year of progress and advancement for the North Country business
community and economy in the year just ahead.
ONWARD and UPWARD
in 2016 and BEYOND!
Garry Douglas is the president of the North Country
Chamber of Commerce
Many successful companies call the Greater
Plattsburgh region home. In fact, Plattsburgh,
NY is ranked the second-best micropolitan
city for economic potential in North and
South America.
Go to www.thedevelopcorp.com or call
Paul Grasso, President of The Development
Corporation (TDC), to find out what these
industry leaders, and perhaps even your
competition, already knows - come here and
your business can go anywhere.
Source: fDi’s American Cities of the Future 2015/2016.
Photo courtesy of Nikhil Hegde.
DECEMBER 2015
Strictly Business
12 Nepco Way
NEPCOMAIL
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Happy Holidays
from
Glens Falls National Bank
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is proud
to be part of this growing community. With three offices in the
Plattsburgh region and a wide range of financial services, it’s our mission
to help families and businesses reach their financial goals.
May you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
Invested in Our Community, Committed to You!
Equal Housing Lender
Member FDIC
U.S. AVENUE
CORNELIA STREET
MARGARET STREET
324-4362
566-6650
561-3101
5023 U.S. Avenue
40 | sbmonthly.com
gfnational.com
DECEMBER 2015
308 Cornelia Street
25 Margaret Street

MADE IN THE USA - Strictly Business

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