recruit future employees at project homecoming career fair! tuesday

December 2014
Recruit F uture Employees
at Project Homecoming Career Fair!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with
the Broome County IDA, invites you to participate in our Annual “Project
Homecoming Career Fair” on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the Oakdale Mall
in Johnson City from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Our bi-annual career fairs draw hundreds of qualified participants who are looking
for employment or are changing careers after many years in a particular industry.
The December Career Fair, in particular, targets not only job seekers from the
Greater Binghamton area, but also college students who are home during their
break, as well as people visiting families over the holidays.
This event is an opportunity to educate people about job opportunities in the Greater
Binghamton region and encourages them to return to the area. Christian Harris of the
NY State Department of Labor says, for employers, this Career Fair has a “high
volume of potential employees in a high-profile venue.” He also said it is a good
way to keep our highly-educated local youth in our area. For job seekers, it is a great
way to have actual “face time” with recruiting businesses. It also gives job seekers a
greater awareness of area businesses and their workforce needs.
The Project Homecoming Career Fair is just one of the Chamber’s initiatives to retain
youth in our “home town”, as well as bring back the young professionals that may
have left our area. All job seekers, of course, are invited to attend the Career Fair.
Representatives from Workforce New York and the NYS Department of Labor will be present to answer questions from both
companies and job seekers.
This event is an attractive and COST EFFECTIVE way to recruit employees for your company. If your industry or company
is not hiring at the moment, a benefit of participating would be to capture these contacts while they are in one, central
location. This will give you a database of candidates when you need them.
With your registration you receive:
è An advertising campaign targeted at quality candidates.
è A centrally located venue with dedicated space for employers
and potential employees.
è Exhibit area with and 8’ table, tablecloth, skirt and two chairs.
è Access to an on-line resume database after the event.
This year, booth locations will be more convenient and accessible. They are available
in Center Court, just beyond the Center Court towards JC Penney, towards Kay
Jewelers, and towards Yankee Candle. There are a VERY LIMITED number of
spaces in CENTER COURT, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
Be sure to check the Chamber’s website often: www.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com for the listing of companies/
organizations registered.
For more information, including booth prices, refer to the event flyer/registration form on page 22.
To register, please visit the Chamber website at www.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com. Questions?
Please feel free to contact Debby Evans at (607) 772-8863 x 317 or devans@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com .
We look forward to a very successful Project Homecoming Career Fair!
Chamber Staff
2
December 2014
Advocacy
ChambeReport
ChamberDirectory
Directory ofof
Staff
Chamber
Staff
Administration
Local
Lending
Main Phone: (607) 772-8860 | Dial Direct: (607) 772-8863 + ext
www.GreaterBinghamtonChamber.com
L ou Santoni
Yvonne G las
P resident & CEO
& D irector , CVB
E xt. 330
F inance D irector
E xt. 339
Investing in Endwell
VISIONS can be the answer to your
business needs. Throughout the region,
and right here in Endwell, businesses of
every size are putting our experienced
business team to work.
S usan Kuhn
Teresa Myers
C hristine S tezzi
A dministr ati ve
A ssistant
E xt. 322
Technical
C oordinator
E xt. 315
R eceptionist /
S ecretary
E xt. 300
2014 Mid-Term Election
Results and Recap
SAVE THE DATE…
18th Annual CHAMBER CLASSIC
Golf Tournament
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Traditions at the Glen
Registration opening soon!
**Please call 772-8863, ext. 328 email
Maegen Eddinger at maegen@visitbinghamton.org
for sponsorship opportunities!**
For creative ideas to support your
short or long-term financial needs, call
VISIONS.
Communications & Membership
A my S haw
D ebby E vans
Vice P resident ,
M ember S ervices
& E xecuti ve D irector ,
GBEOP E xt. 313
P roject and E vent
C oordinator
E xt. 317
Government
Relations
B rendan O’B ryan
M anager of
G over nment R elations
E xt. 316
Carol
A rmstrong
Development
M anager
E xt. 321
“Dealing with someon
someone
one
local, making local
decisions, makes a
difference to us. We’ve
had no issues and quick
responses.”
Jim, John and
Leon Anastos
Broadway Diner
Endwell, NY
Gateway Information Center
K athi Murphy
Jenny A rnold
D irector
Tr avel A dvisor
“I can’t say enough
about th
the attention
ab
io we
receive by the VISIONS
Business Team. It’s really
great personal service.”
Ellen Conti
CONTI Jewelers
Endwell, NY
“VIS
“VISIONS
seems to
have a great
for our
ha
at ffeell fo
needs. They’ve made it
their business to know
my business.”
Yvonne Benjamin
Magic Needle by Yvonne
Endwell, NY
Route 81N • PO Box 114 • Kirkwood, NY 13795
(607) 775-0156 • info@nysinfoctr.org
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
We’re in the business of business.
Your Input Shouldn’t End
at the Voting Booth
The Chamber’s
legislative priorities are
based on the input from
our membership. The
ability for your business
or organization to grow
is directly affected by the
policies and legislation
set forth by our elected
officials.
Our 2015 Legislative Priority Survey serves as a
framework for the Chamber’s advocacy efforts in 2015.
Providing a strong voice for your business is one of the
most important member benefits we can offer.
Please take a few moments to answer the 11 questions
in our Legislative Survey. This survey will close on
December 26, 2014.
Judi H ess
G ina Calisi
M anager ,
Tour ism
& S pecial E vents
E xt. 329
M anager ,
C on vention S ales
E xt. 326
Thank you for your input!
M aegen
E ddinger
S ales
R epresentati ve
E xt. 328
visionsfcu.org
NY-0000699020
3
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GBCC2015LegSurvey
It was a Republican resurgence across the nation as well as in the
deeply blue State of New York on election night, November 4th,
2014. Republicans took control of the Senate in both the State and
National election. Republicans also expanded their hold on the House
of Representatives, while defending most of the closely contested
governors’ races.
With the National election being fueled by economic dissatisfaction
and anger towards the president, Republicans grabbed Democratic
Senate seats in North Carolina, Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia,
Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota to gain their first Senate
majority since 2006. With seat gains across in the nation in the House
of Representatives, Republicans will see the largest majority since the
Truman administration.
In New York State, challenger Rob Astorino gave incumbent Andrew
Cuomo a run for his money while shouldering an immense fundraising
disadvantage. Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) defeated Republican
challenger Rob Astorino (R) 54% to 41%.
In the race for State Attorney General, incumbent Eric Schneiderman
(D) defeated John Cahill (R) 55% to 41%; while Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli (D) defeated Bob Antonacci (R) 60% to 36% for New York
State Comptroller.
While the biggest prize of the night for the Republicans in New York
was the State Senate. In order to secure an outright numerical majority
of 32 seats, they needed to win a number of races that just 6 months ago
appeared to be way out of reach. Republicans held all Senate seats in
Long Island, while 21 of the new Senate Majority’s 32 Senators all hail
from Upstate Districts, up from 18. In Broome County Senator Thomas
W. Libous (R) defeated Anndrea Starzak (D) to retain the 52nd District
State Senate seat.
All 3 State ballot propositions were passed. 57% of voters approved
a measure that would create a new panel to draw district lines for
legislative seats every 10 years. A proposition for the state to borrow
$2 billion for school technology upgrades passed with 62% of the vote.
And finally a measure that would no longer require legislative bills to be
printed on paper passed easily with 78% supporting the measure.
Other Local Races: Broome County Legislator District (BCLD)
BCLD2: Scott Baker (R) def. Steve Herz (D)
BCLD4: Kim Myers (D) def. William Kelley (R)
BCLD5: Daniel J. Reynolds (R) def. David Dinhofer (D)
BCLD6: Greg Baldwin (R) def. Carol Howell (D)
BCLD7: Matthew Pasquale (R) def. Larry Coppola (D)
BCLD8: Jason Shaw (R) def. Joseph Garbarino Jr. (D)
BCLD11: Ron Heebner (R) def. Colleen McCabe (D)
BCLD12: Michael Sopchak (R) def. Robert Reynolds (D)
BCLD13: Karl Bernhardsen (R) def. Anthony Fiala (D)
BCLD14: Jason Garnar (D) def. Debra Hogan (R)
BCLD15: Mark Whalen (D) def. Alan Gardiner (R)
Sheriff: David Harder (R) def. Chris Bracco (D)
Family Court Judge (2): Mark Young (R) and Richard Miller (R)
elected
Binghamton City Court Judge (3): William Pelella (D),
Daniel Seiden (D), and Carol Cocchiola (R) elected
December 2014
4
ChambeReport
Convention & Events Schedule
Calling all event planners
INSPIRE FITNESS
What a beautiful day
for the Grand Opening Celebration
on October 24 for Inspire Fitness
at their new location
at 111 Brown Street in Johnson City!
Congratulations!
Sponsored by:
In partnership with:
If your business has job openings why not try Career Connection!
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce’s Career Connection
is a database where Chamber members can post their job openings at no
cost on www.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com. Thanks to our partnership
with News Channel 34, these job postings will also appear on-line at
www.binghamtonhomepage.com. In addition, career opportunities at
your business could be selected to appear as a daily promo spot free
of charge! The promos will run on the 6:00pm and 11:00pm segments on
both WIVT/WBGH and have additional mentions in the morning cut-ins
during the Today & Good Morning America shows.
SAV E T H E DAT E S!
Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce
2015 Quarterly Workshop Series
Dates: Thursday, January 29
Thursday, April 23
Thursday, July 30
Thursday, October 29
8:00-10:00 a.m.
8:00-10:00 a.m.
8:00-10:00 a.m.
8:00-10:00 a.m.
Venue:
This opportunity is only available to Chamber Members. This great
benefit for Chamber members can save you money on recruitment and
increase your visibility to potential new employees in the community.
Job openings can be submitted through an easy on-line form at www.
greaterbinghamtonchamber.com. The opening will remain on the
websites for a maximum of 30 days, unless otherwise specified.
The Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau is beginning
work on our 2015 Summer Calendar of Events. The Summer Calendar
covers events taking place between May and September 2015. In order
to meet publication deadlines, we are asking that event planners submit
information no later than December 31, 2014. The printed calendar will
feature annual events that attract out of town visitors.
Additionally, the Bureau is constantly producing in-house calendars,
updating a 24-hour event line, and publishing events on our website
(VisitBinghamton.org). You can upload your own events, and they will go
live after they are reviewed. To add an event, go to www.visitbinghamton.
org. On the home page click on the Events Calendar, once on the Events
Calendar page look in the far left column where the months are listed. At
the bottom of this column, click on the “Submit Your Event” tab. The
Bureau’s goal is to serve as a local clearinghouse of festival & event dates
all year long and our website is the perfect tool for that!
Be sure to include the following information for the printed calendar:
• Name of the Event
• Dates of the Event
• Contact Person (including name, address,
phone number, e-mail address)
• Event location
• Brief description (approximately 20 words)
• Website address
• A telephone number that can be published “For More Information”
Please get this information in writing to Judi Hess – fax 722-4513
or e-mail: judi@visitbinghamton.org.
Events specific to the Summer Calendar must be received no later than
December 31, 2014.
December 2014 • January • February 2015
Date
Event Approximate # of
Overnight Visitors
December 5 – 7
NYS Rural Women
100
December 5 – 7
BU Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend
100
December 12 – 14
Grippen Park BMX Winter Races
100
December 13 – 14
Broome-Tioga Sports Center Snow Scrambles
60
December 26 – 28
Greater Binghamton Sports Complex Christmas Soccer Tournament 150
December 26 – 30
Mirabito STOP DWI Holiday Classic
600
December 27 – 28
Cancer Holiday Classic Women’s Basketball Tournament
50
December 30 – Jan. 1New Year’s Eve BMX
100
January 2 – 4
U-E Team Wrestling Championships
320
January 9 – 11
Upstate NY Umpire Clinic
60
January 10 – 11
Broome-Tioga Sports Center Snow Scrambles
60
January 19 – 21
Columbian Mutual Regional Sales Meeting
50
January 19 – 27
Flight Simulation Update Annual Flight & Ground Simulation Conf. 100
January 24 – 25
Broome-Tioga Sports Center Snow Scrambles
60
February 7 – 8
Broome-Tioga Sports Center Snow Scrambles
60
February 20 – 22
SUNY Broome NJCAA Ice Hockey Championships
250
February 21 – 22
Broome-Tioga Sports Center Snow Scrambles
60
Convention Scoreboard 2014
C onvention & Events S cheduled For D ecember C onvention & Events Through D ecember Total O ut- of -Town visitors Through D ecember TOTAL DOLLARS THROUGH 2014
D ecember 8
174
61,946
$26,859,542
If you are interested in offering discounts and becoming part of our
Give Away List sent to Meeting & Event Planners, please contact
the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau at 772-8860.
Meeting & Event Planners are sent offerings 90 days in advance.
If you are interested in posting an employment opportunity
with your business on Career Connection,
please contact Brendan O’Bryan
at (607) 772-8860 or at bobryan@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
Renew Your Membership
with the Greater Binghamton Chamber
and Thank You for Your Support
Bagels provided by:
Watch for details
in upcoming ChambeReport issues.
5
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Don’t forget... receive a 2% discount
if payment is received by December 31, 2014.
Questions about your invoice?
Contact Carol Armstrong at (607) 772-8863 x321 or
carmstrong@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
Your G
uid
e to Binghamton’s Best
Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau
December 2014
6
ChambeReport
7
BLI Session on the Arts
Naima Kradjian (BLI ‘95), CEO,
Schorr Family Firehouse/Goodwill
Theatre, chaired the session on The
Arts on October 16 and welcomed
the class at the Goodwill Theatre’s
Schorr Family Firehouse Stage in
Johnson City. Of course a one day
arts session barely scratches the
surface of arts organizations in our
community. But Naima fit in as many
speakers and locations as possible in
our schedule as the class traveled all
over the Greater Binghamton area.
Sharon Ball, Executive Director, Broome County
Arts Council (BCAC) kicked off the morning session.
Sharon explained how they serve as a primary local
arts fundraiser, arts advocate and cultural information
resource for the arts community and the general public.
Tim Gleason, Founder/Artistic Director, KNOW
Theatre, performed a very emotional monologue before
giving our group some background information about
his theatre. The KNOW Theatre produces a wide variety
of plays that are provocative, moving and above all,
entertaining theatre.
The morning session continued with Santino DeAngelo,
Artistic Associate, Cider Mill Playhouse, as he described
the evolution of the Cider Mill Playhouse and theater
in our community, and the kinds of performances,
challenges and opportunities they face today.
Pam Andrusik, Board President, SRO Productions III
talked about her non-profit community theatre which
is dedicated to entertaining, enriching and educating
performing artists and audiences of all ages.
Throughout the morning, Naima had the BLI class
participate in a number of performance activities on
stage which incorporated sound and movement, as
well as create some 3D art using pipe cleaners and
wire.
Chris Bodnarczuk, Publisher/Editor in Chief, Triple
Cities Carousel, joined the group with copies of his
recent monthly publication which is a free, independent,
monthly arts and culture newspaper with a focus on the
Triple Cities and surrounding communities.
After lunch, the class was impressed and excited to
hear about the development of the Goodwill Theatre
Performing Arts Center and School and the positive
impact that it will have on Johnson City and the
surrounding areas. They were able to experience
Naima’s vision as they toured The Goodwill Theatre
and saw the incredible architectural detail.
The class continued their day with a visit to the Broome
County Forum where they heard from the new General
Director from Tri-Cities Opera, Susan Ashbaker, as
well as TCO’s Marketing & Events Coordinator, John
Rozzoni, about what it takes to pull off a complete
BLI Alumni Spotlight
The BLI Alumni Spotlight is a feature
developed by the Communications Committee
of the BLI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
opera production from selecting the opera to
casting the roles and rehearsing at their facility on
Clinton Street. The BLI group then took a behind
the scenes tour of the Forum and walked on stage
where the set and lighting was being finalized for
Rigoletto.
Our last stop was the Art Mission & Theater with
Rebecca Sheriff and Tim Mollen who discussed
how they support contemporary artists working in
the visual arts, and show independent films in their
theaters. The day concluded with the very talented,
yet goofy artist John Ed Bon Fed who drew
caricatures of some of the class members.
BLI Session on Education & Sports/Recreation
Broome-Tioga BOCES was the
morning setting for the October 30
BLI Session on Education. The class
enjoyed an overview of BOCES’
programs and services by Allen
Buyck, District Superintendent,
James Mullins, Director of
Instructional Programs and Tom
McNair, Supervisor of Instructional
Programs.
The class then divided into three groups for an information tour of: 1) Adult Education/
Career Development Center; 2) Career & Technical Education/ Tech Academy/New
Visions/Youth Apprenticeship; 3) Special Education – PALS/MOVE Program and Oak
Tree Program (focus on autism); and 4) Alternative Education High Schools/TASC
(formerly GED).
BLI is a very successful six month community leadership program for adult professionals that began in 1988. This county-wide program seeks to foster a network of leaders
who are committed to understanding and improving the quality of living in our region. BLI graduates benefit from: enhanced leadership skills, a network of community contacts,
an increased understanding and awareness of community issues and new friendships and working relationships. The program runs from September to March
and accepts twenty members for each class. For more information, contact Amy Shaw at (607) 772-8863 x313 or ashaw@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
After a wonderful, gourmet lunch prepared
by BOCES culinary students, the BLI group
ended the session with an interactive roundtable
discussions with BOCES staff about four
distinct topics, including: “Fundamental
Shifts in Schools,” facilitated by Allen Buyck;
“21st Century Skills,” facilitated by Dick
Lindhorst, Grant Writer; “Multiple Pathways
to Graduation,” facilitated by Tom McNair; and
“School-to-Careers Business Connections,”
facilitated by Sandy Watkins (BLI ’03), Executive Director, School-to-Careers
Partnership.
Students from the three alternative
BOCES high schools, including East
Learning Center, West Learning Center
and Evertech High School also joined the
roundtable discussions. We concluded the
session at BOCES with a presentation about
STEM-Hub of the Eastern Southern Tier,
which was made possible by LockheedMartin, who donated $150,000. The hub will
be used as a place to promote STEM skills
among kids and teenagers from kindergarten
to 12th grade.
In the afternoon, we traveled to the YMCA of Broome County for our Sports &
Recreation session, where Gareth Sansem (BLI ‘06), Executive Director and Yvonne
Nowakowski (BLI ‘10), Member Services chaired the session. After a brief tour, the
class divided into 3 groups where they participated in several Y activities including belly
dancing, archery and the virtual active equipment in the Fitness Center. We concluded
the day with a one-on-one discussion with Tom Mitchell, Executive Vice President of
Operations, Binghamton Senators & Jim Weed, General Manager, Binghamton Mets.
Name: Sandra Watkins
BLI Graduation Year: 2003
Company/Organization: Broome-Tioga BOCES
Job Title: Supervisor, School-to-Careers
E-mail: swatkins@btboces.org
Tell us briefly about yourself and please update your classmates on your personal/
professional experiences since graduating from BLI: I’m originally from the Wilkes-Barre
area and moved to Greater Binghamton in 1987 due to a job change. I met the love of my life,
David Wasser, and shortly after we married in 1996, I came to work at Broome-Tioga BOCES
as the Youth Apprenticeship Program Specialist. My job has evolved over the years, but has
always been a perfect blend of my previous careers in education and business, enabling me to
help students throughout the region develop their career path. I serve as the Executive Director
of the School-to-Careers Partnership of Broome and Tioga Counties, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit
organization affiliated with Broome-Tioga BOCES. It hardly seems possible that it’s been 11
years since I graduated from BLI, but it continues to impact my life on a variety of levels.
Favorite Books/Movies: Quite honestly, I’m not an avid reader and prefer watching movies
rather than reading books. I loved watching old movies as a child and still remember many of
them today. One of my favorites, and a true story, is “With a Song in My Heart” (1952) starring
Susan Hayward as singer Jayne Froman. I especially enjoy watching movies based on true
stories, like “The Express” and “The King’s Speech.”
Current/Past Civic Activities: Currently, I have the honor and privilege of serving as the
Immediate Past President of the BLI Alumni Association Board of Directors and am also a
member of the Communications and Canstruction Committees. In 2012, I served on the Planning
Committee for BLI’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. I am a member of the Communications
Association of the Southern Tier (CAST); the Southern Tier Association for Human Resources
(STAHR) ; the Southern Tier Education Pipeline United Professionals (STEUP); and SUNY
BEST (Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier). In recent years, I served on
the Board of Directors of the BOCES Teachers Association (BTA), the Broome County Council
of Churches, and was a member of Morning Knights Toastmasters, having achieved Competent
Toastmaster status.
Interests/Hobbies: For many years, I enjoyed downhill skiing and tennis, but some minor
physical limitations prevent me from participating in those sports. I love to travel with my
husband and we are both avid Binghamton University basketball fans and are season ticket
holders for both the men’s and women’s games. Go Bearcats!
How did your BLI experience change your perception of the community? I don’t think it
changed my perception because I’ve always had a positive outlook on our community, but it
enabled me to see what goes on “behind the scenes” at many local businesses and organizations.
BLI has allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the Greater Binghamton area.
How did your BLI experience motivate you to become more involved in the community?
BLI gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and step up to the plate by becoming
more involved in community organizations and activities.
What was your most memorable BLI activity/moment? For me, it was forming that “special
bond” with my BLI classmates. We all had an immediate connection, which still remains strong
today. For the past six years, I helped coordinate the BLI Education Session held at BroomeTioga BOCES and it’s so rewarding to get such positive feedback from the class when they learn
about the broad scope of our programs and services and the impact BOCES has on students and
families throughout the region.
What was the most valuable benefit to you from your BLI experience? BLI offers great
networking opportunities and has benefitted me both personally and professionally. Mention
“BLI” and doors automatically open for you.
What “nugget of wisdom” do you have for your fellow BLI alum? I would encourage all
BLI alum to maintain their connections through the BLI Alumni Association where we offer
quarterly Leadership Updates to keep on top of what’s happening in our community, among
other benefits. Consider getting involved with “Canstruction”, which has become our “signature
event” to benefit CHOW and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
December 2014
8
December Anniversaries
New Members
Bond, Schoeneck & K ing PLLC
Bates Troy, Inc.
Bob Carr 2.0 Printing & Mailing
George Industries, Inc.
Burr Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc.
Mister Koffee Service
Overhead Door Co. of Binghamton
Sam A. Lupo & Sons, Inc.
Music Star Agency, Inc.
Sturges Electronics Products Company, Inc.
Taylor Garbage Service, Inc.
WSKG Public Telecommunications Council
Broome-Tioga BOCES School-to-Careers
Partnership of Broome & Tioga Counties
AXA Advisors, LLC
Broome County Council of Churches
GS Business Solutions
Innovation
Irr Supply Corp.
Main Street Baptist Church
Tri-Cities Opera Company, Inc.
Wendy’s Restaurant
American Food & Vending Corp.
Audio Classics Ltd.
The Carey Law Firm, P. C.
CMS Imaging Solutions
G. L. Telecom Systems, LLC
Johnson City Veterinary Hospital
Pozzi-Tech, Inc.
Vestal Wine and Liquor
Binghamton Country Club
Emerson Network Power
Giblin’s
Greater Binghamton SCORE
ICS Solutions Group
Lawson’s Hearing Center
MACNY – Manufacturers Assoc. of Central NY
Marchuska Brothers Construction, LLC
Parallax Media/ Performance Bridge Media
SharpTech Solutions, LLC
Verizon Wireless
Glen Wood Financial Group, Inc.
Ardagh Group
NYS ACCES-VR
Promotional Marketing Consultants
Suburban Propane - Conklin
Suburban Propane - Vestal
Weis Markets, Inc.
Kathleen Leach
One Lincoln Center
Syracuse, NY 13202-1355
PHONE: (315) 218-8379 • FAX: (315) 218-8483
cchiesa@bsk.com
http://www.bsk.com
ATTORNEYS
DeCarolis Truck Rental , I nc.
Liam Fayle
215 Industrial Park Drive
Binghamton, NY 13904
PHONE: (607) 857-4028 • FAX: N/A
liam.fayle@decarolis.com
http://www.DeCarolis.com
TRUCKING SERVICES (MAIN), TRUCK RENTALS/LEASING
Edward Jones
Scott Hessian
3 Park Avenue
Binghamton, NY 13903
PHONE: (607) 743-4017 • FAX: N/A
scott.hessian@EdwardJones.com
http://www.EdwardJones.com
FINANCIAL ADVISORS (MAIN)
LegalShield
Nahdiya Giles
Endicott, NY 13760
PHONE: (615) 521-5834 • FAX: (607) 239-6214
giles_n@legalshield.com
http://www.legalshieldassociate.com/hub/giles_n
ATTORNEYS (MAIN), INSURANCE
Twin Tiers Rolfing SI
Brian Robarge
122 Packer Street
Sayre, PA 18840
PHONE: (607) 339-1891 • FAX: N/A
Brian@AlignMeUp.com
http://AlignMeUp.com
HEALTH & WELLNESS (MAIN), ROLFING
University Lofts
Patrick Herndon
15 Chenango Street
Binghamton, NY 13901
PHONE: (607) 235-5852 • FAX: (607) 235-5856
universitylofts@achliving.com
http://www.ULBinghamton.com
STUDENT HOUSING (MAIN)
Thank You for Your Membership
ChambeReport
9
10
Calendars
December 2014
ChambeReport
11
The Power
of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Even in an age of modern and high-tech communication, the
most powerful and effective means of generating new business is
word-of-mouth. People turn to trusted friends or colleagues for
recommendations regarding product or service providers.
And because word-of-mouth referrals are free, you can’t be
the return on investment that a positive referral can generate.
While a successful word-of-mouth marketing chain can
sometimes start on its own, don’t assume that the phone will start
ringing off the hook. Any successful marketing tool—word-ofmouth included—requires a proactive, patient approach to ensure
that the right message gets to the right people.
A good way to get started is to create a simple marketing
message that is easy for people to pass along. If it’s not simple,
it won’t pass the test. But make it specific to a real benefit or need,
not something vague or general. If you can, include success stories
or testimonials from real customers. These can have a tremendous
pass-along impact.
To stimulate word of mouth, you might also consider asking
customers for referrals and recommendations. And put your
networking efforts into high gear. If you network and get to know
people in your community or industry, they will think of you when
they need your product or service. Join networking groups and
local business organizations, and attend conferences. Donating your
products or services to local charities can generate goodwill and get
your name around.
Consider introductory discounts or free samples. People
are more willing to try a new product or service if they can do
so economically. Many small companies have jump-started sales
through carefully controlled giveaways.
Above all, perhaps recognize that people will happily spread
the word about your business if you treat them well. Tales of
negative experiences or poor performance can be difficult to correct
once they are passed on. That’s another important reason why it’s
important to continually provide superior service, address problems
quickly, and anticipate your customers’ needs. Those are the things
they’ll remember—and talk about.
If you would like to discuss this topic or business planning, business growth strategies
or a specific business issue, contact SCORE® “For the Life of Your Business.”
To contact the Greater Binghamton SCORE Chapter 217 for assistance call 607-772-8860.
You may also contact SCORE® for person to person counseling appointments
at the above telephone numbers. If you are already in business onsite
assistance is also available. The Greater Binghamton SCORE® Chapter 217 website
is found at www.greaterbinghamtonscore.org .
The national SCORE® website is found
at www.score.org or sign up for email counseling at www.score.org.
A Conversation with:xx
What are your primary products and/or services?
My Company (Keegan Independent Agency Inc dba Keegan
Insurance Agency) is an independent insurance agency,
established in 1985 by Jack Keegan (29 years in existence).
Jack Keegan was an Agway Farm territory marketing
representative, decided to leave the corporate world to start
his agency and offer personal auto, home, motorcycle, life,
boat, business, commercial and flood insurance coverages.
When was your business established?
I started in May 1989 (currently 25
years of experience) working for Met
Life as a life insurance agent and
decided in May 1993 to join Jack
Keegan as a sales representative for
all lines of insurance offered by his
agency.
What other information would
you like people to know, such as
recent news coverage, community
involvement, your mission or
philosophy? In other words,
“what we might not know about
your business?”
We incorporated in January 1995, I became a 25% owner, and in June 2003
I purchased the remaining shares of stock and became l00% owner. I pride
myself on being “locally owned, hometown personalized service, offering fast
accurate quotes with competitive companies”.
I prefer to be an independent agent because it allows me to shop for the best
product combined with the competitive pricing for my clients, as an independent
broker I can fit the product for my client’s needs, working for my client rather
than just pushing a product.
I am involved in various local community organizations. I have been a Hillcrest
Rotarian since 1989, Past President 2003-2004, Rotarian of the Year 2001-2002
and recognized as a Rotary “Paul Harris Fellow” November 2014. I am also an
active member of Knights of Columbus and St. Francis of Assisi Council – two
organizations that serve the needs of the community in various ways. I also
volunteer my time as a Board Member & Supervisor Committee member for GHS
F C U where we monitor and protect the members interest with the credit union
Looking forward, my immediate goal is to expand my region
marketing with help from being a member with Chamber of
Commerce and other marketing strategies. I will continue to
provide service above self, offering competitive pricing with
excellent rated companies
What has membership of the Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce provided for your business?
I enjoy very much being part of the Chamber of Commerce
and the insurance industry dealing with clients, filling their
needs and being their agency on a daily basis.
December 2014
12
Chamber Happenings
QUARTERLY SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR
Learning all the changes of Facebook in the past year and how it affects business
was the topic of the Chamber’s final Quarterly Seminar on Social Media held at the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage in Johnson City on October 30.
Thank you to our panelists: Peter Hoffman of HUE who served as Moderator, Colleen Barton of Visions Federal Credit Union
and Mike Mihalko and Mike Testani of Get-SocialNY for a great Seminar!
Thanks to the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage and Best Bagels on Upper Front Street too!
CHAMBER 101
A large crowd of Chamber members,
both new and long-time, gathered for Chamber 101
on October 28 to learn all the benefits of Chamber membership
GREATER BINGHAMTON CHAMBER
ANNUAL LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE
Thank you to the attorneys at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
for an informative and thought-provoking 25th Annual Labor and Employment Law Update
held on October 21 at Traditions at the Glen.
Panelists included: Dawn Lanouette, Tom Conlon, Michael Keenan,
Gary Tyler and Jenny Simone
SPEED NETWORKING
A full-capacity crowd of Chamber members from both the Greater Binghamton Chamber
and the Tioga County Chamber enjoyed Speed Networking on November 5 at WSKG TV Studios!
Special thanks to Vickie Conklin and WSKG TV for hosting the event.
ChambeReport
Member Benefit:
Reach New Customers By Advertising on the Chamber Website
The Greater Binghamton Chamber launched our new website exactly one year ago!
We have experienced great success with:
• OVER 8,000 PAGE VIEWS
• OVER 2 MINUTES AVERAGE TIME ON THE SITE
• 76% NEW VISITORS
Chamber members can grow their business by advertising on www.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
For more information, refer to the flyer on page 18 or contact Amy Shaw
at (607) 772-8863 x313 or ashaw@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
13
December 2014
14
Each week, the Greater Binghamton Chamber randomly selects a chamber member business, which is named “Business of the Week”. The
business is spotlighted for one business week (M-F). The “Business of the Week” receives: a personal visit from Chamber representatives, the
week-long display of a stylish, prominent sign that formally announces their recognition, photo opportunities and an announcement on the
home page of the Chamber’s website.
Our “Business of the Week” program, sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, is another opportunity to show our appreciation to
Chamber members for supporting the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and investing in our community, as well as for Chamber staff to better familiarize ourselves with our
members. We want to learn more about their company, how it fits in to our regional community, and how we can best serve their business.
October 13 – 17, 2014
October 20 – 24, 2014
October 27 – 31, 2014
November 3 – 7, 2014
October 13 – 17, 2014
Gary Brownell, Inc.
In our carriage house, you’ll find
the Bundy Annex Theater, home to
Cult Movie Thursdays, In the Zone
Rod Serling Forum, and many other
events, plus our historical timeclock
exhibit, “It’s About Time!” Add
to that our African Art Gallery
and Barbershop exhibit for an
educational, entertaining museum
experience.
Our 2nd Annual Comedy and Arts
Festival this past September raised
over $400 for arts education in our
local schools!
Through our membership in
the Greater Binghamton Chamber
of Commerce, we’ve been able to
rub shoulders with some of our
community’s movers and shakers,
make our museum’s presence known
to local business folk, and attend
some tremendously beneficial
workshops and seminars to help our
museum grow.
competitive with the national big box
chains. Audio Classics also supports
local music and arts.
The Greater Binghamton
business community offers all of the
attractions of a much larger city with
few of the negatives. Many people
look back to what they consider the
glory years of the Triple Cities, we
think those years are here now.
project a successful experience.
From your first conceptual idea
to the finished design, our team
will work with your staff to create a
unique, functional work environment.
With our in-house woodworking and
paint departments, Upstate Office
Furniture can create custom work
areas such as reception units, unique
shaped work areas or custom storage
needs. Crosscycle is our innovative
approach of combining pre-owned
office furniture components with new
materials. Crosscycling is good for
your budget and good for the planet.
Upstate Office Furniture has been a
leader in office furniture recycling for
over 20 years.
Upstate Office supports several
local non-for-profits. Our community
is our home and we will always be
there for our community.
Being a member of the Greater
Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
means working together as one.
October 20 – 24, 2014
The Bundy Museum
of History and Art
The Bundy Museum first opened
its doors to the public on September
22, 2004. We received our provisional
charter from the NY State Board of
Regents, and our 501c3, non-profit
status in 2011.
The Bundy Museum of History
and Art features guided tours of the
National Register listed Harlow E.
Bundy House, and so much more.
The 3rd floor of the house is an open
art gallery, where we display a fresh
exhibit of local art every month as
part of the First Friday Art Walk.
October 27 – 31, 2014
Audio Classics LTD
Audio Classics Buys-Sells-TradesRepairs-Consigns New, Pre-owned
& Vintage Audio & Home Theater
Components from McIntosh (locally
made), Bower & Wilkins Speakers,
Marantz, VPI Turntables, Levinson,
Tannoy, JBL, Revel, Yamaha,
Denon, Klipsch and more. We are a
click and mortar store selling locally
and worldwide on the web at www.
AudioClassics.com.
Audio Classics started part time
in Walton, NY, April 1st, 1979 and
became a full time business in 1983.
We moved to 3501 Vestal Road,
Vestal, NY on November 17th 1997
and now employ 14.
Our store/showroom is open to
all and we carry products starting
at below $100. Our prices are
November 3 – 7, 2014
Upstate Office Furniture/USA
Established in 1987, Upstate Office
Furniture has been a local Business
for over 25 years. We take pride in
our work; our custom design work is
our specialty. Anyone can sell office
furniture but not everyone can make
it look fabulous!
Besides the many lines of new and
pre-owned office furniture available,
UOF offers a wide variety of services.
Please rely on our experience team of
professionals to make your furniture
15
Chamber Creates A New Marketing Piece for Prospective Members
Greater Binghamton Chamber’s “Business of the Week”
Incorporated in 1976, Gary
Brownell, Inc. is a full service
general contractor, providing both
new construction and remodeling
services including new homes, offices,
additions, full house rehab, roofing,
siding, decks, porches, kitchens,
bathrooms, windows, doors, painting,
and any other services you may need
for your home or business.
Gary Brownell, Inc. has been
a proud member of the National
Association of Home Builders, the
New York State Builders Association,
and the Southern Tier Home Builders
and Remodelers Association for over
25 years. All of us at Gary Brownell,
Inc. are proud of the quality work we
provide for our customers, and we
are especially proud of the quality
relationships we build with our
customers.
Being a member of the Greater
Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
provides an important link to the
larger business community of the
Southern Tier.
ChambeReport
In conjunction with hue, the Greater Binghamton Chamber has created
a new marketing piece touting the benefits of Chamber membership,
along with testimonials from a variety of local businesses.
Do you know a company in our area that would like to learn more
about chamber membership?
Connect them with Carol Armstrong
in our office at (607) 772-8863 x321 or
carmstrong@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
Don’t Miss Out This Year… Be a Sponsor in the 2015 Bridge Run!
Sunday, May 3, 2015 at NYSEG Stadium
The Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half Marathon and 5K
is a premier running event in the Greater Binghamton area.
Our 4th Annual race in May 2014 attracted more than 2,300 runners
and we anticipate continued growth in 2015.
Water Station Sponsor -- $200 ~ Great Company exposure, have over 2,000 runners
quench their thirst at your company’s water station! Bring staff, company banners, noise
makers…Make your water station stand out and one that the runners won’t forget!
Mile Marker -- $200 ~ Great company exposure, have over 2,000 runners and spectators
see your company name listed on one of the mile marker signs along the half marathon
and 5K courses
2015 Greater Binghamton
www.binghamtonbridgerun.org
Race Guide Ad (prices below) ~ This full-color, 8-page guide will feature a schedule
of events, race course maps, photos from 2013, as well as highlights of our major sponsors
and charity partner. This is an excellent opportunity to feature your business with an ad.
Distribution 3,000 copies!
Ad Dimensions & Cost
⅛ Page (4.5” x 2.45”): $75.00
¼ Page (4.5” x 4.95”): $150.00
½ Page (Horizontal – 9”x 5”): $200.00
½ Page (Vertical – 5” x 9”): $200.00
Please call Maegen Eddinger at (607) 772-8860 or via email at Maegen@visitbinghamton.org for more details!
16
The Children’s Home has received a grant from
The Community Foundation for South Central
New York – The Lillian Briggs Fund and Harriet
Ford Dickenson Fund. These grants were received
in support of the Children’s Home community
programs; Therapeutic After School Program,
Children’s Home Preventive Services and Bridges
to Health.
On October 9, Security Mutual Life Chairman,
President & CEO Bruce W. Boyea had the honor
of distributing the Jim “Mudcat” Grant All-Star
Golf Tournament proceeds to The Broome County
Urban League, The Boys and Girls Clubs of
Binghamton, Catholic Charities of Broome County,
and the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse
(CHOW). A contribution was also made to the
Wounded Warrior Project® from funds raised
during the Tournament.
To assist U.S.
military
veterans,
particularly
those
suffering with
posttraumatic
stress
disorder,
Security Mutual Life donated computer
equipment and program funding for use at the VA
Binghamton Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
The equipment will assist veteran patients and
family members stay connected and informed when
visiting the VA clinic and the funds will be used to
launch a program of free yoga for vets through
Connected Warriors®.
Tioga Downs has
supported STAT through
their annual Horse Play
fundraiser, raising $3,000
for children in the
Southern Tier to
participate in equineassisted therapy. BAE
Systems also supported
STAT through their
annual mini-golf
tournament at
Chuckster’s, raising $320
toward scholarships for
disabled children to participate in Strides, a
program providing iPads to non-verbal autistic
children. STAT has been awarded a grant in the
amount of $7,500 from Broome United Way to
support STAT’s Promise Project, an equine
education program for local emotionally
traumatized teens.
The Binghamton University Professional
Employees Council (PEC) recognized several
outstanding award winners at this year’s fall
luncheon on November 5. Recognized staff
members were:
Kerry Stamp, Assistant Director for Study Abroad
in the Office of International Programs (OIP) PEC Distinguished Service Award Recipient;
Krishnaswami “Hari” Srihari, Distinguished
Professor and Dean of the Thomas J. Watson
School of Engineering and Applied Science Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in International
Education; Tammara Behonick, Assistant Dean
of the College of Community and Public Affairs
(CCPA) - Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Professional Service; Dennis Chavez, Director of
Student Financial aid and Records - Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in Professional Service; Rose
Frierman, Senior Director of Alumni Relations Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional
Good News
Service; Lisa Gilroy, Assistant Vice President for
Sponsored Programs in the Division of Research Council/Foundation Award.
Binghamton University held a grand opening
celebration for its new Admissions Center on
November 13, on the site of the former Dickinson
Dining Hall, on campus. The new Admissions
Center boasts a presentation room, a classroom, a
large lobby, an eco-friendly wall of plants that acts
as a biofilter, formal and informal meeting spaces
and offices for undergraduate admissions, student
accounts, financial aid and student records, and
course building.
Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P. presented its 33rd
Annual Labor Law Update on October 14 at
the DoubleTree by Hilton in Binghamton. Over
180 attendees were advised of recent decisions,
regulations and other developments in Labor
Law, including Family and Medical Leave Act,
Americans with Disabilities Act, Workers’
Compensation, OSHA, “Ban the Box”, wage and
hour laws, social media and health care reform.
Presenters from the firm’s Labor and Employment
Law Group included partners Joseph J. Steflik,
Jr. (Co-Chair), Paul J. Sweeney (Co-Chair), Mary
Lou Conrow and Lars Mead. Steven Wladis of The
Wladis Companies, Inc. presented on the topic of
“Increasing Health Care Costs and Your Employee
Health Plan”.
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers
in America© has named Coughlin & Gerhart,
L.L.P. as a Metropolitan Tier 1 Best Law Firm for
the Binghamton, New York region in the areas
of Business and Finance Law as well as Personal
Injury Litigation. Firms included in the 2015 “Best
Law Firms” list are recognized for professional
excellence with persistently impressive ratings from
clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals
a unique combination of quality law practice and
breadth of legal expertise.
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner in
the Binghamton law firm of
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was
recently selected by Business &
Legal Resources to edit its New
York Employment Law Letter, a
monthly publication that helps
employers understand new laws,
regulations and court cases. Mr.
Sweeney is the co-leader of Coughlin & Gerhart’s
Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, which
represents public and private sector employers
throughout New York State. He serves on the
Executive Committee of the New York State Bar
Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section
and is the Treasurer of the Northern District of New
York – Federal Court Bar Association. He is listed
in the Best Lawyers in America and the Upstate
Edition of New York Super Lawyers.
Davidson, Fox & Company, LLP
would like to recognize Staff
Accountant Russell Monteith for
obtaining his CPA
licensure. There are educational,
experience and exam requirements
that Russell needed to complete in
order to achieve the CPA
recognition. Please help us
congratulate him on this extraordinary
accomplishment!
The American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineers (ASABE) recently announced
that Elliott Manufacturing has won an AE50
award. Elliott Manufacturing developed the
Elliott FlexSeeder, deemed one of the year’s most
innovative designs in engineering products or
systems for the food and agriculture industries. The
Elliott FlexSeeder will be featured in the January/
February 2015 special AE50 issue of ASABE’s
magazine Resource: Engineering & Technology for
a Sustainable World.
ENSCO
Avionics,
Inc. in
Endicott
attended
the
National
Business
Aviation
Association 2014 (NBAA) tradeshow on October
21-23 in Orlando, FL. Employees Tom Matarese,
Jay Ficarro, Ray Niacaris and John Martin were
joined by ENSCO’s new President Boris
Nejikovsky. ENSCO Avionics demonstrated its
IData® Map designer tool at the convention.
Louis M. Giordano of Giordano Family
Dentistry and Southern Tier TMJ & Sleep
Therapy was recently recognized by the New
York State Dental Association & New York State
Dental Foundation for completing 2,000 hours
of continuing education. He is one of only eight
of the NYSDA’s 13,000 members to achieve
this prestigious recognition. It represents his
dedication and passion to excellence in patient
care and to his profession.
Resident living areas will be updated as part
of a large scale improvement project at Good
Shepherd Fairview Home that began in
November and will be completed by the end
of 2015. A new dining and leisure space will
be created on the third floor of the Adult Care
Facility to accommodate the newly certified
Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR).
The kitchens and bathrooms in the independent
living apartments will be modernized with new
heating, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and
seated walk-in showers. The main dining room
and library areas will be renovated. Much of
the infrastructure at Good Shepherd Fairview
Home will also be updated as part of the
renovation project: new emergency generator will
be installed, two new boilers, all HVAC units will
be upgraded with energy efficient models, and
the roof, IT system and windows throughout the
facility will be replaced.
Good Shepherd Village at Endwell has launched
a campus wide training program to better educate
every member of its staff on the issues related to
Memory Care. Good Shepherd Village’s Memory
Care Program supports residents with either a
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. The
Health Center at Good Shepherd Village at
Endwell was the first in Broome County to receive
designation as a Special Needs Assisted Living
facility, providing care for residents in the early
stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
The temporary wooden facade of Goodwill
Theatre, Inc.’s Administrative Office Building at
67 Broad Street got a facelift on the Day of Caring
2014. Volunteers, guided by artist Jon Ed Bon Fed
(John Federowicz), painted the new lively murals in
the style of renowned pop-culture artist Peter Max.
Hats off to our UHS Day of Caring Volunteers,
Artist John Federowicz, GWT CEO Naima
Kradjian and Board Members Judith Miller and
Nancy Phillips, all who contributed to the face lift.
Ganem Contracting
Corporation is
completing the repointing of the masonry
brick, installing new blue
stone window sills on
east and west walls of the
Goodwill Theatre Inc.’s
Schorr Family Firehouse
Stage firehouse building.
Before Thanksgiving,
they will install all of the
December 2014
parapet caps (the white caps at the top of the
building that look a little like crown molding.) This
project is funded through the Rural Area
Revitalization Projects (RARP) program that is
administered by the Office of Community Renewal
(OCR) under the direction of the New York State
Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC). Jenny Simone-Warren, a partner
at Hinman, Howard & Kattell,
LLP, served as one of three
presenters for a recent National
Business Institute Continuing
Education Program titled
“Employment Law: 2014
Comprehensive Guide”. This
program was held on November 5
in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Ms. Simone-Warren’s
topics included drafting must-have policies for
employee handbooks and when to update policies
and complying with the National Labor Relations
Board’s newest requirements. Jenny SimoneWarren focuses her law practice in labor and
employment law, litigation and commercial
litigation and she is admitted to practice law in the
states of Pennsylvania and New York.
On October 21 Hinman, Howard & Kattell
partners Dawn Lanouette, Gary Tyler, Thomas
Conlon, Jenny Simone-Warren and associate
Michael Keenan were presenters for the Greater
Binghamton Chamber of Commerce 25th annual
update on Labor and Employment Law. Dawn
Lanouette, a member of HHK’s labor and
employment, litigation, not-for-profit corporations
and foundations, and health care law practice
groups served as moderator and also discussed
recent Supreme Court decisions impacting labor
and employment issues, New York State Labor
Law issues and updates from Federal agencies
including the EEOC and NLRB. Gary Tyler,
chair of Hinman, Howard & Kattell’s Disability
Benefits practice group, reviewed return to work
issues that employers face relating to injured
workers including legal duties for employers
when a work accident occurs, the need for a
return to work policy, FMLA and the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Michael Keenan, who
practices in the areas of intellectual property,
litigation, and labor and employment presented
attendees with updates on eliminating copyright
concerns in the workplace as well as structuring
enforceable non-compete agreements. Jenny
Simone-Warren updated employers in attendance
about requirements impacting the retention of
business records and the preservation of business
documents. Tom Conlon provided attendees
with important updates regarding health care
reform for employers and what they still need
to do in 2014 as well as how to prepare for new
regulations going into effect in 2015. HH&K
joins the Chamber each year to jointly put on this
informational program for business owners in the
Greater Binghamton Area.
Infintech was named a winner of the 14th Annual
BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics on
October 23. “Our winners take great pride in
ensuring an ethical marketplace where buyers and
sellers can trust one another. This honor is earned
through an exhaustive self-evaluation. The end
result is an extraordinary recognition from their
peers and the community,” said Jocile Ehrlich,
President and CEO of BBB. “The Torch Award
places Infintech in an elite class of businesses,”
said Ryan Rybolt, president of Infintech.
ChambeReport
Richard J. Tarnowski, C.E.P.,
C.E.I., Member and Director of
Keystone Environmental
Services/Envrio Testing,
recently attended the American
Association of Radon Scientists
and Technologists (AARST)
28th International Radon
Symposium held on September 28 - October 1.
This year’s symposium focused on the latest
testing, mitigation, and legal issues concerning
soil vapor (radon) intrusion. Mr. Tarnowski
earned continuing education credits during the
symposium which are applied to his National
Environmental Health Association Radon
Mitigation Certification. In addition, Mr.
Tarnowski became the first individual in the
United States to sit for and pass the proctored
examination for the new ANSI/AARST
certification “RRNC 2.0 Reducing Radon in New
Construction.”
Super Lawyers has just released its 2014 Super
Lawyers Business Edition that includes seven
Levene Gouldin & Thompson attorneys
in its listing. Dorian D. Ames (Business &
Transactions), John Carlin (Litigation), David
M. Gouldin (Litigation), Scott R. Kurkoski
(Construction, Real Estate & Environmental),
John J. Pollock (Litigation), Howard M. Rittberg
(Construction, Real Estate & Environmental),
and Michael R. Wright (Employment) have
been selected to the 2014 New York State Super
Lawyers Special Business Edition list. Each year,
no more than five percent of the lawyers in the
state are selected by the research team at Super
Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a
Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of
outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice
areas who have attained a high degree of peer
recognition and professional achievement.
Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP, has
been named a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in
Binghamton for eight of its practice areas by
US News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”
in 2015. Firms included in the 2015 “Best Law
Firms” list are recognized for professional
excellence with persistently impressive ratings
from clients and peers. Achieving a ranking
signals a unique combination of quality law
practice and breadth of legal expertise. LG&T
received Tier 1 rankings in the following areas:
Commercial Litigation; Family Law; Litigation
- Labor & Employment; Medical Malpractice
Law - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation
- Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs; Real Estate Law; and Trust & Estates
Law.
Kathy Connerton has been selected as the next
President and CEO of Our Lady of Lourdes
Memorial Hospital in Binghamton, New York,
effective December 15, 2014. Connerton served at
Lourdes as general counsel until she left in 1999
to join Bon Secours Health System, where she
Good News
gained extensive experience in the strategic and
operational aspects of healthcare administration.
Lourdes is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest
Catholic and largest non-profit health system.
Connerton’s accomplishments include developing
clinically integrated systems of care across the
continuum with a view toward population health
management.
Lourdes Hospital has the solution to long
waiting room waits. It’s called InQuicker,
and it is an innovative online service that
will change the way patients use the Lourdes
Emergency Department and Walk-Ins. Patients
can check-in online at www.lourdes.com for a
projected treatment time at Lourdes Emergency
Department or Lourdes Vestal Walk-In, arrive at
that time, and be promptly seen by a health care
professional. InQuicker is not an appointment or
reservation service, as the nature of ER triage
does not allow for the scheduling of medical
treatment. InQuicker estimates treatment times
based on facility conditions and allows its users
to wait from the comfort of home, rather than the
waiting room.
Lourdes ADEPT Program (Alcohol and Drug
Education Prevention Team) and the Chenango
Valley chapter of SADD (Students Against
Drunk Driving) are teaming up with The Red
and White supermarket in Chenango Bridge
to raise awareness of underage drinking and
purchasing. Chenango Valley SADD students
are creating posters that will be displayed
proudly in The Red and White supermarket on
cooler doors, in windows, and the front counter
that will warn consumers of all ages about the
dangers of underage consumption, purchase,
and/or possession of alcohol.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals,
Finger Lakes Chapter recently announced
its 2014 National Philanthropy Day Award
recipients and M & T Bank, Southern Tier was
recognized as their Corporate Philanthropist
of the Year. The National Philanthropy Day
Awards recognize individuals and businesses
that demonstrate exemplary financial support
of and volunteer or professional leadership in
the non-profit sector. The awards are presented
in conjunction with the nationwide observance
of National Philanthropy Day each November.
The Finger Lakes Chapter honored recipients
at its National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on
November 13.
The Mental Health Association of the Southern
Tier is pleased to announce that three of their
staff members were recently trained as certified
instructors of Youth Mental Health First Aid
(YMHFA) and they are now scheduling trainings in
Youth Mental Health First Aid as well as continuing
their trainings in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). These certified 8-hour training courses teach
participants how to help someone who is developing
a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental
health crisis. The Youth training reviews the unique
risk factors and warning signs of mental health
problems in adolescents ages 12 to 18. MHAST has
been offering this premier public education program
since 2011. The nomination of Steve Miller Sr., co-owner of
Miller Motor Car Corp., a Honda and Hyundai
dealer in Vestal, New York, for the 2015 TIME
Dealer of the Year award was announced in
October by TIME. Mr. Miller is one of a select
group of 55 dealer nominees from across the
country that will be honored at the 98th annual
National Automobile Dealers Association
(NADA) Convention & Exposition on January
23, 2015. The announcement of this year’s
nominees was made by Jed Hartman, group
publisher, worldwide, TIME, and Tim Russi,
president of Auto Finance for Ally Financial.
John R. May CPA, Partner at
Piaker & Lyons in their
Binghamton office recently
served as Chair of the Annual
NYS Society of CPAs Southern
Tier Tax Conference held at the
Holiday Inn Binghamton.
Good News from Positive
LifeForce. Their new trainer Kristine Northrup
has completed her apprenticeship and is now
a part of their training and spinning team.
Owner, Kelsey Searles, has also just completed
a Performance Academy in California and
has brought back new team techniques and
marketing strategies to further their studio.
The Raymond Corporation commemorated
the 75th Anniversary of two inventions that
revolutionized the material handling industry:
the hydraulic hand pallet truck and doublefaced wooden pallet. These innovations were
developed by George Raymond, Sr., founder
of Raymond, and William House, the first
engineer for Raymond, and patented on Nov.
7, 1939. “On occasions such as this, I reflect
on the many achievements of my grandfather,”
says Steve Raymond, grandson of George
Raymond, Sr., and president of Raymond
Handling Concepts Corporation, an
authorized Raymond Sales and Service Center. To encourage the next generation in power
systems engineering and analog design, The
Raymond Corporation is sponsoring Cornell
University College of Engineering’s first
Resistance Racing Electric Motor team, a new
project team exploring electric vehicles. Along
with a $1,000 donation to the college’s School
of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Raymond is offering students the professional
knowledge and support of its engineering
department regarding electrical and hardware
components for electric vehicles.
Jack Fitzgerald and Dick Hannis from SCORE
Chapter 217 recently met with Dr. Theodore
Peters and his students at Hartwick College.
The purpose of this meeting was to kick-off
SCORE’s involvement with this semester’s
Community-Based Learning Program. The
Hartwick College Department of Business
Administration and Accounting has instituted a
Community-Based Learning Program to foster
increased opportunities for their management
students to learn through direct experience
with local organizations.
Security Mutual Life is
pleased to announce that
Samson Lo, FSA, has joined
the company as Assistant Vice
President & Valuation Actuary.
Mr. Lo has more than 20 years
of actuarial experience, both in
the U.S. and abroad, with
insurers including MetLife AIG, Keyport Life
and Gerber Life. His areas of expertise include
actuarial modeling and projections, valuation,
financial reporting and asset adequacy analysis.
SharpTech Solutions is pleased to announce
they have facilitated the donation of 17
computers from a local client to Tioga
Opportunities Inc. Both organizations are
long term clients of SharpTech. This generous
donation will make possible a significant
upgrade to a portion of Tioga Opportunities
Inc.’s IT infrastructure.
Susquehanna Nursing & Rehabilitation
Center, LLC, (SNRC) was recognized as a 2014
recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality
Award for its dedication to improving the lives
of residents through quality care last week at the
American Health Care Association and National
Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) 65th
Annual Convention and Exposition. The award
was presented to Jeni Demarais, Administrator,
Shannon Cayea, Chief Operating Officer, and
Phyllis Watson, Admissions Director. The
program honors centers across the nation that have
17
demonstrated their commitment to improving
quality care for seniors and individuals with
disabilities.
Tri-Cities Opera provided a free performance
to an audience of homeschooled children
and their parents on November 3. Tri-Cities
Opera’s Opera-Go-Round Educational Outreach
Program presented John Davies’ Pinocchio at the
Clinton Street Opera Center on Clinton Street
in Binghamton. Opera-Go-Round is currently
celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season. Mr.
Davies is a former Tri-Cities Opera Resident
Artist and a world renowned singer and
composer of children’s opera.
The UHS Breast Center is one of the first
facilities in New York State to offer digital
breast tomosynthesis, also known as threedimensional mammography. With the new
3D mammography, dozens of digital images
of the breast can be taken from several angles
and synthesized through a computer using
tomosynthesis, creating a 3D image of the
breast. This technology enables doctors to see
inside breast anomalies with far more clarity.
The biggest advantage of tomosynthesis is that
it reduces or eliminates the need for additional
diagnostic mammograms, which can reduce or
eliminate a lot of anxiety for patients and their
families.
The Valleyview Alliance Church has hired
Alicia D. Dixon-Garrard as the new Director
for Community Outreach to serve at The
Bridge Community Center in Johnson City.
Before coming to Valleyview and The Bridge
Community Center, Alicia served as an Assistant
Pastor at Hands of Hope Ministries Free
Methodist Church in Binghamton, New York.
On October 24, Willow Run Foods, Inc.
presented their Employee of the Year awards at
their annual ESOP meeting. The four recipients
honored for their outstanding service and
dedication to Willow Run Foods were: Steven
Bodine, Krista Dickerson, Micah Dunham and
Edmond Groover.
We are interested
in sharing your good news
with other Chamber members.
Every month
we include
a GOOD NEWS section
with one-sentence items
about good news
from our members.
The deadline to submit
the good news
information is the
first Friday
of the month prior to publication.
If you have questions
or would like to submit
a good news item
for the ChambeReport,
please contact Judi Hess
at judi@visitbinghamton.org.
18
December 2014
ChambeReport
19
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December 2014
ChambeReport
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December 2014
ChambeReport
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The Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 995
49 Court Street, Metrocenter, Suite 200
Binghamton, NY 13902-0995
Phone: (607) 772-8860
Fax: (607) 722-4513
E-Mail:chamber@binghamtonchamber.com
OR C U R R E N T R E SI DE N T
www.GreaterBinghamtonChamber.com
Board Chairman:
Terry Wood
Willow Run Foods
Publisher:
Lou Santoni
President & CEO
Editor:
Amy Shaw
Vice President, Member Services
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