September 2016

New Syracuse CoE Labs, New Opportunities

[On Aug. 24], I was fortunate to take part in an event at the Syracuse Center of Excellence celebrating the completion of new labs to support research and development related to emerging energy techno Read More
The Media’s Responsibility to Our Democracy

Politicians spend a good bit of their time complaining about the media. But why should they have all the fun? I’m going to join in, though I tend to get upset about different things than most sitting Read More
There’s Big Money in Spin

Maybe we can make some money from the spin phenomenon. First, let’s define spin. It is the BS that spokespeople offer when they defend the indefensible. It is the crown jewel of PR, the lifeblood of Read More

Opinion

OPINION: Gov. Hochul needs to Keep Farm OT Threshold at 60 Hours For nearly two years, my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference and I have been imploring the Farm Laborers Wage Board to keep the overtime threshold for farm workers at 60 hours per week. Read More
OPINION: U.S. relations with the Americas deserve attention Some of the United States’ most important relationships are with other countries in the Americas. They often receive less attention than they deserve. These relationships can be challenging, but there are few challenges more important than working effectively with our neighbors. Read More
OPINION: Gov. Hochul using COVID as a Political Tool is Abhorrent As a rule, most emergencies are obvious to the individuals experiencing them. Read More

Business Mentors

CEO FOCUS: Leveraging Opportunities to Drive New Progress for CNY’s Innovation Ecosystem Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on how we think about our community, and the two decades of strategic planning and hard work that is transforming our regional economy. Read More
VIEWPOINT: Retirees are going back to work More senior citizens are saying, “I’m too young to retire.” Some simply can’t afford to retire; others remain in the workforce because it makes them feel productive. Read More
VIEWPOINT: It’s Just the Beginning of Mohawk Valley’s Economic Transformation The Mohawk Valley region underwent gut-wrenching economic changes in the mid-1990s with the realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome and major industrial plant downsizings and closures. Read More

People on the Move

People news: English named Communications Division GM at United Radio DeWITT, N.Y. — United Radio announced it has hired Leslie English as the company’s new Communications Division general manager. Read More
Mohawk Valley EDGE announces two new hires ROME, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley EDGE has added two new staff members. Chris Lawrence is the new VP of planning and development, while Hannah Phillips has joined the economic-development organization as director of marketing and communications. Read More
Indium’s Vareha-Walsh named to national industry association board CLINTON, N.Y. — Donna Vareha-Walsh, director of global supply chain and international trade compliance at Indium Corporation, was recently elected to the American Tin Trade Association board of directors. Read More