Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Virtual seven-county job fair set for Sept. 26
UTICA, N.Y. — The Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties’ Regional Apprenticeship Development Readiness (RADAR) grant project will host a free, seven-county

Lewis named project manager of SouthWorks development
ITHACA, N.Y. — Robert Lewis has joined the SouthWorks team in Ithaca as a development project manager for SHIFT Capital. The SouthWorks site is a 95-acre property at 620 South Aurora St./810 Danby Road, that formerly housed Emerson Power Transmission. The site is in both the city and town of Ithaca and has been vacant

T5 Insurance uses technology to connect with clients
UTICA, N.Y. — Stephen Turnbull always knew he wanted to work in the insurance industry, and a year ago, he made his vision of creating a new insurance experience with a more modern approach a reality when he opened T5 Insurance Services. While his insurance agency has an office, located at 287 Genesee St., most

Connecticut insurance company plans growth in New York
A Connecticut insurance agency is growing its presence across the Northeast, including in New York state. Hartford–based Smith Brothers Insurance, LLC, which has Empire State offices in Owego, Rensselaer, Vestal, and Waverly, recently acquired the assets of the Palmer Family Insurance Agency in Marathon (Cortland County) from third-generation owner Cassie Mauser. The deal, which closed

SUNY’s new provost begins duties in November
ALBANY, N.Y. — He earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University and will begin new duties as SUNY’s executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost on Nov. 6. The SUNY board of trustees appointed Melur (Ram) Ramasubramanian to the role. In addition, the board of directors of the SUNY Research Foundation also

New SUNY union pact with state runs through mid-2026
ALBANY, N.Y. — Members of United University Professions (UUP) have ratified a new four-year labor contract with New York State that runs until July 1, 2026. The union includes more than 37,000 SUNY system faculty and professional employees. The agreement won the approval of 96.4 percent of UUP members who cast ballots. “This contract fairly
N.Y.’s small-group health premiums to rise 7.4% on average in 2024
Health insurers serving New York state’s small-group market will raise their premiums by 7.4 percent, on average, in 2024 after an initial request of an average 15.3 percent increase. It represents a cut of 52 percent by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), saving small businesses $607 million, DFS said in an
VIEWPOINT: NLRB Further Erodes Employer Rights and Promotes Unionization
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continues to drastically change the law and tilt the playing field against employers and in favor of labor unions. Recently, the Biden Administration’s NLRB issued new rules governing the unionization process that mark a return to the “quickie elections” from the Obama era. The NLRB issued a landmark decision

Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy acquires the Burns Agency
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — The Burns and Gilroy families say Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy, Inc. (GKG) of New Hartford has acquired the Burns Agency of Clinton in a combination involving two insurance agencies that have served the Mohawk Valley for more than a century. The acquisition closed Aug. 18, and the Burns Agency will move

Loretto starts new department for learning, development & employee experience
SYRACUSE — Loretto says it has restructured its human-resources department to “make room” for a new learning, development & employee experience department, led by Nancy Williams, who joined the organization as chief people officer earlier this summer. The new department follows the “success” of several learning and development programs for employees that Loretto launched in
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.