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

People news: Lesko Financial Services names three advisors as partners/owners
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Lesko Financial Services, Inc. announced that three of its financial advisors have become partners in the firm. Binghamton–based Lesko Financial Services, founded

People news: Berkshire Bank parent company names executive VP, head of retail banking
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) — the parent company of Berkshire Bank, which has a major presence in the Mohawk Valley — announced it

MVP Health Care offers chance to win grant funding for fitness courts in New York and Vermont
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — MVP Health Care (MVP) and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) on Tuesday announced the launch of a $750,000 statewide partnership to build

Benefit Design Services leases nearly 2,800 square feet in DeWitt
DeWITT, N.Y. — Benefit Design Services (BDS) Corp. recently leased 2,777 square feet of office space at 5010 Campuswood Drive in the town of DeWitt. Cory LaDuke & Brian Balash of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company represented the tenant in the transaction. No lease terms were disclosed. The office is located in a two-story, 71,269-square-foot
VIEWPOINT: Employers need to activate HERO Act compliance plans now
State includes COVID-19 under the law On Sept. 6, Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York State Commissioner of Health to designate COVID-19 as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health. The designation is official and available on the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) website (https://health.ny.gov/press/releases/2021/docs/2021-09-06_commissioner_designation.pdf). By way

New state laws tackle subcontractor wages, shared-work benefits
New state laws that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed on Labor Day make construction contractors liable for the wages owed to their subcontractors and extend shared-work benefits. They also establish a demonstration program to implement speed-violation monitoring systems in work zones to help keep workers safe and require the payment of prevailing wage to building service employees at
VIEWPOINT:Top 5 Considerations for Updating Policies & Procedures
Emerging from the trials and tribulations from the pandemic, many business owners learned valuable lessons to keep their companies running smoothly. Those ranged from updating health and safety protocols to staying agile in business operations. However, one of the most crucial lessons to continue throughout the future is the importance of keeping policies and procedures up
VIEWPOINT: 7 Ways Leaders Can Finish the Year Off Strong
It’s been a challenging year for many businesses due to the pandemic. Whether you’ve thrived or struggled in difficult times, there’s no doubt challenges came your way. Many entrepreneurs neglect self-care and work much more than they should, often resulting in burn-out and lower productivity. With September being Self-Care Awareness Month, this is the time to slow

Community Bank System’s new CHRO to begin post on Oct. 1
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) recently announced that Maureen Gillan-Myer will soon join the banking company as its executive VP and chief human-resources officer (CHRO). Gillan-Myer has more than 29 years of leadership and oversight experience in all aspects of human resources and is currently serving as HSBC USA’s CHRO. She
Small group health-insurance premiums in NYS to rise over 7%
Insurers serving New York’s small-group market will raise their premiums, on average, 7.6 percent after requesting an average increase of 14 percent. That’s according to the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), which on Aug. 13 said it reduced the average increase by 46 percent, “saving small businesses over $468 million.” DFS also
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.