Cortland family business among SBA Small Business Excellence Award winners

DeWITT — A privately owned family business in Cortland was among the area companies honored recently with a Small Business Excellence Award. 

Forkey Construction and Fabricating Inc., located at 3690 Luker Road in Cortland, was among 17 companies that the Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognized from around Central New York. 

The agency presented Small Business Excellence Awards during a luncheon held May 6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, near Carrier Circle in DeWitt. The event was part of National Small Business Week.

Charlie Forkey Jr. and Charlie Forkey III, the owners of Forkey Construction and Fabricating Inc., called it “very humbling to be selected for this award.” 

“The opportunity to work as a family to build our business, create career opportunities for our team, and have a positive impact on our community is priceless. We are thankful to our customers and our hardworking team, and we appreciate NBT Bank’s partnership and support as we have grown over the years,” the Forkeys said in an SBA news release.

NBT Bank had nominated the firm for the excellence award. “I began working with the Forkey family in 2007. As their banker, I have always been impressed by their financial success and their vision for the future. The Forkey family and their company are proof that the American dream is alive and well, and NBT Bank is honored to be part of their journey,” Kellyanne Truesdale, an NBT Bank VP who nominated the business, said in the SBA release.

Small businesses are selected for the awards based on their company’s longevity, innovation, sales growth, increased employment, ability to overcome adversity, and community contributions.

The New York Business Development Corporation, area lenders, and economic developers joined the SBA in honoring the businesses during the luncheon. 

“The 21st Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon gives us the opportunity to celebrate our business community leaders for their small business successes,” Bernard J. Paprocki, SBA Syracuse district director, said in a news release. “Small-business owners develop deep community connections, provide the critical backbone of our economy, employ local residents, and contribute to the vibrancy and innovation of our nation.”

Besides Forkey Construction, the honorees include four businesses in Onondaga County; two each in Oswego, Cayuga, Madison, and Jefferson counties; and one each in St. Lawrence, Tompkins, Broome, and Oneida counties.

Onondaga County
Property Management Consulting Services, Inc. was honored with an excellence award. Solvay Bank nominated the business, which is owned by Tracy Newman and Rebecca Newman and located at 829 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse. 

Recess Coffee and Kitchen LLC, owned by Jesse Daino and Adam Williams, was also recognized during the luncheon. Berkshire Bank nominated the company, which is located at 114 Boss Road in Syracuse.

Another winner was Ashley McGraw Architects, D.P.C., which Citizens Bank nominated for an excellence award. The firm, which is owned by Edward McGraw, Matthew Broderick, Nicholas Signorelli, Sandra March, Andrew Schuster, and Susanne Angarano, operates at 125 E. Jefferson St. in Syracuse.

The recipients also included Whelan & Curry Construction Services, Inc., which is owned by Christopher Corfield. M&T Bank nominated the firm, which is located at 4103 New Court Ave. in DeWitt.

Oswego County
Man in the Moon Candies, owned by Amy Lear, was honored with an excellence award. The New York Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Oswego nominated the company, which is located at 192 West First St. in Oswego.

The honorees also included Bardy’s 4 Seasons Tire & Auto Repair, Inc., which is owned by David Bardeschewski and Lisa Hall and located at 5963 S. Main St. in Sandy Creek. Operation Oswego County, Inc. nominated the company for the excellence award.

Cayuga County
Lilly Plumbing and Heating, which is owned by Greg and Kathy Gallinger, was recognized during the luncheon. Five Star Bank nominated the company, which is located at 4974 Rockefeller Road in Auburn.

Active Physical Therapy Solutions PC, owned by Dr. Dale Buchberger, was also honored with an excellence award. New York Business Development Corporation nominated the business, which is located at 91 Columbus St. in Auburn.

Madison
Ray Brothers Barbeque, owned by Tucker Ray and Colin Ray, was recognized during the luncheon. NY SBDC Onondaga nominated the company, which is located at 6474 Route 20 in Bouckville. 

WISE Women’s Business Center presented a 2019 Small Business Excellence Award to Devine Gardens LLC, owned by Tina Jacobs and located at 4015 Ryan Road in Morrisville.

Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, the honorees included DNJ Management LLC, which is owned by Damon Draught and Sonja Draught. NY SBDC Watertown nominated the business, which is located at 26475 Johnson Road in Evans Mills. 

In addition, Katie Clough-Perin, DDS, PC was honored. Watertown Savings Bank nominated the business, which is located at 1340 Washington St. in Watertown. 

Additional recipients
Among other winners, 3 Bears Gluten Free Bakery and Café of St. Lawrence County won an excellence award. The NY SBDC Canton nominated the business, which is owned by Christopher Durand and Faye Ori and located at 51 Market St. in Potsdam. 

Shortstop Deli, which is owned by Chuck Dong and located at 200 W. Seneca St. in Ithaca, was also honored. Tompkins Trust Company nominated the business for an excellence award.

NY SBDC Binghamton nominated two businesses that won an excellence award: 205 Dry and Uncorked Creations. Alise Willerton owns both businesses, which are located at 205 State St. in Binghamton.

Another honoree was Clinton Pet Vet, nominated by NY SBDC Mohawk Valley. The business, which is owned by Dr. Jessica Price, is located at 60 Dwight Ave. in Clinton.       

DeWITT — A privately owned family business in Cortland was among the area companies honored recently with a Small Business Excellence Award. 

Forkey Construction and Fabricating Inc., located at 3690 Luker Road in Cortland, was among 17 companies that the Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognized from around Central New York. 

The agency presented Small Business Excellence Awards during a luncheon held May 6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, near Carrier Circle in DeWitt. The event was part of National Small Business Week.

Charlie Forkey Jr. and Charlie Forkey III, the owners of Forkey Construction and Fabricating Inc., called it “very humbling to be selected for this award.” 

“The opportunity to work as a family to build our business, create career opportunities for our team, and have a positive impact on our community is priceless. We are thankful to our customers and our hardworking team, and we appreciate NBT Bank’s partnership and support as we have grown over the years,” the Forkeys said in an SBA news release.

NBT Bank had nominated the firm for the excellence award. “I began working with the Forkey family in 2007. As their banker, I have always been impressed by their financial success and their vision for the future. The Forkey family and their company are proof that the American dream is alive and well, and NBT Bank is honored to be part of their journey,” Kellyanne Truesdale, an NBT Bank VP who nominated the business, said in the SBA release.

Small businesses are selected for the awards based on their company’s longevity, innovation, sales growth, increased employment, ability to overcome adversity, and community contributions.

The New York Business Development Corporation, area lenders, and economic developers joined the SBA in honoring the businesses during the luncheon. 

“The 21st Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon gives us the opportunity to celebrate our business community leaders for their small business successes,” Bernard J. Paprocki, SBA Syracuse district director, said in a news release. “Small-business owners develop deep community connections, provide the critical backbone of our economy, employ local residents, and contribute to the vibrancy and innovation of our nation.”

Besides Forkey Construction, the honorees include four businesses in Onondaga County; two each in Oswego, Cayuga, Madison, and Jefferson counties; and one each in St. Lawrence, Tompkins, Broome, and Oneida counties.

Onondaga County
Property Management Consulting Services, Inc. was honored with an excellence award. Solvay Bank nominated the business, which is owned by Tracy Newman and Rebecca Newman and located at 829 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse. 

Recess Coffee and Kitchen LLC, owned by Jesse Daino and Adam Williams, was also recognized during the luncheon. Berkshire Bank nominated the company, which is located at 114 Boss Road in Syracuse.

Another winner was Ashley McGraw Architects, D.P.C., which Citizens Bank nominated for an excellence award. The firm, which is owned by Edward McGraw, Matthew Broderick, Nicholas Signorelli, Sandra March, Andrew Schuster, and Susanne Angarano, operates at 125 E. Jefferson St. in Syracuse.

The recipients also included Whelan & Curry Construction Services, Inc., which is owned by Christopher Corfield. M&T Bank nominated the firm, which is located at 4103 New Court Ave. in DeWitt.

Oswego County
Man in the Moon Candies, owned by Amy Lear, was honored with an excellence award. The New York Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Oswego nominated the company, which is located at 192 West First St. in Oswego.

The honorees also included Bardy’s 4 Seasons Tire & Auto Repair, Inc., which is owned by David Bardeschewski and Lisa Hall and located at 5963 S. Main St. in Sandy Creek. Operation Oswego County, Inc. nominated the company for the excellence award.

Cayuga County
Lilly Plumbing and Heating, which is owned by Greg and Kathy Gallinger, was recognized during the luncheon. Five Star Bank nominated the company, which is located at 4974 Rockefeller Road in Auburn.

Active Physical Therapy Solutions PC, owned by Dr. Dale Buchberger, was also honored with an excellence award. New York Business Development Corporation nominated the business, which is located at 91 Columbus St. in Auburn.

Madison
Ray Brothers Barbeque, owned by Tucker Ray and Colin Ray, was recognized during the luncheon. NY SBDC Onondaga nominated the company, which is located at 6474 Route 20 in Bouckville. 

WISE Women’s Business Center presented a 2019 Small Business Excellence Award to Devine Gardens LLC, owned by Tina Jacobs and located at 4015 Ryan Road in Morrisville.

Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, the honorees included DNJ Management LLC, which is owned by Damon Draught and Sonja Draught. NY SBDC Watertown nominated the business, which is located at 26475 Johnson Road in Evans Mills. 

In addition, Katie Clough-Perin, DDS, PC was honored. Watertown Savings Bank nominated the business, which is located at 1340 Washington St. in Watertown. 

Additional recipients
Among other winners, 3 Bears Gluten Free Bakery and Café of St. Lawrence County won an excellence award. The NY SBDC Canton nominated the business, which is owned by Christopher Durand and Faye Ori and located at 51 Market St. in Potsdam. 

Shortstop Deli, which is owned by Chuck Dong and located at 200 W. Seneca St. in Ithaca, was also honored. Tompkins Trust Company nominated the business for an excellence award.

NY SBDC Binghamton nominated two businesses that won an excellence award: 205 Dry and Uncorked Creations. Alise Willerton owns both businesses, which are located at 205 State St. in Binghamton.

Another honoree was Clinton Pet Vet, nominated by NY SBDC Mohawk Valley. The business, which is owned by Dr. Jessica Price, is located at 60 Dwight Ave. in Clinton.