A Sign of the Times: May 11, 2020 Edition

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OCRRA opens Amboy, Jamesville compost sites after coronavirus delay

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SYRACUSE — OCRRA opened its Amboy and Jamesville compost sites on Monday, May 4 and Thursday, May 7, respectively, after a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Residents and businesses looking to drop off yard waste or purchase compost or mulch can now do so, the agency says. OCRRA says it delayed the opening of

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United Way of Central New York elects Mower’s Crockett as board chair

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SYRACUSE — The United Way of Central New York (UWCNY) board of directors has recently elected Stephanie Crockett as its chair. Crockett, executive VP and managing director at Mower, has been a UWCNY board member since 2015. She most recently served a two-year period as vice chair. UWCNY board members work to ensure that the

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CNY Tweets – May 11, 2020

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

CNY Tweets — May 11, 2020 Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering small business, COVID-19, HR, and career tips. IRS Small Biz @IRSsmallbizThe employee retention credit encourages employers to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardship related to COVID-19. #IRS has posted FAQs to help you

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CNY Tweets — May 11, 2020

Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering small business, COVID-19, HR, and career tips.

IRS Small Biz @IRSsmallbiz
The employee retention credit encourages employers to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardship related to COVID-19. #IRS has posted FAQs to help you understand this new credit. See http://irs.gov/coronavirus #COVIDreliefIRS

YFS Magazine @YFSMagazine
5 Useful Tips Consider When Building A Startup: https://bit.ly/3aP1qWz

Online SmallBusiness @OnlineSmallBiz
Why You Should Be Using a VPN If You’re Running Your Company From Home http://dlvr.it/RVs600

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
When this COVID mess is over, I’m pretty certain employees will judge us on how we fared as leaders. At top of their criteria will be how thoughtful & caring we were with respect to the challenges they faced personally while working from home. This will matter most.

TheHRDIRECTOR @theHRDIRECTOR
Why having an agile business culture is vital when it comes to crisis management – https://thehrd.co/3ay6IGt / #HR

John Mauck, SHRM-SCP, SPHR @johnmauck
Interesting tips for boosting remote employee engagement. #HR #Management https://lnkd.in/e4HKyVv

StartUp Incubators @StartIncubators
How To Make Sure You’re Hiring Someone Who Reflects Your Company Values http://dlvr.it/RVhGH7

Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal
How to Engage Employees During Uncertain Times @LollyDaskal https://bit.ly/2VwIZAa

Jumbiz @JumbizNews
1 Proven Leadership Trait That Will Instantly Strengthen Your Team / http://Inc.com http://dlvr.it/RVqTTQ #Entrepreneur #SmallBiz

Phidelia Johnson Globe with meridians#HRPro @JohnsonPhidelia
#Leaders: Great leaders understand that employees are essential stakeholders in the organization, and they invest in what matters most to them. For employees to be fully engaging & committed, you must foster a culture where they can collaborate effectively to complete tasks.

Small Business Expo @SmallBizExpo
3 Easy Ways to Stay Productive in Stressful Times http://twib.in/l/XBRGrzba64kA

Mitch Mitchell @Mitch_M
Does Your 30-Second Speech Need An Hour https://ttmitchellconsulting.com/Mitchblog/does-your-30-second-speech-need-an-hour/

Korn_Ferry @Korn_Ferry
In a recent survey, 77% of professionals report finding it difficult to concentrate on their work. Does this ring true for you?

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
How to Design an Infographic Resume and Make a Great First Impression | by @Venngage https://buff.ly/3cSjmks

Vetted Tech pitches in to assist first responders

Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, Small Business, Subscriber Only

DeWITT — When Mike Mowins, president of Vetted Tech, Inc., recently learned that several local first responders were short of critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE), he sprang into action to make and supply face shields. Vetted Tech, established in 2019, is an additive manufacturing company specializing in advanced 3D-printed parts created in metal or

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Vetted Tech, established in 2019, is an additive manufacturing company specializing in advanced 3D-printed parts created in metal or high-strength polymer for the medical, automotive, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and aerospace markets. The name Vetted stands for veteran-enabled transition technology-enabled design.

Using fiber-reinforced polymers, Vetted Tech created face shields for the Baldwinsville Ambulance Corps and Manlius Fire Department. With help from another additive manufacturing partner, it also supplied face shields to Upstate Medical University. A high point for Vetted Tech was the ability to provide shields to the nonprofit Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango. These shields are produced on a Markforged Mark Two printer, a continuous carbon-fiber printer and one of several 3D-printing devices in the Vetted Tech facility, located at 6085 Court Street Road in DeWitt. Vetted Tech has the capacity to provide PPE for local first responders and nonprofits on a limited basis.

Mowins, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, first came to the Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in mid-2019 to develop an additive-manufacturing business in the Syracuse area. He had retired from a 30-year career with Phillips Screw Company, where he was president of global licensing — developing and deploying advanced technologies. Mowins holds several patents related to technical development in the fastener industry, and he has significant experience in advanced manufacturing for the aerospace and unmanned aircraft systems (or UAS) markets.

Mowins, a Baldwinsville native, had lived in both Massachusetts and California during his career and spent a great deal of time travelling globally. In visiting the SBDC, he first sought information on startup funding and requirements, as well as connections to local industry players to assess the marketplace. I assisted Mowins by providing guidance on funding opportunities and connecting him to local economic-development leaders. SBDC assisted in reviewing his business plan and financial projections and provided market-research information from the SBDC Research Network.

“SBDC helped me greatly by providing encouragement, connections, and solid business advice for my startup venture” said Mowins. “Additionally, they were able to assist in the finalization of our financing package to enable us to open the business. I knew that SBDC provided quality business assistance and that’s why I selected them in the first place.”

Although off to a solid start in the additive-manufacturing market, Vetted Tech has experienced the same slowdown as most businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Mowins is using that time to renew industry connections and solidify working relationships with new and existing customers.

The opportunity to provide PPE for first responders was part of Mowins’ business philosophy centered on giving back. As a veteran-owned business that hires only veterans as employees, he realizes that being part of a business community has its obligations —and one of the most important is collaboration. That cooperation is not only community awareness and action, but attention to business opportunities that will provide win-win results for both parties. That outlook fostered through years of business experience, and nurtured initially at the Naval Academy, figures to stand Vetted Tech in good stead. It is a model that startup businesses would do well to emulate.

I recognized immediately that Mike had the passion and drive that is characteristic of a successful entrepreneur. I knew he would be a pleasure to work with and that we would be able to bring our SBDC resources into play to assist his venture. For more information on the company, visit: www.vetted3d.com.

Business Advisor’s Tips: New businesses need focus. Make sure to research your intended market and focus on the portion of the market that reflects the potential for highest customer acceptance. In other words, do your homework.

Paul Brooks is a certified senior business advisor at the Onondaga SBDC’s Tech Garden satellite office in downtown Syracuse. Contact him at p.c.brooks@sunyocc.edu

Cayuga County Chamber announces annual award winners; postpones luncheon

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AUBURN — The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce on April 28 announced the winners of its 2020 Chamber Awards. The chamber is honoring these businesses and individuals for their “unique contributions to the economy and overall development of Cayuga County.” The chamber has postponed the awards luncheon, which would have recognized the winners in person,

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AUBURN — The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce on April 28 announced the winners of its 2020 Chamber Awards.

The chamber is honoring these businesses and individuals for their “unique contributions to the economy and overall development of Cayuga County.”

The chamber has postponed the awards luncheon, which would have recognized the winners in person, because of the New York On Pause executive order amid the coronavirus pandemic. The organization has not yet selected a new date for the event.

The Chamber Awards winners are as follows.

• Phyllis K. Goldman Encouragement Award — Cathy Tripiciano
Tripiciano is founder and owner of Maple Seed Creative and adjunct professor at Cayuga Community College’s School of Media & the Arts. The Phyllis K. Goldman Encouragement Award recognizes a woman who owns a business (or is a majority owner) and has “demonstrated a noteworthy entrepreneurial pursuit.” Nominees are owners in for-profit businesses (within the last seven years) who inspire and mentor other women to do the same. “The award is given in honor and memory of Phyllis Goldman, a local businesswoman who inspired women to stretch themselves beyond society’s norms and expectations by following their dreams and hearts as they pursue a career and redirected their life paths,” the chamber said.

• Terri Bridenbecker Young Professional Award — Kirsten Wise Gosch
Wise Gosch is executive director at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art. The award recognizes individuals, under the age of 40, who are pursuing excellence in their career.

• Small Business of the Year Award (In Business Less Than 5 Years) — Drifter’s on Owasco
Drifter’s on Owasco is owned by Jim & Jane Manning. The award honors small-business owners who “demonstrate entrepreneurship evidenced by diversification, creativity, and imagination.”

• Small Business of the Year Award (In Business 5+ Years) — A&M Graphics, Inc.
A&M Graphics is owned by Al Brunner and Matt Ferguson. This award honors business owners who “demonstrate the ability to overcome adversities in the ever-changing business environment and staying power with a commitment to community involvement.”

• Business Leader Award — Fox Dealerships
This award recognizes businesses that “continually invest in Cayuga County and have shown leadership by taking an active role in the community.”

• Nonprofit of the Year Award — Nick’s Ride 4 Friends
This award honors a nonprofit that “contributes to the success of the community by enhancing the quality of life or contributing to the economic base of Cayuga County.”

• Community Leadership Award — Ian Phillips
Phillips is regional political organizer at the NYSUT union. He is a Leadership Cayuga class of 2015 alum and an Auburn School District board member. This award is sponsored by Cuddy Financial Services and recognizes Leadership Cayuga alums for their participation in civic organizations and leadership roles in both their organization and in the community.

A roundup of recent COVID-19 crisis opinion polls

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At the time of this writing, one of the biggest issues surrounding the COVID-19 crisis has been the question of when to ease social-distancing restrictions and reopen states and regions for business. There has been a flurry of public-opinion polling on that issue in recent weeks, so this seemed like a good time to sort

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It should be noted that the polls cited in this piece were conducted in late April and represent snapshots of opinion at that moment. In a situation as rapidly changing as the coronavirus crisis, opinions are subject to shift as events unfold.

Links to summaries of the polls cited are provided as endnotes.

The Central New York Business Journal conducted a single-question poll using a non-probability sample of cnybj.com website visitors and readers of our Daily News Alerts emails, which asked, “Regarding the COVID-19 economic restart, what do you think is the bigger risk: reopening too soon, endangering public health; or reopening too late, endangering the economy and social order?”

The data, which was collected during the final week of April and published in our May 4 edition, revealed that 44 percent of the 126 poll respondents felt the bigger risk was reopening too early. While that figure is a minority of respondents, I personally interpret the roughly equal divide as a signal of general caution given that a large number of CNYBJ readers are business owners and managers whose businesses have been placed under great strain or, in some cases, effectively shut down by the New York State on PAUSE restrictions.

Recent national polls have tended to show majorities supporting a “go-slow” approach.

An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll¹ of American adults released on April 29 suggested an overall mood of caution. A release summarizing the findings stated, “Ninety-one percent of Americans think it is a bad idea to allow people to attend sporting events without further testing. 85 percent do not think it is wise for schools to reopen, and 80 percent think it is a bad idea for restaurants to allow customers to dine in. 65 percent of residents consider it a bad idea for people to go back to work without further testing.”

The Marist poll findings indicated a partisan divide on the issue of returning to work. The release noted, “Eighty-four percent of Democrats and 65 percent of independents want to continue stay-at-home policies while 51 percent of Republicans think it would be a good idea to get back to business.”

Caution about returning to work may be due to fears that America does not yet have the upper hand against the virus. Findings from a Rassmussen Reports poll² released on May 1 showed that, “Just 31 percent of American adults believe America is winning the war against the coronavirus.”

The FiveThirtyEight website, which aggregates numerous national poll results on various issues, reported on May 5 that 69 percent of Americans are “very” or “somewhat” concerned that “they, someone in their family, or someone else they know will become infected with the coronavirus.”³

Not surprisingly, considering the magnitude and anxiety caused, the crisis is proving to be a major driver of opinions regarding political leaders and public institutions.

New Yorkers so far are strongly supporting Gov. Andrew Cuomo through the crisis, according to a poll of registered New York state voters by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI)⁴ released on April 27. SCRI’s news release for the poll reported, “[Cuomo’s] favorability rating is 77-21 percent, up from 71-23 percent last month, matching his highest ever in February 2011. His job performance rating is 71-28 percent, up from 63-35 percent last month, his best ever. By a 78-16 percent margin, voters say they trust Cuomo over President Donald Trump to make a determination about opening New York…”

Perhaps the most dramatic finding of the SCRI poll is that Cuomo, who has tended to be a polarizing figure throughout his tenure as governor, was viewed favorably by even a majority of Republicans. “He is viewed favorably by 90 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents and 53 percent of Republicans, his first time favorable with Republicans in more than six years,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.

Cuomo has also garnered positive opinion nationally. A Gallup poll⁵ of American adults that was released on May 1 showed that 67 percent approved of Cuomo’s handling of the crisis. That was higher than the approval for President Donald Trump (50 percent), but below Dr. Anthony Fauci (79 percent).

That same Gallup poll reported that Americans overwhelmingly approve how hospitals in their area (93 percent) and U.S. hospitals in general (92 percent) are handling the crisis. Positive ratings were also given to respondents’ employers (89 percent), schools and daycare centers (87 percent), government health agencies (78 percent), and state governments (78 percent).

Two of the most persistently unpopular institutions in American life had less than 50 percent approval for their handling of the crisis in Gallup’s poll. Congress was at 48 percent, and coming in at last place among measured institutions, with 41 percent approval, was the news media.

National opinions of the news media notwithstanding, the Central New York Business Journal will continue to dedicate our editorial resources to coverage of the crisis and its impact on the business community in our region. That will include continued coverage of relevant polls and of our own in-house opinion research in issues to come.

Endnotes:

1. http://maristpoll.marist.edu/4-29-npr-pbs-newshour-marist-poll-results-analysis/#sthash.ZdGme86o.dpbs

2.https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/coronavirus/only_31_think_u_s_winning_virus_war_food_concerns_unchanged

3. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/coronavirus-polls/?ex_cid=rrpromo

4. https://scri.siena.edu/2020/04/27/coronavirus-pandemic-pushes-cuomo-to-record-high-ratings-voters-trust-cuomo-over-trump-on-ny-reopening-78-16/

5. https://news.gallup.com/poll/309614/health-institutions-rated-best-covid-response.aspx

Vance Marriner is research director at the Central New York Business Journal and a part-time instructor of marketing at SUNY Oswego’s School of Business.

Cornell provost says there’s no guarantee students return to campus this fall

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ITHACA — Even though the university remains “hopeful” that it will be able to resume campus operations for the fall semester, Cornell University says “it is simply too soon to make that guarantee.” That’s part of a letter that Cornell University Provost Michael Kotlikoff wrote to the Cornell community. Kotlikoff referred to a recent message

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Tompkins Financial to pay Q2 dividend of 52 cents on May 18

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ITHACA — Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP) recently announced that its board of directors approved payment of a regular quarterly cash dividend of 52 cents a share for the second quarter. The dividend is payable on May 18, to common shareholders of record on May 11. It’s the same amount that Tompkins Financial paid in

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Thank you for turning to CNYBJ during these tough times

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The Central New York Business Journal has been publishing for 34 years. During that time, the business community in our region has never faced a challenge like the COVID-19 pandemic. While business activity over this period of social distancing has slowed to a crawl, the need for business news is more urgent than ever. The

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The Central New York Business Journal has been publishing for 34 years. During that time, the business community in our region has never faced a challenge like the COVID-19 pandemic.

While business activity over this period of social distancing has slowed to a crawl, the need for business news is more urgent than ever. The demand for information to help businesses navigate this crisis is growing. We can say that with confidence because we see it in our recent audience analytics.

• At the beginning of the statewide shutdown, we temporarily transitioned to exclusively digital delivery. Since then, we have been emailing the Digital Edition of the Central New York Business Journal (the publication you are reading right now) to an average of just under 17,900 recipients each week. That represents an increase of more than 2,100 recipients per week over the period prior to mid-March.

• Not only have we been sending out more emails, but a growing percentage of them are being opened. Since March 15, the open rate for weekly Digital Edition emails has jumped from 12 percent to 17 percent.

• Our daily Coffee Break and Daily News Alert emails have also shown gains. The open rates for both, which were already well above Constant Contact’s industry averages, increased over 2 percentage points since mid-March. Those two email publications combined are now opened by recipients over 15,800 times every week.

• The average number of unique users visiting our website (cnybj.com) every day has increased 9 percent since March 15. Daily advertising impressions — the average number of times an ad on our web pages is viewed each day — have climbed 88 percent during the same period.

The entire staff at the Central New York Business Journal is grateful that you have turned to us as your business-news source in these uncertain times. Thank you.

If the content we provide is valuable to you, there are ways you can access more of it and help us to continue making it available.

The best way to stay connected to news and information about the Central New York business community is a subscription that provides a full year of unlimited access to our website and archives and a free copy of the annual Book of Lists, along with the weekly edition. You can subscribe on our website at https://www.cnybj.com/newsstand/

We also offer a number of email publications free of charge. Coffee Break is a news roundup from New York state, the nation, and the world every morning. Daily News Alerts provides local breaking news from our CNYBJ staff every afternoon. BizEventz News & Updates are news and updates on our business events happening in Central New York. Healthcare Provider E-Newsletter is written for and sent directly to health-care providers in the region every other month. You can sign up for any of these free email alerts at: https://www.cnybj.com/news-email-alerts/

Our goal before the pandemic was to serve the Central New York business community through news, advertising opportunities, events, and data delivered across a variety of platforms. We continue to do so now and will keep doing it long after the current crisis has passed. In good times and in bad, we appreciate you being a member of our growing audience and we are proud to be here for you.

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