ITHACA — The Tompkins County Legislature on Sept. 19 awarded Nelson & Streeter Construction Co., Inc. of Pine City in Chemung County the contract for paving parking lots at two Tompkins County facilities.

The lots are located at two facilities at the county’s northeast campus — the Health Department and the Emergency Response Center. The contract is for $574,100, the amount of the construction firm’s bid, submitted on Sept. 16. 

The project will be completed in the spring of 2020, timing that enabled the project to “come in significantly under budget,” David McKenna, a Tompkins County legislator and chair of the legislature’s Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, noted in a legislature news release.

The Tompkins County Legislature approved the contract by a unanimous vote, with two legislators (Henry Granison and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne) excused from the vote.

SALINA — Monroe Plan For Medical Care, Inc., a nonprofit health-care services organization headquartered near Rochester, recently leased nearly 6,400 square feet of space in the professional office building at 100 Elwood Davis Road in Salina.

Cory LaDuke and John Manilla of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company represented the tenant in this lease transaction.

Monroe Plan For Medical Care says on its website that it has been serving low-income and government-sponsored populations in the Greater Buffalo and Rochester regions for nearly 50 years. Monroe Plan provides health home-care management services and other health-care services to individuals enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care and Fee for Service, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan, including Medicaid-eligible children and families.

SYRACUSE — JMA Wireless, a company that focuses on 4G and 5G software-based technology, plans to renovate the former Coyne Textile Services building into a high-tech manufacturing center and add jobs.

JMA Wireless, located at 7645 Henry Clay Boulevard in Clay, has committed to move the manufacturing of 5G equipment from Texas to the Coyne building, south of downtown Syracuse. The firm will also create 100 jobs.

“We strongly believe in the American entrepreneurial spirit and have confidence that U.S.-based engineering will make a difference in the race to 5G. We’re continuing investment in New York to set the pace for U.S.-driven 5G innovation, something we’ve been told too often must come from international providers,” John Mezzalingua, CEO of JMA, said in a news release.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo first announced the expansion during an Oct. 9 appearance at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the former Hotel Syracuse. 

JMA will spend $25 million to create a 5G, high-tech manufacturing center in downtown Syracuse. JMA will renovate the former Coyne Textile building and others located at Cortland Ave. on the south end of Syracuse’s downtown. The 5G campus, spanning a city block, will manufacture the world’s first indoor 5G millimeter wave radio system and act as a showcase for 5G driven experiences. 

The project “complements” efforts by the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to develop a strong tech corridor from downtown into the South Side, “making Central New York a center for 5G and smart city development,” Cuomo’s office said. 

The project will create 100 jobs in a “distressed” neighborhood adjacent to downtown, and the jobs will range from entry level to advanced engineering. 

New York is providing a $5 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative grant to assist with this project, Cuomo’s office said. 

Cuomo in 2017 announced that JMA would invest $34 million to expand operations in Onondaga County and relocate out-of-state operations to Clay. JMA has exceeded its hiring commitment of 145 jobs, creating more than 200 new jobs at its Clay location as well as meeting the investment commitment in half the expected time. 

Over the last six years, JMA has invested more than $100 million in the Syracuse area and employs over 500 people locally, per Cuomo’s office.

SYRACUSE — After serving as interim CEO for much of this year, Michael Hertzendorf is now leading NUAIR on a permanent basis as its new president and CEO.

He’s also been serving as the organization’s chief of staff since 2018.

NUAIR’s board has “every confidence in Mike’s exceptional leadership to advance the mission and vision of NUAIR,” Tim Lawton, marketing coordinator for NUAIR, tells CNYBJ in an email.

Hertzendorf succeeds Major General Marke (Hoot) Gibson (retired) as the organization’s top official. NUAIR had “no comment” on Gibson’s departure, which happened back in March, according to Lawton.

Syracuse–based NUAIR is short for Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research. The nonprofit organization works on unmanned-aircraft systems (UAS) operations, aeronautical research, safety management, and consulting services. NUAIR manages operations of the New York UAS test site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, one of just seven Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-designated UAS test sites in the U.S.

In his role, Hertzendorf will continue to lead the advancement of New York’s 50-mile UAS corridor, “creating a fiscally responsible business structure and enhancing NUAIR’s services,” the organization said. 

Additionally, he will be responsible for managing the organization’s strategy-development process and the execution of supporting fiscal, business development, outreach, and communications plans. He will also execute operations and development for the organization and identify key areas of growth and new partnerships.

“I look forward to our continued growth, advancement of the UAS industry in Central New York and operations with New York State organizations,” Hertzendorf said in a news release. “The drone ecosystem we are building here in Central New York, along with the New York UAS test site and 50-mile corridor is truly making Central New York the global center of UAS advancement and integration.”

Prior to his role at NUAIR, Hertzendorf served in the U.S. Army for nearly 30 years as a special operations aviator. He has more than two decades of command and leadership experience, including battalion command, regiment command, and division chief of staff. Hertzendorf earned a master’s degree in national security and strategy from the U.S. Army War College, a master’s degree in public administration from Murray State University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ithaca College.

“Mike brings significant leadership, vision and expertise to NUAIR and has served the organization well in an interim position and as chief of staff,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO and board member of NUAIR, said. “We are excited to formally welcome him into this role and know he will drive the results needed to advance the UAS industry and further the region’s position as a global leader.” 

NUAIR and CenterState CEO are organizational partners in the effort to build public and private partnerships to advance UAS and UTM (UAS traffic management) technologies, and create a hub for the industry that will attract investments and business development. 

“New York State’s investment is helping to establish Central New York as a global hub for the UAS industry,” Eric Gertler, acting commissioner and president & CEO-designate of Empire State Development, said in the NUAIR release. “Michael Hertzendorf’s leadership will continue to grow the region’s rapidly expanding UAS presence and we are pleased to officially welcome him as NUAIR’s president and CEO.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in November 2016 announced a $30 million investment to develop the 50-mile UAS corridor between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome. The corridor seeks to advance the unmanned aircraft systems industry in Central New York as part of the CNY Rising initiative. Within the 50-mile corridor, “strategic investments will accelerate industry growth by supporting emerging uses” of UAS in key industries, including agriculture and forest management, transportation and logistics, utilities and infrastructure, and public safety, NUAIR said.        

SYRACUSE — The Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives (CNYSME) has selected Laura Serway — owner of Laci’s Tapas Bar of Syracuse — as the 44th recipient of its annual Crystal Ball Award.

CNYSME will honor Serway during the Crystal Ball and Sales & Marketing Excellence Awards presentation and celebration on April 22, 2020 at Pascale @ Drumlins.

CNYSME describes Serway as a “serial entrepreneurial executive” with more than 35 years of experience managing and training consultative sales, marketing, communication, and business development personnel at the local, and corporate level for media companies.

The CNYSME decision to present her this award surprised Serway.

“I felt extremely humbled and shocked as well because I’m not currently in the media business any longer, although I’m very involved on a day-to-day basis in the philanthropic world but most certainly in the expertise and relationships that I’ve acquired over the years have granted me the opportunity to continue to work with quite a few of my past colleagues in the industry,” says Serway. She spoke with CNYBJ on Oct. 21.

CNYSME annually awards the Crystal Ball to a local businessperson or group of business people “in recognition of their contributions to the sales and marketing profession and for their endeavors in the areas of community development and support.”

Serway has provided her motivational management style to dozens of local nonprofits including, AccessCNY, Salvation Army, Vera House, WISE Women’s Business Center, American Heart Association, Women United, and Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation. 

Laci’s Tapas Bar has also donated more than $125,000 to nine different nonprofits in Onondaga County, CNYSME said.

Founded in 1935, CNYSME says it is the only organization focused exclusively on the needs of sales and marketing professionals in Central New York. Its mission is to help members grow their businesses by offering workshops, training sessions, networking opportunities, and scholarships to those planning a career in the industry.

Crystal Ball Award: Criteria, recent past winners

The criteria for Crystal Ball recognition includes holding a position as CEO, president, or director of a Central New York business; a person who visibly impacts the progress and prosperity of Central New York; a leader who “demonstrates commitment to superior quality and professionalism;” a person who “fosters excellence” in their industry; local involvement in community and civic organizations; and “demonstrates and practices an appreciation” of the sales and marketing industry, per CNYSME.

“Laura is a champion of all things Central New York, as well as sales and marketing,” Rachel Henderson-Kelly, president of CNYSME, said in a statement. “Her innovative and entrepreneurial spirit have led her to such great successes, and her volunteer work displays the passion she has for this community. CNYSME is proud to present her with this great honor.”

Serway will join a list of past Crystal Ball winners that includes the 2019 recipient, Mark Re, VP & regional manager of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services; the 2018 honoree, Kimberly Boynton, president and CEO of Crouse Health; the 2017 winner, Phil VanHorne, chairman and CEO of BlueRock Energy, Inc.; the 2016 recipient, Allen Naples, senior VP and regional president of M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB); and the 2015 honoree, Robert Daino, then-president and CEO of WCNY, the area’s public broadcaster. 

Other past winners include Howard Dolgon, owner, president, CEO, and team governor of the Syracuse Crunch minor league hockey team in 2014; Peter Belyea, president of CXtec and TERACAI in 2013; Debbie Sydow, former president of Onondaga Community College in 2012; John Stage, founder and CEO of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in 2011; Peter Coleman, the publican of Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub in 2010; and Edward (Ed) Levine, president and CEO of Galaxy Communications in Syracuse in 2009, according to the CNYSME website.

“I look at that list of individuals, and again, to be the 44th recipient is just extremely overwhelming for me. I’m exceptionally humbled,” says Serway.