Syracuse University chooses brand partner for upcoming campus hotel

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) on Wednesday said it has selected Graduate by Hilton as the brand partner for its upcoming development of a

SUNY Poly raises record $260,000 on day of giving

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Education & Training, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Nonprofits, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s 2025 Day of Giving, held on March 27, was the most successful in the university’s history, the school announced.

MACNY to honor Indium global R&D director Liu as Innovator of the Year

Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only, Technology

DeWITT, N.Y. — The woman who serves as director of global research and development (R&D) at Indium Corporation is the recipient of MACNY’s 2025 Innovator of the Year Award. Members of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association and community leaders will honor Yan Liu, Ph.D. at MACNY’s 112th annual Celebration of Manufacturing on May 22 at the

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DeWITT, N.Y. — The woman who serves as director of global research and development (R&D) at Indium Corporation is the recipient of MACNY’s 2025 Innovator of the Year Award.

Members of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association and community leaders will honor Yan Liu, Ph.D. at MACNY’s 112th annual Celebration of Manufacturing on May 22 at the SRC Arena & Events Center on the campus of Onondaga Community College in the town of Onondaga.

The Innovator of the Year Award recognizes people who “lead the way in innovation, driving advancements in their industry and reshaping the future,” according to a MACNY announcement.

“Dr. Yan Liu is a remarkable leader whose innovative spirit and dedication to advancing the manufacturing industry have made a lasting impact,” Randy Wolken, president & CEO of MACNY, said in the announcement. “Her work at Indium Corporation has shaped the future of electronics manufacturing and set new industry standards. We’re deeply honored to recognize her with the 2025 Innovator of the Year Award, celebrating her groundbreaking contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Based in Clinton in Oneida County, Indium Corp. describes itself as a materials refiner, smelter, manufacturer, and supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal-management markets.

“Dr. Yan Liu’s relentless pursuit of innovation has driven significant advancements in electronics manufacturing while strengthening Indium Corporation’s position as a leader in materials science,” Ross Berntson, president and CEO of Indium, added in the MACNY announcement. “Her leadership in developing next-generation materials and expanding global collaboration underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology. We are honored to see her recognized by MACNY for her outstanding contributions.”

About Liu

With more than two decades at Indium, Liu has been a “driving force” in solder materials and flux-technology innovations, “directly influencing the evolution of the electronics manufacturing industry.” Her leadership has led to the development of cutting-edge fluxes, solder pastes, and advanced materials, “setting new industry benchmarks.” MACNY contended.

DeWitt–based MACNY added that Liu has also played a big role in building and cultivating Indium’s global R&D team, guiding members in their mission to develop “world-class” materials.

Liu oversees R&D project management for both applied and fundamental research, “spearheading breakthrough technology developments.” As a key spokesperson for Indium Corporation’s technological advancements, MACNY said she bridges research, industry needs, and market opportunities — ensuring that R&D efforts align with corporate goals and customer demands.

Her leadership extends globally. In addition to directing Indium Corporation’s research & development center in Suzhou, China, she manages a group of chemists and metallurgists across North America and Asia, “fostering cross-functional collaboration to address complex technical challenges.”

Her tenure as manager of the R&D flux group “further solidified” her expertise in developing high-performance materials that “enhance manufacturing efficiency, reliability, and quality.”

Project to replace Townline Road bridge over Thruway starts

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — Drivers who use Townline Road on their daily commute will need to get accustomed to taking a detour for the next few months. Crews have started work on a $7.5 million bridge-replacement project along Townline Road in the town of DeWitt in Onondaga County. The effort seeks to replace the bridge with

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DeWITT, N.Y. — Drivers who use Townline Road on their daily commute will need to get accustomed to taking a detour for the next few months.

Crews have started work on a $7.5 million bridge-replacement project along Townline Road in the town of DeWitt in Onondaga County.

The effort seeks to replace the bridge with a “modern structure,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced March 28. About 12,400 vehicles travel over the bridge per day.

The current bridge was built in 1953 and carries Townline Road over the New York State Thruway (I-90).

The Townline Road bridge is now closed to traffic for the duration of the project. A 3.8-mile signed detour is now in place.

“The Thruway Authority is committed to investing in its aging infrastructure and enhancing the safety and reliability of the Thruway system,” Frank Hoare, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, said in the announcement. “Our Capital Program is focused on modernizing our transportation system and maintaining some of the lowest and most affordable toll rates in the nation.”

Tioga Construction Company, Inc., of Herkimer, is the project contractor, following a competitive bidding process. Construction is expected to wrap up this fall. The work is weather dependent and subject to change. Motorists are urged to be alert and follow the posted work-zone speed limits. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.

Crews will replace the existing structure with a new bridge that includes increased vertical clearances for travelers along I-90. The clearance on the eastbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 3 inches to 16 feet, 7 inches, and the clearance on the westbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 9 inches to 17 feet, 3 inches to mitigate bridge strikes caused by over-height vehicles and enhance safety for Thruway Authority employees and motorists, the announcement noted.

Additional safety upgrades will include full-depth pavement reconstruction of the approaches on Townline Road over I-90; reconstruction of the shoulders of I-90 under the bridge; a new safety guiderail, as well as the installation of a snow fence to prevent blowing snow; along with a pedestrian sidewalk and several drainage structures along Townline Road.

Drivers may encounter traffic slowdowns or stoppages on the Thruway during construction. Variable message signs will advise motorists of the construction work and detour information.

To “further enhance” safety for workers in a work zone, Hochul signed legislation establishing a pilot program focused on automated work zone speed enforcement. The safety-enforcement program began in April 2023 and is in effect in various active construction zones on the Thruway. Work zones with speed-camera enforcement will have clear signage leading up to it, and drivers who violate the posted speed limit within the work zone will be fined.

A map indicating the detours in place for the project to replace the bridge along Townline Road that goes over Interstate 90. It’s expected the project will finish this fall.
IMAGE CREDIT: NEW YORK STATE

Detour details

The south side of Townline Road is closed at Factory Avenue. Eastbound traffic on Factory Avenue is detoured south to Military Circle. Northbound traffic on Townline Road is detoured west on Factory Avenue.

The north side of Townline Road is closed at Vincent Drive with northbound and southbound traffic detoured east on East Molloy Road. Eastbound and westbound traffic on East Molloy Road will not be affected by the detour.

Cornell names Kotlikoff its 15th president, removing interim tag

Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell University board of trustees on March 21 voted to appoint Michael Kotlikoff as Cornell’s 15th president, effective immediately. Kotlikoff has served as the school’s interim president since July 2024, following the retirement of Martha Pollack. “Over the last eight months as interim president — and his 25 years on Cornell’s

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ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell University board of trustees on March 21 voted to appoint Michael Kotlikoff as Cornell’s 15th president, effective immediately.

Kotlikoff has served as the school’s interim president since July 2024, following the retirement of Martha Pollack.

“Over the last eight months as interim president — and his 25 years on Cornell’s faculty — Mike has demonstrated the leadership and vision that the university needs right now,” Kraig Kayser, chair of the Cornell University board of trustees, said in the school’s announcement. “His institutional knowledge, expertise and passion for our shared mission will continue to help him lead Cornell through a period of great uncertainty and provide much-needed continuity at a critical time.”

As interim president, Kotlikoff has sought to foster connection and dialogue on campus and to “highlight the unique attributes” of Cornell — including its history and its ethos, the Ivy League school noted.

“I’ve spent 25 wonderful years at Cornell, and serving this university is an honor and a privilege,” Kotlikoff said. “I’m committed to finishing my career here, leading an institution I love through these challenging times. As higher education across the U.S. navigates difficult political, financial and societal headwinds, I hope to guide Cornell in ways that reflect our core principles as an institution committed to doing ‘the greatest good.’”

Kotlikoff was Cornell’s longest-serving provost and served as chief budget officer in addition to chief academic officer, per the school’s announcement. As provost, he helped steward many large and complicated projects, such as the creation of the SC Johnson College of Business and the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy; the Radical Collaboration initiative; the North Campus Residential Expansion; and the university’s COVID-19 response.

A professor of molecular physiology, Kotlikoff arrived at Cornell in 2000 to build a new department in biomedical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). He also launched and led the university’s Mammalian Genomics Life Science Initiative. He was named dean of CVM in 2007, and he became university provost in 2015, Cornell said.

Previously, Kotlikoff was professor and chair of the department of animal biology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and VMD (veterinary medical doctor) degree in 1981, with a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in 1984.

By the time he was hired at Cornell in 2000, his research interests had expanded from studying ion channel proteins that control muscle excitability to using genetics to understand the fundamental processes that underlie and limit repair of the damaged mammalian heart.

Kotlikoff’s arrival opened new opportunities for studying mouse genetics at the university, Cornell said. His lab’s breakthroughs included developing optogenetic signaling molecules that can be expressed in mice to explore cell function, ways to use cell therapy to treat cardiac arrythmias in injured hearts, and an understanding of the limits of precursor cells in heart repair.

Kotlikoff has published 152 papers and his lab, which he closed in 2021, was continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since he began his research career. He has served in numerous roles at the NIH, including chairing the board of scientific counselors at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and serving on the NIH Council of Councils, Cornell said.

Syracuse business launches industrial smart motor

Manufacturing & Engineering, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A new company based in Syracuse is hoping to help industrial companies reduce their costs and emissions, increase equipment lifespan, and gain other benefits from its new type of “smart” motor that includes variable-speed intelligence. VIDAR, a new venture of ITT, Inc. (NYSE: ITT), has just brought this innovative technology to market

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VIDAR, a new venture of ITT, Inc. (NYSE: ITT), has just brought this innovative technology to market and is ready to ramp things up, according to Dan Kernan, VP and general manager.

“The idea really came out of Goulds Pumps in Seneca Falls,” he says. Goulds is another ITT brand that sells industrial pumps.

Pumps and fans are industry’s unsung heroes, Kernan says, and they help move materials — such as fuel — that we rely on.

Industry spends about $300 billion annually on pumps and fans, he adds. The vast majority of them — about 85 percent — have fixed-speed motors.

The problem with that, Kernan explains, is that fixed-speed motors don’t allow for much flow control, which forces companies to use mechanical controls such as valves or dampers.

Kernan likens the process to driving a car with two feet — one pressing the gas pedal to the floor and the other using the brake to control the speed. It’s inefficient and causes a lot of wear and tear leading to increased maintenance.

That’s where a variable-speed motor can help, controlling the flow right at the motor and reducing the need for mechanical interventions, he says.

The result? An average 50-percent reduction in energy consumption and longer equipment lifespan.

To create the motor, VIDAR partnered with the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. The technology already existed in a much larger version called an AC-to-DC-AC Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) that wasn’t practical for many users, Kernan says.

“We came up with a way to shrink the VFD by about 60 percent,” he says. That meant it could go directly in a motor instead of being a separate unwieldy component.

The other problem with the large VFDs is that they are not suited for use everywhere, particularly in harsh industrial environments, Kernan explains.

VIDAR took all those factors into consideration when creating its product, which can cost anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent less than a traditional VFD conversion and can be used in the harshest of environments. Its motor uses less energy, increases reliability, and is even quieter.

“We’re focused on that unserved market,” Kernan says. “Energy efficiency is one of the best investments out there for industrial manufacturers.” In pilot testing, VIDAR’s motor provided a return on investment in about two years. The company’s target is a ROI of one to three years.

The entire development process took several years. ITT created the VIDAR venture in January 2022. In March 2023, VIDAR set up an office in Syracuse where it has 14 employees, and earlier this year, the firm finally brought the product to market. VIDAR is currently taking pre-orders with anticipated product shipment in the third quarter.

VIDAR will utilize its connections through ITT and Goulds Pumps to reach out to potential customers.

“We’ve done over a dozen customer pilots,” Kernan says. From those, a number of customers have already placed orders.

VIDAR is also getting the word out through the trade media and recently launched both a website and a LinkedIn page.

VIEWPOINT: AI and Long Term Care: Solving an Age-Old Challenge

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only, Technology

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Long-term care (LTC) planning has long been one of the most complex and emotionally charged areas of financial advisory services. As the aging population grows and care costs continue to escalate, advisors and clients alike face a daunting set of challenges. Traditional planning tools often rely on broad averages and generic simulations such as Monte Carlo that fail to capture the nuances of an individual’s future care needs nor the effectiveness to motivate families to plan for LTC. However, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to transform this landscape: offering more precise, personalized, and proactive approaches to LTC planning.

The Complexity of Long-Term Care Planning

For many years, LTC planning has been approached with methods that fail to reflect the intricacies of each family’s situation. Conventional tools tend to use national averages and basic models, which can lead to several recurring issues:

• Delayed engagement: Many clients postpone LTC discussions until a crisis occurs, leaving little time to develop a thoughtful strategy.

• Impersonal data: Generic statistics and broad-based simulations do little to illustrate the true financial impact of LTC on an individual family.

• Lost opportunities: Without a tailored planning tool, advisors often struggle to convert early LTC discussions into concrete strategies, whether that means guiding a family toward an appropriate insurance policy or structuring a comprehensive financial plan.

These challenges highlight why LTC remains one of the few unsolved wildcard scenarios in retirement planning. Its unpredictable nature forces both advisors and clients to contend with significant uncertainty. Yet, it is precisely this uncertainty that offers a last-mile opportunity for advisors to differentiate themselves by providing uniquely tailored, high-value solutions.

The AI Advantage in LTC Planning

AI is emerging as a game-changer in addressing these long-standing challenges. Unlike traditional methods, AI-driven platforms can analyze a vast array of data, from regional cost variations and health-care inflation to individual health status and family dynamics, to generate a personalized projection of a client’s LTC journey.

Enhancing Advisor-Client Interactions

The precision of AI-generated projections fundamentally changes how advisors engage with clients on the topic of long-term care. With clear, individualized data at hand, advisors are better positioned to:

• Initiate rich conversations: Instead of relying on broad averages, advisors can discuss specific care projections tailored to the client’s circumstances. This not only demystifies the planning process, but also helps clients understand the real implications of their choices.

• Accelerate decision‑making: When clients are presented with a clear, actionable plan that outlines expected timelines and costs, they are more likely to take proactive steps. This clarity shortens the time from initial inquiry to concrete decisions, such as purchasing an appropriate policy or annuity.

• Unlock premium growth: Personal-

ized planning helps overcome the emotional barriers that often hinder LTC discussions. By converting these conversations into high‑value, concrete action plans, advisors can capture opportunities that might otherwise be lost.

These capabilities tackle key challenges in traditional LTC planning by promoting early client engagement and fostering stronger, data-driven advisor relationships. Further, LTC planning isn’t just about traditional LTC insurance. Innovative options like life-with-rider policies, hybrid solutions, annuities, and even short-term care are energizing the market and offering clients potentially more competitive choices than ever before. When used effectively, AI makes it easier to build a holistic strategy that educates, motivates, and covers every aspect of a client’s long-term care needs and wants.

Balancing Technology with the Human Touch

While AI is undeniably powerful, its greatest strength lies in complementing, not replacing, the human expertise that financial advisors bring to the table. The nuanced and emotionally charged nature of LTC planning demands empathy, active listening, and the ability to navigate complex family dynamics. AI provides the detailed, data-driven insights that can inform these discussions, but it is the advisor who translates this information into a personalized plan that aligns with the client’s overall financial goals and emotional needs.

In this evolving landscape, the role of the advisor remains as crucial as ever. By integrating AI-driven insights into their practice, advisors can offer a more holistic service that not only anticipates future expenses, but also supports clients through one of the most challenging aspects of retirement planning.

Looking Ahead: The Future of LTC Planning for Advisors

As we move further into the era of digital transformation, the integration of AI into LTC planning is likely to become a standard practice in the insurance brokerage community. The ability to provide detailed, personalized care projections will not only help families prepare more effectively but will also drive new opportunities for advisors to convert early, meaningful discussions into robust financial strategies.

Is adopting AI solely about staying on the cutting edge of technology, or can it fundamentally enhance the quality of advice delivered to clients?

At least for our rapidly aging society on the cusp of navigating long-term care with limited funds and family support, the potential impact of AI is significant. With more accurate projections and a personalized approach, advisors can help families navigate the uncertainties of aging with confidence. By combining technological innovation with the irreplaceable human touch, the insurance brokerage community is poised to turn one of the most challenging aspects of financial planning into a proactive, engaging, and ultimately more secure experience for everyone involved.

In a field where the stakes are incredibly high, leveraging AI to craft clear, personalized LTC plans can be transformative. Advisors have the opportunity to remain enduring pillars in the insurance and financial services landscape by ensuring that families are not only financially secure but also emotionally supported as they navigate the future.

Lily Vittayarukskul is co-founder and CEO of Waterlily, a health-care innovation firm.

Two Lewis County firms to use $60K in grants to boost operations

Small Business, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, North Country, Subscriber Only

LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Two Lewis County businesses will use grants totaling $60,000 that were awarded through the Launch Lewis County program. Naturally Lewis awarded the funding on behalf of the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC). Rags & Rivers, of Lyons Falls, will use its $30,000 grant for machinery to expand its services, increase efficiency, and

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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Two Lewis County businesses will use grants totaling $60,000 that were awarded through the Launch Lewis County program.

Naturally Lewis awarded the funding on behalf of the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC).

Rags & Rivers, of Lyons Falls, will use its $30,000 grant for machinery to expand its services, increase efficiency, and support community needs more effectively.

New Life Construction, of Port Leyden, was also awarded $30,000 for equipment and machinery to increase capacity and efficiency.

Based on state requirements, Launch Lewis County is a microenterprise grant program for low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs or for those creating a new, full-time position, per the March 24 announcement.

Launch Lewis County is a partnership between the LCDC and Lewis County. It is made possible through a grant from the community development block grant program of New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

“As we are working to develop an entrepreneur-led economy, programs like Launch Lewis County are driving us forward,” Brittany Davis, executive director of Naturally Lewis, said in the announcement. “Our partnership with Lewis County to administer the Launch Lewis County program has allowed small businesses and entrepreneurs to start and expand products and services, which in turn creates and retains jobs, creates unique experiences for residents and tourists, and ultimately enhances the tax base of Lewis County.”

Rags & Rivers and New Life Construction now join Hartley’s Meat Market and Coffee & Clay Café, both of Port Leyden, as local companies awarded 2025 Launch Lewis County funding.

Qualifying

In order to qualify for the Launch Lewis County microenterprise grant program, interested companies must have a small-business idea or a desire to innovate their existing small business.

They must also be considered low-to-moderate income based on 2023 income-tax returns or create a new full-time job that will be made available to low-to-moderate income persons.

In addition, applicants must also contribute at least 10 percent of total project costs and must complete their project by December of this year.

Naturally Lewis says it’s currently seeking additional applicants for the Launch Lewis County grant program with $145,000 in funding remaining available.

For more information on the program and application process, those interested can visit: https://naturallylewis.com/support/funding-opportunities

NNYCF’s Maxine M. Quigg Women in Business Fund supports five North Country professionals

North Country, Featured, Health Care, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — A pair of entrepreneurs, two health care professionals, and a county government official are among the third group of women awarded grant funding from the Maxine M. Quigg Women in Business Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation. The funding amounts ranged from about $1,000 to $1,500, Kenneth Eysaman, director of

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The funding amounts ranged from about $1,000 to $1,500, Kenneth Eysaman, director of communications for the Northern New York Community Foundation, told CNYBJ in an email.

Grant recipients

The recipients include Mary Chiappone-Filson, owner of Treating the Root Acupuncture and Massage Therapy of Watertown. She was awarded funding to complete coursework required for lymphedema certification to more effectively treat patients who are undergoing cancer treatments. The grant funding will also help with online continuing education courses, per the March 17 announcement.

They also include Emily Green, who serves as the manager and COO of The Scrub Hub. It’s a women-owned and operated business that Green opened with her mother, Bonnie Herman, in 2013, to serve the region’s medical community. She was awarded funding to complete coursework to help expand her knowledge of marketing, advertising, and social media.

The group also includes Gabriella (Gabi) Haycock, who is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy for Exceptional Kids and Family Therapies in Evans Mills. She was awarded funding to enable her participation in the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Jefferson Leadership Institute, a year-long program focused on developing professionals in the greater Watertown area.

Another recipient, Barb Perez, is a longtime nonprofit professional and a Strengths Finder coach, helping people to reach their full potential through her consulting business Another Point of View. She was awarded funding to complete the Gallup course Successful Strength Coaching, the Foundation said.

Anna Platz is the deputy director of Lewis County Community Services in Lowville. She was awarded funding to complete the Appreciative Inquiry certificate program at the Champlain College Cooperrider Center. A leadership development program, it employs a strengths-based approach to focus on what’s working well instead of fixing what’s broken, the Community Foundation said.

About the Fund

Kimberley Horrill, Maxine’s sister-in-law, established the fund at the Community Foundation in July 2021 with a goal to increase local mentorship, volunteerism, civic and community engagement, and investment.

Its mission is to perpetuate the life and legacy of Maxine Quigg by supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to succeed in their pursuits and realize their full potential, the Foundation said.

“This is the third year of the Maxine Quigg Women in Business fund grants. I am overwhelmed at times by the interesting and community-forward work the successful recipients are doing,” Horrill said in the announcement. “As the network of women who have received support has grown, I am thrilled to see the interaction between past and present recipients. Maxine would love you all and would be so proud of the work you are doing. Congratulations.”

Maxine Quigg was a successful real-estate broker and a community and business leader in Jefferson County who died unexpectedly in April 2021. At the time of her passing, Quigg was serving on the Community Foundation’s board of directors.

“It is always a pleasure and an honor to reward women in the North Country who are starting or growing their own business. Year after year, I walk away inspired by each recipient’s dedication and passion for what they do — it is people like these who make Northern New York a better place to live,” Kennedy Quigg, Maxine’s daughter, said. “Congratulations to our 2024 award recipients; you embody the qualities my Mom sought

to embellish, and we are excited to see you carry our mission forward in your life and business endeavors.”

Applying

Applications for 2025 funding through the Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund of the Community Foundation are now open.

Applications for support must be received by May 23 of this year. Contact Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation philanthropy associate, emily@nnycf.org, or (315) 782-7110, to obtain an application for this opportunity and learn more.

New franchise business aims at nuisance animals across CNY

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Small Business, Subscriber Only

Central New York has a new option for getting rid of nuisance animals with Critter Control of Syracuse, a local franchise of a national wildlife removal company operated by Janet Pettaway and her husband, Eric. Pettaway, a native of Botswana, had experience running a fertilizer company there. When she came to the United States, she

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Pettaway, a native of Botswana, had experience running a fertilizer company there. When she came to the United States, she was interested in having her own business and thought wildlife control would be a natural progression from insect control.

She began looking into franchise ideas and it wasn’t long before she found Critter Control.

“The rest is history,” Pettaway says. She became an official franchisee in February and is ready to get the business after completing her final training in early April.

Critter Control provides removal services for nuisance wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, opossums, bats, and birds.

Now that winter is ending, animal activity is already picking up, Pettaway notes. “A lot of people have been calling us,” she notes. “We have some clients that we’re lining up.”

Her franchise covers communities across seven counties — Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins.

While people may be tempted to try to remove a nuisance animal on their own, Pettaway says training allows Critter Control to do so safely and according to any laws or regulations.

“It’s about safety and protecting yourself,” Pettaway says.

Currently, Pettaway and her husband staff the business on their own, but she hopes to soon add other employees. She also hopes to expand the franchise territory into Pennsylvania and add on both mosquito and pest-control services.

Founded in 1983, Critter Control is part of Rollins, Inc., whose other subsidiaries include Orkin, Orkin Canada, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Safeguard, and more. Rollins and its subsidiaries serve customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Atlanta–based Critter Control says it operates franchises and corporate-owned locations in more than 100 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada.

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The Complexity of Long-Term Care Planning

The AI Advantage in LTC Planning

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Balancing Technology with the Human Touch

Looking Ahead: The Future of LTC Planning for Advisors

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