SYRACUSE — The woman who served as director of operations of the CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) since 2016 is now its executive director.

Upstate Medical University has named Kathi Durdon to the position, which is new, Darryl Geddes, director of public and media relations at Upstate Medical University, tells CNYBJ in an email.

The CNYBAC is located at 841 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse, and is owned and operated by Upstate Medical University.

As executive director, Durdon will “strengthen” economic-development partnerships to promote opportunities for Upstate researchers, graduates and clients housed at CNYBAC, and the “innovation community dedicated to making an impact in the CNY region,” according to an Upstate Medical news release.

Prior to her work with the CNY Biotech Accelerator, Durdon previously served as manager of clinical operations at Welch Allyn between 2005 and 2015 and as director of clinical trials at Upstate Medical between 1999 and 2005.

Durdon has led efforts in developing streamlined operations and supportive infrastructure, Upstate Medical said. She also led marketing strategies that have resulted in “full occupancy” at the CNYBAC. 

Others occupying additional space at the facility include biotech clients working on commercialization efforts; Upstate Medical’s department of pathology molecular genetics lab; and a research team of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry working with growth chambers to develop blight-resistance chestnut trees.

Durdon’s work was also instrumental in CNYBAC’s status as a certified business incubator through Empire State Development, Upstate Medical noted. 

To “enhance the capabilities” of CNYBAC, Durdon created a competitive annual grant-funded Medical Device Innovation Challenge that has now graduated 10 early stage startup companies.

CNYBAC clients have access to Upstate Medical University clinical and basic science experts; graduate student interns (at a 50 percent reduced rate); and research facilities and equipment with technical assistance. CNYBAC also offers virtual occupancy for those companies that don’t need to reside physically in the incubator space but would like access to expert partnerships, webcast events, and mentorship.

The CNYBAC was established in late 2012 through a joint project between Upstate Medical University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.

AUBURN — Sharpshooters Laser Tag — which also offers numerous other video games, jump houses, and modern play equipment — has a new home at 44 Washington St. in Auburn, Bouck Real Estate announced. 

Mike Hardesty, licensed salesperson with Bouck, worked with building owner Richard Shea, to bring the tenant to the former Car Quest location. The 6,000-square-foot facility will host a laser-tag area, featuring the Beam by Eye Click, according to a Bouck Real Estate news release.

“This building is the perfect size for our laser tag experience. Beam by Eye Click, an interactive game, is the first in our area,” Sharpshooters Laser Tag owner, Anthony Feocco, said in the release. 

Summer hours began Friday, July 5. 

The 44 Washington St. building had been vacant for more than a year, according to Bouck Real Estate. John Bouck, owner of the commercial real-estate company, said that this transaction “is a continuation of what we are seeing as a commercial business resurgence in our community. Based on our very busy office, we anticipate this trend will continue.”

At its annual meeting in June, Operation Oswego County (OOC) presented its 2019 Jobs Award to EJ USA, Inc. in recognition of the significant contribution and impact of the company’s new 71,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and its northeastern distribution and logistics hub situated in the Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel. OOC also lauded EJ USA for its “critical and essential role in fabricating products for infrastructure development; for employing over 100 workers; for investing $10 million; and for becoming an integral part of Oswego County’s and Central New York’s manufacturing community.” Pictured from left to right are: Barbara Bateman, OOC board president; Timothy McKernan, EJ USA facility manager; Melissa Krak, EJ USA sales; and L. Michael Treadwell, OOC executive director.

Upstate New York consumers and those across the state were less confident in the second quarter compared to the first three months of the year, according to a new report.

Consumer sentiment in upstate New York was measured at 85.2 in this year’s second quarter, down 3.8 points from 89 in the first quarter. That’s according to the latest quarterly survey of upstate and statewide consumer sentiment that the Siena College Research Institute (SRI) released July 2. 

Upstate’s overall sentiment of 85.2 was 1.9 points below the statewide consumer-sentiment level of 87.1, which fell 6.2 points from the first quarter.

The statewide figure was 11.1 points lower than the second-quarter figure of 98.2 for the entire nation, which was down 0.2 points from the first-quarter measurement, as measure by the University of Michigan’s consumer-sentiment index. 

After three consecutive quarters of robust consumer sentiment, the New York index “nose-dived,” falling over six points in the second quarter, Doug Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI founding director, said in the SRI report.

“Despite remaining well above the breakeven point at which optimism and pessimism are balanced, every group — men, women, upstate, downstate, young and old — recorded declining sentiment driven more so by their current outlook than by their future. Perhaps driven by news of tariffs, trade wars, stock market volatility or the start of the 2020 campaign, a shrinking plurality of New Yorkers now say that they are better off financially today than they were a year ago,” said Lonnstrom. 

In the second quarter of 2019, buying plans were up 4.6 percentage points since the first-quarter measurement to 27.8 percent for major home improvements. However, buying plans were down 2.6 percentage points to 21.1 percent for cars and trucks; declined 2.9 points to 46.5 percent for consumer electronics; fell 3.7 points to 30.2 percent for furniture; and declined 1.9 points to 8.6 percent for homes. 

“Buying plans, while still strong, declined this quarter for cars, electronics, furniture, and homes. Plans for home improvements rose this spring to nearly 28 percent setting an all-time high in our survey. Overall, a growing percentage of New Yorkers amidst falling current sentiment expressed indecision towards making major purchases,” said Lonnstrom.

Food prices

When asked about food prices, 57 percent of upstate respondents indicated the price of groceries was having a serious impact on their finances, down from 62 percent in the first quarter and from 60 percent in the final quarter of last year.

At the same time, 64 percent of statewide respondents indicated the price of food was having a serious impact on their monthly finances, up from 59 percent in the first quarter and up from 61 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018. 

SRI conducted its survey of consumer sentiment between June 11 and June 18 by telephone calls to 384 New York residents adults via landline and cell phones and 456 responses drawn from a proprietary online panel of New Yorkers.

It has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, according to SRI.

AUBURN —East Hill Family Medical, Inc. and its Summit Pediatrics unit announced they have received “patient-centered medical home” recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. 

East Hill Family Medical, a family medicine practice, said in a release it is the only organization based in both the City of Auburn and Cayuga County to be awarded New York State patient-centered medical home recognition. 

To earn the designation, East Hill Family Medical said it ensures its health-care providers work in teams to offer coordinated care to best meet patients’ needs. These teams take into consideration not only patients’ direct heath needs, but also their support network, lifestyle, and personal goals. 

“This is about putting the patient in the driver’s seat when it comes to their own care,” April Miles, East Hill Medical’s director of clinical services, said in the release.

East Hill Family Medical and Summit Pediatrics received their distinctions on June 28. The process took nearly a year, and included meeting “high standards of quality assurance,” the organizations said.