Sciencenter executive director elected to board of Association of Science-Technology Centers

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ITHACA — Dean Briere, executive director of the Sciencenter, has been elected to the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) board of trustees. Briere’s three-year term started after his induction during the ASTC annual conference, which was held Sept. 21-24 in Toronto. The ASTC says it is a nonprofit, global organization, based in Washington, D.C., that […]

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Matthew House adds three new board members

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AUBURN — Matthew House — an Auburn nonprofit that operates a two-bed comfort-care home for terminally ill people in their final days of life — recently added three new people to its board of directors. Timothy Carr of Pinnacle Investments; Beverly Centers, former Cayuga County director of children and family services; and Mark Locastro, a

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Timothy Carr of Pinnacle Investments; Beverly Centers, former Cayuga County director of children and family services; and Mark Locastro, a retired Auburn police officer, have joined the Matthew House board. Carr graduated from Auburn High School. He received an associate degree from Cayuga Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Empire State College. He joined Pinnacle Investments in 2014 as a financial advisor with The Cuddy Group, with a focus on comprehensive financial and retirement planning for individuals, families, and small businesses. He recently received his certified financial planner (or CFP) certificate. Carr has been the treasurer for Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity for the last three years.

Centers grew up in Auburn and graduated from East High. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child development and family relations from Cornell University. Centers worked for the Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services for more than 30 years, retiring as director of children and family services. She has also served as local president for the Civil Service Employees Association, and is currently the VP of the Syracuse Area Retirees of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oswego Counties. Centers has served on a number of boards and committees, including Unity House, the United Way, the Family Court Judges’ Placement Committee, Family Court Drug and Alcohol Court, the Office of the Aging Advisory Council as chair, and the Auburn Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee. She is an active volunteer at Matthew House, and works the local political and school polls.

Locastro is also an Auburn native, one of 12 children. He received an associate degree from Cayuga Community College, and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego. Locastro was a nuclear instrument and control technician for Niagara Mohawk at Nine Mile Point before becoming a police officer. He served on the City of Auburn police force for 24 years, before retiring this past spring. He currently works as a court security officer for the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office. Locastro and his wife, Amy, own the Poppy’s ice-cream truck.

Melissa Flask, David Tehan, and Marnie Fessenden completed their terms on the Matthew House board.

Matthew House was founded in 2002. Angela Ryan is the organization’s executive director.

Lockheed Martin Owego awarded nearly $19 million Air Force contract

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only

OWEGO — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) Owego plant has been awarded a more than $18.9 million letter contract for circuit-card assemblies for the U.S. Air Force. This is a 70-month contract with no option periods, according to a Sept. 30 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense. The work will be done in

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CNY Tweets – October 7, 2019

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, marketing, HR, and personal tips. SBA @SBAgovLooking for Capital for Your Small Business? https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/26226df Webroot @Webroot“The number of businesses reporting cyber incidents has gone up from 45% last year to 61% in 2019.” https://wbrt.io/d75qj — via @smallbiztrends NFIB @NFIBNFIB research shows

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Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, marketing, HR, and personal tips.

SBA @SBAgov
Looking for Capital for Your Small Business? https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/26226df

Webroot @Webroot
“The number of businesses reporting cyber incidents has gone up from 45% last year to 61% in 2019.” https://wbrt.io/d75qj — via @smallbiztrends

NFIB @NFIB
NFIB research shows that when cities and states raise the minimum wage, it often leads to increased labor costs and tough choices for #SmallBiz. See the current status of minimum wage measures across the country: https://www.nfib.com/content/news/alabama/state-by-state-minimum-wage-update/

SmallBizSarah @SmallBizSarah
When doing your small business bookkeeping, taking a few minutes to set up a custom chart of accounts is so important! A custom chart of accounts will create financial reports that are helpful to you! https://www.smallbusinesssarah.com/example-chart-of-accounts/

Entrepreneur @Entrepreneur
5 Rising Social Media Platforms to Watch | by @syedbalkhi. Your business can benefit from more than just Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/338073

Safa Iffath @safaiffath
39 Small Business Advertising Ideas To Boost Sales https://bit.ly/2GA3ghB

Mitch Mitchell @Mitch_M
18th Anniversary In #Business; 9 Lessons About #Marketing https://ttmitchellconsulting.com/Mitchblog/18th-anniversary-in-business-9-lessons-about-marketing/

#Biznet @Bizsupportnet
4 Ways Small Businesses can Master Marketing https://is.gd/CzaxKN #business #smallbiz

JourneyOne @JourneyOnehq
To maximize engagement and productivity, we need to focus on what humans were designed to thrive on: love. @MarkCCrowley explores what love looks like in the workplace, and the impact it has on teams. https://buff.ly/2EGtxqM

CBIZ @cbz
4 Ways #HR Can Support Employee #MentalHealth http://bit.ly/2nwva7J

Nexxt @NexxtHR
Tips to Keep Great Talent from Moving on: http://ow.ly/Tv1A30pAPdD

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
In most workplaces we only provide #coaching to “high talent” managers & believe investing in a few people with high potential is wise. But all managers grow when they have a coach! We’re missing huge upside by only supporting people already performing well.

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
44% of employees say they want a good work culture over salary when considering a position according to CareerBuilder. So how do you research company culture? Here are 10 ways: https://buff.ly/2oUBXbT

The Bonadio Group @bonadiogroup
2019 is bringing changes to NYS School Tax Relief (STAR) program that will expand the relief for some but may change it for those already participating. Will these changes affect you? http://bit.ly/304ueKj #taxtips

Sonia Satra @soniasatra
5 Tips to Make Working Out in the Morning Easier: 1. Let The Lights In; 2. Set An Enjoyable Alarm; 3. Set Your Gym Clothes Out Ahead Of Time; 4. Plan Your Workout Routine The Night Before; 5. Warm-Up

The Centsables @TheCentsables
Survey: Scary Percentage Of Americans Unprepared For Recession | Bankrate http://bankrate.com/surveys/top-financial-priority-september-2019/ #recession #survey #personalfinance @Bankrate

Cree to build $1B semiconductor plant in Marcy, with state help

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

MARCY — A North Carolina company expects to create more than 600 full-time, “highly-skilled” technician and engineering positions at the Marcy Nanocenter on the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus near Utica. Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) on Sept. 23 announced plans to spend $1 billion to build the “world’s largest silicon carbide fabrication facility” in Marcy. Cree

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Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) on Sept. 23 announced plans to spend $1 billion to build the “world’s largest silicon carbide fabrication facility” in Marcy.

Cree — a firm that manufactures power and radio frequency (RF) semiconductors, lighting-class LEDs and lighting products — expects to call its new wafer-fabrication facility, “North Fab.”

It will be “complemented by its mega materials factory expansion currently underway at its Durham headquarters.”

The project is part of the firm’s effort to “establish a silicon carbide corridor on the East Coast of the United States.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed the project during a Sept. 23 visit to SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

As part of the agreement, Cree will be investing about $1 billion in construction, equipment, and other related costs for the Marcy project. New York State will provide a $500 million grant from Empire State Development and Cree will be eligible for additional local incentives and abatements as well as equipment and tooling from SUNY. As a result, the company expects to realize a net capital savings of about $280 million on its previously announced $1 billion capacity expansion through 2024, per a Cree news release.

The new fabrication facility — part of a previously announced project to “dramatically increase” capacity for its Wolfspeed silicon carbide and GaN (gallium nitride) business — will be a “bigger, highly-automated factory with greater output capability,” Cree said. Through an agreement with the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state and local agencies and entities, the decision to build in New York will allow for both “continued future expansion of capacity and significant net cost savings for Cree.”

In addition, it will provide 25 percent increased output compared to the previously planned facility. Ramping in 2022, the size of the new facility will be up to 480,000 square feet upon completion, about one-fourth of which will be clean-room space, providing future expansion capacity as needed.

Cree contends the expansions will “further improve its competitive position in the marketplace and accelerate silicon carbide adoption across an array of high-growth industries,” per its release.

With the agreement, Cree also contends it will “continue to drive the transition” from silicon to silicon-carbide technology to meet the “increasing demand” for the company’s Wolfspeed technology that supports the growing electric vehicle (EV), 4G/5G mobile, and industrial markets.

In reaction, U.S. Representative Anthony Brindisi (D–Utica) issued a statement praising the expansion.

“The big winners today are the people that call our area home. Cree’s decision to expand its manufacturing facility in Marcy next to the SUNY Poly campus will ensure we continue to be at the forefront of high-tech manufacturing and provide more good paying jobs for our residents,” said Brindisi.

Construction and leasing

During construction of the Marcy semiconductor plant, which Cree has agreed to perform subject to prevailing-wage requirements, the company will also lease space on the SUNY Poly campus in Albany, where Cree will utilize equipment purchased as part of the New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium (PEMC), the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a Sept. 23 news release.

With that process, Cree will transition from the current process of producing devices on 150mm silicon-carbide wafers to a new process of producing devices on 200mm silicon-carbide wafers, which is expected to be the first example of producing devices on 200 mm silicon-carbide wafers in the world.

As the fab ramps, Cree will transfer the PEMC equipment and its 200mm process to the SUNY Poly Marcy campus location.

Mohawk Valley EDGE will sublease the parcel to Cree under a 49-year lease. Construction of the fab will be led by Cree and monitored by Empire State Development, Mohawk Valley EDGE, and the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES).

In total, the new facilities in Marcy are expected to cover about 500,000 square feet, including up to 135,000 square feet of cleanroom space and other support facilities.

United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area appoints three board members

Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA — The United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area recently announced it has appointed three new members of its board of directors. The three new members are Phyllis A.H. Breland, John Eckmair, and Hanka Grabovica. Breland is a 1980 Opportunity Program (HEOP) graduate of Hamilton College and holds a master’s degree in

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Lockheed Martin’s Salina plant wins largest-ever contract

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) manufacturing plant in the town of Salina has secured a U.S. Army radar contract that could be worth up to $3 billion, which would make it the facility’s largest-ever contract. Lockheed will initially receive $281 million to develop and produce the Sentinel A4 radar system at the plant located

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Lockheed will initially receive $281 million to develop and produce the Sentinel A4 radar system at the plant located on Electronics Parkway. The Army will award additional production funding at a later date, the office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) said in a Sept. 26 news release.

The senator noted that the “potential value” of the program to Lockheed Martin amounts to “upwards of $3 billion over 20 years,” including production and “potential” international sales.

This is the second radar that Lockheed Martin’s Salina factory will produce for the Army. It already manufactures the Q-53 radar, Schumer’s office noted.

Schumer said that the contract “would maintain the Lockheed Martin Syracuse workforce for the long-term future.”

“This multi-billion dollar, record-breaking contract enables the world-class workforce at Lockheed Martin to produce cutting-edge radar that protects our troops on the battlefield and will also drive the Central New York economy for years to come,” Schumer contended in the release. “I have fought long and hard for the kind of funding and federal programs that help Lockheed Martin in Syracuse do what it does best: produce superior technology for the United States armed forces.”

The new Sentinel A4 radar will provide “improved surveillance, detection, and classification capabilities against current and emerging aerial threats,” per a Sept. 27 Lockheed Martin news release on the contract. This “needed capability” will help provide protection “for the next 40 years,” the firm added.

“By leveraging our open scalable radar architecture and production efforts, we believe we provide the lowest risk and best value solution for the U.S. Army that will help protect our warfighters for years to come,” Rob Smith, VP and general manager for Lockheed Martin’s radar and sensor systems, said. “We have fielded numerous tactical Gallium Nitride (GaN) based radars beginning with the delivery of the TPS-77 Multi Role Radar to Latvia in 2018 and we are under contract with the Army to insert GaN into the Q-53 system.”

About the Sentinel A4

The Sentinel A4 is a “high-performance” modification of the Sentinel A3 air and missile defense radar that will “update the existing Sentinel capability against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, rotary wing and fixed wing threats,” Schumer’s office said.

Additionally, the Sentinel A4 will also offer new array and signal-processing components to add detection, classification, identification and reporting capability against rocket, artillery, and mortar threats.

New York manufacturing index slips in September

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

The Empire State Manufacturing survey general business-conditions index fell nearly three points to 2.0 in September, still indicating moderate expansion in the sector’s activity. This followed increases in the index in both August and July as it rebounded from a record decline in June. The September reading, based on firms responding to the survey, indicates

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The Empire State Manufacturing survey general business-conditions index fell nearly three points to 2.0 in September, still indicating moderate expansion in the sector’s activity.

This followed increases in the index in both August and July as it rebounded from a record decline in June.

The September reading, based on firms responding to the survey, indicates “business activity was little changed in New York,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in a Sept. 16 news release.

Economists had expected an index number of 4.9, according to a Market Watch article, citing a survey by Econoday.

A positive reading indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative index number indicates a decline in the sector.

The survey found 27 percent of respondents reported that conditions had improved over the month, while 25 percent reported that conditions had worsened, the New York Fed said.

Survey details

The new orders index fell three points to 3.5, pointing to a small increase in orders. The shipments index fell four points to 5.8, its lowest level in nearly three years, the New York Fed said.

The unfilled-orders index remained negative for a fourth consecutive month, indicating that unfilled orders “continued to decline.” Delivery times were steady, and inventories climbed.

After spending three months in negative territory, the index for number of employees rose to 9.7, pointing to an increase in employment levels. The average-workweek index came in at 1.7, indicating little change in hours worked.

Prices increased at a “faster pace” than last month, the New York Fed said. The prices-paid index moved up six points to 29.4, and the prices-received index climbed five points to 9.2.

Indexes assessing the six-month outlook suggested that optimism about future conditions “waned.”

The index for future business conditions fell 12 points to 13.7. The indexes for future new orders and shipments also moved lower.

Firms expected increases in employment levels but no change in the average workweek in the months ahead.

The capital-expenditures index plunged 19 points to 4.6, its lowest level in three years, and the technology spending index fell to 6.5, “also a multi-year low,” the New York Fed said.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

Most CNY unemployment rates rose in August

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Subscriber Only

But most CNY regions gained jobs in last year Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, and Ithaca regions rose in August compared to a year ago. At the same time, the jobless rate in the Elmira area was unchanged in the last 12 months. The figures are

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But most CNY regions gained jobs in last year

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, and Ithaca regions rose in August compared to a year ago.

At the same time, the jobless rate in the Elmira area was unchanged in the last 12 months. The figures are part of the latest New York State Department of Labor data released Sept. 24.

On the job-growth front, the Syracuse, Watertown–Fort Drum, Ithaca, Binghamton, and Elmira regions all gained jobs between August 2018 and this past August, while the Utica–Rome area lost jobs in the same period.

That’s according to the latest monthly employment report that the New York State Department of Labor issued Sept. 18.

Regional unemployment rates

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area rose to 4.2 percent in August from 3.8 percent in August 2018.

In the Utica–Rome region, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent from 3.9 percent; in the Watertown–Fort Drum area, it increased to 5 percent from 4.4 percent; in the Binghamton region, the rate edged up to 4.5 percent from 4.3 percent; in the Ithaca area, it rose to 3.9 percent from 3.6 percent; and the Elmira region posted a 4.3 percent jobless rate, unchanged from a year ago.

The local-unemployment data isn’t seasonally adjusted, meaning the figures don’t reflect seasonal influences such as holiday hires.

The unemployment rates are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state Labor Department said.

State unemployment rate

New York state’s unemployment rate remained at 4 percent in August for a fourth straight month. That was higher than the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in August.

The August statewide unemployment figure of 4 percent was up from 3.9 percent in August 2018, according to department figures.

The federal government calculates New York’s unemployment rate partly based upon the results of a monthly telephone survey of 3,100 state households that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts.

August jobs data

The Syracuse region gained 4,100 jobs in the past year, a rise of 1.3 percent.

The Watertown–Fort Drum region gained 200 jobs, an increase of 0.5 percent; the Binghamton area picked up 700 positions, a rise of 0.7 percent; the Ithaca region gained 2,300 jobs, an increase of 3.7 percent; and, the Elmira area added 200 jobs, a rise of 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, the Utica–Rome region lost 400 jobs, a decrease of 0.3 percent.

New York state as a whole gained more than 117,000 jobs, an increase of 1.2 percent, in that 12-month period. The state economy gained nearly 12,000 jobs, a 0.1 percent rise, from July to August, the labor department said.

Cayuga Medical Center offers robotic surgery with da Vinci Xi system

Health Care, Subscriber Only, Technology

ITHACA — Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) management says the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system — which is “designed to enhance surgeon capabilities and advance minimally invasive procedures” — is now available at the hospital. The da Vinci Xi was developed by Sunnyvale, California–based Intuitive, a company that’s described as the “pioneer” of robotic-assisted surgery,

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The da Vinci Xi was developed by Sunnyvale, California–based Intuitive, a company that’s described as the “pioneer” of robotic-assisted surgery, according to a CMC news release.

“We are extremely pleased to offer our patients the latest technology and advantages of robotic surgery,” Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO of Cayuga Medical Center and Cayuga Health, said. “For many patients, robotic surgery is a better, safer option than open surgery, as studies have found that patients experience shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, fewer complications, less need for narcotic pain medicine and a faster recovery.”

The da Vinci Xi “offers advanced instrumentation, vision and features such as integrated table motion.” It’s used for a “variety” of complex procedures.

“Surgeons will be able to perform numerous kinds of abdominal, gynecological, and urological operations. Specifically, surgeons can offer robotic-assisted hernia repair, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, anti-reflux surgery, gallbladder surgery, surgery of the small and large intestine, weight-loss surgery, prostate surgery, kidney surgery, and surgery of the ovaries and uterus,” Dr. Gregory Ripich said in the release.

About Cayuga Health

Ithaca–based Cayuga Health has two hospitals — Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital, along with Cayuga Medical Associates — a multi-specialty group. Its combined employee count, including affiliated organizations, tops 2,200. Cayuga Health is clinically linked to Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester Regional Health for cardiac services, Roswell Park for cancer services, and the University of Rochester for neurosciences. It has also teamed up with Family Health Network of Central New York to “enhance” care in the region.

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