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VIEWPOINT: Talent Acquisition & the Importance of Employer Branding
Did you know 75 percent of job seekers research a company’s reputation before applying? If your employer brand isn’t strong, you could be losing top talent before they even hit “Apply.” A clear mission, positive employee testimonials, and a strong online presence all influence candidate decisions. Want to attract the best talent? Start by building […]
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Did you know 75 percent of job seekers research a company’s reputation before applying? If your employer brand isn’t strong, you could be losing top talent before they even hit “Apply.”
A clear mission, positive employee testimonials, and a strong online presence all influence candidate decisions. Want to attract the best talent? Start by building a brand they can’t resist.
Candidates research companies just as much as companies research candidates. Ensure your careers page, social media, and employee reviews reflect a strong, positive employer brand. Highlight your company culture, values, and employee success stories to attract top talent who align with your mission.
As a marketing professional with a background in branding, I’ve always believed that how you present your company matters — not just to customers, but also to potential employees.
That’s why I couldn’t agree more with this advice. Employer branding isn’t just an HR function; it’s a strategic marketing effort that shapes how talent perceives your company. A strong, authentic employer brand helps attract the right people, just like strong consumer branding attracts the right customers.
Businesses that invest in their careers page, showcase employee experiences, and tell a compelling brand story will stand out in today’s competitive hiring market.
Are you thinking about employer branding in your hiring strategy?
Alexa Lange is the talent & strategy advisor at Empower Business Strategies. Contact her at alexa@gowithempower.com

Strategic Financial Services, Inc., a leading independent wealth-management firm based in Central New York, announced that Partner and Senior Advisor Greg Mattacola, Esq., CFP has
Onondaga County hotel occupancy flat in February as two other business benchmarks post solid gains
SYRACUSE — Onondaga County hotels registered a tiny increase in occupancy in February as two other key indicators of business performance showed stronger improvement. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in Central New York’s largest county inched up 0.2 percent to 51.4 percent in the second month of 2025, compared
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SYRACUSE — Onondaga County hotels registered a tiny increase in occupancy in February as two other key indicators of business performance showed stronger improvement.
The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in Central New York’s largest county inched up 0.2 percent to 51.4 percent in the second month of 2025, compared to February 2024, according to STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics company.
Revenue per available room (RevPar), an industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, rose 5.1 percent to $62.20 in Onondaga County this February from a year earlier.
Average daily rate (or ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, increased 4.9 percent to $120.92 in February versus the year-ago month, STR reports.
Broome County hotels register a strong month of business in February
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County hotels saw a slight rise in overnight guests in February, as two other key indicators of business performance increased by

Construction begins on White Pine municipal pump station in Clay
CLAY, N.Y. — Construction is starting on the White Pine municipal pump station project along Route 31 in the town of Clay. “In support of

Two Cousins Pinball formally opens in Marcy
MARCY, N.Y. — Two Cousins Pinball is formally celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, April 5 from 2-9 p.m. at 9360 River Road. Admission for the event is $25, which includes unlimited play of pinball and other games, giveaways while supplies last, and drawings every hour for merchandise. Two Cousins Pinball will donate 20 percent
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MARCY, N.Y. — Two Cousins Pinball is formally celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, April 5 from 2-9 p.m. at 9360 River Road.
Admission for the event is $25, which includes unlimited play of pinball and other games, giveaways while supplies last, and drawings every hour for merchandise. Two Cousins Pinball will donate 20 percent of admission proceeds to Kelberman, an autism-services center for children, adults, and families.
Two Cousins Pinball offers a changing inventory of more than 30 pinball games along with other arcade games, pool, darts, bubble hockey, and foosball. The business has open play times and can also host corporation and recreation or league tournaments.
Hours for the month of April are Thursdays from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Saturdays from 3-10 p.m., and the first Friday of each month from 5:30-10 p.m. for open play. Two Cousins Pinball is closed on April 19.

Centro begins bus service in Cortland County
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Centro on Monday, March 31 started offering bus service in Cortland County, expanding its network for the first time in 20 years.

Smith Brothers Insurance adds Reardon Agency to its company roster
Smith Brothers Insurance LLC — with offices in Albany, Owego, Vestal, and Waverly — announced it has added The Reardon Agency of Waterford, Connecticut to

Syracuse University selects Carmelo Anthony to give commencement address in May
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — He led the 2003 Syracuse men’s basketball team to its only NCAA Tournament championship and will address the Syracuse University (SU) Class

Binghamton Rumble Ponies baseball to continue on Townsquare Media radio stations
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — WNBF News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM in Binghamton will remain the radio home of Binghamton Rumble Ponies baseball. The Rumble
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.