Northeast Information Discovery settles into new Canastota HQ

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CANASTOTA — Northeast Information Discovery (NEID) is conducting operations from its new headquarters located at 3197 Seneca Turnpike in Canastota. The firm, a woman-owned software company, also operates a second facility nearby at 11 Madison Blvd. NEID is focused on the research and development of advanced computer-network operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for […]

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CANASTOTA — Northeast Information Discovery (NEID) is conducting operations from its new headquarters located at 3197 Seneca Turnpike in Canastota.

The firm, a woman-owned software company, also operates a second facility nearby at 11 Madison Blvd.

NEID is focused on the research and development of advanced computer-network operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for the intelligence and defense communities.

The company bought the new building in 2018 and spent about $500,000 to prepare the space for operations, Stephanie Shattuck, program manager at NEID, said in an email reply to a CNYBJ inquiry.

The project represents a “significant milestone” for the technology company, New York State officials say. Founded in 2011 with three employees, the company began work on the new facility in the summer of 2018. It will now be home to more than 40 employees.

The state awarded NEID $974,000 as part of a September 2018 announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo about the state’s “further” investment in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry.

The funding given to NEID included $200,000 in a regional council capital fund award; $90,000 in excelsior benefits; and $684,000 from the UAS central job fund, an Empire State Development (ESD)-funded program, per an ESD news release.

NEID also used “some” of the state funding to help prepare the new building, Shattuck noted in her email response.

Officials from ESD and CenterState CEO on May 1 joined the company to formally open the new headquarters building.

“We cannot be more excited to grow our business right here in Canastota, within Madison County and wish to thank all those who have helped us. Still, there is much to do. The mission of NEID is to grow a community-friendly and successful business, where professionals not only advance their careers, but enjoy the rewards of their personal and professional accomplishments,” Kristin Meyer, president & CEO of Northeast Information Discovery, said in the release.

CenterState CEO on April 24 also recognized NEID as a 2019 Business of the Year recipient in the “Less Than 50 Employees” category at its annual meeting. The company was one of five recipients recognized for its “commitment to growth, improving the community and creating tangible impacts on the economy.”

“We are excited to recognize the exceptional growth of Northeast Information Discovery. In addition to its expansion news, its hiring plans represent a more than 150 percent increase in staff for the company. Its focus on solving challenges related to cybersecurity for unmanned systems and its continued success, strengthens the region’s leadership role in the unmanned-services sector,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in the ESD release.

Utica Zoo providing STEAM program for young girls

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UTICA — The Utica Zoo was scheduled to conduct a STEM/STEAM program for girls ages 12 to 15, starting May 11, believing that it is “essential” that girls get involved in STEM/STEAM activities at a young age. The zoo is targeting that age group “as society and technology advance at a feverish pace,” the Utica

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The zoo is targeting that age group “as society and technology advance at a feverish pace,” the Utica Zoo said in an April 16 news release.

STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEAM is short for those same terms, but also includes an A for arts.

The zoo also believes that young girls should be “exposed to the critical thinking skills and integrated, hands on approach to STEM programs” if they want to eventually pursue a careers in those fields.

The Utica Zoo cites data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey that indicates women make up 24 percent of STEM workers, despite representing 47 percent of the workforce.

As of press time on May 8, the Utica Zoo was scheduled to hold the program, titled “STEAMing the Urban Forest,” on eight consecutive Saturday mornings at the Utica Zoo.

The new program will introduce participants from Oneida and Herkimer Counties to STEM/STEAM-based careers and different aspects of operating a zoo, per its release.

The Utica Zoo is using a $4,500 grant to operate the program. The Women’s Fund of Herkimer & Oneida Counties Inc. awarded the funding.

About the program

The new program is designed to focus on “real-world” problems with the students focused on “open ended exploration and problem solving,” per the news release.

By using the elements of STEAM, students will work together as a group to solve problems. The program will also expose them to STEAM-based careers and methods. Students will explore and inventory a section of the North Trek Urban Forest; research the needs of a given animal in the Urban Forest; work with animal care and veterinary staff to learn what constitutes a healthy habitat; enhance the environment for the benefit of their chosen animal; develop interpretive and informational materials; and present their findings to family, friends, and Zoo staff.

In addition, female representatives from various supporting organizations will serve as guests to introduce the girls to STEAM-based careers, the Utica Zoo said.

Construction work starts at Lake Placid’s Olympic ski-jump complex

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LAKE PLACID — Construction contracts have been awarded and crews have started work on more than $9.3 million in renovation and construction projects at Lake Placid’s Olympic ski-jumping complex. The renovation and construction projects began this spring and are expected to be complete this fall. They are part of the preparation for the recently awarded

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LAKE PLACID — Construction contracts have been awarded and crews have started work on more than $9.3 million in renovation and construction projects at Lake Placid’s Olympic ski-jumping complex.

The renovation and construction projects began this spring and are expected to be complete this fall. They are part of the preparation for the recently awarded 2023 Winter World University Games, to be held in Lake Placid.

The projects include a new frost rail and gate system for both the 90-meter and 120-meter ski jumps, according to the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Frost rails are designed to maintain a consistent and reliable jumping surface, the organization said. Crews are also installing additional underground infrastructure, along with a new design for the outrun landing hills. By re-grading the landing hills, the venue will not require as much snow to achieve the desired profile, the ORDA contends.

The project to install the frost rails and gates will cost nearly $1.25 million, Jon Lundin, ORDA director of communications, tells CNYBJ in an email.

Construction crews are also removing the current chairlift and transport system, making way for a new eight-person, “state-of-the-art” gondola. Once completed, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant gondola will carry athletes, coaches, officials, equipment, and visitors from the Olympic jumping complex’s base lodge to the base of the 90-meter and 120-meter ski-jump towers. It will also take guests to the new zipline launch deck.

From there, they will have access to the tower’s newly renovated glass enclosed elevator. This elevator will offer “breathtaking panoramic views” of the Adirondack High Peaks and surrounding area, according to the ORDA.

The gondola-installation part of the project will cost more than $3 million, Lundin says. The price tag for the elevator improvements will total nearly $1.1 million.

The zipline park, which will cost nearly $3 million to install, is designed for all levels of adventurers to simulate what the Olympic ski jumper would experience in competition, according to the ORDA. The most “extreme” of the four courses is expected to reach speeds of 60 miles-per-hour, have a 30-degree decline, and navigate its way along the ski jumps.

Crews have also started replacing the curtain wall and window for the 120-meter ski jump tower, which will cost more than $1.3 million, according to Lundin.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $70 million appropriation for the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority for capital improvements is funding the construction ad renovation projects at the Olympic jumping complex.

“The projects modernize the facility and improve our ability to host events and training for athletes. The venue’s guests will enjoy the new gondola, glass enclosed elevator and zip lines too,” ORDA president and CEO Mike Pratt said in a news release.

With last year’s completed renovations to the base lodge, which cost $1.9 million, the ORDA has seen a nearly 30 percent increase in both visitation and revenue, according to Lundin.

While ORDA manages the overall project, the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group, a manufacturing company based in Austria, was awarded the contract to produce and install the gondola and transport system.

Terra-Nova, LLC — of Coalville, Utah — is designing and installing the zipline course, along with all its features.

Friend Commercial Contracting Corp., based in nearby Malone, is overseeing the elevator upgrades, as well as the elevator tower’s curtain wall and window replacement.

Established in 1982, the Olympic Regional Development Authority was created by the New York State to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates the Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic sports complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval; Olympic jumping complex; and Lake Placid Olympic Center, which includes the Herb Brooks Arena. As host to international and national championships, the ORDA says it has brought millions of athletes, spectators, and participants to the region, resulting in “significant economic development.”

Helping Hounds Dog Rescue announces new board president and VP

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SYRACUSE — Helping Hounds Dog Rescue announced it has recently added Crystal DeStefano and Katrina Crocker to its board of directors. DeStefano was elected to serve as president of the board and Crocker will serve as VP. “Crystal and Katrina were specifically recruited this year to join the board and help lead Helping Hounds through

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“Crystal and Katrina were specifically recruited this year to join the board and help lead Helping Hounds through our next exciting chapter,” Kathy Gilmour, executive director at Helping Hounds Dog Rescue, said in a release. “Our organization is in the midst of great transition as we prepare to move operations to our new space located in the Town of Cicero. This move allows us to act on our mission through expansion of services, and to better meet the needs of the dogs we rescue and our family of adoptive parents. Both women bring extensive leadership and business experience that is necessary during this period of growth.”

DeStefano is president and director of public relations at Strategic Communications, LLC, a public-relations firm located in Syracuse. She holds a degree in finance and marketing from SUNY Albany and earned her accreditation in public relations (APR) in 2012. She is a member of the board of trustees for WCNY and is active in the Public Relations Society of America as a local-chapter board member and as the northeast regional representative for the national organization. DeStefano is a long-time supporter of Helping Hounds and adopted her dog, Oliver, from the organization in 2017.

Crocker is VP of communications at the Central New York Community Foundation, where she has worked for more than a decade guiding strategy and relationship building for one of the area’s largest nonprofit funders. She holds a degree in advertising from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Prior to joining the Helping Hounds board of directors, Crocker was a volunteer for the organization, applying her expertise in communications and online tools to the management of its website since 2014. Crocker adopted her dog, Penny, from Helping Hounds in 2018.

The other officers of the Helping Hounds Dog Rescue board of directors are Lester Burt, treasurer; Jen Pichoske, secretary; and, Leigh Neumann, immediate past president. The organization’s other board members are Sam Deeb, Dr. Heather Danboise, and Kristin Norfleet.

Helping Hounds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by donations, fundraisers, and adoption fees, that works to find permanent homes in the Central New York area for rescue dogs.

The Cremeria brings the flavors of Italy to Clinton

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CLINTON — A new gelato shop has opened in Clinton, in plenty of time for summer when demand for the cold delicacy is likely to be at its greatest. Business owner Maria Macrina formally opened The Cremeria at 17 College St. on May 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. The

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CLINTON — A new gelato shop has opened in Clinton, in plenty of time for summer when demand for the cold delicacy is likely to be at its greatest.

Business owner Maria Macrina formally opened The Cremeria at 17 College St. on May 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. The Cremeria serves authentic gelato that Macrina learned to make while in Italy.

The formal opening follows a soft opening on April 18. From now, through the summer, the Cremeria will be open every day except Mondays.

Macrina rents about 400 square feet from David Sullivan, a Clinton real estate agent. She said she had to do a fair amount of electrical and plumbing work to accommodate her gelato machines, which are imported from Europe and have specific electrical/plumbing requirements.

Macrina studied culinary arts in Bologna, Italy about 10 years ago, while in college, when she says she was introduced to some “wonderful gelato.” There, she learned how to create the gelato that she makes fresh every day.

Gelato is often referred to simply as Italian ice cream, “but it’s actually a more versatile term. Italian gelato includes all frozen desserts within the realm of ice cream. In the U.S., ice cream must legally contains a minimum of 10 percent butterfat, while gelato is usually made with between 0 percent and 8 percent butterfat,” the Cremeria says on its website.

Gelato has less air churned into than ice cream does, and this produces “a creamier and denser consistency,” according to Macrina. Gelato is also softer and more delicate, in part because it is served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream.

Macrina says she hopes to make eight flavors of gelato a day with some ingredients (nuts) coming from Italy. In addition to gelato, the Cremeria also offers sorbetto (a gelato made with water), plus espresso and pastries.

The opening of the shop is not Macrina’s first rodeo.

For the last, nearly four years, she operated a mobile gelato cart at farmers’ markets and other events, and she felt the time was right to expand to a storefront. She says she will look to continue to operate the cart for events like weddings and festivals.

The Cremeria employs eight part-time, seasonal workers to assist at the shop and with operating the cart. Six are high school or college students and two are friends of Macrina.

She says she’s happy to be in business for herself, because she “didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder anymore. I was ready to do something on my own and be responsible for my own outcomes — not relying on anyone else.”

Macrina was previously director of engineering and director of marketing and e-commerce at G-Form, a manufacturer of protective, athletic equipment, according to her LinkedIn page. She is also a self-employed freelance designer.

Macrina graduated from Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School in 2007 and Brown University in 2011.

No timeline set for finding Zemsky’s successor as ESD leader

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Empire State Development (ESD) doesn’t yet have a timeline for finding the successor to Howard Zemsky, ESD’s president and CEO, who has indicated that he plans to step down from that role. Zemsky will remain in the president/CEO role until ESD finds his replacement, an ESD spokesman told CNYBJ in a May 7 phone conversation.

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Revercomb named new Onondaga County medical examiner

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SYRACUSE — Onondaga County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II recently announced the appointment of Dr. Carolyn H. Revercomb as the Onondaga County medical examiner. Dr. Revercomb currently serves as the assistant medical examiner/deputy chief medical examiner for the New Jersey Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. She has held that position since February 2016. Revercomb, a

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Tompkins Financial to pay quarterly dividend of 50 cents on May 15

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ITHACA — Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP) will pay a regular quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share on May 15. It is payable to common shareholders of record on May 7. The dividend is the same amount that Tompkins Financial paid last quarter. At the banking company’s current stock price, the payment yields

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CNY Tweets – May 13, 2019

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, leadership, HR, career, and personal tips. Allen Ruddock @AllenRuddock3 objections & 3 reasons why you should use LinkedIn in your business http://dld.bz/dZaHv #smallbiz #marketing SBA @SBAgovSBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton writes about entrepreneurial success like that of National Small Business Persons

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

Allen Ruddock @AllenRuddock
3 objections & 3 reasons why you should use LinkedIn in your business http://dld.bz/dZaHv #smallbiz #marketing

SBA @SBAgov
SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton writes about entrepreneurial success like that of National Small Business Persons of the Year Jennifer & Jeffrey Herbert of @Super_Mead & other celebrations during National #SmallBusinessWeek in this blog — http://ow.ly/EvSC50u16Rr

Small Business Expo @SmallBizExpo
4 Questions You Should Always Ask When You Call a Potential Hire’s References http://twib.in/l/7j456E4RopMB

NFIB @NFIB
Digital tools like Google Analytics can help your #SmallBiz understand exactly which channels are driving the most qualified traffic to your site. Learn more: https://www.nfib.com/content/resources/marketing/how-to-use-google-analytics-with-your-small-business-website/

US Labor Department @USDOL
Happy National #SmallBusinessWeek to the millions of small businesses in America that drive economic growth and strengthen our communities! #SmallBiz owners can find answers to common labor law questions and compliance assistance resources at https://www.employer.gov/EmploymentIssues/Small-business-concerns/ …

Anne Bibb @annebibb
According to @Inc, the most emotionally intelligent leaders always practice this –and are beloved as a result @scott_mautz https://buff.ly/2PlBzLL

Steve Keating @LeadToday
Authentic Leaders don’t guess about what motivates their people. https://wp.me/p2nthJ-15T

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
It’s impressive to see job candidates with degrees from the top schools. But over & over I’ve found it’s not the formal education that predicts someone’s future #success, it’s their work experience & achievements that do. Lesson: Not everyone effectively applies what they learn.

Dave Ulrich @dave_ulrich
Since nearly every leader will occasionally be a teacher, this article offers some tips I have gained from my experience (often learned from my mistakes!) that I hope you will find useful: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/teaching-tips-any-leader-dave-ulrich/

CNYBJ Research @cnybjresearch
Do you know an outstanding young professional in Central New York who deserves recognition for their achievements? Nominations for the 22nd Annual 40 Under Forty Awards are now open! You can access the nomination form here: https://www.cnybj.com/bizeventz/forms/40-under-forty-nomination-form/ …

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
How To Use Instagram for Job Search — @Careersherpa https://buff.ly/2SeThlj #jobsearch

Steve @ Think Save Retire @ThinkSaveRetire
I will never forget the lessons I learned meandering my way through the “grind”. https://buff.ly/2PTZxPC #careers #graduation

Mitch Mitchell @Mitch_M
4 More Pretty Good #Blogging Tips https://youtu.be/H3h_lEBLqeg #blogcomments

New York Fed @NewYorkFed
Q1 2019 Household Debt and Credit Report to be released on May 14: http://nyfed.org/2LuPu4R

Ann Zuccardy @AnnZuccardy
Don’t waste time trying to control things beyond your control. Instead control yourself.

Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal
Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that you need to be doing.

JayFitish @JFitish
Read my blog post about how to lose fat in a healthy way http://ow.ly/cY8q30oBVOq #weightloss #fitness #healthy

William G. Pomeroy Foundation @wgpfoundation
Did you know Fly Creek, NY has several Legends & Lore markers recognizing places with unique names (e.g. Honey Joe Road)? Goose St. is another example and you can see a great photo of that marker on The Mohawk Valley Through the Lens FB page: https://tinyurl.com/yyck7kun

Ithaca airport to use $10 million federal grant for renovation project’s second phase

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, New York News, Nonprofits, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

LANSING, N.Y. —The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport will use a $10 million federal grant to help fund the second phase of the renovation project underway

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