SALINA — JGB Enterprises Inc., which supplies hoses and hose assemblies for commercial and military applications, is now under new ownership. 

Jay Bernhardt, founder, owner, and CEO, sold the business to Washington, D.C.–based HCI Equity Partners. The acquisition closed on Dec. 13, says Bernhardt, who spoke with CNYBJ on Dec. 21. He declined to disclose the acquisition price. 

Bernhardt, who launched his firm nearly 42 years ago, calls the decision to sell “bitter sweet.” At age 75, he has “some health issues” and neither of his children work in the business, so the sale represents a succession plan for him.

In the deal, HCI acquired JGB’s stock, customer list, and about 300 employees. “Just everything to do with the business,” he noted.

JGB are Bernhardt’s initials, and when asked if HCI would retain the company’s name, he replied, “Yes, I think they will because of the military sales and the fact that they have bought my property and that’s gone along with the sale.”

JGB Enterprises is headquartered at 115 Metropolitan Drive in Salina. It also owns property along Crossroads Park Drive in Clay and operates locations in Buffalo; Charlotte, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Houston, Texas; and Williston, North Dakota, Bernhardt says.

Of its employee count, about 250 people work locally, and the remaining 50 employees work at the branches that are outside the market.

Los Angeles, California–based Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI) assisted Bernhardt in the sales process, he says. 

Houlihan Lokey assembled a profile report on JGB Enterprises, which was distributed to potential buyers. As a result, 10 companies presented letters of intent to purchase the firm.

“Out of the 10 letters that we received, we picked HCI,” says Bernhardt.

HCI on JGB

Washington, D.C.–based HCI Equity Partners is a private-equity firm which invests in “growth oriented” industrial product and service companies, per its website. The members of the firm “partner” with owners and managers of industrial companies, with a focus on “assisting with operational improvements and supporting growth initiatives,” its website says.

In a December 2018 news release on its website, HCI describes JGB Enterprises as a “value-added assembler and supplier of industrial and hydraulic hose and hose accessories.”

Its products are used in a “variety of end-markets,” including oil and gas, agriculture, mining, construction, marine, chemical, food, commercial and government, including the U.S. Department of Defense and the Fort Belvoir, Virginia–based Defense Logistics Agency.

JGB Enterprises services more than 4,000 customers annually, HCI said.

“JGB offers one of the broadest portfolios of hose and hose assembly products in the industry. The company’s hoses are selected and assembled to meet specific size, pressure, temperature and material requirements in critical applications,” per the HCI release.

JGB Enterprises generated sales of about $137 million in 2018, Bernhardt tells CNYBJ.

What’s next for Bernhardt

The JGB brand is also associated with a company called JGB Properties of Syracuse, which Bernhardt says isn’t part of this deal. 

“My next job is to handle JGB Properties,” he says. “I still own them. I have to figure out what to do with them.” 

Beyond his work with JGB Properties, Bernhardt is “going to pretty much be retired.”

Besides his nearly 42 years with JGB Enterprises, Bernhardt also worked for two other companies, saying he’s worked in the industrial-hose business for about 50 years. Bernhardt was among the recipients of a Legacy Award in 2013, in an awards program presented by the Business Journal News Network and BizEventz.  

NEW HARTFORD — A renovation project is planned at the 14-screen, Marquee Cinemas theatre in New Hartford. 

Construction was scheduled to begin Jan. 2, with a completion date in May, per a news release that the New Hartford Chamber of Commerce forwarded to CNYBJ. The theatre will remain open during the remodel. 

Beckley, West Virginia–based Marquee Cinemas Inc. and PAG Investments announced the renovation project in that release. PAG Investments is a privately held, real-estate investment firm headquartered in New York City. 

CNYBJ contacted Marquee Cinemas for details on the contractor and architect involved in the project, along with the project cost, but the company didn’t respond to the inquiry before press time.

The work is scheduled in two phases. The first part will target studios 1 through 6, along with converting auditoriums 7 & 8 to what the company calls “Marquee Extreme Cinemas (MXC)” auditoriums, per the release.

Marquee expects to complete the first phase in mid-March, with all studios equipped with new “luxury” seating, carpeting, and lighting. 

The second phase, which Marquee expects to finish in mid-May, will include the completion of auditoriums 9 through 14, along with work in the lobby and common areas. 

It’ll also include digital displays, new wall coverings, and carpet, along with interior and exterior paint work.

Additionally, the theatre will be adding reserved seating, allowing moviegoers to pick their “exact seat.” Patrons may purchase and choose their favorite seat prior to the movie, either online, at the box office or at Marquee’s ticketing kiosk, the company said. 

“The new upgrades will offer patrons a premium experience not currently offered in the market. We want the newly-renovated Marquee Cinemas to be a welcome retreat for guests to relax and feel right at home as they enjoy a movie,” Robin Shumate, director of marketing for Marquee Cinemas, said in the release. “Our goal is to provide our customers with the best in entertainment. For nearly 15 years, it has been and will continue to be our pleasure to serve New Hartford and Oneida County.”

Formed in 1979, Marquee Cinemas, Inc. currently operates 17 locations with 175 screens in nine states.

Today’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse has experienced more than a century of iterations. Its home, Burnet Park, was born from a merger between the Town of Geddes and the City of Syracuse in 1886. 

The Town of Geddes wished to become part of Syracuse in order to benefit from a paid police force, fire protection, and the soon-to-be installed water line from Skaneateles Lake. John Burnet, a major landowner in Geddes, offered to sweeten the merger by giving the City nearly 125 acres of his hilltop farm land for a park. The Burnet family stipulated the land always be used as a park and that it should be named Burnet Park. They also requested that $10,000 be set aside annually to be used to purchase trees and maintain roads and lawns. An additional $3,000 per year was to be used for general upkeep and improvements. Finally, the entranceways to the park off Milton Avenue and S. Wilbur Avenue were to be paved. Initially the park was used for bandstand concerts, walks, and picnics — followed by the construction of a golf course in 1901. 

Area citizens had lobbied for a zoo for many years before one was actually constructed. As early as 1898, a local alderman announced that a gentleman had offered to build and stock a zoological department in a south end park if the city would take steps to fix up the land properly. It was determined that all necessary funds could be generated with help from the public; however, this plan never advanced. But in 1914, the city put aside four acres for use as a zoo in Burnet Park when a group of citizens headed by W. W. Wiard of the Syracuse Chilled Plow Co. bought the remnants of a traveling circus company. Two years later, a stone-based exhibit space was designed for the bears and a pond dug for the waterfowl. The animals kept at the zoo were varied with many procured through generous donations by prominent local citizens. In 1933, the zoo doubled in size with the animals residing in small barred cages as was common during that era. The animals were there strictly for the public’s viewing purposes. No attention was given to providing an environment or setting that would reflect the animal’s normal living conditions. In 1955 after receiving an extremely poor review from the local newspaper, efforts were made to improve the animals’ living conditions and update the grounds. A Children’s Wonderland, funded through the Gifford Foundation, was designed featuring miniature structures housing a variety of farm animals with which children could interact. At the same time, additional funds were set aside by the city to renovate the bear den and construct Monkey Island.

Unfortunately, these improvements were short-lived, and by the early 1960s, the zoo was again criticized for its appearance. Various mayors had discussed undergoing a massive update, but funding could not be secured. The Children’s Wonderland required cleanup and repair. Again, improvements were made but continued funding was becoming difficult to obtain. Vandalism was prevalent, including the releasing of animals from their cages, killing of animals, and theft and destruction of zoo property. A local businessman formed an organization to investigate the option of purchasing property north of the city and establishing a new state of the art zoo. City of Syracuse and Onondaga County officials were divided in their opinions, but it was generally felt that the zoo should remain in Burnet Park. 

The Friends of the Zoo was formed in 1970 and they secured funding to enlarge the zoo to 18 acres, build a fence to enclose the space, include a boardwalk that traversed through a portion of the property, and establish a Western Plains habitat. Various directors had come and gone, adding to the difficulties. In April 1975, the zoo adopted a nonprofit status and it was suggested that a minimal admission be charged for at least a portion of the year. Plans were once again made to expand and modernize the facility. The Friends of the Zoo developed a membership drive to facilitate this goal. John Mulroy, Onondaga County Executive, initially vetoed using county funds to supplement city funding, but eventually came to an agreement with the Onondaga County Legislature to set aside money to finance renovations. In 1977 the county officially took over the responsibility of running the zoo from the city. By 1980, improvements were once again made by expanding the Plains exhibit and beginning development of a North East Woods exhibit. However, the animals continued to reside in bare, dingy cages of inadequate size. These conditions inhibited reproduction efforts — forcing the zoo to purchase additional animals. Visitors also complained about the odor and general cleanliness of the exhibit areas. 

In 1982, a $7.5 million renovation was begun. The community was asked to provide $1 million in funding with an additional $2.5 million received from private funders. The Rosamond Gifford Foundation continued as a generous funder for the modernization of the facilities as Ms. Gifford had been known for her love of animals. The renovation took over three years. During this time, most of the animals were either sold or loaned to other zoos. The waterfowl population was moved to Beaver Lake Nature Center in Lysander while seven elk, seven bison, three wolves, a yak and a llama remained in residence because they were either unable to be sold, too old to move, or of good breeding stock. All the original buildings were torn down with the exception of the main building which was incorporated into the new design. The zoo reopened to great fanfare in August 1986. The final cost of renovation was $12.8 million and it involved more than seven years of planning and preparation. It was a state-of-the-art facility considered to be a “new breed of zoo” and was only one of a handful of zoos designed with several exhibit areas detailing the evolutionary life stories of the zoo’s inhabitants. The new facility also included classroom and research space. National accreditation soon followed.

In 1998, a capital campaign was begun to pay for the construction of a new conservation education center and tiger and rainforest exhibits. The Rosamond Gifford Foundation offered an endowment gift of $2 million in 1999. This resulted in the changing of the name to Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. The zoo today continues to flourish and is now proud to say that it is continually ranked in the top 10 percent of zoos in the country.           

Karen Y. Cooney is support services administrator at OHA in Syracuse.

DeWITT — Byrne Dairy Inc. plans to create nearly 250 jobs in Onondaga County as part of the firm’s $125 million plan to expand its facilities.

The company held a Dec. 20 ceremony to break ground on a $24 million expansion at its Ultra Dairy plant in DeWitt, representing the first phase of its expansion plan.

The three phases — supported by $15 million in state funding — include several additional projects at its other production and warehouse facilities.

The initial phase will create 30 new jobs and includes a 42,000-square-foot expansion, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release. 

In addition to the 30 new jobs, the Ultra Dairy expansion will help retain almost 200 jobs at the facility. 

“We’re excited to begin this next chapter of Ultra Dairy’s growth,” Carl Byrne, president and CEO of Byrne Dairy Inc., said in the release. “Our ability to expand to meet the growing demands of our customers is critical to the success of not only Byrne Dairy, but also family farms throughout Central New York.”

The expansion will allow the plant to increase its packaging capability, along with additional processing capacity and storage space. 

Additional projects include a further expansion of the DeWitt facility, expansion of the company’s yogurt and cultured-product facility in Cortlandville, and an extension of its warehouse capabilities in Syracuse and DeWitt which will result in the creation of 248 new jobs.

New York State is providing a $7.5 million grant for the projects through the “CNY Rising” Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding. In addition, the state is offering another $7.5 million through the Excelsior tax-credit program in exchange for the job-creation commitments. 

The company’s Ultra Dairy plant, located at 6750 W. Benedict Road in DeWitt, first opened in 2004. The facility uses an ultra-high-temperature pasteurization process to extend shelf life of up to 150 days. 

Ultra Dairy processes conventional and organic milks, creams, and other dairy products as well as a variety of non-dairy products. The expansion will allow Byrne Dairy to “substantially increase” output by adding processing capacity and increasing efficiencies in downstream equipment.