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Time to reevaluate the START-UP NY program and its future
The START-UP NY report badly missed its deadline and the program is completely missing its goals. Taxpayers have invested millions of dollars to promote a job-creation initiative that has turned out to be long on promises but woefully short on actual jobs. With only 332 jobs created in 2015, it is time to reevaluate the […]
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The START-UP NY report badly missed its deadline and the program is completely missing its goals. Taxpayers have invested millions of dollars to promote a job-creation initiative that has turned out to be long on promises but woefully short on actual jobs.
With only 332 jobs created in 2015, it is time to reevaluate the START-UP NY program and its future. Despite political rhetoric and false “Open for Business” claims, this program is not working for communities across the state. If START-UP NY was truly effective, New Yorkers would not have waited three months for an update and details would not have been secretly posted on a website late on a Friday afternoon.
Multi-million-dollar advertising campaigns can’t sell START-UP and can’t mask the fact that New York’s oppressive business climate — made even worse during the 2016 legislative session — prohibits true economic growth.
Job creation and economic development will never be realized through gimmicks, casinos, or grant programs that choose winners and losers. New York needs serious policy reforms that reduce onerous regulations and lessen the burden of taxes and fees that stifle success and opportunity.
Brian M. Kolb (R, I, C–Canandaigua) is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. Contact him at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. This editorial is drawn from a statement his office issued on July 1.

Dale Carnegie Training of CNY announced JULIE BILLINGS has joined as a training advisor. She will work with clients throughout the Syracuse, Binghamton, Ithaca, and Elmira areas. Billings is a strategic and creative-development consultant with 19 years’ experience. She has served on many local and regional committees and boards of directors. Billings holds an MBA
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Dale Carnegie Training of CNY announced JULIE BILLINGS has joined as a training advisor. She will work with clients throughout the Syracuse, Binghamton, Ithaca, and Elmira areas. Billings is a strategic and creative-development consultant with 19 years’ experience. She has served on many local and regional committees and boards of directors. Billings holds an MBA from Strayer University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Syracuse University.
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Annese & Associates, Inc. has hired GARRETT RAYMOND to provide hands-on installation and support of its technology products and design client data center and virtualization products. He previously worked as a systems administrator II with NBT Bank. Raymond has a bachelor’s degree in history and computer science from SUNY Fredonia. MIKE FAY has joined Annese
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Annese & Associates, Inc. has hired GARRETT RAYMOND to provide hands-on installation and support of its technology products and design client data center and virtualization products. He previously worked as a systems administrator II with NBT Bank. Raymond has a bachelor’s degree in history and computer science from SUNY Fredonia.
MIKE FAY has joined Annese as a business-development director. He has spent the last 12 years working as the CTO/director for Oneida-Cortland-Madison BOCES/Central NY Regional Information Center. Fay will work closely with Annese’s education accounts on security and managed services.
MARK SMOROL has been hired as an SQL developer. He was previously a business analyst with Aspen Dental Management Inc. Smorol has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Albany.
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Licensed real-estate salesperson, LAURIE KUSHNER, has joined HUNT Real Estate ERA at its Manlius office. In addition to her real-estate knowledge, she is a certified personal trainer, cancer exercise specialist, and a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com
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Licensed real-estate salesperson, LAURIE KUSHNER, has joined HUNT Real Estate ERA at its Manlius office. In addition to her real-estate knowledge, she is a certified personal trainer, cancer exercise specialist, and a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com

VELDIN MISKIC has joined Pyramid Brokerage Company after holding several retail management positions in business operations and sales. He previously worked in a variety of industries including insurance, consumer products, and advertising. Miskic graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and also attended the Manfred Real Estate Learning Center. Contact The
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VELDIN MISKIC has joined Pyramid Brokerage Company after holding several retail management positions in business operations and sales. He previously worked in a variety of industries including insurance, consumer products, and advertising. Miskic graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and also attended the Manfred Real Estate Learning Center.
Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com
KORRIE OLSZEWSKI has joined the advance local sales manager team at Syracuse Media Group as an account executive. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Cortland. Prior to her new role, she was a senior brand strategist at Terakeet for more than two years. SONNY GOLDBAUM has also joined the advance local sales
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KORRIE OLSZEWSKI has joined the advance local sales manager team at Syracuse Media Group as an account executive. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Cortland. Prior to her new role, she was a senior brand strategist at Terakeet for more than two years.
SONNY GOLDBAUM has also joined the advance local sales manager team at Syracuse Media Group as an account executive. He has a master’s degree in broadcasting and mass communications from SUNY Oswego. Prior to his new role, Goldbaum was a graduate assistant at Twentieth Television (21st Century Fox Division) from May 2015 to June 2016.
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MELISSA MENON has joined Darco Manufacturing Inc. as talent/community engagement manager. Previously, she was the director of college and career access at On Point for College Inc. Menon brings more than 10 years of counseling know-how and experience developing and implementing programs and services in education and workforce access. Menon will continue to serve On
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MELISSA MENON has joined Darco Manufacturing Inc. as talent/community engagement manager. Previously, she was the director of college and career access at On Point for College Inc. Menon brings more than 10 years of counseling know-how and experience developing and implementing programs and services in education and workforce access. Menon will continue to serve On Point for College as a member of the Jobs Advisory Council.
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MARTIN HARRISON has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Company as a statistical modeler. He brings nearly seven years of data experience to Preferred, most recently serving as a statistics educator at Syracuse University. Harrison earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the
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MARTIN HARRISON has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Company as a statistical modeler. He brings nearly seven years of data experience to Preferred, most recently serving as a statistics educator at Syracuse University. Harrison earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC
Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC has hired the following new employees. TODD KOGUT has joined its Vernon office as a civil engineer. He has more than 27 years engineering experience in the areas of mechanical, plumbing, and site/civil design for clients in the higher education, health-care, and municipal sectors. SHALENE CHAVEZ has joined
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Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC has hired the following new employees.
TODD KOGUT has joined its Vernon office as a civil engineer. He has more than 27 years engineering experience in the areas of mechanical, plumbing, and site/civil design for clients in the higher education, health-care, and municipal sectors.
SHALENE CHAVEZ has joined Delta’s Endwell office as a proposal coordinator. She has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Chavez recently returned to the area from Philadelphia, where she had worked for the corporate office at Urban Outfitters, Inc. in its home department, and also previously worked at Rodale, Inc.
RACHAEL FOSTER has joined Delta’s Vernon office as an administrative assistant. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child and family studies from SUNY Oneonta and has worked for Oneida Savings Bank for 12 years in various positions including teller, customer service representative, trainer, and office manager/lender.
KIM SEAVEY has joined Delta’s Endwell office as an administrative assistant. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Cornerstone University in Michigan and has worked for the last 10 years at Arrowhead Parable in Johnson City as a buyer and merchandiser and in marketing and account management roles.
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Pinckney Hugo Group has hired KATIE COFFEY as a senior art director and MICHELLE GORRY as a junior digital designer. Coffey previously worked as a senior designer at ChaseDesign for five years, according to her LinkedIn page. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse
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Pinckney Hugo Group has hired KATIE COFFEY as a senior art director and MICHELLE GORRY as a junior digital designer. Coffey previously worked as a senior designer at ChaseDesign for five years, according to her LinkedIn page. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Gorry this year received her bachelor’s degree in visual communications and a minor in art history from Cazenovia College.
Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.