The past year in Central New York business news included stories on company expansions and relocations, key executive changes, new funding sources, mergers and acquisitions, and closings. Below is a brief month-by-month recap of the year that was in Central New York business news, as we reported it in our weekly editions.

 

JANUARY

Following a year of growth in 2012, Blue Ocean Strategic Capital, LLC unveiled plans to relocate from its 4,200-square-foot space at 443 North Franklin St. to a 7,500-square-foot space at the Washington Station building at 333 W. Washington St. in downtown Syracuse.

Primet Precision Materials, Inc., an Ithaca–based advanced materials company, announced plans to start licensing its technology to larger businesses. The firm’s core technology involves the production of very small particles on the micron to nano scale that have a range of applications, including materials used in making lithium-ion batteries, says Lawrence Thomas, Primet CEO.

The Upstate Venture Association of New York, Inc.’s (UVANY) new executive director Samuel Ticknor unveiled plans to double the number of programs UVANY runs in 2013. The Albany–based nonprofit works to increase capital investment in private companies throughout upstate New York.

The law firm Bond Schoeneck & King formed a new practice group focusing on long-term care after the addition of six new attorneys from Albany–based Ruffo Tabora Mainello & McKay, P.C., a firm specializing in that field.

Syracuse’s StartFast Venture Accelerator introduced a new entrepreneur-in-residence who believes the region is poised for success and more growth in the years ahead. Kyle Blumin was born and raised in Central New York and graduated from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in 1993.

Accounting firm Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC expanded its presence in the Utica area with the addition of Calogero & Associates. The firms combined their operations at the start of this year. Financial terms of the arrangement weren’t disclosed.

 

FEBRUARY

Central New York companies J.R. Clancy, Inc. of Van Buren, TDK Engineering Associates, P.C. of Camillus, and Blair Construction and Fabrication of Auburn worked to design and build a beacon for the last section of the spire topping One World Trade Center, the building formerly referred to as the Freedom Tower.

Oberdorfer Aluminum Foundry, LLC, a DeWitt–based aluminum-casting manufacturer, disclosed plans to close its plant at 6259 Thompson Road. Oberdorfer set its closing date for May 3, leaving 86 employees without jobs.

Strides of CNY, LLC, a strength and conditioning firm, moved into 4,800 square feet of space at 738 Spencer St. from its previous location at the CNY Family Sports Centre at 7201 Jones Road in Van Buren. With the move, it gained more space and a more central location, says owner Michael Derecola.

Holt Architects moved into 1,500 square feet of space at 132 E. Jefferson St. in downtown Syracuse, its first satellite office outside its 6,500-square-foot headquarters at 217 N. Aurora St. in Ithaca.

Rural/Metro Medical Services of Central New York departed its shared space provided by the Liverpool Fire Department at 1110 Oswego St., moving across the street into 5,000 square feet of space at 114 Salina St.

 

MARCH

The New York State Attorney General’s (AG) office on Feb. 26 announced an agreement with Price Chopper that will require the supermarket chain to change some advertising practices and pay a $100,000 penalty.

Dupli Envelope & Graphics acquired business-mailing supplier Lettergraphics, Inc. to create a new service division named Dupli Direct. Lettergraphics, located at 433 West Onondaga St. had been providing marketing mailing services in Syracuse since 1910.

Sarasota, Fla.–based Sand Oak Capital Partners committed to invest $250,000 in this year’s StartFast companies. The investment helps separate the local program from the pack, according to StartFast Managing Director Nasir Ali. He believes the StartFast Venture Accelerator will have to work hard to stand out in an increasingly crowded field of startup accelerators.

Avalon Document Services expanded its business in the Buffalo area thanks to a merger with a copy center there that got its start in 1945. Syracuse–based Avalon announced the merger with Delaware Copy and Repro Center in February.

A “severe” and “abrupt” downturn in Scotsman Media Group’s Pennysaver business prompted the company to stop publishing the weekly newspapers March 10 and cut about one-third of its workforce as a result. The downturn began last December and continued through February, Scotsman president William Veit said.

CenterState CEO announced plans to relocate to the Pike Block project in downtown Syracuse from its current location at the former Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce building at 572 S. Salina St.

First Niagara Financial Group (NASDAQ: FNFG) on March 19 announced that president and CEO John Koelmel had left the Buffalo–based banking company. A news release from First Niagara described Koelmel’s departure as “mutually agreed upon” and the bank’s representatives said no one would be available for immediate further comment on the move.

The Central New York Sales and Marketing Executives honored Peter Belyea, president of Salina–based CXtec and Teracai with its 2013 Crystal Ball Award, handed out annually to a local businessperson who has contributed to the sales and marketing profession and has worked in community development and support.

 

APRIL

A Buffalo–based nonprofit group aiming to aid entrepreneurs and young companies across upstate New York named an entrepreneur in residence for the Syracuse area. Paul Brooks, former vice president for entrepreneurship at the Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse, was tabbed for the role for Launch NY. The organization focuses on a 27-county region stretching from Buffalo to Syracuse and down to Binghamton.

Five Star Urgent Care, an upstate New York emergency medical-service provider, unveiled plans to expand in Cicero in May. It came just one month after the company added its third location in Ithaca on March 4. The agency also operates sites in Jamestown and Big Flats.

CenterState CEO on April 8 awarded the $200,000 top prize in its Startup Labs Syracuse business competition to Rosie Applications, Inc., an Ithaca–based maker of an online shopping application.

Mohawk Global Logistics acquired a Chicago competitor, OEC Freight Chicago, Inc. to expand its presence in the Midwest and boost its freight volume.

Syracuse University (SU) received $250,000 from the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council to fund the launch of the second round of the Connective Corridor Façade Improvement Program to spruce up downtown buildings.

CenterState CEO, National Grid, and New York State Assemblyman William Magnarelli (D–Syracuse) on April 19 awarded five Central New York companies grant funding to assist in commercializing clean-energy technologies. The awards were part of the Syracuse Center of Excellence’s (Syracuse CoE) Commercialization Assistance Program. The Syracuse CoE hosted the announcement of the grant awards that totaled $250,000.

 

MAY

The Bonadio Group acquired a Vermont accounting firm, called Independent Audit Associates, specializing in internal audits for banks. The move boosts growth at Bonadio’s Syracuse–based internal audit team, the firm said.

Galaxy Communications, IMG College, and the Syracuse University (SU) athletic department on April 30 finalized the renewal of a five-year contract for broadcast rights to Syracuse University football, basketball, and lacrosse.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on May 6 announced the selection of Louis J. DeMent, CEO of DeWitt–based Giovanni Food Company, Inc. as the New York winner of the 2013 Small Business Person of the Year award.

Pathfinder Bank (NASDAQ: PBHC), an Oswego–based community bank, unveiled plans to open a loan-production office in downtown Syracuse — its first-ever physical location in the city.

Gannon’s Isle, a local family-owned business that has specialized in making homemade ice cream since 1982, on May 13 opened a new location in the Dey’s Centennial Building, also known as Dey’s Plaza, at 401 S. Salina St., the company’s third store.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on May 22 unveiled Tax-Free NY, an initiative intended to transform university campuses statewide into tax-free zones that attract start-ups, venture capital, new business, and investments from around the world.

Tax-Free NY offers new businesses the chance to operate completely tax free, including no sales, property, or business taxes, while partnering with the higher-education institutions in SUNY.

Construction began at Le Moyne College to renovate the school’s Mitchell Hall to house the Madden School of Business. The first phase, which started May 20, includes the renovation of the building’s first floor and the transformation of the building’s exterior. Le Moyne named the school after Michael (Mike) Madden, managing partner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.–based BlackEagle Partners, LLC, who provided a $7 million donation in 2012.

 

JUNE

The Syracuse law firm Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Fetter & Burstein, P.C. and its health-care practice group separated, and each group of attorneys formed new law firms and intend to continue their respective practices in the same building at 507 Plum St. in Franklin Square. The Scolaro firm changed its name to Scolaro, Fetter, Grizanti, McGough & King, P.C. The former health-care practice group is now called Cohen Compagni Beckman Appler & Knoll, PLLC.

Area SUNY campuses will share in grant funding benefitting four projects in the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge grant program. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on June 3 awarded a total of $60 million in equal amounts to the projects that included the SUNY Institute of Environmental Health and Environmental Medicine, the SUNY Manufacturing Alliance for Research and Technology Transfer (SMART), and the New York State Bioenergy Learning Collaborative (NYSBLC).

CenterState CEO on May 31 announced the winners of the 10th round of its Grants for Growth program, a seed program that supports applied-research projects between universities and industry to improve business competitiveness and create jobs. CenterState CEO awarded six “emerging regional companies a total of more than $398,000.

Syracuse–based engineering firm O’Brien & Gere, Inc. opened an office in Utica to serve its clients in the Mohawk Valley. The Utica location, which is the firm’s eighth office in New York, is situated in a 2,000-square-foot space at 101 First St. in the Hurd building.

 

JULY

Visitor-travel spending grew 3.5 percent in Onondaga County during 2012 compared to the previous year, according to Economic Impact of Tourism in New York, a report analyzing the impact of tourism in the state. The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau released details about the report on June 21.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center agreed to join Livonia, Mich.–based Catholic Health East (CHE) Trinity Health, the second-biggest Catholic health-care system in the nation, in a move to boost its standing in the changing health-care market as the national health-reform law is implemented. The move will shift the sponsorship of St. Joseph’s Hospital from the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities to Catholic Health Ministries, the group that sponsors CHE Trinity Health.

BAE Systems Plc (OTC: BAESY) won a contract to provide the spoiler-control electronics for the new Boeing 737 MAX. The firm’s Endicott location will develop the plans and its facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. will handle manufacturing duties.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), a Hartford, Conn.–based insurance company that operates a field office in Syracuse, on July 23 announced plans to cut 450 positions nationwide, including about 180 in the Syracuse office. The layoffs will continue through late 2014, a Travelers spokesman said.

BlueRock Energy, Inc. of Syracuse on July 1 announced an agreement with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League to become the team’s “official” electricity provider.

 

AUGUST

VIP Development Associates, Inc. (VIPDA) agreed to purchase the 22,000-square-foot building that houses the headquarters of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CEO) at 572 S. Salina St. in downtown Syracuse.

Attorney Barry Shulman, the former president and CEO of Scolaro Shulman Cohen Fetter & Burstein, P.C. in Syracuse, discussed his new job at the Syracuse law firm of Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C. He had joined the firm June 18 following his departure from the Scolaro firm.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), parent of Berkshire Bank on July 24 announced it agreed to acquire 20 retail bank branches in upstate New York from Bank of America, including 11 offices in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

With several members of the business community involved, a new group calling itself Save81.org announced opposition to any plan that would divert Interstate 81 (I-81) away from downtown Syracuse, including a “boulevard” option that would re-route I-81 to the east of the downtown area. Save81.org described itself as an “advocacy group” of business owners, concerned citizens, elected officials, unions, and community groups.

The local unit of CNA (NYSE: CNA), a Chicago–based commercial-insurance broker, on Aug. 12 opened its new 26,000-square-foot office space in AXA Tower II at 120 Madison St. in downtown Syracuse. The move brought about 120 positions to downtown Syracuse, says Roy Orr, vice president of commercial clients for CNA.

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Community Plan announced it plans to hire more than 60 new employees to support its recent expansion in New York, including additional counties in Central New York.

Syracuse University (SU) announced the signing of an agreement with SRC, Inc. that transfers the assets and employees of its bioforensics group to the school.

New York state on Aug. 20 renamed its health-benefit exchange “NY State of Health,” executive director Donna Frescatore said during an online announcement.

Upstate Shredding, LLC and its sister business Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. on Aug. 14 announced the acquisition of Reamer Recycling of Ithaca, just five days after opening a $15 million export facility in Albany.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center on Aug. 26 announced the appointment of Meredith Price as CFO, effective Sept. 1. She most recently served as chief-administrative officer for Upstate University Hospital’s Community campus, according to St. Joseph’s

 

SEPTEMBER

Unshackle Upstate, a business-advocacy organization, released its new economic-revitalization agenda (ERA) for Upstate. The proposal includes five points designed to deliver “broad-based” tax relief and stimulate job growth across upstate New York, Unshackle said in a news release.

Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian steakhouse chain, on Sept. 3 opened a restaurant at Destiny USA. The new 8,000-square-foot eatery features a main dining area and an open-air patio in its location in the center of the mall. It can accommodate 225 customers, according to the restaurant.

BlueRock Energy, Inc. recently created the position of CFO to help spearhead its growth and expansion efforts. The firm announced Aug. 21 the appointment of Jason Klaben as vice president and CFO. He started with the firm Aug. 12. Klaben oversees BlueRock’s corporate finance and accounting functions and reports to Philip Van Horne, president and CEO.

Adirondack Barrel Cooperage was named the winner of the EDGEccelerator Business Competition put on by Mohawk Valley EDGE. The startup barrel-manufacturing company brings home $20,000 in cash and qualifies for a $50,000 loan to help it launch, according to a news release from Mohawk Valley EDGE.

The Central New York business community on Sept. 24 gathered for a half-day conference that focused on efforts to sell more products and services in overseas markets. The Sheraton Syracuse University (SU) Hotel & Conference Center on the SU campus hosted the event, “Growing Global Sales.”

Syracuse University (SU) on Sept. 12 introduced Kent Syverud as the school’s 12th chancellor during an event at Hendricks Chapel. He was selected to replace Nancy Cantor, following her departure to become chancellor of the Rutgers University-Newark campus.

POMCO Group, a third-party administrator of self-funded health-care and risk-management plans, announced it will be expanding its geographic reach in the West while also boosting hiring locally. The Syracuse–based firm announced Sept. 16 it will expand its service offerings into additional regions of the country, including Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California. It later announced on Sept. 20 plans to hire about 40 employees following the firm’s selection as an administrator for a health plan that’ll be available through NY State of Health, New York’s health-insurance marketplace.

The Bonadio Group, upstate New York’s largest independent CPA firm, agreed to merge with Gaines Kriner Elliott LLP (GKE), Buffalo’s 11th largest accounting firm. The combined business will now be Buffalo’s second-largest independent accounting firm, Thomas F. Bonadio, CEO and managing partner of the Bonadio Group, says. It’s the largest merger the Rochester–based Bonadio Group has ever done. The merger added 88 employees.

 

OCTOBER

EBS-RMSCO, Inc. and Support Services Alliance, Inc. (SSA), both subsidiaries of the Rochester–based Lifetime Healthcare Companies, Inc., on Sept. 30 announced they had merged into one company and would initially operate under the name EBS-RMSCO.

The Central New York Community Foundation (CNYCF) announced Oct. 8 that its board of directors voted to renew its $1 million commitment to the Syracuse chapter of Say Yes to Education, called Say Yes Syracuse.

Utica College of Oct. 3 formally opened a simulations laboratory and testing site for its Accelerated Second Degree Nursing (ASDN) program at the school’s site at the Thruway Office Building at 290 Elwood David Road in Salina.

Harden Furniture landed a $600,000 New York State Economic Development Council grant that will help the company launch a three-year, $6 million technology upgrade that expands upon technology innovations installed at the company’s McConnellsville furniture factory a year ago.

CenterState CEO on Oct. 10 kicked off the second round of Startup Labs Syracuse, which will award a total of $260,000 in cash and prizes to three teams. As “the region’s largest business competition,” Startup Labs seeks to support the region’s entrepreneurs and accelerate their ideas to the marketplace, the organization said.

Six global technology companies will invest $1.5 billion to create Nano Utica, the state’s second major hub of nanotechnology research and development, according to Gov. Cuomo who made the announcement Oct. 10 in Utica. The SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and the SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) are spearheading the partnership that is expected to create more than 1,000 new high-tech jobs on the campus of SUNYIT in Marcy.

SUNY Upstate Medical University on Oct. 21 formally opened its more than 158,000-square-foot Neuroscience Research Building (NRB), an expansion of Upstate’s Institute for Human Performance (IHP). The one-block long, five-story addition, which is adjacent to the IHP, cost $72 million, according to Upstate Medical University.

Syracuse University’s (SU) South Side Initiative Office and the Southside Community Coalition on Oct. 15 formally opened the Eat to Live Food Cooperative store at 2327 S. Salina St. in Syracuse.

Galaxy Communications, LLC, the Syracuse–based operator of 14 radio stations in the Syracuse and Utica markets, announced the creation of a sports-marketing division.

 

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

The local franchise of Fleet Feet Sports on Nov. 1 opened a second store located at 4136 Route 31 in Clay in the Market Fair North Plaza, across from the Great Northern Mall. Franchise co-owners Edward and Ellen Griffin opened the 5,000-square-foot store, citing business growth in the past three years at the store’s location in DeWitt.

The Central New York International Business Alliance (CNYIBA), an organization formed to enhance global sales of companies in the 12-county region, on Oct. 24 relaunched with the announcement of new programs and services to support growth through exporting.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Oct. 29 announced an award of $3 million for the Greater Syracuse Property Development Corp. as part of his Land Bank Community Revitalization Initiative. The Syracuse land bank is among six such organizations statewide awarded a total of $12.4 million in grant funding in the first round of competitive awards under the initiative.

SUNY on Nov. 5 announced that Dr. David Smith, president of Upstate Medical University, was placed on leave due to “an ongoing review of compensation issues” and “recent health issues.” SUNY appointed Dr. Gregory Eastwood, who previously served as school president, as officer-in-charge. Smith announced his resignation a few days later.

Anaren, Inc. will become a private company with its planned sale to Veritas Capital Fund IV, L.P., a New York City private-equity firm, and Anaren leaders say that will offer the technology firm some competitive advantage. Veritas is acquiring Anaren in a cash transaction worth about $381 million, or $28 a share. Anaren on Nov. 4 announced the signing of the merger agreement and expects the acquisition to close during the first quarter of 2014.

WCNY, Central New York’s public-broadcasting company, on Oct. 30 formally opened its new, 56,000-square-foot broadcast and education center at 415 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse. It previously operated at 506 Old Liverpool Rd. in Salina.

CenterState CEO and the Brookings Institution on Nov. 7 released a metropolitan business plan that identifies five “key” findings with “clear” implications for “redefining the region’s economic profile. That’s how the organizations described the report, titled “CenterState Agenda for Economic Opportunity,” which they released during an event at Syracuse Stage.

Le Moyne College recently announced a partnership with the New York Family Business Center (FBC) that will involve a number of ongoing activities and collaborative initiatives to benefit both organizations. The school made the announcement at the 4th annual Family Business Conference held Nov. 4 at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Inc. in LaFayette.

Time Warner Cable, Inc. (NYSE: TWC) plans to develop a $7.3 million business-services center in a 55,000-square-foot space in the former Hechinger shopping plaza at 3179 Erie Boulevard in DeWitt. The project will create 95 new jobs over the next four years and move 171 existing Time Warner Cable Business Class jobs into the new facility, which had long been vacant.

The board of directors at Loretto recently named Kimberly Townsend, who has served on the organization’s board for 10 years, president and CEO. Her new position is effective in January. Townsend assumes the CEO role from Bruce Buchanan, managing director of Philadelphia, Pa.–based Health Management Partners, which has worked with Loretto to help it streamline its operations and establish a “firm financial base,” according to Loretto.

The Bonadio Group has appointed Donald R. Taylor as managing partner in the firm’s Syracuse office. In that role, Taylor is responsible for overseeing office operations and partner and employee relations, fostering client services, and growing new business opportunities, the firm says.

 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com