TACNY announces board members, officers

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SYRACUSE — The Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology — recently announced its roster of board members and officers. Newly elected to the TACNY board for three-year terms are: • Mike Cimino (Fayetteville Free Library) • James VanDusen (CXtec) Reelected […]

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Lockheed Martin’s net sales rise 8 percent in latest quarter

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Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) recently reported that its net sales increased more than 8 percent to $16.7 billion in the second quarter, from $15.4 billion in the same period in 2022. The defense contractor generated net earnings in the second quarter of $1.7 billion, or $6.63 per share, versus $309 million, or $1.16 a

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Broadway Theater League of Utica names two new board members

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UTICA, N.Y. — The Broadway Theater League of Utica recently announced the appointment of two new board members. Matthew Romanow is an administrator at New Hartford Senior High School and previously taught high-school math for 10 years and advised the drama club. Colleen Noga, a longtime subscriber of Broadway Theater League, has a professional background

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Binghamton University SBDC honors two firms in green space

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Binghamton University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) honored a pair of businesses working in the environmental space — iM3NY and KLAW Industries — at its annual business awards luncheon, held Aug. 29 at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator at 120 Hawley St. Located on the former IBM campus in Endicott, iM3NY

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SUNY Oswego professor gets more funding for battery research

Health Care, Subscriber Only, Technology

OSWEGO — A SUNY Oswego physics professor will continue his research on lithium-ion batteries with grant funding of $15,000. The Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) in Environmental Energy Systems awarded the funding for Mohammad Islam’s work. The effort seeks to improve the range of lithium-ion batteries, so electric cars can “better compete with gas-powered vehicles,”

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OSWEGO — A SUNY Oswego physics professor will continue his research on lithium-ion batteries with grant funding of $15,000.

The Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) in Environmental Energy Systems awarded the funding for Mohammad Islam’s work. The effort seeks to improve the range of lithium-ion batteries, so electric cars can “better compete with gas-powered vehicles,” SUNY Oswego said in its news release.

SyracuseCoE, located at 727 E. Washington St. in Syracuse, focuses on research pertaining to water, environment, and energy.

SyracuseCoE also awarded Islam a grant in 2020 to develop new batteries for electric vehicles that ran on sodium, or salt, which can be extracted from the ocean. In the U.S., the material is more accessible than lithium, SUNY Oswego said. However, Islam has now shifted his focus to improving the existing lithium-ion technology.

“The previous 2021-2022 research on sodium-ion batteries was a new technology, and hopefully that can develop further later on into a market technology, but this year’s 2023 Syracuse CoE grant that I received is basically falling back onto lithium-ion batteries because of the urgency,” Islam said in the release.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in many everyday products, such as electric cars, cell phones, and laptops. However, their battery life makes long-term use, like on a road trip, challenging, the school said.

“If you’ve ever driven an electric car, they have a short range,” Islam said. “Most electric cars are hybrid cars, so they run on gas and electric, and the car decides when to go from electric to gas. The ranges are somewhere between 200 to 250 miles with a fully charged battery. That’s less than from [Oswego] to New York City.”

Islam worked with one SUNY Oswego physics student, Joel Turallo, on this research project throughout the summer, and that will continue through the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters.

“I do feel good about research, and research is something you do because you enjoy it, but at the same time I feel a responsibility to our students, especially physics students,” Islam said.

Research developments

Since receiving his initial Syracuse CoE grant in 2020, Islam and his research team have had “groundbreaking discoveries that could change the way the world gets its power,” SUNY Oswego said.

One of the major developments in his latest research into lithium-ion batteries is replacing the positive terminal, or anode, of the battery with a more sustainable material.

“We are replacing the graphite anode with silicon anode,” Islam explained. “Silicon is a material that is found everywhere. The sand in sea beaches is basically silicon that can be purified. It’s a material that has been used everywhere… We’ve known a lot about silicon for the past forty years because that’s how computer chips were developed.”

Not only is silicon a more readily available material, but Islam also believes it will “significantly outperform” traditional graphite anodes.

“The good thing about a silicon anode is that, theoretically, its capacity is ten times that of a graphite anode,” Islam noted.

Impacts of the research

When asked about why the public should care about his research, Islam says electric cars are “here to stay, whether people want them or not,” per the SUNY Oswego release. He went on to say this new technology will “not only help the environment but people’s bank accounts as well.”

“Even if you don’t care about the environment, the amount of gas available under the earth is shrinking,” Islam said. “The less amount of gas available under the earth, the harder it gets to extract it, which means the price is going to be transferred onto you and me as consumers. The only way to mitigate this imminent threat to both our pocketbook and our environment is to move on to renewable energy technology.”

OCC graduates can transfer into select SU programs in new pact

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SYRACUSE — A new direct-transfer admission agreement allows eligible graduates of Onondaga Community College (OCC) to pursue degrees in certain programs at Syracuse University (SU). The agreement guarantees eligible OCC graduates with admission to academic programs in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Information Studies, and College

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SYRACUSE — A new direct-transfer admission agreement allows eligible graduates of Onondaga Community College (OCC) to pursue degrees in certain programs at Syracuse University (SU).

The agreement guarantees eligible OCC graduates with admission to academic programs in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Information Studies, and College of Professional Studies, where they can complete a bachelor’s degree in four semesters, per SU’s Aug. 21 announcement.

To be eligible for the program, OCC graduates must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0. Those with GPAs of 3.25 or higher will be awarded a merit-based scholarship of at least $10,000.

“Syracuse University is proud to partner with Onondaga Community College to offer a new pathway to prepare students for emerging careers,” Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a statement. “To fully take advantage of the economic opportunities developing in the region, we need a workforce with the training and knowledge to meet the needs of emerging industries. This new agreement makes it easier for learners from OCC to benefit from the outstanding educational opportunities available at Syracuse University while building a ready workforce for the region’s employers.”

Both OCC and SU will establish advising guidelines and course-transfer recommendations to support students in the program and “ensure their ability to complete their degrees in a timely manner.” The institutions will also work together to recruit students to the program from the Syracuse City School District and other regional schools.

“We’re honored to partner with Syracuse University on this Direct Transfer Admission Program,” OCC President Warren Hilton said. “As the community’s college, we are committed to giving students access to higher education pathways, and ultimately the opportunity to enjoy rewarding careers at places like Micron’s new chip fabrication facility right here in Onondaga County. This agreement gives our students a clearly defined pathway to one of the top institutions in the country, and we are proud to collaborate with Syracuse University for the betterment of our students and the Central New York region.”

Participants in the program may study a range of disciplines, but an “emphasis on pathways to STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors will serve to prepare students” for careers at high-tech companies, including Micron Technology. The Boise, Idaho–based firm plans to build a $100 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in the town of Clay.

In this way, the program “dovetails” with OCC’s new associate degree in electromechanical technology and related electromechanical-technology certificate program, as well as existing degrees in engineering science and liberal arts: mathematics and science, SU said.

Lewis named project manager of SouthWorks development

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ITHACA, N.Y. — Robert Lewis has joined the SouthWorks team in Ithaca as a development project manager for SHIFT Capital. The SouthWorks site is a 95-acre property at 620 South Aurora St./810 Danby Road, that formerly housed Emerson Power Transmission. The site is in both the city and town of Ithaca and has been vacant

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ITHACA, N.Y. — Robert Lewis has joined the SouthWorks team in Ithaca as a development project manager for SHIFT Capital.

The SouthWorks site is a 95-acre property at 620 South Aurora St./810 Danby Road, that formerly housed Emerson Power Transmission. The site is in both the city and town of Ithaca and has been vacant since 2012. SouthWorks will be developed over the next seven to 10 years as a new mixed-use neighborhood to include the adaptive reuse of more than 800,000 square feet of former industrial buildings, as well as about 1 million square feet of new construction, according to a news release from SHIFT Capital.

Lewis, who lives in Ithaca, most recently served as finance director for GreenStar Cooperative and has been chair and member of the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board for more than eight years. Before that, he worked for a variety of startup companies and in multi-family real estate, the release stated. Lewis studied urban and regional economics at Cornell University and completed his undergraduate work at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in economics and real estate. Lewis joins Vicki Taylor Brous, SouthWorks’ project coordinator for the development. She is also an Ithaca resident.

SHIFT Capital says it is a Philadelphia–based, neighborhood investment group that executes real-estate projects and financing strategies to “create equitable communities for the long-term.” SHIFT is partnering with L Enterprises, US Ceiling Corp, and Xylem Projects on the development after purchasing the Ithaca site in December 2022. The SouthWorks ownership group brings together extensive experience in development, construction, and placemaking, along with proven track records in delivering equitable community-serving projects.

“I’ve been excited about this project since it came to the planning board years ago. It’s rare to see this scale of opportunity for real mixed-use development so close to a working downtown,” Lewis said in the release. “SouthWorks has the opportunity to meet some of Ithaca’s most important needs: for housing, for affordability, for innovation space, for industrial space, and more.”

“For neighborhood investments like SouthWorks, we believe in building a team who brings both a diverse set of experience and local intimate knowledge of the community and neighborhoods we are serving,” Brian Murray, partner and CEO of SHIFT Capital, added. “Rob brings extensive experience with local municipalities, finance, and a dedication to seeing this project meet and exceed the community’s expectations.”

The new SouthWorks mixed-use neighborhood is undergoing a design and development phase in 2023, with an anticipated groundbreaking in 2024, according to SHIFT Capital. The site has a completed generic environmental impact statement, a planned unit development (PUD – City of Ithaca) and a planned development zone (PDZ – Town of Ithaca). The site also has an approved site-management plan issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, after undergoing environmental remediation. Several buildings on the site have site plan approval from the City of Ithaca. The project has received grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission for infrastructure planning, Restore NY funds for abatement and demolition, and NYSERDA funding for energy upgrades to the site. More information on the development is available at southworksithaca.com.

VIEWPOINT: Demystifying Market Research: Data-Driven Insights for Mid-Market Firms

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Leading a mid-market company has never been more challenging than it is today. Barely having had the time to adjust to a post-pandemic market — with its massive impact on buyer needs and the customer journey — companies are now confronted with a looming recession and record inflation. So what can CEOs do? Only data-driven

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To get data, you need market research. Sadly enough, mid-market companies’ market-research initiatives are much too often without directional assurance, which causes the data output of their research to be of subpar quality. Six very persistent market-research myths will often lead mid-market market research initiatives astray — in what follows, we will examine and dispel these myths.

Myth 1: We Won’t Learn Anything New

This misperception is one of the biggest reasons people choose not to conduct research. Unfortunately, making decisions based on internal opinion versus getting an objective, outside view from relevant prospects and customers has led more than one business to throw good money after bad on product development and marketing.

Myth 2: Research Takes Too Long

With the right learning plan and research design, market research doesn’t have to take months or weeks to complete. Some research, for example, getting an audience’s opinion on a new logo, can take as little as a single day.

Myth 3: It is Too Expensive

The cost of market research depends on several factors. The first is scale. How many people do you need to reach? How narrow is the target? Do you need to buy access to a panel, or will you be conducting research among your customers? Another factor is the learning objectives. Not all research requires a large number of respondents or complex surveys. Access to professional online-survey panels to garner enough responses to have statistically significant crosstabs is available at about $5,000.

Myth 4: We Can Do It Ourselves on SurveyMonkey

This myth is the most widely held and the most dangerous to believe. Failing to understand the scientific aspects of market research can lead to inaccurate findings, resulting in lost time and money. Effective market research requires objectivity, professional questionnaire design, strong interviewing capabilities, expertise in survey platform coding, analytics, and reporting, and the ability to perform advanced statistical analysis. Furthermore, the surveyors must recognize patterns to glean actionable insights. Therefore, it is better to leave the market research and analysis to the professionals.

Myth 5: We Can’t Get the Right or Enough Respondents

In today’s digital world, numerous ways exist to reach the right targets. However, they vary in quality, size, geographic, demographic, and firmographic reach as well as cost. Therefore, understanding the right qualifying questions to ask a provider is essential. In addition, businesses must include practical screening questions to ensure that results reflect the intended audience (i.e., customer profile). A quality provider will help balance the respondent total across your desired segments and help ensure statistical validity.

Myth 6: Participants Don’t Tell the Truth

Participants don’t tell the truth. Knowing the most objective way to set up questions can help avoid this problem. In addition, research participants often respond differently depending on the medium used. Interestingly, people tend to be more honest online than on the phone for quantitative surveys using a scripted questionnaire. This phenomenon is known as the “mode effect,” meaning that for very sensitive topics, online surveys yield more accurate feedback than phone interviews.

One might argue that these myths hold some validity and that market research is not always a reliable or cost-effective strategy. However, we must understand that when market research is conducted correctly and managed by experienced professionals, it yields valuable insights and data to inform marketing decisions. Moreover, the perceived drawbacks of market research can be addressed and mitigated through careful planning, informed provider selection, and thoughtful survey design. In summary, the benefits of market research far outweigh the potential limitations, making it a vital tool for mid-market businesses seeking to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

In conclusion, our exploration of the six common market-research myths sheds light on the importance of data-driven decision-making for mid-market companies striving to stay competitive in today’s challenging business environment. By dispelling these misconceptions, we have demonstrated that market research is feasible and essential for businesses to make well-informed decisions, allowing them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Furthermore, businesses will be better equipped to invest in and direct their market research as they recognize and address these myths.

Beth VanStory and Beth Somplatsky-Martori are chief marketing officers (CMOs) with Chief Outsiders, a fractional CMO firm.

Hamilton’s Sept. 5 Common Ground event discussed U.S. ag policy

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CLINTON, N.Y. — A conversation between U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Congressman G.T. Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, moderated by journalist Edvige Jean-François, kicked off this year’s Common Ground series at Hamilton College. This event — which was held Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. in Wellin Hall (Schambach Center) —

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This event — which was held Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. in Wellin Hall (Schambach Center) — offered a discussion on bipartisanship and the speakers’ respective careers in agriculture, and the current state of agricultural policy in the U.S.

Vilsack, a 1972 graduate of Hamilton College, was confirmed as the U.S. secretary of agriculture in February. 2021, a return to the position after serving as secretary from 2009-2017 under the Obama administration. Prior to returning to USDA, he served as president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Vilsack is spearheading a transformation of the food system to ensure that future markets are more resilient and Americans have access to affordable, nutritious food grown closer to home,” the release stated. He received his law degree from Albany Law School.

Thompson (R) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 and represents Pennsylvania’s 15th District. He is the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, which he has been a member of for more than a decade. He’s also served as chairman of the Subcommittees on Conservation and Forestry and Nutrition, and ranking member of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

Common Ground Moderator Jean-François is a global journalist and 1990 graduate of Hamilton College. During her more than 20 years as a journalist and television producer, she held positions at ABC News in New York City, Associated Press Television News in Washington, D.C., and CNN International in Atlanta. Last year, Jean-François began a career in academia when she was appointed the inaugural executive director of the Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora (CSAD) at Georgia State University’s College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta. In June 2023, Jean-François was elected to Hamilton College’s board of trustees.

Common Ground is Hamilton’s multi-format program designed to explore cross-boundary political thought and complex social issues. Topics intertwined with the college’s curriculum are chosen to foster critical thinking and holistic examination of difficult and often contentious national and global policy issues. The primary theme Common Ground will explore this academic year is climate change, with some events spotlighting other hot topics, the college said.

Work starts on sanitary-sewer project in the town of Oswego

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, New York News, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Construction work is underway on a $4.8 million sanitary-sewer project in the town of Oswego.. The effort is part of the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Aug. 30. Once complete, the project will establish a municipal sewer-collection system for the

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Construction work is underway on a $4.8 million sanitary-sewer project in the town of Oswego..

The effort is part of the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Aug. 30.

Once complete, the project will establish a municipal sewer-collection system for the residents and businesses situated along portions of County Route 89, State Route 104, and Fred Haynes Boulevard — adjacent to Lake Ontario and SUNY Oswego.

The new system will serve about 176 users, including an estimated 140 homes, and seven businesses with sewers along Fred Haynes Boulevard for future commercial development.

“This is the largest infrastructure project the town has undertaken, and the benefits of the project are far reaching for future commercial development along the Fred Haynes Corridor and for town residents,” Oswego Town Supervisor Daniel Gurney said in a New York State news release. “This process has been an excellent example of the feats we can accomplish when state and local government work together.”

The project’s resiliency measures will include about 33,000 linear feet of mainline pipe and lateral connections to establishments, as well as the installation of two primary pumping stations to transmit wastewater to the City of Oswego.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation is administering the $4.8 million grant for the project.

High lake levels and inadequate subsurface conditions have significantly affected onsite private treatment systems, especially for many local businesses. Affected business owners have had to install holding tanks and/or complex onsite treatment systems “thus hindering sustainability and future development,” Hochul’s office said.

“This transformative sewer-collection system project will benefit hundreds of users including homes and businesses in the Lake Ontario shoreline community,” Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay (R–Pulaski) said in the release. “I am thrilled to share my support for this infrastructure initiative, which will contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment and cultivate future economic development opportunities for the region. The REDI fund remains a welcome investment in our community as these projects provide significant upgrades and improvements to the coastline area.”

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