Five Star Bank parent company to pay Q3 dividend in early October

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WARSAW, N.Y. — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), parent of Five Star Bank, recently announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 29 cents per common share outstanding. The banking company will pay the third-quarter dividend on Oct. 3, to shareholders of record on Sept. 16. It’s the same amount […]

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Lockheed Martin Owego wins nearly $504 million Navy order for helicopters for Australia

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

OWEGO, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Owego plant has been awarded a $503.7 million U.S. Navy firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement. This order provides for the production and delivery of 12 MH-60R helicopters for the Commonwealth of Australia, according to an Aug. 29 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

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Oneida County hotels see 3 percent dip in occupancy in July, first fall in almost 1 1/2 years

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Regional News, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County’s hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) fell 3 percent to 69.5 percent this July compared to the year-ago month, the first decline in this measure in 17 months. That’s according to a recent report from STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics company. Despite the

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McFarland-Johnson expands with new offices, employees

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Regional News, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — With just over three months before the year ends, McFarland-Johnson, Inc. has already logged record growth for 2022, increasing its staff by nearly a quarter and opening four new locations. “We’ve increased about 22 percent just since the beginning of the year,” company President Chad Nixon says of the Binghamton–based planning, engineering,

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“We’ve increased about 22 percent just since the beginning of the year,” company President Chad Nixon says of the Binghamton–based planning, engineering, consulting, environmental, and construction-services firm’s employee growth. McFarland-Johnson now employs just under 200 people across its 22 offices.

Four of those locations are new this year — Buffalo; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Tampa, Florida.

The new offices are primarily the result of an increasing amount of infrastructure projects taking place and the need for talent, Nixon says.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden last November, provides
$550 billion from 2022 through 2026 in federal financial investment in infrastructure including roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure, resilience, and broadband.

That funding is pushing new projects such as bridge replacements and airport improvements, Nixon says. The work is out there, he says, driving the need for employees at the company.

“We can win the work, but we need to make sure we have the people to do the work,” he says. The new Buffalo office brings the company further west in New York, while the other three offices continue the company’s push into the mid-Atlantic region and down the east coast. “That’s where the people are,” Nixon says.

The new offices will also help bring in new clients, he adds. For example, McFarland-Johnson hired Jason Shevrin to lead its new Philadelphia office. Shevrin is well known in that area and has done a lot of work in that region, Nixon notes. The hope is that will pay off with some clients following Shevrin to McFarland-Johnson.

Once those clients are with McFarland-Johnson, Nixon is confident they will stay. Why? The company’s current returning client rate is about 98 percent, he says.

“I think there are a few things that really make our company different,” Nixon says. First, the company is 100-percent employee owned.

“The people who are working on your project are company owners,” he says.

On top of that, McFarland-Johnson’s turnover rate is extremely low, Nixon notes. At less than 4 percent, it’s a fraction of the industry average, which trends around 13 percent.

“We have people that have been working for our company for 47 years,” he says. Clients know they can come back and work with engineers and others they have worked with on projects previously.

“We’re able to attract some talent because we have such interesting projects,” Nixon contends. Those interesting projects include a terminal expansion project at the Monroe County Key West International Airport in Florida, the Marmen/Welcon offshore wind tower manufacturing plant at the Port of Albany, and even modeling over 21,000 miles of roads for the state of Vermont to identify amphibian-crossing areas.

“Being a smallish company allows us to be much more nimble than our competitors,” Nixon adds. “We’ve come a long way, but our best years are still ahead of us.”

McFarland-Johnson has served clients for 76 years. It’s newest offering is its InfraSolutions by McFarland-Johnson division, which offers technology-based infrastructure management solutions.

Oswego mayor to join Oswego Health senior leadership team

Health Care, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO — The senior leadership team at Oswego Health will soon include Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow, Jr. He is set to begin work as the organization’s VP of public affairs & system development on Monday, Sept. 19. Barlow is part of the group assembled by Michael Backus, Oswego Health COO who will become president and

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OSWEGO — The senior leadership team at Oswego Health will soon include Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow, Jr.

He is set to begin work as the organization’s VP of public affairs & system development on Monday, Sept. 19.

Barlow is part of the group assembled by Michael Backus, Oswego Health COO who will become president and CEO of Oswego Health in 2023. Backus identified those within the health system that he feels will “take the organization to the next level,” according to an Oswego Health news release.

Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Backus has promoted both Eric Campbell and Dr. Duane Tull to roles as executive VP. Tull will serve as EVP of medicine and chief medical officer, while Campbell will be EVP of finance & CFO.

Backus has also promoted Kathryn Pagliaroli, a registered nurse (RN), and Jamie Leszczynski to senior VP roles. In addition, Barry Ryle, Kim Dec, Theresa Fitzgibbons, RN, and David Ruel will become VPs of Oswego Health. Marq Brown, the current VP of human resources will add the role of chief people officer to his title. The group also includes Valerie Favata, RN, who will become VP & administrator of Oswego Health Home Care.

“To me, a strong leadership team needs to be representative not only of the patients we see but the community we serve,” Backus said. “I believe wholeheartedly that this team will be the strongest the organization has ever had and I look forward to continued growth and improved access to local high-quality health care.”

Backus will replace current president and CEO Michael Harlovic, who is retiring at the end of the year.

About Barlow

Barlow’s term as mayor of Oswego, a position he holds part-time, will conclude in December 2023.

Oswego Health believes the experience Barlow brings in public service to the newly created position of VP of public affairs & system development will be “advantageous” from a legislative-advocacy standpoint for the nonprofit health-care system.

Additionally, Barlow will play a “vital role” in the health system’s progression and will provide oversight with strategic planning. He’ll also have input on matters pertaining to construction and facilities management, renovations, and “expansion of opportunities and services.”

In his spare time, Barlow co-owns and operates Barlow’s Concessions, a family-run, food-concession business open at fairs, festivals, and sporting events throughout New York and Arizona.

He graduated from Oswego High School in 2008 and attended college at Arizona State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in environmental-technology management in 2012.

State Fairgrounds’ ag facilities to get $35M in upgrades

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

GEDDES, N.Y. — A $34.7 million project representing the fourth phase of improvements at the New York State Fairgrounds is underway in Geddes. The effort targets improvements to the agricultural facilities, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Aug. 24 on opening day at the Fairgrounds. Hochul cut the ribbon at a ceremony celebrating the opening and full

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GEDDES, N.Y. — A $34.7 million project representing the fourth phase of improvements at the New York State Fairgrounds is underway in Geddes.

The effort targets improvements to the agricultural facilities, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Aug. 24 on opening day at the Fairgrounds.

Hochul cut the ribbon at a ceremony celebrating the opening and full return of the 2022 New York State Fair, which concluded on Labor Day.

The project, already underway and to be completed in 2025, is “highlighted” by a 1.5-acre greenhouse, which will be located near the Exposition Center, Hochul’s office said. It also includes a new show space for goats, a new sheep barn and wool center, a new horse barn, a new concession stand, streetscape improvements to Restaurant Row, the Fair’s street of permanent concession buildings, and various infrastructure improvements.

These improvements build on more than $125 million in renovations and new construction since 2015, which marked the first significant investment in the 132-year-old fairgrounds in more than 80 years, Hochul’s office said.

“I couldn’t be happier to be celebrating the full return of our New York State Fair this year, and today, I am excited to begin nearly $35 million in improvements that will help make the Great New York State Fair even greater,” Hochul said. “The upgrades we are making today will showcase and promote New York’s one-of-a-kind agricultural industry, as we continue to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the country to the Fair each year.”

Hochul’s remarks came during Governor’s Day, the traditional opening day of the Fair. She was also awarded the 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion, an honor given to an “accomplished alumnus who embodies the life-changing impact of 4-H,” her office said.

Hochul, who participated in Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program throughout her childhood, is the first sitting governor to receive this award, it added.

Project descriptions

The $34.7 million project to improve agricultural facilities at the New York State Fair Grounds includes:

Greenhouse and Horticultural Education Center

When complete, the one-and-a-half to two-acre greenhouse will be a “state-of-the-art,” glass-structure facility, powered by solar panels and including a rainwater-collection filtration system.

It will allow for the on-site growing of local New York products and provide food and flowers for use during the Fair, Hochul’s office said. The greenhouse will double as an educational center, with a classroom area for students and opportunities for young people to participate in agricultural demonstrations.

Sheep barn and wool center

The 15,000-square-foot sheep barn replaces an “old and damaged” structure that has since been torn down, Hochul’s office said.

Sheep have been displayed in a tent in the last two years. The wool center is staffed by volunteers who educate the public about wool products and their uses.

A new center will be located inside the sheep barn, bringing the two elements under one roof “for the first time.” This new building is scheduled to open in time for the 2024 Fair.

Horse stables and goat pavilion

Crews will build three 9,000-square-foot stables to supplement the Fair’s existing, older stables. The Fairgrounds hosts horse shows almost weekly in the spring, summer and fall, with its stables in “nearly constant use.” They are expected to open for the 2024 Fair.

The 2,500-square-foot goat pavilion will now be solar powered and serve as an open-air space for goat shows, replacing temporary facilities. It is scheduled to open in 2023.

Concessions building, Restaurant Row improvements

Crews will also build a 1,600-square-foot concession stand along Cayuga Avenue on the Fairgrounds, “the first new such stand built in decades,” Hochul’s office said.

It will be the home of Tully’s Good Times, a regional restaurant and “popular longtime Fair vendor.”

Improvements are also slated for the area of the Fair’s other permanent stands, called Restaurant Row. The work will target new lighting and landscaping, as well as improvements to select vendor spaces.

Vendor proposals sought for Syracuse broadband program

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Interested vendors have until Oct. 11 to submit proposals for a pilot program for the design, implementation, and maintenance of a municipally shared telecommunications network for the City of Syracuse. The program will serve households that don’t have access to high-speed internet and establish an “enhanced” municipal network for the city’s digital

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The program will serve households that don’t have access to high-speed internet and establish an “enhanced” municipal network for the city’s digital services and data-driven applications, the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced Aug. 30.

Walsh’s office cited data from the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) that it believes indicates a “digital divide” in Syracuse.

More than 25 percent of Syracuse households lack any internet access and nearly 45 percent don’t have access to the broadband-level speeds needed to support multiple users.

The pilot program is intended to target households in census tracts with the lowest rates of internet and broadband access.

“In the digital age, access to affordable and reliable internet service is essential to our daily lives,” Walsh said. “The challenges families without adequate internet access face have been exacerbated by COVID-19, from adjustments to working from home and applying for jobs, to ensuring children have access to learning platforms, to maintaining our social connections, the need for dependable internet is more prevalent than ever. I am pleased that we are moving towards a more connected Syracuse community with this request for proposals.”

The city’s purchase division will provide more information about the community broadband pilot program and scope of work “upon request.” Interested vendors should contact Stacy Jennis at sjennis@syrgov.net to receive a copy of the request for proposals.

City’s digital efforts

“Bridging the digital divide is a critical component” of the Syracuse Surge, the city’s strategy for “inclusive growth in the New Economy.” Syracuse says it has made key investments in digital infrastructure, smart devices that capture and analyze data, data-driven applications, and “more inclusive” access to the internet and digital literacy for residents, per Walsh’s office.

In its effort to provide sources of internet to residents, Syracuse says it has established free Wi-Fi service at public buildings such as City Hall and City Hall Commons. It also expanded free public Wi-Fi access at five neighborhood-based, community-center locations.

In addition to those investments in broadband, Syracuse Common Council recently authorized $430,835 in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds to support the “digital-empowerment program.”

The program will improve digital literacy and provide support in accessing affordable high-speed internet services and devices to City residents, Walsh’s office contends. Administered by the Syracuse Neighborhood Community Center Collaborative, the funds will help pay to hire a digital-empowerment program manager and four “digital navigators.”

Those positions will work directly with residents to better access digital and online services like applying for jobs and public benefits, accessing social services, and staying connected to their family and friends.

VIEWPOINT: 3 Ways Business Executives Can Fight Inflation

Business Mentors, Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

The dollar had an average inflation rate of nearly 9 percent in the last year. As a result, the real value of a dollar has been decreasing recently. The increasing inflation rate has dramatically impacted business and the economy. Many business executives seek practical strategies to fight inflation. 3 most important inflation impacts on businesses #1 Cash

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3 most important inflation impacts on businesses

#1 Cash loses value

Holding much cash in an inflationary environment can be a disadvantage. So it is better to deploy cash before inflation rates go higher and the value of the money goes down.

#2 Increasing cost of goods sold

Example: Assume a construction company contracts to build a $1 million building with an initial cost of materials of $350,000. When the company purchases those materials, the price of two-by-fours may have doubled, driving the cost of goods up and margins down.

Business executives find it challenging to pass those increased costs onto the consumer. In addition, they will likely also spend more money acquiring and retaining sub-contractors and employees, further negatively impacting the bottom line.

#3 Overall profits squeezed

Access to capital becomes limited as profits diminish for some because their credit facilities’ covenants require certain levels of profitability. In the construction company example above, an anticipated $250,000 profit may fall to $200,000 because the cost of goods increased, requiring more investment for the same materials. So, what can businesses do now?

3 strategies to fight inflation

#1 Carefully raise prices

Business leaders must evaluate their current pricing structure and look to incorporate price adjustments into contracts. Logistics and trucking firms, for example, institute a fuel surcharge when diesel fuel rises above a certain amount.

With the current situation, most businesses expect price increases. So, moving swiftly to adjust pricing and hedge for the future makes the difference in a successful pricing strategy. Consider adding value to support price increases. For example, a software business could bundle additional services at low prices.

#2 Stock up on supplies and raw materials

With high cash levels, consider front-loading or buying raw materials in bulk (instead of buying six months from now) to save money and obtain a bulk discount. If strapped for cash, consider borrowing to stock up.

#3 Reevaluate cash and credit facilities

If doing well, consider going to the company’s credit facilities to secure a loan because the business will pay the loan back with less valuable dollars. For example, what $100 will purchase today differs from six months ago.

Also, consider making those technology, personnel, and other investment moves essential to driving growth and efficiencies, providing long-term benefits. For example, investments in buildings, machinery, and even an acquisition are viable options.

Regardless of the chosen strategy, evaluate how competitors react to the situation. Furthermore, monitor the health and performance quality of suppliers.

There is an opportunity to win

All business cycles produce winners and losers. However, opportunities abound depending on the current state of the business and the speed of decision-making.

Deborah Fell is a partner and chief marketing officer (CMO) with Chief Outsiders, a company offering fractional CMO services with Fortune 500 experience. Kevin Scott is a partner & certified business transition expert with B2B CFO, providing management advisory services to privately held companies, with a focus on increasing cash and company value.

Hundreds gather for speakers, gala, & networking at My Dream Summit

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Hundreds of minority business owners and professionals from across New York state attended the first full My Dream Summit held Aug. 27-28 in Syracuse and DeWitt. Its website describes it as an event that “celebrates and elevates businesses and visionaries of color.” The agenda included a conference and gala on Aug. 27

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Hundreds of minority business owners and professionals from across New York state attended the first full My Dream Summit held Aug. 27-28 in Syracuse and DeWitt.

Its website describes it as an event that “celebrates and elevates businesses and visionaries of color.”

The agenda included a conference and gala on Aug. 27 at the Oncenter and a brunch and networking session the following day at Drumlins Country Club in DeWitt.

“As the largest black-owned construction company in upstate New York, my work isn’t done until I can do my part in helping the people in this community,” Eli Smith, founder of the My Dream Summit, said. “This is about providing hope and resources back to our communities and we do that through increased entrepreneurship.”

Smith is the owner of E. Smith Contractors, LLC at 731 James St. in Syracuse.

Speakers at the event included retired NFL running back Dorsey Levens, a Syracuse native who played for the Green Bay Packers when they defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.

The conference gathering also heard from Kelly Copes-Anderson — an executive at Indianapolis, Indiana–based Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) — who shared personal stories of how pivoting in her professional life to nurture family first helped her to “soar later in her career.”

“Be able to know when to make a change,” Copes-Anderson said. “Don’t continue to do the same thing over and over again if it’s not going to get you to your goal.”

The summit concluded with remarks from Soledad O’Brien, known for her work with NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and other media outlets. In addition to her broadcast journalism work, O’Brien is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist, per the event’s news release.

She encouraged attendees to hold people accountable. Her inspiring words also posed the following questions “How do we make sure that our dreams just aren’t about us, [but also] are about helping others in our community as well and how do we advocate for diversity and talk bluntly and honestly and productively about the change that we need to see?”

The conference also included breakout sessions that focused on a wide range of topics related to the health, wealth, and development of the Black community including “Buying Back the Block,” “Cultivating a Space in Tech,” and an educational session on navigating the landscape as a minority-owned business in the “MWBE Panel.”

TSA recruiting officers for work at the Syracuse airport

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is recruiting to hire additional officers to work at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. TSA officers screen thousands of airline travelers daily. TSA has screened a “greater volume of travelers regularly this summer” and needs additional officers to support its security mission headed into the fall, per its Aug. 23 announcement.

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is recruiting to hire additional officers to work at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

TSA officers screen thousands of airline travelers daily. TSA has screened a “greater volume of travelers regularly this summer” and needs additional officers to support its security mission headed into the fall, per its Aug. 23 announcement.

The TSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, says it currently has openings for both full-time and part-time positions at the Syracuse airport with a starting wage of $18.59 per hour, to include a current 10 percent retention incentive.

The agency offers new employees opportunities for pay increases after six months and is currently offering a $2,000 hiring bonus to individuals who become TSA officers at the Syracuse airport by the end of September. New hires will also receive $1,000 upon starting and another $1,000 at their one-year anniversary, per TSA’s Aug. 23 announcement.

The TSA will be participating in a job fair at the Syracuse airport on Sept. 20 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. — on the airline check-in level to the left of the escalators.

“The TSA was created after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and by joining the TSA, individuals will be on the front line of protecting the travelling public and will also be part of our national security enterprise,” Bart Johnson, TSA’s federal security director for the airports in upstate New York, said in a statement. “This is a career that is very rewarding. Opportunities for professional growth are endless, and you will be performing a vital role in the protection of our country.”

Applicants don’t need previous experience working in security or law-enforcement fields, the TSA said. New hires will undergo extensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and they are paid while training.

Stopping by one of the recruitment booths or attending the virtual job fair will offer individuals an opportunity to accelerate the hiring process, the TSA said.

Benefits of working at TSA for both part- and full-time employees include paid training, annual and sick leave, and “strong” health-care plans.

To view open positions for TSA officers around the country, those interested can visit: https://jobs.tsa.gov/transport-security-officer.

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