AIS wins nearly $9 million Air Force contract for software

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ROME, N.Y. — Assured Information Security Inc. (AIS) of Rome has been awarded a nearly $9 million from the U.S. Air Force for Lotus software. The cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract involves AIS performing research and development for the evaluation, integration, and demonstration of secure processors, in addition to completing research and development for the hardware and […]

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Bassett’s school-based health program brings care to pediatric patients

Health Care, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network started offering telehealth services years before anyone had ever heard of COVID-19, but when the pandemic started, telehealth became a valuable and necessary service that continues to expand today. Telehealth services at Bassett’s school-based health program were particularly important throughout the pandemic and will now benefit from a $5,000

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Telehealth services at Bassett’s school-based health program were particularly important throughout the pandemic and will now benefit from a $5,000 Community Health Award from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

According to Practice Manager Jane Hamilton, RN, Bassett’s school-based health clinics completed 2,596 telehealth visits during 2021 and 1,221 during the 2021-2022 school year.

“It’s really just part of the toolbox now,” Hamilton says of telehealth. “It’s an important piece for improving access to care.”

Bassett will use the grant funding for the ongoing development of its telehealth services within the school-based health system. That includes buying tablets to replace the computers in exam rooms, allowing practitioners to move around easier and be more efficient, Hamilton says.

The Community Health Awards are a competitive funding process, and winners must use the funds to launch, expand, and sustain programs and services that promote health and advance health equity.

Bassett’s school-based health program’s telehealth services provide access for students to a variety of pediatric specialties, Hamilton says. Visits could range from a tele-psychiatry visit with a psychiatrist, a medication follow-up for ADHD or depression treatment, or ongoing management of a chronic illness like asthma.

Instead of parents having to bring their child to one of Bassett’s locations for an in-person visit with a doctor, their child instead goes to school as normal and simply reports to the school-based clinic at their appointment time.

From there, staff at the clinic connect with the doctor and tools such as electronic stethoscopes and otoscopes enable the doctor to remotely listen to the patient’s heart and lungs, check their ears, and so on, Hamilton explains.

“It really eliminates the barrier of access for that care,” she adds. Along with removing barriers on the patient’s end such as lack of transportation, offering telehealth services also reduces the amount of time it takes to receive care, Hamilton notes. Many pediatric specialists can have waiting lists that are months long because they only offer limited in-person hours at the school-based clinics, but that wait time is often shorter for a televisit.

Bassett first launched telehealth services about six years ago with a Health Resources and Services Administration grant used to provide or improve connectivity in the 17 school districts where it operates 21 school-based clinics. Services began with concussion clearances, required before students who experience a concussion can return to playing sports. “This was really the very first place we used telehealth,” Hamilton notes.

Services have grown since then to include a number of specialties including teledental services where the dentist can see digital radiographs taken during the televisit and schedule the appropriate in-person follow-up appointments. Bassett added telepulmonolgy in 2021. It allows students with rare types of asthma and similar pulmonary conditions to meet with specialist in Rochester. The grant will also allow Bassett to expand its program to include more pediatric specialties.

Bassett Healthcare Network provides services across a 5,600-square-mile region in upstate New York with five corporately affiliated hospitals, more than two dozen community-based health centers, 21 school-based health centers, two skilled-nursing facilities, and other health partners in related fields.

DeWitt office building containing pediatric dentistry is sold for $650,000

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Small Business, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — The office building in DeWitt that is home to the pediatric dental practice Little Jaws Big Smiles was recently sold. An entity called TCCT Realty, LLC bought the more than 3,700-square-foot structure located on 0.62 acres at 4605 E. Genesee St. for $650,000. Michael Kalet from Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company helped

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State wraps up Route 48 bridge project in Granby

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

GRANBY — New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez recently announced the completion of a $2.56 million project that replaced the State Route 48 bridge over Tannery Creek in the town of Granby in Oswego County. The construction project replaced the existing bridge, which was built in 1932, with a modern

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Excellus names three new CNY Regional Advisory Board members

Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Central New York’s largest health insurer, announced it has named Jeremy Klemanski, John M. Marraffa, Jr., and William J. Simmons to its Central New York Regional Advisory Board. “With their wide range of experience and expertise in community impact, health care, education and law, these individuals add breadth and depth

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“With their wide range of experience and expertise in community impact, health care, education and law, these individuals add breadth and depth to our board as we work to fulfill our mission,” Excellus Central New York Regional President Mark Muthumbi said in a news release.

Klemanski serves as president and CEO of Helio Health and the Helio Health Foundation. He has served as a private-equity consultant, specializing in the evaluation of behavioral health-care organizations. Klemanski regularly speaks and trains on the topics of nonprofit board development, leadership, management, communications, and team development. He has also served as an independent monitor for government and private treatment programs. Klemanski earned an MBA from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and completed his bachelor’s degree at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Marraffa, Jr. is president of Kinney Drugs. A graduate of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, he joined Kinney Drugs in 2019 as VP of government affairs and health-care services integration. Since then, he has introduced the new Kinnect division, a transformational onsite pharmacy for specialized health-care facilities; expanded the Delivery at Discharge program; and introduced a patient safety organization. Additionally, Marraffa led Kinney’s COVID-19 response. He is an adjunct experiential preceptor for several colleges and universities, including the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College, and the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Simmons, Esq., is executive director of the Syracuse Housing Authority. He received his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 2004 and has been a member of the New York State Bar Association since 2006. Simmons also earned a New York state real-estate broker’s license in 2019. A native of the Bronx, Simmons has lived in Syracuse since 1975, was the director of airport services at Syracuse Hancock International Airport from 1986-1994, served as board commissioner on the Syracuse City School Board from 1989-1997, and was a 5th District Syracuse Common Council member from 2000-2008.

Study: nearly half of U.S. firms plan to add staff in 2nd half

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Subscriber Only

The job market will remain strong through the end of 2022, according to new research from Robert Half (NYSE: RHI), a specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that has a local office in downtown Syracuse. In a survey of more than 1,500 managers at companies in the United States, 46 percent said they planned

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In a survey of more than 1,500 managers at companies in the United States, 46 percent said they planned to add staff during the second half of the year. Another 46 percent expect to fill vacated positions and only 8 percent forecast hiring freezes (6 percent not adding new or filling vacated positions plus 2 percent eliminating positions).

The Robert Half research also found that demand for contract and early-career talent is increasing — 45 percent of hiring managers plan to expand their teams by bringing in contract professionals, especially in technology (60 percent). Meanwhile, 72 percent of employers intend to increase hiring of entry-level or early-career professionals.

“Despite talk of an economic slowdown, many companies remain in hiring mode — and professionals with in-demand skills continue to have options,” Robert Half senior executive director Paul McDonald said in a release. “In addition to staffing critical functions, employers are increasingly turning to contract talent to stay nimble while keeping projects moving forward and productivity high.”

Hiring is difficult, with the survey finding 88 percent of managers are facing challenges finding people, including lack of qualified talent and candidates’ salary expectations exceeding what the business is willing to offer. To attract talent, employers are boosting starting salaries, providing signing bonuses and offering remote-work options.

Employers are also expecting more people to quit their jobs, with 51 percent of managers reporting an increase in voluntary turnover in their department in the last year, and 78 percent expressing concerns about more employees quitting in the future. Those in marketing and creative (84 percent) and finance and accounting (79 percent) are most likely to worry about resignations from their team.

“As long as the job market favors workers, staff retention will continue to be a big concern for businesses,” McDonald said. “Doubling down on employee wellbeing, empowerment and development initiatives can go a long way toward building staff satisfaction and loyalty as the market fluctuates.”

For more information on hiring trends by profession, view Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report through this link: https://bit.ly/3p2tWh4.

In addition to its Syracuse location at 300 S. State St., Robert Half also has upstate New York offices in Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo.

Walsh named director of Hartwick’s Griffiths Center

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, New York News, Nonprofits, People on the Move, Regional News, Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

ONEONTA, N.Y. — Hartwick College has selected Michael Walsh as the new director of the Griffiths Center for Collaboration and Innovation (GCCI). He will begin his appointment in late August. As GCCI director, Walsh will lead and advance a culture of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the college. He will report directly to President Darren

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ONEONTA, N.Y. — Hartwick College has selected Michael Walsh as the new director of the Griffiths Center for Collaboration and Innovation (GCCI). He will begin his appointment in late August.

As GCCI director, Walsh will lead and advance a culture of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the college. He will report directly to President Darren Reisberg and work with the college’s senior leadership team and others to implement the strategic direction for the center. Walsh will also provide oversight for the college’s Center for Craft Food & Beverage and soon-to-open Grain Innovation Center.

Launched in 2018 with a $1.25 million gift from alumna Sally Griffiths Herbert and Tim Herbert, the GCCI is an idea incubator and an instigator of innovative approaches and creative problem solving, Hartwick contends. The center serves as an umbrella for three innovation stations — the Makerspace, Fabrication Lab, and entrepreneurship hub — where ideas, theory, and practice support entrepreneurial models of though and actions across the curriculum.

Walsh has more than 20 years of experience in leading organization growth and experience in business development and leading strategic initiatives. He joins Hartwick from Clarkson University, where he served in a variety of roles since 2009. Most recently, Walsh was director for industry engagement, where he was responsible for building academic and research partnerships with key partners. Previously, he served a dual role as executive director of both engineering and management for the university’s Beacon Institute at its Beacon campus.

While at Clarkson, Walsh secured $6.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for the development of capital projects at the Beacon Institute. He also increased net tuition revenue through executive education programs, workforce training and development initiatives, and multiple grant-funded programs.

Walsh earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from Clarkson and a doctorate degree from Fordham University in education leadership, administration, and policy. He also participated in multiple executive-education courses from IBM, the Project Management Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education. Walsh is a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

MMRI’s Kontaridis named vice chair of AHA council

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, People on the Move, Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA, N.Y. — Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) Executive Director Maria Kontaridis was recently appointed vice chair of the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council Leadership Committee. During this two-year term, she will lead colleagues from across the United States including research scientists and cardiologists. The council is a keystone in the national heart-science

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CEO FOCUS: Leveraging Opportunities to Drive New Progress for CNY’s Innovation Ecosystem

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on how we think about our community, and the two decades of strategic planning and hard work that is transforming our regional economy. Today, among other achievements, we celebrate our entrepreneurial ecosystem. What was once a mark of how far we had fallen behind, is now

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Since 2004, we’ve seen The Tech Garden grow from a fledgling incubator to a centerpiece of our region’s surging tech ecosystem. Our region’s venture-capital growth has increased from a mere $27 per capita to more than $1,329. We’ve celebrated the Tech Garden’s first unicorn, Density. In the coming year, we anticipate more companies, started here, will reach a $1 billion valuation. Last year, 57 of our Tech Garden companies collectively created 240 jobs in Central New York, received $93.6 million in equity investments, and drove $31.5 million in annual revenue.

This progress supports our region’s ability to be a global competitor in the new economy. Growth in the Smart Systems Cluster will also provide fertile ground for innovation. There are more opportunities for greater collaboration, and we have a strong network of ecosystem partners, including the Hot Spot program, SUNY Upstate Biotech Accelerator, Le Moyne College Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Syracuse University, Armory Square Ventures, Innovare, the Southside Innovation Center, the Creators Lounge, and the Small Business Development Center [at Onondaga Community College]. Our work is also being validated through funding from JPMorgan Chase and Microsoft and is enabling us to foster greater diversity and equity in the innovation space. In the coming months, we will break ground on an expansion of The Tech Garden creating opportunities for more dynamic resources, partnerships, and programs.

Now, as we look ahead to the next chapter for our entrepreneurial ecosystem, we must advance new strategies to leverage the progress we’ve made. We ask our members to think about how this organization can build a stronger and more resilient ecosystem. How can we engage more members in this process? How can we connect members and entrepreneurs better? We encourage members to share their thoughts by contacting Ben Sio, chief of staff at CenterState CEO, at bsio@centerstateceo.com. You can also contact John Liddy, who was recently named interim VP of innovation and entrepreneurship at CenterState CEO, at jliddy@centerstateceo.com.

Robert M. Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This article is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on July 28.

Teams from Canada, U.K. among five selected for Genius NY competition at Tech Garden

Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE — The five companies selected for the sixth round of Genius NY at the Tech Garden in Syracuse will begin their work “in the coming weeks.” They will participate in the incubator’s business workshops, events, resource pool, and mentoring, per Empire State Development’s Aug. 9 announcement. Genius NY is described as the “world’s largest

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SYRACUSE — The five companies selected for the sixth round of Genius NY at the Tech Garden in Syracuse will begin their work “in the coming weeks.”

They will participate in the incubator’s business workshops, events, resource pool, and mentoring, per Empire State Development’s Aug. 9 announcement.

Genius NY is described as the “world’s largest business accelerator focused on uncrewed systems.” Genius NY stands for Growing ENtrepreneurs & Innovators in UpState New York. The Tech Garden is CenterState CEO’s regional business incubator.

The selected companies are developing innovations in the uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), internet of things (IoT), and robotics industries. They were selected from a pool of more than 200 submissions from over 50 countries.

The five finalists are all international teams, representing Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, Poland, and the United Kingdom, ESD said. They include Archangel Imaging, Ltd. of the United Kingdom; AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions, Inc. of Canada; Dronehub of Poland; Fusion Engineering of the Netherlands; and Wonder Robotics of Israel.

Genius NY participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year.

The Genius NY pitch finals are set for Nov. 3 and teams will compete for $3 million in investments, including a $1 million grand prize. Throughout the program, companies will also receive stipends, resources, programming, investor demo days, and networking opportunities.

“The fact that each of these Genius NY finalists are international teams highlights the strength of the program and the industry’s recognition that Central New York is the single best place to grow your UAS company,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said. “In addition to the resources provided by the program these teams will also become part of Central New York’s robust tech ecosystem. We proudly welcome this new cohort to our community and are excited to work with these companies to ensure their companies evolve and grow here.”

The program is funded through the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI), the region’s strategic plan to generate economic growth and community development.

“These selected GENIUS NY round six finalists are ready to take flight, adding to the cohort of forward-thinking innovators that have been drawn to this unique business accelerator competition which is elevating Central New York’s unmatched UAS assets and infrastructure,” Hope Knight, acting president, CEO & commissioner of Empire State Development, said.

About the companies

Empire State Development provided descriptions of all the companies involved in this year’s Genius NY competition.

Archangel Imaging, Ltd. deploys smart machines alongside people to protect valuable assets and at-risk staff in remote or “challenging” places.

“Whether [it’s] cables being stolen, oil being tapped or elephants poached for ivory, Archangel provides the ability for the security team to know before these incidents are about to happen and immediately intervene or follow up,” per the ESD description.

AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions, Inc. produces a parachute-recovery system and flight termination system that is commercializing drone technology for urban air mobility (UAM). AVSS’s products are distributed worldwide through its more than 50 authorized dealers’ network and sold directly to drone manufacturers across the world.

Dronehub develops autonomous charging docks for drones that help companies with large infrastructure to reduce monitoring costs, get real-time aerial data, and “exclude the human factor.” Dronehub helps industries to collect real-time precise aerial data, process it, and automate operations.

Fusion Engineering is working to create the “most reliable, flexible and easy-to-use” flight controller for any type of multirotor drone, ESD said. The company builds “innovative” flight-control algorithms to ensure “more accurate positioning, disturbance rejection and fault tolerance.”

Wonder Robotics is a provider of autonomous products for commercial drone and unmanned-platform applications, focusing on the drone delivery and UAM/AAM (advanced air mobility) markets by utilizing “highly advanced vision-based capabilities for mission enable and safety.”

“We are excited to welcome these teams to Central New York and get to work advancing their business plans and technologies,” Kara Jones, director of Genius NY, said. “Over the coming year, they will be connected to local businesses for strategic guidance and operational support and be immersed in the tech startup and UAS ecosystems. In addition to high-impact programmatic and business support provided by Genius NY, participants will also become more connected to our local community through events and social engagements.”

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