October 10, 2021 was a very sad day around here for that is when we lost Norman Poltenson, founder of The Central New York Business Journal (CNYBJ), at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer. More than two months after his death, he is greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him, […]
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October 10, 2021 was a very sad day around here for that is when we lost Norman Poltenson, founder of The Central New York Business Journal (CNYBJ), at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer.
More than two months after his death, he is greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him, and that will endure.
We thought this edition of the Legends publication was an appropriate venue in which to honor Norm in words and pictures — for Norm himself was a CNY Legend.
Poltenson founded CNYBJ in 1986 and grew it over the years to include multiple business newspapers, a business news and research website, digital publications, and an events and networking business.
Serving as publisher for 28 years, he was dedicated to providing the Central New York business community with news, information, data, and research that they could rely on to help them grow their businesses.
Poltenson and his wife, Joan, sold CNYBJ in March 2014 to their daughter, Marny Nesher.
Following the sale, Norm Poltenson transitioned to a full-time position as regional staff writer for CNYBJ for several years before retiring. He traveled the roads of the Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley to meet with business owners and CEOs to chronicle the stories of their companies. Norm had such an enthusiasm for talking with fellow business owners that even a first bout with cancer would not stop him from making these trips.
Poltenson had more than 50 years of business experience, mostly in the printing and publishing industry. Before starting The Central New York Business Journal, he was formerly the owner and publisher of Adirondack Life Magazine.
Norm in his words
When he would emcee business-award events for CNYBJ and sister company, BizEventz, Norm would often tell the audience that it was vital to recognize businesses for all the good they do in the local economy and in their communities. He was fond of saying, “Businesses are the Rodney Dangerfields of society. They get no respect.”
Poltenson also carried that business-recognition theme to his writings. In 2013, when introducing our Legacy Awards, he wrote this in these very pages:
“‘Heroes’ in mythology are endowed with great courage and strength; they are celebrated for their bold exploits. ‘Heroes’ can also be people who risk or sacrifice their lives. My heroes are those entrepreneurs noted for building thriving regional corporations and for nurturing our communities through their generosity of time, treasure, and talent.
Communities grow and prosper in large measure because their business leaders recognize that each generation serves as a building block for the next. Our predecessors handed this generation a heritage, a shared meaning of something beyond just the material — a special spirit. It’s our responsibility to expand and pass this legacy on to those who follow in our paths.”
Adam Rombel is editor-in-chief of The Central New York Business Journal. He has been its lead editor since 2004 and worked for the business since 2003.