October / November 2022
$4.50
CNY’s Busines Magazin s e
www.cnybusinessmag.com
MEET THE PUBLISHER Alec Johnson, 36, is busy publishing Oswego Shopper and Oswego County News — and five daily newspapers, websites and more than a dozen publications in what has become the largest family-owned newspaper group in Upstate New York. P. 72
RESTAURANTS FOR SALE IN OSWEGO COUNTY P. 40
ARE OUR INDUSTRIES COMPETITIVE ENOUGH?
P. 58
AMAZON ON HIRING BINGE IN CLAY P. 48
NEWSPAPERS STILL STRUGGLING P. 78
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Begin the process from home by viewing our online informational video. Then consult with our bariatric team via telemedicine visits to start your journey. It’s time — and now easier than ever.
Start today at crouse.org/weightloss or call 315-470-8974.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE Short-Term Training. Long-Term Success. • Industrial Maintenance • Mechanical Maintenance
OPEN NOW IN FULTON
• Electrical Maintenance • Controls Training • Career Training GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING
Contact us today: (315) 294-8841 or www.cayuga-cc.edu Cayuga Community College Office of Community Education and Workforce Development
OVER 70 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN ONE NETWORK!
SAY HELLO TO HEALTHY! Say hello to a more convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. ConnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services; family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, and social work under one medical group. Patients within our network can visit any of our seven locations at any time. ConnextCare also offers medical and mental health services at eight school-based health centers in five Oswego County school districts.
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER. See why Fortune ranked Nucor No. 1 in its industry on the World's Most Admired Companies list as well as one of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production.
www.nucor.com/careers
CONTENTS
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022
ISSUE 182
r Check ou nt me e c la product p ring tu a fe , page ur rs from o great offe P. 11-13 . rs advertise
72
MEET THE PUBLISHER Thirty-six-year old Alec Johnson is in charge of the largest family-owned newspaper group in Upstate New York, The Johnson Newspaper Corp., based in Watertown. He talks about his company, working as a reporter in Connecticut and how he got to the top at the company started by his great grandfather.
Features
46
63
84
Infrastructure legislation a boon to manufacturers: EJ USA, Nucor, Lindsey Aggregates are some examples • How competitive are we? • Update on major companies.
Why do banks charge so many fees? We ask local bankers, who also discuss e-banking vs. brick and mortar banking • Five things you need to know about business insurance.
Several sectors show decrease employment numbers • Companies still having a hard time hiring • Want to keep employees? Pay them more, experts say.
MANUFACTURING
6
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
BANKING & INSURANCE
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022
STAFFING
RICHARD S. SHINEMAN FOUNDATION S: 10 YEAR CELEBRATES ATED ON MILLIONS D N C TO Y.
More Contents 40
Restaurant for Sale
44
Amazon on a Hiring Binge
50
Economic Trends
68
Retirement
70
SUNY Oswego’s Impact
78
My Turn
82
Retiring
88
Eastwood Neighborhood
Why are there so many restaurants and bars for sale in Oswego County? The Clay facility is doubling its workforce to 3,000 workers Manufacturing growth across Oswego County By L. Michael Treadwell $1 million no longer the standard nest egg Students are back in town and with them tons of money Newspaper industry continues to struggle By Bruce Frassinelli Patrick Waite of Oswego County Opportunities retires. Developer Stephen Skinner making his mark in Syracuse neighborhood.
Departments 8 18
Publisher’s Note On the Job
22
How I Got Started
24
92
24
22
‘What do you want to do when you retire?’ Victoria Usherwood Gailina, owner of iheartoswego.com
Profile
Sarah Farley
26
Where in the World is Sandra Scott?
28 34 36
Newsmakers Business Updates Dining Out
98
Last Page
Bariloche, Argentina
New Mexican restaurant adds flavor to the city of Fulton John Halleron
36 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
7
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Y
ou know we’re approaching the end of the year when we start working on the annual CNY Business Guide. It means we’re in the last leg of the year. The new edition — the 2023 CNY Business Guide — will provide detailed information on more than 400 of the largest companies in Oswego County, Central and Northern New York. This will be our 29th edition and we’re proud to have found a niche — and fill it. The annual guide is one of kind and many use it year round as resource material. It’s an ambitious project, which involves a great deal of research, phone calls, checking and double-checking information, writing and design work. In a few words, it requires a lot of work. And we’re ready for it. The Business Guide carries detailed descriptions of local businesses, including latest developments, employment information and background. It also carries profiles of business owners and CEOs and their comments on the local economy and their industries. It focuses on four counties: Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga and Jefferson. A series of graphics shows the
Cover of last year’s Business Guide.
businesses to the region. The guide is an excellent chance for companies to highlight their growth, expansion, new products, whatever new they have to share. For readers, the guide provides a great snapshot of companies located in the region and what they do and who is in charge. The guide will be published in mid-November. Paid subscribers to Oswego County Business will receive the publication as soon as it’s published. We will also make some free copies available throughout the region. We welcome companies to place advertisements in the publication. Cost to advertise is fairly low and advertising in the guide is a great way to showcase their products, services and their presence in the region.
largest employers by region, top public employers, manufacturers, auto dealers, home improvement, healthcare and others. We’re glad that Operation Oswego County, the county’s economic development agency, uses it extensively as part of its marketing strategies to attract new
WAGNER DOTTO is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.
Bond understands the unique needs and opportunities of Oswego County businesses and we are committed to a thriving future for our clients and the communities in which we live. Want to learn more? Visit bsk.com or contact Rick Weber at rweber@bsk.com or Sunny Tice at stice@bsk.com.
One Lincoln Center, Syracuse, NY 13202 • 315.218.8000 • BSK.COM 8
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022
Quality You Can Rely On HANDCRAFTED | FAMILY-OWNED
In 1993, North Country Storage Barns started as a family-owned and operated shed business. Today, we have three locations in New York State and service dealers across the Saint Lawrence River in Canada. If you visit, you’ll be able to take a stroll outdoors to look through our many sheds, vehicle storage units, gazebos, playsets, outdoor furniture, birdhouses & feeders, lawn ornaments, and more! Our Philadelphia location is also home to a cabin display model you will enjoy touring through at your own pace. I nside all three of our locations, you can browse through and order from any of our many catalogs if you don’t see just the perfect item in the showroom. And feel free to sit down with a friendly salesperson who’s ready to guide you through designing your next custom-made structure! OUR THREE LOCATIONS
32660 US Rte. 11 Philedelphia, NY 315-642-0209
317 Oriskany Blvd Yorkville, NY 315-793-0726
5780 US Rte. 11 Pulaski, NY 315-387-2092
ncsbarns.com ∙ facebook.com/ifyouneedmeillbeinmyshed North Country Storage Barns is Premier source for North Country Lifestyle & Living.
ADVERTISING INDEX Advanced Dental Arts...................43 Affordable Business Solutions......55 Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home.........................25 ALPS Professional Services.........33 Ameriprise Financial (Randy Zeigler).......................20 BarclayDamon..............................35 Bond, Schoeneck & King Attorneys...................................8 Buckingham Brothers...................31 Builder’s FirstSource....................29 Burke’s Home Center...................31 C & S Companies.........................54 C’s Farm Market and Beverage....14 Canale’s Ins. & Accounting ..........23 Caster’s Sawmill Inc.....................29 Cayuga Community College...........3 Century 21 - Galloway Realty.......33 CNY Community Foundation........91 Community Bank..........................67 Compass Credit Union.................23 ConnextCare..................................4 Constelation..................................99 Crouse Hospital..............................2
Davis-Standard LLC.....................61 E J USA........................................21 Eastern Shore Associates Ins......20 Farnham Family Services.............42 Financial Partners of Upstate (David Mirabito).......................10 Fitzgibbons Agency......................35 Foster Funeral Home....................91 Fulton Oswego Motor Express.....52 Fulton Savings Bank.....................69 Fulton Taxi....................................43 Fulton Tool Co..............................57 Gartner Equipment.......................53 Gosch Supply...............................19 Harbor Hotel.................................15 Hearth Cabinets............................29 Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY..................42 Howard’s Hoses...........................57 J P Jewelers.................................15 Johnston Gas...............................29 Kathy’s Cake & Specialty Treats..14 La Parrilla On The Water..............39 Lamb’s Handyman Service...........31 Laser Transit.................................57
Need an agent who gets your small business?
Lindsey Aggregates......................33 LW Emporium Co-Op...................15 MACNY.........................................55 Menter Ambulance.......................42 Mimi’s Drive Inn............................39 Mitchell Speedway Printing..........19 Murdoch’s Bike.............................15 NBT Bank.....................................66 North Country Storage Barns.........9 Novelis........................................100 Nucor Steel Auburn........................5 OD Green Lumber........................31 Operation Oswego County...........99 Oswego County Federal Credit Union............................52 Oswego County Mutual Insurance................................25 Oswego County Opportunities......16 Pathfinder Bank............................17 Patterson Warehousing................52 Picture Connection.......................15 Plumley Engineering.....................59 Pontiac Care and Rehabilitation Center ....................................87 Port of Oswego Authority..............58
RiverHouse Restaurant................39 Riverside Artisans.........................15 Salvatore Lanza Law Office..........25 SBDC – Small Business Development Center...............69 Scriba Electric...............................33 State Farm (Chris Nelson)............10 SUNY Oswego.............................81 Sweet-Woods Memorial...............33 TDO..............................................66 The Rooftop Lounge (Litatro Building)......................14 Trimble Services...........................31 United Wire Technology...............59 Universal Metal Works..................57 Valti Graphics...............................33 Vashaw’s Collision........................19 Watertown Industrial Center of Local Development.................58 WD Malone...................................29 Whelan & Curry Construction.......53 White’s Lumber & Building Supply....................29 WRVO..........................................96
We’ll help you get there.® Because your goals matter. You have goals. Ours is helping you achieve them. To learn more, contact:
David D. Mirabito
CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, MSFS, RICP Senior Financial Services Executive Investment Advisor Representative Christopher A. Nelson, Agent 209 West 7th Street Oswego, NY 13126 Bus: 315-342-3639 www.chrisnelsoninsurance.net
I understand the unique needs of small business owners, because I run a small business too. Contact me today for your small business insurance.
2809 State Route 3 Fulton, NY 13069 (315) 592-3145 dmirabito@financialguide.com www.financialpartnersustateny.com
Let’s talk today.
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL State Farm Florida Insurance Company Winter Haven, FL State Farm Lloyds Richardson, TX 2101257
10 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022
LIFE INSURANCE + RETIREMENT/401K PLAN SERVICES + DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE + LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE + ANNUITIES
Giftable goodies from our advertisers.
North Country Storage Barns
C’s Farm Market in Oswego
360 Hunting Blinds. With solid wood frame construction and seamless acrylic roof, the 360 Series is built to provide hunters with many seasons of comfortable, weatherproof hunting. With a special window raising mechanism — a perfectly silent, one-handed operation that is ideal for gun or archery hunting. Call North Country Storage Barns at 315-559- 8706 or visit ncsbarns.com.
Special fruit baskets. Great for any occasion. All fresh, made to order and with no fillers. Starting at $45. Delivery available. Call C’s Farm Market at 315-343-1010 or visit www. csfarmmarket.com.
JP Jewelers Gosch Supply & Lighting Centre
Add style to your home or office. Art glass 27-inch table lamp by Dale Tiffany. This and other models only in store. 315-598-4592.
This and other pieces of fine jewelry available at JP Jewelers in Oswego. Jewelry buying doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a comfortable buying experience and friendly, knowledgeable staff, JP Jewelers will exceed your expectations both in quality and service. Call 315-342GOLD (4653) or visit www.jpwholesalejewelers.com.