New York Bus Sales welcomed over 150 people to officially open its doors on a newly constructed $6 million mixed-use 20,000 sq. ft. facility in the town of Batavia. The facility is intended to support school districts and bus operators across Genesee County and the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions to convert their fleets from diesel fuel to all-electric as required by legislation in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) by 2035.
Based in Chittenango, New York Bus Sales is the largest Blue Bird school bus dealer in the state. The Batavia facility will service customers, including school districts to help transition their bus fleets from diesel fuel engines to all-electric bus fleets. New York Bus Sales has full-service maintenance facilities in Syracuse and Albany.
“Our new location in Genesee County allows us to serve the Western New York and Finger Lakes school districts as we work together with New York State to deliver clean energy solutions to local students and families,” said John Johnston, Operations Manager of New York Bus Sales.
New York Bus Sales worked with the Genesee County Economic Development Center to find a strategic location that fit their facility requirements on Saile Drive in Batavia and approved financial assistance at a Board of Directors meeting in December 2021.
“This project builds on the green business economy being built at STAMP, the Pembroke Industrial Corridor, the many community solar projects across the county, and other renewable and clean energy projects in the economic development pipeline,” said Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the GCEDC.
National Grid assisted in the installation of charging stations and technology as part of the company’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Make-Ready Program.This program provides funding for up to 100% of the electric infrastructure costs for approved projects.
“Our Make-Ready Program provides a range of technical assistance and funding for electric vehicle charging projects across our upstate New York service territory,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “Working with New York Bus Sales is a great example of a company making a commitment toward innovation and sustainability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions while supporting New York State’s climate emission mandates.”
The new facility will create 24 new jobs in Genesee County. New York Bus Sales are seeking candidates for service and automotive tech roles and will have the opportunity to hire from the skilled and educated workforce pool from Genesee County and surrounding regions, including students participating in the Genesee Valley BOCES Deisel Tech Cohort program.
“Whether you are a recent Diesel Tech BOCES graduate or an experienced technician from another industry, we have good-paying positions available and can provide career pathways through certification programs and other training,” Johnson added. “We look forward to working with employment and workforce training organizations across the region to fill these career-sustaining jobs.”
Russ Fitzgibbon, owner of Beverly's Flowers and Gifts, inside his shop's new location at 228 West Main St., Batavia, the former location of Roxy's Music. Photo by Howard Owens.
Russ Fitzgibbon knew he needed more space. His flower shop, Beverly's, in an old house on West Main Street in Batavia, left staff tripping over each other and made it hard for him to maintain private conversations with customers.
"We were out of space, just dead out of space," Fitzgibbon said.
When the former Roxy's Music Store building at 228 West Main St., Batavia, came up for sale, he initially passed on the idea of buying the building and moving into it.
It's 14,000 square feet. That doesn't include the basement.
All that space means his five employees are no longer tripping over each other.
"I didn't want it originally," Fitzgibbon said. "It's just massive. But it just worked out. The numbers worked out. I figured, do it now or don't do it at all."
Beverly's is using only about 4,500 square feet of the building -- with a large portion of the downstairs (where music lesson rooms where located) sitting vacant, and a second floor that is completely clear and empty.
"We'll figure out what to do with the rest," Fitzgibbon said.
Fitzgibbon did the remodeling of the store himself, with a whole new decor in the space the shop is using. There's a larger retail counter, more display space, tables for meeting with clients, and a side room for meetings with larger groups of customers.
"I like to talk to my customers, but in the old place, if somebody walked in, you had to shut up because there was no room," Fitzgibbon said. "There was only one three-foot counter. This one is a little bigger, so I get to talk more."
Rochester Regional Health (RRH) is delighted to announce the appointment of Tricia Gatlin, Ph.D., RN, CNE, Dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing at St. John Fisher University, as the new Chair of the Health Care Services Board at RRH. Gatlin, a distinguished healthcare professional and researcher, is also one of the leading nursing education advocates in the region and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to this prestigious role.
Gatlin will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic vision and direction of Rochester General Hospital (RGH) and Unity Hospital in her new role as Chair of the Health Care Services Board. The Health Care Services Board provides strategic guidance and oversight to each of these hospitals. Her exceptional leadership skills and comprehensive understanding of healthcare challenges and opportunities will contribute significantly to the continued excellence of Rochester Regional in providing quality patient care and pioneering healthcare solutions.
“I am honored to be the first nurse to chair the Health Care Services Board. I am passionate about and committed to advancing the overall quality of patient care,” said Gatlin. “I look forward to working with fellow board members over the coming years and continuing to improve the overall health quality of individuals who seek care within the Rochester Regional Health care system.”
Gatlin joined St. John Fisher University and the Wegmans School of Nursing as Dean in 2020. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to nursing education and research. Gatlin often presents at national and international conferences on nursing topics, and her research findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
Much of that work has focused on self-care and vulnerable populations. At Fisher, Gatlin has secured grants from the Mother Cabrini Foundation and Health Resources and Services Administration totaling more than $2 million to support efforts to improve nursing education through technology and diversify the workforce pipeline.
Gatlin’s knowledge as an educator and dedication to the nursing profession, practical experience as a Registered Nurse, and international leadership in adopting augmented and virtual reality into nursing education add tremendous value to her influence on the delivery of high-quality health care.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tricia Gatlin as the new Chair of the Health Care Services Board,” said Richard “Chip” Davis, Ph.D., CEO of Rochester Regional Health. "Her impressive background in nursing education, her passion for research, and her commitment to improving community health care make her the ideal Chair of our esteemed Health Care Services Board."
Gatlin previously served as an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the School of Nursing at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and held various academic positions at esteemed institutions such as the University of Portland's School of Nursing, Clark College in Washington, and Clackamas Community College in Oregon. Here in Rochester, she sits on numerous boards and committees. She is also a member of the New York State Council of Deans, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New York Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, New York Organization for Nursing Leadership, and NurseTrust.
Gatlin holds a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from the University of Arizona, an M.S. in Nursing Leadership from the University of Portland, a B.S. from the University of Memphis, and an AA in Nursing from Dyersburg State Community College.
If you want to make sparks fly, there are some folks at Graham Manufacturing in Batavia who want to talk with you.
Graham makes big things out of big pieces of metal, and that means welding. Graham invests a lot of money in training the people it hires so they learn to become world-class welders.
"We've got a welding school now where we're training our own welders," said Don Fonda, plant supervisor at Graham. "We partnered with Arc and Flame in Rochester. We're paying for people to take classes there. They're actually Graham employees, and we pay them to go to classes. Those are 12-week classes. If they do well, they come here. If they do so-so, we send them for another 12 weeks."
Plant Operations Manager/Commercial Randy Franklin said the welding work Graham needs is specialized and requires a great deal of skill.
"We have really high-quality standards here," Franklin said.
He explained, "We're not just building widgets. It's not the same every single time. We like people who can solve problems. There's a variability in the workflow. It's a good place to work. I mean, it's been around for over 80 years, so it's been a pretty decent place as a bedrock or just providing an opportunity for people in the area."
When Graham, which has always been based in Batavia, was a smaller company, BOCES provided three or four young welders a year that Graham could hire, but now, with 300 employees locally and $150 million in annual revenue, there's a bigger demand for welders, as well as other manufacturing specialties, at Graham, so hiring has become more of a challenge.
Alfred State has a solid welding program, and it is a source of new hires for Graham, but as Fonda explained, if the graduates are not already from the GLOW region, they're likely not coming to Batavia for a job.
So he and Franklin want to get the word out to more local residents looking for a rewarding career -- good pay and solid benefits -- that Graham might be a good fit.
"I think there's a perception that all of this type of equipment is being built elsewhere in the world," Franklin said. "We haven't done a really good job of broadcasting where Graham is and what we do. So we wanted to try to get some more eyeballs on the type of equipment that we build and the opportunities for people in the area."
Graham's longstanding specialty has been equipment used in the oil and gas industries, extracting and refining fuels, but in recent years, Graham has fulfilled contracts for the Department of Defense, fabricating equipment for aircraft carriers and submarines.
"Oil and gas is very cyclical -- demand follows, essentially, the value of a barrel of oil," Franklin said. "The executives, like 10 to 12 years ago, they wanted to be able to even that out because no one enjoys layoffs. They wanted to find a nice baseline, so they went after the Department of Defense."
But the folks at Graham are clearly proud of that shipment. There's a picture of it on a wall in one of the plant buildings. It's the largest load of the year -- 225 long, 17 feet wide, with a gross vehicle weight of 486,000 pounds.
Another poster on the same wall notes that Graham has shipped 2,584 pieces of equipment with a gross weight of 5,980,587 pounds.
For all the success of Graham, and the company's reputation as a place where people work long careers, it's hard finding the right people in Batavia, Franklin acknowledged. And it's getting hard.
"It's tough being in Batavia," Franklin said. "You know, it's in between two cities in New York State, so that makes it difficult. In those higher population areas, obviously, it's easier to pull in people, and then, to top it off, the state doesn't make it very easy to maintain a business and hire people."
The rapid growth of the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, the growth of WNY STAMP and the related business growth in Pembroke is also making the job market more competitive, Franklin agreed. All of that growth is driven by incentives offered by GCEDC and the state's economic development packages.
"I don't know if our politicians really truly understand that the decisions that they make have ripple effects," Franklin said. "It's hard to be a competitive business when other new businesses are receiving tax breaks. We just have to try to be flexible and figure out different ways to be competitive with them."
As an example, he said this past summer, a benefit Graham offered was allowing employees to work four nine-hour shifts during the week so they get a half-day off on Friday, and hence a longer weekend to stay at home or take a brief vacation.
Franklin said Graham is looking at other creative ways to offer benefits to Graham employees.
"But regardless of where you are in the country, or even the world, hiring people is a challenge," Franklin added. "In that way, it's not like we're unique to this area."
There are currently 35 openings at Graham in a variety of jobs -- welders, of course, but also engineers, CNC machine operators, buyers, and more -- and Fonda said Graham might be a hidden little gem for area residents who are looking for a career.
"I don't think a lot of people would even know we're here," Fonda said. "We're kind of tucked back on a little street. You might see us a little bit from Main Street, and maybe a bit behind Miss Batavia, but for the most part, I don't think a lot of people know we're here. And I'm not sure a lot of people know we're hiring."
Don Fonda, plant supervisor, and Randy Franklin, operations manager/commercial, at Graham Manufacturing in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens
The Sequoia Project. Graham built four U-tube freeze condensers that will be installed at a facility in Thailand to support Lactide alcohol distillation. Randy Franklin said this is a whole new industry that Graham is supporting to make and market low-carb, renewable biomaterials that will revolutionize the sustainability and safety of packaging product materials used in everyday lives. The polymers could produce 3D printed materials, compostable coffee capsules, tea bags, flexible packaging, and food service ware. Photo by Howard Owens.
Graham is providing equipment for a Houston-based refinery, supplying large-scale replacement parts for existing equipment installed at facilities around the world. This is a tube bundle that allows the customer to restore the performance of their equipment after years of coating on the tubing, which reduces its capability to condense fluids, thus reducing the amount of product refined and revenue. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Both India and China are growth markets for Graham. For India, Graham is supplying a large-scale vacuum system to increase India's overall refining capacity. Graham now has an office in India to better help the company meet market demands there. In China, Graham is fabricating parts for existing refineries as well as new refineries. Photo by Howard Owens.
The HP Hood facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in May 2023 Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that dairy product manufacturer HP Hood will grow its operations in Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. The project will include the addition of new processing systems, along with other upgrades, which will allow the company to increase capacity for the production of additional extended-shelf-life (ESL) beverages at the Batavia facility. As a result, the company has committed to creating up to 48 new jobs at the manufacturing facility. To date, the company has created more than 400 jobs at the site and currently employs close to 1200 statewide. Hood purchased the on-site, 363,000-square-foot plant in 2018 from the Dairy Farmers of America for $60 million and soon after expanded the facility by another 100,000 square feet. HP Hood is the agri-business park’s largest landowner.
“This continued commitment from one of the nation's most prominent dairy companies will create top-quality jobs and spur new investment in the Finger Lakes," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. "Agriculture and food processing are key pillars of the region’s economic development efforts, and HP Hood’s latest investment shows that our multi-pronged growth strategy is working."
ESD is assisting the forward-thinking project with up to $1 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The total project cost has been placed at $120 million. Genesee County is also considering providing incentives for the project. Greater Rochester Enterprise also assisted with the expansion effort. Construction on the planned updates is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
Headquartered in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, HP Hood has five New York State production facilities in Batavia, Vernon, Oneida, Arkport and Lafargeville. Founded in 1846, today, Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States. The company’s portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood, Crowley Foods, Planet Oat, Heluva Good!, LACTAID®, and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. The company’s annual sales are more than $3 billion.
Gary Kaneb, President and CEO of HP Hood LLC, said, “Our investment in the Batavia facility is being driven by the continued growth of ESL dairy and non-dairy beverage categories. We are grateful for the support of Empire State Development as Batavia continues to be a strategic site for the expansion of our ESL manufacturing capabilities.”
The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is located at the heart of the Buffalo-Rochester Tech Corridor. For additional information about the park, visit: http://gcedc.com/agpark.
New York State has a robust, thriving agricultural industry and is home to almost 3,500 dairy farms and 620,000 cows. New York’s dairy industry is also the State’s largest agricultural sector. The majority of farms are family-run operations, supporting the framework of the State’s agricultural economy.
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “HP Hood’s expansion in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is good news for New York’s agricultural industry. Not only will this effort create new jobs and support hundreds of existing jobs in the Finger Lakes region, but it will also ensure that consumers, far and wide, can continue to enjoy the delicious, local, award-winning products that HP Hood is known for. I thank our partners at Empire State Development and Finger Lakes Forward for helping to ensure that this project can come to fruition.”
State Senator George Borrello said, “HP Hood’s investment in its Ag Park operations is a strategic recognition of the quality dairy and agricultural suppliers that surround them, the availability of a skilled workforce and the supportive partners in government committed to their success. This effort is another exciting addition to our region’s dairy industry projects pipeline, which just keeps growing. We are truly witnessing a transformation. Many thanks to Empire State Development, Genesee County officials and HP Hood’s leadership team for the vision and commitment that made this achievement possible.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, "I'm happy to see Empire State Development's announcement that HP Hood is expanding its operations in our region. Businesses like HP Hood play an important role in our state's agriculture and specifically the dairy industry. Their commitment to add nearly 50 new full-time employees and retention of over 450 employees will provide more support for our local economy. This announcement is great news for our district and will have a positive impact on our community and Western New York as a whole."
Genesee County Legislature Chairwoman Chair Rochelle M. Stein said,“We congratulate the family-owned dairy farms of this region for providing high quality and local milk for HP Hood's growing ESL dairy beverages. This investment by HP Hood adds to the agricultural business foundation of our county and strengthens our regional agribusiness economic synergies from farm to consumer.”
Batavia Town Supervisor Greg Post said,“The Town of Batavia is proud to be home of one of the most recognizable dairy brands in the United States. HP Hood’s growth will result in continued economic benefits to our town and even more career opportunities for our residents.”
Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center President & CEO, said, “HP Hood's growth has already exceeded expectations at the Ag Park, and this project adds to the success of the agricultural and food and beverage manufacturing sectors, which continues to be leading employment sectors of our economy. This expansion is another endorsement of Batavia and the Ag Park's role as the leading dairy hub of the Northeastern United States and our local workforce’s talent and readiness for food and beverage manufacturing.”
Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Co-Chair Bob Duffy, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, said,"This expansion not only strengthens our region’s position as a hub for food and beverage manufacturing but also bolsters job creation and investment. We're proud to see this growth in Genesee County, demonstrating that our efforts to revitalize communities and drive economic prosperity are yielding tangible results. We extend our sincere gratitude to Empire State Development for their commitment to our region's economic growth and look forward to actively supporting HP Hood as they continue to expand and thrive."
In a significant milestone, Tompkins Insurance Agencies has been designated a “Best Practices”Agency, recognizing it as part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies across the United States for the fifth consecutive year. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) has included the Batavia-based agency in its “Best Practices” group for five years running. After a full review of its financial stability and operational excellence, Tompkins Insurance was one of the 282 agencies to qualify, chosen from more than 2,600 independent agencies nationwide that were nominated.
The Big “I” and Reagan Consulting of Atlanta, GA have collaborated since 1993 to conduct this annual study of industry-leading independent insurance agencies. The study focuses on business practices including revenue growth and profitability, financial stability, expense management, and sales and operations productivity.
“We are incredibly honored to be named a ‘Best Practices’ agency for five years in a row,” said David S. Boyce, president and CEO of Tompkins Insurance. “The five-year milestone is significant and tells us that our goal of serving communities within Western New York, Central New York and Southeastern Pennsylvania with personalized, premium and local services is working. And we will continue working to serve those clients well in the many years to come.”
This recognition joins another: Tompkins Insurance has again been ranked #79 of the Top 100 commercial insurance agencies in the U.S., by Insurance Journal.
Jeremy Logan, luthier and co-owner of a new music shop in Batavia, Logan's Music. Photo by Howard Owens.
The way Jeremy Logan sees it, Batavia needs a music store.
A community this size needs a place not just to buy instruments but all of the accessories musicians sometimes need on short notice, from strings and reeds to picks and drumsticks.
Logan worked for 13 years at Roxy's Music Store, and after Rose Caccamise died and the store closed, he knew there was a void to fill. He worked from home repairing guitars for former Roxy's customers and continued taking guitar lessons from Paul Runfola at St. Anthony's.
Going to a lesson one day, he drove by a recently vacated storefront next to Southside Deli on Ellicott Street and thought it might be a good location to start a music store. A few days later, there was a for-rent sign in the window.
He spoke to Runfola about it, and they decided to form a partnership and open a store.
In less than two weeks, Logan's Music has already started generating buzz among local musicians, and a lot of players are stopping by to say hello and check out the store. He's even made a few sales.
Currently, the store is stocked with second-hand guitars, from a gold-top Gibson Les Paul to custom Telecasters, along with lower-end models, as well as a few guitars Logan built or customized himself.
Logan, born in Batavia and raised on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, fell in love with guitar at an early age. As he grew older, he wanted to find a way to make a living in the music business.
"I've loved guitar since I was kid, you know, but I wasn't good enough of a player to go further," Logan said. "I could play in local bands, but I wanted something consistent."
In 2000, he enrolled in the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix and, after his studies, moved to Eugene, Oregon and worked for a company making graphite guitar necks.
Then he returned home and eventually took a job at Guitar Center in Buffalo, first in sales and then as a luthier when the company decided to open a repair shop.
One day he happened to Roxy's and met Rose.
"I was just talking with her and told her what I did and everything, and she said, 'Come over here,' and we sat down in the corner we talked for about a good hour about what I was doing. The next day, she gave me a call and offered me a job.
Logan liked holding down a job closer to town, and he gained a reputation among local guitarists as an expert luthier.
He became a luthier because he loved tinkering with guitars but also because he wanted to build custom guitars himself.
"I've always wanted to make my own kind of crazy designs," Logan said.
There's also satisfaction, he said, in bringing a broken guitar back to life, whether that is for a customer who drops by with a damaged instrument or if he finds a crippled axe at a flea market or garage sale, giving him an opportunity to turn it into something that brings joy to a customer.
"I like fixing guitars, taking a perfect junk guitar and making it playable and getting it to somebody who can use it," Logan said. "That's always really cool. I like the look on someone's face when they get a guitar. It's always the same feeling. I like just bringing a guitar back to life and getting it out to people to where they're it's to be played and not just sitting in a pile of junk."
The selection of second-hand guitars in the shop offers shoppers a wide variety of choices. He has buyers who go out and find them, and now that he has a storefront, customers will bring in guitars to sell. That makes the selection always eclectic and always changing, making the store a bit of a paradise for local guitar players who haven't had a place in Batavia to browse a variety of guitars for a couple of years.
He's still building his stock but has no plans in his current small space to stock many other instruments. He does intend to carry supplies to support all kinds and levels of musicians in the community and is open to suggestions.
"I had a music teacher from John Kennedy come in, and he was talking to me and asked me if I was going to carry certain stuff, and I said I don't really know what to carry for schools, so he sat down, and he gave me a whole list of what he needed," Logan said. "He said he would send over a teacher from Batavia High School, too. That was cool because everybody has been ready to give me advice and what is needed for the community. That is what I've wanted. It's going to be hard to take the place of Roxy's, but there was nothing here for the community, so it's cool (to get advice)."
Logan's Music is at 302 Ellicott St., Batavia. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 585-201-7133.
Alan E. Rose, formerly of Nashville, stopped in at Logan's to buy a new guitar and amp last week. He said he was really happy to find the store, another blessing, he said, in a string of recent blessings. He moved to Batavia so his daughter could help care for him after he became partially paralyzed. He hadn't been able to play guitar for three years and could only recently pick up an instrument again. With a voice like Waylon Jenning's and some fine flat-picking, he put on a little show playing his political novelty songs based on familiar tunes. Photo by Howard Owens.
NEXgistics employees listen to speakers at the construction site for their company's new distribution center in Pembroke during a topping-off ceremony to mark progress in the project. Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
NEXgistics, a leading name in logistics and supply chain solutions, celebrated a significant milestone today in the construction of its new corporate headquarters. In a time-honored tradition, the final piece of steel was hoisted 50 feet above a cheering crowd during a topping-out ceremony signaling the next phase of construction.
The event was attended by key company stakeholders, local officials, and other project partners, united in their efforts to secure NEXgistics’ long-term future. Scheduled to open by the end of 2023, the new 140,000-square-foot facility ushers in a new era at NEXgistics.
Steve Northman, President of NEXgistics, addressed the crowd by saying, "We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone for our new headquarters. This modern facility will embody our company values of innovation, collaboration, and growth. It will serve as a hub for our talented team to better serve our clients as we grow right here in Western New York."
Town Supervisor Tom Schneider said, "Creating good-paying jobs is an essential part of our plans to move the Town of Pembroke forward. The logistics industry is a growing sector in our regional economy, and businesses like NEXgistics are creating more jobs for local workers. I thank NEXgistics for their investment and look forward to their future success and growth."
The new NEXgistics headquarters, being completed by Montante Construction, reflects the company's commitment to investing in its future. With state-of-the-art features and a design that prioritizes sustainability and functionality, the headquarters will house various departments, including executive and collaborative offices and warehouse spaces.
“Reaching the topping-off milestone is an exciting accomplishment, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NEXgistics to bring their vision to life,” said Doug Elia, President of Montante Construction. “We are proud to create a space that enables NEXgistics to grow and invest in our community for years to come.”
The construction project is estimated to cost $17.6 million and is a generator of significant economic activity in Corfu, NY and beyond. The facility will support 24 jobs and result in additional direct and indirect benefits to the region.
"NEXgistics is a family business that has grown by leveraging technology, expertise, and strategic partnerships to drive innovation and supply chain efficiencies,” said Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center president and CEO. “This project builds on their success and affirms our strategic investment in key sectors of the Genessee County economy to create cutting-edge products and jobs."
Steve Northman, President of NEXgistics Photo by Howard Owens
Six Flags Darien Lake is looking for bone-chilling and eerie individuals to join the Entertainment team! 200 team members are needed for the 2023 Fall Season. Scare actors, ghouls, make-up artists, Boo Fest Attendants, Costumers, and Ushers are just a few of the positions available for the ghoulish job in town!
Enjoy frightfully fun team member perks like in-park discounts, rewards, recognitions, exclusive team member events, and more.
Open auditions and interviews will be held every Tuesday and Saturday now through September 2, from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Six Flags Darien Human Resources Building. Interested applicants should bring their Social Security Card and a current Photo ID with proof of age OR a school ID & Birth Certificate.
Applicants are encouraged to apply online at any time by visiting sixflags.com/darienlake/jobs. From first-time job seekers to retirees looking for part-time work, Six Flags has something for everyone.For questions, call the Six Flags Darien Lake Human Resources office at 585 599 5108, Monday – Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday's Ribbon Cutting at Alleghany Farm Services. From left, Brian Cousins, president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, Chad Klotzbach, Dianne Klotzbach, Drew Klotzbach, Harriett Klotzbach, Morgan Wagner, and Craig Wagner. Photo by Howard Owens.
"Hard work and a good wife" is the answer that quickly came to mind to Drew Klotzbach when asked why a company he founded 40 years ago with a backhoe and a bulldozer is still going into its second generation of ownership.
Now Alleghany Farm Services uses the most advanced equipment in the business to precisely install farm field drainage systems, laying more than five million feet of pipe a year, and now employing more than 30 people in the Town of Alabama and in Delaware.
Located at 7342 Alleghany Road in Basom, Alleghany Farm Services celebrated its four decades in business with a party, equipment and history displays, a back-hoe "certification" practice for kids, and an adult backhoe competition, along with a catered lunch and ice cream.
The company remains a family venture.
"We bring my 94-year-old grandmother out," said Chad Kotzbach, Drew's son and now the managing partner. "She does a lot of our mailers, and that keeps us busy."
The other big secret to success, Drew said, is the customers.
"The customer base too, and especially agricultural customers, are great people to work with," Drew said. "Yep, that's really what's made us grow is a great customer base," Chad added, "It's about relationships. This is a relationships business."
Chad Klotzbach with some of the historical artifacts related to Alleghany Farm Service and drainage tiles. Photo by Howard Owens.
Chad Klotzbach shows off an old drainage tile. Drainage tiles were introduced to the U.S. from Scotland at a farm in Seneca County in 1838. They were once made from fired clay, with the pipes shaped around a worker's calf (which Klotzbach is explaining). Installing clay, and later concrete, drainage tiles, was labor intensive. Nearly 60 years ago, plastic, corrugated pipe was introduced, which can be laid in long layers, and now are placed precisely in farm fields with GPS technology. Photo by Howard Owens.
Children who visited Alleghany Farm Services on Thursday could operate a backhoe with the assistance of an experienced adult. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
The adult backhoe competition involved removing basketballs from the top of traffic cones, dumping them in a bucket, and then trying to place the balls back on top of the cones. Photo by Howard Owens.
Bradley Snyder and his mom Michelle Snyder, business partners for Windy Brew, open their second location Thursday at 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia. Submitted photo.
It was a year ago Thursday when Bill and Michelle Snyder spent their wedding anniversary dinner discussing business ambitions to open a second location for Windy Brew, Michelle says.
And a year later, the couple is celebrating its 32nd anniversary and the opening of that location at 56 Harvester Ave. in Batavia. Windy Brew is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It took some connections in Batavia and the local business world — Rob Credi of Pub Coffee Hub and Crapshoot Commissary, and Tammy Hathaway of Batavia Development Corp., the couple said — and then plans began to unfold.
“And when we were at dinner a year ago, we talked about opening a second location and reached out to some friends in the City of Batavia to see if there were any buildings for sale or for lease, and we came across the Harvester Center through Tammy, and she put us in the direction of talking to Rob … and that's how we got in touch with (Harvester Center Manager) Jarrod Clark and took this space,” Michelle said about the street-level site on the city’s east side.
“We completely renovated the area that we have. We had some tear-out and things like that. There are two complete new bathrooms. The taproom and bar are all brand new. All the tables and chairs, it’s all brand new. We have shiplap walls, the floor is like a vinyl planking, and the bar was custom-built by a friend of ours.
“It’s beautiful. I wanted a rustic, industrial look, and I feel like we really captured that with the way the heating and cooling ventilation and our chairs and tables just really came together really nice,” she said.
It’s a family partnership between Michelle and her son Bradley Snyder. They share their story online about how the family-run business began with a passion and love for beer. Someone gave them a beer kit as a gift, and that turned into buying a kettle and going into a full-grain brewing hobby.
“Then we thought it was time to share our love with others,” the Snyders said.
The first Windy Brew is on their home property in Strykersville, and the Snyders have been running it for six and a half years.
There are 15 beers on tap, a cider and, with a full liquor license, there will be mixed drinks and wine available as well at the Batavia location, Michelle said. “But our focus is really our craft beer,” she said.
“I consider us a brewpub. But the city of Batavia said it has to be a restaurant tap room, so I don't know. They have their own version of what a brewpub is,” she said.
As for the food menu, there will be pulled pork sandwiches made from pork that is smoked at the Strykersville facility, loaded nachos, pretzels with dill pickle dip, chips and dip, a taco basket, and tortilla chips with salsa and guac.
The long wooden bar in variegated hues of blond is highlighted by the dropped hooded lights that give off a yellow glow. There's a definite juxtaposition of industrial silver ceiling fixtures atop the rustic flooring and weathered side paneling for an eclectic mix of design materials. Adding to the ambiance will be musician Rob Koepf, performing 1980s and 90s rock and classic country from 7 to 10 p.m. this Saturday.
Michelle is anxiously awaiting for another vendor to open in the other half of the property, as they will be sharing some equipment, and Windy Brew will also be making custom pizzas as part of the menu. That is “coming soon,” Michelle said.
“I am just so excited that we are here and able to open at this point. It's been a long road, but it's been well worth it," she said. "I feel it's going to be really great for Batavia to have this location. And customers seem to be very excited about us opening in the Batavia area.”
Though there is a clear definition between the two businesses, the other half of the site will be quite visible, and at least one operator has been identified as Vianiliz “Vee” Echevarria Rivera and her mother Elizabeth under the takeout restaurant name of Linda Borinqueña.
Rivera had hoped to open in June, and said that she had unexpected delays and would have to push that date back.
Meanwhile, Windy Brew will be there, with hours of 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Vincent Tata, RN, has been named director of patient services for HCR Home Care’s Finger Lakes Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA).
In this role, Tata supervises the day-to-day clinical operations and all patient care for the CHHA. Tata brings more than a decade of experience to this new role. Most recently, he served as senior manager of clinical operations at UR Medicine Home Care.
Tata earned a master’s degree in school administration/supervision and bachelor’s degrees in sports medicine and health/physical education K-12 from Canisius College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Rochester School of Nursing. He resides in Ogden, N.Y.
The new Jersey Mike's franchise opened this morning with a "ribbon" (in this case, a strip of sandwich paper wrap) cutting.
The location on Lewiston Road is in the parking lot of the former Kmart store. The new shop's neighbors are Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie. Those businesses have not yet opened.
Pictured are Jonathan Duque, Marlon Duque, Brooklyn Zeier, Kayla Sexton, Evan Mayer, Town of Batavia board member Patti Michalak, and Betsy Mihm, representing Special Olympics.
Mayer is the franchise owner. Mayer and his staff in the photo are all from New Jersey. The beachballs are meant to represent the Jersey Shore.
The Kmart property is being developed by Florida-based Benderson Development. The company is also planning a second building for similar businesses in the parking lot. No plans have been announced yet for the former Kmart building itself.
On Monday morning, Graham Corp. President and CEO Dan Thoren, accompanied by executive team members, rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the company's 55th anniversary as a publicly traded company.
In a statement, Thoren said, “We are proud to commemorate fifty-five years as a public company by participating in the opening bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. This is a tribute to every associate at Graham who worked hard this past year to bring us to record sales and orders. Their dedication to Graham and their deep engagement with their work for our valued customers and the security of our nation makes me excited for our future.”
Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or the “Company”), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission-critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy and process industries, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2023 (“first quarter fiscal 2024”).
Daniel J. Thoren, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We had a better-than-expected start to the year with strong first-quarter results. We had improved execution, utilized our expanded capacity and are timely delivering to customer requirements, even as schedules may shift. We also benefited in the quarter from an unusually better mix of business and the timing of projects flowing through production. Importantly, we continue to strengthen our relationships with our defense customers, advance opportunities in the space industry and are positioning the business to serve the new energy markets with cryogenic solutions. The investments we made to meet defense customers’ delivery requirements have proven to be effective and was validated by the $13.5 million strategic investment we received to expand our capabilities and be ready to support future opportunities, if selected. We have earned the position of being a key strategic supplier to support the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.”
Separately, the Company announced today that it had received a strategic investment by a customer to expand production capabilities at its Batavia, New York facility.
He added, “While we delivered in the quarter, there is still much work to do to get where we need to be as an organization. We are making investments in infrastructure, information systems and people. We are evolving the culture of the Company as well. I have been excited to see how our teams are questioning and challenging each other. Everyone is stepping up to own our future. While we have made measurable progress these last two years, we will continue to drive to advance our operations to deliver on our goals to exceed $200 million in revenue and achieve low to mid-teen adjusted EBITDA margins by fiscal 2027.”
First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Performance Review(All comparisons are with the same prior-year period unless noted otherwise.)
($ in millions except per share data)
*Graham believes that adjusted EBITDA (defined as consolidated net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, other acquisition related expenses (income), and other unusual/nonrecurring expenses), and adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales), which are non-GAAP measures, help in the understanding of its operating performance. Moreover, Graham’s credit facility also contains ratios based on adjusted EBITDA as defined in the lending agreement.Graham also believes that adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per share, which excludes intangible amortization, other costs related to the acquisition, and other unusual/nonrecurring (income) expenses, provides a better representation of the cash earnings of the Company.See the attached tables and other information on pages 10 and 11 for important disclosures regarding Graham’s use of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share, as well as the reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted net income per share.
Net sales of $47.6 million increased 32%, or $11.5 million. Growth in the defense market, as well as improvements in the commercial aftermarket, more than offset softness in the refining industry and declines in the space market. Aftermarket sales to the refining and petrochemical markets were $9.2 million, up 49%. See supplemental data for a further breakdown of sales by market and region.
Compared with the prior year period, the 63% increase in gross profit and 440 basis point expansion of gross margin reflected higher margin projects, improved pricing, timing of material receipts and improving execution.
Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”), inclusive of amortization, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $7.3 million, or 15% of sales, up $1.5 million over the prior-year period. Approximately $0.9 million of the increase was attributable to higher performance-based compensation expense, including $0.8 million related to the supplemental performance bonus payout to Barber Nichols employees in connection with the 2021 acquisition.
Net income nearly tripled to $2.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income* and net income per diluted share* were $3.6 million and $0.33, respectively, compared with $1.3 million and $0.12 during the same period a year ago.
Cash Management and Balance Sheet
Cash generated from operations in the first quarter was $8.6 million. Cash and cash equivalents on June 30, 2023, were $24.7 million up from $18.3 million on March 31, 2023. Capital expenditures for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 were $1.5 million.
Debt at quarter end was down $0.4 million to $11.3 million compared with March 31, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with its lending agreement with a leverage ratio as calculated in accordance with the terms of the credit facility of 1.6x. At June 30, 2023, the amount available under the revolving credit facility was approximately $26 million to support organic growth initiatives.
Orders and Backlog
Orders for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023, were up $27.6 million, or 69%, to $67.9 million compared with $40.3 million for the same period of fiscal 2023. Included in orders and backlog is the $13.5 million strategic investment from a major defense customer which the Company announced separately today. The purpose of the investment is to expand its Batavia production capabilities for complex defense components including delivering on $8.5 million follow on orders received from that customer.
Aftermarket orders for the refining and petrochemical markets were $7.9 million in the first quarter fiscal 2024, down from $10.1 million in the first quarter fiscal 2023 and lower than the $9.3 million in orders received in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.
Backlog for the quarter was $322.0 million, up 24% compared with the prior-year period and up 7% compared with the end of the trailing fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Approximately 50% of orders currently in backlog are expected to be converted to sales in the next twelve months and another 25% to 30% is expected to convert to sales over the following year. The majority of orders expected to convert beyond twelve months are for the defense industry, specifically the U.S. Navy.
Christopher J. Thome, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, noted, “The strategic investment we received from our defense customer is recorded in backlog and represents pre-payment on current and potential future orders. The cash investment will be used to expand our capabilities and positions us to meet our customer’s requirements and support the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding schedule.”
In a celebration of professional growth, Tompkins Community Bank has announced the promotion of Laura Geary to vice president, community banking division manager. A 30-year veteran of the banking industry, Geary will be responsible for overseeing the operations and strategies of 16 retail branches throughout Western New York (WNY), ensuring that the needs of customers in the community are met.
“During her 17 years at Tompkins, Laura has been instrumental in the continued development of our employees and the experience they provide to our customers,” said Diane Torcello, president of Tompkins’ WNY market. “Her strategic thinking is an asset to our clients and the community at large, and we can’t wait to see her continued positive impact in this new role.”
A graduate of SUNY Fredonia, Geary previously served as the training and retail banking manager at Five Star Bank before joining Tompkins in 2006. Most recently, Geary served in the role of vice president, organizational development manager at Tompkins. An active member of her community in Piffard, New York, Geary serves as vice president of the York Central School Board, Secretary of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, and is a volunteer for Odyssey of the Mind.
Shin Iburi and Akari Lewis-Iburi, the brother and sister duo behind Iburi Photography, now located at 35 Jackson Street in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
Akari Lewis-Iburi and Shin Iburi are mixing a keen eye for light and shadow and composition to capture the special moments and occasions of area families and couples.
Their success so far has made it possible for the brother and sister team to open a photography studio in Downtown Batavia.
They've been working together as photographers for more than a decade.
Akari Lewis-Iburi was always interested in photography, she said. She took her first photojournalism class in high school and continued photography as a hobby into college.
It wasn’t until deep into her college career that her brother asked her to go photograph a wedding for the first time.
“It was the summer of my senior year in college,” Akari recalled. “I was an English major, but I actually wanted to be a journalist. I was really interested in photojournalism. My brother got asked to shoot a wedding, and that was our first wedding together. From there, it kind of snowballed.”
The pair now owns and operates a photography studio that specializes in weddings, engagements, senior photos, family photos and maternity shoots. Pulling from her journalistic roots, both Akari Lewis-Iburi and Shin Iburi mix the art of being a wallflower and staging engaging photos. Customers can expect to receive images that feel both beautiful and natural.
Since moving into the new, larger studio space, the siblings hope to install a projector screen within the studio. The pair believes that it will help the couples reminisce about their wedding day in a new way.
“I want them to feel what they felt on their wedding day,” Akari said. “I want them to look back on that moment and feel those feelings again. It’ll be a nice closure to our working relationship.”
Akari also plans to make her new studio space a place for communal gatherings. Since experiencing live music has also been one of her passions, she foresees the studio place to host live music nights showcasing local bands and open mic nights.
“When I was a kid growing up here, there was this cool coffee shop on main street,” she said. “I just want to give a space for original music.”
Iburi Photography is located at 35 Jackson St. in Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Iburi Photography, located at 35 Jackon St., Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
In the post-COVID world of supply issues, Katie Carpenter and Dana Chamberlain decided the best thing to do was start making their own ice cream for their ice cream shop on Route 98, just south of the Village of Alexander.
So they renovated a barn on the property and turned it into a rustic eatery that not only offers premium ice cream but a limited lunch menu that Carpenter said will grow with time.
While Vintage Cow Ice Cream has been open for five years, the shop is a new member of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and with the expansion as a reason to celebrate, the chamber -- in connection with the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce -- hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday.
Both women are farmers, and Carpenter said the shop is an extension of their farming businesses.
"I think being able to connect with consumers directly and see that full circle is something I enjoy," Carpenter said. "We all work so hard every day to make a quality product but to be able to actually serve a product to customers and get to know your community and build relationships, that's probably been the most enjoyable."
Carpenter said the shop currently offers about 10 flavors of ice cream in cow-themed sizes such as calf, heifer, and bull, and besides brownies and cream, cookies and cream, and lemon cookie crunch, flavors include minty moo, calf-inated coffee, and the signature flavor, moo tracks, which is sweet cream with fudge and peanut butter cups.
"And starting just today, we're doing a new flavor that we're going to call moo chew, which is bubble gum with bubblegum pieces in it," Carpenter said.
The milk for the ice cream is supplied by Pittsford Dairy, which offers milk with a creamier flavor than many other dairies.
The food menu currently features hamburgers made with beef from both the Carpenter and Chamberlain farms, and Carpenter said as part of the menu expansion, they will offer soups in the winter.
"We plan to be open more year-round now, so we'll close right before Christmas and then open back up about mid-February," Carpenter said.
The Vintage Cow is located at 11105 Alexander Road.
Nick Rada and chef at Burning Barrel BBQ in Corfu. Photo by Howard Owens.
After selling barbecue in front of his house to help locals endure the 2020 pandemic, Nick Rada decided it was time to translate his training and skills with smoked meat and open an authentic Southern BBQ restaurant in Corfu.
It's where his lifelong passion has led him.
“I’ve always had a passion for it. I always would hang out back by my grandfather’s pond. [I would] cook over live fire,” Rada said.
After years of cooking with fire, Rada found himself in Greenville, S.C., and he said a man nicknamed “Mr. T” showed him old-school southern barbecue. It was there that Rada’s passion for barbecue was solidified. Now, after barbecuing first as a hobbyist, then for those during the pandemic, Rada has opened his own restaurant.
The restaurant offers catering, limited dine-in services and takeout.
Diners can enjoy Southern classics like smoked barbecue chicken, pulled pork, chopped beef and more. Rada also takes great pride in not just perfecting his main dishes but his sides as well. Macaroni and cheese, collard greens and tangy cole slaw are fan favorites.
“It’s about as authentic and true you will get to real barbecue compared to anywhere down south. Even though I’m up in New York State, come on in, and you’ll have good barbecue. I take pride in it.”
He makes his own sauce, mixing his own sauce that he developed with a store-bought sauce. The baked beans and potato salad are made from scratch.
He said during the summer, most of his business is catering, and his weekends are frequently booked.
Burnin’ Barrel BBQ is located at 10 E. Main St in Corfu. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
Furthering its expertise in the Western New York market, Tompkins Financial Advisors has promoted Serena Compitello and Aaron Rowe to assistant vice president, trust counsel. In this role, Compitello and Rowe are responsible for assisting clients in their estate planning by collaborating with clients' attorneys and other professionals, who need professional advisement in trusts, estate planning, and asset protection.
“As we see the clientele of Tompkins continue to grow, it is necessary to expand our leadership team to help support our clients in the best way possible,” said James Sperry, Tompkins Financial Advisors senior vice president and managing director for the Western New York market. “Serena and Aaron both bring years of legal experience and we are confident they are the perfect people to help in assisting our clients.”
Aaron Rowe
Compitello has held the position of trust counsel at Tompkins Financial Advisors for the past eight months. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University and a Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School and is licensed to practice law in New York. Compitello is a PathStone Housing Action Corporation and PathStone Development Corporation board member and serves on the Membership Committee of the Monroe County Bar Association. Serena has received several past awards: The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s Legal Excellence Award – Up and Coming Attorney, 2022; Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022 and Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021.
Rowe joined Tompkins Financial Advisors six months ago from Piede Law, LLP, where he served as an associate attorney. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson Law School of the Pennsylvania State University. Rowe is licensed to practice law in New York and is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association. He currently resides in Fairport New York, where he lives with his wife and three young children. Outside of his professional work, Rowe enjoys training and organizing youth leaders in the community, even taking a two-year leave from his university studies to volunteer full-time. Rowe is bilingual and has earned the privileged Eagle Scout achievement from the Boy Scouts of America.