Officials break ground on the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center in Geneva

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GENEVA, N.Y. — Construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center is set to begin this fall on the campus of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva, adjacent to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. That’s according to the office of New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio (R–Fayette) who said in a […]

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That’s according to the office of New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio (R–Fayette) who said in a news release that he participated in a groundbreaking for the center on Thursday in Geneva.

Nozzolio, working with Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R–Canandaigua), helped secured the $3.25 million state investment for the construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center.

“As the art of winemaking continues to gain in popularity, we are witnessing an unprecedented growth in the number of wineries here in the Finger Lakes region and the construction of the Viticulture Center will support the continued growth of this important, job-producing industry. The new Viticulture Center will enable our state’s future winemakers to study at the same site where some of the most innovative agricultural research in the nation is taking place every day,” Nozzolio said in the news release.

Viticulture is the science, production, and study of grapes.

Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) of Canandaigua intends to locate its Viticulture and Wine Technology Program, the only program of its kind in the Northeast U.S., at the Viticulture Center, Nozzolio’s office said.

FLCC believes it will create jobs and economic opportunities in a “variety” of fields related to tourism and the wine and grape industry, according to the Upstate lawmaker.

The venue will include a winemaking lab, a grape-crushing pad, rooms for storing and aging wine, classroom space, and a teaching vineyard, the lawmaker said.

The groundbreaking is a “culmination” of hard work, vision, and a commitment to investing in an emerging industry here in this area, Kolb said in the news release.

“The Finger Lakes region has distinguished itself as a world-class area for its wineries, tourism and agriculture, and the new Viticulture Center will expand on that progress. This is an investment in our community, in job-creation, in education and in the future of our area,” said Kolb.

Additionally, Nozzolio and Kolb secured a $4.7 million state grant, for the reconstruction of new greenhouse and research labs at the Agricultural Experiment Station.

It’s “one of the largest” state grants to ever benefit the facility, the lawmakers said.

The research and innovation in these facilities will help to “enhance and support” the agricultural needs of the area, they added.

“Having the Viticulture facility adjacent to our main campus at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park will stimulate a strong Cornell-FLCC partnership for training of viticulture students who will be essential to the New York wine and grape-industry workforce. Our faculty and staff look forward to working with students and faculty from FLCC,” Tom Burr, director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, said in the news release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

A Listener’s View: We Are Our Presentations

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

The goal of every presentation is to influence how listeners will think or act. Given that objective, few presentations make the cut. Although many people treat presentations rather casually, every one counts, and each one is equally important. And here’s why: we are our presentations. We’re the one on stage, and we’re judged by

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And here’s why: we are our presentations. We’re the one on stage, and we’re judged by our listeners not only by what we say –– but also by the effectiveness of the performance.

Every presentation tells a story –– our story. It’s that serious, because public-speaking skills influence the destiny of a business career –– and the advantage goes to the top presenters.

Whether speaking one-on-one or to hundreds, it’s always a presentation. Formal or informal, it’s always a presentation. Whether it’s long or short, it’s still a presentation. Whether it’s a sales speech, management briefing, staff meeting, or discussing a concept, plan, or presenting a proposal, it’s all the same –– it’s a presentation and the presenter is on the line.

Here’s the way to make every speaking engagement a success.

Start by asking, “What do I want someone to say, do, or think after hearing my presentation?”

If you don’t have a clear picture of how you want listeners to respond, they will be confused and dissatisfied. A presentation gets a focus and comes under your control when you know exactly how you want it to be perceived. Write down your answer and make it specific so it becomes your built-in GPS as you develop your presentation. If you don’t, expect a low grade from your audience.

Think about some presentations you’ve heard lately at work or anywhere else. What didn’t you like and what was good? Again, write down your answers and then get it right when preparing a presentation:

What didn’t you like?

• Went too fast or too slow

• Boring, no excitement

• Too long

• Hard to follow

• Too much information

• Not enough information

• Didn’t learn anything

• Heard it before

• Not prepared

• Sounded like a lecture

• Didn’t involve the listeners

• Confusing, couldn’t follow

• Talked down to us

• Poor use of visual aids

• Didn’t understand the listeners

• Not organized

What did you like?

• Good stories

• Involved listeners

• Well-organized

• Easy to follow

• Energetic

• Right length

• Good pace

• Learned something new

• Understood the listeners

• Helpful information

• Interesting

• Well-prepared

• Wanted to hear more

• Good use of visual aids

A presentation is always a “joint venture” between the presenter and listeners

It belongs as much to them as it does to you. This is why pretending they’re looking over your shoulder as you’re preparing it is a good way to think about it, but it also makes it hard work. How so? Because a presentation is always a compromise between what you want to say and what the audience wants to hear.

Having a thorough understanding of the audience (who they are, what they’re thinking, what they’re looking for, the problems they face and so forth) is essential in reaching the goal of successfully influencing how they will think or act so they will want to do business with us.

Connect with your listeners through stories

The good news is that listeners want to believe in you as someone who cares about what they care about. Unfortunately, this occurs infrequently.

The way to do it is with the right stories, those that keep the focus on your listeners. Nix the stories about yourself, your company, your job, your dog, your significant other, or your vacation –– unless they’re a good fit for your audience. If you have kids, you may have great stories, but leave them at home. If you don’t, you’ll lose your listeners. Always keep in mind that your presentation is about them, not you. Here is an example of a story that works:

“The page-one story in The Boston Globe told of an unemployed 58-year-old man who spent two years job-hunting. Trying for a middle-management job in the computer industry, he had sent out hundreds of résumés without a nibble. Now, he thought he might never work again.

Yet, buried in the story was a telling comment. Years before, he was known as ‘Mr. Fixit.’ It was something he loved doing. So, fixated on getting a job, he was blind to the one staring him in the face. There are times when we’re so stuck on going in one direction, we miss the opportunities that are in front of us …”

Always keep your “antennae” up. The best stories come from everyday experiences, news articles, biographies, and even ads.

By using stories to connect with your listeners, something important happens to a presentation. A set of slides — that common tool that’s too often used as a crutch — becomes far less important. If you use slides as a roadmap to let the participants know where you’re going, use words sparingly –– one or two on a screen with a graphic or a short video, perhaps. The objective is to keep the focus on the audience, not the visual aids.

Write the speech out word-for-word

“But that’s a lot of work and this is just an informal presentation,” someone says. Of course, it’s work, but the deadly mistake both new and experienced presenters make is cutting corners on preparation, starting with thinking that writing out the speech isn’t needed.

The writing is a given only if you want to make winning presentations. If you don’t write it out, count on forgetting something, missing or messing up a major point, or saying something you’ll regret.

Turn on your presentation GPS

From the get-go, you have no more than 30 seconds to grab the audience’s attention and make clear what you want to accomplish. One presenter looked at the audience of 75 or so life-insurance agents and said, “Only three of you are going to get rich. How do I know? Only three of you will do what it takes to get there.”

He followed that with the three steps a life-insurance agent must take to reach success. This is where stories, supported by facts, can help engage listeners.

Then, wrap it up, summarizing what you want the listeners to remember about your presentation, and close with a challenge. Here’s how the presenter did it with the life-insurance agent audience. “About 40 of you may be thinking that it sounds interesting, but I’m doing pretty good now,” he said. “Another 25 have found something they would like to try, while seven are thinking you want to get on board, but will drop off tomorrow by early afternoon. That leaves only three, the ones who will strike it rich.”

By the way, never end with a question or a quotation. It’s the easy way out, but it doesn’t work. Always end with your own words.

Get some coaching

This seems to be the universal solution today. Yet, it can be a big help for presenters. No, don’t fret because you can’t hire Scott Pelley or Diane Sawyer (although just watching them in action is an education for presenters).

Your best bet may be a co-worker, a friend, or a significant other. It’s a person who recognizes how much you want to do well. Then set the stage with your new coach. “Be honest. Make some notes and let me know what you like and what you don’t –– and why. Then we can talk about it.”

Can’t find a live coach? Get a digital one. Prop up your smartphone, tablet, or laptop and video your presentation in three- to four-minute segments (yes, watching may be a bit overwhelming at first). Play them back and do it again, and again. You’ll be amazed at the improvement, and you’ll hear and see where you will want to make edits to the text. You may be ready for YouTube!

Making great presentations is an immense challenge. They’re never spontaneous, never left to the last minute, and never read from PowerPoint screens. They’re always written, always edited, and always rehearsed. Those who do it best are those who recognize that giving a presentation isn’t what they do; it’s who they are.

John R. Graham of GrahamComm is a marketing and sales consultant and business writer. He publishes a monthly eBulletin, “No Nonsense Marketing & Sales.” Contact him at johnrg31@me.com, or at johnrgraham.com

A chat with entrepreneur Jud Gostin

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The first feature interview in our “Region of Entrepreneurs” series with The Central New York Business Journal is with an exited entrepreneur. Across upstate New York, there are entrepreneurs who have grown a successful business, and in many cases, more than one business. Sometimes referred to as “serial entrepreneurs,” these are businesspeople with the ability to see the potential for growth and recognize the rich resources available help reach their goal. Jud Gostin is an entrepreneur that has found great success in upstate New York.

Gostin currently serves as chairman of 3Pound Health, LLC. He is also the CEO of Aspen Hollow Ventures LLC, a firm investing in and helping develop high-tech startup and fledgling companies. Gostin recently retired as president, CEO and board chairman of Sensis Corporation (now called Saab Sensis), a firm he founded in 1985. Through his leadership and direction, Sensis grew into a market leader of sensors and information technology for the world’s militaries, civil-aviation authorities, airports, airlines, and medical-equipment companies.

We asked Gostin about his experiences and insights into building several successful businesses in upstate New York.

Q: You have a successful history in building Sensis over an extended period of time. What is it about upstate New York that allowed you to succeed in building your business over that time period?

A: There are a number of factors underlying Sensis Corporation’s success but, without question, the principal one is that upstate New York was (and is) home to a collection of stunningly talented electronic, mechanical, and software engineers. A number of these people joined Sensis to provide a sustainable competitive edge in the company’s highly technical Defense and Air Traffic Control markets.

Our remarkable engineering talent is a rare and extremely valuable resource that is too often underappreciated and underutilized. Not only is this talent largely responsible for the sustained success of established companies like Lockheed Martin, SRC, Anaren, Inficon and Saab Sensis, and for the growth of numerous younger high-tech companies, it can also enable the success of future high-tech start-ups. Of course, the latter will happen only to the extent that entrepreneurs step up to provide the inspirational vision, innovative strategy, and enthusiastic leadership needed to utilize this talent effectively.

Q: You continue to be active in the upstate New York entrepreneurial ecosystem. You provide mentorship and have made a recent investment in the health-care startup, 3Pound Health. As an entrepreneur, how have you made the switch from sensor and information technology to health care?

A: Although 3Pound Health’s mission is improving wellness more effectively and affordably, its approach is very much rooted in information technology. For me, the big switch was in leaving the world of defense and civil aviation, a world I knew very well, to enter the unfamiliar world of health care. Wanting to remain involved in the growth of high-tech companies — it’s what I truly enjoy — I had no choice but to switch. That is because the terms of my severance agreement with Saab Sensis precluded me from any meaningful participation in defense or civil aviation. But, that was okay because, for a number of reasons, I looked forward to the switch. Without leaving high-tech, I would be entering a market space that is new, exciting, dynamic, and high-growth. It’s also a market that has urgent unmet needs and offers the opportunity to benefit society. The protection I had against the pitfalls of entering an unfamiliar market was an awareness and acceptance of my ignorance, and a recognition of the need to rely upon others who possessed great domain knowledge as well as integrity and sincere interest. Fortunately, I knew a handful of people with these qualities and they agreed to participate.

Q: If you were a student today at an upstate college or university interested in starting a company, what advantages would you have by staying in the area upon graduation?

A: There are real advantages to starting a company in upstate New York. First, as previously mentioned, the region is home to a wealth of exceptional high-tech talent — those already employed who are looking for exciting new opportunities and others graduating from any of the outstanding regional colleges and universities. An entrepreneur who provides the visionary leadership to attract and effectively focus the available high-tech talent will gain a key ingredient in a high-tech company’s success formula.

Second, over the past few years, the region’s business community has come to realize that its future economic health is highly dependent upon the success of high-tech start-up companies and that this requires an infrastructure that effectively encourages and supports entrepreneurial activity. In fact, to a large extent, this supportive infrastructure is now in place. It includes a number of first and second stage investment groups, a strong mentorship program, and incubators that provide low cost facilities and tax advantages while promoting healthy entrepreneurial interchanges. In other words, today, far more than ever before, in upstate New York, an entrepreneur with a good business idea and the courage to build a company around that idea has access to the funding, mentorship and facilities that improve the likelihood of business success.

Third, within the region, after decades of economic stagnation, a sense of urgency about the need for the emergence of vibrant, modern, high-tech businesses is clearly discernible. This has led to what, in effect, is a cheerleading atmosphere surrounding entrepreneurs and the companies they form. In other words, entrepreneurial activity in upstate New York is exciting and enjoyable. There are many advantages to being a big fish in a relatively small pond.

Q: Lifestyle options and outlets mean a lot to entrepreneurs. As a fan of outdoor pursuits, what is it that endears you to upstate?

A: That’s easy — lots of lakes for swimming and boating, mountains for climbing, great fishing, uncrowded and affordable golf courses, a handful of family oriented ski areas, numerous running and bicycling clubs, lots of easily accessible state and county parks, dramatic scenic changes through four seasons, and a relative absence of natural catastrophes (i.e., hurricanes, tornados, major floods, earthquakes, and forest fires). Outdoor living is, without question, an attribute of upstate New York that is hard to beat, no matter where you go.

Q: You obviously see value in staying connected to upstate’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. What value do you see in that connectivity and what advice can you give to others interested in participating?

A: I stay involved because I enjoy entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial activity, because of a desire to help a community that has given me so much, and out of a belief that my experience and knowledge can make a difference. For me, staying involved is a blast, and I would encourage other business people to try it. If you’re inclined to do so, and want to know how to go about it, I’d recommend contacting CenterState CEO, in Syracuse. They can connect you with investment groups and startup-mentorship programs looking for additional contributors.

We couldn’t agree more with Jud’s assessment of the region’s burgeoning entrepreneurial community. The great news is that we’re truly at the early stages of the amazing story that is unfolding in here. We would encourage you to get involved in the many opportunities that are available for you to connect. To understand what those opportunities may be, reach out to Seth Mulligan, director of venture development at CenterState CEO at (315) 470-1800 or email: smulligan@centerstateceo.com. We look forward to our next installment in the “Region of Entrepreneurs” series, highlighting another valuable contributor to the success of upstate New York.

Robert M. (Rob) Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO. Contact him via email at: rsimpson@centerstateceo.com. Kyle Blumin is an entrepreneur in residence at Syracuse’s StartFast Venture Accelerator. Contact him on Twitter at @kyleblumin

Idea for “giving bag” wins Cornell student sustainability competition

Health Care

ITHACA — An idea to save hotels money on items that guests leave behind in rooms won the third annual student sustainability competition at the

Electronic devices cause overuse injuries, Rome therapist says

Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

ROME — Today’s workers, especially the young, often seem tethered to smartphones, tablets, and laptops. When combined with use of video-gaming devices at home this can cause overuse injuries such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, an area health-care professional says. Michelle Madore, an occupational therapist at Chestnut Commons Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in

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Michelle Madore, an occupational therapist at Chestnut Commons Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Rome, says these common devices can lead to pain from injuries of muscles and joints in the hands, arms, and upper body, according to a news release from Rome Memorial Hospital, parent of Chestnut Commons.

According to the release, occupational therapists have seen an increase of young patients with these repetitive-motion injuries since the overuse of electronic devices is common among young people. Most patients that come in with overuse injuries are in their mid-20s, Madore said in an email.

These injuries were previously typically developed over time from work-related actions such as typing or operating machinery and it is important for young people to understand that too much continuous texting or game play can lead to physical problems, Madore said in the release.

Madore explained that common injuries from overuse of cell phones and gaming devices involve the thumb, which can limit the use of the hand.

“In my opinion, the worst devices would be the video-gaming systems,” Madore said in the email. She explained that the controllers for those gaming devices are designed to encourage wrist flexion and the buttons force repetitive use of the thumb in all directions.

How bad can it get?

“I had one patient that came to me for carpal tunnel symptoms; she admitted that she is often on her phone or laptop and tablet, and upon further evaluation I found that she had nerve impingement up to her neck from her poor posture,” Madore said.

Madore suggests taking frequent breaks when using electronic devices because hours of continuous use can take a toll on joints in the hand, elbow, forearm, shoulders and neck. She also recommends changing positions frequently and using light pressure when operating any device.

“If you notice any pain or stiffness, you should stop immediately and rest your hands,” Madore said in the news release. “If the pain continues, you should take a break from all devices for a few days,” she said.

If pain continues even after a break from use, medical treatment may be required to prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines, bracing of the affected areas, or physical and occupational therapy, according to Madore.

Madore said she is careful with how she uses her own electronic devices.

“I am aware of how common these issues are, so I take [preventive] measures to avoid problems,” she explained. “I try to be more aware of how I hold onto devices; a neutral position is the best position for your wrist.”

A neutral wrist position means the wrist is straight, not bent backwards or down, and there is no force on it, according to Madore.

“If you are using something like a laptop or tablet, you should place several pillows on your lap to rest your arms on. Ideally, the screen should be at eye level. This will allow for a more neutral neck position by not having to look down significantly,” she said in the release.

She also recommends sitting in a chair with good back support when using any device. “Positions that could cause injuries include slouching on the couch, looking down into your lap and holding the device or game controller close to your body,” she explained.

But in the end, it’s all about moderation.

“It is important to not use these devices constantly; I see it all the time, a group of people at a restaurant and everyone has their nose in their phone or table when it isn’t likely a necessity at that point,” Madore said in the email.

Chestnut Commons Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, located at 107 E. Chestnut St., is the rehabilitation center of Rome Memorial Hospital. Chestnut Commons is one of the largest outpatient rehabilitation centers in the area, according to its website.

Contact The Business Journal at news@cnybj.com

Hancock Estabrook formalizes its family-business succession planning practice

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse law firm of Hancock Estabrook, LLP recently announced it has initiated a practice focusing on Family Business Succession Planning. Attorneys in this practice area work with closely-held business entities that are planning business transitions to family members, to business partners, and new owners, the firm says. They also work with its

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SYRACUSE — The Syracuse law firm of Hancock Estabrook, LLP recently announced it has initiated a practice focusing on Family Business Succession Planning.

Attorneys in this practice area work with closely-held business entities that are planning business transitions to family members, to business partners, and new owners, the firm says.

They also work with its clients’ accountants, financial planners, bankers, and other attorneys that may be involved.

The practice includes 12 attorneys from Hancock Estabrook’s corporate, labor and employment, litigation, tax, and trusts and estates practices, the firm says.

“It’s a natural outflow of the expertise we have in the office,” Marion Hancock Fish, a partner at Hancock Estabrook, says in an interview.

Fish also focuses on practice areas that include trusts and estates, elder law and special needs, tax law, and corporate law.

“The way I view this practice group is a formalization of our team that was always in existence,” says Richard (Rick) Scrimale, who is of counsel with Hancock Estabrook and also focuses on the firm’s corporate law, tax law, and trust and estates practices.

Perhaps as many as half of the firm’s clients have some association with a local family business, Fish says.

They might own a family business, work for one, or have family members that do, she adds.

“So it’s a very natural tie-in for the law firm to try to develop a platform for having a conversation with a client about their family business needs, whether it’s for current planning or planning for their future, and particularly for planning for succession for the business,” Fish says.

Family businesses are a “huge” part of the Central New York business landscape, especially with the demise of larger manufacturing companies in the area, Fish adds.

Hancock Estabrook wants to be “recognized” as an organization that could deliver “effective” services to family-business owners, she adds.

The legal services under family-business succession planning include advice on buying, selling, and cross-purchase agreements.

A cross-purchase agreement is a shareholders’ agreement, says Scrimale.

“It’s an agreement that’s not going to constitute necessarily a purchase right now but is going to restrict the transfer of the ownership of that entity within the family members, the current owners,” he says.

A retirement, a death, or disability may trigger a provision under that shareholder’s agreement to transfer the business either back to the company or to the next generation, Scrimale says.

Cross purchase means it is an acquisition by individuals of ownership and not a redemption, which is a purchase back by the company, he adds.

It’s an example of the type of situation in which attorneys of different expertise can get involved, Scrimale says.

“The business attorney put the shareholder agreement in place, but it has to mesh with the plan of the owner of the stock … because that has to be transferred,” he says.

The estate attorneys can then help the clients decide if they want to structure the succession plan to minimize estate taxes, and provide a source of retirement income for the retiring generation, and maintain as many tax benefits and deductions for the new generation assuming ownership, Scrimale says.

Besides cross-purchase agreements, other legal services Hancock Estabrook handles under its Family Business Succession Planning practice include business-valuation analysis, entity formation and restructuring, and dealing with business real estate, according to the firm’s website.

Based in Syracuse, Hancock Estabrook also operates an office in Albany. The firm employs a total of 115 people, including 56 attorneys, 48 staff members, and 11 paralegals.

The firm says 36 of the attorneys are partners.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Delta Engineers maps out growth plans

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Small Business, Subscriber Only

ENDWELL — Over the past five years, Delta Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, P.C. has expanded its staff, added new technology, and is looking to continue its expansion efforts into new markets nationally as well as overseas. The firm has grown from 35 to 120 employees, says Anthony Paniccia, president and CEO of Delta.

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The firm has grown from 35 to 120 employees, says Anthony Paniccia, president and CEO of Delta. With that growth, Delta added a new precast concrete group and also purchased a $120,000 laser scanner for use in its surveying work. The result of those two additions has been double-digit growth every year, Paniccia says. On average, over the past five years, the company has grown about 20 percent annually, he says. Paniccia declined to disclose revenue figures.

“The laser scanner has helped us significantly,” he says regarding the company’s growth. As word spreads about the speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of the technology, prospective clients are seeking them out, he says. Delta is one of just a handful of companies in New York using the laser technology, he notes.

The laser scanner records about 50,000 data points per second, resulting in 3D images that are accurate to 1/32nd of an inch, Paniccia says. The laser scanner, with its accuracy, goes a long way toward reducing human error and putting Delta closer to its goal of producing error-free work for its clients, he adds.

“Delta always wants to be on the cutting edge,” he says. “This was the next opportunity for us to be ahead of the curve, and we always want to be ahead of the curve.”

Another area where Delta is making strides is with its precast concrete group, which designs a variety of precast projects such as retaining walls, box culverts, septic tanks, and modular buildings for clients across the country, Paniccia says. Delta is certified to provide this service in 45 states and currently works with clients in 44 states, he says. Along with entering new market areas, Paniccia also hopes Delta will gain more market share in the areas it already serves.

That division of Delta’s business has grown rapidly, he says, due in part to aggressive marketing efforts that include attending trade shows and industry conventions throughout the year. The goal is to attend shows in areas of the country where Delta currently does not have clients in hopes of gaining new ones, he says.

“It has turned out to be a great business opportunity for us to pursue throughout the United States,” Paniccia says.

While Paniccia remains focused on growing in the U.S. through both the precast group and increasing demand for laser scanning, he also has his eye on overseas growth as well.

“We have a few opportunities right now in the United Arab Emirates,” he says. Those prospects could result in a steady enough business in the Middle East to support a satellite office there, he adds.

Other goals Paniccia has outlined for Delta’s future include increasing employment, first to 150 people and eventually 200 employees. That goal is reachable, he says, through both organic growth and acquisitions, if the right opportunities present themselves. “We’re always looking for possible acquisitions,” he says.

Headquartered in 38,000 square feet of space at 860 Hooper Road in Endwell, Delta Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors (www.deltaengineers.com) serves the building facilities, precast concrete, transportation, land surveying, and environmental markets. Founded in 1976, the company is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Delta also has offices in Delhi and Vernon.

Delta’s local Southern Tier projects include new dorms under construction at Broome Community College, a dorm project in Oneonta for Newman Development Group, LLC, the Front Street reconstruction project in Binghamton, and the U.S. Rt. 11/Court Street project, also in Binghamton.

Contact The Business Journal at news@cnybj.com

ConMed’s third-quarter profit falls

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Technology

UTICA — ConMed Corp. (NASDAQ: CNMD), a Utica–based surgical-device maker, on Thursday reported that its third-quarter net income fell to $5.7 million, or 20 cents

Upstate Medical unveils IHP expansion, targeting neuroscience research

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

SYRACUSE — The State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University on Oct. 21 formally opened its more than 158,000-square-foot Neuroscience Research Building (NRB), an expansion of Upstate’s Institute for Human Performance (IHP). The one-block long, five-story addition, which is adjacent to the IHP, cost $72 million, Upstate Medical said in a news release.

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The one-block long, five-story addition, which is adjacent to the IHP, cost $72 million, Upstate Medical said in a news release.

The facility is located on a two-acre site bounded by Harrison and Madison streets, and Crouse and Irving avenues in Syracuse.

The expansion is designed to help bring the researchers at Upstate Medical University together to study the brain, said Rosemary Rochford, vice president for research at Upstate Medical, in speaking with reporters following a tour of the facility.

“We’re bringing all the scientists from different parts of the campus together. We’re bringing our clinical researchers and our basic science researchers to really begin to look at … basic functions of the brain and also how the brain doesn’t go so right sometimes in disease,” Rochford said.

The researchers at Upstate Medical, who are already focused on studying the brain, will move into the facility next April, Rochford said.

The expansion also seeks to speed the pace of scientific discovery and to strengthen Upstate’s research enterprise, projected this year to total $34 million, the medical school said.

“It is a vital part of our mission, that being research and new knowledge. It’s also vital for the region … and that, of course, is the new knowledge-based economy,” Dr. David Smith, president of Upstate Medical, said in his remarks during the ceremony.

The formal opening preceded a public lecture that featured three of the country’s leading names in brain-research science. They included Susan Hockfield, Nicholas Spitzer, and Dennis Choi, who discussed how present-day research is leading to new advances in the prevention, treatment, and cures for disorders of the brain.

Hockfield is president emerita and professor of neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Spitzer is director of the Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind and professor of neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego. Choi serves as director of the Institute for Advanced Neurosciences and professor and chair of the department of neurology at Stony Brook University.

The building design

The Boston–based architecture firm Goody Clancy designed the expansion to achieve the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) silver designation from the U.S. Green Building Council, Upstate Medical said.

The building also features a parking garage for 51 vehicles, mechanical space, loading dock, and space for a future cyclotron (a type of particle accelerator). The structure also has a combination of 31 wet/dry, open/closed laboratories and laboratory support that includes microarray, microscopy, and phenotyping cores, offices, and administrative space.

It also includes a two-story atrium providing gathering space, conference rooms, a lounge, and a physical connection to the existing building, Upstate Medical University said.

About the research

Interdisciplinary research at the IHP is currently devoted primarily to human activity and rehabilitation.

The NRB will house investigators from various disciplines whose studies involve disorders of the nervous system, such as behavioral disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), diseases of the eye, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or what’s known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, according to Upstate Medical.

The building is designed to allow scientists and researchers to easily move between different labs, and not confining them to a single “cubby hole,” Rochford said.

“So, that fosters interaction,” she said.

Upstate Medical is also using state funding to invest in “cutting edge” technology in the NRB, Rochford added.

“We’re going to get microscopy and this is a way to look inside the brain, so you get better visualization of what the brain is actually doing,” she said.

Upstate Medical is investing in next-generation sequencing technology as well, Rochford said, referencing the scientific mapping of the human genome and noting that Upstate researchers will use the technology in their study of the brain.

“Understanding people’s genetics and why they’re susceptible to different types of diseases, and in this case, neurological diseases,” Rochford explains.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Eat to Live Food Cooperative opens on Syracuse’s south side

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse University’s (SU) South Side Initiative Office and the Southside Community Coalition have formally opened the Eat to Live Food Cooperative at 2327 S. Salina St. in Syracuse. Organizers and project stakeholders held a small ceremony on Oct. 15 to mark the occasion. GroundWorks Capital Coalition (GC2), the Gifford Foundation of Syracuse, and

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse University’s (SU) South Side Initiative Office and the Southside Community Coalition have formally opened the Eat to Live Food Cooperative at 2327 S. Salina St. in Syracuse.

Organizers and project stakeholders held a small ceremony on Oct. 15 to mark the occasion.

GroundWorks Capital Coalition (GC2), the Gifford Foundation of Syracuse, and the Southside Community Coalition worked together on the project that is aimed at bringing healthy food to Syracuse’s South Side, according to SU.

The 3,000-square-foot grocery store and café features healthy food and produce from local farms and distributors.

The cooperatively owned grocery store will serve an area of Syracuse that the state and federal governments have defined as a “food desert,” according to SU.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food deserts “as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers,” according to the website of the American Nutrition Association, a nonprofit that provides nutrition and wellness education.

The Eat to Live Food Cooperative wants to offer the neighborhood residents more healthy food “options,” Shirley Rowser, president of the board of directors at the cooperative, said in her remarks during the ceremony.

The resident member-owners will run the cooperative along with an elected board of directors, SU said in a news release.

Residents and organizations on Syracuse’s south side had the idea to “satisfy the need for affordable and fresh food in the neighborhood,” said Joseph Bryant, president of the Southside Community Coalition.

Reeves Farms of Baldwinsville is among the suppliers, according to Bryant.

“Basically, it’s a grocery store. Anybody can shop [here]. The difference between this and the traditional grocery store is the business model of being cooperatively owned,” Bryant said while speaking to reporters after the ceremony.

Nearly 100 shareholders own the Eat to Live Food Cooperative, Bryant said. Every member-owner has equal voting rights and decision-making rights, he added.

The cooperative employs eight people, including a mix of full- and part-time employees, he said. Bryant wasn’t sure if the employee count would increase over time.

A membership costs $100, SU said, and the cooperative will accept monthly payments.

The project to prepare the store cost about $1.5 million, Bryant said. The entire process started in 2007.

Grants from Empire State Development through the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (CNYREDC), National Grid, the Central New York Community Foundation, the Gifford Foundation, and the Allyn Foundation provided most of the funding for the cooperative, Bryant said.

The CNYREDC grant totaled $394,000, Bryant said.

Irish-Millar Construction, Inc. of Syracuse served as the general contractor on the project.

Independent architect Sekou Cooke designed the building. Cooke came to Syracuse in early 2010 to teach at SU’s School of Architecture and learned about the project from Linda Littlejohn, associate vice president of SU’s South Side Initiative.

“At that point, they didn’t have a budget. They didn’t have a site. They didn’t have a place to go. And I told her she really needs a full scope of architectural services,” Cooke says.

SU students and faculty in the School of Architecture, the College of Law, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, and the School of Information Studies were also involved in the project as part of ongoing academic and engagement work, according to the university.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

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