IT’S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY.

  No doubt you have heard someone who did an act of kindness say that they got more out of it than the person they helped. It’s not just a feel-good statement intended to deflect attention away from the helper.  There are concrete benefits to volunteering in your community that go well beyond the assistance […]


Winter with a Purpose

Sometimes in the depths of the long, long winter, it’s difficult to find the motivation to do anything but camp out under the covers in front of the TV…or, in these modern times, in front of our mobile phones. As Jack Frost nips at our nose, the struggle to call an official hiatus on screen-time […]


‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE…STRATEGIC!

As the year winds to a close (or, let’s be honest, steamrolls toward December 31) and we take time to appreciate and give thanks for our many blessings, our thoughts inevitably turn to those in need.  Of course, part of the reason for that is the barrage of phone calls, email and snail mail solicitations […]


THE HANDS THAT BUILT AMERICA

Remember how excited we all were a few months ago when Memorial Day rolled around, signaling the unofficial start of summer?  Then school let out, people took summer vacations, we flipped burgers on backyard grills and oohed and aahed over fireworks displays when we celebrated our nation’s independence on July 4.  September 5th is fast […]


Making Time for What Matters Most

In less than two weeks, the New York State Fair will open its annual twelve day run and families from all over New York and beyond will flock to see the incredible new improvements to the fair facilities, ride the latest gravity defying roller coaster, see the exhibits and animals, and gorge themselves on a […]


What to Do When an Agency Visits for an Inspection

You’re working in your office when suddenly one of your employees is at your door: there are a couple of agents from the NYS Department of Conservation at your facility, here to conduct an inspection because the agency received a complaint about your business.  What should you do?  What can you do?  If you manage […]


Minority and Women Owned Businesses-Everything You Need To Know

Becoming a Minority or Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) in New York State has a number of benefits. Certification improves access to state contracting opportunities, promotes business development among MWBE certified companies, and offers many educational and training opportunities. Unfortunately, one can’t just declare their company a women or minority owned business. There are qualifications […]


HEY, BIG SPENDER! THE 2016 FINAL RULE ON OVERTIME

On Wednesday, May 18, 2016, the US Labor Department issued its final rule on overtime compensation, significantly raising the threshold over which certain salaried workers will become eligible for time-and-a-half wages for overtime. This rule change is connected to the Fair Labor Standards Act and was instigated by President Obama in 2014.  It sets the […]


How Do I Protect My Idea or Business Entity?

If someone steals your personal property, you can file a report with the local authorities and rely on the criminal laws for protection. But how can you protect your idea from being stolen? Ideas, or intellectual property (IP), are considered intangible property in the eyes of the law and can be granted certain legal protections […]


Innovation Hotspots in New York: Helping Entrepreneurs Grow Their Businesses

The New York State Business Incubator and Innovation Hot Spot Support Program was first enacted as part of the 2013-2014 New York State budget to strengthen industry-academic collaboration through funding business incubation throughout the state. Empire State Development (ESD) intended the program to provide valuable support and guidance to early stage startups commercializing academic research […]