SCOTIA — John Buhrmaster, president and CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia, is assuming a leadership role as vice-chair on the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Community Bank Advisory Council (CBAC). He will transition to committee chair in October.

Buhrmaster, who joined the nation’s premier consumer rule-making entity last fall, has a two-year term advising Bureau leadership and staff on how the CFPB can further its mission of protecting consumers, while at the same time developing rules that enable community banks under $10 million in assets to continue their effective delivery of banking services to consumers.

The Scotia native, who holds an undergraduate degree in management information systems and marketing from Syracuse University, has served as president and CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia since 2005. The independently owned and operated bank has branches in Albany, Saratoga and Schenectady counties and assets of $500 million. For more information, visit firstscotia.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets announced this week that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to create an alliance between the two independent grocery chains, nearly doubling their collective footprint in the Northeast.

The transaction unites two New York-based grocery chains, and the merged companies say they are expected to be better positioned to compete and offer more value and services to their customers across the Northeast.

Based in Schenectady, Price Chopper/Market 32 was founded by the Golub family in 1932 and operates 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores and one Market Bistro, employing 18,000 in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Locally, the company has stores on Railroad Place, and on Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs, on Route 50 in Wilton, as well as sites in Clifton Park, Mechanicville, and Malta.    

Tops Markets is based in Williamsville, New York, located in Erie County, and operates 162 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, including five that are run by franchisees. According to the company, it is the largest private, for-profit employer in Western New York, and counts more than 14,000 associates.

Scott Grimmett, Price Chopper/Market 32’s President and CEO, will be CEO of and serve on the Board of Directors of the new parent company which will oversee the operations of nearly 300 Price Chopper, Market 32, Market Bistro and Tops Markets stores and collectively employ more than 30,000.

Frank Curci, Tops Markets Chairman and CEO, will serve on the Board of Directors of the new parent company and as a consultant to assist in the transition. Blaine Bringhurst, Price Chopper/Market 32’s Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing and Store Operations, will lead the Price Chopper/Market 32 business. John Persons, Tops Markets President and Chief Operating Officer, will lead the Tops Markets business.

The new parent company will be headquartered in Schenectady. The Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets businesses will retain main offices in Schenectady and Williamsville and will continue to be managed locally by their respective leaders.

“This merger marks a major step forward and collectively elevates our ability to compete on every level,” said Grimmett, in a prepared statement. “It leverages increased value for our customers; advances shared opportunities for innovation; fortifies the depth of our workforce, community and trade partnerships; and ultimately accelerates our capacity to deliver a distinctively modern and convenient shopping experience. Given the vital role that supermarkets and their workforces play in our communities, particularly this past year, I am excited to lead the parent company of these two historic grocery retailers.”  

The transaction is expected to close in the upcoming months, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

The Distinction Center designation, from BlueShield of Northeastern New York, is reserved for programs that meet rigorous standards for quality, patient safety and outcomes. Criteria were expanded in 2020 to include efforts to prevent or treat maternity-related conditions, reduce the rate of cesarean section deliveries, and address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.

“Blue Distinction affirms our unwavering commitment to high-quality, patient-centered maternity care,” said Dr. Amos Cutler, chair, of Saratoga Hospital’s OB/GYN Department, in a prepared statement. “The designation affirms what so many of our patients already know—that you can count on Saratoga Hospital to take great care of you and your baby.”

 The hospital has adopted a collaborative physician-midwife model of care that reflects best practices. Certified nurse midwives perform most routine vaginal deliveries, with OB/GYN physicians always available. The model helps ensure that, as much as possible, families have the experience they want during childbirth. 

 For more information about the Blue Distinction program and a list of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

GLENS FALLS — Gallagher, a global insurance and risk management brokerage firm, this wek announced it would join Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. in its support of the Glens Falls Arena, and extend its naming rights through 2025. The agreement comes following an announcement in December that Gallagher acquired Queensbury-based Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“A key part of growing Gallagher’s business is to work with people and organizations like Cool Insuring Agency who share our common values of ethics, integrity, service and community enrichment,” said Bob Crandall, Area President for Gallagher in Albany, in a prepared statement. “We can’t think of a better way to support the upstate New York community than by serving as a steward of the Arena, and we are excited to be part of its deep roots in Glens Falls.”

The 4,794-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Glens Falls currently serves as the home of a minor league hockey team and also hosts a 7,335 square foot banquet facility called Heritage Hall. While currently closed due to restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arena will continue to host popular local activities including tractor pulls, concerts, public skating, indoor walking and more to the upstate community.

Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. was founded in 1857 by Charles W. Cool, the first mayor of the city of Glens Falls and has served the community for the past 150 years. The partnership extension will include the naming rights to the Arena, which was officially named Cool Insuring Arena in 2018.

“We have developed a great relationship with Cool Insuring over these past few years as our naming rights partner, and we are thrilled that Gallagher wanted to extend our partnership,” said Jeff Mead, General Manager for Cool Insuring Arena. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs office of Harris Beach PLLC is relocating to larger office space in the city’s historic Broadway district to accommodate sustained growth in the region. Harris Beach attorneys and staff are now seeing clients at 513 Broadway, in accordance with proper social distancing guidelines and masking requirements.

The move is part of continued expansion for Harris Beach across multiple practice areas and industry groups. The firm employs 30 attorneys in the Albany-Saratoga Capital Region, up from 19 attorneys just 3 years ago.

The Harris Beach team provides counsel to clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors across the Albany-Saratoga corridor, the Hudson Valley and the North Country, and also supports a range of community organizations and charitable efforts.

“At this challenging time, we are excited to re-invest in the Saratoga community,” said John McManus, office managing partner, Harris Beach Capital Region, in a statement. “We have deep roots here and continue to expand our full-service capabilities to meet the needs of clients in the region and across New York State.”

Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. For more information, go to www.harrisbeach.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — You can find him standing behind the barber’s chair, five days a week, inside of the red brick building on Washington Street where the front door entryway is flanked by the spinning red, white and blue colors of a barber pole, and a flat metal sign that tells you you’ve arrived at Larry’s Barbershop. 

It is a station where he has stood for more than 50 of his 77 years, and since the year The Beatles broke up, since actor George C. Scott played U.S. General George Patton on the silver screen, when a gallon of gas set you back thirty-six cents. 

“I worked in Glenville when I first started, then I came up to Saratoga and bought the barber shop on Van Dam Street from Tom McTygue,” Jenks recalls. “There was about 10 years there, 20 years across the street from Wendy’s where the hospital property is now, and then I came over here, about 20 years ago.”   

He was born in Corinth grew up in his mother’s native village of Ballston Spa, and after high school joined the Navy where he was stationed on an aircraft carrier overseas during the 1960s. He came home and secured a job with GE working in the turbine business when he made the career shift. 

“My wife was a beautician, and I was working at GE when she suggested, ‘Why don’t you try barber-ing.’”  He went to barber school in Schenectady and that was that. 

“Back then, the young men had long hair, but there was always a certain amount that had traditional haircuts,” he muses. “The styles change, but other than a term, they come back to be the same as they always were.” 

He has had longtime customers over several decades and has watched a generation of local kids grow up and have their own kids. 

What’s most surprising? “You’ll be talking to a group of young men and realize that they’ve never been in a barber shop before, because they’d always gone to a salon. College kids especially. Salons for years now have done men and women,” Jenks points out. “The barber shop caters to men, whereas the salons cater to both.”    

There is also the traditional barber’s pole out front. “Oh yeah, that’s how we’ve always been identified.”  The history books teach that the red, white and blue identifier dates back several centuries to a time of the barber-surgeons – when haircutting was offered in addition to medical procedures performed. 

Like most businesses, the era of COVID has been difficult.  “There’s no hollering back and forth like it usually is, because of the virus. Now it’s pretty subdued,” he says, gesturing to a board that hangs on the outside of the front door where people sign one at a time, and noting capacity restrictions in line with safety protocols.  “We’re very careful with masking and sanitizing and only one person per,” he says. The business was temporarily shuttered last year until hair salons and barber shops were allowed to re-open. Those first few weeks were exceptionally busy, with many in need of attention to their hair. Overall, he estimates there has been about a 60% loss of business compared to the time before the pandemic. 

Jenks says if he hadn’t gone into the barber shop business, he most likely would have stayed at GE. 

“I probably would have retired a long time ago,” he says, with a laugh. Someday, he will retire. “I don’t think about it, but I will someday, probably sooner than later for sure.”

For more on Larry’s Barber shop visit https://www.bestprosintown.com/ny/saratoga-springs/larrys-barber-shop

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­— Ferraro, Amodio & Zarecki, CPAs (FAZ) announced the addition of Duff W. Driscoll, CPA/ABV as Director in its Business Valuation Group. 

Driscoll is a Certified Public Accountant with over 35 years of public accounting experience, including several years with Big 4 firm, Ernst and Young. 

Having specialized in valuation and litigation support services for over 25 years, he has participated in more than 600 litigation cases performing valuations and/or economic damage assessments and ancillary services. Valuation subjects have included closely held businesses, professional practices, licenses and pension plan benefits for use in domestic relations and shareholder dispute cases. His economic damage assessments have been performed in connection with matters that include, but are not limited to, business interruption, breach of contract, fraud, professional malpractice, and personal injury claims. 

In addition, he has participated in more than 400 independent business, professional practice license, and pension benefit valuations for a variety of purposes including litigation, mergers and acquisitions, buy and sell transactions, and estate and gift tax matters. 

Driscoll is qualified as a financial expert and has provided in-court testimony in support of his valuation and other economic findings and opinions in New York State Supreme Court in several different counties, U.S. District Court, New York State’s Court of Claims and in New York and Vermont Family Courts. 

Ferraro, Amodio & Zarecki, CPAs, are located on Division Street in Saratoga Springs. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Michael J. Toohey has been elected chairperson of the Saratoga Hospital board of trustees. 

“Our hospital and the Saratoga region benefit enormously from Mike Toohey’ s leadership, experience and perspective, especially during these uniquely challenging times,” Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo Calbone said. 

The prominent attorney and community leader has served on the board since 2013, most recently as vice chairperson. He also is a member of the board of directors of Albany Medical Center, Saratoga Hospital’s affiliate in the Albany Med Health System.

Joining Toohey on the executive committee of the Saratoga Hospital board are Theresa M. Skaine, vice chairperson; N. Keith Stewart, treasurer; and Heather M. Ward, secretary.

Toohey recently retired after more than 45 years with the Law Offices of Snyder, Kiley, Toohey, Corbett & Cox, where he earned a reputation for his expertise in land use, planning, project financing and industrial development. As the author of Planned Unit Development legislation for cities and towns throughout Saratoga County, Toohey has shaped land use and development across the region. 

In addition to the hospital boards, the longtime Saratoga Springs resident currently serves on the board of the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch. He was past president of the boards of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority, the Saratoga County YMCA, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, and the Saratoga Springs Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He also served on the boards of Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties and the Historical Society of Saratoga Springs. He has earned local, state and international recognition for his professional and civic contributions.

Other Saratoga Hospital trustees are Angelo G. Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO; Raimundo C. Archibold Jr.; David J. Collins; Kari P. Cushing; Susan Law Dake; Dr. Kevin Dooley; Judith A. Ekman; Dr. Steven M. Frisch; Michael H. Iacolucci; Frank L. Messa; Dr. Marianne A. Mustafa; Alan C. Oppenheim; Elizabeth Wood Pustolka; J. Thomas Roohan and Janice M. White.

Saratoga Hospital Medical Group provides care at more than 20 locations. The hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Med, Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company has announced that Lisa Wichelns has joined the bank as Branch Manager of the West Avenue Office in Saratoga Springs.

In her role as Branch Manager, Wichelns will oversee operations and develop banking relationships for the West Avenue branch. She brings 10 years of financial services experience to Saratoga National, most recently in mortgage lending and previously in bank management. 

Wichelns is a graduate of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Executive Institute and is a former board member of the Stillwater Community Center. She is originally from Albany and currently lives in Stillwater. 

Part of the Arrow Family of Companies, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company provides banking, wealth management and insurance through 12 locations across the Capital Region. Saratoga National Bank is rated a 5-Star Superior institution by BauerFinancial. To learn more, visit saratoganational.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Continuum Wealth Advisors was established in 2010 by Timothy Smith with the goal of providing more than just investment management. 

With comprehensive planning in mind, Smith started the firm with a belief that all investors, not just the wealthy, deserve access to personalized, comprehensive financial planning and investment advice. 

“The goal is comprehensive planning,” said Stephen Cutting, CPA, who recently joined the firm as vice president Investment Advisory Services. “In addition to investment management, there’s the estate planning, the tax planning and preparation and insurance. Typically, someone might go out and hire an investment management firm to manage their assets, but that’s all they do. They don’t have the expertise, they don’t have a staff with a CPA, with a CSA, with investment advisors that can provide the full-fledged comprehensive retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning and preparation,” Cutting said.  “That’s what sets us apart. We’re a small boutique firm, but we’re comprehensive with the services we provide.”         

Cutting was recently hired to join Continuum Wealth Advisors in Saratoga Springs, as was David Rath, CFA as director Portfolio Strategies.  Both Cutting and Rath were most recently members of the senior wealth management team at Bouchey Financial Group. The two hires exponentially increase the scope and depth of services that Continuum offers, Smith said. 

“In my role, I strive to provide the optimal client experience by offering technical knowledge while avoiding Wall Street jargon while communicating with clients,” Rath said. “What really excites me about Continuum is the convenience for clients of having everything under one roof when traditionally there would be four separate appointments to handle their finances.”

As a CPA, Cutting leads and manages the tax planning and preparation services of the firm, which are offered to clients. “We work with our clients, getting to know them beyond their finances, designing and providing them with a wealth management strategy that integrates investments, taxes, estate planning, trust and insurance solutions,” Cutting said.  “We can be a one-stop shop for people in need of financial tax and estate planning services. 

“We truly believe that each client, no matter the size of the assets, deserves high quality financial planning – it’s not just for the millionaires.”

Continuum Wealth Advisors, LLC, is located at 18 Division St., Saratoga Springs. For more information, go to: contwealth.com.