December 2015 MADE IN THE U.S.A. INSIDE: NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK NOVA BUS PERRYWINKLE’S / KNEUCRAFT NOMAD AIRSTREAM PRE-TECH POINT POSITIVE SUNY PLATTSBURGH DECEMBER 2015 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 1 Published by The Northeast Group 2 | sbmonthly.com DECEMBER 2015 ADVERTISE CONTENTS WITH US! GETNOTICED FEATURES COLUMNS 6 20 TODAY Nova Bus INSIGHT 10 38 Perrywinkle’s / Kneucraft CHAMBERWISE 16 Nomad Airstream 22 ProCat 320 26 Happy Pre-Tech 30 Holidays Point Positive from the 32 Northeast The Impact of Buy America on Clinton County Group 34 SUNY CONTACT AARON PATTERSON AT THE NORTHEAST GROUP TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE. Phone: 518.324.5135 Mobile: 518.534.0539 [email protected] A Northeast Publication©2015 All Rights Reserved Vol. 26, No. 12, December 2015 DECEMBER 2015 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 3 Publisher’s View here was a time when this area of New York State was known for three things: Plattsburgh Air Force Base, SUNY Plattsburgh and dairy farming. TThere was some manufacturing — Imperial Wallcoverings which closed in the late 1990s, Diamond International (now PACTIV) and Georgia Pacific (celebrating more than 50 years in Plattsburgh). Today much has changed. While SUNY Plattsburgh is still a critical part of our economy, manufacturers such as Nova Bus, Bombardier Transit, Mold-rite, and others have taken center stage and there are rumors of exciting announce- ments to come. In this issue of Strictly Business entitled “Made in Northeastern New York” we offer you a look at Nova Bus as it moves into a new construction phase, but also smaller companies that are making products to meet the needs of local, regional, national, and international buyers. You may have seen shiny silver Airstream travel trailers on the road, but a visit to Nomad Airstream’s plant located on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base will show you the amazing new uses for these American classics that partners Steve Clement and Guillaume Langevin have devised. If you think catamarans are just for pleasure boating, the people at ProCat in Rouses Point will share the history of this ancient craft with you and show you how valuable the catamaran is as a work boat throughout the world today. Pre-Tech Precision in Mineville may be one of the best kept secrets in our region. Working with its sis- ter facility in Williston, Vermont the company is producing high-tech state of the art parts for industries world-wide and offering good jobs for people in that area. And while most of the companies we have featured in this issue of SB are connected to manufactur- ing, we also wanted to offer you a look at two companies that are making a different kind of product. Perrywinkle’s & Kneucraft, jewelers extraordinare, are making beautiful original designer pieces that reflect their creativity and appreciation for the beauty of our region. And don’t miss this month’s Insight feature, an interview with Fred Smith, the interim president of Clinton Community College. His enthusiasm, drive and stamina will amaze you and his candor will make you laugh. In many areas of the country, manufacturing is a thing of the past. But not here in Northeastern New York. Instead of seeing those kinds of jobs disappear, we’ve seen them grow. We are an area that makes things, all kinds of things and that’s good for business. As we celebrate this holiday season may I offer the best wishes of all of us at The Northeast Group to you and yours for health, happiness and prosperity in 2016. Herb Carpenter, Publisher Are you an experienced writer with an interest in local business? Strictly Business is looking for new talent to join our team of writers. Please send a brief bio and writing sample to [email protected]. 4 | sbmonthly.com DECEMBER 2015 PUBLISHER Herbert O. Carpenter MANAGING EDITOR Mary Carpenter PRESIDENT/CEO Mike Carpenter VICE PRESIDENT/CFO Betsy Vicencio ADVISORY BOARD David Coryer ADVERTISING Aaron Dean Patterson Phone: (518) 324-5135 Cell: (518) 534-0539 Fax: (518) 563-3320 [email protected] EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Betsy Vicencio PUBLICATION DESIGNER Jodi Brunner GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Nancy Florentine Kimberly Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christine Andola Check out our Karen Bouvier updated website! Julie Canepa Garry Douglas Michelle St. Onge NEW! William Owens “Design Your Own” Feature SUBSCRIPTION RATES 12 issues are $22.95 per year within U.S. and $27.95 (U.S.) within Canada. Telephone: (518) 563-8214 loremans.com Fax: (518) 563-3320 COVER PHOTO 46 Brinkerhoff St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Ty Kretser (518) 566-7519 1599 Rt 9S, Keeseville, NY 12944 (518) 834-9205 Strictly Business is published monthly by The Northeast Group 12 Nepco Way, Plattsburgh, NY 12903. Many Engravable and Photo Gifts to choose from! Stop by today! DECEMBER 2015 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 5 COVER STORY 1968 1987 1993 1995 Volvo Buses was created General Motors sold its bus MCI separated its tran- as an independent division division, including the Nova sit buses from its highway within the Volvo Group plant in Canada, to Motor coach business to create Coach International (MCI) Nova Bus which produces transit buses Volvo bought Prevost 6 | sbmonthly.com DECEMBER 2015 NOVA BUS NOVA BUS: BUSES FOUR WAYS By Christine Andola Photos by Ty Kretser iagara Frontier Transportation Authority just received its first compressed natural gas (CNG) bus to run in the city of Buffalo, a first for Buffalo and for Plattsburgh. That was the first CNG bus to roll off the line at the Nova Bus manufacturing facility on Banker Road. NNova Bus, a subsidiary of Volvo Bus North America, supplies transit authorities across the country with buses powered by diesel engines, diesel-electric hybrid engines and now compressed natural gas. The company is even starting to make a full electric bus for the international market. “The Volvo Group has strong environmental core values, but most transit authorities are look- ing for the most reliable and economical solution to their transportation needs,” explained Jason Martin, plant manager at Nova, when asked about the reason for the diversification of engine types. Nova recently produced its first all electric bus which is being tested in Montreal. In addition to metro buses for some of the largest cities in the U.S. including New York City, another Volvo subsidiary, Prevost, produces commuter buses at the Nova facility. These are designed for longer routes and equipped with large luggage compartments underneath the coach. All of the buses run through one assembly line at Nova with each station on the line build- ing to the individual specs of that vehicle. Then, they move to a separate finishing area based on the type of bus, finally being test driven around the streets of Plattsburgh. “With 21 work stations and eight finishing stations, we have 30 buses going at once,” explained Martin. “We were producing two completed buses a day back in September. In October we went to three, and by January we will be producing four.” 2002 2004 2009 2015 Nova Bus closed plants in Volvo Bus bought out Nova Bus opened its plant Nova Bus doubled its New Mexico and New York Nova Bus in Plattsburgh, NY production output in but maintained operations Plattsburgh in Canada DECEMBER 2015 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 7 Lake Champlain Roofing Lake“Where Champlain quality Roofing starts at the top.” “Where quality starts at the top.” 7631 Rt 9 Plattsburgh, NY 1 2901 Ph: 518-562-9956 LakeFax: 518-561-1246 Champlain Roofing, LLC Custom StandingCustom Standing Seam fabricated on-site • 28Seam color options fabricated on-site • 35 year warranty New• roofing 28 color option options • 35 year warranty New roofing option www.lakechamplainroofing.net Commercial,P: 518-562-9956 Residential, Industrial. [email protected] ChamplainF: 518-561-1246 Roofing, LLC www.lakechamplainroofing.net P: 518-562-9956 [email protected] F: 518-561-1246 Commercial, Residential,Call us today for ALL your roofing needs!! and Industrial 7631 Route 9 Plattsburgh, NY 12901 [email protected] www.lakechamplainroofing.net 518-562-9956 [email protected] www.hegcpa.com THE PREMIER ACCOUNTING FIRM IN NORTHERN NEW YORK Free Book: Strategies 2 Grow Your Business Profits 10 Secrets All Business Owners Should Know 1-844-HEG-CPAs CALL FOR A FREE SECOND OPINION & INITIAL CONSULTATION: Crestview Plaza Jason Martin, Plant Manager 239 Tom Miller Road 2000 Saranac Avenue 31 Elm Street 280 Main Street 1 Main Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Lake Placid, NY 12946 Malone, NY 12953 Massena, NY 13662 Canton, NY 13667 “ The Volvo Group has strong 518-562-5567 518-523-2581 518-483-1630 315-764-1781 315-386-2925 environmental core values, but most transit authorities are looking for the most reliable and economical 24/7 solution to their transportation Agency Online... needs,” explained Jason Martin, In person, on the phone and now online 24/7! plant manager at Nova, when asked about the reason for the We are always there for you! diversification of engine types in their products. In addition to doubling its production capac- 24/7 ity, Nova plans to build a showroom adjacent to its existing facility. When customers come to the Plattsburgh facility to take delivery of their vehicles, they inspect the final product and initiate any final transactions. Then, the 24/7 24/7 buses are driven to their location. The new / 24 7 showroom will house final delivery products. 24/7 Martin explained that the delivery miles are not a concern for transit authorities. “Customers are more concerned with reli- ability than miles. These vehicles are meant to run for up to 15 years, and the customers know they may rebuild the engine once or twice in that time period.” 1-800-562-0228 Many of the transit authorities do the www.agencyins.net rebuilds themselves, but Nova provides them with training for that purpose.