Archive: Business & Technology

Aurora, NY—Wells College President Lisa Marsh Ryerson announced on Friday, June 3 that the College has received a major gift from Pike and Susan Wray Sullivan to help establish its new business center. By endowing the Susan Wray Sullivan ’51 and Pike H. Sullivan Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at Wells College, the loyal supporters are helping the College realize its vision of creating an undergraduate business program rooted in the liberal arts with an emphasis on innovation, experiential learning and entrepreneurship.

“As Wells College offered a transformational experience for Sue [Wray Sullivan], she and Pike have in turn made a course-altering commitment to Wells,” said Ryerson during her speech at Wells’ 2011 Reunion ceremony, where Mrs. Sullivan was celebrating her 60th reunion. “With the Sullivans’ gift, the College will have the funding, in perpetuity, to assure that the Center for Business and Entrepreneurship develops and thrives.”

Veterinary Health Services, PC has recently opened a new veterinary walk-in clinic in the Ithaca area.  Animal Care Walk-In opened April 4, 2011 at the Corners Community Center in Cayuga Heights off Hanshaw Road. 

This is the second walk-in clinic that Dr. Dale S. Skrabalak has opened, the first being the Binghamton Animal Clinic, Johnson City, NY.  The walk-in concept is modeled after the human prototype.  As a proprietor of a multi-doctor, state of the art, companion animal hospital, Dr. Skrabalak and his practice manager, wife, Linda appreciated the need for flexible, urgent care for the pets of busy people with continually changing schedules.

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U.S. Representative Richard Hanna commended Upstate New York small businesses last Friday, during the 48th annual observance of National Small Business Week.

Hanna is a member of the House Small Business Committee. On Thursday, he toured Transonic Systems in Ithaca, N.Y., and today he hosted an economic roundtable discussion with staff at Fermer Precision in Ilion, N.Y.

Gregory J. Hartz, president and chief executive officer of Tompkins Trust Company announced three internal promotions approved by the Tompkins Trust Company’s Board of Directors:  Ellen Rogers to Loan Servicing Officer; Michael Bozuhoski, to Assistant Vice President, Controller; and Lisa Warmbrodt to Assistant Vice President, Senior Network Administrator.

“These individuals have shown exceptional leadership skills in their respective fields,” Hartz said. “We are pleased to acknowledge their contributions to our bank and show our appreciation for their efforts on the bank’s behalf.”

National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY, hosted a mid-May auction that featured a wide assortment of presidential-related material, nautical-themed books and signed first editions. Among the featured items was a 1919 signed three-volume limited edition set of Rudyard Kipling’s “Verse” which sold for $2,091 (including buyer’s premium). Bound in vellum with the very scarce original dust jackets present, this limited edition set is a collection of works by acclaimed author Rudyard Kipling and is known as the "Inclusive Edition," with the author's signature on the limitation page of each volume. This set was numbered 90 of the small printing run of 100 copies.

How much does it cost to live in Tompkins County? According to the Alternatives Federal Credit Union bi-annual Living Wage Study, it is $24,271.50 or $11.67/hour for full-time worker.  The Alternatives Board of Directors voted unanimously to raise wages to the new Living Wage level, continuing its commitment to its employees.

The updated study looks at housing, transportation, healthcare and other necessities, as well as a modest allowance for recreation and savings to come up with the annual figure, up 5% from $11.11/hour two years ago.

Graphic designer Silas Pandori of Ithaca, NY’s Iron Design placed second in a national competition to design a new symbol that will be stamped on products to identify that they are made from bioplastics. There were 1500 entries into the competition and over 2.8 million public votes, which determined the top 200 designs. From the top 200 design submissions, a renowned panel of judges selected the top three finalists. Details on the competition are available here.

Silas Pandori is a native of Central New York and graduated from RIT with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design.

On Tuesday April 12 Ithaca, NY based ZetrOZ LLC won $50,000 in the New York Creative Core Emerging Business Competition. The announcement was made at CenterState CEO’s annual meeting in Syracuse, NY.

ZetrOZ has developed the world’s smallest therapeutic ultrasound systems for pain reduction and healing.  Based on technology originally created by company cofounder Dr. George Lewis at Cornell University, these wearable systems allow people to reduce pain during the course of daily life without taking more drugs or reducing mobility.

Tompkins Trust Company participated in national Take Your Kid To Work Day on April 28, 2011 by hosting 11 children, all related to bank employees, for an educational day of touring the bank, crafts, and fun! The children enjoyed:

e2e Materials announced that the company has been chosen for inclusion in the 2011 Edition of the fundedIDEAS publication - TOP 300 STARTUPS.

Inclusion in TOP 300 STARTUPS demonstrates our commitment to innovation, sustainability and excellence. e2e Materials was specially selected by an eminent panel of business and industry leaders spanning the globe based on 14 parameters including strength of the management team, business model and execution strategy as well as industry and sector outlook.

Tompkins Financial Corporation (TMP–NYSE Amex) Tompkins Financial Corporation has been recognized for superior performance by KBW (Keefe, Bruyette & Woods), a full-service investment bank widely recognized as a leading authority in the banking industry.  Tompkins was one of 40 banks posting a ten-year record that met the KBW criteria for inclusion on its 2010 “Bank Honor Roll.”