Designation awarded

PLATTSBURGH — Tina Calkins Covey, a member of RE/MAX North Country, Calkins Professionals, was awarded the CRE (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager) designation conferred by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB).

CRB, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, is the professional organization for brokerage management. The council is dedicated to providing quality professional development programs, products and services that enhance the management productivity and profitability of its more than 7,000 members.

The CRE designation is recognized throughout the industry as the highest level of professional achievement — a symbol of excellence in brokerage management. Designees must successfully complete the requirements and demonstrate excellence. Candidates must complete academic and professional courses covering finance, marketing, training, recruiting and strategic planning.

Covey is a real estate brokerage manager and co-owner of RE/MAX North Country, Calkins Professionals, at 68 Cornelia Street in Plattsburgh. A member of the Clinton County Board of Realtors and the New York Association of Realtors, Covey also has her GRT (Graduate, Realtor Institute) designation and SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource) designation.

Team Members

JAY — Jay Ward, president of Ward Lumber, has recognized Team Members for outstanding achievements and contributions they have made to the company.

The following were selected for the Building Materials Division:

In January, Shannon Stanley, LLE coordinator/sales, Jay Store; March, Rolland Tromblee, pro account specialist, Jay Store; for the first quarter, Jeremy Leale, merchandising manager, selected for the Support Center located at the corporate headquarters in Jay.

Ward Lumber is a two-unit building-materials supplier with locations in Jay and Malone. One of the largest private employers in Essex County, Ward Lumber manages more than 6,000 acres of timberland and operates one of New York State's largest white-pine sawmills and planing mills.

Building seminar

PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh Housing Outlet Inc. is offering a home-building workshop on Thursday, May 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Dino's Pizza, 795 Route 3 in Plattsburgh.

Topics include lender requirements, manufactured and modular homes, advice on finding and developing a building site and time frames for home building.

Experts from all areas of construction will give an overview of the process and participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the second hour.

Dinner will be served during the event and there is no cost or obligation. Participants — adults only — must RSVP, as space is limited. Anyone interested may call 800-794-6250 or email michelle@platts burghhousing.com with their name, phone number and number in their party. It is recommended to RSVP early, as the last seminar was at full capacity.

Participants will receive a free "how-to" packet, a free copy of their credit report and a discount coupon. They will leave with the information they will need to make an informed decision about new construction and home ownership.

Plattsburgh Housing Outlet has been providing North Country families with quality, affordable homes since 1991. They were named Retailer of the Year by the Manufactured Housing Institute for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region in 2003, one of four companies in the nation.

For more information, contact LaBounty at 563-6250, Ext. 21.

Award received

CHAZY — Riley Ford is among an elite group of Ford and Lincoln dealerships to be recognized with The 2010 President's Award by Ford Motor Company. The prestigious award honors dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing in 2010 by providing exceptional customer service and satisfaction.

This year, Ford honors 355 Ford and Lincoln dealers across the country for delivering superior customer satisfaction in sales and service. "Earning this award is a reflection of our entire staff's commitment to delivering the best customer experience possible," said Riley Ford owner Ronald Roberts. "I couldn't be more proud to receive this recognition, especially since it comes from the people we value most — our customers."

The President's Award was established in 1998. Dealers become eligible through survey responses from customers related to their sales and service satisfaction.

Insurance representative

MALONE — Kenneth J. Karleskent Inc. has joined the 1,000 independent agents nationwide who represent the companies of the Utica National Insurance Group.

The agency, with an office in Malone, is a leading insurance and financial-services firm serving businesses, individuals and families throughout Franklin County for more than 33 years.

Based in New Hartford, N.Y., Utica National is among the top 100 property/casualty insurance organizations in the U.S. and among the largest headquartered in New York state, selling personal insurance such as auto and homeowners.

Utica National sells commercial insurance products through the independent agency system. Included among its specialties are products for graphic arts, educational institutions, volunteer fire departments, religious institutions, and one of the nation's largest programs of professional liability coverage for insurance agents.

"The independent insurance agents that represent us are the key to helping consumers in their community have a choice of the company and coverages that fit their needs," Chairman of the Board/CEO J. Douglas Robinson said.

Kenneth J. Karleskent Inc. can be reached at 483-2441.

Networking event

PLATTSBURGH — KeyBank is sponsoring a Key4Women Networking Reception, exclusively for women entrepreneurs, on Monday, May 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at My Cup of Tea, 50 Margaret St., Plattsburgh.

The agenda includes:

E Learn How to Protect Your Personal Information, Stay Safe While Banking Online and Avoid Identity Theft, by Kathleen Slifka, KeyBank area leader.

E How Healthy is the Food in Your Pantry? by Susan LeBlanc, My Cup of Tea.

There will also be a tea tasting by LeBlanc.

For more information, contact Noelle Noreault at 565-3518 or noelle 1 noreault@keybank.com.

Wind program

ALBANY — The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), after receiving a record number of applications for its wind-incentive program for homeowners, farmers, businesses and municipalities, has expanded the funding availability for another six months and added another $1.4 million in incentive dollars.

NYSERDA has offered this program since 2008 in an effort to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Thirty-three applications have been received since the program was announced in October, more than any similar period in the past.

The program helps qualified property owners install wind turbines to generate electricity, which diversifies New York's energy sources and expands the use of clean, renewable energy in the state. It will provide funding to support approximately 30 percent of the purchase and installation costs.

Since the program began, NYSERDA has provided $3.6 million in incentives, leveraging an additional $5.2 million in private investment in residential-based wind power. The projects so far have made it possible for 43 residences, 40 farms, three schools, four businesses, two not-for-profits and a town to create clean energy and use less from the grid.

For more information, visit http://www.nyserda.org/Funding/2097PON.asp.

Flood insurance

CHICAGO — The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is urging homeowners, business owners and renters who do not currently have flood insurance to buy it right away.

"Many insurance consumers do not realize that their standard homeowners policy does not cover flooding, and that flood insurance must be purchased separately," said Don Griffin, PCI's vice president, personal lines. "Flood insurance is sold through agents who sell policies on behalf of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Because NFIP policies don't take effect for 30 days, the sooner people can buy flood insurance, the better."

While having flood insurance in place is important in coastal areas, recent heavy rains have brought flooding to much of the nation's inland as well. According to the NFIP, more than 50 percent of properties in high-risk areas remain unprotected, and in the Northeast and Midwest, coverage rates are significantly lower.

According to the NFIP, floods are the number-one natural disaster in the U.S., and 75 percent of all federally declared disasters over the past five years have involved flooding. There is a 26 percent chance that a home will suffer flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage, and U.S. flood losses have averaged $2.4 billion per year over the last decade.

For more information, visit the agent locator at http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/choose_your_policy/agent_locator.jsp.

Energy forum

LAKE PLACID — The New York State Public Service Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will present the Low-Income Forum on Energy (LIFE) series of meetings across the state to help address the issues that may confront low-income consumers in the evolving energy landscape.

"LIFE provides a critical path for community leaders and service providers to share essential information that can help low-income New Yorkers maintain their utility service during these challenging economic times," said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. "The LIFE regional meetings will provide valuable information on utility consumer protections and programs, as well as timely information on available energy-efficiency programs and services. Energy efficiency is likely to be the most cost-effective, and more immediate, means to reduce the burden of rising energy costs."

Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA, said energy usage is a much higher percentage of family income for low-income families.

A session will be held May 12 at the Pines Inn in Lake Placid.

The registration fee is $35 and includes conference materials, lunch and breaks. For information, an agenda and registration information, visit www.lifenynews.org or call 1-877-NY-SMART.

Business winners

ALBANY — Small businesses specializing in a variety of industries, from artisan baked goods to textile manufacturing, will be recognized at the U.S. Small Business Administration's 13th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Albany.

The SBA, the New York Business Development Corp., area lenders and economic developers will recognize these successful businesses at a luncheon and awards ceremony on Monday at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon will be held at The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany.

In addition to 24 Small Business Excellence award winners, SBA will recognize two National Small Business Week award winners for their outstanding achievements and the positive impact they've had on the economy and communities in upstate New York. A detailed profile on each winner will be issued following the luncheon.

Winners include Aquatic Invasive Management, LLC, of Lake Placid, owned by Thomas Thomson and Andrew Lewis; ASEPT PAK Inc. of Malone, owned by Dr. Gary Hanley; Mountain View Pediatrics, PLLC, of Plattsburgh, owned by Dr. Heidi Moore and Dr. Robert Moore; and Pearl Physical Therapy, PC, of Plattsburgh, owned by Elizabeth Pearl.

For more information about all of the SBA's programs for small businesses, visit www.sba.gov.

Safety seminar

SARANAC LAKE — Adirondack Medical Center and Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Insurance will host a free seminar designed to assist employers with ensuring compliance with OSHA standards. Conducting the seminar is Ron Williams, compliance assistance specialist, OSHA Region 2, with Dave Lyman, risk manager with Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy and Scott Millbower, owner of Safety Etc. The team will guide participants through common workplace findings, OSHA standards and performance elements with which employers must comply.

Administrative orders within the U.S. Department of Labor have increased the number of OSHA inspections and the penalty levels have increased. This educational seminar will teach participants how to avoid potentially costly consequences of not following OSHA regulations in the workplace. Written programs are being scrutinized with severe penalties for missing performance elements. The new penalty levels that are being imposed will result in significant financial burdens for businesses if they are found to be out of compliance.

The event will be held at AMC, Saranac Lake, in the Redfield Board Room, and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. RSVP to Caitlin Kutas ckutas@gkginsurance.com or at 315-624-2965.

Accreditation received

ELIZABETHTOWN — Elizabethtown Community Hospital has earned Joint Commission accreditation by demonstrating compliance with national standards for health-care quality and safety in hospitals.

The accreditation award recognizes the hospital's dedication to continuous compliance with Joint Commission standards.

The hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced, on-site survey on Feb. 7-8. A team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated it for compliance with quality and safety standards specific to the needs of patients, oversight of the hospital's buildings, organization leadership and documentation standards. Surveyors inspect patient charts, physician credentials and documents related to each piece of equipment within the facility — everything from sophisticated radiology and lab equipment to fire extinguishers.

The hospital's emergency procedures are reviewed, along with information-management procedures and performance-improvement processes. The facility was also inspected for compliance with Joint Commission requirements of its National Patient Safety Goals including infection prevention and control, use of patient identifiers and medication management.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Elizabethtown Community Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients," says Mark Pelletier, executive director, hospital program accreditation and certification services, Joint Commission.

Energy program

ALBANY — Since May 2010, more than 2,500 small businesses reduced their electricity use by 19 million kilowatt-hours through New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and RG&E's Small Business Energy Efficiency Program.

Under the program, eligible businesses receive free energy assessments performed by EnerPath, the program implementation contractor, and NYSEG or RG&E then cover 70 percent of the cost of installing recommended energy-efficient lighting upgrades.

The program for businesses and municipal customers in upstate New York with demand of less than 100 kilowatts was rolled out in Clinton, Saratoga and Steuben counties in March. NYSEG and RG&E will make the program available to customers in additional counties until the end of August. A detailed launch schedule is available for NYSEG at http://bit.ly/gNJmwP.

Qualifying lighting upgrades include replacing existing fluorescent fixtures with higher efficiency lamps and ballasts, changing incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diode (LED) lamps and upgrading exit signs to LED technology.

Program information and eligibility guidelines are available at http://bit.ly/c4YdyK, www.nyseg.com (click on "Energy Efficiency Incentives" and then on "Small Business Energy Efficiency Program") or call 1-800-995-9525.

To sign up for a free energy assessment, call 1-877-359-9814.