Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
“Our goal is getting the word out there about all our services. For example, I did a survey and found that my customers thought I ordered our trophies in. I make and design them right in-house. I cut columns to size and build them from the base up. Also, our goal is to approach other businesses with what we do. We’re 33 years in business and our own city does not know all that we are capable of doing.”
Donna Lupien,
owner, Lupien’s Gifts & Engraving, Oswego
“We’re a residential real estate firm that just celebrated our 10th anniversary. It grew from my husband and me to 62 agents in three offices. We’d love to add another office this year and help deal with the housing crunch. Sales are down because of that. We need enough houses to sell. Our goal is to ensure our agents have enough support from us. We also have goals to give back to the community.”
Elenore Arquette,
broker and co-owner, Century 21 Arquette Properties, Camillus, Fayetteville and Boonville
“We want to complete a new, 56-unit apartment complex called Champlain Commons, located on City Line Road in Scriba, which will offer residents a nice, new, modern and affordable place to live.”
Diane Cooper-Currier,
executive director, Oswego County Opportunities, Inc., Fulton
“Our goal is to meet the changing needs in the industry. In this type of business, you have to provide what people want. We provide cemetery memorials in bronze and granite, but if they want it, we offer sandblasting if someone has a boulder they want to use for this purpose. Or if they want a bronze plaque. We also do pet markers as well. It doesn’t matter to us if it’s for pets or people. We do signs for businesses or for the edge of their driveway. We have to stay open-minded about what people want.”
Dennis Goss,
owner, Sweet-Wood Memorials, Phoenix, Brewerton, Camillus
“We plan to add new workflow, train staff on new product lines, increase sales via the 019 marketing plan and help customers grow.”
John M Henry,
CEO, Speedway Press, Mitchell Printing & Mailing Inc, The Phoenix Press, Oswego
“We are launching our third location in Saratoga, so getting that opened is goal No. 1. We are also looking to open a fourth location this summer, so that’s the next move. Those are our clear, measurable goals at the moment. Some permanent goals are that we are always striving to create an even better culture for our team members to work. People are our biggest asset, so keeping our team members happy is paramount to our success — that, combined with keeping our clients happy, of course. We’re always striving for new ways to innovate and revolution our industry, certainly that applies to our world class clientele.”
Anthony Nappa,
founder and owner, Saving Face Barbershop, Syracuse
“Now that I have moved my practice from an office building in Fayetteville to the beautiful wellness center inside Dharma Yoga Syracuse, I look forward to coming to work more than ever. However, the goal for My Oils Life remains the same: to help as many people as possible create natural, healthy, balanced lives with Young Living essential oils and hands-on healing.”
Leslie Eimas,
licensed massage therapist, president, My Oils Life, Liverpool
“With the opening of Fulton’s first Community Arts Center, our goal is to develop the full potential of the new space with arts programming and community events that encourages active participation and positive growth.”
Nancy Fox,
executive director, CNY Community Arts Center, Fulton
“Our goal is a community working together to fight substance abuse and protect its youth from the dangers of addiction.”
Tyler Ahart,
Drug Free Communities project coordinator, Oswego County Prevention Coalition, Oswego
“We want to increase number of customers.”
Stephen Braun,
owner/programmer, Tailored Web Solutions, Oswego
“Exceptional Family Resources began a new program through ACCES-VR this year, where we will provide work readiness services to students. Our overall goal is to grow our employment services department this year by 50 percent.”
Glenda Criss,
director of Habilitation Services, Exceptional Family Resources, Syracuse
“Our goal for 2019 is to continue to bring the best local talent and the best local cuisine to Central New York. Look for us: theater in your own backyard.”
Tammy Lynn Wilkinson,
director, Theatre Du Jour, Oswego
“Our goal is to serve more clients in more ways.”
Theresa Wilkins,
executive director, Pregnancy Care Center of Oswego County, Oswego, Fulton, Pulaski, Bernhard’s Bay
“Our goals are to continue the growth we experienced in 2018, possibly make some equipment upgrades to keep up with demand.”
Tom Brady,
owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton
“Our goals for 2019 are to continue to grow market share and be the leader in the beverage industry for the territory that we service.”
Dan Dorsey Jr.,
president, Eagle Beverage Company, Oswego
“Our goals here at the Oswego County Health Department for 2019 include our continued work on strategic planning for the agency. Our mission is to promote wellness, prevent disease, and protect all who live, work, play or learn in Oswego County, to achieve a healthier community, through leadership and collaboration. Our vision is a healthy, thriving community for all.”
Tammy Thompson,
director of Programs for Children with Special Needs, Oswego County Health Department, Oswego
“I am a self-employed artist. My goals are about creating wider dialogues about social injustice through creating original works of art.”
Amy Bartell,
AE Originals, Syracuse