Business

ACE/Center for Economic Growth Creative Economy Roundtable Tour

March 23, 2018 By upstatecreative

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][rev_slider ACERoadShow2018][x_gap size=”15px”][cs_text]ACE and the Center for Economic Growth have concluded our 2018 Creative Economy Roundtable Tour.

This six-county tour, held in February and March 2018, brought more than 700 attendees to Capital Region cultural institutions and creative agencies for open discussions on our regional identity, business challenges and opportunities, and everything related to our region’s Creative Economy. At the sessions, facilitators also shared new data showing the economic contributions from the creative industries, one of the largest and most dynamic regional employment sectors.[/cs_text][cs_text]Special thanks to our event partners Fingerpaint and WMHT Educational Telecommunications, our event designer 2440 Design Studio, and our hosts: Overit, WMHT Educational Telecommunications, the Hyde Collection, Proctors, SPAC’s Hall of Springs, and Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House. ACE and CEG also thank the many local companies who provided refreshments for our Roundtable Tour, including Berben & Wolff’s, [forged], Fort Orange Brewing, Mazzone Hospitality, Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen, and 22 2nd Street Wine Co.

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ACE In Catskill!

November 21, 2017 By upstatecreative

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Check out great coverage from this event! WAMC: “Catskill’s Role Ramps Up in ‘Creative Economy’” | Hudson Valley 360: “Lumberyard to Start Construction in Two Weeks”

Catskill is in the midst of a Creative Economy boom, with new restaurants, a tap house, boutiques and galleries, a performing arts complex, and reimagined historic sites. ACE recently went “Behind the Scenes” at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and LUMBERYARD in one of the coolest little villages in the region.

We met at LUMBERYARD for a tour and heard the exciting plans for the four-building complex that will house some of the most innovative programming and partnerships north of NYC, including the first-ever residency program with the renowned Brooklyn Academy of Music.

After that, we visited the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and learned about the innovative reinterpretation of the artist’s 1815 home. The Thomas Cole site has employed multimedia installations within the authentic historic spaces in innovative and engaging new ways. ACE members saw the paint chips that were a product of a paint analyst’s task of discovering wall colors in Cole’s time; stencils that helped recreate the hand-painted border by Cole; and stencils that the Cole estate’s floor cloth designer used to hand paint the entryway floor cloth from an historic design.

Presented by ACE. Special thanks to our event sponsors Crossroads Brewing Company and the Greene County Council on the Arts

The Hardest Thing About Working in the Gig Economy

November 3, 2017 By upstatecreative

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mistakes-to-avoid-when-hiring-freelancers.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]The Harvard Business Review published an great article this week entitled “The Hardest Thing About Working in the Gig Economy.”

Their assessment? Trying to form a sense of self in the midst of several jobs is a huge challenge, as is society’s perception that having just one job means “stability.”

Check out other recent insightful pieces from the Harvard Business Review on freelancers and the gig economy:

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Have It All: Practical Work-Life Balance Advice for the Female Freelancer

October 24, 2017 By upstatecreative

For ACE by Gloria Martinez of Womenled.org.

Integrating work and personal life is tough, but it is especially difficult for women who also happen to be business owners or freelancers. Take heart, however, knowing that achieving a harmonious work-life balance really is possible with a little preparation and a lot of determination.

You must first understand that balance isn’t always 50/50. Before you even take the first steps toward entrepreneurship, sit down and determine what’s truly important to you. Do you need the flexibility to care for children or aging parents? Do you want to be able to travel? Would you rather have a business where you can employ your family? These are just a few questions that you should ask yourself to get a better understanding of what balance truly means to you.

Owning your own business is a rewarding and fulfilling endeavor. There is nothing like being successful through your own leadership, abilities, ideas, and efforts, investment coach Peter Leeds told Inc. However, it is all too easy to allow this particular aspect of your life to take over the rest. The following tips will help:

Be honest with yourself about what works and what doesn’t. Just because you want something to work doesn’t mean it will. If you find that a particular computer program, for instance, isn’t it offering the level of efficiency that you need, don’t be afraid to change. Even if you have a substantial financial investment, it’s probably not worth the time it’s taking to make it fit with your work.
Set time aside for your family and friends. There’s a good chance you became self-employed because you wanted to take control of your life and be more available to your friends and family. While you may not be able to spend as much time with them as you like, take at least one day each week that you can devote specifically to the people you love. This will not only help keep you connected to your support network but will go a long way toward maintaining a healthy attitude about life.
Let the internet work for you. Think of the Internet as an employee that never sleeps. To get the most out of it, create a website that does much of the legwork for you. If you don’t know how to create a website, then you could always look to using a company like Goldero to help you create the perfect website for your company. You need to build a business website that will quickly and efficiently answer your customers’ questions and allow them to find information regarding your products or services without having to pick up the phone. Creating a Website For Trades, for example, could be very simple if there is a basic knowledge of what a website can do for a business. Every business could benefit from this, as it improves visibility as well as providing a professional image.
And, perhaps most importantly, make sure your website is device-friendly since the vast majority of online searches are now done via a mobile device. Keep in mind too that your website should be updated and maintained regularly so it can work for you even while you’re away. If your website is particularly popular and generates a high amount of traffic, it might even be worthwhile investing in a virtual private server from a hosting expert such as hostiserver.com. A powerful server ensures your website loads smoothly and quickly and can keep up with demand. This is why it is really important to use a web hosting company to help you with this sort of thing. If your website is slow to load, then you might lose your audience. There are loads of hosting companies you can use, such as this canadianwebhosting company, you just have to find the right one for you.
Define success according to your own standards. What does it mean to be successful? Many people believe it’s having enough money to buy a large house, boat, and vacation time. Others define success by their ability to have an impact on issues near and dear to their hearts. Don’t try to live up to other people’s standards as success looks different to everyone.
Consider a home-based business. Many municipalities allow for small businesses to be run from the comfort of your own home. You will benefit from having lower overhead and can utilize a portion of your home as a tax deduction each year. There are a number of women entrepreneurs that have found great success working from home. Keep in mind that your business website can make your small business look and feel much larger than it really is.
Get out of town. One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family is to walk away from the distractions. This is easily achieved by a quick weekend getaway at least a couple times a year. Rent a cabin in the mountains, a lake house, or a condo on the beach, or if money is tight, check out these low-cost ideas from The Simple Dollar. Exactly what you do isn’t the point, it’s about leaving your laptop and workload behind.

Finding the balance between work and home isn’t easy, but it is within reach. Keep these tips in mind to get the best of both worlds.

Congratulations, 40 Under 40 Honorees!

March 16, 2017 By upstatecreative

*Dan Cullen, Workforce Development Institute. Photo credit: Victoria Kereszi*

Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy (ACE) congratulates the 2017 honorees of the Albany Business Review’s “40 Under 40” list. This year, 10 of the 40 honorees are involved with ACE, or are leaders in the industry segments that compose the region’s Creative Economy. Among them:

Dan Cullen, regional director of the Workforce Development Institute (ACE Leadership)
Alejandro del Peral, founder and owner of Nine Pin Cider Works (Culinary Arts sector)
William Gamble, CEO and owner of Pinhole Press (Visual Arts and Handcrafts sector)
Dave Gardell, owner of the The Ruck/Rolling Stock Co. (Culinary Arts sector)
James Hardesty, medical strategy, Fingerpaint (Media sector)
Kristen Holler, executive director of the Albany Barn (Performing Arts, Media, and Visual Arts sectors)
Tony Iadiccio, executive director of the Albany Center Gallery (Visual Arts sector)
Kristen Holler, Albany Barn. Photo credit: Donna Abbott Vlahos, Albany Business Review
Cory Nelson, owner of Troy Kitchen (Culinary Arts sector)
Banni Singh, principal, D2D Green Design (Design sector)
Ali Skinner, director of strategic communications for CDPHP (Media sector)

“We’re really glad to see that so many of the ‘40 Under 40’ honorees are working in the Creative Economy,” said Maureen Sager, ACE’s project director. “Their businesses and organizations add so much vibrancy, excitement, and real competitive edge to the Capital and upstate region.”

ACE has recently begun working with the Culinary Arts and Agriculture industry. This group, estimated to employ 5,000 people in the region, is an integral part of the local Creative Economy, and ACE will have much more to announce about this sector in the coming months. Until then, toast these ’40 Under 40′ winners at Nine Pin Cider Works, Troy Kitchen, or the Ruck!