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CLIENTS IN THE NEWS
2021
December 26, 2021
CBS6 News Albany: Capital Region employers want to hire in 2022, but expect recruitment challenges
Heading into 2022, Capital Region employers say they will be hiring, but expect challenges in doing so. According to the Alaant Workforce Solutions Hiring Index, 76 percent of employers expect growth and to hire in the new year. But 86 percent said it will be difficult to find the people they need.
December 23, 2021
Saratoga Business Report: Pioneer presents $3,000 donations to 21 local nonprofit locations
Aligned with its charitable mission of “Helping Kids Be Kids” and its recognized commitment to supporting children, families, and communities throughout the Capital Region, Pioneer has presented $3,000 donations to each of 21 local nonprofit organizations. With these donations, Pioneer has now exceeded $1 million in giving to the Capital Region community since its Charitable Foundation was launched in 2018.
December 22, 2021
Saratoga Today: Pioneer presents $3,000 donations to 21 local nonprofit locations
Pioneer presented $3,000 donations to each of 21 local nonprofit organizations. With these donations, Pioneer has now exceeded $1 million in giving to the Capital Region community since its Charitable Foundation was launched in 2018.
December 21, 2021
SHRM: Find ways to help all employees celebrate their holidays
"The reality is that most organizations consider employees of different backgrounds to benefit from getting time off for the Christmas holiday," said Miriam Dushane, SHRM-CP, the managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions. "That's nice, but it's not really recognizing or being uber-inclusive to individuals that don't celebrate that day."
December 20, 2021
WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Capital Region companies plan to add staff in 2022, but nearly nine in 10 expect hiring challenges
According to the results of the Fall 2021 Alaant Hiring Index, 86% of Capital Region employers expect recruiting to be difficult – the highest figure since the index began in 2015 – while 3 in 4 companies forecast hiring to increase in the new year.
December 16, 2021
Saratoga Business Report: Recruiting challenges reach record high levels
The Fall 2021 Alaant Hiring Index, released on Dec. 15 by Alaant Workforce Solutions, finds that while hiring top talent will remain a major priority for 2022, the new year will also bring the most difficult recruiting environment employers have seen in modern times.
December 16, 2021
Saratoga Today: Recruiting challenges reach record high levels
Capital Region employers will keep hiring in the new year, but they’re not likely to find recruiting relief, according to the results of the Fall 2021 Alaant Hiring Index released on Dec. 15 by Alaant Workforce Solutions, the region’s leading professional workforce services firm.
December 15, 2021
The Daily Gazette: Capital Region businesses deal with vaccine-or-mask mandate
The situation is even more fluid for an operation such as Alaant Workforce Solutions, which must set policy for its own office staff, verify the policies at dozens of client employers, and see that its temp employees and direct hires comply with those policies.
December 15, 2021
Albany Times Union: Capital Region hiring in 2022 expected to be toughest yet, survey finds
The Fall 2021 Alaant Hiring Index, developed by Alaant Workforce Solutions, found that while local businesses are keen to go on a hiring spree in 2022, being successful will be a major challenge.
December 11, 2021
Rome Sentinel: Program aims to help build diverse technology talent pipeline
CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization training non-traditional talent for software career opportunities, has announced the launch of its initial HerkimerCanCode program: Digital Literacy Training, which will enable individuals in the Mohawk Valley to gain basic computer skills that are critical to pursuing and securing tech jobs in today’s information economy.
December 9, 2021
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Work underway to transform Albany eyesore vacant since 1980s
The redevelopment of the former Tobin's First Prize building is a game-changing project made possible by vision, determination, and a great partnership between Richbell Capital and Pioneer.
December 1, 2021
Albany Times Union: The last hurrah of Anchor Agency's iron man
When he reached his 80s, Marvin Freedman began fending off acquisition overtures. Eventually, CEO Tom Amell convinced Freedman that Pioneer, founded in 1889, was a good fit.
November 21, 2021
Albany Times Union: Capital Region employers work to entice and retain young hires
Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, a local recruitment consulting firm and employment agency, said work-life balance is imperative to younger employees. When applying for jobs, they are looking for a company that will help them grow and be upfront about their culture.
November 18, 2021
Albany Business Review: The story behind the $3.6M loan that helped Yankee Trails survive the pandemic
Yankee Trails is chartering bus tours and booking cruises again after a grueling and uncertain time during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tobin said they couldn't have done it without refinancing a loan with Pioneer Bank through the Main Street Lending Program.
November 2, 2021
Albany Business Review: Albany recruiter: Employers can't hire like its 2019 still
Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said it's one of the toughest hiring environments she's seen. But the biggest issue for employers, she said, is that they are stuck hiring like it's 2019 — requiring workers to be in the office 100% of the time, offering little flexibility and the same low salaries. She said many are ignoring the work changes brought on by the pandemic.
October 29, 2021
Albany Times Union: 'War on talent' causes boom in business for recruiting firms
Recruiting firms are experiencing a boom in business as the hiring crisis shows little sign of ending. In her 25 years of experience as a recruiter, Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said this is the most “interesting and challenging year” she’s seen.
October 28, 2021
Saratoga Today: CanCode Communities, Microsoft team up to introduce students to tech careers
Middle and high school students will receive a firsthand look at exciting careers in the technology sector when volunteers from CanCode Communities and Microsoft visit eight classrooms across the Capital Region during October.
October 25, 2021
Troy Record: Alaant Workforce Solutions announces two new hires
Alaant Workforce Solutions, the Capital Region’s leading professional workforce services firm, is strengthening its commitment to helping organizations recruit and hire top talent amid a historically challenging job market with the addition of two senior professionals to its staff.
October 19, 2021
Spectrum News 1 Albany: Digital literacy courses teach new Americans computer basics
Can Code Communities has teamed up with the New York State Office for New Americans to offer virtual digital literacy courses. Anyone who uses resources from the Office for New Americans is eligible.
October 14, 2021
Albany Business Review: 'Death to the standard work week'
Trish Hurysz and Janet Rosenblatt have had flexible work schedules with Wojeski & Co. for more than a decade. Here's how they made it happen.
October 12, 2021
Albany Business Review: Albany CPA: It's been a 'crazy active year' for M&A activity
When Dave Wojeski stepped back from the CEO role at Wojeski & Co. CPAs last fall, he planned to focus on client relationships and expanding the business into new areas, including a mergers and acquisitions practice.
The move has paid off.
October 7, 2021
Albany Business Review: PwC's all-remote announcement has Albany CPA firms paying attention
Rick Jones, CEO of Wojeski & Co. CPAs in Colonie, said it may cause an issue in hiring for smaller and more regional CPA firms, which were already seeing staffing shortages and trouble hiring before the pandemic.
September 24, 2021
Loss Prevention Magazine: Criminal identified in jewelry store theft using synthetic DNA
SelectaDNA was used to identify a criminal in a jewelry store heist in Albany, N.Y. Systems integrator Shepherd Communication & Security and SelectaDNA distributor CSI Protect said this is the first successful use of synthetic forensic technology as a crime-fighting tool in the Northeastern United States.
September 18, 2021
Albany Times Union: Synthetic DNA used to catch alleged jewelry thief in Albany
Truman Jewelers participated in a pilot program to test SelectaDNA that had the support of several law enforcement organizations. Shepherd Communication & Security of Albany installed the system at Truman Jewelers about a year ago.
September 16, 2021
JCK Magazine: Jeweler's high-tech tagging pilot program nabs its first suspect
In the first case in the Northeastern United States, a technology known as SelectaDNA helped an Albany, NY jewelry store during an April larceny. Albany-based Shepherd Communication and Security installed the SelectaDNA system inside Truman Jewelers as part of a pilot program; it is the exclusive certified dealer for SelectaDNA in the Northeast.
September 1, 2021
WNYT NewsChannel 13: Albany jeweler shows off non-toxic chemical to help reduce theft
Truman Jewelers on North Pearl Street became the first business in the state to install synthetic forensic technology.
September 1, 2021
Spectrum News Albany: Albany jewelry store uses new forensic marking to catch thief
Truman Jewelers is the first in the Northeast to utilize the forensic marking technology SelectaDNA. Richard Ruzzo of Shepherd Communication & Security, the exclusive Northeast distributor of this product, said this gives prosecutors another tool.
September 1, 2021
News 10 ABC: Forensic marking technology captures evidence in local jewelry store heist
Synthetic forensic technology captured evidence in a local jewelry store heist in Albany. The system at Truman Jewelers, installed by Shepherd Communication & Security, is the first case in Northeastern to utilize SelectaDNA.
August 30, 2021
Albany Business Review: Facebook executive among local companies' new board members
The software and computer training nonprofit CanCode Communities said Monday that Facebook executive Lisa Harris has joined its board of directors.
August 25, 2021
The Saratogian: CanCode Communities announces fall schedule
On the heels of announcing its rebrand and the addition of four new affiliates, CanCode Communities released its Fall 2021 course schedule for AlbanyCanCode and KingstonCanCode.
August 5, 2021
Albany Times Union: Software coding program grows into something special
After just five years, and one pandemic, AlbanyCanCode has become such a successful model — including outside the region to places downstate and even out of the state — that it had to change its name.
August 5, 2021
Saratoga Today: Saratoga Can Code
CanCode Communities is bringing their coding programs to the Saratoga community for the fall semester at SUNY Adirondack.
July 26, 2021
Utica Observer-Dispatch / Herkimer Times-Telegram: Want a job in the tech sector but lack training? CanCode Communities is here to help
Local residents who think they can't land a technology job because they lack a college degree should think again. CanCode Communities is coming to Herkimer, and that is good news for both employers and potential workers.
July 21, 2021
Albany Times Union: AlbanyCanCode changes name in major rebranding
AlbanyCanCode, the training program for new software programmers around the Capital Region and beyond, has changed its name to CanCode Communities in a major re-branding effort.
July 20, 2021
Albany Business Review: Tech workforce development org CanCode adds programs in four new locations
The software and computer training nonprofit CanCode Communities on Wednesday officially announced its rebrand added four new affiliates to its group of programs.
July 8, 2021
The Daily Star: Walton Theatre operators to mark 25 years this weekend
The Walton Theatre is throwing it back to 1996 this weekend in celebration of the 25th anniversary under its current operators. Rehabilitation Support Services will resurrect the first film shown under its ownership, Jan de Bont’s 1996 disaster film “Twister,” at 1996 ticket prices on Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m.
June 28, 2021
Albany Times Union: Colonie-based Wojeski & Co. joins global CPA network
Wojeski & Co., an accounting, tax, financial and business advisory firm based on Wolf Road, has become a member firm of Russell Bedford International, a global network of CPA firms.
June 27, 2021
Albany Business Review: Wojeski & Co. joins international network in order to serve clients with business abroad
June 24, 2021
Spectrum News Albany: AlbanyCanCode, SUNY Adirondack offering free IT training
For unemployed or under-employed people, SUNY Adirondack is offering free short-term IT training starting in July. The education will be provided by the non-profit AlbanyCanCode. The Workforce Readiness Academies Program, or WRAP, has two courses: front end web development and ‘Python’ programming language for data analytics.
June 24, 2021
WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Survey reveals post-pandemic work-life collision
A business survey finds with employees returning to workplaces, employers are planning for workforce growth at a time when hiring has become more difficult. According to the latest Alaant Hiring Index released this week, employers are hiring and optimistic about further job growth as the economy recovers. But overshadowing those expectations: 4 of 5 employers surveyed say they can’t find qualified candidates.
June 23, 2021
Albany Times Union: Alaant survey shows hiring workers has become historic challenge
As Capital Region workers return to the offices and businesses start hiring as pandemic restrictions go away, companies are facing a historic challenge finding qualified job candidates, the latest Alaant Workforce Solutions hiring survey found.
June 22, 2021
Albany Business Review: Recruiter sees Albany firms less open to remote work — to their detriment
Capital Region companies are significantly less open to allowing remote work than they were during the height of the pandemic — a traditional stance that will ultimately be a hindrance in the tight labor market, said Miriam Dushane of Alaant Workforce Solutions.
June 22, 2021
News10 ABC: New survey of Capital Region employers shows workforce growth, hiring difficulties
Alaant Workforce Solutions has released its spring hiring index and the data shows employees are coming back to the office. But there is a significant challenge: 4 out of 5 employers say they can’t find qualified candidates.
June 19, 2021
CBS6 Albany: Spotlight on Business: Wojeski & Company CPAs
This monthly segment profiling a local business that is a member of the EO Capital District features David Wojeski, founding partner at Wojeski & Company CPAs, P.C., who discusses how the chapter came to be, and how it's helped him grow his business.
June 9, 2021
Albany Business Review: How a little-known COVID tax provision could help bring back the business lunch
Kevin Kelly, a senior manager and CPA with Wojeski & Co., said businesses through the end of 2022 can claim 100% of food and beverage expenses paid to restaurants, up from 50%.
June 4, 2021
News10 ABC: Employers calling workers back to the office clash with workers who want to stay remote
During the pandemic, the workplace went from the cubicle to the living room for many. “It’s here to stay for a while, if not for a long while,” said Tom Schin, with Albany staffing firm Alaant Workforce Solutions. He says employees are enjoying the benefits of remote working, including a better work-life balance, seeing family more often, and reduced commute time.
June 3, 2021
Albany Business Review: Albany nonprofit CanCode joins Microsoft in large workforce training effort
For CanCode, it means its training programs — including in-person classes — will be further expanded in New York City. "What's unique and different about this particular program is the scale and also the partnerships,” said CanCode founder Annmarie Lanesey.
June 3, 2021
Albany Business Review: The old approach isn’t working
Business owners and executives say they have had trouble finding the help they need, a problem that threatens to slow the region’s economic recovery post-Covid. Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said Alaant is getting calls from organizations that wouldn’t have used recruiters in the past.
May 28, 2021
The Daily Star: Walton Theatre to reopen this weekend
An important community presence since 1914, the Walton Theatre is operated by Rehabilitation Support Services, a unique arrangement that provides training and employment opportunities to individuals recovering from mental health challenges.
May 24, 2021
Albany Business Review: After biggest year ever, AlbanyCanCode plans for more growth — and a new name
The workforce development program AlbanyCanCode — soon to be rebranded CanCode — reached more students than ever last year, a testament to both demand for the tech training and the ability of virtual classes to reach more people.
March 27, 2021
CBS6 Albany: TU Center to use innovative technology to help keep fans safe this weekend
This is a look at how the Times Union Center is working to keep people safe during this weekend's NCAA men's Ice Hockey Regional. It is a partnership with Shepherd Communication & Security of Albany.
March 26, 2021
Albany Business Review: Times Union Center reopening to use body temp readers from Albany company
The Times Union Center said Thursday that it’s reopening this weekend with the help of body temperature readers designed by Shepherd Communication & Security.
March 15, 2021
The Daily Gazette: Schenectady County addresses pent up demand for weddings, meetings of up to 150 attendees
Richard Ruzzo, managing partner of Shepherd Communication and Security of Albany, said the county and fellow technology integrators want to help organizers with their creation of thermal kiosks. The kiosks allow guests to enter a venue quickly and efficiently, take temperatures and check for face-mask compliance, Ruzzo said.
March 5, 2021
WGY NewsRadio 810 & 103.1: BRIDGE Network hopes to create real change in Capital Region workforce
In this episode of Upstate Issues, one of The BRIDGE Network's founders, Miriam Dushane of Alaant Workforce Solutions, talks about the diversity of the people involved, the ways they hope to make meaningful change, and how existing resources can be brought together to increase workforce diversity.
March 4, 2021
Spectrum News Albany: Albany company develops technology to speed up COVID-related temperature checks
SUNY Poly bought the customized EBT system from Shepherd Communications and Security in Albany. “This technology has been in existence for quite some time overseas, and it’s now becoming very popular in the United States with the onset of COVID-19,” said Bob Guillerault, one of the managing members at Shepherd.
March 4, 2021
Albany Business Review: Four takeaways on managing a growing firm from the leaders of Wojeski & Co.
In the six months since they’ve teamed up, Rick Jones and Dave Wojeski have tackled various challenges, including training new employees, communicating regularly with clients virtually or in-person, and trying to maintain a loose, upbeat office culture while some of the more than 50 people on staff — including college interns — work from home.
February 17, 2021
Albany Business Review: Zones offers guaranteed interviews to this semester’s AlbanyCanCode students
IT services company Zones is offering guaranteed interviews for software jobs to students of the nonprofit AlbanyCanCode. Annmarie Lanesey, founder and CEO of AlbanyCanCode, said Zones has been working with the nonprofit for about a year, but this is the first time a company has offered guaranteed interviews for students.
February 4, 2021
Albany Times Union: Colonie staffing firm Alaant wins top prize five years in a row
Alaant Workforce Solutions, an employee recruitment firm in Colonie, has again been recognized as one of the top-rated recruitment firms in North America by ClearlyRated, a Portland, Ore., firm that provides research on professional service firms.
February 1, 2021
HR Tech Outlook: The Brave New World of Work: 5 workplace trends for 2021
“The workplace you see today is here to stay. Employers that accept it, adjust to it, and advance with it will reap long-term dividends,” said Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions.
January 29, 2021
The Daily Gazette: New skin temperature technology enforces COVID safety at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
This new addition to their routine is courtesy of local company Shepherd Communication & Security, which introduced its Elevated Body Temperature technology just a couple of months into lockdown last year. After vetting a few different technologies, the district realized the EBT was exactly what they needed.
January 22, 2021
The Saratogian: Capital Region Calmare & Massage celebrates ribbon cutting
Laura Brown, licensed physical therapist and massage therapist, celebrated the ribbon cutting for her practice's new location on Thursday. Brown, who also holds a state certification for a Women Business Enterprise, is the only licensed Calmare therapist in the Capital Region.
January 21, 2021
CBS6 Albany: New Clifton Park business offers massage, pain relief treatments
Capital Region Calmare & Massage, a New York state-certified women-owned business enterprise, is now open in Clifton Park, offering a safe alternative treatment for those suffering from pain caused by a nerve.
January 19, 2021
Albany Business Review: Shepherd Communication & Security grows after offering thermal imaging equipment
Shepherd Communication & Security designed new body temperature readers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring growth for the company in multiple areas last year.
January 12, 2021
Albany Times Union: Capital Region business professionals launch network to promote inclusion, diversity, and equity
Led by Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, and Walter Thorne, ad director of the Albany Business Review, Capital Region business professionals have launched a nonprofit called The BRIDGE Network to help bring individuals, businesses, and communities together with the mission of providing better access of information and resources to businesses working on promoting inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace and beyond.
January 5, 2021
Albany Times Union: Capital Region Calmare opening in Clifton Park
Capital Region Calmare & Massage, the region's first licensed provider of electrical stimulation Calmare treatment for nerve pain, is opening its new location at 800 Route 146, Suite 492 in Clifton Park.