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CLIENTS IN THE NEWS
2022
December 19, 2022
WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Alaant Hiring Index shows Capital Region businesses planning for robust 2023
A new survey from Alaant Workforce Solutions fifinds neither ongoing recruiting challenges nor the threat of a potential recession will deter Capital Region employers from moving ahead with plans to increase hiring in 2023.
December 13, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Alaant hiring index: hiring will increase in 2023
Alaant Workforce Solutions, Capital Region’s leading professional workforce services firm, has reassured those looking for employment that businesses plan to increase hiring in 2023.
December 8, 2022
Albany Times Union: Interest rate hike profits banks, hurts borrowers and businesses
“Higher rates are a challenge and an opportunity,” said Patrick Hughes, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Pioneer Bank. “We make loans, we have investments, and we generate interest income off of those so as rates go up, there’s more earnings.”
November 29, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Pioneer donates $15K to six local nonprofits
Pioneer celebrated Giving Tuesday by presenting checks of $2,500 each to ARC of Rensselaer County, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Capital District Miracle League, Joseph’s House and Shelter, Northern Catskill Youth Association, and Shenendehowa United Methodist Church.
November 23, 2022
iHeart Radio: Opportunities for coders in the Capital Region and beyond
The growing need for training for coders and developers has led to growth for CanCode Communities. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with CanCode founder Annmarie Lanesey about how locally, statewide, and nationally, careers in web and app development are skyrocketing.
November 17, 2022
Albany Times Union: Troy prepares for its 75th Turkey Trot
“It’s an amazing event," said Kelli Arnold, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer for Pioneer Bank, which is the primary sponsor of the Troy Turkey Trot for 26 years.
November 15, 2022
Spectrum News One Albany: Business partnership looks to help people land tech jobs
A unique partnership between CanCode Communities and Microsoft is making sure people have the right resources to land their dream job.
November 10, 2022
Albany Business Review: Why Albany's economic recovery is lagging behind the nation's
"What we’re seeing now is companies are passively changing their hiring practices and may hold off on growth hiring, but they're trying to hold onto employees for as long as they can," said Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions.
November 9, 2022
Albany Times Union: Earnings at Pioneer Bank up amid rising interest rates
The parent company of Colonie-based Pioneer Bank reported net income of $5.2 million for its fiscal first quarter that ended Sept. 30, a major increase over the same period last year in which the company made $1.4 million.
November 2, 2022
Albany Business Review: Albany recruiter: It's still tough to hire and it may get worse as recession nears
Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said employers are still so strapped for workers they aren't in a position to lay off dozens of people, even in an economic downturn. Employees are less likely to job hop during recessions, too.
November 2, 2022
Albany Times Union: Afghan refugee flourishing on path to success
“He’s been a great asset to our branch,” said Rebecca Curtis, manager of the Wynantskill branch of Pioneer, a banking and financial services company. “He’s a people person. Customers love him.”
October 30, 2022
Albany Business Review: Homebuilder lands financing for phase one of Halfmoon development
The president of Abele Builders in Clifton Park said the company closed on a $6 million loan with Pioneer for phase one of the project in August. "Pioneer, they understand the builder scenario. You're up against a lot," Abele said.
October 27, 2022
Albany Business Review: Hugh Johnson sees a recession coming; here's when he thinks it could turnaround
Johnson spoke about where he and other economists see the markets headed at a private event on Wednesday for some of Pioneer's biggest personal and business banking clients.
October 20, 2022
Albany Times Union: Microsoft helps newly minted computer coders prep for job market
Microsoft is partnering with CanCode Communities, as employees work as "interviewing mentors" to help CanCode students and alumni prep for job interviews, including by conducting mock interviews.
October 16, 2022
Albany Times Union: At 27, Reychel Webster is taking what comes in the banking sector
About a month ago, Webster started her new job as a commercial portfolio manager for Pioneer, which has $2 billion in assets and is one of the largest local banks in the Capital Region.
October 11, 2022
Fast Company: Coworking is making a comeback as companies downsize offices
After more than 20 years in a traditional office space, Miriam Dushane decided it was time for a change of scenery. In February, Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, moved her Albany, New York-based recruiting company of 20 people to a coworking space that opened up just down the hall.
October 11, 2022
AllWork.Space: Coworking plugs the gap between half-empty offices and lonely home offices
For some companies, such as Miriam Dushane’s Alaant Workforce Solutions, it solves the problem of paying rent on a half-empty traditional office. “Frankly, it’s probably one of the best decisions we ever made,” Dushane said.
October 10, 2022
Albany Business Review: CPA hires want flexibility. How Wojeski & Co. responded
After years of having an unwritten flexible work policy, Wojeski & Co. CPAs decided to put it into words: Starting Oct. 31, employees can work remotely Mondays and Fridays, but are expected in office Tuesdays through Thursdays.
September 12, 2022
Albany Business Review: How Pioneer plans to grow into a $5 billion institution
Pioneer is close to reaching its goal of $2 billion in deposits and assets. The next goal for the Colonie-based bank: $5 billion. "We haven't set a benchmark, but it won't be unheard of if we reach the $5 billion mark," CEO Tom Amell said.
September 12, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Advantages of banking local
Kelli Arnold, the chief strategy & innovations officer at Pioneer Bank, says local institutions like Pioneer are one-stop-shops for any financial need you might have. Everything from insurance to wealth management, even benefit negotiation for businesses, is all serviced from Pioneer’s headquarters in Colonie.
September 1, 2022
Albany Times Union: Capital Region leaders weigh in on four-day workweeks
Miriam Dushane, a managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said the trend isn’t picking up steam in the region because although working one day less sounds really good, it’s not “a one-size-fits-all” solution.
August 30, 2022
Albany Business Review: Pioneer names new chief administration officer
In Thomas Signor's role at Pioneer, he will oversee bank operations, including deposit and retail loan operations, compliance, risk, information technology, security, and facilities management.
August 17, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Pioneer 'helps kids be kids' with volunteer effort
Pioneer marks August 17 with “All Together Forward Day 2022,” a brand new massive, employee-led volunteer effort to support Capital Region children, families, organizations, and communities in need.
August 17, 2022
The Saratoga Business Report: Pioneer marks ‘All Together Forward Day’ by distributing school supplies, performing community service, donating to humanitarian relief in Ukraine
Hundreds of Pioneer employees support massive volunteer effort, fanning out across the Capital Region to “inspire progress one individual, one family, one business, and one community at a time."
July 21, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: New electric vehicle charging station opens in Colonie
Colonie officially has electric vehicle stations. They’re located at Pioneer’s Headquarters on Albany Shaker Road.
July 21, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: New electric vehicle charging stations unveiled in Colonie
New electric vehicle charging stations are now available in Colonie. Pioneer Bank opened the new charging stations Thursday at their headquarters on Albany Shaker Road.
July 21, 2022
Albany Business Review: How Capital Region employers are recruiting and retaining workers
As the fight for talent heats up alongside the cost of doing business, employers see labor as an area where they can’t risk cutting costs, according to Miriam Dushane of Alaant Workforce Solutions and Susan Hollister of Pioneer.
July 12, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Albany firm’s survey finds hiring more challenging than ever
Only 12% of employers surveyed for the exclusive Alaant Hiring Index believe the situation will improve over the next six months.
July 3, 2022
Albany Times Union: As COVID slows, manufacturers fight for employees, clear supply chains
Some manufacturers may need to take a hard look in the mirror regarding pay and employment conditions, said Miriam Dushane, managing partner at Alaant Workforce Solutions, an Albany employee search firm.
June 30, 2022
Albany Times Union: Pandemic created new opportunities for commercial real estate sector
"You're seeing a lot of medical office space that's being distributed around," said Jesse Tomczak, executive vice president and chief banking officer at Pioneer. He also said warehouse space is in high demand as consumers shifted almost entirely to online shopping during the pandemic, even buying their groceries online.
June 30, 2022
Saratoga Today: Hiring woes? Capital Region employers continue to struggle
Despite offering higher salaries and adjusting their recruiting processes, Capital Region employers say the challenge of attracting and hiring new talent is tougher than ever. That’s according to the Spring 2022 Alaant Hiring Index released on June 28 by Alaant Workforce Solutions, a workforce services firm located in Albany.
June 30, 2022
Spectrum News Albany: College students test out potential careers with summer internships
At Pioneer, executives are boosting interest with weekly professional development workshops, where interns get a chance to hear directly from company leaders.
June 21, 2022
Albany Business Review: Pioneer Bank expanding its SBA lending program with new hire
Pioneer is building out a dedicated U.S. Small Business Administration lending program, led by a new hire.
Kate Morgan — previously a senior loan processor at Pursuit — joined Pioneer Bank last month as an SBA relationship manager to lead the program.
June 17, 2022
Albany Times Union: Internships at Pioneer signal return to normal after pandemic
The pandemic is hardly over, but the interns are back at Pioneer for the summer, and it's the bank's biggest class ever with 17 students this summer.
June 17, 2022
Albany Times Union: Charity strokes
Area professional, business and community leaders embraced their inner child by participating in a Mini-Golf Tournament presented by Pioneer’s Charitable Foundation, which raised $5,000 to support local children.
June 16, 2022
CBS 6 Albany: Pioneer's Charitable Foundation presents Mini-Golf Tournament
A fun event that reflects the foundation's mission of “Helping Kids be Kids,” the event raised $5,000 for programs that support the critical needs of children, such as housing, nutrition, and health care, and provide educational, social and recreational opportunities.
June 13, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Pioneer welcomes largest class of summer interns ever
Pioneer is welcoming its largest-ever class of students for its summer intern program. The financial institution has 17 interns on-board this summer. They're a mix of undergrad, law school and MBA students.
June 6, 2022
News10 ABC Albany: 'Money Mondays' segment with Pioneer's Insurance Division
As summer gets into full swing, it's important to make sure your boats, jet skis, and recreational vehicles are properly insured in case the unexpected happens.
May 11, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Non-profits announce grants to bridge digital divide in Capital Region
Local non-profits gathered Wednesday to announce new grants to enhance digital equity in the Capital Region, with CanCode Communities receiving the largest award of $250,000.
May 11, 2022
WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Grant funding to support digital literacy efforts in Capital Region
The largest grant, $250,000, will go to CanCode Communities. Founded as Albany CanCode in 2016, the program gives young people – many in disadvantaged communities – training in computer coding.
May 11, 2022
Albany Times Union: Former Google CEO's charity betting on connecting the Capital Region
The largest grant went to CanCode Communities, an innovative software programming training program for people who have never worked in the industry that began as Albany CanCode and has since spread across the state, including into New York City.
May 3, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Colonie accounting firm celebrates end of tax season with employee brewing contest
The accounting firm of Wojeski & Company in Colonie had a unique way to mark the end of tax season. It held its inaugural Homebrew Contest.
April 20, 2022
Albany Business Review: There's a Capital Region apartment boom. These bankers are watching what's next
There seems to be another new apartment complex or conversion project getting approvals and breaking ground every other week in the Albany area. Banks like Colonie-based Pioneer are looking at projects in a different light as rising interest rates and inflation drive the price of projects up.
April 12, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Tech Tuesday: BerkshiresCanCode
CanCode Communities has announced its first course to be offered in the Berkshires in partnership with the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The adult workforce class being offered by BerkshiresCanCode is a front-end web development course.
April 11, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Giving on 10: Pioneer Bank donating $20K to Ukraine
Led by donations from its 250-person Capital Region workforce, Pioneer will provide food, clothing, school supplies, and other critical items to Ukrainian children and families.
April 4, 2022
SHRM: Building a community to support recruitment
Miriam Dushane, SHRM-CP, managing partner of recruiting and staffing firm Alaant Workforce Solutions in Albany, N.Y., uses philanthropy as a practical approach to creating a talent pipeline.
March 31, 2022
The Saratogian: Rosenblum launches co-works space in Wolf Road corridor
“I am so thrilled we made the decision to move to Hone. It is the perfect solution for a team to balance a hybrid work model,” said Miriam Dushane, Managing Partner at Alaant Workforce Solutions.
March 19, 2022
Albany Times Union: With gas prices up, employees stay put and continue remote working
February 25, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Albany non-profit expanding access to computer coding careers
The goal of CanCode Communities is expanding access to career opportunities in software development. They just opened a new office on Warren Street in Albany's South End, hoping to bring more minorities into high-tech careers.
February 24, 2022
Saratoga Today: CanCode Communities opens new office in Albany’s Capital South Campus Center
The location is fully aligned with its commitment to providing underrepresented individuals with pathways to technology education and careers.
February 22, 2022
Albany Business Review: An Albany company gave up its lease for coworking — will more follow?
Last month, Miriam Dushane packed up Alaant Workforce Solutions' office at 187 Wolf Road and moved down the hall into a private suite at Hone Coworks. Alaant is at the start of a trend of companies rethinking traditional yearslong leases for sublets or coworking.
February 21, 2022
Albany Times Union: CanCode Communities opens new location in Albany
CanCode Communities, a nonprofit that trains people for software career opportunities, has opened a new training facility on Warren Street. The new office is in the same location where CanCode hosts coding courses with Capital Region BOCES, which operates it.
February 15, 2022
NewsChannel 13 Albany: Non-profit gets $50k donation to help train people for tech jobs
February 15, 2022
News 10 ABC Albany: Tech Crunch Tuesday: Interactive teller machines
ITMs are available at 13 Pioneer Bank branch locations across the Capital Region, and Pioneer Customer Care Officer Lyn Wiltsie says they make banking much more convenient for customers.
February 4, 2022
Albany Business Review: The 'Big Four' in accounting? In Albany, it's more like the Big Five
Wojeski & Co. has added 10 CPAs over the past four years, more than any other firm over that time. The firm hired a new CEO in 2020 and has grown both organically and through an acquisition.
February 3, 2022
Albany Times Union: Experts: File taxes online, early as return times could be 'unprecedented'
Rick Jones, chief executive officer of Wojeski & Company Certified Public Accountants, said the IRS expects refund processing time to be “almost unprecedented,” which is why it is advising taxpayers to file electronically and help reduce the clutter and complications of paperwork.
January 31, 2022
GovTech: Upstate New York digital literacy program nets donation
The digital literacy program CanCode got a boost Wednesday in the form of a $50,000 check from the Business for Good foundation, helping with its stated mission of providing digital skills training in the Albany region.
January 31, 2022
Albany Business Review: It's become expected: How Albany banks, credit unions are handling work from home
Tom Amell, CEO of Pioneer Bank, was reluctant at first and didn't think that banks could operate remotely. He's softened on his stance and many of the Colonie bank's 230 employees are now working a hybrid model, where some employees are allowed to have flexibility in where they work.
January 30, 2022
Albany Business Review: More interns, remote workers help CPA firm manage labor crunch in tax season
The busiest time of the year, tax season, is coming up. Wojeski & Co. is taking a new approach by bringing on more interns than usual for tax season to do some substantive work.
January 30, 2022
Albany Times Union: Donation boosts CanCode
The digital literacy program CanCode got a boost Wednesday in the form of a $50,000 check from the Business for Good foundation. The mission of CanCode, a nonprofit, is to reach individuals in the Capital Region who have an aptitude to work in software but lack resources for training.
January 30, 2022
The Daily Gazette: HIGH NOTES: Community grant, help for underprivileged kids, diversity lesson
In Albany, the Wojeski & Company accounting firm recently raised $85,000 to help underprivileged children in the community, working with Catholic Charities. The fundraising came through the firm’s The Wojeski Fund, which has raised $425,000 since its inception in 2004.
January 27, 2022
Albany Business Review: Higher interest rates are coming. What that means for Albany-area banks
Tom Amell, CEO of Pioneer Bank, sees raising interest rates as necessary to stem inflation, which at 7% in December is the highest it's been in decades. It will take a while, with periodic rate hikes, for things to edge back to normal.
January 21, 2022
Albany Business Review: Three takeaways for employers (and employees) from this year’s Executive Recruiters List
Miriam Dushane of Alaant Workforce Solutions said don’t forget to consider the hiring process itself, and don’t make potential employees jump through more hoops than are necessary.
January 18, 2022
News10 ABC Albany: Tech Crunch Tuesday: CanCode Communities
This week’s "Tech Crunch" speaks a different language: the language of computers. And how learning that "computer speak" can land you a great-paying job. It’s time to introduce you to CanCode Communities.
January 13, 2022
Saratoga Today: CanCode Communities announces largest-ever course schedule
CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization training non-traditional talent for software career opportunities, has announced its largest-ever course schedule, with six popular classes being offered for Spring 2022 through four affiliates across upstate New York.
January 9, 2022
Troy Record: CanCode Communities announces course schedule for spring 2022
CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization training non-traditional talent for software career opportunities, announced its largest-ever course schedule, with six popular classes being offered for spring 2022 through four affiliates across upstate New York.
January 7, 2022
iHeart Radio: Capital Region workforce outlook
In this episode of "Upstate Issues," Miriam Dushane, Managing Partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, talks about which sectors are looking to hire, why some employers are having difficulty finding the right people, and the importance of the human touch in filling jobs.
January 7, 2022
Albany Times Union: CanCode to offer six coding classes in spring
CanCode Communities in upstate New York will offer six coding classes this spring beginning in February. The non-profit said the spring classes will compose its largest-ever course schedule.
January 2, 2022
Albany Business Review: Hiring is going to get harder. What Albany recruiters see for 2022
Miriam Dushane, managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, said there will continue to be a movement toward more flexibility in how and where work gets done. Companies that refuse to change will have a tougher time attracting talent.