Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. raised $963 for Saratoga Center for the Family during a racing-themed Community Appreciation Day Aug. 15.

Various fundraisers at the event, including basket raffles, a bake sale, a lemonade stand, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream cones, generated those funds for Saratoga Center for the Family, which provides abuse-prevention programs, mental health services and victim advocacy.

In addition, there were free pony and carriage rides, face-painting, games, food and more.

Saratoga National Bank provides banking, investment, insurance and other financial services through eight locations. It hosts community events throughout the year as a way to show appreciation for its customers and neighbors, and assist local causes.

--Jennie

 

After Barnes & Noble closed its Niskayuna store at the Mohawk Commons shopping center, Capital Region readers were concerned about the future of the other local Barnes & Noble bookstores. The company hasn’t yet read a word about it.

Barnes and Noble did officially state it wasn’t yet stating anything. David Deason, vice president of development, wrote in an e-mail to the Saratogian, “We have not made any announcements regarding store closings yet.”

Keep reading.

--Jennie

 


 

Chequed.com has one goal: No Bad Hires. Ever.

Now this leading provider of the cloud-based Predictive Talent Selection platform has announced that Linium Staffing has become the first professional recruiting firm to deploy Chequed.com’s innovative technology. This gives Linium a new high-tech tool to assist clients in filling positions faster and with the most qualified candidates.

From pre-employment testing and scorable interview guides to online reference-checking and passive talent sourcing, Chequed.com’s cloud-based Predictive Talent Selection platform is used by some of the world’s leading brands.

With a growing roster of clients that includes globally recognized companies such as Aspen Dental, Hallmark, Subway Restaurants and The Walt Disney Co., Chequed.com is the nation’s fastest-growing company in providing online employee assessment and reference-checking tools.  

With locations in 20 states and Canada, Linium specializes in helping companies hire individuals for information technology, science and engineering positions. Since April 2000, Linium has maintained a full suite of consulting and recruitment services. The firm’s success is supported by proven search methods and knowledge of past, present and emerging technologies. This expertise lets Linium Staffing deliver the kinds of services that drive growth and market leadership. The company consistently identifies, recruits, and delivers top talent quickly without any compromise to quality. Linium prides itself on being an expert in the employment marketplace. 

Linium’s Albany office will use Chequed.com’s next-generation software, which integrates behavioral science to enable data-driven assessment of job candidates, to save employers time and money while expediting the job-search process.

Linium will initially use Chequed.com’s online reference-checking component, which allows faster and more accurate peer evaluation, and better matches prospective employees with a company’s culture and values. Additionally, as references can “opt in” to explore career opportunities, Linium will provide companies with access to a larger talent pool, including the hard-to-find market of passive job seekers.

“Our mission of connecting clients with the best possible job candidates, as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, will be enhanced through the use of Chequed.com’s technology,” said Miriam Dushane, branch manager of Linium’s Albany office. “These new capabilities give Linium Staffing a competitive advantage, and open up new opportunities to serve both employers and job-seekers in today’s innovation economy.”

Greg Moran, president and CEO of Chequed.com, said his firm was thrilled to partner with Linium Staffing to support its efforts in helping companies save time and money while hiring highly qualified candidates.

He said, “As the first professional recruiting firm to use Chequed.com’s innovative technology, Linium can now offer a valuable resource to better serve its existing clients and to attract new ones.”

Visit Chequed.com for more information, start a free trial or follow it on Facebook or Twitter.

To learn more about Linium, visit www.liniumstaffing.com, or follow it on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

--Jennie

Mirković Teal Group has acquired the practice of Jeffrey T. Clark and Associates.

As a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise, Mirković Teal Group provides financial advice anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations, and provided in one-on-one relationships with clients.

For more than 115 years, Ameriprise Financial has been advising the full range of individual and institutional investors on their financial needs. Its nationwide network of 10,000 financial advisors offers asset management, and advisory and insurance capabilities.

Mirković Teal Group’s main office is currently located on Wolf Road in Albany, with satellite offices in Saratoga Springs, Gloversville and Cobleskill.

A long-time resident of Saratoga Springs, Clark practiced financial planning here for 19 years. He was also the president of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association. 

He had been looking for a team practice to support his clients’ needs, according to a press release. Mirković Teal Group worked with Clark and his clients to make the transition as smooth as possible before he died after a long battle with cancer. 

“It is with great sorrow that we lost Jeff,” said Saša Mirković, financial advisor and managing partner of Mirković Teal Group. “He was one of the greats: such a remarkable, positive person.  He was a great husband, father, listener and advisor. Mirković Teal Group was honored he selected it to carry on his practice.

Mirković Teal Group is a group of dedicated ladies and gentlemen who work with clients to help inspire a confident retirement, simplify lives and reduce stress. I believe this will deepen our client relationships, and bring client goals and dreams more within reach.”

Reach Mirković Teal Group at 459-5500 and at www.ameriprisemtg.com, ameriprise.com or www.ameripriseadvisors.com/sasa.x.mirkovic/.

--Jennie

 

Reform: A True Pilates Studio at 18 Division St., Suite 203, announces its official transition to a private Pilates club.

Reform offers private and semi-private instruction as well as small group classes in a light-filled studio fully equipped with Gratz apparatus, which is state-of-the-art training equipment. All the studio’s highly trained instructors have been certified by Romana’s Pilates at True Pilates New York. This gives the studio the advantage of keeping the integrity of the Pilates method pure, as it was taught by Joseph Pilates and handed down to Romana Kryzanowska.

Studio owner Meghan Del Prete said, “Operating now as a private club lets us bring up our level of service to a new standard. We are result-oriented and feel so confident that our new memberships, which now involve a quarterly screening process, among other things, deliver outstanding results that we offer a strong guarantee. Beyond the physical and emotional benefits of having a consistent Pilates practice, as a club, we now have a lot of fun events around town and perks for our members that we could not offer before. Our team is excited about the future of the studio.”

Reform has new membership options for private Pilates personal training once, twice or three times weekly, and is currently accepting new members. If you are interested in more information, Reform offers a complimentary 90-minute introduction to the studio that includes a 60-minute private Pilates session.

The studio boutique offers Pilates and yoga workout apparel, including Lucy and other high-quality name brands, and has a selection of Pilates books, DVDs and workout accessories.

To schedule a complimentary session, contact the studio at  871-1315 or see www.reformyourbody.com.

--Jennie