Integra Optics, a leading global provider of carrier-grade fiber-optic components and custom-engineered networking solutions, continues its growth, a year after Inc.com called it the nation’s fastest growing telecommunications company and the second fastest growing company in the Capital Region. Founded in 2007 by David Prescott, owner and CEO, the company has earned national recognition for its industry standard optical transceivers that are compatible with virtually all network platforms.

Integra Optics has expanded domestically and overseas, providing a portfolio of high performance optical equipment which includes transceivers, passives, fiber jumpers and testing equipment to more than 300 customers throughout the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and South America. To support their fast-paced growth, the company has expanded its local workforce by nearly a third in just the past two years. Deeply committed to employing veterans and National Guard and Reserve members, Integra Optics is certified by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as a veteran-owned business. Additionally, the company is the Capital Region’s home for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots, run by one of its veteran employees.

Housed under the same roof, IntegraLED specializes in the custom design and installation of low-cost LED lighting systems for commercial, industrial, municipal, and nonprofit clients. Converting outdated lighting systems to cost- and energy-efficient LED lighting allows IntegraLED’s customers to better control operating costs and increase their profit margins. LED bulbs illuminate the hangar and offices of both companies, a switch which uses 90 percent less electricity than standard bulbs. The LEDs also last 40 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs – shining for an average of ten years or more.

Both Integra Optics and IntegraLED place a premium on employee satisfaction, wellness and health. The companies offer fitness and yoga classes to employees, along with bicycles and height-adjustable desks so employees can stand or sit during the day if they wish. With the company’s roots in aviation, being formed and originating in an aircraft hangar, flight lessons are available for staff in a training aircraft based at the office. Team members can rapidly respond to customer needs with the company owned Pilatus PC-12 which is also publicly available for charter.

Latham - S.I.S. Insurance & Financial Services has recently been recognized by Kemper Insurance Company as one of the 2015 Inner Circle of Independent Agencies for its quality service and dedication to its clients. 

“We are very proud of our team for earning this distinction. This is a reflection of their commitment to providing the highest quality service possible,” said Richard Anthony, president of S.I.S. Insurance & Financial Services. “S.I.S. is thrilled to join The Inner Circle, an exclusive group of 250 independent insurance agencies countrywide that represent Kemper Preferred.”

This distinction is earned by companies that provide a high level of customer service while achieving success in its overall business goals. Only about 3% of all agencies in the country are presented with this recognition

The Kemper Corporation is one of the nation’s leading insurance organizations.

About S.I.S. Insurance & Financial Services:

S.I.S. Insurance & Financial Services carries a wide array of insurance products, including auto, homeowners, commercial, and other insurance, from a variety of different carriers.  For more information, visit https//:sisprotects.com/

Sunmark Federal Credit Union ($470 million in assets; 48,000+ members) is proud to partner with S.I.S as it helps members in the greater Capital Region community improve their financial position by offering a full range of mortgages, insurance products, retirement accounts and of course, savings and checking. For more information, visit www.sunmarkfcu.org

New Medicare state-by-state enrollment numbers

As Medicare and Medicaid celebrate their 50th anniversary protecting the health and well-being of millions of seniors, people with disabilities and low-income individuals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released updated Medicare state-by-state enrollment numbers, showing that more than 55 million Americans are covered by Medicare.

In 1966, approximately 19.1 million Americans were covered by Medicare. In 2012, there were nearly 52 million beneficiaries covered by Medicare. Today’s enrollment numbers represent a three million person increase during the last three years as the Baby Boom generation has started to retire. Medicare beneficiaries depend on the program to provide critical health services such as preventive services, including flu shots and diabetes screenings, hospital stays, lab tests and critical supplies like wheelchairs and prescription drugs.

"Over the last 50 years, Medicare has become part of the fabric of our communities, protecting the well-being and financial security of millions of American families as they age or if they become disabled. In doing so, Medicare has kept up with dramatic demographic changes and led the charge toward improving health care delivery," said Andy Slavitt, CMS acting administrator. "As we preserve and advance Medicare for future generations, we are focused on helping build a better system with smarter spending that keeps people healthier."

CMS also releases state-by-state Medicaid enrollments on a monthly basis. As of May 2015, over 71.6 million individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with 12.8 million more gaining coverage since 2013. More information is available on Medicaid.gov.

The chart below outlines enrollment as of May 2015 in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Part D (prescription drug plans):

	Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage			Part D
State	Medicare Parts A and/or B	Medicare Advantage1	Total	Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan	Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Coverage	Total
Alabama	714,475	246,373	960,848	452,298	229,424	681,722
Alaska	82,292	665	82,957	32,649	465	33,114
Arizona	685,835	433,055	1,118,890	383,601	414,757	798,358
Arkansas	469,450	121,903	591,353	298,282	105,044	403,326
California	3,246,443	2,354,920	5,601,363	2,067,831	2,227,601	4,295,432
Colorado	486,962	290,466	777,428	278,220	270,140	548,360
Connecticut	465,754	161,781	627,535	317,170	151,704	468,874
Delaware	163,003	15,077	178,080	115,989	12,163	128,152
District of Columbia	76,076	11,735	87,811	38,777	11,033	49,810
Florida	2,367,608	1,601,277	3,968,885	1,401,435	1,518,812	2,920,247
Georgia	1,023,363	480,178	1,503,541	611,803	456,095	1,067,898
Hawaii	130,226	112,326	242,552	61,779	108,148	169,927
Idaho	186,352	91,711	278,063	104,739	81,022	185,761
Illinois	1,585,563	472,008	2,057,571	1,051,092	385,676	1,436,768
Indiana	867,439	274,477	1,141,916	597,766	225,331	823,097
Iowa	482,104	86,749	568,853	358,169	71,192	429,361
Kansas	416,622	67,545	484,167	277,987	58,803	336,790
Kentucky	631,252	226,064	857,316	456,903	173,808	630,711
Louisiana	547,162	239,874	787,036	339,349	230,597	569,946
Maine	234,647	69,616	304,263	149,639	63,669	213,308
Maryland	842,226	81,163	923,389	475,626	68,903	544,529
Massachusetts	948,839	261,433	1,210,272	578,654	238,763	817,417
Michigan	1,263,405	622,116	1,885,521	1,086,223	365,255	1,451,478
Minnesota	416,680	489,099	905,779	391,006	286,560	677,566
Mississippi	472,274	84,720	556,994	316,868	75,485	392,353
Missouri	804,245	324,780	1,129,025	527,833	299,985	827,818
Montana	162,736	36,852	199,588	91,322	34,763	126,085
Nebraska	271,448	39,218	310,666	185,386	31,687	217,073
Nevada	296,171	149,826	445,997	150,293	144,634	294,927
New Hampshire	244,219	20,067	264,286	148,826	14,996	163,822
New Jersey	1,252,414	233,355	1,485,769	876,915	183,598	1,060,513
New Mexico	251,323	117,883	369,206	143,187	112,227	255,414
New York	2,077,589	1,251,906	3,329,495

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