 |
 |
Woodstock Percussion, a family business started in 1979, designs world-famous Woodstock Chimes and offers a line of award-wining musical instruments and toys from around the world called the Woodstock Music Collection.
Doing Business Here
”…the Ulster County Development Corporation has played a very important role in the development of my business. In the very early 1980’s we had maybe a dozen or so employees, but we needed to expand quickly. We went to UCDC and they helped us with an IDA loan and that started a whole new part of our business. It was a growth spurt that was a very key one in the growth of our business. We were able to build a sizable commercial space factory in an industrial zone. We then expanded our business both with the facility and its equipment in this manufacturing process. The Ulster County Development Corporation has been very helpful in the success of Woodstock Percussion in making Woodstock Chimes.”
Why Ulster?
“The reason I moved to the Hudson Valley, and specifically to the Woodstock area, is because of its reputation for the arts. It worked really well for our interests. We find the quality of life is an important part of our business. It attracts interesting employees because the valley is so full of culture.”
|
|
|
|
Veit Mueller, President
Se’lux
Se’lux is a German-owned designer and manufacturer of a comprehensive range of high-quality, innovative lighting used in spaces to live and work.
Doing Business Here
“… New York City is a very demanding architectural market…
A local presence is almost a necessity for one to be successful there, not just on a sales level, but also on an engineering level, as well as on a product support level. And being just an hour and a half outside of New York City, one can easily have a technician or a sales person or accounting person there on very short notice. Our growth in this market has shown that the recipe of being nearby and actually supporting the sales efforts as much as we do works. In addition, we are near to our suppliers, from Montreal, Toronto, as well as New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. We are sitting kind of right in the middle.”
Why Ulster?
“Wonderful countryside and good dining. It’s an amazingly diverse culture. People who come here for the first time think that they are going to the country.”
|
Horse Shows in the Sun is a special events management company that produces competition hunter/jumper horse shows nationally.
Doing Business Here
“… With the help of UCDC, we have been able to secure the Empire Zone benefits, which are quite special – both payroll incentives and tax incentives. This allowed us to develop several properties to go along with our horse show property.
It is a business-friendly environment here in Ulster County. To find the appropriate help has been simple."
Why Ulster?
“…Horse Shows in the Sun is a unique business in an area that is known for technology. We’re an odd company and yet this particular area offers us the opportunity to take advantage of the technology that is here and enjoy the wonderful country. Ulster County for me offers a bit of the city benefits and many of the country benefits.”
|
Woodstock Harley-Davidson, started in 1975, has today grown into a leading, full-service dealership and employer. The dealership continues to be recognized for their achievements for customer service and satisfaction, and their sales and service activity.
Doing Business Here
”Ulster County Development Corporation has helped me tremendously. A couple of years ago, I wanted to move into a new building, a new location, and they were very instrumental in helping me obtain a loan so I could do this.
The community has been very supportive. My neighbors love to see us grow into the new building.”
Why Ulster?
“My company is successful being located in Ulster County primarily because it is located about 100 miles north of New York City. We have a lot of people that come up from New York City that have second homes in Ulster County. This is where they like to ride their motorcycles.”
|
|
|
|
An information technology company providing parts and accessory information, software, and service to support customer service needs of retailers, manufacturers and service providers.
Doing Business Here
“…the location, was perfect because of its close proximity to New York City and easy access via the train. We also felt that as we met people here they were our kind of people in terms of their work ethic, their education level, their focus – so we felt very comfortable being here. The Kingston community provided us with a highly educated workforce and a great infrastructure. (The) Empire Zone provided us with incentives and cost abatements that allowed us to manage the costs that are involved with starting a large operations center."
Why Ulster?
“…I’m a big golfer and a skier and this area offers us opportunities in abundance. Ulster is a place to take clients, it’s a place to entertain people, you’ve got a lot of options. It is a nice place to get out of the city; close enough to do it in one day, but you are in a whole different world in terms of the beauty of the Hudson Valley and all the recreational opportunities."
|
A high-tech semi-conductor company with fabrication, precision machining, and design/build capabilities; and is associated with Sematech International.
Doing Business Here
“ New York State has made a big investment in nanotechnology development and R&D work in the Albany area which is just an hour north of Kingston. An hour south of us is another huge semiconductor facility at IBM Fishkill. IBM has been a world leader in chip development and software technology for many years. My company is right in the middle between the two. It’s a great business environment for my company.”
Why Ulster?
“…there is a quality of life that you can’t find elsewhere and it is only getting better with time. I lived in the Midwest. I’ve seen the Mississippi River. I’ve been out in Oregon, California and I’ve seen many rivers, but none I would say that are as majestic as the Hudson."
|
|
|
|
Elna is an authorized distributor for several major manufacturers of magnetic cores and related accessories and provides custom machining services for these products. Elna’s customer base spans the world providing electronics to the consumer market as well as the telecommunications, automotive, medical, military, aerospace and homeland security markets.
Doing Business Here
“Doing business in Ulster County has proven to be very ‘easy’. Elna is well established here in Woodstock with our beginnings dating back almost fifty years. Our purchase of the company went as well as it did simply because everyone we had to deal with had the same agenda as us: ‘Keep the company and the jobs in Ulster County’. Without that I believe someday Elna would be somewhere else.”
Why Ulster?
“Ulster County works because it offers all that we need to successfully run our business.We live here.We work here. Our children are getting their education here.We are able to attract a talented and dedicated workforce that helps us to remain competitive in the highly competitive electronics market. Our proximity to New York City also helps us with importing and exporting as well as providing major airports for our travels as well as our visitors.”
|
The historic Mohonk Mountain House is a Victorian landmark chiseled into Ulster County’s Shawangunk Ridge and is considered to be the grand dame of resorts with abundant natural and modern amenities to satisfy today’s modern travelers.
Doing Business Here
”We have a wonderful workforce and it is right at our doorstep; SUNY New Paltz with students, talent, professors, staff – are all wonderful people and many of them come up to work at Mohonk.
In addition, working with the Industrial Development Agency and the community has been wonderful experience for us.”
Why Ulster?
“We think that being in Ulster County is absolutely wonderful. The location is just great. We are close to New York City, the tri-state area, and lots of people who need recreation and renewal of body, mind and spirit. Most of all, the region is spectacular. It has mountains, hiking, river, boating, the arts, culture – it has absolutely everything. We feel very fortunate to be in this area.”
|
|
|
|
Patricia Brooks, President
Brooks and Brooks Land Surveyors
Brooks and Brooks Land Surveyors, P.C. offers comprehensive land surveying, land planning, data collection and mapping services to both the public and private sectors. The firm participates in projects ranging in scope from the survey of a small lot to massive data collection for Geodetic Information System mapping.
Doing Business Here
“My husband and I are both generational surveyors. When we decided to combine our two family businesses into one, the growth was unprecedented. To manage this growth, we were able to find the appropriate help in the staff of the Ulster County Development Corporation. When it came time to expand to a new facility and replace and update our technology, the UCDC was instrumental in helping Brooks & Brooks obtain the necessary loans.”
Why Ulster?
“Ulster County’s mountains, year-round opportunities, art, and diverse culture all define the quality of life that helps us attract and retain professional employees. This quality of life has become an important part of our business. This area has absolutely everything and we feel fortunate to have our business and family here.”
|
|
|
|
Mark Braunstein, President
Markertek
Markertek is a manufacturing and distribution company specializing in electronics for the worldwide broadcasting industry enabling film, video, audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals to work more efficiently, productively, and creatively. Clients include major television studios, government, education, cable, business, industrial, presentation and internet broadcasters.
Mark's wife, Katharine McKenna, (pictured on left) artist and gallery owner
Doing Business Here
“From our one car garage roots in Woodstock to our 117,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art distribution center in Saugerties....Ulster County has been the perfect location to grow our global enterprise. The local, dedicated and talented workforce combined with the awesome natural beauty of the Hudson Valley is perfect for shipping our products to end users worldwide. We especially appreciate the UCDC for all of its help with economic services and unparalleled support.”
Why Ulster?
“We feel that Ulster County offers the perfect blend of yearround outdoor recreation, arts & entertainment (from creative art of every genre to Shakespeare to Rock-N-Roll), coupled with friendly home town ambiance with an "uptown" beat for shopping, business and quality of life!”
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Peck, President
Timothy Peck, Vice President
Venture Information System
Web development, programming services, and software product development. Our flagship product is designed for U.S.- based importers and distributors to help them track shipments, manage documentation, and track the costs associated with importing.
Doing Business Here
“The old adage that ‘Location is Everything’ certainly applied to fly-fishing and operating a business. We live and work where we love to play. Being so close to the city allows us to still bring in NYC and Northern NJ customers while allowing us the luxury of living in and enjoying the country. Ulster County has proven to be a great place to grow our business. Over the years our business has expanded due to the availability of talent, abundant business resources and the supportive development environment.”
Why Ulster?
“We moved our business to Ulster County to take advantage of a lower cost of living, improved quality of life, and all of the wonderful recreational activities available to us in the county. Being a fisherman as well as a hiker, Ulster County was an easy choice because of the great trout streams, bass filled lakes, and mountains in excess of 4000 ft.”
|
|
|
|
Sono-Tek (symbol SOTK.OB) developes and manufactures high tech spraying and coating systems used worldwide in the electronics, medical and glass industries. These systems employ ulstrasonic atomization for precision particles and coatings.
Doing Business Here
“As a global business, all of our customers are somewhere else. In Ulster County, the proximity to big city transportation is excellent, while the cost of doing business remains very competitive. As a growing technology company, we need a highly trained and motivated workforce, and we have found that here in Ulster County. Our people enjoy challenging work and a lower cost and lower stress lifestyle than in more urban locations. We also get more and friendlier assistance here from the local and County agencies.”
Why Ulster?
“It would be hard to design a better working and living environment than what we have here in Ulster County. We moved here from Albany, and found that the recreational opportunities for biking, skiing, hiking, and golf were just superb. The proximity to the Shawangunks and Catskills means I can enjoy outdoor recreation and get work done in the same day. There is so much natural beauty between the Hudson River, the farms, villages, and the mountains, that it is always hard to leave and good to return.”
|
|
Benefits include access to and posting within our Business Forums, reading and adding to article comments, and much more.
