Stefanik said her goal for the two tours was to learn what she could of the businesses and to hear what some of their problems and concerns are.

“Today I’m focused on promoting our manufacturers in Fulton County. They are some of the most important drivers in economic growth,” Stefanik said. “In both these two companies we’ve seen good paying jobs and companies that are continuing to grow [and] they’re investing in the region. Particularly the second visit at Euphrates, it ties in the dairy industry which is going through challenging times right now in terms of our upstate dairies.”

The first stop of the tour was at Pioneer Window which has plans to expand by 125,000-square-feet and possibly add approximately 75 jobs.

Eric Miller, senior vice president of operations, said the building is currently at 165,000-square-feet. He said they manufacture windows for schools and high rises, such as those in New York City. He said they recently did a high profile project in Brooklyn at 416 Kent Ave., for former governor Eliot Spitzer.

Senior vice president of operations at Pioneer Window, Eric Miller, left, gives a tour of the facility to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, right, along with local representatives on Wednesday. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O'Hara)

“Our business used to draw about $25 to $30 million a year. Last year we did $67 million and this year we’re tracking about $80 million,” Miller said. “The economy is good right now, we need to keep people like you [Stefanik] and our president in office so it stays good.”

Stefanik was able to meet with longtime employees of Pioneer Window and listen to what makes the company unique and some of their biggest challenges.

Kelly Kennedy, senior account manager and office manager, said with the economic recession in 2008, some of the challenges were customer funding, cutting down to a four-day work schedule, employees getting laid off and material coming in slow.

Connie Wasson, human resources and payroll manager said one challenge today is health insurance cost. She said the cost has gone up 19 percent almost every year.

“Those benefits matter and it’s about investing in the workforce,” Stefanik said. “I think that’s one of the strengths of successful businesses.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik takes a tour of Pioneer Window along with local representatives on Monday. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O'Hara)

Miller said one of the biggest challenges is finding employees. He said out of the 150 employees, they have to constantly re-hire about 10.

“This is a concern that I hear virtually every business I visited is having available jobs, but seeing that turnover and not necessarily finding that skill set needed.”

Next stop of the tour was Euphrates Cheese, which is known for its feta cheese with a recipe that came from a Turkish family including the president and owner of the facility, Hamdi Ulukaya. Finance manager Nikki Famiano said Ulukaya first began in his kitchen and from there it expanded into Euphrates Cheese in 2007.

Stefanik and local representatives toured through the facility which Famiano said works like an assembly line from pasteurizing the milk all the way through packaging.

She said production is done at 90 degrees Fahrenheit where employees work their shift in the high temperatures and humidity. The temperatures in the tanks where milk is pasteurized is at 172 degrees and where the milk is put into the water baths is at 70 degrees. It is in those water baths where the milk is timed and after some time the milk hardens up and gets cut into the cheese cubes.

Director of finance and sales Ismail Batmaz said all of the equipment used comes from Germany and they buy the milk from local dairy farms.

“Upstate New York is one of the best milk suppliers,” Batmaz said.

He said dairy prices have been low, but within the past few months, prices have slightly increased.

All throughout the tour, Stefanik asked questions and listened to some of the biggest concerns of the cheese company. Famiano said one of their biggest problems is trying to find workers with flexible hours because they work second and third shifts. She said those shifts have to work overnight because once the process begins, it has to keep going all the way through to the end.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News

   

COMMENTS