♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO IMPACT GIVEBACK 2.0.

I'M YOUR HOST RICK FENNER, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT UTICA UNIVERSITY.

IN THE FALL OF 2021, WCNY VISITED WITH 60 LOCAL BUSINESSES TO LEARN HOW THEY HAD BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE GIVEN THAT RESTRICTIONS WERE BEING LIFTED.

>> ON THE EAST SIDE OF SYRACUSE, YOU WILL FIND COLLINS BARBER SHOP, A MAIN STAY IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

FROM VACCINES TO HAIR CUTS, FIND OUT HOW SHOP OSH CHARLSTON COLLINS IS GIVING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.

>> EYE MAIM IS CATHY AND I BAKE AND MANAGE THE STORE AND GO OUT AND SELL COOKIES.

>> SINCE 1972, COOPERATE FEDERAL HAS BEEN BRINGING FINANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SEE HOW THIS OPERATION IS HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> CAZENOVIA ART SONS, THE MISSION IS TO CREATE ART AND TO USE THIS OUTLET AS A GALLERY TO DISPLAY AND SELL OUR WORK.

>> AT CNY JAZZ CENTRAL, WILL YOU HEAR SOME OF THE BEST JAZZ TUNES AROUND.

BUT BEYOND THE TRUMPETS AND SNARE DRUMS, YOU WILL FIND AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS HARD AT WORK FOR SYRACUSE'S URBAN YOUTH TONIGHT WE INVITED 5 OF THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS BACK TO TELL US HOW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING ONE YEAR LATER.

I AM HAPPY TO BE JOINED HERE TONIGHT BY: CHARLESTON COLLINS - OWNER OF COLLINS BARBER AND BEAUTY SHOP CATHY PEMBERTON - OWNER OF CATHY'S COOKIE KITCHEN THOMAS DELLWO - FINANCIAL COUNSELOR AT COOPERATIVE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION DAVE EICHORN- MEMBER OF CAZENOVIA ARTISANS LARRY LUTTINGER - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CNY JAZZ CENTRAL I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING ME TONIGHT.

LET ME START WITH YOU CHARLESTON YOU SAID IN THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW THAT YOU MISSED HAVING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

THAT ONE OF THE THINGS OF BEING IMPORTANT OF HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD BARBER SHOP WAS HAVING PEOPLE COME IN, WAIT FOR AN AVAILABLE CHAIR, AND THEN SIT AROUND AND TALK ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

AND YOU LOST THAT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE HAD TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

I WAS WONDERING, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL?

>> WELL, WE ARE BACK TO NORMAL AS FAR AS BUSINESS, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING BY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.

WE DO GET WALK-INS OCCASIONALLY.

WE ENCOURAGE WALK-INS BUT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE IT BOOKS UP PRETTY QUICK.

>> OKAY.

ALSO, I RECALL THAT AT THE FIRST BROADCAST, YOU WERE HAVING PEOPLE, YOU WERE TAKING THEIR TEMPERATURE, AND STILL WEARING MASKS.

HOW DID PEOPLE REACT TO THAT?

DID MOST OF THEM THINK THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO STAY SAFE OR WAS THERE SOME HESITANCY THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK, FOR US, IT WAS A PLUS BECAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ON THE WAY WE HAMMED THINGS.

WE HAD PEOPLE SIGNING IN.

WE CHECKED EVERY TEMPERATURE COMING IN THE DOOR.

AND PEOPLE FELT SAFE, YOU KNOW.

WE HAD A FEW MAYBE THAT DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA, BUT WE HAD THE RULES THAT WE STOOD BY AND WE DID OUR BEST TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS AND OURSELVES SAFE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS NOW OTHER THAN TRYING TO ENCOURAGE APPOINTMENTS?

>> NO RESTRICTIONS.

AS THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, THE BARBERS AND BEAUTICIANS, WE STILL WEAR OUR MASKS SO THAT CUSTOMERS FEEL SAFE AND IT KEEPS US SAFE, BUT IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A MASK.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN BUSINESS RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS?

>> BUSINESS IS VERY GOOD.

I DEFINITELY THINK THIS HELPED, THE FIRST SEGMENT THAT YOU DID ON US, IT HELPED.

ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SCHEDULING AND PEOPLE LIKE THE APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A SCHEDULED TIME TO BE THERE AND THEY CAN PLAN OTHER THINGS DURING THE DAY.

BUT AS FAR AS THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A MORE FREE FLOW OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT AND LIKE YOU SAID, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

WE COULD HOLD DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS BUT WE ARE GETTING BACK TO-- WE ARE AT A DIFFERENT THING NOW, WE ARE AT A DIFFERENT THING NOW SO WE ARE REALLY ENJOYING WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

BECAUSE YOU DID SAY AT ONE POINT IT FELT MORE LIKE A MEETING PLACE THAN JUST A BARBER SHOP AND I GUESS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

NOW I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE PLANS FOR FUTURE, THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY MOVING.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

CUSTOMER BASE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

WE ARE MOVING TO 2704, ERIE BOULEVARD EAST.

AND WE ARE GOING TO OPEN UP ON JANUARY 3 FOR BUSINESS.

>> GREAT.

>> ACTUALLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE LAST WEEK FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

>> THANKS AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT IS CATHY PEMBERTON - OWNER OF CATHY'S COOKIE KITCHEN NOW YOU STARTED OFF PART TIME OUT OF YOUR HOUSE.

THEN YOU EXPANDED TO SELL COOKIES FROM YOUR OWN RETAIL STORE, THROUGH WHOLESALE CHANNELS, LARGE EVENTS.

>> YEP.

>> AND THEN IT ALL STOPPED.

>> YES.

>> AND ONE OF THE LAST THINGS YOU SAID IN YOUR INTERVIEW YOU WAS YOU COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL THINGS STABILIZED.

>> YES.

>> HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER.

HAVE THINGS STABILIZED FOR CATHY'S COOKIE KITCHEN?

>> I THINK WE ARE ALMOST THERE.

JUNE WAS REALLY THE VERY FIRST MONTH THAT IT FELT LIKE IT DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST WERE GREAT.

SEPTEMBER IS QUIET, OCTOBER.

AND NOW WE ARE JUST SLAMMED.

SO-- THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S A BETTER CHRISTMAS THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD.

SO I THINK WE ARE BACK TO THE LEVEL WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT IF COVID HADN'T HAPPENED.

SO MARCH 2020, WE WERE HAVING A GREAT FIRST QUARTER AND WHEN EVERYTHING CAME TO A HALT, I THINK WE PICKED UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.

>> NOW ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID, YOU DID A LOT OF ORDERS, DELIVERING COOKIES TO DORMS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, PARENTS SENDING TO THEIR KIDS HAS THAT RETURNED TO NORMAL?

>> YES, OH MY GOSH, THEY'RE FANTASTIC.

THE PARENTS ARE WONDERFUL.

THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

SO WE DO COOKIE CAKES AND TRAYS AND CUPCAKES AND WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR.

THEY COME UP WITH THEIR OWN STUFF AND WE DO IT BECAUSE WE JUST LOVE THEM.

THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

>> I'M CURIOUS.

DO YOU ADVERTISE DIRECT TO THE PARENTS OR DO YOU GO THROUGH THE STUDENTS TO GET THE PARENTS... >> WE DON'T EVEN ADVERTISE FOR IT.

IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE PARENT WHO PLACED AN ORDER FOUR YEARS AGO FOR VALENTINE'S DAY.

OH MY GOSH.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, AND SHE PUT IT ON A PARENT FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> AND IT JUST BLEW UP AND WE DID THAT KID'S ORDER AND CAME BACK AND OVERNIGHT WE HAD 24 ORDERS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY.

AND IT HAS JUST GONE LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ADVERTISE IN THE DAILY ORANGE NOW.

SOMEBODY SUGGESTED WE DO THAT SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT.

TO REACH THEM.

>> MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY HIRING AND RETAINING WORKERS.

I WONDER IF YOUR BUSINESS HAS HAD THAT PROBLEM.

>> YES, ALMOST EVERYONE THAT I WORKED WITH DID NOT WANT TO COME BACK.

THEY GOT UNEMPLOYMENT INSTEAD.

AND THEN I HIRED ONE OF MY BAKERS BACK.

SHE ENDED UP HAVING TO LEAVE.

AND NOW IT'S JUST ME AND A GIRL WHO WAS 16 WHEN SHE STARTED.

SHE IS 19 NOW.

AND WE WORK SO WELL TOGETHER.

WE PRODUCE-- IT'S INCREDIBLE WHAT WE PRODUCE, THAT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HIRE ANYBODY ELSE.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK THAT BALANCE BETWEEN US.

IT'S JUST GREAT.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF DELIVERY PEOPLE.

>> CHARLSTON, HAVE YOU HAD PROBLEMS RETAINING PEOPLE IN THE BARBER AND BEAUTY SHOP?

>> AS FAR AS CUSTOMERS?

>> NO, IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES?

>> WE ARE A FAMILY-BASED BUSINESS.

MY WIFE AND I.

MY WIFE RUNS THE BEAUTY SALON, MY SON IS A BARBER, BUT WE HAVE TOOK ON A FEW MORE YOUNG BARBERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GROW IN THE BUSINESS.

SO WHEN WE MOVE, THEY WILL BE MOVING ON WITH US.

>> SO CATHY, YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT NOW YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER, THE PRICE OF EGGS, FLOUR, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

HOW IS THAT IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS?

>> IT DOES IMPACT IT.

WE HAVEN'T CHANGED.

WE USE ORGANIC BUTTER.

WE USE ORGANIC EGGS, THE PRICES KEEP SKYROCKETING.

BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT IS WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE COMING BACK.

SO WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE DO.

AND THERE IS REALLY ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CHARGE FOR A COOKIE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE MARGIN MAY BE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

I JUST HAVE TO BE WISE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE BUSINESS.

>> GREAT.

THOMAS.

NOW MOST OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE SHOWCASED IMPACT GIVEBACK, THEIR PRIMARY CUSTOMER HAS BEEN THE PUBLIC.

AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CREDIT UNION THOUGH, YOU'RE JUST AS INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY MINORITY-RUN BUSINESSES.

AND WE KNOW THAT THEY WERE IMPACTED SEVERELY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I WAS WONDERING, HAVE YOUR CUSTOMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY MINORITY-OWNED, HAVE THEY REBOUNDED OR ARE THEY STILL FACING CHALLENGES?

>> I THINK THEY'RE STILL FACING CHALLENGES.

YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW IS FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS, THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CAME IN, AND WE ASSISTED THEM WITH THE PPP, WE ARE MAKING SURE THEY GET THEIR FORGIVENESS, MAKING SURE THEY GET THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SO THEY CAN KEEP THE OPERATIONS GOING AND KEEP MAKING MONEY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT ESPECIALLY MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES DON'T OFTEN HAVE THE FAMILY WEALTH AND YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF OTHER SOURCES TO DIP INTO SO THAT'S OUR NICHE, PROVIDING CAPITAL TO UNDERCAPITALIZED BUSINESSES THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.

AND SO THERE IS STILL A LOT OF NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR CAPITAL TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

AND THEN ALSO THE OTHER THING WE DO IS AS A SMALL BUSINESS, WE TRY TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES BY USING THEM FOR OUR NEEDS.

SO YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE OPENING A NEW BRANCH ON ERIE BOULEVARD AS WELL.

1816 AND OUR PRIMARY ELECTRICIAN IS ONE OF ONLY TWO WOMEN MINORITY OWNED MASTER ELECTRICIAN BUSINESSES AND SHE HAS DONE THE ENTIRE WORK AND ALSO MY I.T.

CLOSET WHICH IS EXCITING, TOO.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT-- THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNDER CAPITALIZATION IN THAT GROUP AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

THAT HAS BEEN CITED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN PART OF THE IMPACT PROGRAM HERE.

I'M WONDERING IF THE OTHER PANELISTS, IF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS.

>> WE WEREN'T.

AT THE TIME THAT WAS HAPPENING, MY MOTHER WAS THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS.

IT WAS PASSED ON TO ME AFTER SHE PASSED.

I WAS SELF EMPLOYED.

AS FAR AS ME BEING A SELF EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL, I RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT WAS DUE ME, BUT AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS AS A WHOLE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FILE AT THAT TIME.

SHE PASSED AWAY AT THAT TIME.

>> CATHY.

>> I DID THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM.

I GOT TWO LOANS AND MULTIPLE GRANTS.

>> DAVE, LARRY, WERE YOUR ORGANIZATIONS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> WE WERE ABLE TO.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PROCESS.

WE KIND OF FIGURED EVERYTHING OUT.

OUR SITUATION, BECAUSE WE ARE AN ARTISAN CO-OP IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.

AND SO WE HAD TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT-- AND THE PPP PROGRAM, YOU MAY RECALL, FOR ARE A WHILE THERE, WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A MOVING TARGET.

SO WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE WE FIT INTO ALL OF THIS.

BUT EVENTUALLY, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE BUSINESS SAVVY THAN I.

>> YOU NEED PEOPLE LIKE TOM TO HELP.

>> I KNOW.

WITHIN OUR GROUP AND THEN WE HAD SOME ACCOUNTANTS HELP WORK WITH US AS WELL, AND YEAH, WE GOT THROUGH IT.

AND SO, YES, WE DID LEAN ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> LARRY.

>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE TWO PPP GRANTS.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PUTTING A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM, THAT GRINDS TO I TOTAL HALT.

AND SO IN THE PRE-VACCINE DAYS, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY STRATEGY.

>> TOM, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE MOVING BUT THAT'S ALSO JUST A SMALL PART OF A BIG REBRANDING, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

>> WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> NEW LOGO, NEW WEBSITE, YEAH, WE ARE FRESHENING EVERYTHING UP BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AND IT'S ALSO, I GUESS, HOPEFULLY IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO MORE FOLKS AND GET OUR NAME OUT MORE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE KEEP HEARING IS, THIS IS SYRACUSE'S BEST KEPT SECRET.

WE WISH THAT IT WASN'T SYRACUSE'S BEST KEPT SECRET.

WE WANT TO SHOUT YOU THE ON IT AND NOT MAKE IT A SECRET IF POSSIBLE.

>> HOW MANY OFFICES DO YOU HAVE CURRENTLY?

>> THIS WILL BE OUR FIFTH TECHNICALLY.

ALTHOUGH ONE BRANCH WILL BE CLOSING IN ORDER TO-- BECAUSE THIS BRARN IS VERY CLOSE TO ONE OF OUR OTHER BRANCHES.

ONE BRANCH WILL BE CLOSING.

ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE FOUR TOTAL BRANCHES IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

>> DAVE, TELL ME, AT THE END OF YOUR INTERVIEW LAST YEAR, YOU SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC HAD BEEN TOUGH ON THE ARTISANS, THAT IN FACT YOU FOUND MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU THAN BEFORE AND THAT THERE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN GROWTH.

I WONDERED HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID, WE HAD TO CLOSE OUR DOORS LIKE A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

WE SAT DOWN, GOT TOGETHER, AS A MENTIONED WE ARE AN ARTISAN CO-OP SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

THERE WAS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AHEAD OF US.

WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.

WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO PRESS REAL HARD IN MARKETING.

AND ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

NOW MIND YOU, THIS WAS BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW ABOUT PPP.

SO THIS WAS ALL ON OUR OWN.

IT WAS ALL SWEAT EQUITY.

AND WE JUST DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO GET THE WORD OUT ON US.

WE FIGURED AT SOME POINT THE SUN WOULD SHINE AGAIN AND THERE WOULD BE SOME LIGHT OF DAY AND THAT WHEN THINGS SETTLED OUT, WE WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE WERE STILL THERE.

WE PRODUCED VIDEOS OF OURSELVES, OUR WORK THAT WE WERE DOING.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?

IT WAS KIND OF COOL IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE IT KEPT US BUSY.

IT WAS SORT OF LIKE A POWER PLAY IN A WAY.

IT WAS TIME OUT.

IN THE TIME OUT, WHAT CAN WE POSSIBLY DO?

WE HAD, BECAUSE WE ARE A CO-OP, WE COULD AFFORD TO DO THAT.

WE WERE IN A UNIQUE SWAYS.

WE COULD AFFORD TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T-- OUR OVERHEAD IS OURSELVES AND OUR TIME PRIMARILY.

OUR LOORD BOB HOOD WAS BEHIND US THE WHOLE WAY.

WE HAD SOME FLEXIBILITY WITH RENT AND WE PROVIDED A STRATEGY TO HIM, A BUSINESS STRATEGY, WHICH WAS REALLY KIND OF COOL, ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, HOW WE WERE GOING TO HANDLE ALL THIS AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE MADE SENSE SO OFF WE WENT.

AGAIN, YOU LOOK BACK AND IT'S LIKE WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE JUST DID THAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE UNCERTAINTY HAD JUST LENT YOURSELF TO, OURSELVES TO, WHAT ELSE DO WE DO?

>> I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR WEBSITE AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU SO WELL DESIGNED.

IT IS VERY CLEAR, I LOVE THE PICTURES, THE STORIES.

I'M WONDERING, WAS THE WEBSITE PART OF A REACTION TO THE PANDEMIC OR DID YOU HAVE AN ONLINE... >> NO, WE DEVELOPED AN ONLINE PRESENCE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG OUR DOORS WOULD BE CLOSED SO WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

SO, AND THAT TOOK DEVELOPING AN ONLINE PRESENCE IS NOT REALLY AN EASY THING TO DO: SO WE DEVELOPED A NEW WEBSITE, WE BROUGHT IN NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS WHICH WAY NOT SEEM THAT BIG OF A DEAL TO SOMEONE SITTING OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE CASH REGISTER SOMEBODY IS THERE AND TAKES CARE OF YOU BUT THE WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE INVOLVED WITH THAT, INTEGRATING IT WITH OUTREACH, COMMUNITY, EMAILS, NEWS LETTERS THAT WE SEND, THAT WAS THE OTHER THING.

IT KEPT THE HEART BEAT GOING AND EVERY AVENUE WE COULD POSSIBLY DO.

AND SO, YEAH, IT WAS-- THE WEBSITE, THE TECHNOLOGY, I'M REPEATING MYSELF HERE BUT I'M GOING DOWN THE LIST.

IT WAS REALLY SO MUCH THAT WE DID DO THAT WHEN THE DUST STARTED TO SETTLE AND WE OPENED OUR DOORS UP AGAIN, WE WERE ALMOST TOO EXHAUSTED TO KEEP GOING IN SOME RESPECTS.

I'M JUST KIDDING, BUT IT WAS-- WE WERE REALLY KIND OF-- AND WE GREW AS A RESULT OF ALL OF THIS.

WE GREW TECHNOLOGICALLY, WE GREW AS A BUSINESS.

WE LEARNED EVEN MORE STRONGLY HOW TO DEPEND ON EACH OTHER.

PEOPLE WOUND UP STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAD THOSE KINDS OF SKILLS, YOU KNOW.

SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT IN THAT WAY.

>> GETTING A LOT OF IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE VIBES OVER HERE.

>> I'M SERIOUS THOUGH.

IT'S THAT SCENE, THAT SCENE IN ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE, WHERE HE COMES THROUGH, ALL THE PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT BECAUSE THE WORLD IS SHUTTING DOWN AROUND THEM AND HE SAYS NO, THE VALUE ISN'T OUT THERE.

IT'S IN HERE.

IT'S IN THIS ROOM AMONGST ALL OF US.

>> AND ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT OUR GROUP-- AND I'LL BET THERE IS A COMMONALITY.

I'M LOOKING AROUND IF THE CAMERA IS NOT ON OTHER FACES, I'M LOOKING AROUND, SEEING HEADS NODDING, IS JUST HOW A SITUATION LIKE THAT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING AND VERY DESTRUCTIVE AND ON THE OTHER HAND, AT LEAST IN SOME GROUP SITUATIONS, CAN PULL PEOPLE IN.

PULL THEM IN TOGETHER.

AND I CAN'T SAY IT WAS INSTANT, BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IMAGINE WE ARE AT A BOARD MEETING TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE HAVE ALL THESE CREATIVE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND SOMEHOW WE PULLED IT OFF.

>> GREAT.

LARRY.

SO TELL ME, HOW WAS 2022 FOR CENTRAL JAZZ?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT 2022 WAS OUR YEAR OF REOPENING AND OUR RETURN TO LIVE FACE-TO-FACE PROGRAMMING AS PUBLIC AT ATTITUDES OF BEING AND FEELING SAFE IN A ROOM WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THE OVERALL VIBE WHENEVER WE WOULD BRING BACK A PROGRAM AS ONE OF OUR SEAR SERIES WAS LIKE A CLASS REUNION OR HOMECOMING.

WE HADN'T SEEN PEOPLE THAT WE WERE FACE TO FACE TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH AND ENJOYING PERFORMING ARTS WITH IN AGES.

AND WE REALIZED WHAT A POOR SUBSTITUTE VIRTUAL REALITY IS.

COMPARED TO ACTUAL REALITY.

I SHARE DAVIES SENSE OF DISBELIEF THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT THROUGH THIS BIZARRE EPISODE.

I MUST ADMIT THAT BEING ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE OCCASIONALLY ZOOM MEETING WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE A QUORUM OR IF THEY'RE CALLED AWAY, IS A CONVENIENCE.

THESE ARE ALL CLASSIFIED AS THE NEW SKILLS THAT HAVE STAYED WITH US.

ANOTHER NEW STILL THAT WE HAD TO LEARN VERY QUICKLY IN THE PRE-VACCINE TOTAL CLOSURE TIME WAS VIDEO PRODUCTION.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

YOU DEVELOPED THESE GREAT VIDEOS.

THREE CAMERAS, YOU TURNED YOUR THEATER INTO A RECORDING STUDIO THAT.

>> THAT REALLY SAVED US AND HAVE I TO COMMEND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION FOR HEARING OUR MESSAGE AND AGREEING TO UNDERWRITE A SERIES OF CONCERTS THAT WERE PRERECORDED IN OUR JAZZ CENTRAL THEATER AND THEN BROADCAST THROUGH A PRIVATE CHANNEL LINK TO EVERY STUDENT EMAIL AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

AND THEN OTHER INSTITUTIONS FOLLOWED SUIT.

SO EACH WEEK, FOR AN 18-WEEK SCHOOL YEAR, WE BROADCAST THIS ENTIRE SERIES CALLED "LIVE FROM JAZZ CENTRAL" NOT ONLY TO S.U.

BUT CAZ COLLEGE, LeMOYNE, AND SUNY OSWEGO.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 30,000 LINKS EVERY WEEK FOR 18 WEEKS.

AND, LIKE DAVE, THAT GAVE US REASON TO GO ON AND KEEP PRODUCING CONSENT CONTENT FOR THE PUBLIC AND THAT'S BEEN OUR GENERAL STORY.

WE PIVOTED WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND ALTERED AND RETOOLED OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO MEET THIS VERY QUICKLY CHANGING COMMUNITY NEED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> SO LET ME ASK WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ALL THAT EQUIPMENT.

NOW YOU ARE BACK TO LIVE AUDIENCES, HAS THE THEATER TAKEN OVER THAT SPACE AGAIN OR ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED IN DOING SOME OF THE STREAMING AND VIDEO?

>> LARGE MOUTH BASSING-- LUCKILY WE ARE NOW PRODUCING ALL OF OUR I VENTS, NOT ONLY IN JAZZ CENTRAL BUT IN ALL OF THE MANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE PRODUCE AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A TOTALLY LIVE FASHION.

BUT NOW WE CAN ADDITIONALLY OFFER AUDIO VISUAL RECORDING SERVICES AND POST PRODUCTION MIXING AND MASTERING TO ANYONE WHO CARES TO USE THE THEATER FOR A LIVE SHOW, TOO.

ANOTHER ONE OF THE MANY SMALL SILVER LININGS THAT CAME ALONG WITH OUR HAVING TO LEARN NEW SKILLS.

>> I KNOW STUDENTS ARE A BIG PART OF YOUR MISSION.

YOU GO INTO SCHOOLS, DO MUSIC EDUCATION, YOU ALSO PULL STUDENTS OUT AND OFFER THEM FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES.

HAVE THOSE GOTTEN BACK TO NORMAL AS WELL?

>> THEY ARE, THIS YEAR, PROJECTED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL ENROLLMENT.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STILL IN RECOVERY, SO OUR ARTS AND EDUCATION SERVICE THAT PUTS CULTURAL HISTORY SHOWS INTO THE SCHOOLS AND EMBEDS THEM INTO THE CURRICULUM ISN'T TOTALLY RECOVERED YET.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF COOPERATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE MUSIC TEACHER BAND DIRECTOR, ET CETERA, STAFF LEVEL.

AND THAT IS STILL RETURNING TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

OUR NUMBERS FOR OUR SUMMER JAZZ WORKSHOP, OUR LEARN TO IMPROVISE ACTIVITY WORKSHOP IS NEARLY BACK TO NORMAL AND I CAN ALSO TELL YOU ANOTHER SILVER LINING STORY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE CREATED AN INTRASCHOLASTIC OUTDOOR JAZZ FESTIVAL IN LIVERPOOL AT SHARKEY'S.

THAT HAS SUCH LEGS AND WAS RECEIVED SO WELL THAT IT IS NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR AND IT'S GROWING.

SO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TRY TO FOLLOW THE TRENDS.

>> I'M SORRY THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR BEING HERE AND I WISH ALL OF YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.

I HOPE OUR VIEWERS HAVE ENJOYED HEARING THE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF SOME EXCEPTIONAL LOCAL BUSINESSES.

IF YOU MISSED ONE OF THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF IMPACT GIVEBACK 2.0 OR IF WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THEM OR THE ORIGINAL SERIES AGAIN, THEY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WCNY.ORG.

I'M RICK FENNER AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT WCNY, I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.