News & Events

Antonio Civitella of Transfinder Corporation Named Small Business Person of the Year

 

 

 

 

By Lauren Halligan, lhalligan@troyrecord.com, @LaurenTheRecord on Twitter
The Troy Record
Posted: 05/12/14

ALBANY>> Local business owners and their banks celebrated small business success in the Capital Region this week. 

The Small Business Administration’s yearly district luncheon was held Monday in Albany to recognize the achievements of local companies on the rise. This year’s event was the 16th annual awards ceremony hosted by the Small Business Administration and the New York Business Development Corp. 

The Small Business Person of the Year was Antonio Civitella of Transfinder Corporation in Schenectady. Civitella is an Italian native who came to America at age 9 and worked his way through the ranks from college intern to business owner. 

“It wasn’t cheap. It wasn’t easy. It didn’t happen overnight,” he said about his experience as an entrepreneur. 

Civitella built Transfinder Corp. from the ground up, and Monday’s event was a chance to reflect on how much the service has grown. Now the company is the leading software provider for school bus routing. 

Also on Monday’s program, area banks nominated 17 business clients for excellence awards.

Two award recipients from the Collar City were honored. Groff Networks computer support, established in 2005, was nominated by Pioneer Bank for expanding this year. The company is moving this year to the former Aronson Furs building on Fourth Street in Troy, a space three times larger than its current facility. 

A new Broadway business, The Whistling Kettle, was deemed excellent at the luncheon as well. The tea restaurant and shop started in Ballston Spa nearly a decade ago, the owners opened their second location in Troy this year in a building developed by Bonacio Construction. 

The Whistling Kettle owners Meahgan and Kevin Borowsky accepted their award with pride. In 2003, they pioneered the market by opening a tea room, a rare concept at the time. 

“Now you see Teavana being bought out by Starbucks, so that kind of confirmed our original idea,” Kevin Borowsky said Monday. “Tea is more than just a beverage — it’s an experience. We hope to continue growing in the Capital Region.” 

The two businesses being recognized is a win for the entire city. Groff Networks owner Lauren Groff is a former Downtown Business Improvement District chair. 

“It’s always exciting to see the catalyst that the BID has become,” he said. 

From Saratoga Springs, Druthers Brewing Co. was recognized for its success in becoming a community hot spot in the last open lot on the city’s Broadway. The company just announced its plan to open a second Albany location. 

Also hailing from the Spa City, drb Business Interiors commercial furniture company accepted its excellence award for decorating offices and businesses with the appropriate essentials and accessories. Business owner Dorothy Rogers-Bullis established the endeavor in 2009 with start-up help from the Small Business Administration. 

Also recognized for excellence were Adirondack Pub & Brewery, Barkeater Chocolate, DHA Holding Inc., Dinosaw Inc., Fusion Systems Engineering DPC, Hair Journeys, Honest Weight Food Cooperative, Logo Wearhaus, M & S Precision Machine Co. LLC, Martha’s Dandee Creme, Nikki P’s Pizza-Deli-Bakery Corp., Student Styles and Upstate Sports Ltd.