News & Events

Schenectady, NY – Nov. 20, 2024 – You will have to lean your head back further and look higher in the sky this year to see the 2-foot-tall star atop the Transfinder-sponsored Christmas tree at the corner of Jay and State streets in Schenectady.

The 45-foot-tall tree is the largest and tallest tree at this location in recent memory and most likely the tallest tree ever at this spot. Its 16,610 LEDs will be lit by Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella during the 55^th Annual Holiday Parade, marking the unofficial start of the holiday season. Transfinder has been the sponsor of the Schenectady Christmas Tree since 2019.

This year’s tree is 10 feet taller than last year’s tree. It is also 10 feet taller than the tree that will be lit next month on the Empire State Plaza outside the state Capitol in Albany.

Civitella began thinking about this year’s tree last winter. He wanted the Transfinder-sponsored  tree, which he can see from his office at Transfinder’s Global headquarters on State Street, to be taller than past trees. However, the previous red box stand would not support a larger tree. He contracted a metalworker to build a 6-feet by 6-feet by 5-feet stand that could support the larger tree. Topping the tree is a 2-foot star.

New this year will be three large LED screens that will be affixed to the base of the tree stand that will allow interaction with the community. People will be able to post selfies on the screens, send messages and learn interesting trivia, among other activities.

“Transfinder is honored again to be the sponsor of the beautiful tree that is in the center of town,” Civitella said. “There’s just something special about a giant Christmas tree that brings out the child in people, including me! That’s why, to me, the holiday season really begins when the tree goes up and we turn on the lights to start Schenectady’s Annual Holiday Parade.”

Several years ago, Civitella felt the tree was too short, even after it was decorated, and had it replaced with a taller tree.

“Just like Transfinder works hard to be bigger and better every year, we bring that to everything we do, including the Christmas tree,” Civitella said. “We are looking forward to the interactivity aspect we are bringing to the tree this year. It’ll be lots of fun and another reason for people to spend some time downtown!”

Transfinder Tree factoids:

• 45 feet tall
• 25+/- years old
• From Bob’s Tree’s in Hagaman
• 16,000 lights
• 600+/- Christmas bulbs
• Custom steel stand (6-feet wide, 6-feet deep, 5-feet tall)
• Transfinder’s sponsorship since 2019

“We can’t wait to light this thing up!” Civitella said. “Happy Holidays, everyone!”

About Transfinder
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Transfinder is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems, providing transportation management systems and services to municipalities, school districts, police departments and adult care facilities. Transfinder is one of the fastest-growing companies in New York’s Capital Region, according to the Albany Business Review. and has made Inc. magazine “fastest-growing company” for 12 years. It has offices in Texas, China and India. The software company, named a Best Place to Work and Top Workplace and Best Company to Work for in New York State, develops and supports routing and scheduling solutions for optimal transportation logistics. It has received numerous awards, including Best Software, Best Hardware and Best Safety Technology by industry leaders and Top Educational App by Education Technology Insights. For more information, visit www.transfinder.com.