ACE

Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

Artisanal Food and Agriculture

Congratulations, 40 Under 40 Honorees!

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Dan Cullen, Workforce Development Institute. Photo credit: Victoria Kereszi

Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy (ACE) congratulates the 2017 honorees of the Albany Business Review’s “40 Under 40” list. This year, 10 of the 40 honorees are involved with ACE, or are leaders in the industry segments that compose the region’s Creative Economy. Among them:

  • Dan Cullen, regional director of the Workforce Development Institute (ACE Leadership)
  • Alejandro del Peral, founder and owner of Nine Pin Cider Works (Culinary Arts sector)
  • William Gamble, CEO and owner of Pinhole Press (Visual Arts and Handcrafts sector)
  • Dave Gardell, owner of the The Ruck/Rolling Stock Co. (Culinary Arts sector)
  • James Hardesty, medical strategy, Fingerpaint (Media sector)
  • Kristen Holler, executive director of the Albany Barn (Performing Arts, Media, and Visual Arts sectors)
  • Tony Iadiccio, executive director of the Albany Center Gallery (Visual Arts sector)
    Kristen Holler, Albany Barn. Photo credit: Donna Abbott Vlahos, Albany Business Review
  • Cory Nelson, owner of Troy Kitchen (Culinary Arts sector)
  • Banni Singh, principal, D2D Green Design (Design sector)
  • Ali Skinner, director of strategic communications for CDPHP (Media sector)

“We’re really glad to see that so many of the ‘40 Under 40’ honorees are working in the Creative Economy,” said Maureen Sager, ACE’s project director. “Their businesses and organizations add so much vibrancy, excitement, and real competitive edge to the Capital and upstate region.”

ACE has recently begun working with the Culinary Arts and Agriculture industry. This group, estimated to employ 5,000 people in the region, is an integral part of the local Creative Economy, and ACE will have much more to announce about this sector in the coming months.  Until then, toast these ’40 Under 40′ winners at Nine Pin Cider Works, Troy Kitchen, or the Ruck!

Cory Nelson, Troy Kitchen. Photo credit: Donna Abbott Vlahos, Albany Business Review

Schuylerville’s Creative Economy: Revolution Cafe

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Cassie Wilusz Revolution Cafeby Thomas Dimopolous

Inside the Revolution Caf?, a wall labeled “Dream” stands opposite a chalkboard that reads “Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe,” and a full bistro menu boasts titles like Federalist Salads, Patriot Sandwiches, and Constitution Wraps.

“I like the historical aspect of the name Revolution Cafe, because I feel everything in Schuylerville is a revolution,” said Cassandra Wilusz, who went through her own personal revolution when she walked away from her process analyst job in corporate America, to open the Revolution Cafe in summer 2016.

“This business I am passionate about: making food affordable and fresh and connecting with people here, every day,” she said. It has been a journey and there have been some struggles along the way, for example, it took me a while to find an equipment supplier I could rely on (I now use one a little like NellaOnline.com) but my enthusiasm has kept me going and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

The business employs three people during the winter months and eight during the summer. The space accommodates 20 patrons inside and seats nearly three times that amount outdoors, where the view overlooks the canal that adjoins the Hudson River.

Some of the people who have worked the space before have gone on to open their own coffee shops, with some finding franchises (HTTPS://JUSTLOVECOFFEEFRANCHISE.COM/RESEARCH/WHAT-IS-JUST-LOVE/) that match the ideology of the Dream Cafe in helping their local community.

Wilusz’s goal is to create a creative space for all to come together: from local musicians and singers, to high school students and workers from the nearby lumber store.

“The vision is to have an Open Mic night once a week where you can hang out and listen to live music, to add microbrews and a tapas menu,” Wilusz said. “I want to create a casual environment where you can come, hang out, have drinks and appetizers ? and not just for a certain demographic. I want this to be for everyone.”

Contact:

Revolution Caf?, 31 Ferry Street, Schuylerville

(518) 695-3930 // Revolution Cafe on Facebook

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