Pioneer Window Vice President of Manufacturing Eric Miller gives Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and local officials a tour of its Johnstown operation on Wednesday, May 2. Dusten Rader/Express Editor

By DUSTEN RADER
Express Editor

JOHNSTOWN — Pioneer Window and Euphrates Cheese played host to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik on Wednesday, May 2.
The two manufacturers, located in Johnstown’s Industrial Park off Route 30A, took Stefanik and local officials on a tour that highlighted how the businesses operate.

Pioneer Window Vice President of Manufacturing Eric Miller gives Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and local officials a tour of its Johnstown operation on Wednesday, May 2.
Dusten Rader/Express Editor

“This is a great time to focus on manufacturing, the economy and job issues in Fulton County,” Stefanik said. “I was very excited to see the successes of Pioneer Window and Euphrates Cheese. The fact that over two years Pioneer Window has doubled its sales is something we can be very proud of.”
An objective of the tour for Stefanik was to hear the concerns of business owners and evaluate what she could do to help.
“Some of the concerns from manufacturers include the rising cost of healthcare,” Stefanik said. “I think we need to do more to lower the cost of healthcare while keeping the quality standard as high as possible. Pioneer Window also talked about the focus nationally of the Administration on jobs and the economy as positive for business.”

Pioneer Window Vice President of Manufacturing Eric Miller gives Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and local officials a tour of its Johnstown operation on Wednesday, May 2.
Dusten Rader/Express Editor

Stefanik’s tour started with Pioneer Window, where she met with Vice President of Manufacturing Eric Miller, as well as longtime employees Kelly Kennedy, senior account manager and office manager, and Connie Wasson, human resources and payroll manager. All three employees were given an opportunity to speak directly to Stefanik about their concerns.
Miller noted that times were tough during the economic recession of 2008 and that he “never wants to experience something like that again.” He continued to add that business has since turned around and Pioneer Window is now able to afford to expand without incurring any debt. It will soon start construction on a 120,000 square foot expansion that will create an additional 75 jobs.

Pioneer Window of Johnstown recently completed a project in Brooklyn at 416 Kent Ave. for former Governor Eliot Spitzer’s Spitzer Enterprises.
Photo submitted

“The economy is good right now,” Miller said. “We need to keep people like you [Stefanik] and our president in office so it stays good — I’m afraid of what will happen otherwise.”
Pioneer Window is currently operating in a 174,000 square foot building and it employs 150. In 2017, the business saw profits of $67 million and is on track to make $80 million in 2018, Miller said. He noted that Pioneer Window recently completed a “high profile” project in Brooklyn at 416 Kent Ave. for former Governor Eliot Spitzer’s Spitzer Enterprises.
Despite the growing success Pioneer Window has experienced, Miller noted that it has become increasingly difficult to find labor, which he partly attributes to the better economic climate. Stefanik responded by adding that this is an issue for businesses across the board.

Cheese masters

Stefanik was also very excited for the tour of Euphrates Cheese, noting that dairy is a major part of the Upstate economy.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, fourth from left, poses with staff and local officials after a tour of Euphrates Cheese in Johnstown on Wednesday, May 2. From left: National Sales Manager Lisa Mackey, Plant Supervisor Murat Auci, Finance Manger Nikki Famiano, Stefanik, Fulton County Center for Regional Growth Ron Peters, Director of Finance and Sales Ismail Batmaz, Cheese Master Harun Ovacik, Assemblyman Marc Butler’s representative Dottie MacVean, Johnstown City Mayor Vern Jackson, Board of Supervisors Chairman James Groff, and Sen. James Tedisco representative Jennifer Donovan.
Dusten Rader/Express Editor

“This tour highlights the importance of dairy issues,” Stefanik said. “Dairy farmers are going through challenges right now, but manufacturers such as Euphrates Cheese are a great example of how we can keep our local dairies in business.”
Established in 2007 by a Turkish family including owner and President/CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, who also owns Chobani Greek Yogurt, Euphrates Cheese makes nearly 17 million pounds of feta a year. With an approximately a 3:1 ratio of milk to cheese, the business does a lot for regional dairy farmers by buying local. Euphrates Cheese also on average employs 80 people. Stefanik’s tour was conducted by Director of Finance and Sales Ismail Batmaz, Finance Manger Nikki Famiano, Plant Supervisor Murat Auci, and Cheese Master Harun Ovacik.
Batmaz noted during the tour that upstate New York is one of the best places for milk. He said that dairy prices have been low for some time, but recently rose slightly. He doesn’t think the rise is necessarily a bad thing, but rather an equaling out of supply and demand, which is actually more fair for farmers.
Despite the rise in cost, Euphrates Cheese has seen a 10 percent increase in profits per year. The business also has plans for expansion and efficiency in the near future, including the reprocessing of whey byproduct, which could add an additional 3-4 percent in profit annually.
Although Euphrates Cheese can be found in local grocery stores, its main source of profit is from selling its cheese under private labels such as Marmaris and Cheese Merchants.