A Business After Hours and facilities expansion party is set for Cleinman Performance Partners at 343 Main St., Oneonta, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, a media release from The Otsego County Chamber said.
Cleinman Performance Partners, a consulting service for optometry practices, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the release said, and it is the only organized, national information-sharing network for optometrists.
Founder and President Al Cleinman has worked in the eye-care industry for more than 35 years. Most Cleinman Performance Partners clients are out of state, the release said.
"Al Cleinman is a quintessential entrepreneur," Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of The Otsego County Chamber, said in a prepared statement. "He is always out in front of the curve and not at all hesitant to develop new ideas and to try different things."
Business representatives and residents are invited to the event, the release said.
Wilber National Bank
reports earnings
The Wilber Corp., parent company of Wilber National Bank, has reported a net income of $2.7 million and earnings per share of 26 cents for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, a media release said.
The company's net income and earnings per share for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, 2008, were $1.383 million and 13 cents, respectively. The results reflect a 97.7 percent increase in net income and a 100 percent increase in earnings per share, the release said.
Bank officials attributed the improvement to an increase of $1.75 million, or 25.6 percent, in net interest income and a $1.22 million, or 89 percent, increase in non-interest income, both between comparable third-quarter periods.
Douglas Gulotty, president and chief executive officer at Wilber, said the company reached a record for net interest income for the quarter and year-to-date periods.
In other news, on July 16, the company introduced a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan, the release said, and effective Oct. 9, existing and prospective shareholders can purchase stock at a 5 percent discount from the market price.
The Wilber Corp. common stock trades under the symbol "GIW" on the NYSE Amex, formerly the American Stock Exchange. On Tuesday, GIW closed at 7.51, up .08 or 1.08 percent.
BJ's challenges Oneonta shoppers
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, BJ's Wholesale Clubs are challenging Oneonta and Utica residents to help collect 25 tons of groceries to feed local families in need, a media release said.
In turn, BJ's Charitable Foundation will donate the financial equivalent of 1 million meals that will be distributed among Feeding America's Food Bank network partners, including the Food Bank of Central New York.
The program started Friday and runs through Nov. 8. BJ's asks that donations of nonperishable foods be placed in the "25-Ton Food Donation Challenge" bins at its stores.
Feeding America will distribute the food and meals in time for the holidays, the release said.
SFCU in Norwich
after-hours event tonight
The Sidney Federal Credit Union will host its annual "Meet the Candidates" Chamber Business After Hours from 5 to 7 tonight at its Norwich location on the corner of county Route 32 and state Highway 23.
Commerce Chenango chamber members may visit with candidates in an informal setting, organizers said, and the new voting machines also will be on display, courtesy of the boards of elections.
Election Day is Tuesday.
SFCU has a total membership of more than 46,800, a media release said, and the Norwich branch has been serving customers since 1988.
Chamber members wishing to attend should RSVP by calling the chamber at 334-1402 or by sending an e-mail to rcrandall@chenangony.org.
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