Before Big Blue pulled out of Kingston in the 1990s, the computer giant was Frank Falatyn”™s biggest client. Afterward, Falatyn started Fala Technologies and focused on keeping his semiconductor business alive.
All was a go until the Great Recession and Falatyn, like many others, struggled to get through 2008 and 2009. “We made it,” said the longtime business owner. “Vince Cozzolino of the Solar Consortium has come on board as my partner and we”™re expanding our business to include solar and renewable energy.”
While Global Foundries entry into Luther Forest in Saratoga County has pumped up the semiconductor industry in the Tech Valley corridor, Falatyn said the time has come for the U.S., particularly the Hudson Valley, to focus on renewable energy. “It”™s a growth industry that is not just desirable but is needed,” said Falatyn. “We also need to partner outside our borders to make this happen. This networking event with Shandong Province was a tremendous help to us to understand what they are looking for and for them to understand what we have to offer.”
Falatyn”™s is helping his company make the connection to Asian markets, thanks to his intern, Kevin Hou, who is an MBA student at the SUNY New Paltz School of Business.
“Kevin is deeply involved with research development competitive analyses, looking at trusted suppliers in Asia and Taiwan and focusing on those countries”™ regulations in the lighting industry,” said Falatyn. “For us to go the next step, we need to show them a strategic plan to find the right partners.
“Kevin understands the culture, which is a great help to us to help us connect. We are seeking trusted LED lighting manufacturers to work with and use our solar panels to combine the two technologies. It”™s a strategic partnership Kevin is helping us work towards.”
Hou enjoys the challenge of researching and finding companies that are a good match for Falatyn”™s expansion program. “This is my goal, to help grow the company by finding trusted partners to work with,” he said. “Interning in an industry that is creating a new source of energy for the world is exciting and challenging. I”™m getting real life experience that will prepare me once I graduate.”
