ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Abel Ramirez & Merritt Harris | CNY Means Business EP.1
In the inaugural episode of CNY Means Business, host Matt Masur (founder of Growth Mode Technologies and Click Stream Studios) sits down with two Central New York entrepreneurs who are making waves both online and offline.
First up is Abel Ramirez, owner of Bayberry Uniforms in Syracuse and a Cuban immigrant who arrived with nothing but the clothes on his back. Abel shares his remarkable journey from not speaking English to graduating Henninger High School, to owning and operating a longstanding uniform business serving the healthcare community. But that's just the beginning — Abel is also a real estate agent specializing in helping the Hispanic community and first-time homebuyers, and he's recently gotten involved in software sales, bringing an AI-powered point-of-sale system to an industry that's been stuck with outdated '90s-era technology. Abel opens up about how he juggles multiple ventures alongside family life (three kids, church, and drumming duties), and how AI personal agents and calendar management have become his "Donna" — referencing the show Suits — to keep everything from falling through the cracks.
Then Merritt Harris of Merit Badge takes the stage. Merit Badge is a short-term rental property management company serving Central New York, with side verticals in cleaning, consultation, and construction management. Merritt explains how he stumbled into real estate by buying a duplex on a friend's advice, weathering difficult evictions in New York State's long-term rental market, and eventually pivoting to short-term rentals (Airbnb) in an urban Syracuse setting when everyone told him he was crazy. He started posting one reel a day about what he was learning — no fancy gear, just a smartphone — and accidentally built a management business from the ground up. Merritt breaks down his approach as a "strategic partner" rather than just a checkbox service provider, working with clients to set them up for success before ever opening the doors.
Finally, the panel turns to local Central New York news — the massive Micron mega-fab chip fabrication facility being built in Clay, NY, the largest investment in manufacturing in U.S. history. Matt shares updates on a rumored South Korean chip manufacturer (Solidium) potentially coming to Marcy, the broader semiconductor corridor forming across Upstate New York, Bechtel's hiring push with over 500 attendees at a recent job fair, and Micron's new supply partnership with Indium in Rome, NY. Abel and Merritt both discuss how this influx of manufacturing, population growth, and housing demand will impact their respective businesses — from healthcare uniform needs to short-term rental demand for construction crews and relocating executives.
A wide-ranging, information-packed debut episode covering entrepreneurship, real estate, AI, cybersecurity, and the future of Central New York's economy.
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome to CNY Means Business
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