transplant – CapNY

CapNY Changemakers: Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce

Updated: July 2025

In the Capital District we have many individuals who are looking to improve our larger community in terms of mental and physical health, wealth, and connectivity. Here at CapNY we call those champions of advancement changemakers.

One champion of change we’d like to highlight is returning Upstate NY native Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).

Deshanna is accomplished and driven, having secured her undergraduate degree and professional development certificate at Clark Atlanta University and Emory University respectively, and working in various Black-led mayoral offices and judicial offices in the years thereafter. Deshanna is currently based in Troy and returned to the area after her phenomenal work in Atlanta to bring a fresh new perspective on Black and Brown entrepreneurship. “I think upstate is great, and people seem to think New York is just New York City. I’ve long wanted to pop that myth to let everyone know, including people here, that there are a lot of resources here. There’s a lot of opportunity here, it’s just about connecting the dots. Connecting the right people to the right companies and organizations.” With Deshanna at the helm of the ABCC the dots of preparation and opportunity will surely connect. The Capital Region is ready for entrepreneurship and ownership to reflect the community it engages in. We’re ready for a revitalized and renewed Albany, NY.

“Our whole idea with the ABCC is to pay close attention to Black and minority businesses. Contrary to popular belief, although there’s a huge wage gap when it comes to people of color in this country at large, and Black and minority businesses are often overlooked, we do have some Federal legislation, we do have a lot more support coming in. However there is a cultural difference in terms of how we go about starting our businesses. We have to start from scratch in all figures of speech– in finances, resources and in mentorship. So the whole idea behind the BCC is to provide these business owners with resources and the connections they need to take care of business further.”

The ABCC offers space for the community to congregate, learn about economic sustainability, and provide advocacy for Black and brown business owners. In this coming year the ABCC will provide programming open to all to engage and empower the local ecosystem. In addition to that, Deshanna doesn’t limit herself nor the ABCC to working with millennials and older generations of business, they recognize the importance of getting youth involved to make a sustaining impact. “We’re really getting into the student body here. We have a huge collegiate population here and in some ways they’re overlooked in terms of being able to take those students right out of school and match them with companies and organizations, or sell and pitch to them about keeping the businesses they do start here and keeping them local.” It’s no one person’s or organization’s responsibility but it’s all of ours to make sure this community and the larger Black and minority businesses are at the table and they are part of the conversation.”

“I’m a native of here, my parents both worked in the school district, so educations always been very important to me in my household. I felt I got the best support and access to education here, but I did not have direct examples of what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be professionally. When I went on those field trips or I started working part-time in high school those people in those positions did not look like me, nor was I called in. I was supported because I was smart and it afforded me a lot of opportunity but I wasn’t necessarily welcomed. So I knew emphatically that I needed to leave here to find out who I was going to be, but the goal was always to bring what I learned back to this area. I’m very happy to say that’s exactly what I did.” Her experience in Black owned or Black-led entertainment, politics, and legal offices speaks to this. She has learned what it takes to build, strengthen and sustain a community such as this. As Deshanna says it has afforded her a new lens on what’s possible.

Deshanna understands that true progress “It’s no one person’s or organization’s responsibility but it’s all of ours to make sure this community and the larger Black and minority businesses are at the table and they are part of the conversation.” With this mentality we’re sure to see rapid success and growth in this area in both culture and community.

If Deshanna’s mission aligns with you, click to stay connected with the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce. There will be ample opportunity to both serve and be a part of this tour de force.

CapNY Changemakers: Introducing J’Vanay Santos

Updated: July 2025

Being known affectionately (or maybe sardonically depending on the mood) as Smallbany, the Capital District is known for having a close-knit community with limited offerings but those of us in the know know that this is a misconception. Millennials have been working overtime to give this region a much needed reboot, bolstering niche communities rife with culture. These individuals leading the charge are changemakers– advocates of cultural, spiritual, and mental progress that are leaders in any given space.

One Changemaker is making her disruptive entrance into the maternal care space. Albany native J’Vanay Santos is forging a new path in maternal care and she’ll be sharing her gift with the tri-state area soon. Co-founded by J’Vanay, MyLÚA Health is an emerging maternal health platform that specializes in support for birthing persons and their care teams through personalized education, connection to resources, and health insights to improve quality and equitable decision-making. MyLÚA Health is an AI-powered early risk detection service that identifies & manages the risk of pregnancy-related complications.

In J’Vanay’s words, “MyLÚA Health supports allied health professionals to ensure birthing persons have access to knowledge and resources to achieve a safe and healthy pregnancy for themselves and their babies. With predictive analytics, automation tools, and a robust network or partners, the company determines needs at the individual level and matches them to localized resources. After answering a brief intake, MyLÚA will provide a personalized risk assessment; along with evidence-based, actionable education and connections to both clinical and non-clinical resources to address care needs. Additionally, MyLÚA partners with community-based organizations to enhance support systems at the local level. “The goal here,” J’Vanay says,” is to focus on missed and delayed diagnoses that stem from poor screening and lack of data, which hinders a provider’s understanding of a birthing person’s lived experience.”

J’Vanay’s inspiration for the creation of MyLÚA lies in her up-close experience with the racial gap in maternal care, “U-Leea Santos, our Chief Experience Officer, and my sister, was denied medical intervention despite establishing a code word for wanting intervention. The mental and emotional tool of such an experience was challenging and left us wondering why we could not advocate for U-Leea’s wishes. As one of 8 [children] and the glorified doula of my family after being a part of 5 prior births, I knew something was wrong. So, we decided to dive into the literature and unearthed many issues with the maternal care system.” And that she did. J’Vanay and U-Leea partnered with a group of like minded health care providers, data scientists, and engineers to bring their dream to fruition.

J’Vanay’s passion for equity in the maternal health care space lies in the desire to give voice and agency to those that have been stripped of it, “We are amplifying the voices of birthing persons/mothers that have historically been left out of the narrative. When speaking with birthing folks, we continuously hear that they feel rushed, unheard, and express concerns about their pain being ignored. Trust has been in the maternal care system as structural racism has led to outcome disparities and inequities. We provide a platform that equips birthing persons with knowledge, resources, care advocates, and risk detection so all birthing persons can access their right to a quality and safe birthing experience for themselves and their babies.” Though this is a weighty call to task, it’s one worth striving for. Per NPR the maternal death rate for Black Americans was 69.9 per 100,000 in 2021 alone, which is 2.6 times higher the rate for white women.

Bridging the gap in any way we can means increasing access to quality care, identifying diagnoses early and finding community care to help address those needs where busy hospitals and health care centers cannot. MyLÚA Health is one of the many organizations trying to push us in the right direction. They are changemakers and the community is ready to receive them with open arms. From panel opportunities to partnerships with doula and community based organizations to funding, the community at large has embraced them– and soon NY State at large will be too.

At this time MyLÚA is focused on securing further partnerships before they go live later this year. If you’d like to get involved or receive support, reach out to the team here

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From Westchester to CapNY, A Transplant Story

Updated: July 2025

Gabby Lichtenberg is a perfect example of the power of the CapNY network. And that network is open to anyone, whether you’re a lifetime resident or find your way here as a transplant.

Making the Move

Lichtenberg, 37, and her husband moved to CapNY in 2017 from Westchester. They were spending enough hours a week commuting to consider it a part-time job. With the desire to start a family, have a home of their own, and time to enjoy both, they targeted CapNY as their next step. With her family in Syracuse and his in Poughkeepsie, it was a perfect central location and offered a cost of living that would help their salaries go a bit further.

In 2018, they bought a home in Clifton Park. Six months ago, they welcomed their first child.

“It’s so much more affordable living and you can get more for what you’re working for,” she said. “We’re able to have a great family life in the region simply because of the cost of living and because of accessibility to everything. And that was a big drawing point for us.”

Finding Work

Upon arrival to CapNY, Lichtenberg got involved with the Capital Region Chamber’s Young Professionals Network. Right away, she found a supportive network of people quickly.

“I would say what I really appreciate about the people and the culture of the area is when you connect and you do make your circle of friends and they’re just so warm and welcoming, they become like a second family to you,” she said. “People here are very authentic.”

Those connections have helped her career grow in the few years she has been a CapNY transplant. When she first moved here she was working in higher education and through connections, transitioned into an account executive role at the Albany Business Review and later, a commercial real estate advisor position.

“It’s all who I’ve worked with. As in, those who are my clients or whoever I partnered up with, and they see the work ethic or the relationship that’s been built with them personally and then being asked to join the team from there, which is a different approach. But I was really able to hit the ground running and building up those relationships. And then it just kind of created a bunch of endless different opportunities that I didn’t even know existed.”

She’s gearing up to take on a new challenge as director of membership recruitment with the Business Council of New York State.

“Ultimately, I will be someone with feet on the ground, listening to what businesses need or where they’re having issues and then advocating on their behalf,” she said. “This aligns with the mission of work that really matters to me. I’ve worked in sales and marketing for a number of years but primarily within small businesses.They are the heart of a community and what makes it special.”

Family Fun

Lichtenberg and her family love to go to concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center or spend a morning at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and subsequent small business browsing. They are also big fans of Thacher Park in Voorheesville.

“One of the cool things about the Capital Region is that you can drive 30 minutes and you can go to green pastures or you can go into a different city. There are a lot of aspects of nature that you get to enjoy,” she said. “And from where I live in Clifton Park, we can get to Saratoga or Lake George and visit an amusement park or go hiking. We’re lucky to have the accessibility to that diversity in landscape and topography.”

Supporting Local

Lichtenberg advocates for small businesses and she is also a top supporter of many here in CapNY. Some of her favorites are in Schenectady, including the Whistling Kettle and Grounded Goddess.

Closer to her Saratoga County home, she is a big fan of Artique, a co-op of nearly 100 small artisan vendors all in one place.

“They all have the most unique things,” she said. “I love those types of businesses and finding unusual things.”

And in addition to her professional networking, she got involved with the Albany Barn and the Albany Center Gallery. While she was working closer to the city, one of her positions was with an art gallery, and the passion for art has stuck with her. Looking ahead, she hopes CapNY can continue to bolster the arts scene and create more and more ways to support creatives. And there’s room there for everyone, she says.

“To live here now, it means that you get to be part of something bigger than yourself. And you can get involved more easily. It’s small enough here that you can make an impact and make change quickly. And while you’re making this impact, you’re becoming part of something bigger than yourself. That, in a sense, allows you to create a legacy for yourself if you wanted to. So if that’s something that’s important to you or matters to you, that’s the great thing about living here, is that you can have those opportunities. You can create that for yourself.”

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From Ohio to CapNY: A Transplant Story

Updated: July 2025

Alex and Sam both grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. Alex graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, and Sam with a degree in public affairs journalism, from Ohio State in 2021. After graduation, Alex had secured a job offer with Regeneron, and Sam didn’t have a job, so she tagged along.

After moving to downtown Troy in late May 2021, Sam worked at a local paper in Hudson/Catskill before being hired at the Albany Business Review. Alex works at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where he is a Lead Investigation Specialist. Sam is a reporter covering tech/inno, cannabis and restaurants at the Albany Business Review, the region’s business news publication.

We’ve both been taken by the history of the area — we moved to Troy without ever having visited, and we only knew that the city had a historical element. The week we moved in, The Gilded Age was filming. It was a very exciting introduction to our new city.

You’ll often find us eating at Bacchus Wood-Fired on 2^nd Street in Troy. Not only is it our neighbor, but the pizza and wings are amazing. We love sitting outside in the summer. It’s the best neighborhood spot — Sam even had her birthday dinner there.

We’ve loved the variety of things to do — both indoor and outdoor activities are abundant. We’ve gotten involved in our community garden, taken up hiking and Sam is learning how to ski. We can’t wait to explore the Adirondacks more. The Troy Farmers Market is unparalleled. There’s always something going on, and you get the chance to choose “your vibe” depending on which of the CapNY cities you visit.

Exploring swimming holes/lakes in the summer has been really fun. We love Cherry Plain State Park. That said, all of the areas state parks are fun. Also — train travel! We’ve become the biggest Amtrak fans. It’s so easy to visit NYC for the day, and we can even take the train home to Cleveland. It’s such a game changer (Ohio, take notes. We needed this traveling between Cleveland and Columbus in college).

We say that people in upstate New York are nicer than people in the Midwest, and that’s felt true since the beginning. As soon as our moving truck pulled up, neighbors were introducing themselves to us. Sam’s made friends through work and through apps like Bumble BFF. From there, it’s been friend of a friend connections. Alex has taken part in community events like Collar City Clean Up, and the community garden through Capital Roots has also been helpful. We are always looking for new ways to connect with others! Next up might be hiking groups.

The region’s downtowns are going through a renaissance powered by young, creative people. Not only is it inspiring, but it makes CapNY a great place to live, work and play. There are a lot of people and industries that believe in the area and are investing in it. It’s the perfect mix of an urban feel and an outdoors-y community. Whatever you’re in the mood for that day, it’s available.

With the above in mind, it’s a good place to explore who you really are. If we had never moved from Ohio to a place with this kind of variety, Sam might’ve never come to love being outside so much. Growing up, Sam’s dream was to move to New York City. Now, being city-adjacent, she’s come to realize that wasn’t the best future for her. Upstate feels like it’s got everything we need.

Getting Sam into skiing! I (Alex) have been skiing for years, but the skiing is better here. Maple Ridge is the perfect place for anyone to learn to ski or snowboard.

And camping! Before moving upstate, if Sam had told anyone that she was camping (or hiking, for that matter), it was code for she was in some sort of danger. Now, all she wants to do is be outside. We can’t wait to see which campgrounds are our favorites.

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Anthony D’Argenzio: Hudson Valley Entrepreneur

Updated: July 2025

Anthony D’Argenzio was named one of The 100 Most Creative People in the U.S. by Country Living Magazine. His work has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Domino, and Architectural Digest.

“I’ve always been interested in upstate New York and the Hudson Valley,” says Anthony D’Argenzio. “It has an old-world sensibility behind it, and I feel like I’m an old soul at heart.” The designer is founder and CEO of two New York-based companies; design consultancy firm Zio & Sons, and real estate company This Old Hudson.

Photo by: Winnie Au

D’Argenzio’s brands are known for his unique combination of concepts, countries, and centuries. His fascination with old-world interiors leads D’Argenzio toward Second Empire gilded mirrors and Chesterfield sofas. Decor that would’ve satisfied the most discerning of The Four Hundred, many of whom had mansions here in the Hudson Valley. Skipping backwards about 100 years, D’Argenzio often pulls influences from the French countryside. Rustic whitewashed floors, reclaimed tile, and weathered finishes abound. He infuses these with twenty-first century hygge minimalism and, of course, modern appliances and amenities.

“I gravitate towards timeless materials; wood, brick, tile, stone, bronze. I love Venetian plaster. I actually taught myself how to do it,” says D’Argenzio, who likes to work with his hands. It’s no surprise that his father was a cabinet maker and his mother an interior design and renovation enthusiast.

Anthony D’Argenzio was born and raised in Sonoma, California. He moved to New York after getting a business degree from Arizona State. In 2012 he founded Zio & Sons, his design production firm. Initially, he focused on providing prop styling, vignettes and backdrops for big brands like West Elm and Anthropologie. Over the course of the next few years, D’Argenzio grew into the role of creative director and producer for his clients’ content, and his own.

His first renovation project was his 450-square-foot East Village apartment. He did most of the work himself, documenting it on social media throughout 2012 and 2013. D’Argenzio acknowledge that this was what ‘put him on the map’ and showed his aesthetic and interior design talents.

“I would often take the Amtrak upstate to explore and to escape the city. I first discovered Hudson in 2014, when I would come up for antique sourcing, and really fell in love with the architecture of the town.” D’Argenzio would end up buying property in Hudson; a deteriorating two-family house built in 1915. Originally, the two-year renovation project was intended as an investment. Instead, he had manifested not only his home, but his first rental property. This became The Studios, a permanent photo-staging site for clients. Today, The Studios remain a highly sought-after venue, available exclusively for photography production, film bookings, and other staging projects.

In 2015, D’Argenzio founded This Old Hudson, providing rentals and renovation services. “It was kind of a natural evolution [into real estate]. I just love old homes, I love renovation, I love working with people,” he says. He sold the East Village apartment that catapulted his brand to social media stardom. Then he quickly purchased another investment property, effectively making Hudson his full-time home.

His second property was a beautifully neglected four-unit, built around 1910. He’d had his eye on, as it sat next door to his current two-family. After a fastidious renovation, the building opened in 2019. It featured four turnkey rentals called The Residences. Each has its own bespoke architecture and furnishings selected by Zio & Sons. This Old Hudson manages the rental side of the business. The properties cater to budding creative entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley.

The latest showplace is a short-term Airbnb rental that opened its doors this summer. Crowned The Maison, the space is an homage to old-world French style. D’Argenzio documented the renovation in his column with Domino Magazine, as well as on social media accounts. Each of D’Argenzio’s rental spaces lets the turn-of-the-century architecture shine through – a hallmark of the This Old Hudson brand.

“It definitely takes more work to save some of the architectural elements. If something can be saved, I try to save it. There’s so much waste in this world. I like to find salvaged wood, materials, or accents that can add character to a space in unique ways, even if I’m doing something more contemporary.” says D’Argenzio.

A natural extension of his vision, D’Argenzio obtained his real estate license in 2020, selling under luxury brokerage Houlihan Lawrence.

“COVID really sped up my real estate business. I was fortunate my brand was perfectly set up for it. We already have this buyer community, people who love the upstate lifestyle and loved to visit. I had a built-in clientele,” D’Argenzio says.

“The Hudson Valley draws a creative type that loves history, culture, design. The entrepreneurial activity is going to continue growing,” says D’Argenzio. “We’re also in a really great location. We have closeness to the city and amazing old homes. With an emerging economy, and low cost of living. Now with technology changing, being able to work from anywhere, there’s just so much opportunity.”

Although it’s difficult to name to his signature style, for now D’Argenzio is calling it ‘Vintage Modern.’ His style combines gilded age, rustic countryside, art deco, mid-century modern, and minimalism. This is also the chosen aesthetic of the East Coast Millennial generation. The Maker Hotel, Stewart House, Green House Mansion, and The Morgan Statehouse are thriving, drawing tourists from all over the world. Brands like Hammertown Barn, Kabinett & Kammer, and The Modern Exchange are rising to national prominence. To D’Argenzio, it’s no surprise that upstate New York, rich with American history and antiques, would be the nucleus of this trend.

And, it’s no surprise that D’Argenzio’s brands are leading the way.

To learn more about his businesses, visit https://zioandsons.com or https://thisoldhudson.com. Follow his Instagram accounts @zioandsons and @thisoldhudson.

Special thank you to Anthony for taking the time to speak with us about his journey as an entrepreneur in the Hudson Valley.

Interview transplant Upstate New York

CapNY Transplant: Jeffrey Mirel, Rosenblum Companies

Jeff Mirel is the Founder of Albany Barn, Inc. a non-profit which operates creative arts incubators in Albany and Schenectady, AND a Principal of Rosenblum Development Corp. Plus, he’s a die-hard CapNY enthusiast.

What started in 2016 as a small grassroots effort by founders Renee and Mike Fahey has grown into a tri-city initiative that helps hundreds of people every week. Originally from Westchester County, Jeff became a CapNY transplant in 2004. He lives in Albany’s upper Washington neighborhood with his wife and two young daughters.

A: I am a diehard regionalist. It’s great that no single city is the center of gravity in this eight-county region.Everybody would like to consider themselves the sun, but the region is more a collection of stars that forms this amazing constellation. We have these pockets of experiences to explore that are altogether unique — rural, suburban or urban — within very short distances.

A. This region has always been a place of invention. It’s really no surprise to me that we have such a strong creative freelancer population. I feel creative people are drawn here, to the power of the wilderness and waterways, to the outposts and industry that developed from those resources, to the stories that are etched into our accumulated built environment; it’s all of those things and more that make this a place of invention. So, what coworking and flexible workplaces like Hone, as well as makerspaces like Albany Barn provide are launchpads for all these people with ideas.

A: You can try different things for a lower cost. You can really get your feet under you and still have a fun and full life.

A: They’re growing up in the city of Albany, and they experience all of the good of urban centers, but they also see the challenges. I think it provides a broader world view, an opportunity to see all sides. My wife and I really try to instill in our children that those of us who are lucky owe it to be very aware of our advantage, and to fight with and on behalf of those who haven’t been afforded the same opportunities.

CapNY native Lauren Halligan is a lifelong Saratoga County resident. She studied journalism at The College of Saint Rose in Albany. She has worked as a full time reporter for The Saratogian and The Record newspapers for the past seven years. Her favorite part of living in the Capital Region is frequenting the local live music venues. Lauren also enjoys exploring the many parks and nature trails within the area, as well as traveling around the globe.

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Tag: transplant

CapNY Changemakers: Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce

CapNY Changemakers: Introducing J’Vanay Santos

From Westchester to CapNY, A Transplant Story

Making the Move

Finding Work

Family Fun

Supporting Local

From Ohio to CapNY: A Transplant Story

Anthony D’Argenzio: Hudson Valley Entrepreneur

CapNY Transplant: Jeffrey Mirel, Rosenblum Companies

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