Category Archives: Business News

The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is merging with the Creative Economy (ACE) in an effort to expand on the economic development endeavors of both organizations.ACE was founded in 2016 to advocate and help grow the “creative industries,” which have now become the fourth largest employment sector in the Capital Region, generating over $1.4 billion in earnings in 2017, according to development officials.

By Jill Nagy
Photographer Holly LeBihan realized a long time dream when she opened Images by Holly Ann, her new photography studio at 206 Glen St. in Glens Falls, in mid-May.
After raising her three children, LeBihan returned to school in 2010, earning an associate degree from SUNY Adirondack and a bachelor’s degree at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. After that, she spent two years building her portfolio, moving around as the demands of her husband’s job required, and taking photographs on location, whether at schools, in clients’ homes, or out of doors.
Now, she has a studio on the fourth floor of the Covin Building.
“It’s nice to have consistent lighting,” she said. She looks forward to getting established.
Her work is primarily portrait photography, particularly of children and family pets.
“I love children,” she said, “My heart is drawn to kids.”

by Andrea Palmer
Natascha Pearl-Mansman is finishing her first year in business as Darling Doughnuts, and is pleased with the popularity of her company.
“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but it wasn’t until after the birth of my daughter that I took the leap and started my own business,” said Pearl-Mansman. “I suppose I spent too much time watching baking competitions on TV while I was up at all hours of the day and night with a newborn. I’d sit there and wonder how all these people were lucky enough to be doing that for a living. I realized you can’t sit around and wait for the perfect time to start something, that you have to just get up and go for it.”

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Wendy Waldron has taken her years of experience and success and created her own consulting firm that reaches clients from Albany to the Adirondack Mountains.
WaldronWorks officially launched in March of this year with a soft opening a few months prior. The firm took on their first client in December, providing operations leadership.
Originally from Queensbury, Waldron said family roots in the area that go back for generations is one reason she wanted to open up her business in the area that she loves, the Adirondacks.
“I love strengthening our community and local economy by supporting our entrepreneurs,” said Waldron.

By Christine Graf
Queensbury digital marketing company DDM Generation was launched in March by Albany native Jenna Clark.
Before opening her own company, Clark worked at a search engine marketing company in New York City. She also worked for a New York City startup that launched a mobile ordering app for pizzerias. After several years of working in the city, she decided to move back to the area to start her own business.
“Entrepreneurship has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “I knew it was time to pursue what I truly love and that is helping businesses grow.”