Category Archives: Business News

The Lake George Association has appointed environmental educator Jaimi DeFeo as manager of its new education for action programs. 

This program is dedicated to helping property owners throughout the Lake George watershed, as well as members of the regional business community and the public, understand the environmental challenges facing Lake George and how to participate in lake protection.

DeFeo will manage the LGA’s Lake Protector outreach and engagement programs, reaching key constituencies, including property owners and the public, and featuring the popular Floating Classroom. She will also oversee development of new outreach and engagement programs and coordinate volunteer participation in the LGA’s community science programs and events. LGA community scientists participate in a variety of programs to monitor water quality, invasive species, harmful and concerning algae growth, and local wildlife populations.

“Building an informed, empowered and action-focused constituency of Lake Protectors of all ages and from all walks of life is essential to the long-term protection of this priceless environmental, economic, and recreational resource,” said LGA President Eric Siy. “From her experience as a college professor to developing environmental education programs for elementary, middle, and high school students, Jaimi is the perfect person to engage, educate and inspire others to act as needed to protect Lake George.”

“I came to love Lake George over many years visiting here, and my appreciation for all the Lake means to our regional community from the ecological, economic, and recreational perspectives has only grown since moving here seven years ago,” DeFeo said.

The Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne is embarking on a $5.5 million capital campaign project to support four areas—a new residential lodge, an new adaptive playground, and expansion of the outdoor pavilion expansion and Camp-A-Theater.

Backed unanimously by its board of directors, the Double H Ranch has secured $5 million of its goal.

It will be the ranch’s second capital campaign. It is led by Lisa and Robert Moser, who launched the campaign with a $1.5 million leadership gift.

“Double H Ranch wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are grateful for the individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that have provided generous funding in the initial stage of our campaign. We are inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to meeting our campaign goal in 2023 with the help from our community,” said the Mosers.

Neil Golub, co-chair of the campaign, provided a $1 million challenge, matching gifts made by board members and early stakeholders.

“For those of us who have had the privilege of leading the Double H groundbreaking for new facilities, it has always been a source of enormous pride,” said Golub. “Every new facility ensures our longevity. Knowing that our kids will be attending a special place for mind, soul, and body gives us a very warm feeling.”

By Paul Post

Government and employer-driven workforce development programs are critical to overcoming a nationwide labor shortage problem that’s reaching crisis proportions locally as well.

That’s what elected officials told more than 200 people at the recent Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch With Legislators gathering on Feb. 25 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls .

“There’s not a single employer I’ve visited in my district who’s said this isn’t an issue for them,” said state Sen. Dan Stec.

U.S. Rep. Elisa Stefanik said, “Every small business I go to, every manufacturer, every hospital, they tell me one of their top concerns is attracting labor.”

They discussed a variety of business-related issues with state Sen. Jake Ashby  and Assembly members Carrie Woerner and Matt Simpson. Woerner and Simpson’s districts encompass northern Saratoga County.

During the pandemic, many people discovered they had enough financial resources to retire and opt out of the workforce, Woerner said. “And a lot of people have chosen to stop working for somebody else and start their own business,” she said. “Business starts have skyrocketed the past couple of years (23,745 this January versus 16,862 in January 2019).”

By Paul Post

It wasn’t terribly long ago that some people called for closure and redevelopment of the Glens Falls Civic Center, which had become a financial albatross to its owner, the City of Glens Falls.

There was no hockey team and few other events were held throughout the year.

Now with a new name, Cool Insuring Arena, and under new management, the facility brings an estimated 250,000 people downtown annually, generating welcome revenue for a variety of local business.

In no small way, it’s a major contributor to the city’s economic revitalization.

The community has embraced the Adirondack Thunder hockey team, which is averaging nearly 3,500 fans per game, the most in its history, and almost 10,000 people turned out for two of the most recent home games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24.

But the center’s most anticipated annual event is this month’s three-day (March 17-19) New York state public high school boys basketball tournament, featuring top teams and players from throughout the Empire State.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with almost 300 regional business leaders and guests, celebrated the accomplishments of Hudson Headwaters Health Network founder Dr. John Rugge on March 10 at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing. 

At the dinner, Rugge was presented with the J. Walter Juckett Award.

ARCC has honored a community member with the award at its annual dinner event for the past 34 years. 

Juckett  was an active participant in many community organizations, including the Mohican Council of the Boy Scouts, the Lake Champlain Cancer Research Organization, the Adirondack Samaritan Counseling Center, First Presbyterian Church of Glens Falls, the Salvation Army, and ARCC.

After his passing in 1988, the Chamber’s board of directors created the prestigious J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award. Each year, the award is bestowed upon a deserving honoree, who demonstrates a fierce commitment and hands-on dedication to the betterment of our community. 

“Dr. Rugge had a vision to bring accessible health care to all parts of our region, and with much hard work and determination, he made that a reality,” said ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers. “He is an inspiration to us all and we were thrilled to honor him with the J. Walter Juckett Award.”

By Paul Post

When Bob Blais took the office of village of Lake George mayor decades ago, there was only one special event in Lake George, a weekly Tuesday night band concert.

Now there’s an endless variety of year-round attractions such as Americade motorcycle rally, Adirondack Nationals car show, Ice Castles and a full lineup of events at Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons like the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and numerous concerts.

Together they draw tens of thousands of visitors to Lake George each year, which drives the local tourism economy. But without Blais’ leadership, it may not have been possible.

“People say, ‘How come you’ve been mayor for 52 years?’ It just takes me longer,” he said. “But I like to think when we get it done, we do it right.”

Blais’ career as America’s longest-tenured mayor is scheduled to end March 31 when his retirement takes effect. But his contributions to the area’s economic development will be felt for many years to come.

By Paul Post

Alan VanTassel stays in business by working himself out of a job.

After 30-plus years in corporate America, he recently launched his own Moreau-based firm, Velocity Sales, which helps entrepreneurs achieve their sales vision and goals.

“Sales is an area of difficulty for most small business owners,” VanTassel said. “They’re passionate about what they do, but their experience is not often in sales. At some point they get to a place where sales are declining or they’re frustrated with revolving-door salespeople coming and going, and can’t attract good talent. Clients hire me on an interim business. We don’t just consult, we actually do the work for them.”

“The model is to help them build a sales structure they don’t have, to help them get their business to the next level,” he said. “I’ll help them hire salespeople, do weekly ride-alongs and attend sales meetings. I can be part of the business and run sales while developing a long-term strategy or plan. After 12 to 24 months I’d be gone.”

VanTassel is an alum of Queensbury High School and Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack). Early in his career, he traveled the country for Melville Corp., the parent company of numerous nationwide chain stores such as Thom McAn shoes, Marshalls and KB Toys. Then he was a regional sales manager for Stride Rite shoes before moving to Verizon, where he managed sales in its upstate New York market’s messaging division.