Category Archives: Business News

Local small-business marketing consultant Megan Seeley has been hired by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Convention & Visitors Bureau as its new marketing coordinator.

After working locally for nearly a decade in small-business marketing consulting, Seeley joins the team of convention sales manager Christine Thorne, tourism training manager Roger Allan and Executive Director Gina Mintzer, who oversees the  Chamber and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We are thrilled to add Megan Seeley to the team. Her experience and expertise will help us reach our marketing goals of amplifying the Lake George Area brand message to the group markets,” Mintzer said.

Seeley said she  looks forward to becoming more integrated into the Lake George Area community.

“The Lake George Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau is such a great platform for connecting with major influencers in the community, exploring the region with a wider and deeper lens, and also learning about a really exciting and evolving industry,” Seeley said.

Some of her goals include: fortifying relationships and support with local partners; enhancing a brand for the LGRCVB that embraces the leisure linchpin while enticing the regional and national meeting and wedding markets; and having a strong and consistent digital presence.

“With all of the present challenges due to the pandemic, it’s even more crucial that we remain visible, open, and ready for business. This can only be accomplished through our community relationships and constant digital outreach,” she said.

Seeley has worked in the nonprofit realm, with her most recent experience at the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York. She has consulted and been employed at several local businesses such as: Seeley Office Systems, St. Mary’s Church Glens Falls, the Patient Experience Project in Saratoga Springs, and the Priory Retreat Center in Chestertown.

by Andrea Harwood Palmer

A new station dedicated to Lake George and the surrounding region has been started by Loud Media.

93.5 Lake George Radio is broadcasting classic hits from the 1980s and 1990s, with a focus on local information about the Lake George area.

“There’s such a vibrant community in Lake George. They deserve a dedicated station. It’s a great way for both locals and tourists to stay connected to the area,” said Fran Dingeman, general manager at Loud Media.

In addition to music, the radio station will feature a morning show, afternoon show, weather report, boating report, community calendar of events, and local and national news at the top of the hour.

Coverage goes north of Pilot Knob and Diamond Point, west to Stony Creek, east to Fort Ann and south to Exit 17 and Moreau in Saratoga County. The transmitter and tower are at the top of Prospect Mountain in Lake George.

Walt Adams is hosting the morning show. Adams has worked in radio in the Capital Region for most of his adult life. Previously, he was  operations manager at WGNA and PYX 106 radio stations, and worked at 99.5 The River and various other stations. He said he wanted to bring that expertise to a place that he loved and cared about.

“As a longtime resident of Lake George, to be part of a radio station specifically for the Lake George area has just been a dream come true for me,” said Adams.

Adams also works at Loud Media’s sister station in Saratoga Springs and is the public relations director for AIM Services.

By Christine Graf

Local businessmen Robin Barkenhagen and Brian Bronzino, partners in 42°, a smoke shop and functional art glass gallery in Malta, are pursuing plans to open a marijuana dispensary at 56 Glen St. in Glens Falls.

The pair also have a 42° store at 206 Glen Street, Glens Falls. In February, they established a new business called Warren County Cannabis LLC.

In recent years, Bronzino has purchased several buildings in Glens Falls, including the 5,000-square-foot property at 56 Glen St.

Because marijuana has not been legalized at the federal level, dispensaries must be operated out of properties without loans or mortgages from federally chartered banks. 

But Bronzino “owns the building which is instrumental” in the process, said Barkenhagen.

The state Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) was signed into law on March 31  and legalizes the recreational use of marijuana for those ages 21 and up. The state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) was established to oversee the industry, but they have not yet begun issuing licenses for growing, distributing, processing, and selling.

When MRTA was enacted, government official estimated that it would take approximately 18 months before the first recreational marijuana businesses would open in the state.

SUNY Adirondack has extended its deadline for incoming student scholarships for qualifying students in the fall 2021 semester. More than $400,000 will be offered to new students, ranging from $200 to full-tuition awards.

Scholarships recognize and support academic achievement, adult learners and veterans, students with financial need and those admitted into specialized fields of study. To be eligible to receive a scholarship, admission and FAFSA applications must be complete by June 1. The deadline was extended, allowing those considering attending college greater opportunity to decide.

“Students will automatically be eligible for scholarships, without having separate applications,” said Robert Palmieri, vice president of Enrollment and Student Affairs. “Through the generosity of supporters of the SUNY Adirondack Foundation, we are able to give more students financial support.”

Scholarships are available for all majors, but certain populations and fields of study are guaranteed awards. Among them are all incoming students with a high school GPA of 90 and higher; all adult learners ages 24 and older; all veterans; all TRIO Upward Bound graduates; and everyone with a high school average of C-plus or higher who is accepted into the following majors: accounting, agricultural business; broadcast media production; creative writing; criminal justice: substance abuse services; engineering science; fine arts; health education concentration; hospitality management; information technology: computer networking; information technology: cybersecurity; information technology: information security; mechatronics; media arts; nursing; and outdoor education.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

The Adirondack Trust Company opened a new branch at 79 Main St. in Queensbury, near Northway Exit 18.

The branch opened for business on April 5 and has two drive-thru lanes, parking, a free WiFi hot spot, Saturday hours, a private conference room, and 24-hour ATM access with image capture capabilities.

Munter Enterprises of Middle Grove was the general contractor and Balzer & Tuck Architecture of Saratoga Springs designed the building.

Charles Wait Jr., CEO, said the bank has been seeking a convenient location with more building space for quite some time. The nearby Maple Street branch in Glens Falls did not have a drive-thru. The Maple Street branch is closed. The Bay Road branch will remain open.

“Our desire was to build a bigger and better location that was more convenient for our customers,” said Wait. “We’ll be able to service all of our customers from all of our major business lines, from one convenient location.”

The new branch houses nine full time retail banking employees, and four additional professionals from commercial banking, lending, insurance and wealth management. The branch will be managed by assistant treasurer and branch manager Lynette Matt. Amy Liles is the assistant branch manager, and Chiao-Link Blazejowsk is the head teller.

“We have a great team here,” said Wait. “Everyone working for and with the branch did such a nice job getting everything ready.”

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce 2021 Four-Seasons Travel Guide is out, featuring “pro tips” for visiting the region.

It also has photography submitted from locals and visitors alike in an effort to spotlight the people that mark the region as a destination.

Chamber officials said the submitted photography and pro tips will also be used in a social media campaign and considered for the 2022 Travel Guide. Photos and pro tips are continually being accepted via this link.

The guide, which is available in both print and digital format, includes a lodging grid to help people sort through the region’s many accommodations. It also has Chamber member listings of attractions, dining, shopping, and other businesses.

This year’s guide also includes interactive features such as a coloring page and word puzzles to provide some extra activities for people of all ages.

The Chamber prints 70,000 copies of the guide annually and distributes them strategically around the Northeast, at AAA offices and through direct mail, by request. 

“With COVID-19 restrictions and new intel from where our visitors were coming from, we were able to readjust our distribution plan in 2020 to place the guides where they’d be most likely to be picked up. In 2021, we made similar changes to our distribution plan to match current intel,” said Executive Director Gina Mintzer.

The Park Theater will host Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties from April through June.

Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, a Rochmon Record Club Listening Party is a multi-media event designed to educate and inspire listeners. Audiences will learn about the history of the performers, and dive deep into the songs and stories that informed these iconic albums.

By listening together, we hear the music again for the first time,” said Vosganian.

The first listening party on April 29 will focus on the Eagles’ fifth studio album, “Hotel California” (1976). The second on May 26 will focus on Carole King’s second studio album, “Tapestry” (1971). The third on June 30 will focus on Queen’s fourth studio album, “Night at the Opera” (1975).

Audiences will have the opportunity to listen to these albums on the The Park Theater’s state-of-the-art sound system. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

There will be a bar and food available for purchase.

Tickets are $12 per person. There will be limited seating and tickets must be purchased in advance.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.parktheatergf.com or phone The Park Theater Box Office at 518-792-1150.

Learn more about Rochmon Record Club by visiting www.rochmon.com.

By Jill Nagy

The owners of Freedom Boat Club on Lake George have started a $1.24 million overhaul of the marina.

Matt O’Hara, one of the owners, said renovations will include a rooftop deck, an elevator, a new building facade and a members’ lounge.

His plans for the marina itself focus on growing the service department. He is also upgrading the wastewater system.

Phinney Design Group of Saratoga Springs did the design work for the project and BBL Construction Services of Albany is supervising the work. O’Hara expects the project to be completed by next fall.

It is part of a myriad of activities on Lake George regarding marinas.

The estate of John Salvador Jr. has sold Dunham’s Bay Boat & Beach Club on the southeast part of the lake for approximately $1.1 million, according to deeds that were filed in March in Warren County.

Two Florida holding companies managed by wealth management adviser Michael Chrys purchased the 9.2-acre marina on Lake George. The purchases were made under the names Mirada 7 LLC and Garner Holdings II LLC, according to the deeds.