Thursday, February 22, 2024

Can't view this email? Click here to see it online.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is a membership organization with the mission of supporting our business community through advocacy, education, connection and collaboration. We thank you for your support.

This ARCC e-newsletter is brought to you by our

2024 Leadership Circle Member

Did you know... earlier this month, Berkshire Bank announced that nearly $2.5 million in philanthropic investments were provided from its foundation in 2023 to support more than 500 nonprofit organizations. During 2023, more than 500 local nonprofits received grants to assist with a range of critical projects in the areas of health and wellness, housing, food insecurity, and economic enrichment. The Berkshire Bank Foundation is committed to supporting programs that work towards providing equitable opportunities for economic prosperity. In addition, it supports programs that align with Berkshire Bank’s Center for Women, Wellness, and Wealth. Click here to read more.

HELLO! Some email boxes cut off our e-newsletters, and we don't want you missing out on great content. If you feel like something is missing, look for a "Read More" option at the bottom of your email, and click on it. Thanks!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Nonprofit Chat at the Tri-County United Way

Wednesday, February 21st at 3:30 pm

What an incredible turnout for our monthly Nonprofit Chat, hosted by the ARCC's Adirondack Nonprofit Business Council (ANBC) yesterday afternoon! Thank you so much to the Tri-County United Way for hosting us. We had a robust roundtable of everyone sharing organizational updates, resources & ideas, and learning about programs in our communities. Thank you to everyone who came out.

The next Nonprofit Chat will be held on Wednesday, March 13th, from 3:30 - 4:30 pm, at LEAP's Head Start building, located at 18 River Street in Hudson Falls.

Registration info coming soon!

Tour of The Glen at Hiland Meadows

39 Longview Drive, Queensbury, NY 12804

ARCC President Tricia Rogers, and Vice President Amanda Blanton visited The Glen at Hiland Meadows on Wednesday morning for a tour of their independent & assisted living areas, as well as their memory care center. Executive Director Andrea Hebert led the tour and described all of the wonderful programs that The Glen offers their residents. We very much appreciate all that they do for seniors in their care.

Visit their website to learn more.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

WAIT House is opening a new Family Opportunity Center (FOC) on the 7th floor of 333 Glen Street. Funded with money from the NYS Office of Child and Family Services, the FOC will serve families as a whole, helping each member receive the services they need. The FOC seeks to help families break the cycle of homelessness to combat/prevent current and future youth homelessness.

Wednesday, February 28th at 1:00 pm

333 Glen Street, Floor 7, Glens Falls

ARCC Lunch with Legislators

Join the ARCC for our annual Lunch with Legislators event, at The Queensbury Hotel. In attendance will be:

New York State Senator Dan Stec District 45
New York State Senator Jake Ashby District 43
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner District 113
Assemblyman Matt Simpson District 114

The conversation will be moderated by ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers.

The ARCC will be accepting questions for our elected officials from February 5th thru February 21st. Please submit your questions to trogers@adirondackchamber.org.

Thursday, February 29th from 11:30 am - 1:15 pm

11:30 am Registration/Networking/Lunch

12:00 - 1:15 pm Panel Discussion

The Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Street, Glens Falls

Thank you to our sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSOR

AUDIO SPONSOR

Join the ARCC and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce for a joint Chamber ribbon cutting for Dance Moves with Jen!

Thursday, February 29 at 5:00 pm

1135 Ridge Road, Queensbury, NY 12804

NEW MEMBER WELCOMES

ARCC President Tricia Rogers (left) and Membership Manager Ava Kanninen (right) presented Thomas Macchia and John Goehrig, of Technology Navigators with their new member plaque. Thank you ladies!

Technology Navigators offers services that are designed to take the IT stress off your shoulders, freeing up your time to focus on strategic business decisions. Trusted technology advisors John Goehrig and Thomas Macchia, have more than 35 years of combined IT project management experience. Together they’ve worked with clients across all sectors, helping to streamline their operations, enhance productivity, and safeguard their businesses against both external threats and technological obsolescence.

Visit their website to learn more.

ARCC Ambassador Russ Antonacci, of NBT Bank, met up with Mike Kneuer of Paychex to present him with his new member plaque. Thank you Russ!

Mike is dedicated to helping businesses relieve administrative stress with solutions in payroll, HR, benefits and insurance. If you are starting to think about planning for retirement, Paychex will be able to seamlessly integrate a 401k plan into your Flex platform. If you want to increase your ability to retain workers, Paychex will help you implement benefits for your employees. Stop worrying about administrative work and start putting time back into your day.

Give Mike a call at 585-261-8684 to learn more.

ARCC Ambassador Holly DeKleine, of nePROMO, visited with June Stoddard-Finemore owner and operator of Adirondack Healing to present her with her new member plaque. Thanks Holly!

Located at 5 Sagamore Street Suite B in Glens Falls, NY. Adirondack Healing offers a range of massage and wellness services, including medical massage, prenatal massage, reflexology, Reiki, red light therapy, health coaching, and sound healing. Their goal is to provide personalized care and exceptional customer service to help achieve optimal health and relaxation.

Visit their website for more information.

ARCC Ambassador Bobbie Jo Flores, from NBT Bank, visited The Crossroads to present them with their new member plaque. Thank you Bobbie Jo!

The Crossroads is family owned, by the West family, since 1999. They specialize in the outdoors, and you can find everything you need for an Adirondack adventure there: Hunting and Fishing gear, guns and ammo, Camping and Hiking gear, clothing and footwear, locally crafted Adirondack gifts, Adirondack books guidebooks and maps, Christian books, Gas, Propane, and an amazing deli featuring Boar's Head Products.

Visit them at 40 Dixon Road, Chestertown, NY 12817. And follow them on Facebook!

ARCC Membership Manager Ava Kanninen (left) and ARCC President Tricia Rogers (right) welcomed Debbie Geer, founder of Hope for a Woman's Heart to the ARCC and presented her with her new member plaque. Thank you ladies!

Hope for a Woman's Heart is a non profit faith based women's organization that is designed to reach and touch the lives of all women across this region with Hope. Hope for a Woman's Heart began in 2011 and hosts 2 major events a year in wonderful hotel venues and Retreat Conference Centers in our area. Their desire is to give women HOPE who may be walking through a similar situation right now, as well as those that did in the past or might in the future. Visit their website to learn more.

ARCC Ambassador Marie Busse, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, visited the Glens Falls Farmers' Market Association this past Saturday to present them with their new member plaque. Thank you Marie! We are so happy to have them on board.

The Glens Falls Farmers’ Market is a vibrant and bustling marketplace, and is a celebrated weekly event that draws both locals and visitors. Held every Saturday, it features a wide array of local vendors offering fresh, locally-grown produce, artisanal breads, handcrafted cheeses, and a variety of homemade goods.

In the Winter, on Saturday's from November - April, you can find them in the Food Court of Aviation Mall, off of Aviation Road in Queensbury. The market is open 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.

ARCC MEMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS

Join the ARCC as we welcome BEVS Queensbury to the community! Previously known as Minogue's Beverage Center, Minogue's is now BEVS! Whether you’re hosting a party, unwinding after work, or stocking up for a rainy day, BEVS has it all! Crafts, Domestics, Imports, Keg Rentals and more—BEVS is your one stop shop. Join us as we celebrate their Queensbury location with a ribbon cutting.

Thursday, March 14th at 12:00 pm

266 Quaker Road, Queensbury, NY 12804

Finders Keepers Consignments is celebrating their expansion AND 20th anniversary! Join the ARCC as we celebrate Kyleen Wade's accomplishments with a ribbon cutting ceremony!

April 26th at 2:00 pm

206 Glen Street

Glens Falls, NY 12801

Evolve-Z is a multi-purpose event space featuring healing and performance arts, created by Laura Zwynenburg. Evolve-Z is your local haven for Yoga, Reiki, Sound Healing & Self Harmony. Join us as we welcome Evolve-Z to the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony!

May 14th at 3:00 pm

10 Maple Street

Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Join the ARCC for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Queensbury Cigar and Pipe (QCP). We will be honoring the occasion with a ribbon cutting at 4 pm, and an open house to follow until 7 pm.

June 26th 4:00 pm

1036 State Route 9

Queensbury, NY 12804

ARCC Ribbon Cuttings proudly sponsored by

ARCC WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL

MARCH MEETING

The ARCC Women's Business Council (WBC) invites you to their March 2024 meeting! Join us for a morning of connection, networking and inspiration!

Tuesday, March 12th from 9:00 - 10:00 am

The Glen at Hiland Meadow, The Conkling Room

39 Longview Drive, Queensbury, NY 12804

Common Roots Foundation Inaugural Spring Gathering

Join us for the very first Spring Gathering and Common Roots Foundation benefit! This new event will become an important annual fundraiser for the Foundation, further enabling us to help local organizations realize their wellness, sustainability and stewardship projects.

WHEN: April 12th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm

WHERE: Common Roots Brewing Bierhall, South Glens Falls

Tickets include buffet-style fare and a complimentary beverage. Proceeds will benefit the Common Roots Foundation and our mission to improve the quality of life throughout our region. Cheers! For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Bank Promotes Girard, Healy and Riihimaki to Senior Vice President

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Arleen Girard, Candice Healy and David Riihimaki to Senior Vice President.

“We are excited to recognize Arleen, Candice and Dave for their accomplishments within the Arrow Family of Companies,” said President and CEO Dave DeMarco. “Their knowledge and experience will help lead our continued growth and excellent customer experience.”

Each will continue in their management roles for Glens Falls National Bank and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, part of the Arrow Family of Companies.

Girard, Senior Vice President, Director of Business Services, joined the company in 2014 and oversees municipal banking and cash management services. She is responsible for developing and managing opportunities for revenue growth including deposits, merchant and payroll services and credit cards. Girard earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Le Moyne College.

Healy, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking, joined the company in 2012 and oversees the Arrow Family of Companies branch network of 37 branches in a footprint of more than 160 miles along the eastern border of New York state. She is also responsible for leading and developing the branch teams to further expand customer relationships. Healy is a 2016 Leadership Adirondack graduate with more than 20 years of experience in retail banking. She is currently pursuing a degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Riihimaki, Senior Vice President, Director of Credit Administration, joined the company in 2013 and oversees the credit administration team to maintain proper risk management controls and strong credit quality in consumer and commercial loan portfolios. Riihimaki earned a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School.

All are active in their communities and serve on local non-profit boards.

Zobel & Co. Kitchens Awarded Best of Houzz 2024

Annual award highlights design professionals with top ratings and most popular designs among the global Houzz community

Zobel & Co. Kitchens has won a “Best of Houzz” award on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design, including the all-in-one software solution for industry professionals. The custom kitchen and cabinetry design firm, located in the Union Square Building in Glens Falls, was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 3 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Best of Houzz awards are given annually to honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. The award to Zobel & Co. Kitchen was based on several factors, including their overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2023. This is the 10^th consecutive year Zobel & Co. Kitchens has received this award.

“We are fortunate to have clients that bring us unique, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding projects that allow our design and service expertise to shine”, said Arthur Zobel. “The industry is always evolving, from technology and materials, to styles and spaces like walk-in pantries and outdoor kitchens. Incorporating these trends with a client’s vision is at the core of what we do.”

“The Best of Houzz awards serve as a symbol of trust and validation among homeowners seeking top-notch professionals," said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This year’s winners represent some of the most talented and customer-focused professionals in our industry and we are extremely pleased to give them this recognition.”

You can see many of Zobel & Co. Kitchens’ project on Houzz at https://www.houzz.com/pro/zobelandcokitchens

Businesses sought for upcoming high school summer job fairs in Warren County

County Department of Workforce Development events have paired hundreds of students with seasonal employers

Warren County Department of Workforce Development has scheduled three summer job fairs at local high schools in the coming weeks, and businesses that would like to be part of one or more of them are asked to contact the Department of Workforce Development to begin the registration process.

This will be the fourth year of local high school summer job fairs in Warren County, a result of successful job fairs that have placed hundreds of teen workers with dozens of local employers for the busy summer tourism season.

Queensbury Middle School and High School will host a hiring event on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, while Glens Falls High School will host a job fair on Thursday, April 11, 2024 and Lake George Jr-Sr. High will hold its hiring event on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Warren County businesses that would like to attend to meet with job seekers should begin the pre-registration process for Warren County Department of Workforce Development through this link .

Business location and the number of positions that will be available for young people will be factors in determining which businesses are a good fit for these fairs, as they are primarily for local students aged 14-18 who are seeking work.

Liza Ochsendorf, Warren County Director of Workforce Development, said: “Our high school job fairs have been very successful helping local businesses get a head start on their summer hiring. We have been able to work with hundreds of students to help them find employment while assisting local businesses with the ongoing workforce shortages. Please let us know as soon as possible if your business would like to be part of one or more of these hiring events.”

These job fairs will be attended by students from their respective schools, but the Lake George School Job Fair will also be open to the public for other students or adults from the community.

All attending businesses are required to take part in a 30-minute virtual orientation to share information about what to expect at each fair and to ensure success at recruiting teens for their open positions.

For more information, call Warren County Department of Workforce Development/Career Center at 518-743-0925 or email Director Ochsendorf at OchsendorfL@warrencountyny.gov.

Grant-funded program helps those pursuing training, education for in-demand jobs

SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce Healthcare Pathways, a new program funded by a State University of New York (SUNY) Future of Work Centers grant that allows the college to develop career pathways and provide support to individuals pursuing careers in health care.

Recent reports show a critical need for health care workers in the greater Capital District and Adirondacks regions.

According to data provided by Warren County, health care is the job sector with the most openings. U.S. Department of Labor data shows the statewide need for home health and personal care aides will grow 39 percent by 2030, with more than 711,000 projected job openings.

“Given our regional data, it is crucial that we continue to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline," said Diane Wildey, associate vice president for Academic Affairs. “SUNY Adirondack is proud to expand on the legacy work of our prior Health Professions Opportunity Grant (HPOG).”

According to the Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC), “The Capital Region’s health care industry is facing a five-alarm fire.”

The CREDC report shows need for health care workers in the greater Adirondacks region will continue to increase as the area’s population ages. The region is on pace to be the second-oldest population in the United States by 2025. In Warren County, 22 percent of the population is older than 65 — one of the highest percentages in the state. Warren County’s median age is 46.8 years old, compared to 36.9 statewide. In Washington County, the median age is 44.2 and in Saratoga County, it’s 42.9.

The new Healthcare Pathways program will address health care workforce shortages by establishing health care pathways through credit and non-credit instruction, providing student support, offering professional development training opportunities for health care employees and hosting events with regional health care organizations.

To oversee the program and connect students to the grant resources, the college hired Kimberly Comisky as director, and Samantha Williams and Jeffrey Wright as program assistants.

Support is available for participants in non-credit training or degree programs, including those pursuing careers such as certified nurse aide (CNA), home health aide (HHA), and personal care aide (PCA), or those studying Health Education, Nursing or related fields at SUNY Adirondack.

This program allows SUNY Adirondack the flexibility to offer financial support in the way of books, uniforms, gas cards and technology, as well as access to emergency funds so students can overcome barriers to completion or employment retention.

“Our team has years of experience in health and human services and are well versed in our community’s challenges,” Comisky said. “We witnessed these challenges every day and are excited to engage with students and partner with community organizations to grow health care educational opportunities.”

ARCC 2024 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE MEMBERS

The Leadership Circle is a distinctive opportunity for members to partner with the Chamber through unique, tailored opportunities, providing exclusive access to programs and benefits available only at this membership level. To find out how you can be part of this exclusive membership level, please contact the Chamber at 518-798-1761. We look forward to partnering with you.

And thank you to our 2024 Leadership Circle Members for their support!