AMBITIOUS. ADAPTABLE. AUTHENTIC.
Current Business & Job Title: ETS Staffing and Recruiting Agency, Vice President of Strategic Operations
Hometown: Morrisonville, NY
Age: 30
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Community Involvement: Ready4Real, North Country Manufacturing Day and Clinton Community College Career Services.
Born and raised in the North Country, Amber Douglass has brokered her passion for life and her love for this region to grow her marketing career. A two-time recipient of the ASA Elevate Award for “the most innovative and effective work-based learning programs”, Amber has grown ETS’ regional presence through her expansion of its social media presence and marketing campaigns.
What is the single most important characteristic for success?
I believe there are two non-negotiable characteristics for success. The first is being a lifelong learner, understanding you must always continue to develop and grow. The second is determination, even when something doesn’t work out the first time, if you are determined you will always find a way to succeed.
What is your biggest professional success?
My biggest professional success so far has been creating my current role at ETS, going from their first ever Marketing Specialist to the VP of Strategic Operations.
What important lesson have you learned in your career?
You are never done learning. You must stay adaptable and never be afraid of change.
How has COVID-19 impacted you professionally and personally? What are you doing differently?
There is no doubt COVID-19 has had an impact on every industry and profession. For me, it gave our team the opportunity to focus our efforts on making a completely digital/virtual user-friendly experience. Vetting the latest technology and staying up to date on industry trends is one of the top priorities in my role, so we were in good shapeto make this switch as many of the tools to be successful remotely were already in place. As one of the largest employers in the Champlain Valley, the biggest impact of COVID-19 for us was ensuring we were up to date with the regulations for the safety of our 700+ employees.
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
It was leaving my first job. It’s always scary to enter a new job, but most times the risk is worth the reward.
What is something that no one would guess about you?
I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon, snowmobiled on the world’s second largest glacier, snorkeled between tectonic plates, and surfed in Hawaii.
Write a note to your younger self…
Everything happens for a reason. Trust your instincts. You are right where you are supposed to be. With hard work, your dreams and ideas are achievable, so don’t be afraid to dream even bigger and find your voice! A Kickball Tournament benefiting the United Way seems like a good idea, (Spoiler: It is! It will be wildly successful raising over $2,000 for the United Way each year) but PLEASE invest in some comfier shoes and note as you get older it takes more time to recover. Finally, know your worth and have some fun!
What can the North Country do to make this region more appealing to a younger generation?
I would especially love to see growth and development near the waterfront, which I believe would be appealing to the younger generation.