February, 2020
By Garry Douglas This new decade of the twenties certainly seems to have started with a genuine “roar” for our North Country area. In late January we had two pieces of affirmation of this fact. Policom, a Florida based independent economic research firm, released its 2020 rankings of the relative “economic strength” of the nation’s read more
January, 2020
There is no substitute for experience, and those who have been part of the North Country business community for a significant length of time have rich stories and lessons learned from many wins and losses encountered along the way. The reward for living through the challenges of our careers is that we gain perspective and with that comes wisdom. The read more
January, 2020
At this year’s 30th annual Strictly Business Forum, the participants at our table were by turns optimistic, disarmingly honest and overall pleased with the current state of business affairs. They were: Nate Wilson, owner and president of Wilson Appliance Center, Inc. and Appliance Import Distributors, a wholesale appliance distribution company, importing from across the globe and distributing across the country. read more
January, 2020
This year’s Strictly Business Forum, its 30th, celebrated the hard-won growth and successes and shared the challenges of 2019. With the low nationwide unemployment rate at 3.7%, and the growth of well-paid manufacturing jobs, there has never been a better time to do business in the North Country. The discussion at my Forum table was dynamic, brisk read more
January, 2020
In early December North Country business leaders came together at the MHAB Life Skills Center to celebrate 2019. The annual Strictly Business Forum joins business owners and managers in round table discussions to evaluate the year as it comes to a close. This year’s event was especially significant because it was the 30th anniversary of SB’s first Forum. read more
January, 2020
The 30th Annual Strictly Business Forum began with publisher Herb Carpenter introducing the attendees, several of whom had participated in the first SB Forum. It was a diverse gathering—more women and people of color than ever before. The demographic that encompassed the most diversity was age. A guestimate of the range: 25-80—pretty good. For the round table read more
January, 2020
In his closing remarks to wrap up the 30th annual Strictly Business Forum, North Country Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Garry Douglas advised of the importance to “Never Waste Failure.” The relationships and partnerships that have been built in the North Country, particularly in the past 25 years since the closing of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, read more
January, 2020
30 Years Ago… Chuck Racette was operating a real estate office and building homes in Plattsburgh. He is now happily retired. Neil Fesette, owner/broker of Fesette Realty, was a senior at RIT majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, playinga final season of basketball, and working part-time jobs to pay the bills. Deena Giltz McCullough was read more
January, 2020
It was our 30th Strictly Business Forum and we wanted to do something a little different. But what? And then it hit us. Why not invite some of the participants from our first Forum, as well as some of the people who brainstormed with us when we first conceived the idea of a North Country business magazine? read more
December, 2019
As we approach 2020, the Chamber has been harking back to the unexpected decision to close Plattsburgh Air Force Base in 1993, followed quickly by full closure in 1995. There are many lessons and stories from that period and the years since then, but I have embraced a three-word phrase resonating most strongly: NEVER – read more
