Aaron Kellett, general manager at Whiteface Mountain, grew up skiing the mountain. His father began working there in the 1980s on ski patrol and Aaron has worked almost every job there since his teens. He, better than anyone, knew that the writing was on the wall for the area’s cramped, outdated facilities. Over the recent read more
New York is an At-Will Employment State: True or False ?
If you answered true to the above question, you are correct. If you answered false to the above question, you are correct in all meaningful respects. The best answer to the question is: Both of the above. Historically, employment relationships were a voluntary relationship, which either party could end at will. Only when people entered read more
Stepping Ahead Into History: The Historic Hotel Saranac Re-Opens Its Doors
The lights of the iconic Hotel Saranac sign are burning brightly these days. A gleaming replica of the original sign shines like a beacon atop the newly renovated hotel, welcoming all to come experience the grandeur of days gone by. The newly reopened building on Main Street overlooks downtown Saranac Lake, NY. Its lights once read more
Building a Case for Construction Mental Health
Almost two years ago, Amy Morin wrote an article in Forbes’ online magazine addressing mental health in the construction industry. That article has resonated with me since I first read it. In an industry that can be challenging and stressful, it’s important to recognize the impact of mental health problems, and in recent years, employers read more
Building and Serving the North Country
Eric Duquette has been in construction since he could swing a hammer and hop up into his dad’s truck. The proud son affectionately refers to his father as a “Murnaniac” because he worked for years as a superintendent for locally owned Murnane Construction. That’s where Eric got his start as well, but after a time read more
Ryan’s Masonary
Sitting down with Ryan Smith Sr., you might not believe he has already paved the way to a long-term business legacy. Smith would be the first to tell you he started with a junk pick-up truck, a junk mud mixer, and $400. Soon he was getting calls he couldn’t keep up with. His first solo read more
Taking Flight
Since the closing of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base in 1995, Clinton County Government leaders and economic developers have created something impressive out of a difficult situation. Leading the charge since 2011 has been Christopher Kreig, Plattsburgh International Airport’s director. Plattsburgh’s proximity to Montreal has served the development of the airport well, attracting tourists and read more
Not Your Average Handyman
I realized there had to be a better way to offer excellent service and quality workmanship than what people were getting and what I was seeing,” said Corey Boire, founder of the Tick Tock Group, an innovative home and office repair company. Funded in part by a microenterprise grant from the Town of Plattsburgh, the read more
Cathy Dove “At Home in the Adirondack Park”
Intrigued by the call of loons in the Adirondacks, passionate about economic development, and committed to sustainability, Cathy Dove fit right into the culture at Paul Smith’s College when she assumed the presidency in 2014. Before moving to the region, Dove served as the vice president for Cornell Tech, a new graduate tech campus in read more
A High Day in Ottawa
The North Country Chamber of Commerce was pleased to join Congresswoman Elise Stefanik in a recent visit to Ottawa, which was both timely and highly worthwhile. As we often note, the North Country’s economic relationship with Canada is the single greatest driving force in the region’s economy, forming the basis of its greatest progress in recent read more