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On the scale of times that call for resilience and change, the challenges of the last decade can be divided into two equal parts — the first nine years and the last nine months. The 31st annual Strictly Business Forum convened this December to reflect on this past year which was, without question, a year read more

If you have never been to an Escape Room you should try it at some point in 2021. Why? Because you have lived through 2020 and you are, whether you know it or not, an expert at this game. Mark Hamilton, Executive Director of the Plattsburgh Housing Authority, likened 2020 to an escape room where read more

It was a Strictly Business Forum like no other. There was no breakfast served, no swag proffered and no group photos taken. Instead, there were opportunities. Deena Giltz McCullough introduced us to her new puppy named Zoom. Steve Segal didn’t have to drive down from Montreal and I’m quite sure Kristy Kennedy was wearing her read more

While 2020 was described as Dickensian because it was the best of times and the worst of times, what proved to be a common theme at the Strictly Business Forum was how much businesses, agencies and non-profits were willing to step up and help their neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic. From bending over backwards to read more

Some events are traditions — eagerly anticipated, not to be missed. Unfortunately, in 2020 many of those were canceled but others were reimagined to take place virtually. We are grateful the 31st annual Strictly Business Forum fell into the latter category. As a long-time moderator at the Forum, I look forward to the event. This read more

No one would be surprised to learn that the pandemic dominated my group’s discussion at the 31st annual Strictly Business Forum. Meeting together virtually, my contributors represented decades of executive and management experience. They were: April Bingel, Financial Advisor, Wells FargoDavid Coryer, Co-founder, Coryer StaffingKimberly Davis, Clinton County TreasurerBill McColgan, President/Chief Executive Officer, Mountain Lake read more

Brian Delaney moved from New Jersey to Lake Placid in 1981 after seeing an ad that encouraged readers to change course. At the time, Delaney was working as a physical chemist for Johnson & Johnson and was being groomed for a management position. “Change Your Life” the ad in an outdoor enthusiasts’ magazine urged. When read more

Located next to the AuSable River in Keene Valley, under the towering High Peaks, is The Mountaineer, a store that specializes in backcountry sports. The business, opened in 1975, was purchased three years ago by long-time customers, Charlie and Nancy Wyse. For this Strictly Business article I spoke with Charlie to find out about winter read more

As we left Plattsburgh and headed into the Adirondacks, we weren’t sure what to expect. Our destination was the Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat. Our mission was to interview owners/operators Cathy and Ernest Hohmeyer. The Lodge, built in 1886 along a stagecoach route, served as a trading post, post office and inn. Over the years read more

“When Titus went up for sale in 2011, my family had no intentions of purchasing the mountain,” explained Bruce Monette III. “It was only when we heard some of the bigger mountains in the Northeast were trying to buy the lifts, motors, chairs, etc., for their own mountains and were planning to gut and shut read more