CULTIVATE. CREATE. CELEBRATE.
Current Business & Job Title: Owner, OLD SOUL (Secondhand & Handmade); Manager, Monopole Restaurant; Bartender, Oval Brewing Company
Hometown: Ghent, New York
Age: 29
Education: SUNY Plattsburgh Bachelor’s Degree Graduate 2014 (Individualized Studies)
She is feisty, smart and driven. A transplant from a small community south of Albany, New York, KT Teaney came to our region through SUNY Plattsburgh. Not only has she become a fixture in one of the oldest establishments still in business in downtown Plattsburgh (The Monopole), KT has bravely opened a new business. She has become part of the infrastructure that will help grow Plattsburgh and has embraced a culture blending old and new to make us the best version of what we are.
How do you contribute to the culture of your company?
This past year, I opened my own business, OLD SOUL. I use my business to support the community and the arts. There has been a massive shift in the importance of small businesses in Plattsburgh and I am incredibly thankful to be a part of that change.
What is the single most important characteristic for success?
Passion and a strong work ethic. I am not making a difference if I am standing still.
What is your biggest professional success?
The 120th birthday party I put together for the Monopole in my first year of management was most definitely one of the best memories. Hundreds of people came together to celebrate a business that has been a home away from home for so many.
What important lesson have you learned in your career?
Balance: I am no good to anyone if I am not good to myself and Everything Happens in Time: Working at big goals often takes big time.
What is your dream job?
If I am able to provide independence and financial stability, while doing something I feel excited about and gives back to others, then I am living the dream.
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
I moved to New Mexico alone for a job after college, not knowing anyone there. I went on a five-week backpacking adventure in Australia in 2017. I drove across the country, down the West Coast, and back in 2018 with my dog, Arnold. I slept in my car, camped out of cell service in some of the country’s greatest wonders, and spent time with strangers (new friends by the end) along the way. I did another solo road trip in 2019 and will go across the country again in June of this year.
Write a note to your younger self…
Live your life in a way that always celebrates the time that you have in it.
Always make time to sing – it’s good for your soul and you’ll remember that each time you do it.
Just because you feel hurt, never stop leading with love.
There is darkness in light. You can’t have one without the other.
And most importantly, grow through what you go through.
What can the North Country do to make this region more appealing to a younger generation?
Be open to new ideas and include the younger generation in conversation. I think it’s crucial for our city to find balance in the importance of traditionalism while providing new growth and experiences to create more history. I also think that welcoming healthy competition in business would incentivize more cultural development.