Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce

The ARCC Women's Business Council wrapped up 2024 with their final meeting of the year on Tuesday at the Sandy Hill Arts Center in Hudson Falls. During the meeting the new leadership for 2025 were announced and the ladies presented Paula Traina, CPCU State Farm Agent, with their annual Rising Tide Award. The new 2025 Women's Business Council leadership are: Chair - Ginny Brandreth (Zobel & Co. Kitchens) Co-Chair - Lourene Bouffard (Every Penny Bookkeeping & Business Services) Education - Ann Donnelly (Ann Donnelly Fractional COO) Membership & Sponsorship - Alexis Colucci (The Queensbury Hotel) Communications - Brooke Reynolds (Up North Drone Productions) And we thank TRACEY L WARDWELL (Capital Bank) for her service as Chair in 2024, and are excited to keep her on board as Immediate Past Chair.

2024 isn't over yet, but we are excited to host our January mixer at the Downtown Social in Glens Falls! Save-the-date or better yet register today! https://lnkd.in/eAFnjYG9 WHEN: Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm WHERE: Downtown Social, 190 Glen Street, Glens Falls Enjoy drink specials, food samples and live music featuring the Radio Junkies as you network with your peers at our first mixer of the New Year!

Building a Foundation for Their Future - a special 30-minute free educational seminar on the benefits of Juvenile Life Insurance Policies, shared with us by Andrew No, Financial Services Professional Agent, New York Life Insurance Company There are numerous reasons to consider owning life insurance, from safeguarding your family's financial future to building generational wealth. However, did you know there are significant advantages to establishing a life insurance policy for your child or grandchild early? Discover why this can be a meaningful and impactful gift for your loved ones this holiday season. Hosted by financial professional of New York Life Insurance Company/NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed insurance Agency and a New York Life Company. WHEN: December 11, at 4:30 pm REGISTER: https://lnkd.in/gua_J9B2 Registration Code: 0255706 This seminar and insurance sales presentation is for informational purposes only. Neither New York Life nor its affiliates or their professionals provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own professionals for advice specific to your circumstances. Attendees are not required to purchase any products or services.

Having the On the Spot Photos team at our Holiday Mixer is always a good time! Check out their photos from our event last week: https://lnkd.in/gevZqYzF

#MondayMotivation

We are catching up with our Leadership Adirondack class as they near the end of their sessions. After a fantastic discussion on authority, empathy and leadership led by program facilitator Brian Rollo the group toured Erbessd Instruments in downtown Glens Falls. The students enjoyed lunch and a presentation on the expansive impact that the work being done at Erbessd Instruments has on vibration and condition monitoring technology for equipment across the world. Then the class visited The Hyde Collection to learn about the impact of art and The Hyde's role in art education, historic preservation, and art accessibility. Sounds like a great day!

We were thrilled to celebrate the holiday season with over 250 of our friends at the annual ARCC Holiday Mixer last night. The Fort William Henry Hotel spoiled us with an impressive array of food, beverages, live music, and classic holiday ambience. It was incredible! In addition, we honored our 2024 Ambassador of the Year - Holly DeKleine of nePROMO. In the spirit of what it means to be an ARCC Ambassador, we changed the name of the award to honor a dear friend, a huge ARCC supporter, and the biggest community champion - the late John Marcantonio. With heartfelt gratitude, we invited Shelly Marcantonio and their son Christopher to present the newly named John Marcantonio Ambassador of the Year Award to Holly. We so appreciate Shelly & Christopher Marcantonio for joining us for this occasion.

MEMBER NEWS: Tri-County United Way is pleased to announce the opening of new applications for new partner agencies to join our 2025 Community Investment Fund. The programs seeking funding must address the needs of individuals in one or more of Tri-County United Way’s key focus areas: youth (up to age 24), seniors, and those affected by mental health challenges across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties. Applicants must also serve Tri-County United Way’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) population—individuals who earn above the federal poverty level but below a sustainable wage. The Priority Area Screening Application will be available on Tri-County United Way’s website beginning December 9, 2024 at https://lnkd.in/gdF_-iWN. All Priority Area Screening Applications must be submitted via the Tri-County United Way website by January 10, 2025. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located within Northern Saratoga, Washington, and/or Warren Counties and comply with all relevant federal, state, and local legal and operational requirements (including government-approved accounting practices, annual audits, 990 tax forms, and non-discrimination policies). Once an agency is screened and approved, they will be invited to submit a full Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding of up to $10,000. A maximum of three new agencies will be selected for funding in 2025. Please note, funding requests cannot be applied to capital improvements or administrative staff salaries. Tri-County United Way is a a committed advocate for the health, education, and financial well-being of individuals in Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga Counties. We extend our deepest gratitude to our current partner agencies for their ongoing support, service, and dedication. For more details, contact Tri-County United Way at 518-793-3136 or tcuwadmin@TriCountyUnitedWay.org. 

MEMBER NEWS: Zobel & Co. Kitchens wins two Best of Building Awards Zobel & Co. Kitchens has been awarded two prestigious Best in Building Awards by the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association (CRBRA) for an exceptional Lake George house project. The awards recognize extraordinary design excellence in both indoor and outdoor kitchen spaces. The Best Kitchen Design award was awarded for the indoor kitchen that showcases remarkable design innovation, featuring ceiling-height wall cabinets integrated around antique beams, a movable dining table that expands entertainment space, and a soft color palette that highlights architectural elements and stunning lake views. A thoughtfully designed butler's pantry includes an apron sink, dishwasher, and open shelves, while a unique custom dog dining station provides dedicated food and water bowls and pot filler. The Best Overall Outdoor Living Space award was given for the accompanying outdoor kitchen that is equally impressive, presenting a U-shaped design with a comprehensive cooking area that includes a grill, smoker, warming drawer, and pizza oven. The space features blue woodgrain cabinetry with soft white countertops, a beverage refrigerator, additional refrigerator drawers, and innovative pass-through windows connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. "We're honored to be recognized for our collaborative work with AJA Architecture and Planning and Hilltop Construction," said Arthur Zobel, owner of Zobel & Co. Kitchens. "These awards validate our commitment to innovative design." The CRBRA's Best in Building Awards feature out-of-state industry experts who judge entries objectively, without knowing the submitting company. Zobel & Co. Kitchens is located at 11 Broad Street, Glens Falls. Visit www.zobelandco.com for more information.

MEMBER NEWS: SUNY Adirondack this fall offered direct admission to more than 1,000 local high school seniors in five area school districts. “We are thrilled to facilitate the college admissions process for students, removing barriers and making higher education more accessible,” said Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., president of SUNY Adirondack. Senior classes at Queensbury, Glens Falls, South Glens Falls, Hudson Falls and Saratoga high schools were automatically accepted to SUNY Adirondack for the Fall 2025 semester. SUNY Adirondack College Access and Enrollment Systems advisors worked directly with school counselors so students do not have to fill out applications. Each agreement was celebrated with an event at the high schools, in which students received acceptance packets, branded merchandise and directions on how to proceed. SUNY Adirondack’s Timberwolf mascot, Eddy Rondack, was on hand to take photographs with students. “Your hard work should be in the classroom, not during the application process,” Duffy told students. Students interested in attending SUNY Adirondack then fill out a simple online form selecting the field of study they wish to pursue and indicating if they are interested in one of SUNY Adirondack’s dual acceptance programs. Under those agreements, students who are accepted at SUNY Adirondack are also accepted to University at Albany, SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury or SUNY Cobleskill; when the students complete requirements for an associate degree at SUNY Adirondack, they then seamlessly transfer to their selected four-year university without a second application process. SUNY Adirondack graduates also transfer to many other four-year universities and colleges. “These agreements help take the stress out of applying for college, and make the journey to a bachelor’s degree smoother,” Duffy said. “We hope more high schools become interested.” Said Kyle Gannon, superintendent of Queensbury schools: "Queensbury was thrilled to be the first school in the region to hold a direct admission event. It was such a fun and unique opportunity for our seniors to jumpstart their college acceptance process. We appreciate the strong partnership we have with SUNY Adirondack and the excellent programs it continues to offer while our Queensbury students are in high school and after they graduate." Said Brian Bombard, chair of School Counseling at Glens Falls High School: "We have always had a great connection with SUNY Adirondack with more than 400 Glens Falls graduates enrolling there over the past 10 years. The direct admit event provided a new opportunity to celebrate the relationship between our students and outstanding and accessible programming available in our own backyard." Said Nicky Bogert, principal of South Glens Falls High School: "Thank you to SUNY ADK for offering this wonderful opportunity to our students. These connections support not only our students but our community."