ARCC Year in Review

The ARCC jump started 2024 with ribbon cuttings, an incredibly well attended mixer with over 180 guests, and a very important panel discussion on alternative hiring opportunities. By February the Chamber had announced the application period for their Leadership Adirondack program, a dynamic, interactive experience that provides skill development and community immersion experiences that enables participants to grow personally and professionally as they explore issues and opportunities in Warren & Washington County, New York. This program would foster and develop 14 individuals through the months of September – December, with help from facilitator and business consultant Brian Rollo. Wrapping up the program, the Leadership Adirondack Class of 2024-25 will be celebrated at a graduation ceremony on February 4, 2025 in Heritage Hall at the Cool Insuring Arena.

The celebration continued as the ARCC honored their 35^th Annual J. Walter Juckett Award winner Robert Nemer, co-owner of the Nemer Auto Group and supporter of many nonprofits. Mr. Nemer’s passions include protecting the health & safety of Lake George, supporting healthcare and youth in our region.

Sprinkled throughout the year were many meetings of the minds, as our Women’s Business Council, Nonprofit Business Council, Workplace Health & Wellness Council and Veterans Business Network planned programs to benefit the full membership of the ARCC. The Women’s Business Council SUCCESSion Summit continued a conversation on business continuity and succession planning for businesses of all sizes. The Adirondack Nonprofit Business Council presented a panel discussion on planned giving and legacy donations. Focusing on the health of body and mind, the Workplace Health & Wellness Council hosted a panel discussion on health resources available in our communities. And the Veterans Business Network hosted their 4^th annual Walk for Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention and raised funds for the veteran programs of Kee to Independent Growth.

Each month the Chamber hosted a networking mixer, with the biggest being the Triple Chamber Mixer held in June. For a few years in a row, the ARCC has partnered with the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB, and the Bolton Landing Chamber to host this summer mixer at the Sagamore Resort. This mixer brought together over 450 attendees combined from all three chambers for an evening of decadent hors d'oeuvres, fabulous drink specials and epic views of Lake George.

Collaboration & Education

Collaboration on multiple initiatives took center stage in 2024 as the ARCC partnered with many organizations to offer educational opportunities to the greater community. The month of October specifically sticks out as the ARCC collaborated on four events in addition to their already planned events. Partnering with the Saratoga County Chamber, the ARCC participated in a workshop exploring how a sense of belonging in companies and communities affects talent recruitment, workforce retention and community investment. This workshop featured a keynote speaker and two separate panel discussions, featuring many ARCC members. To satisfy the marketer in all of us, the ARCC partnered with Trampoline Design to host a discussion on rebranding vs refreshing with lots of takeaways. The third event, in partnership with SUNY Adirondack, focused on AI in the workplace – its impact, application, and how AI is reshaping our economy and workforce. To round out the month, the ARCC partnered with TD Bank to bring together two panels focused on access to capital and strategies for growth for small businesses.

Advocacy for Business

Beginning with the annual Lunch with Legislators event, the ARCC brought together close to 140 people for a dialogue with elected officials. This moderated discussion featured topics such as affordable healthcare for small businesses, accessibility & inclusivity for differing abled individuals, childcare challenges and more. In addition, similar events were held on a county level for Warren & Washington counties allowing each county to share updates and future plans affecting our communities. And lastly, the ARCC wrote 19 letters of support for members looking for assistance in their individual fields.

ARCC by the numbers

Data can speak volumes and the ARCC, like most businesses and organizations, tracks a few things throughout the year. In 2024 the Chamber hosted 98 events with over 3,000 people in attendance. These events included mixers, council meetings, educational seminars & workshops, ribbon cuttings, and more.

Two of the ARCC flagship events saw record numbers in 2024. The annual ARCC Business Awards received a record number of nominations at 44 businesses in 7 categories – a true testament to how incredibly supportive the business community is. Shortly after the business awards the ARCC Business Expo sold out at a record 88 exhibitors, taking over the first floor of the Queensbury Hotel for an impressively well attended business showcase.

And last, but certainly not least, the ARCC experienced some incredible growth in membership welcoming on over 150 new members in 2024. This growth brought the ARCC to a total of over 850 members, a number that the Chamber hasn’t seen in many years.

A final celebration and a look ahead

The ARCC ended 2024 with an extraordinary mixer in the Carriage House of the Fort William Henry Hotel in early December. Welcoming over 275 guests, this annual holiday mixer serves as a celebration of the holiday season, and for some a chance to reconnect before the new year. This year’s event was extra special in that the ARCC announced their 2024 Ambassador of the year – Holly DeKleine, Sales Associate with nePROMO.  Holly joined as an ARCC Ambassador in 2015 and continuously shows up for the Chamber and her community. Her warm presence, passion for helping others, and enthusiasm shows in everything she does. This is Holly’s fifth time achieving Ambassador of the year.

In the spirit of what it means to be an ARCC Ambassador, the ARCC also 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.

As the ARCC looks ahead to 2025, we are beyond excited for the opportunities that await. The first quarter promises to deliver multiple events designed to foster connection & collaboration, inspiring educational opportunities, and more celebrations of business and community.