December 2016 Let it Snow WINTER RECREATION INSIGHT Featuring Stephanie Graudons DECEMBER 2016 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 1 Published by The Northeast Group ARRANARRANDD’’SS GGMOTORSPORTS 52 Boynton Ave. ATV’s, Motorcycles, Side x Sides, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Snowmobiles, Water Crafts, Parts, 518-563-9700 Accessories & Apparel Geoffrey Garrand Dealer Principal Ryan2 | sbmonthly.com Garrand, DECEMBER Dealer 2016Principal Hours: Mon.–Fri. 8am–6pm, Sat. 9am–3pm DECEMBER 2016 Coryer Staffing INSIDE THIS ISSUE Helping good people 6 UPFRONT: Maui North—Ski, Bike & Board Co. find great jobs. 10 Pok-O-MacCready Camps 16 Adirondack Mountain Club—Algonquin Chapter 20 INSIGHT: Stephanie Graudons 22 Roberts Sports Center 26 Olympic Regional Development Authority 30 Viking Ski N' Cycle 34 Are You Prepared? 36 The Year In Review: Employment Law Search 38 CHAMBERWISE: Strategic Priorities for 2017 Office Industrial Career 6 22 Register with us today! 26 www.coryerstaffing.com (518) 324-5678 20 Miller Street, Suite 102 A Northeast Publication ©2016 Plattsburgh NY 12901 All Rights Reserved Vol. 27, No. 12, December 2016 30 DECEMBER 2016 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 3 Publisher’s View believe there are two kinds of people who live in the North Country—the people who grit their teeth and wait for spring to come and the people who embrace winter and get out and enjoy I all the recreational opportunities our area has to offer. As someone who grew up in Boston, I was one of the former. For most of my adult life, outdoor recreation was walking from the car to my office or to a restaurant. But then one winter my old- est daughter convinced me to try skiing. She was an avid fan and she soon made a convert of me. This issue of Strictly Business focuses on the pleasures of winter recreation. Our cover story features Kim Manion, who along with her husband Dennis is the co-owner of Maui North in downtown Plattsburgh. Both Manions grew up in the North Country, traveled and worked elsewhere and then came home to build their future. When they learned Maui North was for sale, they found the opportunity they were looking for. Pok-O-MacCready Camps and Outdoor Education Center in Essex County offer amazing opportunities for youth and adults to discover the joys of the outdoors in all seasons. Started in 1905 as a camp for boys, Pok-O-MacCready is now a destination for childhood learning as well as business retreats. Instead of driving through the beautiful Adirondacks why not see them up close? The Algonquin Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club offers hikes and outdoor experiences for everyone from the novice to the experienced enthusiast. Learn about them in this issue. Roberts Sport Center has been providing the vehicles necessary for outdoor fun since 1964. Whether you’re looking for a Ski- Doo, ATV, Side by Side, pontoon boat or outboard, you will find it at Roberts in Saranac. They’ll help you get out and go! As the home of two Olympic Winter Games, Lake Placid expanded its operation to become the crown jewel of Olympic venues. Don’t miss the exciting list of 2017 events scheduled at ORDA facilities in this issue. There’s something for everyone. Viking Ski N’ Cycle has come a long way from the founder’s garage in West Plattsburgh to its current location in front of Price Chopper on Route 3. And now the business is ready for another move as owners Dave and Barbara Collin turn the reins over to long-term employees who have begun a rebranding effort. We thank our employment law expert, Jacqueline Kelleher, for her insightful article in this issue about the many changes fac- ing businesses as we move into the new year. Make sure to read her article. It will help to sort out some of the confusion many of us are experiencing. And then there is our Insight feature, Stephanie Graudons, an outdoor enthusiast like few others. Stephanie is the perfect link between Pok-O-MacCready and the Adirondack Mountain Club. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Learn about her story in our center fold. Outdoor recreation is not just fun and games. It is an economic powerhouse in the United States, each year generating $646 bil- lion in consumer spending and creating 6.1 million direct jobs. In New York State it creates more than $34 billion in consumer spending and 305,000 jobs. And that’s good for business. Herbert O. Carpenter, Publisher Are you an experienced writer with an interest in local business? Strictly Business is looking for new talent to join our team of writers. Please send a brief bio and writing sample to [email protected]. 4 | sbmonthly.com DECEMBER 2016 NYS Approved Plant R. DESO INC. Septic Tanks - Dry Wells PUBLISHER Ready-Mix Concrete Retaining Wall Blocks Herbert O. Carpenter Dock Anchors Sand, Stone & More MANAGING EDITOR R. DESO Mary Carpenter INC. PRESIDENT/CEO Mike Carpenter 298-8411 VICE PRESIDENT/CFO CHAMPLAIN, NY Betsy Vicencio ADVISORY BOARD David Coryer LENNY’S SHOE & APPAREL: ADVERTISING YOUR CORPORATE Shirley Sansone Advertising Executive/ OUTFITTING GURU Marketing Solutions 518.324.5123 shirley.sansone@ thenortheastgroup.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kristin Cleveland kristin.cleveland@ thenortheastgroup.com 518.563.8214, ext. 129 PUBLICATION DESIGNER Let us outt Jodi Brunner your employees GRAPHIC DESIGNERS • Safety Toe Footwear Nancy Florentine Kimberly Smith • Hi-Vis and FR Clothing • Slip Resistant Footwear CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bonnie Black • Scrubs and Clogs Karen Bouvier Kristin Cleveland Garry Douglas Jacqueline Kelleher Justine Parkinson Christopher Rosenquest Michelle St. Onge We have raised and donated over $30,000 to the communities we SUBSCRIPTION RATES serve in Clinton County & beyond. 12 issues are $22.95 per year within U.S. and $27.95 (U.S.) within Canada. Telephone: (518) 563-8214 Fax: (518) 563-3320 Strictly Business is published monthly by The Northeast Group 12 Nepco Way, CORPORATE CUSTOMER Plattsburgh, NY 12903. Employer Benefits: ADVANTAGE • Cost Eective Employee Benet • Direct Billing • OSHA/ASTM Compliant Products • Monthly Statements Learn more: Michael Thomson, Corporate Account Manager • 802-879-6640 • [email protected] DECEMBER 2016 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 5 UPFRONT Let It Snow By Chris Rosenquest Photos by Ty Kretser rom sand dunes to snow banks, Maui North co-owner, Kim Manion has experienced her fair share of landscapes and Foutdoor sports. After years of traveling and living abroad, she and her family settled in the beautiful North Country where we celebrate an average high temperature of 53 degrees.1 Playing and enjoying the outdoors in this brisk weather requires dedication, interest and, above all, the proper gear. Manion can not only set you up with the latest gadgets, jackets, and boots, but if she has her way with you, you’ll have your feet strapped to a set of skis point- ing down the nearest mountain. Given her certification as a level 3 PSIA/AASI Ski Instructor she’ll also have you going from the bunny hill to a double black diamond in no time. Her motto is, “enabling people to have fun in a way that’s accessible.” That is precisely what she and her team at Maui North are doing. From Maui’s humble beginnings in a storage shed on Lake Champlain to their current downtown Plattsburgh location overlooking the beautiful Saranac River, “Maui” (as the locals have grown to call it) has created opportunities for everyone from newbies to enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors in all sorts of weather. Manion’s approach is simple: get people in the store so she can get them outside. With our region’s inclination for cold weather, the outdoor recreation opportu- nities are limited only by the customer’s imagination. Manion’s job is to provide as many opportunities for people to get outdoors as she can. Kim Manion 1 http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/ 6 plattsburgh/new-york/united-states/usny1143 MAUI NORTH—SKI, BIKE & BOARD CO. DECEMBER 2016 STRICTLY BUSINESS | 7 Snowsports “People come to see me for reasons ranging from looking for new equipment to their doctors telling them to get more exercise,” Manion explained. Getting people into the right snowsport equipment is her goal—a goal that seems fulfilling and natural. “My favorite is working with customers and helping them improve their experience.” Whether it be the right fit for a ski boot, a snowshoe, or a new board, Manion has made Maui a winter oasis for the new skier to the elite racer. Given her innate ability to create accessibility to snowsports, customers will find a range of equipment and programs available to them at Maui North. One of its most popu- lar programs for skiers of all levels its leasing program. Maui’s customers can come in, get fitted with the season’s newest gear and lease the equipment for the season. At the end of the season, the customer has the opportunity to purchase the gear at a discounted rate. Although the majority of the participants are younger skiers, this benefit is for anyone wanting to try out the sport or try out new gear. Maui’s customers' options expand beyond just boards and bikes. They carry a range of snowsport equipment including snowshoes, hiking gear, and other outdoor recreation equipment. Beyond equipment, customers can also take advantage of the range of gear maintenance services offered in the shop. Local Experts With the growth in online shopping, one thing that’s lost in the experience is local exper- tise. “There’s no one online that tells you to store your boots closed or to remind you to dry them out overnight if you’re on the mountain multiple days,” Manion explained. 20% OFF Competing with online prices is part of the industry challenge; however, her approach is “off-the-charts” customer service.