Schroon Lakers in The News

Tammy Whitty-Brown

The Schroon Lake Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Winter Social on Tuesday, January 23 at Sticks and Stones. There were 32 in attendance The theme of the evening was friendship and love, the tables were decorated with candles, hearts, and a gift of a bottle of wine for each guest. The guest speaker was New York State Assemblyman Dan Stec who spoke about the work that he is doing to better the North Country.

Myriam Friedman was honored for her outstanding skills as a Volunteer Wrangler for the Cycle Adirondacks held in August this past summer. Myriam took on the daunting task of finding enough volunteers to feed over 200+ guest for five days, three meals a day.

And lastly Outgoing President,Donna Donna Rice Mellan Lmt and Nicole Howe were thanked and honored for their dedication to the Chamber over the last two years (especially the last 14 weeks while our Executive Director was out ill).

In addition, the Chambers Executive Director welcomed three new members to the Chamber; Paradox Thyme, Schroon Lake Sunoco, and Exit 29 Sunoco. And a welcome and introduction was made announcing our newest Board Member, Amanda Elms, Branch Manager of Glens Falls National Bank located in Schroon Lake.

During the meeting our Chamber Members voted unanimously to elect Randy Garrisonof Rowes Adirondack Cabins as our 2018-2019 Board President and Brooke Van Riper-Clark of Keller Williams Realty as our 2018-2019 Board Vice President.

To learn more about these new additions to our board please read below...

President of the Board -; Owner of Rowe’s Adirondack Cabins will serve as President of the Board of Directors on the Schroon Lake Area Chamber for the 2018-2019 fiscal years. Randy, a successful entrepreneur and professional relocated his family from Connecticut to New York several years ago, purchasing Rowe’s Adirondack C0ttages (formerly known as Rowe’s Lake Breeze Cottages) and now he and his family reside and makes Schroon Lake their lifetime home.

Mr. Garrison is focused on family, diversity, a positive attitude and dedicated to volunteerism. Randy has always devoted his time to various non-profit boards and committees in Connecticut and New York. In addition, he enjoys inspiring entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations and community groups; providing the tools to enrich their public image in innovative and locally focused events and activities with a passion for being involved with local fundraisers and event planning.

Currently, Randy is serving as Chairman of the Schroon Lake Boy Scouts of America Troop 37 where his son Nicholas is pursuing his Eagle Scout Award, the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouting Program. He was instrumental in co-hosting the 1st Annual Schroon Lake Easter Egg Hunt with Ms. Helen Need, and Mountainside Church this spring. He is a member of the Schroon Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers with the Schroon Lake 4th of July Celebration.
Randy’s life status allows him to be flexible and adapt quickly to change. Thus, he is eager to meet the resident’s of Schroon Lake via his Open Door Policy and is excited to collaborate with other community members, businesses and local goverment to make Schroon Lake a better place to work, live and play while preserving the family atmosphere of the Community.

Prior to his relocation, Mr. Garrison had served in increasingly responsible roles not limited to various positions in an arena of multiple heavy highway construction companies as well as, privately owned corporations with a record of accomplishment.

Mr. Garrison elects to become an active Chamber Member and states that family, hard work and community involvement are his formula for success and invites all residents to stop by Rowe’s Adirondack Cabins for a cup of coffee or beverage and reminisce about the good old days and plan for a bright future for Schroon Lake.

Vice President to the Board - Brooke Clark, Realtor with Keller Wililams and Outreach Coordinator for Essex County NY Public Health Department will serve as Vice President of the Chamber Board for 2018-2019. Brooke grew up spending her summers on Skylark Lane in Schroon Lake with her parents, eventually moving to Schroon Lake with her husband Darryl to raise their daughter Sloan Brooke is dedicated to helping the Schroon Lake Region be a more vibrant and successful community for not only our local businesses and residents, but for the pleasure of our guests that spend time in our region. Brooke is excited to join the Chamber and brings with her a wide variety of skill sets. She currently is employed as an Outreach Coordinator for Essex County NY Public Health Department. Her job is to engage local entities and community organizations to prevent and reduce heroin and opiate abuse and addiction in Essex County and surrounding areas through education, awareness, support, and enhancement of existing programs and resources. While holding this important position, she also works aa a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Saratoga, Capital District and Adirondack. She has assistaed many people from the Capital District to the foot hills of the Adirondacks purchase their dream home and businesses.

In the past Brooke has served as Program Director for the Schenectady ARC, worked in Clinical Services for Mountain Lake Services, North East Parent and Child Society, Mental Health Association of Essex County, CWI and Citizens Advice Bureau in Bronx NY. In addition, Brooke has also worked for Essex County Social Services, served as a substitute teacher for the Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point School Districts, and worked as a corporate trainer for Capital Restaurant Concepts in Washington, D.C. Brooke holds a Bachelors of Art Degree from Union College and SUNY Potsdam and a Masters Degree in Psychology from SUNY Albany.

Newest Director - Amanda R. Elms, in recent months became the Branch Manager/ Officer of Glens Falls National Bank in Schroon Lake. Amanda graduated from Fort Central School in 1995 and continues to reside in Fort Ann with her fiancé Jason, daughter Hannah(18) and son Luke(13). Amanda started working for Glens Falls National Bank in 1997 leaving to be at home while raising her children from 2002 to 2009, when she returned to Glens Falls National to begin building a career in bank management. She has worked in the Granville, Kingsbury, Fort Ann, Lake George, Warrensburg, Chestertown, Ticonderoga and Port Henry locations which lead her to the Schroon Lake location. Amanda is a member of the Schroon Lake Association, Schroon Lake Revolving Loan Committee, and the Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Dept. Support Group. Hobbies are camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, baking and spending time with her family. She loves Schroon Lake and feels like it is home away from home, and she looks forward to serving our community and its businesses.