New vice president
PLATTSBURGH -- KeyBank has named Randy Beach vice president and relationship manager, Business Banking, for the Central New York District. He is responsible for small-business lending and developing and growing small-business relationships throughout the greater Plattsburgh region.
Prior to joining KeyBank, Beach was regional director, North Country Region, for Empire State Development Corp. He also worked as assistant vice president for Adirondack Bank. He began his career in the financial-services industry in 1973 with Champlain Valley Federal Savings and Loan, where he worked as a mortgage officer, branch manager and retirement-accounting manager.
Beach earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education with a minor in history from The State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
A resident of Altona, Beach serves on the boards of the Champlain Valley Transportation Museum and Lake To Locks Passage Inc. He was recognized as the 2002 Volunteer of the Year by the North Country Chamber of Commerce. He has also been the recipient of the Zeferina Hare Award for Community Service and the Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation's Service Recognition Award.
Award received
PLATTSBURGH -- Virginia "Ginny" Brady has received the 2008 Outstanding Volunteer award from The Credit Union Association of New York.
She has been a member of UFirst Federal Credit Union for more than 15 years. She has served on its Board of Directors since 1997 and is currently its vice president. Representing and advancing the interests of UFirst's members is nothing new to Brady, but in 2007 she took it to a new level using a relevant, contemporary platform. The Boardcast was created and is located at www.theboardcast.net.
Brady launched an ongoing dialogue between the UFirst Board of Directors and its members -- she became a blogger. She uses the blog to address important issues, including the Credit Union's transition from a SEG-based charter to a community one, its name change and plans for a new main branch. Brady logs on every few days to share current information, highlights from board members, upcoming events, member education, photos, ideas and more.
Doctor honored
LAKE PLACID -- Dr. Karen Kan, president of Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture, PC, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of holistic healthcare.
With 14 years of professional experience, Kan specializes in holistic and integrative medicine, medical acupuncture, clinical hypnosis, law of attraction and personal-growth counseling. She is responsible for teaching holistic health and wellness techniques and practicing Eastern and Western medicine including acupuncture. She has trained with a number of healing mentors and has conducted several popular workshops. Kan became an intuitive energy healer and learned powerful energy techniques to unblock emotions and beliefs that prevent the manifestation of conscious desires. She was able to envision a figure-skating partner with whom to skate pairs, and her efforts ultimately helped her find her dream partner. She considers inspiring others to make their dreams come true to be the most gratifying aspect of her career and attributes her success to her tenacity, positive attitude and the support she received from her teachers. Her love for science and passion to heal family illness prompted her to become involved in her profession.
Kan is a Gold Medal recipient at the U.S. Adult Pair Figure Skating Championships in 2008, at International Adult Figure Skating Championships in Germany in 2005 and at Adult National Figure Skating Championships in 2004. She was also honored with the Frank P. Kraft Award in family medicine in 1992. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Skating Club of Lake Placid. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.
A board-certified family-medicine specialist, Kan completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry, her residency in family medicine and received her MD from the University of Ottawa in 1992 and her certification in Medical Acupuncture from Helms Medical Institute in 2000. Also a public speaker, she hosts a radio show and viewers can post their questions on her Web site through the feature "Ask Dr. Karen." She and her husband have their own performance group in African drumming. Kan aspires to offer services expounding on her Law of Attraction in Love Web site and become more involved in writing books and teaching self-healing and self-empowerment. She would like to bring scientific sound healing to the general public and looks forward to opening her own facility.
Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture, PC, is a natural-healing center for mind, body and soul that is committed to providing holistic health and healing services. For more information, visit www.imacupuncture.com and, to learn about the Law of Attraction, visit www.lawofattractioninlove.com.
Training completed
PLATTSBURGH -- Peter Jackstadt, vacation sales specialist with Touraid Travel-Cruise and Vacation Group, recently traveled to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico to complete training as a Gourmet-Inclusive Vacation Consultant with Karisma Hotels.
The program included a site inspection of each of Karisma's lavish hotel properties, as well as in-depth training about what each hotel offers its guests. Participants of this program stay in one of the hotel's upscale Gourmet-Inclusive Jacuzzi Suites at Karisma's flagship property, the adults-only El Dorado Royale. Other hotel properties that fall under the Karisma name include the family-friendly Azul brand of hotels.
For more information, e-mail pjackstadt@touraidtravel.com.
Chain joined
LAKE PLACID -- Best Western International has announced the addition of the Best Western Adirondack Inn, located at 2625 Main Street in Lake Placid. Owned by Tom and Jim Terry, the hotel offers 49 guest rooms including four suites.
Hotel amenities include an indoor heated swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, 24-hour fitness center and a complimentary continental breakfast. Each room features a refrigerator and high-speed Internet access. The hotel also offers a business center and meeting space to accommodate up to 100 people.
"We are proud to welcome the Best Western Adirondack Inn to our chain," said Mark Williams, vice president, North American development for Best Western International. "This hotel is a great addition to our growing portfolio of quality hotels in upstate New York."
Located in the center of the village of Lake Placid, the hotel is near a variety of attractions including the Olympic Center, Mirror Lake Beach and Toboggan Chute. Shopping at Main Street is just a short walk from the hotel. Guests can also enjoy recreational activities such as fly fishing on the Ausable River and downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain.
The Terrys also own the Terry-Haggerty Tire Co. in Albany.
Rates start at $99 per night. Travelers can contact the property directly for special packages.
Guests can also enroll in Gold Crown Club International, Best Western's free rewards program. Members can earn points toward an extensive offering of product and service awards including free room nights, dining, shopping and entertainment gift certificates, and airline miles.
Reservations may be booked by calling Best Western International's 24-hour, toll-free reservations number at (800) WESTERN. Reservations are also available from Best Western International's Web site at www.bestwestern.com.
Award bestowed
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce has announced that Susan Matton, the chamber's vice president of economic development, has been officially awarded the status of a certified economic developer by the International Economic Development Council.
Following three years of coursework and preparation, Matton successfully completed the examination process in Atlanta Oct. 20.
"The chamber has long been proud of Sue's leadership and ability as one of the leading economic developers in the region," said Garry Douglas, chamber president. "Now we have official confirmation that she is in fact one of the best. It's a very prestigious certification that doesn't come easily, and she has the profound congratulations of all of her colleagues at the chamber."
Matton has been with the chamber since 1994, initially overseeing business-support programs in response to the closure of Plattsburgh Air Force Base. As vice president for economic development, she is part of the regional chamber's executive management team and directly oversees a multi-faceted economic-development program.
Among other commitments, Matton is also a member of the Clinton County Empire Zone Administrative Board, the Clinton County Workforce Investment Council, and is chair of the New York State Job Service Employer Committee for the North Country region. In 1999, she served as president of the National Employer Council. In addition to the CED designation, she is a graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Delaware, and is a certified professional in human resources.
Company presentations
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce has announced that two North Country companies will be presenting at the fourth Quebec-New York Economic Summit as part of the official program.
Kirk Stallsmith, general manager of Georgia Pacific in Plattsburgh, and Denis Laflamme, a specialist for environment, health and safety at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, will both be panelists in a session "Companies and the Environment." The discussion will deal with how companies are adopting environmental policies and practices and how the right balance can be struck between economic-development and environmental-protection concerns.
The Quebec-New York Economic Summit will take place in Montreal Nov. 17 and its theme is "Quebec-New York: The Green Corridor." The summit is a bi-annual event provided for in the Quebec-New York Corridor Agreement signed in 2001 between the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber and the Federation of Quebec Chambers. It will be co-hosted by Quebec Premier Jean Charest and New York Gov. David Paterson.
To register on-line, visit www.corridors.ca or call the chamber at 563-1000.
Award received
PLATTSBURGH -- Rep. John McHugh recently received the National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. The award honors federal lawmakers whose voting records have consistently supported manufacturing in America.
McHugh's record was 72 percent. "In this era of increasing economic uncertainty, Rep. McHugh has demonstrated a true understanding of manufacturing's key role in the strength of the American economy and has acted to protect and create manufacturing jobs," said association President John Engler.
The award is given to members of the House and Senate who support key manufacturing votes 70 percent or more of the time, as determined by an association member-led advisory committee comprised of both small and large manufacturers.
In the 110th Congress, 43 senators and 181 representatives earned the award. Members of Congress are notified in advance when an upcoming vote has been designated a "key vote."
"The NAM Award is a nonpartisan indicator to help manufacturers and their employees sort out the true allies of manufacturing based on their votes on key issues that affect the manufacturing economy," Engler said.
Voting records for members of Congress, including those who scored 70 percent or better to earn an NAM Award, are available at www.nam.org/votingrecord with further details about the key manufacturing votes.
The association is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association has 11 additional offices across the country. Visit www.nam.org for more information about manufacturing and the economy.
Credit Union visit
PLATTSBURGH -- Sen. Betty Little visited UFirst Federal Credit Union recently, meeting with board of directors members Ginny Brady and Bill Laundry; Linda Bourgeois, CEO; Shari Seney, office manager, and Jody Carpenter, director of marketing.
Discussion was "How UFirst FCU is helping its members and the community," which listed the following accomplishments:
Financial Literacy in local schools: PSUC, Plattsburgh High School, Peru Primary, Peru Intermediate, Peru Middle School, Beekmantown Central School, Saranac Elementary, Morrisonville Elementary, Northern Adirondack Central, Seton Academy, Seton Catholic and Saranac Lake High School.
Awarded scholarships to local high-school seniors.
Worked with The Credit Union Association of New York and the New York Credit Union Foundation.
Developed Kid's Program.
Offered Free ID Theft Seminar at PSUC May 21
Held blood drive Feb. 26
Participated in Halloween on Safety Street every year.
Employees donated to United Way, Cancer Society, Christmas Bureau, Domestic Violence, Champlain Valley Family Center and Plattsburgh State College Foundation.
Donated to CVPH Medical Center, Care for Kids Program.
Donated time to count money for walks: Heart Association, March of Dimes, Autism and Alzheimer's.
Offered a zero-point Home Heating Fuel Loan Special for August 2008 and currently have a Home Fuel Loan at 5 percent with relationship pricing.
Offered Relationship Pricing, earning up to 1.25 percent off a loan.
Offered Home Improvement Loan.
Offered Fuel Savings Club.
Participated in the Town of Plattsburgh's Alternative Heating & Energy Fair Aug. 2.
Actively is involved with Plattsburgh Noon Rotary, Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce, City of Plattsburgh and Plattsburgh State University.
