Bank appointments
PLATTSBURGH — HSBC Bank USA, National Association, has announced the following appointments:
Sybil M. Houghton as vice president, senior premier relationship manager; and Anita Soltero as business banking specialist, both in Plattsburgh.
Houghton brings 13 years of banking experience and a strong commitment to community and client service. She is a Rotarian and an ambassador for the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She will work comprehensively with clients, using HSBC's global resources to deliver the highest level of personalized service. Houghton will focus on providing clients with wealth-management plans for their everyday financial needs as well as long-term planning. She can be reached at 561-5610 or at Sybil.Houghton@us.hsbc.com.
Soltero brings 10 years of banking experience and a strong commitment to community and client service. She manages a portfolio of retail business clients covering a variety of industries. Soltero works comprehensively with business clients to provide support and solutions to their everyday financial needs. She can be reached at 563-3879 or at Anita.X.Soltero@us.hsbc.com.
New associates
PLATTSBURGH — RE/MAX North Country has announced that Mark Drown and LeeAnne Ruff have joined their firm as real estate sales associates.
Drown has been an active real estate associate broker for the past five years. His combination of 25-plus years of construction/contracting experience is an asset for both buyers and sellers. After 27-plus years of service with the New York State Department of Corrections, Drown looks forward to assisting his North Country neighbors with all of their real estate needs.
Prior to her career in real estate, Ruff was the leader of a million-dollar sales team that had 150 consultants and spanned five states. After this position, she worked in the corporate world as a national sales trainer for a company based in California. With her vast knowledge of sales and marketing and her passion to meet the needs of her clients, she is looking forward to a successful real estate career.
"We are very excited to have Mark and LeeAnne as part of our team here at RE/MAX North Country," Tina Calkins Covey, broker, said. "They are a wonderful addition to an already successful office."
RE/MAX North Country was the top office for residential sales in Clinton Country for 2009. Their office is located at 68 Cornelia Street in Plattsburgh.
New staffer
PLATTSBURGH — The Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at SUNY Plattsburgh has announced the hiring of a new staff member, Ashley Ryan Walker. Walker is working as a project support specialist at TAC on economic and community-development applied research projects. Walker is a recent graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and a minor in French Studies.
Walker participated in study abroad, immersion and stewardship programs through SUNY Plattsburgh and was inducted into the Rho Lambda and Order of Omega honor societies and is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa and Gamma Sigma Alpha honor societies.
She also serves as the secretary for the Planning and Zoning Boards in the Town of Willsboro, where she was the former deputy town clerk and clerk to the Code Enforcement Office. She has also worked with the Smith House Health Care Center Board and the Vermont State Parks as a seasonal assistant park ranger. Walker is a Bakersfield, Vt., native and now resides in Essex County.
TAC is the economic-development outreach arm of SUNY Plattsburgh. It provides technical assistance to public-and private-sector organizations with the goal of enhancing economic development across northern New York. TAC's mission is to increase the region's capacity to stimulate economic growth through technical assistance, applied research and information services. TAC leverages the resources of SUNY Plattsburgh and its partners, particularly focusing on the economic-development process and capacity building at the local level.
Financial education
PLATTSBURGH — UFirst Federal Credit Union is working to provide local teachers and students with financial-education resources. This skill will impact every area of their lives, but many youth are never taught it.
In fact, only 29 percent of teachers nationwide are teaching financial education, and fewer than 20 percent feel "very competent" to teach any personal-finance topics.
In partnership with the New York Credit Union Foundation, the Credit Union will once again supply high-school teachers and students with free, award-winning, financial-education curriculum developed by the National Endowment for Financial Education. Using the interactive curriculum, teens will learn a series of critical skills, like how to make a personal financial plan and budget, how to manage credit, how to use financial services and how to adapt their lifestyles and habits to meet financial goals.
"We know that many teachers do not have the funds or other resources to teach financial education. By providing them with the materials and support they need, we're helping to fill that gap," said Jody Carpenter, vice president of marketing and business development. "It's just one way UFirst FCU is helping to advance financial literacy in our community."
The training will be delivered via Polycom (interactive distance learning) on July 20. For complete session information, locations and to register, visit http://www.nycuf.org/financial_education/documents/NEFESummerTrainingBroch10FillIn.pdf
Training is also sponsored by Cornell University Cooperative Extention and the Cornell University Family Economic Resource Management Program Work Team.
Business mixer
PLATTSBURGH — Northern Sanitation and Airborne International Speedway will co-host the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Airborne Speedway, 70 Broderick Road, Plattsburgh.
Business After Hours will include complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, networking and door prizes. To make it even more exciting, there will be go-cart races for those who feel the need for speed.
Business After Hours is an opportunity to expand business networks and is open to all chamber members and their employees. Future members are encouraged to contact the chamber for a special-guest pass. The fee is $3 with an advance reservation and $4 without. For more information, or to make reservations, call the chamber at 563-1000.
Building seminar
PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh Housing Outlet Inc. has developed a home-building workshop to educate the community.
It will be held on Thursday, July 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Dino's Pizza, 795 Route 3 (formerly Broadview Deli, next to Wilson Appliance) in Plattsburgh.
The seminar will offer guidance on topics such as lender requirements, manufactured and modular homes and advice on finding and developing a building site.
Experts from all areas of construction will give an overview of the process and participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the second hour.
Dinner will be served during the event and there is no cost or obligation. Participants must RSVP ahead of time, as space is limited and it has been at room capacity the last several times the workshop was offered. Anyone interested in attending (adults only) may call 800-794-6250 or email michelle@plattsburghhousing.com with their name, phone number and number in their party.
Participants will receive a "how-to" packet, a free copy of their credit report and a discount coupon for attending the seminar. They will leave with the information they will need to make an informed decision about new construction and home ownership. Plattsburgh Housing Outlet has been providing North Country families with quality, affordable homes since 1991. They were named Retailer of the Year by the Manufactured Housing Institute for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region in 2003, one of four companies in the nation.
For more information, contact LaBounty at 563-6250, Ext. 21.
Center supported
TUPPER LAKE — The Wild Center, situated in the heart of the Adirondacks in Tupper Lake, has received a grant for the Summer Nature Play Program for kids. Community Bank provided underwriting support, strengthening the museum's ability to offer this special program to children in July and August. Community Bank strongly supports educational activities for children and has partnered with The Wild Center in the past for other worthwhile ventures offered to Tri-Lakes area residents and all visitors.
The Wild Center strives to re-connect adults and children to the natural world in innovative ways. The recent event on May 15, "Spring Outside! at The Wild Center," highlighted the museum's dedication to the "Leave No Child Inside" national movement. Many area organizations joined in this free community day, presenting their tools, ideas, skills and services, encouraging families to spend more time outside.
The Summer Nature Play Program continues to highlight the importance of nature in children's lives and will be offered every Wednesday during the summer beginning in July. Children ages 9-12 will spend quality time with Wild Center naturalist staff participating in a variety of different nature adventures through the museum's 31-acre wilderness campus.
For more information, contact The Wild Center at 359-7800 or visit www.wildcenter.org.
New Rotarian
LAKE PLACID — Ed Finnerty, president of the Rotary Club of Lake Placid, has announced the recent induction of Andrew Harpp into the local service club. The new member was inducted into Rotary by club member John Huttlinger during the club's annual Changing of the Guard ceremonies at the Fireside Steakhouse Restaurant.
Harpp was sponsored into the club by Rotarian Tina Leonard. He is a financial consultant with the Edward Jones firm and has recently taken over management of the firm's Lake Placid office. He is a North Country native having been raised and educated in Saranac. Prior to relocating to Lake Placid, Harpp had worked for Edward Jones in offices in Missouri, North Carolina and Florida.
The Rotary Club of Lake Placid supports numerous local, national and international service programs and projects with an active membership that strives to fulfill the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self.
The club was chartered in 1994 and meets weekly each Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Howard Johnsons Restaurant. Membership inquiries are welcome and more information about the club can be obtained by visiting www.rotarylakeplacid.org.
Award received
KEESEVILLE — Central Boiler has honored Adirondack Hardware Co. of Keeseville with a Silver Sales Achievement Award. Awards were presented at the 2010 Central Boiler Dealer Convention held in Fort Wayne, Ind., in June. More than 500 dealers and guests were present.
Central Boiler is the leading manufacturer of outdoor furnaces. The company's products are designed to provide inexpensive or free heat for homes, hot water and more using safe, clean and renewable energy resources. Central Boiler awards its top dealers of the nation each year and then presents the awards at its bi-annual dealer convention.
These awards are based on sales levels, but as Central Boiner CEO and owner Dennis Brazier said, "No one reaches these kinds of sales levels without effective business practices, planning and customer satisfaction. These dealers are committed to excelling in all of these areas."
For more information, call Roger Long at 834-4600, e-mail rogertlong@hotmail.com or visit www.centralboiler.com.
Scholarship winners
PLATTSBURGH — UFirst Federal Credit Union has announced their 2010 scholarship recipients as follows:
Taylor Kelsey — $500, graduated from Northeastern Clinton Central School.
Martha Gray — $500, graduated from Plattsburgh High School.
Alexis Sims — $500, graduated from Beekmantown Central School.
UFirst FCU participates in the Credit Union Association of New York Scholarship Program. Anyone who is, or has a son or daughter that will be, a graduating senior in 2011 is encouraged to look for scholarship applications in December 2010 or contact Jody Carpenter at 324-5700 or jodyc@ufirstfcu.net.
Airline feature
PLATTSBURGH — Allegiant Air LLC has improved the ease of booking online at www.allegiant.com with new functionality that allows customers to make changes to previously booked itineraries with the click of a mouse.
Modifications can be made to itineraries instantaneously, allowing customers to avoid the wait and expense associated with calling the customer reservations and information center. The new feature also helps to keep airfare and travel affordable by lowering company costs.
Through the "My Allegiant" tab, customers may log in to view upcoming trips and make modifications quickly and easily. Modifications may be made to flight times, seat selections, hotel packages, car rentals, priority boarding and show, tours or attraction tickets. Customers can now view and print an itinerary as well.
To make additional changes not available under the "My Allegiant" tab, customers should continue to call the company's reservation line at 702-505-8888. If modifying an itinerary through the "My Allegiant" tab, customers have up to 72 hours before the scheduled departure to make changes. For modifications inside the 72-hour period, but outside of 24 hours prior to departure, customers must call the company's reservation line.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co. is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Los Angeles. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services.
Mayoral meeting
PLATTSBURGH — The Adirondack Builders Association will be having their July event at Olive Ridley's in Plattsburgh on Wednesday, July 21, where they will be having a question-and-answer session with City of Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak. Happy hour will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. featuring appetizers and a dollar off drinks. A buffet style dinner will follow with chicken wings, sausage and peppers, lasagna, rolls and salad.
The cost per person is $23, RSVP no later than July 15. Seating is limited, so after the 15th check with the ABA for availability. For more information, visit www.adirondackbuilders.org.
To RSVP, email info@adirondackbuilders.org, RSVP on their Facebook page or call 420-1020.
The principal goal of the Adirondack Builders Association is to provide all members with as many opportunities as possible to expand their business association and to provide services that promote professional training and development. It is composed of members who range from building and specialty contractors to suppliers and other related services such as banks and government agencies.
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