Conference Agenda
Collaborative Pathways: Empowering North Country Communities
Through tours, breakout sessions and workshops participants will explore ways we can work together to build a strong small business and clean energy future in the North Country through collaborative, action-oriented initiatives.
The following agenda is subject to change. View the full conference program here.
Day 1: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
12:00-3:00 p.m. — Tour of Brookfield Renewable’s Franklin Falls hydropower facility, riding an electric school bus with Chuck O’Neil, New York Bus Sales
3:00-5:15 p.m. —Walking tour of small businesses in downtown Saranac Lake including Saint Regis Canoe Outfitters, Scott’s Florist, Historic Saranac Lake, Saranac Lake Free Library
5:00-7:00 p.m. — Welcome Reception at Hotel Saranac
Day 2: Thursday, May 1, 2025
7:30-8:30 a.m. — Registration, Exhibitor Booths, Hot Breakfast
8:30-9:30 a.m. — Welcome Remarks
9:30-10:45 a.m. — Welcoming Spark Talks
Yen Maine, CEO, Adirondack Fragrance and Nature’s Storehouse; Julian Mangano, Farmer, Della Terra and NY Policy Manager, American Farmland Trust; Nicole Justice Green, Executive Director, North Country Rural Development Coalition; Sarah Salem, WEACT for Environmental Justice TCTAC Director of Community Engagement
10:45-11:00 a.m. — Break
11:00 a.m-12:15 p.m. — Breakout Sessions (1)
• Track 1 | Strengthening the Rural Voice: ACORN Project Findings — Sunita Halasz, Project Coordinator, Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network; Carlie Leary, Climate Smart Communities Coordinator, ANCA
• Track 2 | Community-Scale Composting: The Great Closer of Loops — Jennifer Perry, Organics Recycling Coordinator, Adirondack North Country Association
• Track 3 | North Country Higher Education Workforce Development — Elizabeth Brown, SUNY Canton; Michael Newtown, SUNY Canton; Ryan Deuel, Clarkson University
• Track 4 | Factors of Business Success: Now & Future — Clark Maine, Associate Director of Business Information Technology Services, Clean Energy Associates; Kim Manion, Director of Finance & Operations and Small Business Specialist, ANCA; Deb Morris, Co-founder, Barkeater Chocolates; Debby Straight, CEO, Ward Lumber
12:15-1:45 p.m. — Lunch and Exhibitor Booths
1:45-2:00 p.m. — Break
2:00-3:15 p.m. — Breakout Sessions (2)
• Track 1 | Future Green City: A Climate Resilience Escape Game — Dr. Curt Gervich, SUNY Plattsburgh
• Track 2 | Lake Placid Compost Field Trip — Lake Placid High School with Sam Baker and Lake Placid HS students
• Track 3 | Participatory Workplace Practices: Engaging Your Employees for Better Business — Ryan Demers, CEPA Cooperative Business Developer, Cooperative Development Institute
• Track 4 | Resilience in Community: Thriving as a Rural Entrepreneur Roundtable Discussion — Moderator: Ben Dixon, Executive Director, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
3:15-3:30 p.m. — Break
3:30-4:45 p.m. — Breakout Sessions (3)
• Track 1 | Solar in Wild and Agricultural Landscapes — Jackie Bowen, Adirondack Council; Kathryn Bills Walsh, Cornell University; Michale Glennon, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute
• Track 2 | NYSERDA’s Climate Justice Fellowship in the Adirondacks — Keeley Jock and Jill Palmer, Climate Fellows
• Track 3 | It Starts at Home: Residential Energy Opportunities — Erin Griffin, North Country Clean Energy Hub Director; Jenna Lawson, Clean Energy Hub Director at Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region; Christina Bohnsack, Community Energy Project Manager
• Track 4 | Balancing Mission and Margin: Community-Focused Business Strategies — Aaron Caiazza, Kate Mountain Farm; Bill Coakley, Coakley Home and Hardware; Stephanie Guzik-Lendrum, Cedar + Pearl and ANCA Board Member; Anna Hay, Hay Fields Antiques & Flea Market and The Family Cow Soaps; Josh Travis, Ward Lumber
4:45-5:00 p.m. — Break
5:00-6:30 p.m. — Reception at Roamers Café and Bar, Olympic Center featuring Grants, Awards, Raffle and Partnership Celebrations
Speaker: Ann Armstrong, Northern Lights School
6:30 p.m. — Explore Lake Placid
Day 3: Friday, May 2, 2025
8:00-9:00 a.m. — Breakfast and Coffee
9:00-9:30 a.m. — Closing Address
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Workshops (end time may vary)
• Workshop 1 | How Solar + Storage Can Benefit Your Community — Abbe Ramanan and Marriele Mango, Clean Energy Group
• Workshop 2 | Discover the Welcoming & Belonging Micro-credential Course —Tamara Jolly, Adirondack Diversity Initiative Community Initiatives Manager
• Workshop 3 | Watt’s the Deal? Clean Energy Funding for Farms and Small Businesses — Annie Arnold, Erin Griffin, and Jon Ignatowski, ANCA
• Workshop 4 | CBIT Liaison Retreat— for Center for Businesses in Transition liaisons and partners
Questions about the conference can be directed to ANCA Event & Engagement Coordinator Caitlin Bottcher at [email protected].