Chamberwise: Thinking Ahead

By Garry Douglas

In a few weeks, the Board of the Chamber, incoming Board members and our key staff will gather in Saranac Lake for our Annual Strategic Planning Retreat. We have used this annual process for 33 years now, spotlighting progress in our strategic aims and programs while, more importantly, identifying needs and priorities for the year ahead.

Through an Opening Dinner on November 6th and a day of presentations on the 7th, we will hear thoughts and input from a number of our partners including the Canadian Consul General and Quebec Delegate General, the U.S. Chamber, Business Council of New York State and Upstate United as well as the CEOs of several regional partner organizations and others.

Without pre-judging the 2026 strategies and priorities that will be devised following the Retreat, we can predict some of the important objectives likely to be reflected, including:

U.S.-Canada and Quebec-New York, featuring both sustained focus on cross-border business and investment in the midst of changes in the dynamic. And thoughtful, multi-faceted approaches to healing the rift in our invaluable people-to-people relationship.

Serving and growing our amazing cluster of transportation equipment and aerospace companies, with our next Quebec-New York Transportation Rendezvous and B2B event on March 10th as a major centerpiece.

Supporting the growth, modernization and changing needs of all our manufacturers, including heightened Chamber commitments to collaborative workforce training.

Tourism development and marketing commitments that will thoughtfully aim at our neighbors to the north, continue aiming to the south and maximizing a record seven major fishing tournaments.

Refreshing and further energizing our many partnerships across the region.

All while continuing our advocacy for North Country business in Washington and Albany and maintaining excellence in our many small business support services and programs.

On to Saranac Lake!