02 Nov James McKenna, Longtime CEO of ROOST, Announces Retirement
LAKE PLACID — After more than 40 successful years supporting communities and sustainable tourism as Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), Jim McKenna today announced he will conclude his service in the position on April 30, 2024. The ROOST Board of Directors will conduct a national search for his successor with the assistance of an experienced firm that has placed top executives in the Destination Marketing and Management field across the United States. Local and regional candidates will also be encouraged to apply.
Jim McKenna formed ROOST to help grow the local economy and improve the quality of life for residents based on the principles that tourism must reflect the needs of communities and neither disrupt nor inhibit the environment or the heritage of those communities. That philosophy contributed to ROOST’s growth and expansion beyond its initial service area, earning a reputation as a formidable organization and a national model for sustainable economic growth. Jim also serves as Co-Chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, the state’s primary economic development body in Northern New York.
“For decades, Jim McKenna has been the face and voice for Adirondack tourism,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “He’s been instrumental in supporting and preserving the region’s winter sports legacy, and promoting the area’s incredible year-round events and attractions that welcome visitors from around the world. I was proud to work with Jim to bring the 2023 Winter World University Games to the North Country, and to join him on the ice for the Opening Ceremony. He’s been a tremendous partner, and his leadership will be missed.”
Nick Politi, Chairman of the ROOST Board of Directors and Associate Real Estate Broker/Owner of Merrill L. Thomas, Inc., said, “Jim grew ROOST from humble beginnings into a recognized leader in destination marketing and management. He did so not only through his determination and charisma, but also because he chose excellent employees for the team. Of Jim’s many lasting contributions to our region, surely one of his most enduring is ROOST itself and the excellent staff he put into place. ROOST is currently in the best position it has ever been to continue in its mission and exceed expectations. We look forward to beginning a national search to identify Jim’s successor. Though ROOST’s programs and day-to-day work will continue to evolve as they always have, one thing will remain the same: ROOST’s success in catalyzing sustainable growth and prosperity for our region. On behalf of the entire board, I wish Jim many happy, rewarding years pursuing his future endeavors and thank him with heartfelt gratitude for his outstanding service.”
“The past four decades leading ROOST have been rewarding in so many ways,” said Jim McKenna. “I am proud of the great distance the organization has come, the impactful things we have done to make our communities stronger and more sustainable, and the excellent team we have built. I am blessed with energy and enthusiasm for new endeavors and a peace of mind driven by my confidence in the people of ROOST to continue the work we have done and achieve new heights. ROOST has never been stronger or better positioned for the future. When we started more than 40 years ago in the wake of the 1980 Olympic Games, the assets and great potential of this region were self-evident. But we knew that if planning for the future wasn’t done properly, grounded in sustainability, preservation, our residents and our heritage, our success as a region was not assured. By remaining faithful to the principle that successful tourism must first reflect the needs of the community, our efforts at ROOST have helped build a special region that people want to visit, and in which people want to live.”
Former New York State Senator Betty Little said, “It is difficult to imagine tourism in the North Country without Jim McKenna. In my 25 years in the state legislature, Jim was a force who redefined efforts to promote this special region and contributed greatly to its prosperity. Jim has been a truly regional thinker who is able to see and proactively prepare for the long game. The entire region will miss Jim and his leadership, but his hard work has prepared ROOST and our communities for many more decades of success.”
Empire State Development Vice President & Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “Success in economic development requires innovation and vision, and Jim McKenna has employed both throughout his career. The region’s tourism-based economy has greatly benefited from his consistent efforts to push the envelope on innovative marketing. Under his leadership, ROOST was among the first organizations to recognize that the most sustainable tourism promotion is that which benefits not only visitors, but the residents who host them in their communities. We will miss him in his role as one of the leading voices of the state’s tourism industry.”
Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Shaun Gillilland said, “Jim McKenna is a giant in tourism and economic development whose shoes will be very difficult to fill. Over his decades of leadership, ROOST has grown from an organization that resembled a small chamber of commerce to a true powerhouse of destination marketing and management that recognizes the interconnectedness between tourism promotion, destination planning and sustainable economic growth that works not only for people who visit but also for people who live here. One of his major visionary accomplishments is the development of the occupancy tax as a dedicated revenue stream to fund these vital initiatives. By transferring responsibility for these expenses from local taxpayers to our visitors, Jim ensured a level of financial stability that was necessary for Essex County’s success, and he paved the way for other important initiatives including the Community Tourism Enhancement Fund (CTEF) that has supported community betterment projects needed for tourism growth.”
Hamilton County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Wells said, “Jim McKenna is a regional thinker, as demonstrated by his outreach to Hamilton County and the invaluable services that ROOST has rendered here. He and his colleagues have enhanced our planning efforts by helping us see the big picture and how our promotional efforts could fit with the broader trends in the region and create opportunities of mutual benefit with our surrounding communities. With Jim’s encouragement and assistance, Hamilton County also transitioned to digital marketing to show our beautiful assets to the world, and it has made a world of difference to us.”
North Elba Town Supervisor Derek Doty said, “Jim McKenna has been an icon and cornerstone of our region. His hallmark has been his recognition that our communities need to be strong and healthy for our tourism industry to thrive. He has not been afraid to take calculated risks in pursuit of that philosophy, and the results often speak for themselves. The recent completion of $104 million in renovations and improvements to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, which helps keep our infrastructure fresh and our Olympic legacy relevant, is one such example of Jim’s forward-thinking leadership and advocacy. His many other accomplishments that have changed the face of North Elba for the better include the creation of the North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF), which has provided over $3m for non-profits and community projects, and creation of a North Elba/Lake Placid Destination Management Plan (DMP) to balance tourism with communities needs and advance the objective of diversifying our local economy. It is a legacy of which he can be proud.
Lake Placid Mayor Art Devlin said, “I first got to know Jim when I was on the visitor’s bureau board in 1994. Not only was he in charge of the bureau but was also on many of the major boards in the area, giving him a lot of knowledge and a chance to network throughout the county. Due to this, Jim became a big force not only in Lake Placid, North Elba, Essex County and the State of New York but also in the international sports community. I have mixed feelings about Jim stepping down as CEO. I’ll miss his day-to-day presence, but he has earned a chance to step back and enjoy life. Jim was instrumental in bringing the International Children’s Winter Games and the Winter World University Games to our area, which helped secure major upgrades to our Olympic sports venues and put Lake Placid back in the spotlight as a winter sports capital, ensuring our viability for decades to come.”
Garry Douglas, President and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said, “When I came to the North Country Chamber 31 years ago, Jim McKenna had already been in his key position for ten years. He has been an amazing regional leader in tourism and economic development and a greatly valued friend and colleague as we have both led our organizations to where they are today. Indeed, as we first set about regionalizing our Chamber, Jim was the first to partner with us. And when I stepped down as Co-Chair of the Regional Economic Development Council a few years ago, my first call was to Jim to encourage him to be open to succeeding me. What he has achieved for our region is extraordinary and a lasting legacy he can be very proud of. We thank him for all of his leadership and collaboration and wish him all the best in what we know will be his continued endeavors.”
Jennifer Holderied, General Manager at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, said, “My family has been in the hospitality business in Lake Placid since the 1960s. Lake Placid has transformed itself from the summer season only destination my parents first moved to, to the year round, Olympic legacy destination we all know and love today. We have all, from generation to generation, had the pleasure of working with Jim on various boards, projects and events over that time. But, regardless of the decade, the goal was always the same: to bring visitors to the Adirondacks and share with them the community that we love. Jim’s vision for our region has always been a grand one. We thank him for his many years of service and leadership.”
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is a 501c6 not-for-profit corporation. ROOST is the Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMMO) for Lake Placid and Essex County, Hamilton County, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake in New York. ROOST has continuously evolved to stay ahead of the changing destination marketplace. Its Destination Marketing focus is based on traditional advertising, digital marketing, public relations, and by harnessing the power of electronic media. In-house staff manages all facets of its tourism marketing initiatives for the regions it serves. Additionally, ROOST supports the region with destination development and management strategies and a hands-on approach to fostering and promoting growth. Its main office is in Lake Placid, with satellite offices in Crown Point, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake.
Taken February 8, 1984, of Jim and members of the Lake Placid delegation – hosts of the 1980 Winter Olympics – delivering the Olympic Flag into the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics hosted by Sarajevo.
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