Wilmington, N.Y. - Michelle Preston, the Whiteface Visitors Bureau’s operations manager, represented the region at the Adirondack Sports Summer Expo held March 18 and 19 in Saratoga Springs. With an estimated 8000 sports enthusiasts 150 exhibitors and 150 exhibitors in attendance, Michelle was able to spread the word about the Whiteface area and focused on four summer events; Wilmington Whiteface 100k Mountain Bike Race, Whiteface Uphill Race, Whiteface Sky Races, and a new event - Wilmington Whiteface Whiskey Run (10k). She reports that drone footage taken by ROOST staff during last year’s uphill bike race garnered a lot of attention, with all who walked by her booth inquiring about the event's location. "It allowed me the opportunity to hand out hundreds of the Whiteface Region recreation maps," she said. Click here for more information on Whiteface Region events.

Saranac Lake, N.Y. - North Country Community College is seeking Essex County business partners who are interested in providing training to new or existing employees. Jane Carpenter, the college's career services coordinator, said workforce development training funds are currently available. The cost would be shared between the employer and a NCCC grant. Examples of training include but are not limited to computer instruction and customer service courses. All training must occur before June 30, 2017. For more information, please contact Jane at 518-354-5210 or jcarpenter@nccc.edu.

April 2017 - Lake Placid, adirondacks, usa — The Conference Center at Lake Placid has begun its busy spring season and is set to welcome over 8,500 attendees at a string of conferences and events starting this month and running through the fall. “These events are scheduled taking into account the region’s shoulder season, and assist the lodging properties with room occupancy in traditionally quieter months,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, director of marketing for the Conference Center. “In addition, many attendees and their families will take advantage of the come-early-stay-late option to extend their stay in the region.” The sales strategy for the Conference Center at Lake Placid is conducted cooperatively by the Lake Placid CVB/Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). The strategy includes attracting a combination of regional day business, and multi-day, town-wide conferences, which are typically booked years in advance. Just as leisure travelers can provide a link to future conference business, the meetings represent a built-in marketing opportunity for the destination, as a conference attendee’s positive experience in Lake Placid can drive future visits to the area with friends and family, said Lawrence. The Conference Center’s spring season began this Tuesday by welcoming 1200 attendees to the Renzi FoodService Show that included representatives from restaurants, hotels, pubs, and food outlets from across New York State. The next conference is the Empire State Tourism Industry Association from April 24-26, with an anticipated 250 attendees. The 2017 schedule continues on into the busy fall with conference and special events. For a complete listing, click here.

Name? Jay Bennett Where do you live? Jay, NY Where are you from? Freedom, PA How long have you worked at ROOST? Since January 9th, 2017 Job title? Data Analyst 1-2 sentence description of your job duties: I interpret data from websites, social media, lodging, surveys, and other sources as well as build reports using data compiled across multiple platforms. This data is then used to ensure that we're spending our money and time as best we can as well as provide a better experience for the people that see our content and marketing. What do you like about working at ROOST? I moved to the area to spend time in and around Lake Placid, so the location of the office is what I like most. What's your favorite book and why? I don't like books. I wish I did, but I just can't make it through one. It actually makes me feel pretty inadequate. I guess now that I think of it, I do like to read cook books from start to finish. What are your three favorite things to do outside of work? I like to cook, hike, and kayak. Tell us about your pets and/or children. I have two cats, Pepper and Puff Puff; a dog, Poochie; and a bird, Chirpy. The only pet I named myself was Pepper. What are you passionate about? I passionately listen to podcasts. What places are on your travel bucket list and why? What's your favorite place that you have traveled to? My favorite place I've traveled to was the Adirondacks, so I moved here. What song would you sing at karaoke and why? I would do the right thing and not subject the audience to my singing. What three albums helped shape who you are? Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Aesop Rock - Labor Days The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? I would just like to live forever. I feel like immortality isn't too much to ask for.

April 2017 - Lake Placid, adirondacks, usa - Volunteers are needed to help with the 19th annual Ironman Lake Placid triathlon, slated for July 23. The event attracts over 2,800 athletes and requires over 3,000 volunteers, two-thirds of which travel from outside the region to participate. Competitors will tackle steep climbs, battle challenging elevation swings, and race over rolling terrain for 140.6 grueling miles, as they vie for one of 50 spots to the 2017 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. ROOST’s Event Manager and Ironman Lake Placid Volunteer Director Sue Cameron says the event has been described by many volunteers as a life-changing. “Volunteering for as few as four hours can provide you a new perspective on life as you assist the athletes in realizing their dreams of becoming an Ironman,” she said. “There are so many different stories of a volunteer being the sole reason an athlete finished because that volunteer took the time to give the athlete a pep talk. It’s truly an amazing experience,” she added. The greatest need for manpower is during the evening at the aid stations when athletes will be finishing up the running portion of the triathlon. This is when the last finishing athletes need the most cheering and encouragement. A list of all volunteer positions can be found here: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/lake-placid/volunteer.aspx#axzz4dDRXl6ab