<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>

<p>ANCA’s Board of Directors Elects New Officers</p>

<p>LAKE PLACID — The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) announced a new slate of officers at their Annual Meeting at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Lake Placid on September 25, 2015.</p>

<p>James L. Sonneborn, an attorney with Bousquet Holstein PLLC, succeeds Paul M. Cantwell, Jr. as ANCA’s board president and will lead the organization as it undertakes an ambitious 5-year strategic plan to drive local economic development in its 14-county region.</p>

<p>Sonneborn is widely known in the region, having worked closely with entrepreneurs and launched and directed several small businesses of his own. ANCA will benefit from his robust economic development and board leadership experience, including years spent advising community organizations and nonprofits throughout Central New York and the Adirondack Region. Sonneborn has more than 25 years of experience working as an expert litigator, arbitrator, mediator and appellate lawyer in Central and Northern New York.</p>

<p>“ANCA is the leading organization looking at new economies in the region,” says Sonneborn. “With innovative programs that advance the clean energy and local food economies, support artisans and arts organizations, and promote our areas tourism destinations and small businesses, ANCA and its members are making a real difference in the North Country. I look forward to helping to direct the organization during this exciting time.”</p>

<p>Interviews with more than 500 people representing diverse industries and economic sectors helped form the basis of ANCA’s strategic plan. The plan capitalizes on the organization’s history of effectively leveraging investment into community economic development and strengths in fostering dialogue and effective partnerships to create a roadmap for building stronger, more self-reliant local economies throughout the North Country.</p>

<p>Key</p>

<p>Other officers elected by the ANCA Board include:</p>

<p>Vice President: Kelly O. Chezum, Clarkson University Vice President for External Relations.</p>

<p>Secretary: Kevin Brady, Vice President and Tri-Lakes Regional Manager at Champlain National Bank</p>

<p>Treasurer: Steve Hartnett, Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer with Adirondack Bank.</p>

<p>ANCA also elected three Regional Vice Presidents who will advise the organization on priorities in their respective areas within ANCA’s 14-county region:</p>

<p>Patricia Tatich, Warren County Planning, for the Capitol Region (which includes Warren Washington and Saratoga Counties); Adore Flynn Kurtz, former president and CEO at The Development Corporation in Plattsburgh, for the North Country region, including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties ; and Steve Hartnett, for the Mohawk Valley and Central NY, including Herkimer, Oneida, Fulton and Oswego Counties.</p>

<p>For 60 years, ANCA has worked to catalyze sustainable economic development and improve quality of life in Northern New York.</p>

<p>“These entrepreneurs are leading the way to a more diverse and resilient regional economy,” says ANCA Executive Director Kate Fish. “One of ANCA’s strengths is our ability to bring people together to share ideas. We hope that these stories will inspire others to turn their ideas into businesses right here in the North Country.”</p>

<p>ANCA is an independent not-for-profit organization working to strengthen key sectors of the economy and improve quality-of-life in the 14 counties of Northern New York State. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.adirondack.org">www.adirondack.org</a>.</p>

<p>Please direct media inquiries to ANCA Communications and Development Director Caitlin Wargo at (518) 891-6200 or <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p>