Moriah Chamber welcomes new director

MORIAH | The Moriah Chamber of Commerce has welcomed aboard a new executive director, and if she has anything to say about it, the Chamber will start to see noticeable development and a wider reach. Megan DuShane, a North Country native, picked up the baton this past September, and is eagerly looking to a brighter future for the local businesses fighting the good fight. "It seems as though the chamber really slowed down in the last couple of years. I am trying to create more networking events for folks- we are doing an entire revamp of the chamber to grow the business," DuShane shared. DuShane brings with her customer service and administrative experience, both which will serve her well as she heads the 56-year-old organization. Originally from Ticonderoga, she graduated high school in 2012 and then attended Clinton Community College and earned an associate's degree in business administration. From there, she worked at Hudson Headwaters for six years, beginning at the front desk and working her way up to management, which she enjoyed for two-and-half-years. DuShane then headed to Middlebury College as a Human Resources Coordinator. When the position at the chamber became available, the fit seemed ideal for the wife and mother of three. "This gives me an opportunity to build something here and get out into the community and network," she noted. It's already been a productive two months for DuShane as she settled into the office, updating the website and revamping the marketing materials. A brand new sign is proudly situated outside, alerting residents and visitors that a friendly, welcoming atmosphere awaits inside. The chamber store, known for selling the wares of its members and providing a flagship location for their goods, has also received some attention and new life breathed into it. From her desk, DuShane has been able to see just how much traffic passes through the main strip on a daily basis and wants to capitalize on Moriah's prime latitude and longitude. "Our location is our strongest suite," she noted. "Even in the off-season, I get a lot of visitors stopping in looking to get a bite to eat, buy a T-shirt, or take a picture of the lake. We are right here on the central route between Ticonderoga and Plattsburgh with interstate access, we are right in the middle of it all." And with the Town of Moriah currently working its way through its $4.5 million NY Forward grant award, selecting projects to be submitted to New York State for funding consideration, DuShane is excited to see the town's Main Street businesses applying for funding for improvements. This month, the chamber will be participating in Small Biz Saturday Nov. 28, keeping their doors open for community members and visitors. That evening will also see the return of the annual Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. "The Girl Scouts will be selling cookies and hot chocolate in the park, and inside the chamber we will be hosting arts and crafts and ornament decorating for children," DuShane previewed. "A couple of the storefronts will also be open." Though the chamber is not currently in need of staff, DuShane did express she would love to add more volunteers to the roster for community events and encouraged those who may be interested in lending a hand to visit the website at moriahchamber.org for more information. She also invites residents to drop in, say hello, and to share their insight and suggestions. "I want to know what is important to the community and to our members here and to help them thrive," she said. The Moriah Chamber of Commerce is at 4317 Main Street in Port Henry. Be sure to follow their Facebook page for upcoming events, updates, fundraisers, and more. The Chamber may be reached by phone at 518-250-1050 and email at info@moriahchamber.com.

Signup for our newsletter

Moriah Chamber welcomes new director

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS