ROOST announces changes to the board of directors

25 Jan ROOST announces changes to the board of directors

Lake Placid, NY –  The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is pleased to announce changes to the board of directors effective January 1, 2021.

ROOST’s board of directors, responsible for governing the organization, is comprised of 12 individuals, with at least one director from each of the regions ROOST supports. Recent changes to the board include electing Sarah Wilson to Chair and welcoming Chip Grundon and Hillarie Logan-Dechene onboard. Leaving the board are Jill Cardinale, Andrea Holderied, and Shawn Goodway.

“We are all excited to be on the ROOST team. Our goal is to provide direction for the ROOST organization and go above and beyond to promote our local communities, as places where locals can thrive alongside visitors,” said Wilson. “As we work through the public health crisis we are focused on ensuring that our tourism economy is positioned for sustainability – economic, social, and environmental.”

The board currently consists of: Sarah Wilson, Chair; Chandler Ralph, Vice Chair; Marc Galvin, Treasurer; Lisa Hess-Marks, Secretary; and the following members: Michael Doran, Charles (Chip) Grundon, Mark Jessie, Leslie Karason, James Lemons, Hillarie Logan-Dechene, Nick Politi, and Garrick Smith.

“With representatives from varied backgrounds, the board represents a broad range of perspectives, insights, and expertise,” said James McKenna, CEO of ROOST.  “Our volunteer board of directors dedicates a lot of time on behalf of our destinations, and we extend our thanks to our outgoing directors, Jill Cardinale, Andrea Holderied, and Shawn Goodway for the leadership and commitment they provided during their tenure.”

Sarah Wilson brings a welcomed communications and public relations background to the board. She is the founder of PoP! Communications and has managed a variety of media for agencies ranging from Lionsgate Entertainment to Hillshire Farms. Wilson has also co-managed a U.N. funded non-profit in Harare, Zimbabwe with the U.S. Peace Corps. With her husband, teenagers, and pets, Wilson resides in Keene, NY. Her alma maters include SUNY Albany and Boston University, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in emerging media at The New York School in New York City. Wilson has served on the ROOST board since 2014.

Charles “Chip” Grundon is a dedicated servant of public communities. He retired after 22 years as a firefighter, has won Life Saving Awards, and has worked with the Whiteface Visitors Bureau and Town of Wilmington Zoning & Building board. Chip and his wife currently manage the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mtn KOA in Wilmington, which they first visited in the 1980s. They got hooked on the KOA then and decided to become full-time campers. The pair have been managing the KOA since 2009. Aside from camping, Chip enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, hunting, and fishing, especially with his wife, 6 children, and 14 grandchildren.

Hillarie Logan-Dechene has long been a force in Adirondack communities. She currently works as the deputy director at The Wild Center after previously working in the Development Department at what is now the Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, and as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Paul Smith’s College. Logan-Dechene’s schedule is full but very rewarding. In addition to serving on ROOST’s board, she is also a commissioner on Governor Cuomo’s New York State Commission on National and Community Service. Logan-Dechene is an adjunct professor at Skidmore College and has been a guest lecturer at Syracuse University, SUNY Adirondack, and NYU. She resides in Long Lake with her husband and family.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State.

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