News
Kenco, Emerson Resort, Michael Berg Honored at May 14 Chamber Breakfast
The Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce will recognize two businesses that have set the bar high at their annual Customer Experience Lifetime Achievement Awards breakfast at The Venue Uptown, 503 Washington Ave., Kingston. The breakfast meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on Thursday, May 14, from 7:30 to 9:00 am. Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union is sponsoring the breakfast. The honorees are the Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper, with the award to be
Ulster Chamber Names 2026 Black Business Award Honorees
Five Black business owners and community leaders will be honored on June 18 for their outstanding achievements at the 2026 Ulster County Black Business Community Celebration at Ulster Savings Bank, 180 Schwenk Drive in Kingston, from 4:30-8:00 p.m. The awards recognize local Black-owned businesses and Black business leaders who have achieved outstanding results and shown dedication and commitment to furthering business, enhancing their community and improving the quality of life in Ulster
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Nominations Now Open for Best Local Businesses
The search is on for outstanding businesses, business leaders and organizations in Ulster County, as preparations are now underway for the Annual Ulster County Business Recognition Awards in October. Nomination forms including award criteria are available at the Ulster Chamber office at 214 Fair Street, Kingston or online at www.UlsterChamber.org. Categories include: Business of the YearSmall Business of the Year (25 or fewer employees)Businessperson or Entrepreneur of the YearTourism or Hospitality
Andrew Paino Achieves Prestigious Small Business Coverage Specialist (SBCS) Designation
(Kingston, NY)Ulster Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Ulster Savings Bank, is pleased to announce that Andrew "Drew" Paino has successfully earned the Small Business Coverage Specialist designation through the Hartford School of Insurance. This achievement marks a significant milestone in his career, certifying an advanced mastery of the complex risks and protection needs facing today’s small business owners. By completing this designation, Drew has demonstrated a deep understanding of policy nuances,
Visual Branding That Builds Trust: A Practical Guide for Kingston Small Businesses
Research cited by the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that 75% of users judge a company's credibility by its website design — before reading a word about what you sell. For small businesses in Kingston and across Ulster County, that first impression often determines whether a potential customer stays or leaves. The good news: building a visual brand that signals reliability and trust doesn't require an agency or a large budget. It requires consistency, authenticity, and a few clear decisions
An Expo and a Mixer, All-in-One!
What do you get when you mix the Ulster Chamber’s highly successful Buy Local Expo with a popular Chamber of Commerce Networking Mixer? You get an ExpoMixer, the first of its kind, in the Hudson Valley. As the Expo is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, the event is not only being re-branded but will also be bigger than ever. The ExpoMixer will be held at Diamond Mills in Saugerties on Wednesday, September 16th, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, again featuring nearly 100 exhibitors. In addition,
Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Awards Grant to Casting for Recovery for June 2026 Fly Fishin
Dover Plains, NY — March 6, 2026 — The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded a grant to Casting for Recovery to support a three-day fly fishing retreat for women with breast cancer, to be held June 5–7, 2026, at the Ten Mile River Preserve in Dover Plains, New York. The retreat will serve 14 women from the region and provide a unique opportunity for healing, connection, and outdoor recreation. Casting for Recovery’s retreats combine fly fishing instruction with peer support and wellness
KDD Marketing Earns Two Industry Awards, Cementing its Hospitality Expertise
Continuing its streak of local and industry-level accolades, KDD Marketing recently earned two wins from the 23rd annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIA Awards). Acknowledged for its work with The Emerson, a Catskills-based resort and spa, the team ranked first in the website category and third for its integrated marketing campaign. The SIA Awards build on the agency’s recent industry recognition for its work with The Emerson, which also earned honors from the Davey Awards and the American Graphic
Practical Digital Solutions to Help Ulster County Businesses Work Smarter
Small businesses across Ulster County face an ongoing challenge: doing more with less while keeping operations smooth, customers satisfied, and teams aligned. Fortunately, today’s digital tools allow local organizations to modernize workflows without adding unnecessary complexity or cost. Learn below about: Practical technologies that help small businesses work faster and stay organized. Internal communication tools, financial management platforms, and workflow automation options. How teams can
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County Executive Jen Metzger Chamber of Commerce Speaker
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger will be the guest speaker at the next monthly breakfast meeting of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Her address is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 25 at the Wiltwyck Golf Club, 404 Steward Lane in Kingston. Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is the breakfast sponsor. County Executive Metzger said she will provide a wide‑ranging overview of the county’s agenda for 2026. She will focus on strengthening the local economy through targeted
Outsourcing for Growth: How Business Owners Can Find the Right Marketing Professionals
Running a business means wearing a lot of hats, but when it comes to sales and marketing, trying to do everything yourself is like juggling with your eyes closed. Eventually, you drop the ball. That’s where outside professionals come in—consultants, agencies, and freelancers who specialize in helping companies grow. But hiring external talent isn’t just about finding someone with the right skills; it’s about finding the right fit for your business, your industry, and your long-term goals. If you’ve ever
Marist Partners with Miles of Hope for Breast Cancer Awareness on February 7
Marist Athletics, Miles of Hope to Honor Breast Cancer Survivors at Halftime POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Marist Athletics Department will host its annual Pink Game on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the women’s basketball team faces Saint Peter’s at 2:00 p.m. in McCann Arena. https://goredfoxes.com/sports/womens-basketball/scheduleAt the annual Pink game for breast cancer awareness, fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. The first 500 fans to enter the arena
A SWEET ARRIVAL: FRUITION CHOCOLATE WORKS TO OPEN AT EASTDALE VILLAGE IN POUGHKEEPSIE
Award-Winning, Ethically Sourced Chocolatier Expands with Second Location Poughkeepsie, NY (January 14, 2026) –Fruition Chocolate Works (Fruition), the region’s premier specialty chocolate maker, will bring its award-winning product to the east side of the Hudson River with a second location at Eastdale Village Town Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The new location will offer an immersive experience for learning and tasting the world of high-quality chocolate, featuring confections crafted at its flagship
Buying a Struggling Business? Here’s What You Really Need to Know
Buying a failing business can look like a shortcut to success. It’s already built. It has customers. There’s a story. But behind that veneer is a tangle of risks and decisions that demand precision, guts, and strategy. This isn’t about savior complexes or turnaround fantasies. It’s about reading the room, rebuilding trust, and adapting fast to the market you’re actually in—not the one that existed when the business was founded.Know What You’re Walking Into If a business is on the table because it’s
Picture-Perfect Listings: How to Capture Product Photos That Sell in Ulster County
When a potential buyer scrolls through your online store, their first impression happens in seconds — and it almost always starts with your product photos. For members of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce, showcasing local goods with clear, engaging images can make the difference between “just browsing” and “add to cart.”TL;DR Use natural light and a steady hand (or tripod). Keep your background consistent and clutter-free. Highlight textures, details, and real-life use. Save
Making Change Stick: How Small Business Owners Can Actually Pull It Off
The hard part isn’t always deciding to change—it’s making sure the people around you don’t quietly kill the idea before it’s even off the ground. Small business owners often underestimate just how deeply habits run inside a team, even a small one. One new system, one new hire, one rebrand—none of it happens in a vacuum. And the smaller the company, the more magnified each shift becomes. Managing organizational change isn’t just about what’s written on the plan. It’s about how that plan collides with real
The Blueprint for Thriving as a Consumer Electronics Entrepreneur in a Rapidly Evolving Industry
Consumer electronics has never been for the faint-hearted. Between the relentless pace of innovation and the fickle preferences of global customers, stepping into this arena demands more than just an appetite for risk. If you’re determined to make your mark in this space, you need more than a great idea or a clever prototype — you need a full arsenal of strategies to not just survive, but thrive. In an industry where yesterday’s breakthrough becomes tomorrow’s afterthought, your mindset, methodology, and
