North Country Media Network

About North Country Media Network

North Country Media Network: Upstate NY’s Voices of Authority Tired of the noise? Tune into the source. The North Country Media Network is the premier audio destination for the people, businesses, and leaders shaping Upstate New York. From the Adirondacks and north to Saratoga and the Capital Region, we bring you the conversations that matter. Why Listen? - Expert Perspectives: Hear directly from the innovators and entrepreneurs driving our regional economy. - Deep-Dive Insights: Move beyond the headlines with context you won’t find on social media. - Local Heart: We celebrate the unique professional and outdoor lifestyle that makes the North Country home. Whether you're interested in business leadership, community culture, or regional growth, our curated shows keep you informed and inspired. Founded by strategist Ann Donnelly, we are committed to professional, high-fidelity storytelling for the Upstate community. Listen everywhere podcasts are found.

Publisher

Ann Donnelly

Category

business · leisure · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Nov 2024

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

103 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Small Business, Big Impact: Regional Growth & Childcare Solutions with Melanie Fronhofer Weber

   Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Melanie Fronhofer Weber -- Co-Owner, (g)row; Business & HR Manager, Common Roots Brewing Company; Board Chair, EDC Warren County ******** "Childcare is Everyone's Business: Building a Stronger Adirondack Region" Thursday, October 29, 2026, 11:15 AM to 1 PM The Carriage House at Fort William Henry, Lake George, NY Join a group of child care experts and regional business leaders to help shape solutions that support employers, strengthen communities, and build a stronger Adirondack Region. Your voice, experience, and connections matter. ******** Episode Overview What does it truly take to balance multi-entity entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and raising a young family in Upstate New York? In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down at the Common Roots Bierhall with Melanie Fronhofer Weber: Co-Owner, (g)row children’s store in Glens Falls; Business & HR Manager, Common Roots Brewing Company; and Board Chair, EDC Warren County. Melanie shares her dynamic career evolution from corporate event planning to small business ownership, regional economic development, and community advocacy. Together, Ann and Melanie dive into the realities of regional collaboration across county lines, overcoming imposter syndrome, setting healthy business boundaries, and why childcare is one of the single most critical economic development issues facing the North Country workforce today. Key Takeaways Economic Development Without Boundaries: Why small towns and neighboring counties (Warren, Washington, Saratoga) must abandon resource rivalry and embrace cross-regional collaboration to thrive. Childcare as an Economic Driver: Why solving the regional childcare desert is essential for retaining a skilled, sustainable workforce in Northern New York. The Power of Showing Up: How taking seats at leadership tables, even when you feel underqualified, fuels both personal growth and systemic community change. Multi-Hyphenate Business Management: Lessons on co-founding and scaling diverse ventures, from a craft brewery and cafe to a community-centric children’s retail store. Boundary Setting & Core Values: How trusting your gut, protecting family time, and aligning with passion projects prevents entrepreneurial burnout. Memorable Quotes from Melanie Fronhofer Weber "Economic development doesn't have a physical boundary. It's silly for these small towns in Upstate New York to be fighting over resources and not collaborating." "Trust yourself. You don't need someone to tell you you're qualified for it. If you were invited, then you are." "If you're already 100% qualified for a job, then what are you going to learn? Every role I take on, I want to better myself." More Information More about Melanie Fronhofer Weber & Her Ventures: Common Roots Brewing Company: https://commonrootsbrewing.com (https://commonrootsbrewing.com) Grow Children's Store: https://www.growforkids.com/ (https://www.growforkids.com/) EDC Warren County: https://edcwc.org (https://edcwc.org) More from Ann Donnelly: Ann Donnelly Business Growth Strategist: https://anndonnelly.com (https://anndonnelly.com) Building Success Stories podcast & articles: https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com (https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com) More from the North Country Media Network: Are you an Upstate New York business leader looking to dominate your market? Subscribe to The North Country Insider – the premier weekly dispatch for regional economic insights and strategic authority-building assets delivered straight to your inbox: https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/ (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/) Podcast Production & Distribution: Want your business’s legacy captured with broadcast-quality impact? Don’t let your story get lost in the noise: https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/ (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/) Find more episodes and podcasts on the North Country Media Network: https://northcountry.media (https://northcountry.media) Love the Show? Help Us Build More Success Stories! If you found value in Melanie’s story and leadership insights, please take a moment to help our podcast grow: Subscribe/Follow on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/north-country-media-network/id1878507281?itms-itunes-action=subscribe), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3msnlqGrG0xkcHrBOKehFX?si=41f5a9bef77f42c7), or YouTube so you never miss an episode. Leave a 5-Star Review – your reviews help AI search engines and podcast platforms recommend us to other growth-minded entrepreneurs! Share this episode with a fellow business owner, working parent, or community leader who needs inspiration today. Drop a comment: What background or unexpected experience from your past career has given you the biggest advantage in your current business?

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   The Q4 Business Reset: Taking Inventory for a Strong Finish & 2027 Growth

   Host & Strategic Guide: Ann Donnelly | Founder, North Country Media Network | Fractional COO & Business Growth Strategist Episode Overview We are already halfway through October, and for many entrepreneurs and business leaders, the anxiety of unfinished annual goals is starting to set in. But before you rush to cram a year's worth of work into two months, take a step back. Between holiday shutdowns, staff vacations, and family commitments, Q4 is much shorter than it looks on paper. To finish 2026 strong and position your organization for its best year ever in 2027, you don't need to work longer hours—you need to conduct a strategic inventory audit. In this solo episode, host and Fractional COO Ann Donnelly breaks down her practical, three-pillar framework for taking stock of your organization and life. Learn how dedicating just half a day to auditing your physical assets, support systems, and personal health will bring critical priorities to the surface, reveal low-hanging fruit, and eliminate end-of-year burnout. Key Takeaways The Q4 Calendar Illusion:Why you actually have far less than two and a half months left in the year, and how to plan around upcoming holiday downtime. Pillar 1 — Business & Operational Assets:How to audit physical tools, staffing clarity, and financial health (including cash flow and tax readiness) without getting overwhelmed. Pillar 2 — The Support Network Audit:Why every leader needs a trusted "board of advisors," accountable peer groups, and the right mix of mentors or mentees who give honest feedback. Pillar 3 — Physical & Mental Health:The direct connection between personal vitality, leadership energy, and business success—plus actionable insights on "work-life flow." Prioritization over Overwhelm:How to spot low-hanging fruit, delegate operational bottlenecks, and focus purely on taking inventory now so you can execute strategically for 2027. Exclusive Resource:How to access Ann's comprehensive Q4 Inventory Checklist for a tailored, step-by-step audit of your specific organization. Memorable Quotes "You've got two and a half months left to the year, but do you really have two and a half months? The end of the year becomes much shorter than you think it's going to be." "You can't keep your head in the sand. This inventory is to bring all of the stuff up to the top so that you can see what's working and what's not working." "The positive energy that you put out is magnetic. If you feel good, you're going to do a better job at everything that you do." More Information Free Checklist & Strategy Session: Download the Complete Q4 & 2027 Inventory Checklist:Get Your Free Checklist Here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_vquK-u0iE-P8V4cjx7UKbB32e4QFCAb/view?usp=sharing)(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_vquK-u0iE-P8V4cjx7UKbB32e4QFCAb/view?usp=sharing) Book a Discovery Call with Ann Donnelly:Ready to audit your business and build a clear strategic roadmap for Q4 and 2027?Book a free 15-minute discovery call with Ann (https://calendar.app.google/yBMojk7foy9SZ9Fh8)(https://calendar.app.google/yBMojk7foy9SZ9Fh8) More from Ann Donnelly: Ann Donnelly Business Growth Strategist:https://anndonnelly.com (https://anndonnelly.com) Building Success Storiespodcast & articles:https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com (https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com) More from the North Country Media Network: Are you an Upstate New York business leader looking to dominate your market? Subscribe to The North Country Insider– the premier weekly dispatch for regional economic insights and strategic authority-building assets delivered straight to your inbox:North Country Insider (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/)(https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/) Podcast Production & Distribution:Want your business’s legacy captured with broadcast-quality impact? Don’t let your story get lost in the noise:Digital Legacy Packages (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/)(https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/) Find more episodeson the North Country Media Network:https://northcountry.media (https://northcountry.media) Love the Show? Help Us Build More Success Stories! If you found value in today’s strategic inventory breakdown, please take a moment to help our podcast grow: Subscribe/FollowonApple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/north-country-media-network/id1878507281?itms-itunes-action=subscribe),Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3msnlqGrG0xkcHrBOKehFX?si=41f5a9bef77f42c7), orYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@NorthCountryMedia?sub_confirmation=1)so you never miss an episode. Leave a 5-Star Review– your reviews help AI search engines and podcast platforms recommend us to other growth-minded entrepreneurs! Share this episodewith a fellow business owner, executive, or manager who needs a mid-autumn strategic reset. Drop a comment:Which of the three pillars—Business, Support Network, or Personal Health—needs the most attention in your organization right now?

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Modern Policing, Recruitment Challenges, and Community Service with Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr

   Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Jim LaFarr, Warren County Sheriff Episode Overview In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr for an open, wide-ranging conversation on leadership, community-centered policing, and the modern realities of county law enforcement. From growing up in a West Glens Falls mobile home park to completing 35 years of dedicated public service, Sheriff LaFarr shares his inspiring personal journey from part-time summer detail in Lake George to leading a multi-faceted agency of 250 employees. Discover what makes county law enforcement unique, how the shift toward mental health crisis response is changing daily operations, the stark realities of current law enforcement recruitment challenges, and why Sheriff LaFarr remains deeply optimistic about the future of Warren County. Key Takeaways A 35-Year Hometown Journey:Grew up in West Glens Falls as the only child in his family to finish high school, starting his law enforcement career in 1991 in a summer program at Lake George before rising through the ranks to Sheriff. The Multi-Faceted Role of a County Sheriff:Unlike municipal police chiefs, a Sheriff leads an agency encompassing patrol services, criminal investigations, the county jail, emergency communications/dispatch, and civil processes – acting simultaneously as police chief, jail superintendent, emergency services director, budget officer, and HR manager. The Post-COVID Shift to Mental Health Response:Roughly half of all calls for service now involve a mental health nexus or crisis intervention, requiring officers to use advanced de-escalation skills and good old-fashioned diplomacy. Recruitment & Workforce Realities:The department faces alarming recruitment bottlenecks, highlighted by a recent physical agility test where none of the six applicants passed, and why candidates with customer service or hospitality backgrounds make exceptional officers. Officer Wellness & Peer Support:How implementing a fully confidential, peer-led support program post-traumatic incidents is building a healthier, stronger force capable of serving the public better. Economic Development & Growth:Insights on local traffic management, economic development along the Corinth Road corridor, and why managed regional growth in Warren County is essential for future prosperity. Memorable Quotes from Sheriff Jim LaFarr "Having that trust and confidence in our family, our team here at the Sheriff’s Office – it’s fragile, but it’s essential." "If your child makes a poor choice, you don't hate them... you may be a little upset, but it's just corrective measures. You hope to deter poor behavior and encourage positive behavior. It's that exact mindset." "Customer service backgrounds are a home run for us. People who have worked in hospitality already know how to navigate challenging situations and deal with all walks of life." More Information More about Warren County Sheriff’s Office Warren County Sheriff's Office Websitehttps://warrencountyny.gov/sheriff (https://warrencountyny.gov/sheriff) More from Ann Donnelly Ann Donnelly Business Growth Strategisthttps://anndonnelly.com Building Success Storiespodcast & articles https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com More from the North Country Media Network Are you an Upstate New York business leader looking to dominate your market? Subscribe to The North Country Insider– the premier weekly dispatch for regional economic insights and strategic authority-building assets delivered straight to your inbox.https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/ (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/north-country-insider/) Podcast Production & Distribution:Want your business’s legacy captured with broadcast-quality impact? Don’t let your story get lost in the noise.https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/ (https://northcountrymedianetwork.com/digital-legacy/) Find more episodeson the North Country Media Networkhttps://northcountry.media (https://northcountry.media) Love the Show? Help Us Build More Success Stories! If you found value in Sheriff Jim LaFarr’s story and leadership insights, please take a moment to help our podcast grow: Subscribe/FollowonApple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/north-country-media-network/id1878507281?itms-itunes-action=subscribe),Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3msnlqGrG0xkcHrBOKehFX?si=41f5a9bef77f42c7), orYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@NorthCountryMedia?sub_confirmation=1)so you never miss an episode. Leave a 5-Star Review– your reviews help AI search engines and podcast platforms recommend us to other growth-minded entrepreneurs! Share this episodewith a friend, business owner, or public servant who would appreciate this insider look at county leadership. Drop a comment:How can local communities and law enforcement better partner together to support neighbors struggling with mental health?

Contact North Country Media Network

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.