Local Adirondack-Champlain Guide Service Selected for SBDC Hall of Fame

The induction ceremony was the highlight of a gala reception in the Well of the Legislative Office Building at the State Capitol in Albany March 30. Outstanding New York businesses will be added to the SBDC Hall of Fame every year.

Delena Clark, director of the North Country Small Business Development Center, which is located at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, said the North Country SBDC nominated Casemento for the honor.

A licensed North Country guide and expert fisherman for more than 25 years, Casamento's family-owned and operated company in Willsboro, N.Y., is the largest guide service in northern New York.

The Casamentos originally sought assistance from the North Country SBDC in 1992 to develop a business plan for the purchase of property for their business. In 1996, they returned for help in developing plans for expansion of the business. 

"Pete Casamento has been instrumental in promoting bass fishing tournaments in the Lake Champlain Region," Clark said. "This effort annually brings over $2 million to the region and continues to grow. He is currently advocating a growth and resurgence of the walleyed pike to the area. We were very pleased to nominate Peter for the SBDC Hall of Fame. He deserves this recognition."

New York State Senator Elizabeth O'C. "Betty" Little (R-45th District) was on hand to congratulate Casamento at the induction ceremony. Casamento joins a select group of 32 New York small business owners inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was established as part of the SBDC's 20th anniversary of service to New York's small businesses. These inductees were selected based on their outstanding vision, persistence, ingenuity, and innovation.

The North Country SBDC is part of a statewide group of 23 regional service centers, which are administered by SUNY and located across the State on SUNY campuses and the campuses of SUNY's educational partners, including the City University of New York and other private universities and college.  The SBDC has a 20-year history of providing over 200,000 New Yorkers with the highest quality small business counseling, training and focused business research. 

The SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York and host SUNY campuses, and because of this support, the SBDC's one-on-one direct counseling services are provided free to state residents.

For more information on the New York State SBDC, visit the Web at www.nyssbdc.org

Find out more about the North Country SBDC by contacting Delena Clark, SBDC director, at 518-564-2042 or by visiting the Internet at http://www.northcountrysbdc.org

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