Rachel Karp (Provided photo)

SARANAC LAKE — After three years of being a central player in Saranac Lake’s business community, Rachel Karp is stepping down as executive director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for a job with the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, and the chamber has begun a search for a new leader.

Karp became the chamber director in July 2021. She had a background in hospitality and tourism management and wanted to take a position that was part of the community.

Looking back, big events stand out to her — preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse this spring, the countless ribbon cuttings for new businesses and the networking events she organized, including the first-ever Women in Business Conference.

But Karp repeatedly said the job is all about people — people retiring and selling their shops to new owners, entrepreneurs with new business ideas and store owners struggling to meet all the needs.

She’s there for big moments in people’s lives and in the history of the community.

Some of the most meaningful moments Karp has had on the job are meeting with people transitioning their businesses to new owners and hearing stories about their years of hard work with tears and pride.

When those transitions are successful, she said the ribbon cuttings bring smiles and maybe more tears.

“It’s been really rewarding,” she said. “Both seeing the challenges that our business owners face, but also seeing them work through those challenges and the success of those businesses.”

Growing up in Chateaugay Lake, she said rural business communities have always had a special place in her heart.

Karp’s next job will be operations manager at the Franklin County IDA, which will allow her to continue to help businesses in a wider geographic area. She starts on Tuesday but said she’ll still be involved with the chamber for a while, working part-time on evenings and weekends to make sure the director search and transition are successful and to help put on upcoming planned events and workshops.

“We are incredibly grateful to Rachel for all she has done to guide and grow the chamber over the past three years,” chamber board President Jacob Wright said in a statement. “She led us out of the COVID pandemic and worked to stabilize and expand our membership. … We know she will continue to be an ally and supporter of the chamber in her new position.”

He said Karp did a great job for the Saranac Lake chamber and community.

“You kind of know when you have an all-star like that, that they’ll probably be moving onward and going to do bigger things,” Wright said, adding that he’s glad she’ll still around helping the area through the county IDA.

It was tough starting during the pandemic. Karp said former chamber director Patrick Murphy did a good job leading them through the most hectic points of the pandemic, and she was able to build on the business support the chamber had set up. When the pandemic began winding down, she said it felt great being able to do in-person events again. There was a palpable excitement about meeting out again, with the opportunity for gathering and community building.

Membership with the chamber had been low when she started — at 180 businesses. Karp said that during the pandemic some people left their membership. Now, the chamber is holding steady at around 230 members.

Karp developed new events for the chamber, like the first-ever Women in Business Conference and the Tri-Lakes Business Expo. She said the women in business event was one close to her heart, and one which she hopes the chamber continues.

“There are so many women in the Adirondacks who are doing really great things in a variety of industries,” Karp said, adding that the conference is a time to highlight and celebrate that.

Karp said the local business community is evolving with new owners and new businesses.

The chamber holds events for business owners to meet, find resources and advice for their endeavors, advocates for the interests of chamber members and works to keep businesses full of customers.

To do this, the chamber works with local businesses, governments, tourism organizations and economic development corporations to support and grow the small business community.

Karp said she also helps out with other local events like the Northern Current music festival, 90-Miler canoe race and the Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities.

She said she works with residents and people moving to the area while finding a balance with bringing in visitors.

The chamber board has formed a search committee and is now accepting applications for its next executive director.

Interested candidates can submit a resume to Karp at director@slareachamber.org and chamber Vice President Chrissie Wais at cnw3@cornell.edu. Interviews with candidates will begin on Oct. 4.

“The executive director plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our chamber and our community,” Wright said.