For the March 2015 issue, Strictly Business spoke with three women who were building successful careers in the North Country. A brief bio of each was followed by a Q&A session. Now, ten years later, we revisited the article and the women. All are working for the same companies, but in much different roles and with expanded responsibilities. We found inspiration in their observations — proof that with focus and hard work you can achieve your goals.
Amy Kretser, now Amy Collin, was asked, “What have you learned the hard way?” Her answer, “While it is important to push personal limits to grow in positive directions, it is important to remember to climb the ladder thoughtfully and quietly whenever possible.”
The best business advice
Pam Gomez ever received was, “Be open to learning. You don’t have to know it all. And you don’t always need to have the last word.”
Asked what her favorite thing was in what she did, Melissa Gooley responded, “Connecting with patients, families and staff. I love the hands-on part of my job — being in the world with people.”
No Q&As for this issue of SB — just updates on the careers of these determined women.
Women Going Places – Where Are They Now?
By Mallory Leonard
AMY COLLIN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, NORTH COUNTRY CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE (NCCI)
Amy Collin began her career with the North Country Association for the Visually Impaired (NCAVI) as Executive Director in 2014. Upon her start, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and dug right into the financials, operations, and began traveling to Albany to visit Brian Daniels, the NYS Commission for the Blind’s Associate Commissioner, to learn more about where NCAVI’s funding was coming from. “I remember walking into his office, and he was so surprised and happy to shake my hand. He told me it had been a decade, if not longer, since someone from the North Country had actually come to the main office for a visit,” Collin recalled. That is Collin’s style, though, and would be the first of many visits. Her ambition and adaptability are ever-present. When asked why she has been in the field so long, she simply replied, “I still have work to do.”
After some time in her position as Executive Director, Collin began to reassess the organization’s funding, identifying challenging areas within funding streams. “A merger seemed important to maintain the health of our agency long term.” NCAVI was able to merge with the local independent living center to strengthen services for people with disabilities and apply for a larger pool of grant funding. The North Country Center for Independence (NCCI) welcomed the relationship, and Collin summarized it perfectly: “Simply put, we are better together.”
Collin stayed on as Chief of Operations to continue to oversee Vision Services and the wonderful programs already in existence at NCCI. She then transitioned to Chief Financial Officer a year later. With three years under her belt at NCCI now, Collin’s focus remains on the mounting pressure to make sure an accurate story is presented to New York State and the nation about how beneficial the programs and services NCCI offers are to ensure diversity and inclusion. “I love seeing people persevere and show the world how capable we all are, especially when we lift each other up and focus on our strengths. I have so much respect for the people we serve.”
Currently, Collin serves on the board of directors for the Plattsburgh YMCA, volunteers as a ski patroller at Beartown Ski Area, and was most recently elected to the Plattsburgh Common Council (Ward 6). “Our beautiful city is moving forward in all the important ways,” she said. “It feels good to be part of the change.”
PAMELA GOMEZ, HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES
W SCHONBEK LLC
Originally from Malone, Pamela Gomez followed the sun to South Florida, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University in Miami. This led her to work in high-end, exclusive, formal hospitality environments. The areas she worked and resided in were rich in culture, creativity, and fashion, which she loves. Moving back to the North Country was something she never thought she’d do. “I swore I would never move farther north than West Palm Beach!” Gomez laughed. But then her husband accepted a transfer back to the area which led to her connecting with a temporary recruiting opportunity at Swarovski Lighting in 2010.
What was supposed to be temporary transitioned into three promotions with the company, taking her to the position she holds, 15 years later, as Head of Human Resources. Through Swarovski’s move to liquidate their aspect of the company, and Wangs Alliance Corporation’s (WAC) acquisition of the business, Gomez played an integral part in identifying key areas of the company that could increase efficiency. Employees whose positions were specialized became cross-trained, expanding their talents and making them more versatile and efficient. She also oversaw a transition from three shifts down to one shift on the production floor, with no decrease in productivity.
It’s not all about the numbers, though. Gomez describes her job as a “balance between what is right for the employee and the company to ensure the company is meeting or exceeding goals.” What she likes most is helping people and seeing them succeed. A major focus when she started was getting on the production floor and learning about all the aspects of what they were manufacturing and the steps it took each employee to accomplish the final result.
Gomez described her leadership style as “firm but fair,” and really hopes to lead a team again in the future. “I like to lead by example.” With the restructuring of the company, the HR team of five became her, a team of one. Still, she maintains visibility and spends time on the production floor. Having a colleague who taught her to speak with confidence and to know as much as you can about your industry to confidently make decisions helped her develop into a leader who speaks with conviction. “Trust, but verify is the best advice I’ve ever received,” Gomez stated.
Employee retention, a positive workplace culture, and a sense of dependability, accountability, and trust are points of pride at W Schonbek LLC for Pamela Gomez. “Pay attention to the details. People remember how you make them feel.”
MELISSA GOOLEY, REGIONAL PRACTICE LEADER, RN
HUDSON HEADWATERS HEALTH NETWORK
When Melissa Gooley became a registered nurse in 1999, she had the opportunity to work with primary care providers who rounded on their patients at CVPH. In 2001, she was recruited by one of them to work at their office in Champlain, NY. When the practice lost two of the three physicians to retirement, Gooley recalled, “it was clear that we needed to do something to continue providing primary care services to our underserved community.” With the vision of Dr. Racine and Dr. Rugge in 2012, the office she worked for became Champlain Family Health within the Hudson Headwater Health Network (HHHN).
Gooley’s journey with HHHN has been incredible. She began as the Nurse Leader of Champlain Family Health, then transitioned to Practice Leader and eventually expanded her role to oversee the next site in Clinton County, Plattsburgh Family Health. This expansion continued into Franklin and Essex Counties. “I’ve had the privilege of helping open and oversee seven of our twenty-five health centers now as the Regional Practice Leader for the North: Champlain Family Health, Plattsburgh Family Health, Plattsburgh Pediatric and Adolescent Health, Saranac Lake Family Health, Tupper Lake Family Health, Lake Placid Family Health, and Malone Family Health,” Gooley recounted. She enjoys working for a network that shares her passion for providing patient care while being innovative and adaptive. She continuously seeks new knowledge and perspectives, pushing her colleagues to challenge themselves to grow as she supports them.
As part of the HHHN Operations Team, Gooley focuses on the day-to-day operations and supports their teams in delivering high-quality care to all patients. While direct patient care is now infrequent in her workday, having her nursing education as a foundation proves to be most useful in approaching situations with a patient-centered perspective. “I love the ability to help our patients become the best version of themselves by providing them with the necessary resources,” Gooley said. “It’s incredibly rewarding.”
Melissa Gooley (who, Fun Fact, is also a proud mother to 22-year-old triplets), was recognized as the 2022 Woman of Distinction Award in the healthcare category by Assemblyman Billy Jones, the 2023 Rural Health Champion of the Year by Adirondack Health Institute, and the 2024 Woman of Distinction Award by Senator Dan Stec. When asked what advice she’d give a woman in business, she said, “Create your opportunities!” It is clear Gooley does just that.
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