Host: Ann Donnelly
Guest: Melanie Fronhofer Weber — Co-Owner, (g)row; Business & HR Manager, Common Roots Brewing Company; Board Chair, EDC Warren County
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“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.
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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
- Grow Children’s Store: https://www.growforkids.com/
- EDC Warren County: https://edcwc.org
More from Ann Donnelly:
- Ann Donnelly Business Growth Strategist: https://anndonnelly.com
- Building Success Stories podcast & articles: https://anndonnellysuccessstories.com
More from the North Country Media Network:
Are you an Upstate New York business leader looking to dominate your market?
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- Find more episodes and podcasts on the North Country Media Network: https://northcountry.media
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