Michael Barrett fueled changes, added Cascade Welcome Center
By James M. Odato
The head of the Adirondack Mountain Club stepped down this week after more than four years of leadership of the key outdoor organization of the Adirondack Park.
Michael Barrett, 49, announced his departure in a newsletter to members of the club, known as ADK, on Tuesday.
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The board of directors plans to look for a new chief executive as Executive Deputy Director Julia Goren serves as interim executive director. Education Director Seth Jones will serve as interim deputy director.
Barrett immediately went on vacation, but commented that Goren “enjoys the respect and admiration of everyone I’ve come across.”
“She’ll be tremendous for however long she serves,” he said.
Goren, 45, of Saranac Lake, started working for ADK in 2004. The organization has 36 full-time employees. Payroll swells to 93 workers when seasonal staff is counted.
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Barrett added that he’s got a second novel arriving soon and is committed to marketing it. His novel “The Keeler Principle” was published 13 years ago. “The Hero of Tir na Cara” comes out in August.
Barrett, who lives in Saratoga County with his wife and children, came to Adirondack Mountain Club after numerous other posts.
He served as a public defender, U.S. Army foreign language interrogator and director of Missouri State Emergency Management as well as an aide to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
His tenure at ADK has included unraveling a complicated relationship with a New York City chapter, selling a Lake George headquarters and purchasing the former Cascade Ski Center, a cross-country skiing facility in Lake Placid with about 200 acres. ADK turned the Route 73 facility into a more visible welcome center not far from its Adirondak Loj office in the backwoods.
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The ADK board also made Mickey Orta its president. Orta had been on the board’s nominating committee. Orta, of Queensbury, is the senior vice president and director of financial services for NBT Bank. He said Goren is a candidate for the permanent executive director job.
“We’re just looking for someone to fulfill our mission statement and expand on the great work Michael accomplished,” he said.
Barrett was appointed in October 2019.
He noted in his departure announcement that he helped secure $10 million in public funds for stewardship while tripling education staff at ADK.
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“Given these successes,” he said, “it’s time to continue making changes to help the organization realize its fullest potential.”
The club reported spending $4.8 million in 2022, just $98,000 less than its revenues, in its mission of preservation, conservation and responsible recreation use of the state’s forest preserve and parks, wild lands and waters vital to its members.
Photo at top: Outgoing Adirondack Mountain Club leader Michael Barrett at Heart Lake. Photo by Mike Lynch
This story was updated on July 17, 2024 with more details.
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One of Mr. Barrett’s accomplishments was to convince the members of the ADK to vote to give up any power that they had in the club. Now the board is self perpetuating and can even modify the club charter without external approval.