Valerie Conley – Valerie is currently the Director of Retail Operations for Tarbell Management Group.  Valerie Holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and will begin working on her MBA in April 2011.  Prior to coming to TMG Valerie was a District Manager for Nice n Easy Grocery Shoppes where she was responsible for eleven stores in the corporate chain.  Valerie has a strong background in Business Leadership which includes ten years as a Senior Manager for Federal Express Corporation.  Currently Valerie oversees the company’s Retail Division which includes Convenience Stores, Specialty Retail, Fitness Center and Food Service.  She is working to develop and grow the Convenience Store Chain within TMG and to create processes and training programs that will ensure the future success within the Retail Division.

 

 

Kim Kinblom – Kim is currently the Human Resources Manager for Tarbell Management Group. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance with a concentration in Accounting and Business Analysis from Plattsburgh State University. Kim also holds a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Clarkson University. She has a professional membership through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). She will obtain her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification this year. Prior to coming to Tarbell Management Group, Kim was the Assistant Director of Human Resources at Mountain Lake Services. Kim has experience in labor law and employment compliance. Kim oversees the recruiting and hiring process, employment training and development, event coordination, compliance, payroll as well as benefit management.

 

 

Christy Laguador – Christy currently holds the position of Vice President of Administration.  Christy is active in the overall management and operations of the company’s shared services departments.  She has tremendous experience in Hospitality Management.  Christy holds an Associate’s Degree in Restaurant Management as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Psychology at one of the top Hospitality Schools in the country, Johnson & Wales University in Providence Rhode Island.  Christy has had an extensive background in food & beverage management at major hotel chains and has held positions at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia and the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.  She moved back to the area to become a part of the family businesses in Akwesasne and is currently their Vice President of Administration where she oversees the overall operations of the Human Resources, Maintenance, Loss Prevention, Security, Marketing, IT Systems and Administration.

 

 

Mark Laguador – Mark currently holds the position of Vice President for Tarbell Management Group.   Mark holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Gaming Management from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.   Mark has held several department management positions within Marriott International in their rooms division at several New York City Properties.  He ended his Marriott career at the Marriott Midtown East Courtyard as their Front Office Manager to become the Director of Operations then currently as the Vice President of Tarbell Management Group.  He currently is overseeing the following business: Retail & Convenience Store Outlets, Hospitality Businesses, Petroleum Distribution, Trucking, Fitness Center and Telecommunications.

 

 

Eli Tarbell  -  Eli grew up in his family’s business, Bear’s Den Trading Post, working every job until he became the sole proprietor in the early 1990’s.  Eli’s entrepreneurial background created within him the vision and determination to grow the family business and taught these essential ethics of business ownership to his growing family.  Eli took the two pump, small gas station to three thriving convenience stores pumping four grades of fuel out of 26 pumps.  He expanded the Native American Gift Shop and added the family restaurant seating over 90 people.  During the late 1980’s, Eli expanded his facility to include gaming operations for a brief period of time and then a fourth retail outlet.  Over the past several years, Eli expanded his fuel operations to the wholesale level by delivering fuel products to other Native Territories.  Eli holds several higher education degrees including an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Graceland University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education from the University of Southern Colorado, a Master of Education Degree in Industrial Education from Colorado State University and a Master of Education in Supervision and Administration from St. Lawrence University.  His background in education has given him the skills to effectively handle all aspects of business ownership and development.  Eli currently is semi-retired and acts as an advisor in all the businesses giving the family his experience and knowledge to help the business grow and succeed.

 

 

Gretchen Tarbell - Gretchen Tarbell is currently the Manager of the Native American Gift Shop at Bear’s Den Trading Post, an exclusive Native American retail operation of Tarbell Management Group.  Being involved in this family enterprise for over 30 years, Gretchen has been a part of the business growth during this time progressing from one location to four and from 40 employees to 175.  Gretchen has been involved in several operations of the business including purchasing and accounting, operations and personnel management to managing Bear’s Den Restaurant for a period of years.  Gretchen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Southern Colorado in Business Education and an Associate of Arts Degree from Graceland University in Secretarial Science.  Prior to moving to New York and becoming involved in the family business, Gretchen was a secondary school teacher of business subjects and also held several secretarial positions.  This education and work experience has given her the business knowledge and acumen to be successful in her own right and to the benefit of Tarbell Management Group.

 

 

Justin Tarbell – Justin currently holds the title of Vice President for Tarbell Management Group.  Justin had begun working in the family business throughout and after high school in various positions in office administration, marketing and operational management for the convenience stores and wholesale companies.   Justin then left the business to proceed to receive a higher education where he has obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.  He then returned from college to assist in the growth and utilize his education in the business and assisting his family in the day to day operations of the stores and new businesses.  Justin currently oversees the overall operations of the Fiber Optic Company and New Projects.

 

 

Michael Towle – Michael is currently the Controller for Tarbell Management Group. After completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in both Accounting and Business Management from Plattsburgh State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Clarkson University, Michael began his career at GE Energy. Based out of both Schenectady, NY, and Atlanta, GA, Michael lead business development projects in 6 countries throughout Europe and Australia, and completed GE's Financial Management Program. After moving back to Malone, NY, Michael was the Vice President of Finance and Revenue Cycle at Alice Hyde Medical Center, where he learned the intricate facets of healthcare operations and financial statement preparation, as well as provided strategic oversight to 45 employees across five departments.

 

 

Christian Uribe – Chris is currently the marketing and advertising manager for the TMG. Born in Mexico City, Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and product photography from the Ateneo Mexicano de Fotografia in Mexico City. Chris also graduated from the Golden Crown School of animation specializing in character design. Chris has attended a number of graphic design, animation and marketing classes both in the U.S. and Mexico. Having worked for companies such as Colossal Pictures in San Francisco, Panorama productions, a number of advertising companies, and done freelance work for Warner Brothers among many others, drawing story boards, animating for motion pictures, Sesame Street, Coca Cola and United Airlines commercials, Christian moved to the North Country looking for a more relaxing lifestyle. At TMG, Chris oversees all the marketing, advertising and graphic design including photography for all the TMG companies. Chris has also created a couple of increasingly popular characters for the Restaurant’s kids club.

 

 

Dale White – Dale White is the General Counsel for Tarbell Management Group.  Prior to that Dale was General Counsel for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and General Counsel for the Mohegan Tribe of Indians in Connecticut .  For much of his career, Dale practiced federal Indian law the State of Colorado where he became a partner in an Indian owned law firm.  In private practice Dale litigated a number of cases in federal court, including arguing eight cases in the U.S. Courts of Appeal and in 1988 Dale had the distinction of successfully arguing an Indian law case in the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first member of an Iroquois tribe to appear in the Supreme Court.  Dale’s experience also includes work in the federal government. After graduating from Cornell Law School Dale went to work in the U.S. Department of Justice in the Indian Resources Section where he litigated a number of cases on behalf of tribes.