KATE AUSTIN

2010 PARTICIPANT IN STARTUP ADK

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVOKATE AT ADVOKATE.NET agency with a team and I love that because I can offer a really positive work experience while helping clients.”

Before she even determined a name for what would become Advokate, Austin registered for StartUp ADK, which was then called Microenterprise Assistance Program.

“I can tell you that Tim Havens from Falls Farm and Garden said, ‘The No. 1 rule of business is to stay in business’; that Patty Bethel [owner of Cooper’s Cave Ale Co.] said, ‘When you’re a business owner, you are married to your business,’ and that John O’Brien [of O’Brien Insurance Agency] said, ‘You take good care of people and the money will follow,’” Austin said. “We met SCORE and, my entire time in business, to this day, I consult with them.” when I went out on my own, and this helped me feel like I had ground under me to grow from.”

Advokate took off and, as it grew, Austin was asked to present at StartUp ADK sessions. “I speak about marketing and social media, which is awesome, and I’m still getting clients out of that,” she marveled.

Even 13 years later, Austin can quote advice from some of the presenters.

Fun Fact

AMONG ADVOKATE’S MANY CLIENTS ARE SUCH PROMINENT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS:

• SAIL

• THE CHRONICLE

“When I took this class, I didn’t know how to run a business; I was making it up,” she admitted. “I didn’t have processes. I didn’t know anything about insurance or the legal liabilities of running a business or how to plan anything, and this class gave me the foundation of business skills I was looking for. I felt lost

Keeping Advokate personal is, ironically, what Austin attributes for the company’s incredible growth. “I want to keep it personal, but I also want to help as many nonprofits, startups, small businesses and artists as possible,” she said. “I’ve got such a great team, I can only imagine where that can go.”

• WORLD AWARENESS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

• LARAC

• WARREN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

• GLENS FALLS ARTS DISTRICT

• TRI-COUNTY UNITED WAY

• GLENS FALLS COLLABORATIVE

“HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?” ADVOKATE OWNER KATE AUSTIN ASKED. “WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF REALLY WELL-KNOWN CLIENTS DOING IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.”

Making Connections

Advokate’s first clients were Kathy and Ron Miller, owners of Love is in New York and Love is on Lake George Cruises (See Page 22), respectively. The Millers attended StartUp ADK with Austin.