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A Sustainable Success Story
Robb Turner (MBA 1990) and his wife, Lydia, were looking for a place to build a family vacation retreat in 2009 when they found 800 acres of pristine hardwood forest in rural Dover Plains, New York.
“The land was stunning—completely untouched,” says the cofounder of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, a private equity firm focused on the North American energy sector with $15 billion in funds. “We’d walk in the woods and think how amazing it was that this kind of geography still exists in New York.”
So amazing, in fact, that they resolved to do more than just vacation at their expansive Dutchess County property. “Big picture,” he notes, “this was 2009, and we were newcomers in a rural area where the unemployment rate was 15 percent. We wanted to protect the forest for future generations, but we also started wondering if there might be some way to have a positive impact on the local economy.”
Crown Maple, the flourishing maple sugaring business the Turners started in 2010 has helped them achieve both goals. Known for its distinctively rich flavor—achieved, in part, through sustainable, certified-organic harvesting practices and innovative processing techniques—in just a few short years, Crown Maple has won a following among trendsetting New York chefs and shelf space at retailers such as Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.
In addition to creating 30 much-needed jobs for area residents, since opening their state-of-the-art sugar house, café, and scenic grounds for tours and special events in 2012, the Turners have also boosted local tourism.
More growth seems on the horizon. “Every time I think ‘enough,’ we take another step,” Turner says. “We’ll just have to see where this takes us.”
For additional reading, see Robb Turner—impact profile.
(Published September 2015)
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