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MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
PLATTSBURGH, NY · EIN 141513789 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P40 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · mountainlake.org
revenue
$2.3M
expenses
$2.5M
net assets
$2.4M
employees
24
volunteers
50
program ratio
69%
mission · from form 990

TO INSPIRE AND ENRICH PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH MEANINGFUL STORYTELLING, ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

profile · synthesized from sources

Mountain Lake PBS is a public media station based in Plattsburgh, NY, serving communities across New York, Vermont, Quebec, and Ontario. It provides PBS programming, local productions, and educational content focused on storytelling, STEAM education, and community engagement. The organization supports cross-border audiences through broadcasting, digital platforms, and local events.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

ARTS IN EXILE: Tibetan Treasures in Small Town America
Emmy Award-winning documentary exploring cultural preservation and community integration
Dead Reckoning
Animated documentary produced by Mountain Lake PBS about Samuel de Champlain and Indigenous collaboration
Gen’s Delights
Blog series highlighting food, culture, travel, and events in Montreal and surrounding regions
Mountain Lake Journal
Local production series covering regional stories in the Adirondacks, Champlain Valley, and surrounding areas
Mountain Lake PBS Kids
24/7 free educational programming for children, broadcast and streamed online, featuring PBS Kids content
ON HOME GROUND: Life after Service
Local documentary focusing on veterans' experiences transitioning to civilian life
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Community and Public Broadcasting Services 3 activities
    • Manages broadcast operations and license renewals
      Files and maintains broadcast license renewals with the Federal Communications Commission for stations W25AT-D (Tupper Lake, NY), W29EW-D (Willsboro, NY), and W25BT-D (Monkton, VT).
    • Produces and broadcasts local documentaries and programs
      Creates and airs local content such as Mountain Lake Journal, ARTS IN EXILE: Tibetan Treasures in Small Town America, ON HOME GROUND: Life after Service, "A Wild Idea" on the Adirondack Park Agency, and "Adirondacks for All," reaching audiences in New York, Vermont, Quebec, and Ontario.
    • Provides access to national and children’s PBS programming
      Offers free, 24/7 broadcast and online streaming of PBS Kids programming for children, especially those at risk, and distributes national PBS content to regional audiences.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Distributes communication and organizational updates via newsletters
      Sends a weekly newsletter featuring local stories, show previews, event invitations, and updates on organizational activities to subscribers.
  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
    • Engages communities through public events and screenings
      Hosts family events, community screenings, movie nights using 16mm film projectors, and Q&A sessions—such as after previews of "A Wild Idea"—in Plattsburgh, Tupper Lake, and surrounding areas including Quebec and Eastern Ontario.
  • Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
    • Offers educational resources and programming for early learning and STEAM
      Provides services and materials focused on early childhood literacy and STEAM education for families and educators, including a weekly Families newsletter with videos, games, and activities suitable for all ages.
  • Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
    • Offers internships in media production, marketing, and development
      Engages interns in local production (research, videography, editing), marketing (press releases, social media, event promotion), and development (donor correspondence, data management, fundraising support).
  • History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
    • Provides free educational resources on Adirondack history and social issues
      Offers teaching guides and classroom activities aligned with New York State Standards for grades 6–12 on topics including the history and diversity of the Adirondack Park.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Supports media education and hands-on learning for youth and groups
      Hosts field trips and provides guided studio tours with hands-on experiences in camera operation, audio production, and control room directing for classrooms, 4-H clubs, scouts, homeschool groups, and other youth organizations from the Adirondacks, Champlain Valley, and Montréal.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Distributes technology and companion devices to isolated seniors
      Has distributed over 600 ElliQ devices and 27,000 animatronic pets to socially isolated seniors since 2022 and 2018 respectively, supporting connection and well-being.
    • Produces animated and historical documentaries on regional history
      Created the animated documentary "Dead Reckoning" about Samuel de Champlain and Indigenous allies, and published interview excerpts by Brad Edmondson on the founding of the Adirondack Park Agency, preserving regional historical narratives.
    • Provides member benefits including on-demand content and devices
      Offers extended on-demand access to a library of hundreds of PBS programs through the Passport benefit for members donating $8/month or $96/year, and provides Roku Express devices to donors contributing $10/month or $120 annually.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.30M
Contributions & grants$2.17M94%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$-35K-2%
Other revenue$171K
expenses
Total expenses$2.51M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$1.08M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.29M
Cash$537K
Investments$462K
Liabilities$846K
Net assets$2.44M
Liquid reserves4.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BILL MCCOLGAN PRESIDENT & 40 $150K
board members · 18
  • ANNA HEWITT-CHANNELL JAN 2025 — TRUSTEE
  • BRAD VAN BRUNT — TRUSTEE
  • DEXTER CRISS — TRUSTEE
  • ELLEN BOUCHARD — 2ND VICE CHA
  • ERIK EAGLEFEATHER — TRUSTEE
  • GENIE BABB — 1ST VICE CHA
  • GLADIS ZAMPARO STARTED FEB 2025 — TRUSTEE
  • JANICE MARCHUT CONRAD — SECRETARY
  • JON BLOOMFIELD — TRUSTEE
  • JONATHAN POTTER — TRUSTEE
  • KARL MOORE — TREASURER
  • LINDA BOURGEOIS — PAST CHAIR
  • MICHAEL FORIAN — TRUSTEE
  • MOSEN AZIZ LEFT JANUARY 2025 — TRUSTEE
  • NICHOLAS CHINE — TRUSTEE
  • REGINALD CARTER — CHAIR
  • SAMUAL YAFFE — TRUSTEE
  • SYLVIE NELSON — TRUSTEE
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Champlain National Bank Partner — Provided broadcast support for the documentary "A Wild Idea".
  • Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation Funder — Partial funder of the Spotlight program, which features stories on community initiatives including efforts to combat senior isolation.
  • Hill and Hollow Music Funder — Supports the Spotlight program, which highlights community-focused stories such as efforts to reduce isolation through nostalgic entertainment.
  • Kidcon Partner — Participates in children's and family-focused community events.
  • Livres Babar Books Partner — Partners on community events and family programming.
  • NHK World-Japan Partner — Carries NHK World-Japan as a broadcast channel to provide international news and cultural programming.
  • New York State Broadcasters Association Partner — Collaborates on a broadcast internship program offering real-world experience in television broadcasting.
  • New York State Office for the Aging Partner — Collaborates to distribute high-tech devices and animatronic pets to reduce social isolation among older adults.
  • PBS Network — Member of the PBS network, broadcasting nationally acclaimed PBS series such as Antiques Roadshow, Nova, and Masterpiece.
  • PBS Network — Member of the PBS network, offering PBS Passport as part of its membership benefits.
  • PBS Network — Member station of the PBS network, broadcasting PBS programming.
  • PBS Network — Member station providing access to PBS programming and Passport benefits.
  • PBS LearningMedia Partner — Hosts and distributes educational resources related to the "Adirondacks for All" documentary for classroom use.
  • Parc Safari Partner — Collaborates on family events and character days.
  • Roku Partner — Technology partner providing Roku Express devices as donor thank-you gifts.
  • Walter Presents Partner — Content partner providing the series "The Negotiator" for streaming.
  • community organizations Partner — Partners with community organizations to host field trips and engage learners with public media and media careers.
  • local schools Partner — Partners with local schools to host field trips and connect students with public media and media careers.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Centered Media for Regional Engagement
    methodology: community-centered_media_production
    By producing locally relevant content focused on the Adirondacks, Champlain Valley, and Montreal region, the organization strengthens community identity and civic engagement because shared stories and knowledge foster cross-border belonging and regional cohesion.
  • Experiential Exposure to Media Careers
    methodology: career_pathway_exposure
    By offering in-person studio field trips and structured internships, the organization increases career pathway awareness and workforce readiness in broadcasting because hands-on experience with public media production builds tangible skills and professional identity.
  • Media Access as Educational Equity for At-Risk Youth
    methodology: universal_media_access_for_at-risk_children
    By providing continuous, free access to educational children's programming through flexible media platforms, the organization supports learning among at-risk youth because consistent exposure to high-quality content compensates for inequities in early educational resources.
  • Technology-Enhanced Social Connection for Older Adults
    methodology: technology-enabled_companionship
    By using nostalgic media experiences and AI-powered devices, the organization reduces social isolation among older adults because sensory-rich, familiar content and interactive technology provide meaningful companionship and engagement for those aging independently.