Adirondack North Country Association adds two new directors to board

SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) recently announced the addition of Jaideep Khanna and Julian Mangano to the regional economic-development organization’s board of directors. Khanna, of Lake Placid (and Greenwich, Connecticut), brings decades of experience in investment and philanthropy to the nonprofit’s board, according to an ANCA news release. Mangano, of Castorland, brings a background as a farmer, entrepreneur, and workforce-development specialist that aligns with ANCA’s work in the local food and small-business sectors. Khanna and Mangano were elected to ANCA’s board of directors at its quarterly meeting on March 8. “Jaideep Khanna and Julian Mangano are highly respected community leaders invested in the future of our greater region,” ANCA Board President Kelly Chezum said in the release. “Together they offer practical, boots-on-the-ground experience with business development, as well as high-level strategic planning that can help our team build capacity, expand our programs, and serve more North Country businesses and communities. We’re thrilled to welcome Jaideep and Julian to the team and look forward to working closely with them in the years ahead.” Khanna is the founder of Ananta-OM Management Inc., a diversified investment and philanthropic organization. Ananta-OM invests in fast-growth companies in the technology, data, environment, biopharma, and real-estate sectors. Its philanthropic initiatives focus on the environment, education, health, and community development, ANCA said. Mangano currently owns and operates Della Terra, a small organic, regenerative farm and composting operation in Castorland (Lewis County) and also serves as a workforce-development technical specialist at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. Originally from northeastern Ohio, Mangano in 2016 moved to Lewis County to focus on farming and has since been involved with various agricultural committees and workgroups including the USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee and Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers, per ANCA. He earned a master’s degree in management and organizational leadership from SUNY Potsdam in 2023. Khanna and Mangano join the board as ANCA continues to expand programming that is responsive to the unique needs of North Country small farms, businesses and communities, the organization contended. With a focus on building economic strength and stability in our rural region, ANCA said it provides targeted programs that improve access to financing, grant opportunities and energy upgrades. ANCA also offers various business development and ownership-transition resources, as well as programs that empower community members to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the region, the release stated.