Green Vale welcomed alumnus Jack Gillies ’22 back to campus as part of the School’s Alumni Speaker Series. Jack shared the story of how he launched ADK Island Runners, a boat-based delivery service that provides firewood, ice, and water to campers on Lake George—an idea he developed when he was just 16 years old.
Jack explained how the business began with a simple observation while working at a marina. Campers traveling by boat often struggled to transport heavy and messy supplies such as firewood and ice to their campsites. Recognizing an opportunity, Jack and a friend created a practical solution: an on-water delivery service that saves campers time and effort while keeping their boats clean and uncluttered.
During his presentation, Jack walked students through the full entrepreneurial process—from concept to launch. He described partnering 50/50 with a friend and dividing responsibilities based on their strengths, writing a detailed business plan, and conducting a careful cost analysis to understand the financial realities of running the business. Fuel, he explained, quickly emerged as their largest operating expense.
To make the model profitable, the pair redesigned their delivery system into scheduled morning and afternoon routes. Jack also invested $2,000 of his own savings to help launch the company and built the business’s website from scratch, focusing on search engine optimization and mobile-first design to ensure customers could easily place orders from their phones.
He also spoke about the behind-the-scenes work required to establish a legitimate business—forming an LLC, obtaining an EIN, and ensuring full tax compliance. In the early stages, Jack and his partner worked tirelessly to gain traction by handing out flyers, networking locally, visiting popular islands, and promoting the business on social media.
A major turning point came when a supporter shared ADK Island Runners on a Lake George boaters’ Facebook page. The post quickly generated thousands of views and significantly increased traffic to their website, bringing a surge of new customers.
Jack also shared some of the early challenges the business faced. At one point, someone publicly questioned whether the company was operating legally. Rather than reacting emotionally, Jack and his partner carefully reviewed regulations, drafted a formal statement outlining their compliance, and responded professionally—an experience that demonstrated the importance of preparation, professionalism, and composure under pressure.
At the heart of Jack’s message was a lesson that has stayed with him since his time at Green Vale. He credited his 4th Grade teacher, Ms. Field, whose words continue to guide him: “You are not too young. Use your resources. Start before you feel ready.” That mindset, he explained, helped give him the confidence to take initiative and pursue an idea even before everything felt perfectly in place.
We are grateful to Jack for returning to Green Vale to share his story, practical insights, and encouragement with our Upper School students.