Jul 30, 2026
2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards Honoree: Trails & Itineraries
Making Adventure Easy to Access: Creating the NY Susquehanna Basin Water Trail
Join us Thursday morning in Corning at the 2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Summit where Kris Fitzgerald, Principal of 2k Design, will be joined by Sarah Bilofsky, a brand and content strategist, to find out what it took to make a longtime dream become a reality for more than 50 communities along 190 miles of the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers. They'll share stories and lessons learned in creating New York’s newest water trail, the New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail.
You’ll also get a first-hand account from their client, Cass Martin Majestic, President & CEO of This Is Cooperstown & Visit Schoharie County!
Why You Should Attend This Session:
- Learn how you can take existing assets and with fresh branding, create a whole new experience to attract visitors and drive economic development.
- Discover how research, planning and community engagement are essential to creating authentic experiences and informing brand and content development.
- You won’t want to miss the story of the ribbon cutting!
Key Takeaways:
- A picture is worth a thousand words
- Locals know best
- Boots on the ground beat your butt at a desk
About Kris:
Kris Fitzgerald, principal of 2k Design, brings over three decades of creative experience to her work. Kris cherishes any project that leads her on outdoor adventures and believes that first-hand experience is the best way to inform project development. It ensures that each solution authentically and distinctively represents the brand, engages its audience, and successfully serves the client’s objectives.
2k’s projects have included cycling the Erie Canalway/Empire State Trail and Mohawk River Trail, paddling the NYS Canalway Water Trail and NY Susquehanna Basin Water Trail, hiking the Adirondacks, and discovering the history hidden in New York’s small towns.
About Sarah:
Sarah E. Bilofsky is a trusted brand strategist, writer, editor and creative problem solver. As principal of SarahB Communications, she brings 25 years of experience in government, economic development, health care, higher education, tourism, and industry. A former journalist, Sarah loves telling a client’s story to engage the right audience.
She has worked with Empire State Development/I LOVE NY; Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor; Schenectady County Metroplex/Discover Schenectady and the New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail. Last November, Sarah was elected to the Town Board in Niskayuna, NY, where she chairs the Economic Development, Planning and Land Use Committee.
About 2k Design:
Founded in 1995, 2k Design is a small design consultancy located in Clifton Park, NY. 2k often partners with other creative professionals to assemble a team that is best suited the specific needs of each client and every project. 2k’s work crosses a wide range of disciplines from brand identity and print communications to electronic media, web, signage and exhibit design.
Clients include: the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, City of Rome (NY), Schenectady Metroplex/Schenectady County, New York State Archives, Avon Old Farms School, Union College, and others. 2k’s online portfolio can be found at www.2kDesign.com.