Celeb Shot: Bo Goliber
Two weeks before the 2nd annual Carnival fundraiser, AIM Services' chief development and communications officer has no complaints. PLUS: NYRA news, a downtown bakery opens and more.
At last summer’s Croquet on the Green, an annual fundraiser for AIM Services, I asked a fellow croquet tournament contender what brought him out to Gavin Park in the middle of the day on a Thursday to play a competitive lawn game. “Well, I’m here to support Bo,” he said plainly.
I didn’t catch his name, but I got the feeling that he wasn’t the only one there for Bo Goliber, AIM Services’ powerhouse chief development and communications officer. Heck, she was the reason I was there, too.
Since coming to AIM—a Saratoga-based nonprofit that is dedicated to supporting the “power of potential” in people of diverse abilities—in 2021, Bo has doubled down on the organization’s fundraising events. She built up Croquet on the Green and Vin Le Soir (which this fall will be reimagined now that longtime event space Longfellows is closed), and in 2022 introduced a brand-new, wildly successful event called Carnival, which will return to Vapor for the second year this April 1. She’s pulled it all off thanks to her knack for relationship building; she has this calm, magnetic personality that makes you feel like if she’s involved with something, you want to be, too.
While I’ve emailed with Bo extensively and met her in passing at AIM events, I finally got to sit down with her at the Boca Bistro bar—one of her favorite downtown hangouts—to talk about the upcoming Carnival event, her singing career and her self-described “boring” life.
How did you wind up where you are now?
I’ve traveled a relatively straight and narrow path, the common denominator always being relationship building and writing. I grew up in Waterford, went to college in Vermont, came back here from college and never left. I was in news, ended up in nonprofits, and then went to a corporate philanthropy role at Fingerpaint. Now I’ve been at AIM for two years. So basically I’ve been working in Saratoga County since 2004.
Was there one “aha” moment in your life when you realized you wanted to work in philanthropy and nonprofits?
When I was in college I was actively involved in a lot of fundraisers and volunteering and giving back. When I graduated, I worked in the news business. I loved the writing and the community aspect of news, but missed the ability to have a greater purpose and to give back. Shortly into my news career I was like, “I need to use this skill set but do it in a place where I’m also giving back.” That’s how I found Franklin Community Center, and I was connected to Franklin for 10 years.
How have you been able to elevate AIM’s events since coming on board?
AIM was doing their thing and keeping events going, but I think they needed that little extra something to take it and wrap it all up with a bow, no pun intended. I’m able to take the stuff that maybe wasn’t quite their knowledge base and let them do what they’re really good at. It’s allowed Marissa [Romero, director of marketing & events] to focus way more on the details, on creative, on the event design, versus having to also solicit sponsorships and come up with the big ideas to build it all. I think it’s just that my background brings that skill set.
How did Carnival come to be?
We started last year with the intent of it being something big but also different. Being a music person, I honed in on the music thing and was like, who can we get that isn’t playing around here? And so we landed on Alex Torres and his Latin orchestra and said, well, what can we do that has this kind of Latin flair? So then it became Carnival. This year it’s going to be even bigger. We’re bringing in more talent to lead dancing and we have an actual, authentic samba Carnival performer. We have a ton of people that we support coming, which is awesome. A lot of individuals that we support who are young, who maybe are autistic, have really robust social lives, so they’re all coming with their friends. That’s the way it should be. It shouldn’t just be a donor event. I’m excited about that because they’ll all be out on the dance floor cutting a rug.
I saw you perform with the band at last year’s Vin Le Soir. Tell me a little about your own musical career.
I actually sang last Friday with that band. That was my band for years. I’ve been singing my whole life—theater minor, lead in every play, sang at weddings and funerals my whole life, took classical Italian opera for 14 years. After my daughter was born, I jumped in with this band Fresh and we sang together for about five years. On Friday nights we played what used to be the Crown Grill, which is now the Brasserie Benelux. I would work all day at Fingerpaint, change in the bathroom like Superwoman, and fly across the street to do a gig at Crown Grill.
What do you do outside of work since leaving the band?
I have a daughter, and we love to do anything outside. She’s a runner, so a lot of our time is spent at track meets. She just finished the South High Marathon Dance this past weekend, which was amazing. Have you heard about it?
I haven’t.
Oh my God. Well I have to tell you about it because next year you have to cover it. In 46 years, they’ve raised $10 million at this dance. The whole [South Glens Falls High School] student body fundraises and then they all come together and dance for 28 hours. I dropped my daughter off at school on Friday at 7pm and she danced until 9:30pm the next night.They raised $630,000 for 22 organizations and individuals. It’s amazing because the kids do the work and they hear directly from the recipients things like, “You’re changing lives.” My daughter grows up in a world surrounded by philanthropy, so for me it’s so joyful to watch. I keep telling her that when she’s a senior to be ready, because we’re launching a full-fledged campaign. Like, T-Shirts. She’s a sophomore now, but I’m like, you’ve got another year to figure out what you want your slogan to be, but we’re not going down without raising $10K.
What would you say is Saratoga’s best-kept secret?
Geez. I want to say something really brilliant here. A lot of people don’t know how beautiful Saratoga Arms is. That’s the kind of place where you’re like, “Oh, I didn’t even know.” Let’s see, what else? Another interesting tidbit is that I love to thrift. I love vintage. So there are quite a few good little spots around here, but more so a little farther north. But I don’t know that anything’s a secret in Saratoga, is it?
Fair point.
I don’t have anything good. I’m really a boring person. Please talk about my singing because it makes me sound slightly less boring. Also, I can’t eat gluten or dairy, which makes me even less fun. I wish I had a best-kept secret. It’s going to come to me.
Maybe you have one for South Glens Falls?
Well, I don’t want anyone to know! There is Laura’s Vintage in Glens Falls. Her stuff is unreal. She curates some seriously sweet, real, vintage stuff. I get my Croquet dress from her every year. She’s got super-unique special occasion stuff. I love to treat myself to a fun dress. I don’t know what I’m wearing to Carnival yet. Oh, wait—yes I do. I bought light-up wings.
You bought what?
Light-up wings. It’s like a cape but you can put things on it and make wings out of it. And then I bought a sequined dress. One day I got impulsive when Marissa came up with the design for the invitation. I started Googling “fire,” “sequins” and all this stuff. I just kept putting it in my cart and ordering it and I was like, “What the heck happened here?”
What’s the key to getting people to events in Saratoga?
It’s tough—there are so many worthy causes here, and every one is so different. I guess the main ingredient is relationship building, networking, connections. Uniqueness helps. That’s something we’ve tried to put an emphasis on.
Are you happy with where your life is right now?
I live a very happy, fulfilled life. I love what I do. I love my team. I love my coworkers. I have zero complaints. Literally none. You have to trust your gut enough to know what really makes you tick and what you need to feel fulfilled. I don’t need a lot. I’m never going to be rich. I’m probably not going to be a CEO of something. I just kind of like what I’m doing. I’m kind of digging it.
—Natalie
Quote of the Week
“Who doesn’t love noods?”
—Drew the waiter at Rhea
Track Changes
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced that Saratoga Race Course will do away with the two-tiered admission structure that previously charged attendees $7 for Grandstand admission and $10 for Clubhouse admission. Instead, there will be one ticket that will cost $7 when purchased 24 hours in advance and $10 on the day of the event. “Our new single admission policy is designed to improve the overall experience for our fans by providing access to all areas of Saratoga Race Course,” said Kevin Quinn, NYRA Vice President, Sales and Hospitality. “Not only does this change create a seamless, simplified experience, but it will provide all fans with access to previously unavailable amenities, like upper concourse bars and concession stands located in the Clubhouse.” Jim Dandy Bar, here we come!
Save the Date
Did you nab tickets to one of the March Madness games going on at MVP Arena this weekend? (For the uninitiated, first and second round NCAA tournament games went on yesterday and are going on tomorrow in the Capital City.) Either way, basketball fans should mark their calendars for April 1, when Saratoga Living will be hosting Hoops & Hops, a Final Four watch party at Putnam Place. Watch the evening’s two games on the biggest LED screen in the region, while enjoying complimentary dinner from West Ave Pizza as well as beer specials. There will be a bracket-style betting game, plus half-time activities and a kids’ play area. Bring the whole family—get your tickets now.
Baking Point
Saratoga sweet tooths now have one more way to get their sugar fix. After selling cakes and cookies out of Uptown Cafe for the last two and a half years, Bites of Indulgence owner Alex Gaertner has finally opened up a brick-and-mortar shop of her own. The bakery, located behind Wasabi in Lulu Lane, had a soft opening last Saturday, and will be open for walk-ins today and on Saturdays in the future. (You can still order your favorite made-to-order goodies online anytime.) “I’ll do scones, muffins, cupcakes, cookies and whatever else on Saturdays,” Alex says. “I also do coffee and tea.” Follow @bitesofindulgence on Instagram for news on future hours, cooking classes and a bigger launch party once the weather warms up.
Last Chance
Last change to WIN tickets to the 13th annual Glens Falls Brewfest on April 1. Two paid subscribers to Foothills Business Daily or Saratoga Living After Hours can win one ticket each to the popular event. That’s a $50 value! Winners must be 21 or older on or before April 1, 2023 to claim their prize. Contest rules here.
This Week in Saratoga Living After Hours:
On Monday, we published three Linkee-style Saint Patrick’s Day puzzles.
And on Thursday, we shared a heartwarming tale—or should we say tail?—of how a rescue dog in California found her way to a new home in the Capital Region.