Etched in Valor: The Working Days Aren’t Over Yet

Sometimes retirement doesn’t quite mean the working days are really over.

That is happily the case for Glens Falls local Adam Root, who is closing the book on his years of service for the New York State Corrections System and is starting anew as owner of Etched in Valor.

Sort of.

You see, Root has been operating the shop while simultaneously working full time for the state for the last several years. This double duty routine stemmed from years of creating custom wood signs and his signature custom-turned pens in his off-hours under his prior home business, Root’s Wood Designs.

“When we heard this place was for sale, it just seemed like the right thing to do. At the time, I knew that retirement was approaching and even though I still had a few more years left, it seemed like it would be a missed opportunity to not jump on it,” said Root.

Located in Queensbury, NY, Etched in Valor is a custom awards and engraving shop. Previously known as Gifts & Engravings by George, Root and his wife, Kris, purchased Etched in Valor in 2019.

DISTINGUISHED FROM THE REST

Root, you see, is no stranger to the concept of dedication. Root’s full immersion into it began early on in his life when he joined the United States Marine Corps straight after graduating high school. After spending his early years on what he described as “the wrong side of the tracks,” Root wanted to be a part of something that would make better opportunities for himself and for others down the line. After serving with the USMC for four dedicated years, Root was honorably discharged for medical reasons.

The decision to join the military would pay off in the long run for Root as it has indeed led him to unique opportunities along the way. Most recently of note, is that due to his time in the service, Root was able to apply for Etched in Valor to become a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

This designation allows the company to pursue bids that are specially set aside for this community of business owners. For Etched in Valor, it has allowed them opportunities like partnering with New York State Schools to produce all of the plaques for Section 2 Sports in the state.

OFFERINGS AT ETCHED IN VALOR

Not only are you working with dedicated individuals at Etched in Valor, you are partnering with a company that focuses on the craftsmanship of the products that they produce.

When asked what sets them apart from the rest, Root explained, “Here at Etched in Valor, we do a lot more of the work in-house than other companies. For example, we have the equipment and expertise to do full colors on trophies and medals whereas a lot of the competition outsources projects like that.”

In addition to trophies and medals, Etched in Valor can also produce customized engraved products that include but are not limited to: drinkware, clocks, plaques, signature wedding favors and corporate awards.

I enjoy this. It’s not really a job to me, in a work effort sense. There are days that test you for sure, but we get through those.

– OWNER OF ETCHED IN VALOR, Adam Root

ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD

As Root transitions into running the business as his sole working endeavor, he has a few goals for the years to come. “Ideally, a great starting place for us would be to expand our knowledge and skill sets in the areas of service that we already cover,” stated Root. Next stop on his journey would be to explore purchasing a facility of their own, instead of renting as they currently do.

Most important to note, however, is that at the end of the day Root just wants to ensure “we are giving our customers the best range of offerings that we possibly can at prices that they have come to count on.”

CONNECT WITH ETCHED IN VALOR

If you are interested in the services that Etched in Valor provides, you can explore their offerings on their website, EtchedinValor.com.