06/21/2026
This Father's Day, we're highlighting a father-and-son team who turned complementary skills, creative experience, and an opportunity in their community into a new business serving the North Country.
When retired teacher David Lennox saw an ad for the sale of a custom framing shop's equipment and inventory, it sparked the idea of a business he could operate with his son, Sean. David had years of experience in matting and framing for his wife, who is an artist, and Sean brought a fine-art degree and master woodworking experience to the business.
Working with North Country Small Business Development Center Business Advisor Michelle Collins, David and Sean developed a business plan and tested feasibility with financial projections. That work helped them prepare for launch and open The Finishing Line in March 2025 in Market Square Mall, a hub of revitalization in downtown Potsdam.
Reflecting on the experience, David shared, "Michelle really did help us through this process. I was really out of my comfort zone."
Today, The Finishing Line - TFLNY provides custom framing and matting services, including conservation and restoration work, shadow boxes, and creative framing treatments for artwork and memorabilia.
Family businesses come in many forms. For David and Sean, it meant combining experience, creative skills, and a shared commitment to helping customers preserve pieces that are meaningful to them.
