Local Champions is brought to you by Partners for Climate Action.

Together with our network of thought leaders, donors, and active citizens, PCA offers human, social and financial capital to communities in the Hudson Valley.  Those working to repair our natural systems, mend our civic fabric, and usher in a more cooperative and resilient future. 

Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley is an initiative of the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation.

The Local Champions Team

Vanessa and Paige, Co-Directors of Local Champions

PR+headshot.jpg

Paige Ruane

Paige Ruane is a co-founder of Partners for Climate Action and a member of Austerlitz, NY's CSC Task Force. She has a background in clinical psychology and documentary writing and producing. Recent work includes a monthly show on Radio Woodstock called Oxide about economic innovation in service to people and planet.

paige@climateactionhv.org

IMG_0668.jpg

Vanessa Bertozzi

Vanessa works as a consultant for Partners for Climate Action, focusing on the Local Champions pilot. A newly-minted local government official, Vanessa sits on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Rhinebeck, NY. Prior to her election, Vanessa led her Climate Smart Community Task Force to bronze certification. As a consultant, Vanessa has worked for The New York Times and clean energy companies. Previously, she worked for Etsy for over a decade. She’s also a mom to two young boys with whom she enjoys playing Minecraft, Legos and gardening.

vanessa@climateactionhv.org

Our Partners

  • Kelsey West

    Program Coordinator for the Climate Change and the Environment program area at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties

    Kelsey West works with Columbia and Greene Counties Local Champions on their Certification Assessments.

    Kelsey West assists local communities in building resilience to climate change and coordinates woodland stewardship of the Siuslaw Model Forest. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. As a nearly lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, Kelsey is all too aware of the climate hazards that locals face and is immensely proud to be working with communities to address those challenges. Kelsey spends her free time recreating outdoors, especially in and near the Hudson River, which originally piqued her interest in the natural sciences.

  • Michelle Gluck

    Environmental and Energy Resource Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

    Michelle works with Dutchess County Local Champions on their Certification Assessments.

    Michelle Gluck holds a M.S. in Urban Environmental Systems Management from Pratt Institute’s Graduate Program in Sustainable Planning and Design (PSPD) and a B.S in Environmental Policy, Planning and Law from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.

    In her capacity at CCEDC, Michelle is dedicated to ensuring that valuable educational resources reach target audiences to bolster environmental improvements locally and regionally. Her areas of focus include supporting municipalities with the NYS CSC Program, providing technical assistance to local watershed groups, researching organics recycling potential, and coordinating a countywide single-use plastics pollution prevention Campaign (Dutchess S.U.P.P.P.).

  • Melinda Herzog

    Healthy Communities Program Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

    Melinda works with Ulster County Local Champions on their Certification Assessments.

    Melinda Herzog oversees Nutrition, Parenting and Health and Community Development programs. She is the current Coordinator of the Healthy Ulster Council, and past Coordinator of Live Well Kingston, and Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work & Play. She has an M.S. in Biology and Education from the University at Albany, and a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University. She is the mother of two grown sons and lives with her husband in Saugerties, NY.

Connor Young

Environment and Natural Resources Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension Columbia and Greene Counties

Connor Young oversees the Climate Change & the Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Community Horticulture Programs. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and Masters in Environmental Law & Policy from Vermont Law School. 

Before joining Cornell Cooperative Extension, Connor’s professional and academic focus was on sustainable farm and forest stewardship and working landscape conservation. In his current role, he’s able to engage with myriad subjects that support all communities in the Catskills & Hudson Valley region. He works with colleagues and partners to deliver resources and technical support in the areas of climate change adaptation, agroforestry, ecosystem services, and others.    

Carolyn Klocker

Environment & Energy Program Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

Carolyn Klocker is the Environment & Energy Program Leader with CCE Dutchess County, in Millbrook, NY, where she leads climate smart communities programming for the Hudson Valley.

Prior to her work at CCEDC, Carolyn was the NY Watershed Manager for the Housatonic Valley Association. She was a researcher and environmental educator at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. She holds an M.S. in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science from University of Maryland.

Brandee Nelson

Senior Project Manager at Tighe & Bond

Brandee collaborates on Module 3, providing 1:1 technical assistance.

Brandee works with a team built to address clients’ specific needs while engineering solutions for a wide array of projects and design challenges ranging from complex site development to better ADA access to improved waterfront resiliency. As a civil engineer, Brandee’s design practice is varied to include designing new recreational facilities, commercial developments, as well as municipal infrastructure such as roadways, drainage systems, and sidewalks. Brandee has worked on civil and environmental engineering projects for over 19 years and her work has ranged from helping small communities plan, fund, permit, and construct infrastructure improvements such as parks, municipal buildings, and infrastructure.

Our Selection Committee

Vanessa Bertozzi and Paige Ruane, the team behind Local Champions, lead the Selection Committee, which is made up of representatives from: