About Us:

JA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York is privileged to have a Board of Directors comprised of outstanding individuals concerned for the future of our young people. The Board is comprised of leading business executives, prominent educators, and community leaders from the greater Capital Region. There is also representation from the Adirondack and Mid-Hudson Regional Advisory boards. These individuals are committed to supporting and promoting the mission of Junior Achievement.

JA of Northeastern New York appreciates the dedication of the following individuals who donate their time, energy, and resources to serving on our Board.

Executive Committee

Board Chair
Christine Mesick
First Niagara Bank

Chair Elect
Frank DeGraw
Sunmark FCU

Immediate Past Chair
Albert Picchi
Realty USA

Vice Chair - Special Events
Kevin Hunziker
First Niagara Bank

Vice Chair - Board Development
Sarah Halliday
M&T Bank

Vice Chair - Hall of Fame
Elmer Streeter
St. Peter's Health Care Services

Vice Chair - Program Operations
John Blowers
Tilt Productions

Co Vice Chair Marketing & Communications
Anthony Suraci
CISCO Systems

Co Vice Chair Marketing & Communications
Robert Clancy
Spiral Design Studio

Secretary
Steve Obermayer
BBL Construction Services

Treasurer
Mark Poskanzer
Troy Web Consulting

Vice Chair - Adirondack Region
Michael Murray
Adirondack Trust

Vice Chair - Mid-Hudson Region
Steve Hack
Ulster Savings Bank

Directors

Brian Akley
MLB Construction Services

Cindy Applebaum
Time Warner Media Sales

Randall Beach
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP

Michael Bowker
NBT Bank

Travis Bullard
GlobalFoundries

Dean Burns
JPMorgan Chase

Kevin Cavallaro
Picotte Companies

Jeffrey Christiana
Prudential Manor Homes

Kenneth Countermine
TD Bank

Richard Ferro
Prudential Blake Atlantic

Karen Finnerty
Bank of America

Mark Furr
GE Energy

Linda Krzykowski
University at Albany

Rita Lashway
NYS School Board Association

Patti Linen-Ryan
Citizens Bank

John Murphy
National Grid

John W. Murphy
First Niagara Bank

Robert Niemczyk
Verizon

James O'Keefe
CNC| Microtech

Donald Orlando
Golub Corporation

Elaine Perez
SI Group

Mary Pittman
Best Buy

Sean Rafferty
California Closets

Anthony Sarris
Albany Medical Center

Kim Seabury
Pitney Bowes Business Insights

Michael Signor
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Michael Simone
Hannaford Supermarkets

John Tattersall
Frank Murken Products, Inc.

Tricia Tauss
GE Global Research

Susan Teson
KeyBank

F. Michael Tucker, Esq.
Center for Economic Growth

Nina Tyzik
HSBC

Joseph Vitale
Rose and Kiernan

Matthew Walkuski
MVP Health Care

Paul Webster
New York State United Teachers

Tae Yun
Columbia Tae Kwon Do

DID YOU KNOW?
Compared to all students, JA students are more likely to graduate from high school (93% to 70%) and are more likely to go to college (73% to 60%)