Meet The CCI Team

Amy is the former executive director of Otsego County Conservation Association. She is co-founder of multiple community focused ventures including the Richfield Springs Community Food Cooperative and Syracuse CoWorks. She is a community builder and nonprofit leader with experience in placemaking, coalition building, and civic engagement. Amy currently serves as a board member of the Canadargo Lake Improvement Association, is an active Rotarian, and is a member of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, a collective of over 320 organizations that advocate for clean water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

James is a former C-suite executive, management consultant, communications specialist, and corporate strategist with 30+ years of experience leading and advising Fortune 100 companies and nonprofit organizations. He has served as a board member and/or on the advisory council for mission-driven nonprofits spanning a wide range of focus areas, including human services, environmental stewardship, and social justice. He is an enthusiastic and energetic volunteer with Friends of The Village Library and serves on the Welcome Home Cooperstown Committee. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, marketing communications, operational efficiency, and narrative development. He’s also an award-winning screenwriter.

Marissa is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at Evidn. She has an extensive background and formal education in human development and psychology. Her previously held positions include Project Liaison Officer, Otsego County Child Protective Services Investigator, and Career Transition Specialist. She is a community engagement specialist with expertise in leading stakeholder outreach across environmental projects throughout New York State. Marissa is keenly adept at helping collaborations and rural communities navigate change.  

Cass is President & CEO of Destination Marketing Corporation, the official tourism and promotion agency for the New York counties of Otsego and Schoharie. She has expertise in nonprofit governance, optimizing collaborative opportunities, and leveraging resources to maximize benefits for all cohort members. Cass currently serves on the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, is Chair of the Board for the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA), is President of the Central New York Vacation Region, and is Team Captain for the New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail.

Danny is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and works as a Revitalization Specialist 1 with the New York Department of State. He serves as a Board Member of the New York Planning Federation and is a former Chairman City of the Oneonta Planning Commission. Danny possesses over 12 years of experience working on complex projects ranging from Comprehensive Plans to Downtown Revitalization Initiatives, Strategic Investment Plans, to Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plans. He is also a dedicated community activist and civic leader, having served two terms on The Otsego County Board of Representatives. 

Regina is a community-centered professional with a background in psychology, sociology, and social services. She is a Care Coordinator at United Health Services and has strong relationships with other community leaders throughout the counties of Otsego, Delaware, and Chenango. Regina is currently Secretary on the board of the Oneonta, NY branch of the NAACP, and she formerly served in that capacity on the board of Community Arts Network of Oneonta. Regina brings strong people-focused engagement skills, arts connections, and experience advocating for people with special needs and connecting community members with needed services.  

Colleen is a civic engagement advocate and environmentalist who has served on the board of the Sidney Memorial Public Library, has helped progressive candidates run for and win local offices, and currently organizes various local stakeholders to stop fracked-gas pipelines. In January 2025, she founded Local Matters, an all-volunteer local civic group focused on community public-interest issues, supporting local charities, voter education and civics curriculum in local public schools, and bringing more fun, art, and community engagement to New York’s Susquehanna Valley. 

Steve is an Otsego County-based CPA who provides financial and operational expertise to the CCI team of professionals. With an extensive background overseeing financial management and strategies in the nonprofit sector, Steve serves as an advisor to several leading public-serving organizations in the region, including the Susquehanna SPCA. He also plays a mean tenor saxophone. 

Tom is a former prosecutor and renowned criminal defense attorney who is currently the Otsego Town Justice. Tom has long history of community service. He is on the Board of the Cooperstown Public Library, is past President of the Cooperstown Rotary, and is a former School Board President. Tom possesses extensive expertise in organizational governance and leadership, while also being a highly sought after thespian who regularly performs with Bigger Dreams Productions, where he is also a board member, as well with Glimmer Globe Theatre.  

Ed is Chairman of The Otsego County Board of Representatives and a long-time board member of the Community Foundation of Unadilla, NY. He is a small business owner/employer and a respected civic leader with a history of uniting cross-party coalitions to resolve contentious local issues. 

Molly is the Otsego Town Clerk. She is also the founder and tireless operator of Cooperstown CoWorks, a coworking facility and multipurpose community events space that has become a vital hub for uniting area residents and building social capital. She is an active member of Cooperstown Lions Club. Molly has strong community ties and experiences that support municipal coordination and diverse regional collaborations. 

Geoff is the Executive Director of Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta, NY.  He has been an active participant, supporter and patron of the arts in Oneonta, and the greater Otsego County area, for most of his life. Geoff has over 20 years of experience in managing all varieties of performance based and civic events. In addition to being a successful grant  writer, Geoff is a highly respected local community activist and coordinator who is keenly adept at building and leading effective, mission-focused coalitions. 

Karen is founder and operator of Aunt Karen’s Farm, an Otsego County NY., nonprofit residency program for artists, educators, administrators, environmentalists, and agrarians to incubate new work and celebrate nature. She is an experienced nonprofit executive with 50+ years of organizational leadership and compliance expertise. Previously, Karen was Senior Administrator for the world famous Lincoln Center for Performing Arts. 

Dan is a community development leader and former Richfield Town Supervisor with decades of experience in cooperative development, civic planning, and local revitalization efforts. 

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