Workforce Development Board

Leadership & Governance

The North Country Workforce Development Board is a public-private partnership that works across the boundaries of professional, personal, educational, and cultural experience.

The Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton County Legislatures appoint the Workforce Development Board, which includes prominent business, labor, higher education, government, and community leaders.

John VanNatten, of Glens Falls National Bank serves as chair.

About Us

Who We Are:

The North Country Workforce Development Board is a public-private partnership that connects business, government, schools, higher education, labor, and community organizations to create innovative workforce and education solutions. The WDB is the connection between education and workforce, between school and career, and between classroom and the workplace. WDB initiatives thrive on the synergy created when business and community needs overlap. The result is a win-win situation: Businesses develop the workforce they need and North Country residents gain access to career opportunities and higher incomes. As a workforce intermediary, the WDB (1) convenes local leadership around education and workforce priorities, (2) brokers employer partnerships, (3) connects youth and adults with education and employment opportunities, and (4) measures program impact, in terms of both quality and scale.

What We Do:

The North Country Workforce Development Board provides employment-related services to local businesses and job seekers through a network of region-wide OneWorkSource Career Centers. Businesses look to the North Country Workforce Development Board for skilled employees, expertise in job training and supportive services. Job seekers, both adult and youth, receive referrals and placement in quality jobs, education, and training programs.

Regional Meeting Schedule

All Regional Board meeting are publicly posted the day before the meeting. These Meetings are open to the general public to attend and any meeting details will be in the published ad on our Facebook and or local newspapers.

Please contact our office if you have any questions in regards to these meetings at: 

May 10, 2024

Adirondack Educational Center 711 State Rte 3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983

June 21, 2024

North Country Chamber of Commerce 7061 US-9, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

September 13, 2024

Adirondack Educational Center 711 State Rte 3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983

November 8, 2024

Adirondack Educational Center 711 State Rte 3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Regional Meeting Minutes

Regional Workforce Development Board Meeting VideosRegional Workforce Development Board Meeting Minutes

Local and Regional Plan

Staff

Joey Varin, Interim Executive Director
194 US Oval
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
(518) 561-4295 ext. 3075
(518) 561-0229 Fax
jvarin@ncworkforce.com

Darcy Staley, Career Services Representative
194 US Oval
Plattsburgh, NY  12903
(518) 561-4295 ext. 3002
(518) 561-0229 Fax
darcy@ncworkforce.com

Jordon LeBlanc, Programming Director, Disability Resource Coordinator
194 US Oval
Plattsburgh, NY  12903
(518) 561-4295 ext. 3083
(518) 561-0229 Fax
jleblanc@ncworkforce.com

Amy Burdo, Bookkeeper & Grant Manager
194 US Oval
Plattsburgh, NY  12903
(518) 561-4295 ext. 3002
(518) 561-0229 Fax
amy@ncworkforce.com

Officers

John VanNatten, Chair - Glens Falls National Bank
John Vermette, Immediate Past Chair, Spencer ARL
Brian Post, Vice Chair - SUNY Plattsburgh Upward Bound
Maryellen Cooke
, Treasurer - Mohawk Casino
Erin Hynes, Secretary - Empire State Development

Business

Kassandra Beauregard - CVPH
Deb Cleary
- ETS, Inc.
Maryellen Cooke
- Mohawk Casino
Sue Matton
- North Country Chamber of Commerce
Eugene Fox
- International Paper
Mimi Lane
- General Composites
Becky Leahy
- NC Home Systems
Greg MacConnell
- Primelink

John VanNatten - Glens Falls National Bank
John Vermette
- Spencer ARL
Fran Wynnik
- Delagar
Emily Martz
- Great Camp Sagamore
Janet Clark
- McCadam
Johnny Williams
- Bitters and Bones

Workforce and Others

John Bernardi - United Way
Carol Calabrese -
Essex County
Michele Friedman
- CV-TEC
Erin Hynes -
Empire State Development
Brian Post -
SUNY Plattsburgh Upward Bound
Alan Smith -
IBEW 910
Dale Breault-
Franklin Essex Hamilton BOCES
John Kowal
- Clinton Community College
Matt Osbourne
- New England Regional Council of Carpenters, Local 291
Stacey Fuller
- NYSDOL
Christine Sampson-Downs
- ACCESS VR

Clinton Council

Melissa Baretsky - NYS DOL
Kassandra Beauregard - CVPH
Heidi Breton - Schluter Systems, LP
Mike Carpenter - The Northeast Group
Gary Cedarstrom - APG Neuros

Christine Peters - Clinton County
Deb Cleary - ETS Staffing
David Coryer - Coryer Staffing

Maria Huntington - CV-TEC
Pam Dority - ACCES- VR
Garry Douglas - North Country Chamber of Commerce
Steven Frederick - Clinton Community College
Michele Friedman - CV-TEC
Sandra Geddes - Meadowbrook Healthcare
Rock Giroux - Adirondack Farms
Pamela Gomez - Swarovski-lighting
Greg Hart - Workforce Development Institute
Rich Holcomb - Clinton County DSS
Jessica Humiston - Mold-Rite Plastics
Erin Hynes - Empire State Development
Greg MacConnell - Primelink
Sue Matton - North Country Chamber of Commerce
John Kowal - Clinton Community College
Brian Post - Upward Bound
Lee Ann Pray - Northline Utilities, LLC
Tonya Robinson - CVES
Stacy Fuller - NYS DOL
Alan Smith - IBEW910
John VanNatten - Glens Falls National Bank
John Vermette - Spencer ARL
Michelle Watts - Mold-Rite Plastics
Diane Welch - Meadowbrook Healthcare
Fran Wynnik - Delgar

Essex Council


Carol Calabrese - Essex County IDA
Susan Danskin - North Line Utilities
Eugene Fox - International Paper
Judi Grant - ACCES-VR
Greg Hart - Workforce Development Institute
Kenda James - General Composites
Alan Jones - Adirondack Community Action Programs
Selina Lemay-Klippel - North Country Community College
Krissey Leerkes - Essex County
Cristina Lussi - Lake Placid Crown Plaza
Joyce Marinelli - Elizabethtown OneWorkSource/ACAP
Jane Carpenter - North Country Community College
Christine Sampson-Downs - ACCES-VR
Stacey Fuller - NYS DOL

Franklin Council


Maryellen Cooke
- Akwesasne Mohawk Casino
Micheal Doran -
Holiday Inn Express
Christine Sampson-Downs
- ACCESS- VR
Felicia Neahr - Workforce Development Institute
Sheila King
- Akwesasne Mohawk Casino
Russ Kinyon
- Franklin County Director of Economic Development
Becky Leahy
- North Country Home Services
Mike Lee
- Adirondack Health
Rick LeVitre
- Cornell Cooperative
Michele Mulverhill
- DSS
Stephanie Ratcliffe
- Wild Center
Stacey Fuller
- NYSDOL
Maureen Sayles
- NCCC
Rick Swanston
- FEH Boces
John Tubbs
- Franklin County IDA

Policies and Procedures

   For more information on the Work Readiness Certificate, please contact us at (518) 561-0430 ext. 3085    

The North Country Workforce Development Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.