2025 HVRC Annual Conference & Awards Celebration
EVENT AGENDA
12:00-1:00 pm | Climate Action Planning Working Lunch
Please visit the Climate Action Working Lunch event page for details about this optional pre-conference event.
1:00-1:30 pm | Conference Check-In & Registration
1:30-1:40 pm | Conference Welcome & Introduction
1:40-2:40 pm | Keynote Panel: CEDS Challenges – Solutions in Action
Please visit the 2025 Panelists page for additional information about the keynote panelists.
- Moderators:
- Carla Castillo, Executive Director, HVRC
- Caleb Fine, Economic Resilience Coordinator, HVRC
- Speakers:
- Jonathan Churins, Executive Director, Dutchess County Water & Wastewater Authority
- Conor Eckert, President & CEO, Orange County Partnership
- Deborah Novick, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Westchester County Office of Economic Development
- Alan Sorensen, FAICP, Orange County Commissioner, Department of Planning & Development and Director, Orange County Transportation Council
- Eoin Wrafter, Commissioner, Dutchess County Planning & Development
2:40-3:30 pm | Awards Celebration
Award #1: Building Bridges Award: For demonstrating a significant commitment to collaboration and partnership.
- Award presented by Suzanne Hagell, PhD, GHG Mitigation Chief, NY State DEC Office of Climate Change
2025 Building Bridges Award Recipients: For their work collaborating with New Yorkers for Cool Refrigerant Management on refrigerant recycling drives to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from household appliances.
- City of Kingston
- Town of Chester
- Town of Warwick
- Town of New Paltz
- Village of New Paltz
- Village of Woodbury
Award #2: Stalwart Award: For sustained and exceptional contributions to climate action over and extended duration.
- Award presented by Devin Rigolino, Environmental Program Director, Dutchess County Planning & Development
2025 Stalwart Award Recipient: For their participation in every HVRC program possible, more than any other municipality in the Region.
- Town of Gardiner
Award #3: Resilience Award: For fostering community resilience through proactive initiatives.
- Award presented by Ryan Corbett, Water Resources Manager, HVRC
2025 Resilience Award Recipient: For their infrastructure improvement work, one of the most ambitious and significant projects in New York State.
- City of Newburgh
3:30-4:30 pm | Panel Presentations
Please visit the 2025 Panelists page for additional information about panel discussions and panelists.
Economic Recovery Resilience
Moderator:
- Mary Lambert, Climate Action Planning Manager, HVRC
Speakers:
- Cailyn Bruno, Director of Environmental Services, New Jersey Institute of Technology Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities Program (NJIT TAB)
- Andrew Germansky, Chief Real Estate Officer, Westhab
- Julie Noble, Environmental Education and Sustainability Coordinator, City of Kingston, NY
- Sarah Spicer, Senior Resiliency Development Manager, City of New Rochelle
Presentation Slides:
Housing
Moderator:
- Eleanor Peck, Deputy Executive Director & Mid-Hudson Clean Energy Communities Program Manager, HVRC
Speakers:
- Adam Bosch, President and CEO, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress
- Javier Gomez, Vice President of Operations, Hudson River Housing
- Paul Hesse, Community Development Coordinator, Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development
- Ted Warren, Public Policy Manager, Hudson Highland Land Trust
Presentation Slides:
- Panelists | Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress | Hudson River Housing & Hudson Highland Land Trust | Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development
Wastewater Infrastructure
Moderator:
- Lauren Bunce, Water Resources Coordinator, HVRC
Speakers:
- Ryan Corbett, Water Resources Manager, HVRC
- Jason Morris, Commissioner of Public Works and City Engineer, City of Newburgh
- Sarah Rickard, Research Scientist, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water
Presentation Slides:
- Panelists | HVRC | City of Newburgh | NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water
Workforce for Future Industries
Moderator:
- Carla Castillo, Executive Director, HVRC
Speakers:
- Roselle Glick, Director of Workforce Education Programs, SUNY Orange Plus
- Gwendolyn Summers, Program Manager for Workforce Development and Training, NYSERDA
- Michael Yee, Director of the Educational & Cultural Trust Fund, Electrical Industry in New York City
Presentation Slides:
4:30-5:00 pm | Wrap-Up & Networking
EVENT SPONSORS
The 2025 Awards Ceremony featured gift baskets with one local item from each county. Thank you to our 2025 Conference & Award Ceremony sponsors for contributing items to the award baskets!
