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NEW MEMBERS
Carol Blakeslee-Collin grew up in Windom, NY where her father was the town doctor and her mother a transplant from Chicago. With ambitious and high expectations, she set off for Trinity College. During a year abroad in Spain, Carol taught skiing which lead to teaching skiing in Argentina down the line. Carol became an intern at a local TV station which lead to work at a PBS Station where she covered political pieces and befriended Wallace Westfeldt, then Executive Producer. Carol followed Westfeldt to ABC and ended up at 20/20 for a few years. A mid-career scholarship to the University of Chicago lead her to study politics, theology, and history. She met her husband, Jim, and they moved to Washington DC. She spent 21 years at The News Hour covering defense, the Cold War, the environment and politics before moving to cover health care policy, economics and art. In 2004 they moved to the Adirondacks where Carol became the Executive Producer and head of production at Mountain Lake PBS. Her parents became ill and Carol was able to care for them while earning her Masters in Education. She came across the perfect job and is now the director/curator at the Clinton County Historical Museum.
Peter Grosskopf grew up in Morrisonville, N.Y. and spent his childhood learning how to speak Latin, shoot pool and “make a buck.” He became a musician at a young age for just that reason and still plays guitar today. In 1970, he moved to Plattsburgh and he took on a paper route that grew beyond his desire. He split it off into three sections and paid others to join in on the entrepreneurial adventure. His next job was working for Nine Platt Hospitality where Peter took on roles including ditch digger, bell hop and restaurant wait staff while he attended SUNY Plattsburgh. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics. In 2001, Peter began working at Clinton Community College where he teaches physics and is the Director of Continuing Education. He continues to play in a band.
David Bray was born in St. Albans, Vt., where he attended school. After high school, he enrolled in Vermont Technical College where he received an Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Four major events shaped David’s life. In college, David learned that he was dyslexic, and he got the help he needed to succeed. He got involved in student government during the Vietnam War era. He bought land on Valcour Island from his best friend’s grandfather. The last major life altering event was meeting the grandfather’s granddaughter—his current wife. After graduating college, David became an engineer for a telephone company for four years. To avoid having to relocate for his engineering job, he took a job as chief counselor for the Neighborhood Youth Corp. He worked for FW Meyers as an international air freight salesman before starting World Warehouse and Distribution. After many years, he sold the business and became a property manager for three massive facilities. He has two daughters and two grandchildren and spends some of his spare time as an online minister.
Steve Kende spent four of the best years of his primary education in the Upward Bound program in Vermont (1961-1965). Steve went to Norwich University and after receiving his degree he spent five years active duty in the military and another 15 years in the National Guard. He met his wife back in Stowe and spent the next 35 years there with her where he started his life long career in the Insurance field. Most of Steve’s business was in Vermont, but his first New York client was Bob Smith’s father in 1978. In 1996, Plattsburgh became Steve's new home. He has two sons, one is a graduate of the University of Colorado and the other is a senior at UVM. Steve works for West Bay Financial. He enjoys Plattsburgh and attends many SUNY athletic events. He volunteers for the VA and has spent several years renovating his home. He looks forward to being a member of the club and he hopes to give back to the community as much as he has received from it.
Leigh Mundy was born in Virginia where she attended high school and was an all-star gymnast. After high school, Leigh attended Radcliff College where she majored in chemistry before moving to Atlanta, Ga. and continued her education studying art. Leigh spent a handful of years working for Phillip Morris doing marketing. She then married Stephens Mundy. After their two children were born, the family moved to West Virginia. Leigh went back to college and earned a degree in psychology while doing event planning and serving as a community volunteer. Several years later, Stephens accepted his job at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh and they relocated to the North Country. Leigh continues to be involved in the arts community and currently owns and manages several rental properties. She is on the board of the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts and is heading the capital campaign for the Strand Theatre.
Courtney Chandler was born in Plattsburgh and has family roots tied to Rotary. Her father, Mark Chandler, was president of the club back in 1990-1991. She attended Peru High School graduating in 2000. Courtney then went to Plattsburgh State with the intention of becoming a doctor, but discovered stronger interests in business. She graduated with a degree in Business Management. Through her sorority, she gained a passion for community service that continues today. She worked for her father’s insurance company through college and upon graduation, she branched out. A marketing job opportunity in the insurance field lead her to Jacksonville, Fla., and then Spokane, Wash. After some soul searching in Washington, Courtney decided to move back to the North Country and is currently the Personnel Manager for Agency Insurance.
Doug Kashorek was born in Long Beach, CA in 1971. As part of a military family, Doug grew up in Scotland and then in Illinois before settling down in his parents’ hometown, Bath, N.Y. Doug puts his faith first and is proud to be married to Laurie Saeth (17 years). He is also a proud father of three children. After teaching English at Beekmantown for five years, Doug went back to college for a second bachelor’s degree in Bible Studies. He became a preacher at the Church of Christ, but continues to teach writing classes at Clinton Community College. Doug is the author of a recently published book that will be out next summer. With his puppet entourage, Doug performs enthusiastic comedic shows for children in schools and churches. At age 17, Doug spent a year in Japan as a Rotary International exchange student. He is pleased to be involved in Rotary once again.
Kerry Haley grew up in the North Country. Her first job was at Little Caesar’s where she met her husband. She attended SUNY Plattsburgh earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. While in college, she worked at CVPH in housekeeping until a new position arose in the Foundation office at CVPH. It was as a development assistant working with Hannah Hanford. The Director of Community Relations position became available at Elizabethtown Hospital and Kerry was a perfect fit. While at Elizabethtown she got her Masters in Business Administration online through Norwich University. She graduated with her MBA in 2007. In September of 2009 Kerry had the opportunity to return to the CVPH Foundation as the Executive Director.
Tim Boshart is a production manager at Georgia-Pacific in Plattsburgh. A board member of the Cliff Haven Homeowners Association, he is also involved with the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk and the softball tournament fundraiser for the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at CVPH. He is a graduate of the North Country Leadership program.
Jack Helfgott grew up on a poultry farm in Rhode Island. He was active in the Boy Scouts and is proud to be an Eagle Scout. Jack was also in the Order of DeMolay and played basketball. After high school, he spent his freshman year of college at Boston University then transferred to the University of R.I. He graduated with a B.A., majoring in Political Science and minoring in History. After college, Jack moved to St. Petersburg, Fl and attended Stetson University College of Law for three semesters.In 1998, Conway offered Jack a chance to manage their Plattsburgh, NY facility and he moved north. Jack experienced several life changes including leaving Conway for Old Dominion Freight Lines, in Williston, Vt., and changing jobs again to become Business Manager of Yipes! Auto Accessories/ Signs and Graphics. Jack Helfgott is a member of the Keeseville Elks Lodge and is a 25-year member of the Coventry, R.I. Masonic Lodge. He has also served as a Shriners Clown. He has been involved in the community through the Inter-Faith Hospitality Network and American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Linda Brienza was born and raised on Staten Island and moved to the North Country 18 years ago. She went to college at SUNY Morrisville then Oneonta where she received a B.A. in Business Administration. After college, she met Greg Brienza who lived in the Plattsburgh area, and they married in 1991. Her husband was buying out his partner at Triangle Electric and needed someone to help run the business. Linda jumped on board and has been at Triangle Electric for 17 years. The company is doing well and has expanded to include SolarNovar. She and Greg built have two boys, ages 7 and 10, attending Beekmantown schools, and they keep her very busy with hockey. Linda is on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and is a graduate of the 2008 North Country Leadership Class.
Bob Kidwell was born in Texas in a small town near San Antonio. In 1972, he moved to Houston. He met his wife, and in 1978, they moved to Utica where they raised a son. He remembers a night not long after their move to Utica—Thanksgiving night 1978, to be exact. It snowed and was Bob’s first true experience with snow. He said, “What my wife and in-laws didn’t tell me was that when I woke the next morning the snow would still be there. And the day after. And the day after…” Though he’s not in love with snow anymore, he’s in love with what he does. He works in restaurant management and has been in the restaurant business since he first started working. He began working for the Ground Round in 1995 and has enjoyed projects over the years such as Woodstock ’99. He was selected as General Manager of the Year in 2002. In 2006, Bob’s wife passed away from heart disease, He heard about a small franchise north of Utica that was doing new and innovative thingsand in 2009 Bob made the move north to that successful franchise here in Plattsburgh. One of the things that strikes Bob is the caliber of the work force in this area. They have great attitudes and work ethic. In July, Bob met a new sweetheart, made friends through Rotary, and finally feels at home.
Joshua Kretser was born and raised in the North Country and attended Beekmantown schools through his entire education. After graduating, he attended Nazareth College where he studied Music Therapy. He had the opportunity to join the internationally reknown service organization "Up With People,” and traveled with 150 other singers through 28 countries for a year. At each stop they did a musical performance and community service for the towns and villages they visited. At this point, Josh thought it was time to become rich and famous and so set out for New York City. He tried his hand at singing and acting, which he said is another way of saying he became extremely proficient at waiting tables. Josh attended the Fashion Institute of Technology to launch a more likely career in design. He began working for famous designer Jonathan Adler (Bravo Network—Top Design) and simultaneously began his own business in event planning. Because his entire family lives in the North Country, Josh recently relocated and has opened POD Studio in Plattsburgh. It stands for “Plan, Organize and Design,” and Josh is already staying busy with wedding and event planning, home staging, interior design and organization projects. Welcome to Rotary!
Maria Alexander was born and raised in Lowville, N.Y. with parents Richard Riani (of Keeseville) and Joan Sweat (of Saranac Lake), and two older brothers. In 1982 came to Plattsburgh, graduated from Plattsburgh State and her love of the community has kept her here since. She began working in the Head Start program at JCEO in 1987 and stayed with the agency for twenty years in various roles including Big Buddy Director and Senior Outreach Director. After leaving JCEO and a short stint at Catholic Charities, Maria took over as Executive Director of the Senior Citizen’s Council. She met her husband Ray Alexander in 1987 and they shared a wonderful 17 years together before tying the knot in 2005. Together they owned a New Age store in Plattsburgh for five years. Maria has always been a service-oriented person (she spent many years as a member of the Keeseville Elk’s Lodge) and is proud to join such a dynamic group as this Rotary Club. If you’re interested in becoming a member, click on Becoming a Member for more information.
Calendar of Events
Rotary Club Meetings: 56 Cumberland Ave. Office: (518) 563-7040
Is it the truth? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?    | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
