Board of Directors

Susan Kramer, Chair
Susan Kramer is an Education Opportunities Program (EOP) and Instructor at SUNY-Canton. She lives in Canton-Pyrites, NY.

Ruth Beebe, Vice Chair
Ruth Beebe has resided in Potsdam since 1961. She worked as a Middle School teacher at Canton Central from 1964 through 1984. While at Canton, she assisted as advisor and board member in establishing the Indian Creek Nature Center in Rensselaer Falls.
Ruth has joined several ad hoc citizens’ groups mobilized around environmental concerns: the 765 kV power line, real estate development in the Adirondack Park, and a trash incinerator proposed by the County. Ruth holds membership in the League of Women Voters and is a Council Member of Seedcorn. Ruth lives in Potsdam, NY.

Anita Figueras, Treasurer
Anita Figueras is the Finance and Personnel Manager at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County. Anita has a B.A. in Art Studio from SUNY-Potsdam and a B.S. in Accounting from Excelsior College. She is currently completing a Masters in Public Administration through Troy University. Anita lives in Russell in a passive solar home with her husband and has two children and three grandchildren. In her free time, she plays music in a folk band, knits, gardens, and sails on the St. Lawrence River.

Susan Powers
Susan E. Powers, Ph.D., P.E., is Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Clarkson University. She is also the director of the Clarkson K-12 Project-Based Learning Partnership Program that works with local school districts to increase middle school students’ interest in math science and technology through the solution of environmentally relevant problems. Alternative energy is among the curricula used in this program. She was recently awarded an NSF grant to study educational content required to improve the technical literacy of middle school and college students in the area of energy and the environment. Her research and teaching focuses on complex and relevant environmental problems and includes the importance of societal impacts and communication as well as providing a basis and relevance for technical material needed to address engineering aspects of these problems. Her current projects in this area include life cycle management issues for gasoline, other transportation fuels and energy systems in general. Sue is a resident of Potsdam, NY

Wade A. Davis
Wade Davis CEM, CDSM, CEP, BEP serves as Executive Director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, a public benefit corporation engaged in promoting regional economic growth through transportation and infrastructure management. Wade is a resident of the Town of Potsdam and has been active in upstate energy issues for several years. He holds utility level certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers as an Energy Manager (CEM), Demand Side Management (CDSM), Energy Procurement (CEP), and Business Energy Professional (BEP) with a broad background in energy issues facing medium to large facilities. He is active in the region as Vice Chair of the Alliance for Municipal Power (AMP), member of the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Energy Task Force, North Country Symposium Steering Committee, and President of the Potsdam Lions Club. Wade holds two Master’s degrees from Clarkson University - one in Engineering and Global Operations, the other in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from SUNY-Potsdam.

David Weissbard
David Weissbard works at the St. Lawrence County Housing Council as Community Facilities and Community Relations Specialist. He was the final graduate from the Theological School at St. Lawrence University. He recently retired after 41 years in parish ministry and returned to make his home in Canton. In addition to three grown daughters and five grandchildren, Dave is the father of Hilary, a high school freshman, and his wife Karen is a substitute teacher in the Canton Schools. Dave has had a long term concern with environmental issues.

Doug Welch
Doug Welch is Assistant Librarian at SUNY-Canton. He serves as Chair of the St. Lawrence County Planning Board. Doug resides in Colton, NY