FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends of the Walkway Nonprofit Organization Announces 2021 Board of Directors
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (January 27, 2021) –The Friends of the Walkway nonprofit organization welcomes three new board members and announces officers for 2021.The Friends of the Walkway support Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park through its mission to install new amenities, undertake transformative construction projects, host community events, tell the historical story of the bridge, support the volunteer Ambassador program, and more.
“We are extremely pleased that three talented and experienced individuals have agreed to serve on our board,” said Elizabeth Waldstein, Executive Director, Friends of the Walkway. “This comes at a time when our nonprofit organization is in the midst of addressing some important challenges and opportunities. We look forward to their leadership and participation on our active and engaged board.”
John Storyk, Founding Partner and Director of Design for Walters-Storyk Design Group, returns as board chair. Maureen Solero (Nuvance Health) and Ann Weiser (Lifetime Networks, retired) will serve as co-vice chairs. Chris Cunningham and Michael Graham (M&T Bank) are co-treasurers. Bob Kaminsky (CoMedia) and Kathleen Smith (IBM, retired) step in as co-secretaries.
Maureen Keegan, an attorney and co-founding partner at Basch & Keegan in Kingston, Dorcas Roehrs, the owner/partner of 1857 Spirits Barber’s Farm Distillery in Middleburgh, and Michele Dalbo, a longtime Walkway Ambassador, were elected to their first term. The board thanks outgoing directors Daniel Aronzon, Michael Fleischer, Robert Levine, and Scott Sweeney for their service.
A Kingston-based attorney for the past 30 years, Keegan has successfully represented thousands of clients throughout the Hudson Valley and Capital region.“Moe” is avid user of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail, and a sculler and member of the Rondout Row Club. She is an active leader in a number of organizations and local government initiatives in Ulster County.
Roehrs brings extensive business, construction, and interior design experience to the Walkway, having worked on hundreds of projects including hotels, offices, private homes, and special event setups across America. Since 2012, she has led 1857 Spirits Barber’s Farm Distillery in the heart of the Schoharie Valley, a Hudson Valley family business for six generations specializing in craft estate potato vodkas.
As one of the first Walkway Ambassadors, Dalbo has been a vital part of the Friends of the Walkway for more than a decade, serving as a dedicated volunteer, volunteer coordinator, and assisting the organization with securing grants. Now retired from IBM, Dalbo is mentoring the next generation of Walkway supporters including her granddaughters Sarah and Anna who are serving as Junior Ambassadors.
The 2021 Walkway Over the Hudson Board of Directors
Chair
John Storyk, Walters-Storyk Design Group
Co-Vice Chairs
Maureen Solero, Nuvance Health
Ann Weiser, Retired, Lifetime Television
Co-Treasurers
Chris Cunningham, M&T Bank
Michael Graham, Retired, M&T Bank
Co-Secretaries
Bob Kaminsky, CoMedia
Kathleen Smith, Retired, IBM
Dan Ahouse, Stockade Strategies
Michele Dalbo, Retired, IBM
Anita Jones, Poughkeepsie Day School
Maureen Keegan, Basch & Keegan
Ron Lane, Retired, McKesson Corp
Tony Pagano, Marlboro Group International
Dorcas Roehrs, 1857 Spirits Barber’s Farm Distillery
Emily V. Saland, Marist College
Howard Schwartz, Howard Schwartz Recording, Inc.
About Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Connecting the City of Poughkeepsie and the Hamlet of Highland in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is a renowned tourism and recreation destination visited by 600,000 people each year. Standing 212 feet above the river's surface and more than 6,700 feet (1.28 miles) long, the Walkway is the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. The park provides unique access to the Hudson River's breathtaking landscape for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until sunset, weather permitting. For more information, visit walkway.org.
About Friends of the Walkway Over the Hudson
Supported by a diverse coalition of members, donors, and corporate sponsors, the Friends of the Walkway nonprofit organization is responsible for raising funds to enhance the Walkway experience, support capital improvements, and deliver innovative events that engage Hudson Valley residents and visitors, all contributing to the vitality of the region. Additional programs and activities supported by the Friends of the Walkway include the volunteer Ambassador program, Walkway tours and interpretative signage in the park, providing accurate and important information to visitors via the Walkway’s website and social media channels, the Walkway’s membership and merchandise programs, and much more. To learn more about how your support can improve the Walkway Over the Hudson and support the Hudson Valley, visit walkway.org.
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