Women Of Influence17

Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

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Layouts range from eye-catching to brilliant. Writers hit the mark without rambling.

A tremendous magazine from front to back. It would do well in a national contest.

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Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 3 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 5 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Lisa Breen written by megan harrington

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 7 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

photos by photoandgraphic.com

Men have traditionally dominated the construction industry, but Lisa Breen is breaking barriers. Lisa is the owner of La Femme Builders and her small business is growing by leaps and bounds. When describing her business, Lisa says, “In collaboration with the area’s finest and talented craftsmen in their field, I’ve created a company to design and build custom homes with a strong emphasis on quality, attention to detail, and unique design.”

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Lisa is a native of the area and has roots in the construction business. “My dad is a carpenter, so building is in the family,” she says. In 2001, Lisa became a licensed realtor and eventually branched out from selling real estate to building it.

“In 2006, I built my first home,” she says.

After the housing market changed, Lisa focused on renovations rather than new builds, but as the economy recovered, she returned to building. In 2015, Lisa left the real estate side of things, started her business, and began building full time. “Before that I was just doing renovations on the side, as a hobby,” she explains. Lisa is La Femme’s only employee, but she does team up with an architect and a bevy of expert subcontractors.

Lisa says, “Being a woman in this industry is a little different; naturally my design ideas are a little different.” She continues, “The first thing I did after starting my business was put up a spec house. It sold right away.” Shortly after, Lisa complet-

Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 9 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

ed another spec home and entered it in the Showcase of Homes competition.

Her outstanding work helped her to win the exterior design and interior floor plan awards. And she took runner-up in the landscaping and interior decorating categories. Lisa enjoys participating in the Showcase of Homes as the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Saratoga, charities close to her heart.

Lisa truly lives and breathes building; when she’s not running her business, you can find her volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. The organization recently built a home on Cherry Street in Saratoga Springs, where Lisa served as the construction leader on Women Build Days. Lisa also helps organize volunteers for Habit Restore, located on Route 9 in South Glens Falls. The store accepts donated home goods, furniture, etc. and then resells to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity.

Lisa is also a proud mom. Her son Jordan, 24, is studying to become an illus-

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 11 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

tration artist in Albany and her daughter Megan, 19, attends St. Michael’s College in Burlington, VT. Her lovable Great Dane dog, Duke, completes the family. “He loves to come to job sites and cause a ruckus,” she says.

Lisa spends a lot of time on the job, but when she has a free afternoon, she loves to golf and bike in the Spa City. “I love Saratoga, it’s such a great community. Some of my favorite spots for golfing are Saratoga National and the course at SPAC,” she says.

2017 is already proving to be a busy year for Lisa and La Femme Builders. “I just broke ground on a home I’m working on for this year’s Showcase of Homes,” she says. “I also have a house in Loudonville under construction and I’m working to break ground on a house in downtown Saratoga Springs,” Lisa continues.

Whether it’s building award-winning homes or giving back to those who are less fortunate, you can count on Lisa to do it well.

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Robin Dalton written by megan harrington

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 13 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

photos by photoandgraphic.com

As a mother of four, small business owner, commercial real estate pro, and Ironwoman, Robin Dalton might be one of Saratoga’s most impressive residents. Her nominator Kate Deloria, sums her up by saying, “She does not stand on the sidelines; she jumps in headfirst.” Kate continues, “Robin is a force and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us!” Once you speak with Robin and learn more about what she’s working on, you can’t help but agree.

Robin lives in the Spa City with her husband Matt and four small children. John, Charlie, Alice, and Tommy who range in age from 6 years to 11 months-old. In addition to raising a family, Robin also runs her own business and serves as one of the community’s most tireless volunteers. Robin grew up in Manhattan, attended Cornell University, and after college worked as a producer for 20th Century Fox. When she and Matt, a Saratoga native, moved to the area, Robin explored career options in media.

She eventually shifted gears into real estate and joined Roohan Realty, which is when Robin started settling into her new upstate home.

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

For the last 5 years, Robin has sold and leased commercial property in the area saying, “I love working with local business owners and finding the right location for them to flourish in.” Robin affectionately refers to her colleague and mentor Amy Sutton as her “Saratoga Mama,” from whom she has gotten guidance and advice while navigating her professional and personal life here. When reflecting on her work with Roohan, Robin says one of her most memorable sales was of the McGregor Links Country Club to current owner Blake Crocitto.

She says, “Blake’s character, passion and love of the club made him the perfect new owner.”

Robin continues, “We became great friends during the process and we’re excited to become members there this spring!” Robin also cites her sale of the former Serotta bike factory on Geyser Road to current owner Ryen Van Hall and Upstate Distilling Co. as another transaction she took great pride in, happy to restore ownership of the real estate to another Saratoga local. Despite her busy life, Robin remains incredibly close to the team at Roohan Realty.

She says, “Before I knew anyone in Saratoga, they are and remain one of my biggest support systems. I think of Tom Roohan and everyone there as family.”

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Robin’s latest business venture, The Saratoga Social website and magazine, is well known (and loved) locally. Robin explains, “After writing a local society column, I realized there wasn’t a place for non-profits to advertise their events in a fun and creative way.” She continues, “I thought to myself, we need a website that will help drive attention and increase attendance and fundraising at galas and events.” So just over two years ago, Robin came up with a name and decided to figure out how to build a website. She says, “It was all on a whim. I just thought, ‘I’ll put the kids to bed and will try to figure this thing out.’ It took about 10 days of late nights before I published the site.” The response to The Saratoga Social truly exceeded expectations. In the first week, the site had thousands of hits and Robin says she can hardly keep up with the growth, including amassing a social media following of 20,000+. She explains, “Within about 2 months, people started asking if they could advertise on the website and if I could promote their events. I was and continue to be incredibly thankful for the community support.”

As her business continues to grow, Robin prides herself on remaining positive. “There’s never anything snarky or negative on The Saratoga Social,” she says. “I love coming up with creative ways to connect readers to local businesses and attendance at events and am so grateful for any role I can play in helping to support our city’s small businesses and non-profits” Robin says.

Women of 15 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 17 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

In addition to promoting fundraisers and charities, Robin also tirelessly volunteers for them. She’s been on Saratoga Hospital’s Foundation Board since 2010 and co-chaired their summer gala in 2014 and 2015 (the highest netting gala in the hospital’s 30-year history). Robin also co-chaired the White Party for Saratoga Bridges in 2015 and 2016 and serves as a board member on Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar, helping to launch their sold out Kentucky Derby Day Party.

Just after she moved to Saratoga, Robin combined her long time passions of running and swimming and completed a full ironman in Lake Placid.

Finishing the 140.6-mile race (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run) is just one more example of Robin’s willpower and strength!

For more information on the latest and greatest in Saratoga Springs, be sure to visit: www.thesaratogasocial.com

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Teddy Foster written by helen susan edelman

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 19 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

photos by photoandgraphic.com

When it comes to immersing herself in efforts to ensure Saratoga Springs is the best it can be, Teddy Foster never says “no.”

She didn’t say “no” when she was offered a seat on the board at the Universal Preservation Hall in 2006.

She didn’t say “no” to being board president for six years, beginning in 2009, volunteering every day, around the clock, to shore up the prospects of the spectacular High Victorian Gothic church, built in 1871, that was in such extreme disrepair that it was close to being razed and replaced by a parking lot.

She didn’t say “no,” as board president, to a UPH relationship with Proctors Theater, in Schenectady, that will make it a premier performance space, nor, in 2015, to the director’s role in the campaign to raise millions to achieve that dream.

And she doesn’t say “no,” now, to the highly public life that has her out of her house every day, and most nights, to work with others in the region whose energetic commitments will safeguard the long life of “the beautiful old gal,” as she affectionately refers to UPH. “The Hall will be Saratoga’s living room, both a gathering place and the cultural heart of the city,” Foster says, “A space where people of all ages can experience the arts and come together for community events.”

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Originally sought by the UPH board for her expertise as a fundraiser – Foster’s reputation for success in galvanizing support for nonprofits preceded her appointment – she has proven also to be indefatigable in her pursuit of exciting programming for the performance space, scaling the steep learning curve of the entertainment world to connect with artists whose talents have already have drawn impressive audiences. Now, with Phillip Morris, Proctor’s visionary CEO, setting the course, Foster anticipates presenting the gamut of the performing arts -- dance, theater, film and music, as well as children’s programming, and developing creative collaborations with other organizations.

The Hall also will be available for other events, such as parties, weddings and fashion shows.

Foster emphasizes that even with Proctors at the helm, Morris always considers her the “local face of UPH” and seeks her opinion about decisions affecting the hall. “I have a seat at the table,” she says.

“Our local community is always represented. It’s an environment of trust. It’s a partnership.”

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 21 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

She notes that the business community has been “fantastic” in its support, names builder Sonny Bonacio and business leader Wally Allerdice as “angels,” and recalls when the Adirondack Trust Company’s Charles Wait “was the first to help fund us. He went through the building wearing a hardhat. He believed in us. So many others have worked hard, donated funds and time to the Hall, since. We are eternally grateful for all of it and the Hall will reflect their generosity. It will improve the quality of life in this city for us all.”

In Saratoga Springs since the early ‘80s, when she moved here to raise her two sons, Eric and Brian, Foster has been an active volunteer in the community. She led several fundraising initiatives for Katrina Trask Cooperative Nursery School, helped raise funds to support the maternity unit at Saratoga Hospital as a member of the Flower and Fruit Mission and chaired the Cultural Arts Committee of Dorothy Nolan Elementary School. “I was a soccer mom and I made the time,” she says of those days. She also graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in business and has mentored Skidmore business students.

Before jumping into the arts, Foster worked for 12 years as the director of training and marketing for Genworth Financial. She was laid off, upsetting at the time, but, in retrospect, a pivotal moment that made room for her new arts-centered life.

And there are other unanticipated perks. Last year, the peerless Chuck Lamb, of The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, packed the Hall for a magical one-night jazz piano performance. Foster and Lamb struck up a friendship. Now, she takes piano lessons from him and finds great pleasure practicing every day, in her own living room. “I loved playing piano in the past, but stopped when life got too busy,” she says. “I hadn’t touched a key for 16 years. This has been wonderful beyond words.

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When I have free time, I dive into it and don’t even answer the phone.”

She is also reading “A Gentleman in Moscow,” and still finds time to spend with her sons and is a devoted friend.

But, all conversation circles back to UPH and its grand reopening in 2018. “We once were the ‘little engine that could’, chugging uphill,” says Foster. “Now, my life, in and out of the Hall, has great momentum. My heart is open. As the beautiful old gal thrives, so do I. I don’t say ‘no’ to any of it. I say ‘yes, yes, yes’.”

(For details about the history and architecture of the Universal Preservation Hall, as well as the plans for its future, visit www.universalpreservationhall.org.)

Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 23 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Karen Heggen written by helen susan edelman

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 25 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

photos by photoandgraphic.com

She’s only five feet tall with shoes on, but Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen has a larger-than-life impact on the quality of life in the Saratoga Today region. Elected to her post in 2015, after serving in many roles in the D.A.’s office over nearly 25 years, Heggen is one of the longest-tenured members of the county’s high-powered, high-visibility legal team.

A lifelong resident of Saratoga County and a graduate of Ballston Spa High School, Heggen lives today in Malta, just a quarter of a mile from where she grew up, with her husband, Peter Klotz, a Lutheran pastor. As a kid, she had jobs at Mrs. London’s, delivering mail and at the track. Saratoga Springs was a frequent destination, sometimes for a specific event, sometimes just to roam Broadway.

She attended Middlebury College and Vermont Law School before returning to work in his law office alongside her father, who was her role model, colleague and personal hero. One of her most powerful memories of him is how proud he was to hold the Bible when she was sworn in as

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

D.A. at his bedside, because he was too frail to travel. County Court Judge James Murphy, who preceded Heggen as D.A., performed the ceremony, which she found “gracious and compassionate.”

“This is a joyful time for me, now,” said Heggen. “I am fortunate to love my work, my life at home, being near my family and in this wonderful community, and I am grateful to be involved in protecting and educating the people who live here.

Saratoga has strong traditions and values and I want to preserve them.”

To that end, Heggen does not always aim to “prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” she explained, but to “seek justice by balancing many factors, including how a crime effects both the community and the individual.”

Each case presents unique facts and circumstances, Heggen pointed out, “I evaluate them to serve the intent of justice; that’s at the core of what we do here. If you could just feed the facts of a case into a computer and it could spit out a resolution, you wouldn’t need people to think things through, talk them over and make decisions. Sometimes they are hard decisions, but they do reflect individual circumstances and consideration, whether they’re infractions or felonies.”

She noted that the D.A.’s office processes thousands of cases, ranging from drunk driving to shoplifting, from speeding tickets to homicide. “This is a robust community and some of our residents and some of our tourists might not always make right

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

choices. It doesn’t mean they are bad people, but it does mean that to ensure that the quality of life in our communities stays positive, some people need to be counseled, but some need to be incarcerated. You get forgery, but you also get long-term child sexual abuse. In this office, we help each other through the very difficult cases, because there are things we can’t talk about outside the office.”

Heggen is soft-spoken, but not soft on criminals who leave behind victims who are physically disabled, emotionally traumatized, or financially ruined, and their families, who may need services ranging from housing to help with funeral expenses. So, in addition to a cadre of attorneys and investigators, Heggen has professionals on her staff dedicated to linking victims to resources they need “to be whole again.”

Heggen is hopeful people will connect with the D.A.’s office before they get end up in court. She and her staff strategize with organizations such as the Domestic Violence Prosecution

Women of 27 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

and Task Force, Clifton Park Youth Court, Saratoga County Partnership for Prevention, School Safety Task Force to head off trouble. In addition, Heggen personally has served as president of the Saratoga County Bar Association, vice president of the Saratoga Bridges board of directors, trustee for The Charlton School and on the board member of the Global Foundries/Town of Malta Foundation, as well as other civic leadership roles.

Although Heggen works long days and, typically, is out four nights a week for work-related activities, her life also includes lots of happy play. Skiing is a favorite and always has been – her parents met on the slopes and the sport became a shared family pleasure. She and Klotz also spend many, many summer evenings at SPAC. One of the most thoughtful wedding gifts they received was from her mother: SPAC season lawn passes. This year, they’ll continue that ritual, including picnic dinners on the lawn - either something from their own kitchen, or takeout from PJs.

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Another annual high point is a meeting of a very exclusive club whose membership is limited to only Heggen and her nephews and nieces, who range from age 5 to 23: Kamp Karen. Their adventures – sans parents – have taken them to The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, Cape Cod and hikes close to home. “Kamp Karen is not a place, it’s a state of mind,” she said. “You fill up the car and you go.”

Somehow, she also finds time to read and is currently immersed in a book about the Wright brothers.

She also has found work and fun can be inextricable.

In her position, Heggen has viewed a crime scene from a helicopter, learned about the physics of crash reconstruction, studied DNA and knows more now about computer security than she imagined possible.

Ultimately, the conversation wends its way to law and humanity. “I want the D.A.’s office to be part of the community,” Heggen said. “The people whose lives we touch are not just names in the police blotter. It’s important for us to do the right thing and to talk about doing the right thing with others, whether it’s training bartenders how to identify people who have had too much to drink, or talking to school groups about a career in law. You know, 25 years sounds like a long time, but, when you’re doing what you know you are meant to do, it’s just a moment.”

Women of 29 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Jane Kromm written by megan harrington

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 31 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

If you’re familiar with the St. Clement’s parish community, you’re sure to know the school’s principal, Jane Kromm. As her nominator, Anna Farone, says, “She is not just the instructional leader of a school. Jane Kromm is the heart and soul of St. Clement’s.” Jane was born on Long Island and grew up in Queens, where she began teaching at her local parish school after college. And she might have stayed put, but when her sister moved north with her family, Jane and her husband, Louis, began to envision living upstate.

Jane explains, “Raising our families together was important to us.

When our son was 5 years old, we decided to move north, settling in Wilton.” Jane’s sister introduced them to St. Clement’s School and a short time later, their son Fred started kindergarten. An educator at heart, Jane began running the extended day program at St. Clement’s and eventually became a kindergarten teacher at the school.

After enrolling in a Catholic leadership-training program, Jane moved on to become the principal at Cohoes Catholic School. “I finished teaching kindergarten at St. Clement’s on Halloween and started as principal at Cohoes the very next day, November 1, 2000,” she says. The timing also meant that Jane was Principal on 9/11. “I tried to keep things feeling normal for students while at the

photo provided

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

same time fielding calls from my own family. It was nerve-racking because my brother was in D.C. at the time near the Pentagon,” she remembers.

“That is a memory that always sticks with me,” Jane says.

After some time at Cohoes and then later at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, a principal position opened at St. Clement’s. “It was like coming back home again,” Jane says. St. Clement’s instructs approximately 260 children from early childhood education through 5th grade and it’s clear that Jane cherishes each one of them. “I greet the children as they come in the door and they’re always skipping in and happy. There’s nothing better than seeing a smiling face in the morning,” she says. In her position as administrative leader, the St. Clement’s School community has continued to grow and excel. Jane oversees fundraising for the school including the annual fund, the Golf & Family Fun Night, the Race for Education, and the Spring Ball. She credits a supportive and dedicated school community— faculty, staff, parents, students, and parishioners.

The school office has also coordinated a number of successful community service projects including the Giving Tree, Adopt-a-Family, and a “Souper Bowl” soup can drive.

Women of 33 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Beyond her work at the school, Jane volunteers for the Saratoga Festival of Trees and the Saratoga Horse Show. And when she has a bit of free time, she enjoys crafting and traveling with her husband. “We like to take road trips together,” she says. “We usually head to Cape Cod for our wedding anniversary, but for our 25th anniversary we celebrated in Disney World where we spent our honeymoon.”

Jane and Louis are the proud parents to Fred, age 29, who lives and works in Salt Lake City. In his career, Fred cares for exotic birds, a passion he’s had since childhood. “He’s always loved animals. Many family trips were to zoos and I like to think we helped foster that interest,” she says. The couple also had a daughter, Theresa, who passed away as an infant. While she isn’t with them on earth, Jane saysshe’s always with them in spirit. “I started an angel collection in memory of Theresa, my special angel,” she explains.

Whether it’s greeting her students by name or spearheading a special project, Jane dives right in. “During Lent, I made a special Lenten cross. Each day, children came with intentions written on post-it notes and attached them to the cross. Throughout Lent, the cross became full of intentions. Every morning we brought the cross to our morning assembly and prayed for the intentions,” she explains. She continues, “One of the things I treasure most at school is that the children are very comfortable coming in and asking for prayers.”

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

photo provided

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Women of 37 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Jane says, “It’s an honor to be principal of St. Clement’s School. I see it as a vocation. I think it’s important to share my faith with the children and families of St. Clement’s, teaching them about the importance of God in their lives and understanding that they are never alone. Faith and Family are most important to me.” With such a dedicated and hardworking leader, the community of St. Clement’s (and Saratoga Springs!) is truly blessed.

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Lynette Whaley written by megan harrington

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 39 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Lynette Whaley is a true Saratoga Springs native. She was born in the Spa City, graduated from Saratoga Springs High School, and her parents founded Cudney’s Cleaners, a local dry cleaning business. She first attended Green Mountain College and then SUNY Albany for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. After some time away from the area, Lyn returned to her hometown to work for the family business.

In 2000, she began a career at her alma mater, the Saratoga Springs School District. Lyn began as a teacher in the business department and after a number of years, became one of the school’s assistant principals. In 2013 she moved on to her current role, director of personnel development. “I’m responsible for the process of recruiting and hiring,” Lyn explains. She continues, “And the staff in our office oversees bookkeeping and things like tenure and attendance.” Lyn’s department also manages the district’s professional development program. Lyn says, “If there’s a certain area that the staff want to know more about, we’ll bring experts in.”

Additionally, Lyn is the coordinator for the district-wide committee, Dignity for All Students. If you speak with Lyn about her role with the district, it’s clear she’s passionate about what she does. “One reason I feel so proud to work in the district is that we are working together on Vision 2018. My

Lynette with her work associates Lisa Nettisheim and Debbie Porter who nominated Lynette for Women of Influence

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

This meeting was an orientation meeting for new members of Soroptimist International of Saratoga County. Here are the names of my "sister Soroptimists" who are in the picture, left to right: Dora Lee Stanley, Mary Huber, Marie Hoffman, President Elect, Lynette Whaley, Charlotte Gilet, President, Kathleen Wilson

job supports the goals of access and opportunity,” she says.

While holding down a full-time job with the school district, Lyn also helped run the family dry cleaning business.

She served as Cudney’s Secretary/Treasurer from 19851997 and until recently, served as President. Cudney’s is unique in that it was the very first environmentally friendly dry cleaning company in the state and second in the entire United States. On becoming greener, Lyn explains, “We had been researching a lot of different technologies and decided to take a chance. Unlike traditional dry cleaning, the chemical that we use is safe for the environment, it’s safe for the skin, and has no odor.” Shortly before press time, Lyn and her husband sold the business to their longtime manager, Joyce Ure. Lyn explains, “We always felt the business should give back to the community and we know that Joyce is following that philosophy.”

Lyn is also very active with the local chapter of Soroptimist International. “Barbara Lombardo approached

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 41 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

42 me years ago and asked me if I had ever heard of it and would be interested in joining,” she explains. Soroptimist is an organization for women that focuses on service, friendship, and community. Lyn says, “They raise money with the goal of giving it back locally and worldwide while also building relationships. I’ve met a lot of

Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

wonderful women since I joined in 1999.”

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

gram that works with Wellspring to give women the skills they need to increase their options for Lyn is a past president and past chair for independence through personal and financial the Cabin Fever committee. She currently serves empowerment. on the Growth and Development committee and is a frequent volunteer facilitator for Hope Lyn is a proud member of New Life Fellowand Power. Project Hope and Power is a proship Church in Wilton. She says, “I love New Life

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

Women of 43 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Fellowship because we have many community outreach projects.” Lyn, a music-lover, also serves as a vocalist during services. She says, “I love being part of our contemporary worship team.”

Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

excellent role model for [women]. Her educational advancements and family/community involvement show what can happen as a result of dedication and hard work.”

With a packed schedule, Lyn still finds time Lyn’s community service and career achieve- to make family a priority. Lyn met her husband ments underscore her dedication to advocacy of 38 years, Dan, while teaching at Utica for girls and women. Her nominators, Debbie School of Commerce and together they have Porter and Lisa Nettesheim, say, “She is an 4 children and 5 grandchildren. She says, “My

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017

family relationships are so important to me.”

With that in mind, Lyn is planning to retire at the end of August and is looking forward to spending more time with her loved ones. While she may be stepping down from her day job, there’s no doubt that Lyn will continue working to make Saratoga Springs a better place to live and learn.

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Women of 45 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

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Women of 47 Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

to all of the 2017 Women of Influence, and all of the outstanding women that make Saratoga County a great place to live, work and raise a family.

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Women of Influence Saratoga County’s 2017

Week of May 26 – June 1st, 2017