About the St. Lawrence County IDA

The current Chairman of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, Brian
Ward Staples has served on the Agency Board since 1983.

He is a Certified Public Accountant and owns/operates Brian W. Staples, CPA.

A graduate of Clarkson University, he holds a BS in Engineering and Management (1970)
and a MS in Accounting (1975).  A past Lecturer and Coordinator of Pre-Management 4+1 MBA Programs
at St. Lawrence University, Brian is also a member of AICPA and NYSSCPA. He is the former Treasurer of the St. Lawrence County Solid Waste Disposal Authority and former Director of the Canton Housing
Authority.

Brian resides in Canton.

His current term on the IDA Board expires in September 2020.

Ernest LaBaff has distinguished history of public service, and is a long-time proponent of economic
development for St. Lawrence County. He is President Emeritus of the Aluminum Brick & Glass Workers
International Union and a former member of the St. Lawrence County Legislature (1974-1980; and 1981-1985).
First appointed to the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in
April of 1977, “Ernie” has served in various capacities, including Chairman, and
is currently the Board’s Vice-Chair. In July of 2014, the St. Lawrence County IDA named its first industrial building in Canton the “Ernest J. LaBaff Industrial Building.” Ernie is involved in various community activities, including the Potsdam High School Hall of Fame, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW, AmVets, Moose, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and Weller
Mountain Hunting Club, just to name a few. Ernest LaBaff resides in Potsdam, New York.
His current term on the IDA Board expires in September 2020.

Lynn Blevins was appointed to the Board of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in June 2006 and currently serves as the Agency Board’s Secretary. Lynn is the owner of Blevins Brothers, Inc. in Ogdensburg. He is a graduate of SUNY Canton, with an AAS in Engineering. Lynn also serves on the St. Lawrence County Workforce Investment Board and formerly held the Board’s Chairmanship. He is an active partner in economic and workforce development efforts.

Lynn resides in Ogdensburg.

His current term on the IDA Board expires in June 2021.

Mark Hall was appointed to the Board of the St. Lawrence County Industrial
Development Agency in December 2009. He served as the Supervisor for the
Town of Fine, New York from January 2007 until June of 2015. He
currently oversees the Star Lake
Water District. He also serves on the
Adirondack Association of Towns
and Villages’ Executive Committee.
He is active with the Clifton-Fine Economic Development Corporation and
has served on the Board of Clifton-Fine Hospital since 2007.
Mr. Hall owned and operated a small environmental remediation business
for 15 years. He wants to see St. Lawrence County prosper from the St.
Lawrence River to the Adirondack Mountains.
Mark resides in Star Lake.
His current term on the IDA Board expires in December 2021.

Andrew McMahon was appointed to the Board of
the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development
Agency in August 2007.

Andy is Superintendent of the Town of Massena
Electric Department, one of 47 municipally owned power companies in New York State with
a system that covers 131 square miles and provides
power to over 9,000 customers.
He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Union College in
Schenectady and has an extensive background in the energy industry to
support economic development.
He worked at DuPont and also in various capacities at Duke Energy
North America. He is a member of Rotary International.

Andy resides in Massena.

His current term on the IDA Board expires in September 2019.

James Reagen is St. Lawrence County’s Legislative Representative to the
Board of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency.
Legislator Reagen was appointed to the IDA Board in February 2019.
His legislative district includes a portion of Ogdensburg.
Mr. Reagen worked as a local newspaper reporter and editor for 30 years.
Since January 2011, he has worked on staff for New York State Senator Patti
Ritchie’s office.
Mr. Reagen is very involved with activities in the local communities,
particularly with Kiwanis and Key Club. He is also the author of several
North Country History books.

Mr. Reagen resides in Ogdensburg, New York.

His current term on the IDA Board expires in 2022.

Steven Morrill was appointed to the Board of the St. Lawrence County
Industrial Development Agency in February 2018.
He operates a family-owned dairy farm, located in Hermon, New York, and
brings an extensive background in agriculture.

Steven is a graduate of Cornell University and has been employed in the
agricultural industry for 28 years. He is a basketball coach at Hermon Dekalb
Central School and member of the Farm Credit Advisory Board.
Steven resides with his family in Dekalb Junction.
His current term on the IDA Board expires in February 2021.

Patrick J. Kelly was appointed the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency’s Chief
Executive Officer on January 1, 2012. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Patrick served the Agency in
various capacities, including its Economic Developer and as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Executive Officer, he oversees the Agency’s planning, initiation, implementation and administration of programs to encourage and attract industries to locate or expand within St. Lawrence County. Patrick is a St. Lawrence County native and a graduate of Cornell University with a concentration in Business Management and Marketing. He resides in Ogdensburg, New York with his wife Jackie, an Elementary School Principal, and their three children, Laken, Reagan and Gannon.

Tom Plastino has been in the economic development “business” since about 1978. He was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in April 2012. Tom previously worked for two years as a Business
Advisor with CITEC, Inc. since April 2010 and prior to that was CITEC’s Executive Director, a position he held since 1992. For 12 of those years, Tom was President of the North Country Alliance. He currently serves as a member of the NCA’s Loan Review Committee and is Treasurer of the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation.

In his spare time, Tom serves as the Treasurer of the St. Lawrence County Housing
Council and as Vice President of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. He has served
as an adjunct instructor at Clarkson University for two years, instructing 5 to 6 students
each semester as they did real-world consulting projects for area businesses and other
organizations.
Before joining CITEC, Tom served for over ten years as the Assistant Administrative
Director of the St. Lawrence County IDA, and as the Facilities Manager for the St.
Lawrence County Office of Economic Development.
At various other times since 1969 he has also worked in a malleable iron foundry and in construction, as well as managed a solid waste authority, a housing agency, a technology transfer organization, and a construction company. He has also taught college history and high school English at one time or another for short stints. He happens to be an electrician by trade. He holds a collection of degrees from the
University of Notre Dame, and has also taken courses at two other universities.

Kimberly A. Gilbert was appointed as the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency’s
Chief Financial Officer on December 9, 2015. Prior to her appointment as CFO, Kimberly served
the Agency as its Fiscal Manager. As Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for the
care and custody of all funds of the Agency, and all of the funds administered by the Agency.
Kimberly is a St. Lawrence County native and a graduate of SUNY Canton
with a degree in Accounting. She resides in Hannawa Falls, New York with her husband, Kevin, and their
two children, Bethany and Jordan.