At the Essex County Land Bank, we are committed to revitalizing and transforming vacant, abandoned, and underutilized properties into valuable community assets. As an land bank administered by PRIDE of Ticonderoga, our mission is to foster sustainable development, promote economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for residents throughout Essex County.
Our board is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We strictly adhere to and promote fair housing practices, ensuring that no person is discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Our commitment to equal opportunity extends beyond employment and encompasses all aspects of our work. By following fair housing practices, we actively contribute to creating a community that is accessible and welcoming to all, regardless of background or circumstances. We strive to uphold the principles of fairness, non-discrimination, and equal access to housing opportunities for everyone in our community.
Meet Our Board
Nicholas Fitzgerald
Director
Raised in Silver Bay, Nicholas has been an advocate for the town his entire life. He graduated from Ticonderoga Senior High School in 2017 before getting his Bachelors of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. For nine seasons, Nick worked with Fort Ticonderoga in various roles; starting as a Fifer in the Fife and Drum Corps to managing its Retail and Guest Service Departments. Recently, he has represented young professionals as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Application Committee and continues to work to improve the town through PRIDE.
Allison Kaupelis
Director
Allison Kaupelis is an accomplished individual who has made significant contributions to her community and the hospitality industry. As a resident of Ticonderoga since 2009, she has deep roots in the community and is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of those around her. With a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Psychology and Counselling, Allison brings a unique perspective to her role as the Regional Director of Operations for Milya LLC. She is responsible for overseeing the operations of Northeast region hotel, ensuring that guests have an exceptional experience during their stay. Moreover, Allison is an active member of the Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as the Chairwoman, where she advocates for the interests of local businesses and works tirelessly to promote economic growth in the area. Adding to her impressive portfolio, Allison’s husband is a New York State Master Teacher and works as a math teacher at Ticonderoga High School. The couple has two children and is committed to providing them with a bright future. Allison’s dedication to her profession, community, and family is truly inspiring and serves as a shining example for others to follow.
James Monty
Ex Officio Land Bank
James Monty was born in Moriah and moved to Lewis in 1971. He graduated from Elizabethtown Lewis Central School in 1975 and SUNY Canton in 1977. James started his career in the New York State Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer in 1985, where he worked at various facilities. In 1989, James transferred to Moriah Shock Correctional Facility and became involved in the State Employee Assistance Program. In 2009, James resigned from Corrections to go to work for the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations in the Statewide EAP program, becoming the Regional Representative for the North Country. He assisted all state employees and their families with a variety of issues which may be causing difficulties in their work life. James retired in 2016. He was a Town Councilman for the Town of Lewis from 1998 – 2016 and became Town Supervisor. James has been on the Board of Directors for Adirondack Community Action Programs since 1998, and is on the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Adirondacks since 2019. He is the Vice Chair of the Essex County Board of Supervisors since 2020 and on the Board of Directors for Essex County Soil and Water. James has been married to Cynthia Monty for 45 years and has a son Tyler Monty and a daughter Abby Monty.
Mark Wright
Ex Officio Land Bank
Mark A. Wright is the Supervisor for the Town of Ticonderoga. Born and raised in Ticonderoga, he is a 1976 graduate of Saint Mary’s School, 1980 graduate of Ticonderoga High School, and a 1984 graduate of Syracuse University with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. Mark is married to Laura (Barron) Wright, and they have two adult children, Zachary Wright, and Samantha Wright. Mark has 35 years of federal service, employed as a civilian federal employee in the Department of Defense/United States Air Force for 16 years at Vandenberg Air Force Base followed by 19 years with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation in Washington DC. He received the Ticonderoga High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019, served as a Ticonderoga Fire District Fire Commissioner, is Vice-President of the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #333, and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He and his wife, Laura, are both dedicated volunteers and actively involved in several efforts within the town. Mark has a passionate love for Ticonderoga’s history and more importantly, a passionate drive for its prosperous future. As Supervisor, he re-initiated the Town’s Economic Development Committee and works with local business, economic development, and revitalization partners to improve Ticonderoga’s economic strength. In his spare time, he enjoys historical research for his website, railfanning, and is an avid model railroader.
Tom Schaffer
Stand In President
Tom graduated from Hudson Valley Community College in 1969 and from the Union College, School of Engineering in 1987. He served in the US Army from 1970-71 and worked for Digital Equipment Corporation from 1969 until 1998 and then Compaq Computer Corporation from 1998 until 2002. He ended his career as a Senior Systems Engineer with Cengage Learning from 2004-2013. Since retiring in 2013, he has been a technology consultant for the Town of Hague and also aids the Hague Volunteer Fire Department with their office technology. He is an active member of the Ticonderoga Kiwanis Club, volunteers with the Ticonderoga Area Backpack Program and has served on the Pride Board of Directors since June of 2018. Tom is a current member of the Silver Bay Association Board of Trustees. He is the manager and operator of the community water system at Arcady Bay HOA where he lives with his wife, Charlene. They enjoy spending quality time on Lake George with their five grandchildren.
Megan Bambara
Director
Megan is the Employment Opportunities & Outreach Coordinator at the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce and the Owner/Operator of Dolly & the Bean located inside Small Town Boutique in Ticonderoga, NY.
Katie Alexander
Director
Katie is the owner and Veterinarian at Ticonderoga Animal Hospital.
Alan R. Jones
Director
Alan was born and grew up in Potsdam NY and has been a resident of Essex County for 30 years, he is the Executive Director/CEO of Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. (ACAP), an Essex County based organization serving the human service needs of the residents. He served as President of the board for the New York State ECLC (Early Care and Learning Council) an agency dedicated to the promotion of excellence in early care and education. Alan Also served for 10 years on the Elizabethtown/Lewis School Board and Board Vice President of the Boquet Valley Central School District.
Alan served as President of New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA). He is a Senate appointee to the CSBG Advisory Council with the NYS Department of State. Alan currently serves on the Executive Committee of the BRIEF (Building Resilience in Essex Families) Coalition and is a Board Trustee for The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital. Alan has his Associates Degree from Paul Smith’s College in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Clarkson University and holds his Family Development Leadership Credential from Cornell University.
Mr. Robin T. DeLoria
Director
Robin DeLoria has been Supervisor for the Town of Newcomb since 2018, and serves as the Chairman of the Essex County Public Works Committee, Chairman of the EMS Sub-committee and member of the Board of Supervisors Pubic Safety and Legislative Committees. Robin has thirty-eight years of service with the Town of Newcomb and served on the Newcomb Central School Board of Education for eight years. During those eight years, he hosted international students from Russia, China, South Korea and Armenia. Robin’s first home was located in the village of Tahawus, New York, until 1963, when entire community of Tahawus was moved using flatbed trailers, 11 miles to the Town of Newcomb Winebrook Hills Subdivision. He is a strong advocate for the environmental safety, while promoting the recreational opportunities in the Adirondack Park. Robin being a native of the Adirondacks, is devoted to maintaining strong vibrant communities.