Meet the Board of Trustees
Name: R. Pete Suttmeier
Joined the Board: 2017
Appointment: Essex County
Position with the Board: Chair
Degree: A.B. (Dartmouth College); PhD in political science (Indiana University)
Employment: Retired
Employment History: Professor of Political Science, University of Oregon, 1990-2010
Professor of Government, Hamilton College, 1970-1990; Beijing Representative, National
Academy of Sciences, 1987; Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, 1985-86
Volunteer History: Keene Valley Library Association (served as treasurer and president) Board member; High Peaks Educational Foundation member; NCCC Foundation member.
Mr. Suttmeier grew up and attended public high school in Queens, New York. Following his graduate study, he joined the faculty at Hamilton College which also marked the beginning of his love affair with the North Country. Through the hospitality of a senior colleague at Hamilton, Mr. Suttmeier became acquainted with Keene Valley and bought his house there in 1986. Through his research and teaching over the years he has been focused on China and its modernization. In retirement (after 2010) he has ski’d and hiked less and canoed more!
Name: Todd LaPage
Joined the Board: 2023
Appointment: Franklin County
Position with the Board: Secretary
Degrees: C.A.S. – Educational Leadership (SUNY Plattsburgh), Masters – Special Education, B.S. Industrial Labor Relations/Economics (SUNY Potsdam)
Employment: Brushton-Moira Central School – Superintendent of Schools
Volunteer History: Franklin County Agricultural Society Board of Directors, Harness Horse Breeders of New York State Board of Directors
Mr. LaPage is the proud father of four children and the youngest of twelve. He attended elementary and high school at Brushton-Moira Central School and continues to reside in the community. He attended SUNY Potsdam and majored in both Industrial Labor Relations and Economics. Shortly after completing college he started as a substitute at the school and enjoyed the educational field so much he pursued a career in education. He has been a Teacher, Director of Instructional Support Services for FEH BOCES, Director of Special Education, and High School Principal and is currently Superintendent of Schools.
He has a passion for Harness Horse Racing. He operates a harness horse farm in the town of Moira. Mr. LaPage is a 3rd generation horseperson. He has competed in harness racing at all levels throughout the US and Canada.
Name: Seth McGowan
Joined the Board: 2023
Appointment: Franklin County
Position with the Board: Member
Degree: C.A.S. Educational Leadership, SUNY Plattsburgh - M.S. in Education, Instructional Technology, SUNY Potsdam - M.S. in Education, Administration & Supervision, SUNY Plattsburgh -B.S. in Music Education, SUNY Fredonia 1987
Employment: Retired Superintendent of Schools
Work History: Tupper Lake Central School District
Volunteer History: Rotary, Kiwanis, and ADKAction Board member. President of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory.
Seth was born in the Bronx, NY, and resides in Tupper Lake with his wife, Susan. He and his wife raised their three grown children, Laura, Scott, and Sarah in Tupper Lake. He started his career in 1987 in education as an instrumental music teacher in Indian Lake. He took the same position with the Tupper Lake Central School District in 1990 where he later became the computer technology coordinator for the District, LP Quinn Elementary School Principal, Middle/High School Principal, and served as the Superintendent of Schools from 2007 until his retirement in 2020. He spends much of his time doing astronomy outreach to schools and communities, and deep-space astrophotography.
Name: Donna L. Wadsworth
Joined the Board: 2019
Appointment: Essex County
Position with the Board: Member
Degree: Bachelor of Arts – English. Advanced Studies – Organizational Leadership
Employment: Retired Communications Manager, International Paper
Years of Experience: 40
Work History: Branch Campus Director, NCCC Ticonderoga; Communications Manager, Int’l Paper
Volunteer Current/Active: Director/Instructor, American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program; North Country Regional Economic Development Council; North Country Alliance Board of Directors; Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act, Agriculture & Forestry Panel.
Ms. Wadsworth grew up in the Pacific Northwest, attended college in Washington and California and have lived in five states. She is the mother of three adult children and grandmother of five. Her greatest pleasures include time with family, open-water swimming, and spending time with her dog. Being part of a learning environment at work and in the community is very important to her.
Name: Linda Beers
Joined the Board: 2023
Appointment: Essex County
Position with the Board: Member
Employment: Director of Public Health, Essex County Health Department
In addition to serving Essex, Linda continues to advocate for policies addressing the health and human services needs of underserved populations throughout the region and state. Her professional affiliations and active memberships include:
- Essex County Heroin Opiate Collation (ECHO) – Co - Chair
- Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition
- Early Intervention Coordination Council
- Adirondack Health Foundation (Birth to Three) Steering Committee
- Adirondack Health Institute Committees – DSRIP, Work Force Development, and Adirondack Rural Health Network
- NYS Health Foundation- Community Advisory Committee
- New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) – Vice Pres.
- NYSAPHA
- NYSAC- Co- Chair of the Public Health and Mental Health Standing Committee
She has been nominated for and received multiple awards including the Advocacy of the Year Award’ from the NYS Traumatic Brain Injury Foundation and the Mountain Lake Services ARC ‘Citizenship Award’ that recognition by her colleagues as a true champion. Multiply Leadership awards from NYSACHO, AHI, and NYSPHA.
Name: Tricia Preston
Joined the Board: February 2025
Appointment: NYS Governor
Position with the Board: Member
Degree: Masters Liberal Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh; BS in Education, SUNY Cortland; Associates of Science, North Country Community College
Employment: Retired Teacher
Employment History: Adirondack Sports Council, Community Relations IIHF Women’s World Championship, Utica NY 2023; Protocol/FISU Relations/Community Relations 2022-23; Aquatic Manager, Adirondack Health Medical Fitness Center 2019-2022; Teacher of Health/Physical Education, Saranac Lake Central School, 1989-2018; ORDA, Director of Figure Skating 1987-89
Volunteer History: Lake Placid Hall of Fame Committee, Co-Chair; International Children’s Games; Community Engagement Co-Chair; Lake Placid Youth Athletic Association, former Board Member; Saranac Lake Red Cross, former Board Member.
Tricia is a 1983 graduate of NCCC. While a student at NCCC she met her husband Bobby Preston and has been a resident of Lake Placid ever since. She, along with her partner Keith Clark, have raised their two children, Chelsea (Preston) Erickson and Connor Preston, recently welcoming their first grandchild, Ryder Erickson.
Creating friendships and making memories, spanning 30 years in the Saranac Lake Central School District, teaching Health/Physical Education and coaching, is what Tricia cherishes most about her career. She has found that living in Lake Placid and having taught in Saranac Lake gave her a unique opportunity to get to know most people in both communities. She enjoys seeing former students and their children, whom she also taught.
Name: David McNally
Joined the Board: 2025
Appointment: NYS Governor
Position with the Board: Member
Degree: B.A. Political Science and Communications, SUNY Oswego
Employment: AARP New York Senior Director of Government Affairs & Advocacy
Work History: New York State Assembly (1986-1994) Communications professional, served as public affairs director for the Majority Leader. AARP New York (1994-Present) Serve as a statewide spokesperson and advocate, Represent AARP at international aging conferences in Switzerland and Toronto, Recipient of the Lynn Bodiford Award, AARP's highest advocacy recognition
Volunteer History: St. Joseph’s Church Choir member, former trustee and Fundraising Chair of the Minerva Historical Society, organizer of the Minerva Day Band, and Minerva Day Parade volunteer
A proud native of Olmstedville, NY, David earned his degree from SUNY Oswego before returning to his hometown roots. He currently resides in Olmstedville with his wife Clare, a dedicated educator who served as both a school librarian and English as a Second Language teacher before her retirement. Their home is made complete by their two beloved dogs, Trudy and Beatrice.
Name: Shia Bright
Joined the Board: August 2024
Appointment: NCCC Student
Position with the Board: Student Member
Degree: A.S. Environmental Science
Volunteer History: Assists in local food drives
Shia was born and raised in Gouverneur, NY. She is a graduate of the Gouverneur school district and also participated in the BOCES program for Criminal Justice. Her hobbies include reading, crocheting, fishing, hunting and kayaking.