Catskill Center Welcomes Four New Members to Board of Directors

Above photo: Catskill Center Board Chair, Peg DiBennedetto and Catskill Center Executive Director, Jeff Senterman.

ARKVILLE — The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development is pleased to announce the election of four accomplished professionals to its Board of Directors. The new board members bring expertise in legal policy, government relations, business leadership, and creative design, strengthening the organization's capacity to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region.

The newly elected board members members include:

Laura Brodie is the President of Pusterla US, a global luxury packaging manufacturer with operations in Oneonta, and proudly lives here in the Catskills. She offers extensive leadership and board service experience, including as a packaging executive and founding member of a community-based theater non-profit, Starring Buffalo. She is a hiker, runner, and skier devoted to the mountains, waters and communities of New York, and looks forward to sharing her operational and strategic skills in support of the Catskill Center’s work across the region.

Nicole Caputo is an award-winning graphic designer and artist who lives full time in the Catskills. Nicole is VP, Creative Director of Catapult, an independent book publisher and runs her own design studio here in the Catskills supporting authors, local businesses, and organizations. A cancer survivor, avid hiker, and gardener focused on native plants and wildlife habitat, she brings both professional creative expertise and a deeply personal commitment to the Catskills’ landscapes and communities. She is also a member of the Conservation Advisory Council, manages the Shandaken Compost Program, serves on the Shandaken Comprehensive Planning Committee, is a Phoenicia Library Board Trustee, and volunteers with Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center.

Daniela Combe is a full-time Catskills resident and recently retired senior lawyer and executive from IBM, where she most recently helped develop and advocate global policy positions on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. She brings deep experience negotiating multifaceted transactions, managing global teams and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and she has a longstanding personal connection to the region through her family’s multi-generational Catskills hospitality roots.

Adam Roberts is the Vice President for Legislation at Kasirer who works with clients to advance beneficial legislation and block harmful proposals in the New York City Council. He brings particular expertise in real estate, construction, and design from his work with the American Institute of Architects New York and the New York Apartment Association/Community Housing Improvement Program, and has been active in electoral politics as both a candidate and party leader.

Peg DiBennedetto, Catskill Center Board Chair said: "Our Board of Directors is very excited to welcome Laura, Nicole, Daniela, and Adam to our team. Their individual talents and energy will help us in the year ahead which is filled with uncertain challenges, as well as undoubted successes and achievements. We look forward to continuing our mission to serve the environment and communities of our region."

Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center said: “We are thrilled to welcome Laura, Nicole, Daniela, and Adam to our Board of Directors. Their deep ties to the Catskills and remarkable professional expertise—from law and public policy to executive leadership, design, and community-building—will strengthen our ability to protect the Catskill Park and support the communities that call it home. At a time of growing pressure on our forests, waters, and towns, their vision and commitment will help guide the Catskill Center’s work for years to come.”

The addition of these four board members reflects the Catskill Center's continued growth and its commitment to bringing broad perspectives and expertise to its governance. Their combined experience in technology policy, government relations, business leadership, and creative design will help advance the organization's strategic priorities moving forward, including conservation, community well-being, financial sustainability, and climate action.