Mike Breslin
A native of Albany and a current resident of Bethlehem, former County Executive Mike Breslin, a West Pointer, served 12 years in the Army before becoming an attorney. During his nearly 25 years in private practice he served more than 20 years on the board of Hospitality House, a residential drug treatment facility, 13 years as the pro bono attorney for Saint Anne Institute, a facility for adolescent girls, seven years on the board of LaSalle School for Boys and many years of coaching youth baseball and softball. He was a member of the Albany County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee and remains active in a number of Veterans organizations.
Mike was appointed County Executive on January 1, 1995 and was subsequently elected to a full term that year. He was re-elected in 1999,
2003 and 2007. During his tenure, he stressed tax reduction, fiscal management and efficiency in providing essential services to those in need. Two of his major initiatives were the consolidation of children’s services and expansion of home and community based long term care.
Anthony Esposito, PhD
Tony arrived in Guilderland in 1970 to work for the NYS Legislative Commission on Expenditure Review. He completed his PhD at NYU following an Army tour of duty in Germany. From 1980 to 1994, he was President of Capital Cablevision and Time Warner Cable.
Tony is very active in community affairs, having served on the following Boards: CDTA, Empire State College, The Egg (three appointments by the Governor), VA Hospital, Ten Broeck Mansion, Columbus Day Parade Committee, Evangelist Newspaper, Albany County Business Development Corporation, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Schenectady Military Affairs Committee, WMHT, Palace Theater, Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Child’s Hospital, Child’s Nursing Home and the Community Foundation.
Ellen Elizabeth Ferry Howie
Ellen is an RN, certified in NYS as a School Nurse-Teacher. She combines nursing with her love of art, and encourages people of all ages to use artistic expression in reflecting on their life/disease experiences.
Ellen does pro-bono work as an advocate/mentor in the Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) program of the NYS Nurses Association. She resides in Altamont.
Benjamin A. Shaw, PhD, MPH
Ben is an Associate Professor at the University at Albany School of Public Health, where he teaches graduate courses in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior. He also conducts research focusing on social, psychological and behavioral influences of health during the aging process.
Ben has a BS degree in Psychology from Colgate University, and PhD and MPH degrees from the University of Michigan. He lives in Delmar.
John S. Ten Eyck
John is retired from the Ten Eyck Group, where he served as President for 35 years. A native of the Town of New Scotland, he was brought up — and still lives — on Indian Ladder Farms and assisted his brother in its operation for many years.
John’s long commitment to volunteerism includes service as President of the Albany County Cooperative Extension, President of the Albany Kiwanis Club, President of the Albany County Independent Insurance Agents Association, and Trustee of The Albany Girls Academy, the Mechanics Exchange Savings Bank, and the New York 4-H Foundation. He is an Honorary Life Director of the Parsons Child and Family Center Board of Trustees.
Mary Therriault, RN, MS
Mary is one of the three Altamont residents who conceived of and established Community Caregivers (then “Altamont Community Caregivers”) as a not-for-profit organization in 1995. The goal at that time was to implement the parish nurse concept in the local community. She is still a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the organization.