Institute Staff
Zack Block, Staff Assistant for Information Systems
Zack Block helps maintain the Institute's local area network and servers, as well as provides support to the end user as issues arise. He is also responsible for the technical development of the Institute's web site. Zack earned a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology from the State University of New York at Delhi. Prior to working at the Institute, Zack worked in IT for a private company in the waste-to-energy industry.
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Patricia Cadrette, Staff Assistant for Finance, Administration, and Conferences, and
Project Administrative Officer for Urban and Metropolitan Studies
As the staff assistant for finance, administration and conferences, Patricia Cadrette is responsible for the daily management and administration of project grants, contracts and procurement. Patti also serves as the project administrative officer for the Urban and Metropolitan Studies program, where she is responsible for contract management, fiscal administration and research support. Prior to joining the Institute, Patti worked for a New York State senator, for the commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal and in the New York State Governor’s Office.
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Joe Chamberlin, Director of Information Systems
Joe Chamberlin earned a dual degree in physical science and education from Syracuse University. Prior to working at the Institute, Joe worked for SUNY at System Administration.
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Michele Charbonneau, Staff Assistant for Publications
Michele Charbonneau assists in the various stages of publishing the Institute’s reports and publications including the New York State Statistical Yearbook. Michele received her bachelor's degree at the University at Albany.
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Michael Cooper, Director of Publications
Michael Cooper supervises all stages of the publication process, handles desktop publishing, and exercises editorial supervision of the web site operations of the Institute. Prior to joining the Institute in 1988, he was a production editor at Ziff-Davis Publications, the Association for Computing Machinery, and Simon & Schuster. Cooper is a graduate of the University at Albany.
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Claire Hughes, Director of Communications
Claire Hughes spreads the word about the Institute's work, serving as primary media contact and managing Web site content. She has been at the Institute since 2003, previously holding the positions of web editor, and communications director/correspondent for the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, a former project of the Institute’s Urban and Metropolitan Studies Program. Before joining the Institute, Claire worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in New York’s Capital Region, including the Albany Times Union, the Capital District Business Review, and The Record. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
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Heather Stone, Staff Assistant for Finance
Heather Stone began working for the Institute in December 2000 and currently is the staff assistant for finance and administration. She has an associate’s degree in business administration from Hudson Valley Community College.
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Heather Trela, Executive Assistant for the Executive Directors’ Office
Heather Trela provides principal administrative support for the director and deputy director of the Institute. She holds a master's degree in political science from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy and a bachelor's in economics and political science from Hartwick College.
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