Foundation names new president

Goshen — The board of trustees of the Orange County Citizens Foundation has appointed Nancy Proyect to the position of president, effective Jan. 1. Proyect will replace long-time president Patricia Gilchrest, who has served as the head of the organization for 18 years and will retire at the end of 2005. Proyect joined the foundation as director of development and communications in January 2005. Her main responsibilities were to increase public awareness and financial support of the foundation’s goals and initiatives. “Since joining the foundation staff just 10 months ago, Nancy has increased private and public support of our programs and projects by close to 30 percent,” said Harry Scherr, chairman of the board and the search committee. “She has also become an integral player in our working committees, and has taken a lead in many of our initiatives.” The search committee also included Tom Weddell, Maggie Smith, Chris Dunleavy, Jim Moss and Lou Heimbach. Proyect has been a member of the organization since 2000, and is well-versed in its history and accomplishments. “The Orange County Citizens Foundation has spent the last 34 years ensuring that the quality of life remains strong for our residents and businesses. My main goal is to ensure that the next 34 years are just as successful for this organization and the county.” Scherr added, “As the county has expanded, so have our initiatives and focus areas. Nancy has the organization, expertise and knowledge to ensure that we remain strong and vocal into the future.” Prior to her work at the foundation, Proyect operated her own consulting firm, Storm King Publishing. Her clients included a number of prominent nonprofit and private sector businesses, such as the Orange County Citizens Foundation, the Orange County Partnership, the County of Orange, the Community Foundation of Orange County, Taylor Recycling, and the Chamber Alliance of New York State. She has also served as an investor and public relations consultant for the Orange County Partnership and as a reporter for Market News International, a real-time financial news service covering the U.S. Treasury and Foreign Exchange markets.