Stuart Turner assumes the helm as chairman of the Citizens Foundation Board

SUGAR LOAF — Stuart Turner is the new chairman of the Citizens Foundation's Board of Trustees.
Turner, a long-time Orange County citizen, is a partner at Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, and recently served as President And Senior Principal for the Turner Miller Group (previously, Stuart Turner & Associates).
Having more than 50 years of professional planning experience, Turner holds a bachelor's degree in economics and city planning and a master's degree in political science from Rutgers University. He also is a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Turner has been instrumental in supporting our villages, towns and cities in their comprehensive planning, continuing planning, zoning assignments and environmental studies.
In his quest to help to maintain and improve quality of life in Orange County, Stuart has served on the boards of the Citizens Foundation and the Orange County Land Trust for many years, most recently serving as president for the Land Trust through June 2018.
Additionally, he is an advisor to the Orange County Municipal Planning Federation.
Other changesAdditionally, Andrea Nilon, a trustee since 2007, assumes the position of chair-elect; Gaynor Rosenstein, a trustee since 2012, is vice-chair; Robert Marchione, a trustee since 2011, is treasurer; Michael Sweeton, a trustee since 2008, is secretary.
Justin Rider, a trustee since 2009, assumes the position of immediate past chair.
New members welcomed to the Foundation's Board of Trustees include: Michael Flynn, senior relationship manager at M&T Bank and resident of Middletown; Jay Brisman, owner of West Point Tours and resident of Cornwall; and Christina La Perle, senior energy engineer at The Daylight Savings Company and resident of Warwick.
The Foundation thanked outgoing trustees Susan Hawvermale, Richard McGoey and John Lavelle for their service.
About the foundationFor nearly 50 years, the Citizens Foundation is a membership-based, non-governmental organization that improves quality of life for residents through public policy and advocacy in land use and transportation planning, downtown revitalization through placemaking, water conservation, waste management, cultural affairs, education, agriculture, recreation and healthcare.
The Citizens Foundation is housed on 50 acres of farmland, formerly the home of Surrealist artist Kurt Seligmann.
On these Sugar Loaf grounds, known as the Seligmann Center at the Citizens Foundation, the organization brings together community, business and political members to share ideas and create new quality-of-life initiatives for our region.
Public programming includes arts and culture exhibits and performances at the Seligmann Center, political debates and forums, and thought provoking workshops.
For more information, visit www.occitizensfoundation.org, or contact Christa Orsino at 845.469.9459 or corsino@occitizensfoundation.org.