Board of Directors
Nicholas Eells
Board President
A board member since 2012, Nick Eells was elected Board President in 2020. He also serves on the boards of UVM Health Network — Alice Hyde Medical Center and Malone Golf Club. Mr. Eells is the Managing Partner of The Hoffman Eells Group CPAs, a public accounting firm with offices in Malone, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh. Additionally he provides asset management services as a Registered Investment Advisor with Avantax Advisory Services.
Jennifer Bilow
Vice President
A board member since 2017, Jenn is the owner, artist and yoga and mindfulness instructor at Anam Cara Studio in Malone. Anam Cara Studio focuses on integrating holistic health practice and art to heal ourselves and our community. Prior to that, she worked as a textile designer in New York City and Los Angeles. Jenn has also served on the boards of the Malone Recreation Commission, Adirondack for Kids and Foothills ARTSociety.
Deanna Smith
Treasurer
A board member since 2018, Deanna is a Registered Nurse with experience in administration, quality improvement, implementation of evidence-based practices, the development of individualized care plans and working with vulnerable populations. She has returned to a career in education as a nursing instructor and is also an adjunct professor at North Country Community College teaching nursing.
Lori Tourville
Secretary
Lori Tourville joined the board in 2020. She is the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Instructional Services at Franklin-Essex-Hamilton (FEH) BOCES. She has been a school administrator in the Malone and Chateaugay districts for the last 15 years, and began her career in education as an elementary school librarian.
Brock Arnold
Board Member
Brock joined the board in 2019. After 10 years with IBM, Brock started leading software development and data modeling teams for start-up companies. This led him to a nonprofit in NYC, responsible for U.S. Department of Defense contracts involving public health, infectious disease detection and pandemic prevention. A few years ago, he returned to the North Country and co-founded Energy Brothers, a local business that distributes propane.
Loretta Fowler
Board Member
Loretta has been on the board since 2020. She is currently the Superintendent of the Chateaugay Central School District, a position she has held since 2013. Prior to that, she served as the elementary school principal and chair of the committee of special education. She started her career as a special education teacher, reading specialist, and later a language arts facilitator before becoming assistant principal with the Malone School District.
Paul Goodrow
Board Member
Paul has been affiliated with Citizen Advocates since its founding in 1975, and a board member since 2004. Paul’s experience as a special education teacher and the very first Director of Special Education for the Franklin-Essex-Hamilton (FEH) BOCES District made him an important voice on the committee whose work culminated in the foundation for Citizen Advocates. Paul went on to hold multiple progressive leadership positions as an educator prior to serving as Deputy Superintendent of FEH-BOCES.
Michael Roesler
Board Member
Michael Roesler is the newest board member, and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for MCM Development. His firm is on the leading edge of commercial real estate development and business management, with a focus on redevelopment of downtowns in the Adirondack region. Prior to MCM, Michael put his financial acumen to work for a range of global investment firms.
Felix Tam
Board Member
A board member since 2017, Felix is a licensed physical therapist working at the outpatient facility at UVM Health Network — Alice Hyde Medical Center, and for Chateaugay Central School District, providing therapy to developmentally delayed school-aged children. Prior to this, he was the Director of Physical Therapy at Rio Physical Medicine Center in Harlingen, Texas. He serves on Titus Mountain Ski Patrol as Director and Town of Bellmont Board of Assessment Review.