The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region honors Susan Picotte, Esq., Virginia Gregg, and Ann Sharpe Esq., for completing their third and final term on the Board of Directors. Their leadership and service has helped the Foundation grow in both size and stature in the community. With their support, the assets under stewardship of the Community Foundation grew from $48.6 million in 2011 to $89.4 million in 2019. During that time, more than $51.1 million in grants and scholarships were distributed back to the local community. The Community Foundation is grateful for their committment to our region.
Susan Picotte, Esq. is a partner in the Albany firm, Cooper Erving & Savage LLP, where she has practiced since graduating from Albany Law School. Ms. Picotte served on the Board of Directors from 2011-2020. She served as chair from 2016-2018 and was active on the Foundation’s Governance, Grants, Stewardship and Communications and Finance Committees.
Virginia Gregg had a distinguished 35-year career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, serving as Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial Officer for 20+ years prior to retiring in 2018. Ms. Gregg served on the Board of Directors from 2011-2020 and was an active member of the Foundation’s Finance Committee.
Ann Sharpe, Esq. is the Vice President of Wealth Management at Ballston Spa National Bank, overseeing the company’s wealth management area. Ms. Sharpe served on the Board of Directors from 2011-2020 and served on the Foundation’s Audit Committee from 2014-2020, serving as chair from 2019-2020 as well as serving on the Grants Committee from 2011-2018, serving as Chair from 2015-2018. She also has served as a member of the Professional Advisor Council since 2009 and will continue to support the Foundation in this role.
“Over the past three and a half years, it has been my pleasure to work and serve with Susan Picotte, Virginia “Ginny” Gregg, and Ann Sharpe,” said John Eberle, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Their diligence and support have been fundamental to the success of the Foundation. During their tenure, the Community Foundation grew our grantmaking and community leadership ability, and we owe them our sincere thanks for making that possible. Thank you, Susan, Ginny, and Ann!”
As we give our thanks to departing members, we also welcome our newest members, Dorcey Applyrs, PhD, Belinda Hilton, and Meaghan Murphy, Esq., who will begin their first terms in September. The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors strives to be representative of the region’s robust business, civic, and cultural diversity. Board members guide the Foundation’s success in strategic grantmaking, philanthropic services, and community leadership. The Board establishes policies, organizational priorities, and program strategies to ensure operational integrity and financial accountability.
“As the incoming Chair of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, it is my honor to welcome newly elected Board members,” said Mark Eagan, President & CEO of the Capital Region Chamber. “I’m thrilled to welcome the Hon. Dorcey Applyrs, PhD, Ms. Belinda Hilton, and Meaghan Murphy, Esq. to the Board. Each represents the best of the Capital Region. On behalf of the entire staff and Board, we look forward to serving with you in the days to come.”
For a full list of members of the Board of Directors and Board Emeriti of the Community Foundation, visit https://www.cfgcr.org/about-the-foundation/leadership. Full biographies of the new board members may be found below.
Dorcey Applyrs, PhD
The Honorable Dorcey Applyrs, PhD, has built a personal and professional life in the City of Albany devoted to improving the quality of life for residents. Dr. Applyrs currently serves as Albany’s Chief City Auditor. She was appointed by Mayor Kathy Sheehan to serve in this capacity on January 1, 2020. Prior to her appointment as Chief City Auditor, Applyrs served on the Albany Common Council representing the City’s First Ward. She was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. During her second term, she served as Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
Dr. Applyrs moved to Albany in 2003 to earn a master’s degree and a doctorate in public health from the University at Albany School of Public Health. She remains actively involved with her alma mater. Dr. Applyrs serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Health Policy, Management, and Behavior Department and member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and Community Advisory Council. She also serves as the Subject Matter Expert for the School’s Center for Public Health Continuing Education.
Dr. Applyrs is highly engaged with the Albany community. She served as the Vice President for Community Health Initiatives with the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and as a member of the board of directors. She currently serves as board member for Eleanor’s Legacy, The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, and the Capital District New Leaders Council. Dr. Applyrs is also a member of the Albany County Board of Health.
Dr. Applyrs has been acknowledged for her strong leadership and commitment to advocating for others. She was named 40 Under 40 by the Albany Business Review, Young Alumni of Excellence by UAlbany, and 2017 Women and Girls Ambassador by Girls Inc. of the Capital Region. Dr. Applyrs has been featured on the cover of HerLife New York Magazine and honored by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand with the 2017 Off the Sidelines Equality Advocate Award. Applyrs resides in Albany with her loving and supportive husband, Don, and beautiful daughter Noble.
Belinda Hilton has over 20 years of comprehensive accounting and financial management experience. She joined The Business Council of New York State, Inc. in December 2018 as the Director of Finance. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the financial operations for the BCNYS. She manages the accounting department, financial and regulatory reporting, and audit engagements for the organization.
Ms. Hilton joined the BCNYS after serving 12 years as Senior Manager of Accounting Operations at Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (AMRI). Belinda managed the core accounting team, processing of credit and collections, payroll, stock administration, and accounts payable for AMRI’s global shared service center. She assisted with treasury management, M&A integration, and other initiatives related to global accounting activities and system improvements. She began her accounting career at Community Care Physicians as a Staff Accountant and subsequently, Accounting Supervisor. She also worked as a Senior Accountant for UHY LLP., where she completed compilations, reviews, and audits of small business, healthcare, and not-for-profit entities.
Ms. Hilton holds a BS in Accounting, with a minor in History, from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. She has served on several committees and boards. Currently, she serves on the Board of Trustees for The Sage Colleges, where she is Audit Committee Chair and Secretary, a member of the Executive Committee and Finance Committee, and previously served on the Budget Taskforce and Student Life Committee; Financial Secretary for The Everlasting Life Church. She has served as Treasurer and board member for the Russell Sage College Alumnae Association, Finance Committee Chair, and the Steering Committee for AMRI’s Smart Women Symposiums, Networking Committee Co-Chair.
Ms. Hilton has a passion for young people, and advocates for opportunities and educational access for women, and underrepresented students in higher education. She currently resides in Guilderland, NY, with her husband Averell and two children, Isaac and Olivia.
Meaghan E. Murphy, Esq. is a Senior Associate Attorney with Lavelle & Finn, LLP. The 2008 Mount Holyoke College graduate earned her Juris Doctor at Albany Law School in 2012, graduating summa cum laude. During her time at the firm, she participated in the Leadership Tech Valley program, an initiative of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce as a member of the 2015-2016 class. Prior to joining Lavelle & Finn, Ms. Murphy was an Appellate Court Attorney for the New York State Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department.
Ms. Murphy is active in the community, serving as a Trustee of the Board of the Albany Institute of History and Art, as the President-Elect of the Board of the Junior League of Albany, and as a member of the SPAC Junior Committee. She has also volunteered with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Center of the Capital Region. She is a member of several professional groups, including the New York State Bar Association, the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, and the NENY Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
A native of Bethlehem, New York, Ms. Murphy resides in Troy, New York, with her husband Nick and her daughter Rosemary