About Pattern
Staff
Jonathan Drapkin is President and CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. At Pattern he has developed a portfolio of projects and assistance to the region in community and economic development.
Under Jonathan’s leadership Pattern has been recognized on numerous occasions including Orange County Association of Realtors Excellence in Innovation Award (2008), President’s Award for analysis and leadership on the MTA Payroll Tax from the Orange County Chamber of Commerce (2009), President’s Award for Service to the Rockland Business Association for analysis of the County’s finances (2013) and Hudson River Housing’s Community Builder Award (2014).
As executive director of the Gerry Foundation in Sullivan County from 2000 to 2006, Drapkin guided the creation of Bethel Woods performing arts center at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Prior to that, he was county manager of Sullivan County. Jonathan has been awarded the Sullivan County Partnership’s Distinguished Service Award (2006), the Walter Rhulen Award as Businessman of the Year (2001), the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award (2000), and the American Society for Public Administration’s Award for Outstanding Administrator for the New York Metropolitan Chapter (1996).
Jonathan spent his earlier years in New York City where he worked in the administration of Mayor Ed Koch and as Director of the New York City Council’s Office of Oversight and Investigation.
Jonathan has served as a member of two Governors’ Commissions focusing on the restructuring of local government and currently serves on the executive committee of the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. Drapkin has also taught government efficiency and effectiveness in Baruch College’s Masters Degree in Public Administration for 7 years.
Jonathan graduated from Washington University, after completing a year abroad at Durham University in Northern England; he then earned a Master’s degree in economics from Long Island University, and a law degree from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.
Robin DeGroat is Vice President of Operations. She oversees all aspects of the organization including membership, sponsorship, presentation of research and events. Prior to joining Pattern, Robin served as an executive assistant at Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts and IBEW Local 1968.
Allison Dunne is a member of the Pattern team that oversees education research and organizational communications. An award-winning broadcast journalist, Allison was mostly recently Hudson Valley Bureau Chief for WAMC Northeast Public Radio. She has also been the producer of WAMC’s “51%,” a weekly show about the women’s perspective that is heard on public and community stations throughout the U.S. It’s a program she continues to host and produce.
March Gallagher specializes in infrastructure research, the regional economy and grants administration. She has served on the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and has worked to understand the impact of economic development on communities. Prior to her work at Pattern, she was with Ulster County Government as Director of Business Services and a Deputy Director of Planning. Ms. Gallagher is an attorney admitted to practice law and worked in the litigation department of Ropes & Gray prior to moving to New York.
Barbara Gref is a journalist who specialized in public education for much of her 25-year career, publishing work on accountability and the changing role of schools that has been nationally recognized. She has also served on the news production team at the Casey Center for Journalism on Children and Families at the University of Maryland. At Pattern, she has authored a number of education reports including “The Empty Classroom Syndrome” (2013), “Shared Superintendents” (2014), and “The Spin We’re In” (2014). She has also contributed to a number of studies for the Center for Housing Solutions, including the Putnam County “Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan” (2014) and “Housing Impact Estimate: School Enrollment.”
Paul Hesse focuses on the Urban Action Agenda at Pattern. Paul holds a Masters in Urban Planning from the Urban Affairs and Planning Program at Hunter College – City University of New York. Prior to joining the team at Pattern, Paul was the Community Development Director for the City of Poughkeepsie. During his time with Poughkeepsie, Paul administered the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, including the selection of public service programs and public facilities and infrastructure capital improvement projects annually funded by CDBG. He also served as the City’s Grants Coordinator, managing all aspects of planning and development grants, including researching and writing grants as well contract administration and project consultant management.
Michael A. Welti, AICP, brings 20 years of experience as a certified planner in both the public and private sectors to Pattern. His areas of expertise include urban design, transportation planning and grantsmanship. Mike holds a Master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Albany. Most recently, Mike worked as the director of planning and development for the City of Peekskill. Prior to that, he was director of planning services at Behan Planning and Design and previously was a senior planner and senior project manager at The Chazen Companies.
In Memoriam
Edda Eller
October 6, 2010