Kate Fish announces retirement after 12 years leading regional nonprofit

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) Board of Directors announced that Executive Director Kate Fish will retire later this year, after nearly 12 years leading the organization. The regional economic development nonprofit has launched a nation-wide search to fill the position.

“Kate is leaving a lasting legacy at ANCA and Adirondack North Country,” said Board President Jim Sonneborn. “Her vision and bias toward action have helped ANCA become a real leader in sustainable economic development. ANCA’s Clean Energy Program and Center for Businesses in Transition are models for other rural areas, and we have Kate’s innovative thinking to thank for that.”

Founded in 1955, ANCA works to build prosperity across northern New York by creating and sustaining wealth and value in local communities through three core program areas: Clean Energy, Food Systems and the Entrepreneurial Economy. In 2019, ANCA took on operation of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative when state funding enabled the hiring of its inaugural director.

“This is a great time for ANCA to attract an excellent new leader. I have accomplished what I set out to do over the past 12 years — building a skilled staff and board, establishing a strong clean energy program, securing new revenue sources, and accelerating our entrepreneur and small business programs,” said Fish.

“We have a solid strategic plan in place that will benefit North Country communities over the next five years. Our staff are passionate and talented, and each member of our board brings important knowledge and experience to this work,” she said. “I’m proud that ANCA’s voice has been at the table through my work on the NYSERDA Board, as an inaugural member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC), and as a member of the New York Federal Reserve Bank’s Community Advisory Council.

“I’m also encouraged as ANCA is becoming a more mindful and compassionate organization where we actively work to center diversity, equity and inclusion in all our program areas,” she said. “I will be excited to see how the new director uses this momentum to continue to grow economic opportunities in the region that are equitable and just.”

ANCA’s board has appointed a small search committee to manage the search process, including Dr. Ty Stone, ANCA board member and NCREDC Co-chair.

“As president of Jefferson Community College, I understand the importance of hiring the right leaders to continue the great progress we’ve made in the North Country,” she said. “Although we will miss Kate Fish and her leadership, I am confident that ANCA’s reputation, momentum and impact on the region puts us in an ideal place to attract excellent candidates.”

A complete job description can be found on the ANCA website at bit.ly/ANCA-ED. ANCA is accepting applications until Friday, May 7, 2021.

ANCA is an independent, nonprofit corporation with a transformational approach to building prosperity across northern New York. ANCA’s community-informed, results-driven strategies for local food producers, small business owners, would-be entrepreneurs and municipal innovators offer targeted interventions that are designed to keep wealth and value in local communities.

Photo of Kate Fish provided by ANCA