Board of Directors
Steve Finch
President
“I was born and raised and have lived my life in the hamlet of Halcottsville. The Catskills region is a beautiful and safe place to live and raise a family. I count myself among the very fortunate to have been able to stay in this area and earn a living. My goal would be to have more people who could do the same. My hope is that my local business, civic and leadership experiences and knowledge of the area will be a benefit to others through my connection to the MARK Project and the many exciting programs that MARK offers to residents, businesses and municipalities in our region. Sustainable economic growth and responsible management of our local resources is crucial to our area and one that we all need to work together to achieve.”
Einat Burshtine
Vice President
David Reilly
Treasurer
“The Main Street projects are the most important work MARK does. Trying to help the towns rise up helps everyone. It attracts tourists, it creates jobs, it raises everyone up. My background as a CPA helps me to look at financial data for MARK, and try to make decisions that will allow MARK to be here for many years to come.”
Cambria Tallman
Secretary
Cambria is a life-long resident of Arkville, NY and lives with her husband, Wayne, and her 12-year-old son, Wylde. Cambria is a high school graduate of Margaretville Central School and holds bachelor’s degrees in fine art and K-12 Art Education from the environmentally focused Green Mountain College once located in Poultney, Vermont. Since graduating, Cambria utilized the skills acquired through formal education and applied them to careers in the following industries: food and customer service, event/volunteer coordinating, prison corrections, graphic design, marketing, and administrative positions which ultimately led to her current position at Margaretville Telephone Company. Cambria has a passion for rural community growth grounded in putting words to action through a holistic approach that involves key area stakeholders to foster mutually beneficial, social & business relationships effectively leveraging the resources the Central Catskills Region has to offer. Building a career, raising a family, and ensuring the sustainability & vitality of this area through collaborative and inclusive outreach partnerships and programs are at the core to what Cambria believes in and lives by.
Gary Smith
“Being a life long resident, a Fleischmanns/Margaretville community member, and a past business owner, I have personally witnessed the formation of the MARK project. MARK literally resurrected the Village of Margaretville from a devastating fire in the 70’s. Through the vision of MARK, the village was able to rebuild itself and continued to grow and prosper. MARK did not stop there. It continues to provide assistance to neighboring towns and individuals, helping to create a positive impact to everyone in the area. I have the same passion for this community and share the same beliefs of MARK’s mission statement. I am honored to serve on the board and will do my best to uphold this area’s well being, and help move forward with new ideas and programs.”
Travis Balcom
Travis Balcom was born and raised in Andes, NY, where his deep connection to the Catskills community began. After several years traveling, doing commercial construction, he decided to shift his focus to local projects. In 2017, he founded his own residential construction business, which he has steadily grown alongside his dedicated team. Committed to quality, reliability, and supporting the region’s growth, Travis continues to invest his skills and energy into the area he calls home. As a board member of the MARK Project, he is passionate about fostering sustainable development and strengthening opportunities for local residents and businesses.
Michael Cook
Michael Cook lives in Halcott Center after many years of being a weekender from the city. With a background in theatre arts, Michael made a name for himself in NYC as a fashion stylist, working major ad campaigns, editorials, and serving as Fashion and Market Editor at OUT Magazine. In addition to his fashion career, he works locally in landscaping and landscape design with Zone 4 Landscaping. The Catskills are a very special place to him and he deeply believes in their future and development, especially in the ways community and nature connect.
Susan Dey
Recently I was asked, “What brought you to the Catskills?” My answer was, “The Catskills!” The land, the people, the history, the people, towns & villages, the food, and the people. I’m excited to return to the MARK Board and grateful to serve with other committed residents of our interconnected communities. Together we will support the continuation of the MARK Project and its extraordinary accomplishments to preserve what we all love to be—the Catskills.
Seth Perlman
Ryan Sluiter
I’m honored to serve on the MARK Board because I believe in the power of community and the importance of investing in the future of the Catskills. Through my work in the insurance industry, I’ve seen how the right resources and collaboration can help local residents and small businesses thrive. Serving on the Board gives me the opportunity to give back, support sustainable growth, and help ensure the Catskills remains a vibrant and welcoming place for generations to come.
Matt Steen
Matthew Steen is the Business Development & Marketing Manager for Margaretville Telephone Company (MTC) which he transitioned to after a 12-year tenure in the hospitality industry as both a Hotel Manager and Marketing Manager. Mr. Steen’s responsibilities at MTC include product and service development, creating advertising & sales campaigns, collateral design, project management and formulating pricing & go to market strategies. With a commitment to community, Mr. Steen is and has been involved in various boards and committees including the Margaretville Central School Board of Education, the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, CatskillsAir, SCHOPEG, Ulster County Tourism Advisory Board, and in 2019, the I Love NY Tourism Advisory Council.
Tom White
I’ve been a resident of Delaware and Ulster Counties for fifty years or more. For many years, I’ve been involved in economic and community building activities and organizations. I believe MARK to be the leader in these efforts, and I am honored to be on their board.
Andrew Williams