Class of 2022 Third Age Achivement Award Honorees
Carm Basile
Carm Basile is Chief Executive Officer for the Capital District Transportation Authority. CDTA, is an Albany, New York-based mobility management company, serving customers throughout Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga.
Basile has worked at CDTA since 1981 and was named CEO in 2009. As CEO, Basile has company-wide responsibility for transit development, daily operations, and finances. The company’s annual operating budget is $101 million. Basile works with the CDTA Board of Directors to develop innovative strategies high-quality services, programs and facilities for the people of the Capital Region. He has led the transformation of the company into a community-based provider of mobility, increasing ridership, visibility and brand awareness.
CDTA was named the Best Mid-Size Transit System in North America in October 2017. Under Basile’s leadership, the organization has grown its Universal Access agreements with area colleges and businesses, increased mobility options for the Capital Region by adding on-demand service and a regional bike-share program that features more than 500 bikes at 85 stations. Coming this spring, CDTA will launch electric scooters and a car share program that will feature 10 electric cars.
Basile was named Strategist of the Year in 2019 by the Albany Business Review. His vision for what the Capital Region could look like is just one reason he was chosen for this honor. He has challenged business leaders and public officials to step up, come together and eliminate duplication. At CDTA, Basile has pushed the transit organization to think beyond the bus — to also include bus rapid transit, bike share, trolleys, micro-transit and a common payment platform.
Basile serves on a long list of boards and civic organizations, including the Capital Region Chamber, the United Way of the Greater Capital Region and Christian Brothers Academy among others.
Basile was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Worcester State College in Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Studies. He lives in Latham with his wife Sheila. They have two sons.
Charlie J. Diamond
Charles J. Diamond is currently Senior Advisor at Statewide Public Affairs. He was previously Executive Counsel at Gramercy Communications.
In 2010, he was appointed by Governor David A. Patterson to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. He was responsible for ensuring New York State’s legalized parimutuel operations, charitable gaming activities and Class III Native American gaming facilities operated with integrity and in full compliance with New York’s statutes and Board rules.
Charlie was elected member of the Watervliet City Council for 15 years until the Racing and Wagering Board appointment.
Previously, Mr. Diamond served as the Director at the Cable Telecommunications Association of New York where he was instrumental in implementing the Association’s strategic plan involving tax issues, and other matters important to an industry that represents an important segment of New York’s economy.
In 1988, he served as Campaign Manager for Mr. McNulty’s initial bid for the U.S House of Representatives. Mr. Diamond forged strong relationships with key community leaders and elected officials throughout New York State and Washington, DC while serving as District Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Michael R. McNulty. During the 20-year span, he represented the interest of many public and private sector stakeholders before a variety of federal agencies, utilizing his extensive knowledge of the bureaucracy to make it serve the day-to-day interests of the citizens of the congressional district.
Charlie was an active member of the Democratic Party for more than four decades. He served as Watervliet City Democratic Chairman, Albany County Executive Democratic Committee, Albany County Democratic Candidate Review Committee, and Democratic Convener-3rd Judicial District, New York State Supreme Court.
In 2000, Charlie founded Kids Count!, now Arsenal City Kids, a 501©(3) organization financially supporting kids programs and scholarship opportunities in the City of Watervliet and surrounding communities.
He has been and continues to be involved with a wide array of community and civic organizations, serving on boards of directors for several organizations. He has been recognized for his community service by charitable, fraternal and civic groups representing those involved in education, law enforcement, youth activities and business.
Charlie is a lifelong LA Dodgers fan. He also enjoys golfing, skiing, and beach life. Also a member of the of SAG-AFTRA entertainment union.
He is married to Giovina (Waldo) Diamond, and they have two children Robert J. (Krystina), and Bridget M. McAvoy, and his “little buddy” his grandson Anthony P. McAvoy, Jr.
Deborah A. Goedeke
Debby Goedeke is currently the Destination Services Manager for Discover Albany and Albany Film Commissioner for Film Albany, a division of Discover Albany. Debby has been in both roles for over 17 years. Since 2000, Debby has also worked as Vice-President of Meetings & Conventions for Empire Meeting Solutions, Guilderland, NY, Debby managed all of Empire’s meetings, unique events, and incentive travel programs. As Destination Services Manager and Albany Film Commissioner, Debby helps all of her clients and partners by matching up the right “Albany” resource for their conferences, city-wide conventions, sporting tournaments, corporate meetings, film shoots, commercials, documentaries, conferences, city-wide conventions, sporting tournaments, and corporate meetings. Debby continues to work with the motion picture industry and independent film community. Debby has worked with SALT, The Other Guys, Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, Fourth Man Out, As You Are, The Pretenders, Then Came You, The Punisher, HBO Successions, Amazon’s Modern Love, HBO White House Plumbers, Gilded Age, Showtime’s 3 Women, and other feature film/television productions.
Debby is a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International, Capital Region & Adirondack Film Alliance, Advisory Member of Upstate Women in Film and Television, Regional Film Commission Member of the New York Production Alliance, Capital Region Chamber Member, Destinations International Member and Past President of the Northeast Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.
Debby’s awards include Empire State Society of Account Executives, Associate Member of the Year, and Meeting Planners International Upstate Chapter, Making a Difference.
Debby is a proud grandmother and a native of Keene, NY in the High Peaks region. Debby, in her spare time, enjoys running and participating in triathlons and marathons. Debby and her husband Art live in Delmar, NY with their fur babies Echo and Nova.
Dr. Lee A. McElroy, Jr.
Dr. Lee A. McElroy, Jr. began his tenure as interim director of athletics in March 2015 and was named the permanent director in July 2015. He is responsible for overseeing the Institute’s 12 men’s and 11 women’s NCAA intercollegiate teams (21 Division III, 2 Division I), involving more than 550 student-athletes.
“At Rensselaer,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson upon the announcement of McElroy’s full-time appointment, “our expectations for our students are very high: we expect them to change the world. We are very pleased that someone of the stature, experience and intellectual agility of Dr. McElroy will be directing Rensselaer Athletics—and guiding, encouraging, and developing the remarkable young men and women who attend Rensselaer.”
“I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson for the opportunity to serve as the director of athletics at RPI,” said McElroy in July 2015. “During my interim appointment, I worked closely with Dr. Jackson and the campus leadership to further our focus on supporting student-athletes on and off the field with programmatic and leadership opportunities that embody the Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students (CLASS) approach to the Rensselaer student experience. The student-athletes, coaches, and staff are dedicated to attaining excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership—which is embedded in The Rensselaer Plan 2024 and a critical part of the vision for The New Polytechnic.”
For the 14 years prior to joining Rensselaer, Dr. McElroy served as Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Albany. During this time he was appointed to the NCAA Management Council and elected president of the National Association of College Athletic Directors (NACDA); won three America East Commissioner’s Cups in 2007, 2013 and 2014; earned 32 NCAA post-season berths; won 74 America East conference titles; was named to the NACDA Hall of Fame in 2012 and served as President of the America East Board of Directors in 2007 and 2011.
The ECAC Athletics Director of the Year in December of 2014, McElroy was appointed Emeritus Vice President and Director of Athletics by the State University of New York in 2015. He is a Trustee with the Capital District YMCA and also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the United States Sports Academy and The College of Saint Rose as well as the Director for the California Minority Golf Association.
In June 2015, he was honored with the prestigious Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Distinguished Service Award for his dedication in promoting the understanding and appreciation of diversity. In 2020, he was the recipient of A Community of Excellence award from Saint Rose for his commitment, service, and contributions to The College and the Capital Region.
Through his more than three decades of athletic administration experience, Dr. McElroy also served as athletic director at several other prominent universities, including American University and California State University. In addition, he served as associate director of athletics at the University of Houston.
Dr. McElroy received an educational doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Houston, a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s of science degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a three-year letterman on the UCLA football team.
Libby Post
Libby Post brings a wide range of communications experience, advocacy and political campaign expertise to her clients. What began as a graphic design firm in 1984, Communication Services has transformed into a full-service public affairs and lobbying operation that provides strategic communications and campaigns to clients that include public libraries, healthcare organizations and animal welfare groups. 2024 will mark the firm’s 40th anniversary.
Post also runs the political consulting firm, Progressive Elections, LLC, with her business partner, Sheila Healy. They specialize in local elections and have had tremendous success electing pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ candidates since starting the firm in 2018.
Through her public affairs work, Post runs the New York State Animal Protection Federation and represents the state’s network of animal shelters at the capitol. She has been successful in garnering support for homeless companion animals including the establishment of the Companion Animal Capital Fund which will receive $10M in funding in the FY23 state budget.
Post has been a regular on WAMC’s The Roundtable for over a decade. She is the founding co-chair of CapitalWomen, the Capital Region’s political action committee. She is also an adjunct professor at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy where she teaches “The Science and Art of Political Campaigns” and “Making Policy Understandable.”
Post holds a Master’s Degree in Political Communications from the University at Albany. She lives in Menands, NY with her partner of 27 years this June 11th, Lynn Dunning-Vaughn, their soon to be four-year old Golden Retriever Shayna and her 6-year-old sister Sophie who was rescued from an Amish Puppy Mill. They have a 36-year-old son, Alex Vaughn, who is an organic farmer in the mid-Hudson Valley.
Charles B. Ries, Esq.
Charles B. Ries is the senior shareholder attorney in the firm. A native of Buffalo, New York, Charles graduated from Alfred University and the Albany Law School of Union University. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocates General Corps from 1965-1969.
Charles was an instructor of Business Law at Siena College and a City Court Judge for the City of Cohoes, New York from 1975-1978. Charles is a legal counsel to the Cohoes Community Center and a member of the board of directors of the Cohoes Rotary Club. Charles has been practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate and estate administration, wills, trusts, elder law, including Medicare/Medicaid planning, and applications and real estate.
Peter G. Ten Eyck II
Mr. Ten Eyck is the owner of Indian Ladder Farms Inc. an apple orchard, cider mill and retail farm market located 2 miles west of Voorheesville, NY.
He is a graduate of Cornell University and lives on the farm with his wife Rose-Marie a former professor at The University of Albany. He is the 10th generation of the family living in the Capital District. The farm is in its 104th year being competently run by the 11th generation, daughter Laura Ten Eyck and son Peter
Besides his farming duties, he is a director of The New York Center for Agriculture and Medicine, and New York’s Apple Research and Development Board, as well as several advisory boards in the community and around the state
He is a past president of the New York State Horticultural Society as well as a former member of the New York State Commission on Constitutional Revision and has served as vice-chairman of the board of Albany Institute of History and Art
Other past services include 23 years as a director and exec. committee member of KeyCorp as well as a member of the board of education of the Voorheesville Central School District and as a trustee of the Albany Academy
In 2001 he was named “Trustee Emeritus” after 12 years of service as a trustee of Cornell University.