Agency expands staff

MALTA, N.Y. » Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership recently announced an expansion of its professional staff.

Shelby Schneider, who joined the Saratoga Partnership in May 2016 as director of business retention and expansion, has been promoted to vice president. In her new role, she will spearhead a host of economic attraction and retention initiatives, working closely with public and private sector partners and stakeholders to drive economic growth in Saratoga County, a news release said.

In addition, Michael Hagerty has joined the Saratoga Partnership as an economic development specialist, bringing a wealth of experience as a municipal grant writer and non-profit administrator. And, as the organization’s new executive assistant, Michele Battle will provide administrative and marketing skills to support various programs and initiatives.

“We are delighted to grow our team of professionals and double down on our efforts to promote Saratoga County as a great place to live, work and do business,” Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, said in the release. “With Shelby overseeing an expanded portfolio, combined with the talent that Michael and Michele bring to the agency, we are well-equipped to drive economic growth that will benefit Saratoga County.”

Schneider has been working in economic development since 2000, with extensive background serving the public, private and not-for-profit sectors of Saratoga County and the Capital Region. She is a member of the Saratoga, Warren and Washington County Workforce Development Board, and an appointed member of the New York State Workforce Investment Board, where she serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Significant Industries Committee. She was also recently appointed to the Camp Chingachgook Advisory Council. Schneider earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Business Administration from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and is a Leadership Saratoga Alumni. She resides in the Town of Wilton with her husband, Evan, and four children.

With more than a decade of experience working for regional economic development and planning groups in the Hudson Valley, Hagerty is very familiar with state and federal grants and economic development programs. During his career, he obtained several significant community development grants as grant writer with the town of Amenia. He most recently worked as a community development specialist at Laberge Group in Albany, where he assisted municipalities in obtaining major grant funds for key local infrastructure projects. Hagerty obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany in Political Science, and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration

at the Nelson Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs at SUNY. He resides in Waterford, New York.

Battle brings over a decade of not-for-profit administration and marketing experience. Her background includes marketing and administrative roles at the Warren County Bar Association, Healthy Visions and WAMC Northeast Public Radio. She also spent five years supporting Simmons Machine Tool’s administration and marketing efforts. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Battle, her husband Jay and two children reside in Schuylerville, where she serves as president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Schuylerville Central School District.

“The Saratoga Partnership is committed to building a top-notch team to ensure Saratoga County’s economy continues to grow and prosper,” Kevin Hedley, chairman of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, said in the release. “The energy, expertise and experience brought by these professionals is an important part of making that happen.”