> Board & Staff
Board
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Victoria Storrs is the President and founder of Storrs Associates, LLC, an economic development and development finance consulting firm headquartered in Bethlehem. She works as an advisor and partner with municipalities and economic development organizations to fulfill their goals for economic growth vitality, supporting their planning and decisions with qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. She provides advisory services to development and planning departments and organizations such as IDAs on special district formation and legislation, financial incentives, project evaluation practices and benchmarking, and mission and governance, and has been invited to speak at conferences and conduct workshops on economic development trends, Opportunity Zones, and tax abatement tools.
She has assisted municipalities and their public and private partners for more than 20 years, beginning as an investment banker at First Albany Corporation, and then managing debt financings for the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. She taught money and capital markets at the State University of New York at Albany School of Business, and was an independent economic development consultant before joining Camoin Associates of Saratoga Springs, conducting market and industry sector analyses, strategic plans, regulatory, and policy reviews, and guiding implementation of financial assistance tools such as PILOTs and tax increment financing,becoming the firm’s first Development Finance Practice Leader.
A Bethlehem resident since 2000, Victoria holds an MBA in Finance from the State University of New York at Albany School of Business and a BA from Williams College in Williamstown, MA. In addition to serving the IDA as a Member, Assistant Secretary, then Vice Chair, she has been a Board Member and Treasurer for the Delmar Track and Field Club and, with her family, actively supported Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as well as the Bethlehem Central School District music program.
Chair
vstorrs@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: February 2012
Term: At pleasure of Town Board
Committees: Finance, Audit
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A highly successful businessman, certified public accountant, and respected community leader, Richard Kotlow’s contributions to the Capital Region are expansive.
Currently serving as a senior consultant to UHY, LLP and UHY Advisors NY, Inc., he officially retired from the accounting and business firm in 2012 after 40 years with the company in senior leadership positions including a decade as CEO. He also served as a board member for UHY International Ltd., a top 25 global network of professional services firms.
While he truly enjoys sharing his expertise with his industry peers, it is his involvement with the Capital Region community that brings him immeasurable satisfaction. He is currently serving as Past Chair of the Schenectady County Community College Foundation board of directors, is a former chair of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a past treasurer of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District and Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center. Other committees he has served include the Bethlehem 2020 Committee, Bethlehem Microenterprise Grant selection committee, and Capitalize Albany.
Mr. Kotlow has received several honors and awards in recognition of his service including, along with his wife, Kathy, the Albany JCC’s Pillar Award in 2016. He holds a bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts.
The Kotlows reside in Slingerlands, New York and have three children and four grandchildren.
Treasurer
rkotlow@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: November 2018
Term: At the pleasure of the Town Board
Committees: Finance (chair), Governance
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Victor Franco has been a Bethlehem resident since 2008.
Since 2005, Victor has worked at the New York State Assembly’s Committee on Ways and Means as the Principal Deputy Budget Director for Economic Development, Local Governments, and Budget Services. In this capacity, Victor has served as the lead Assembly negotiator during budget deliberations for the Empire State Development Corporation, Department of Economic Development, and Local Government Assistance. He brings over 24 years of government finance, public policy, and local government experience to the IDA Board, having served much of his career with the New York State Assembly.
Victor holds a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University, a Masters of Public Administration from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, and an Advanced Masters Certificate in Not-For-Profit Management from The College of Saint Rose.
Victor is a member of the National Association of REALTORS, New York State Association of REALTORS, and the Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Brokers, Inc.
Member
vfranco@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: July 2022
Term: At pleasure of Town Board
Committees: Governance (chair), Audit
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Georgette Steffens was appointed Executive Director of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District in September 2009. There she manages a staff of five, along with an annual budget of $900,000 with a focus on marketing, safety and beautification, and economic development for the central business district of New York’s capital city. During her tenure, she has administered over $3.5million in grant funding, experienced the creation of 1,000 residential conversions to create a new neighborhood, developed a dog park for incoming residents, and created a host of public art exhibits and special events that attract thousands of residents and visitors to downtown Albany annually.
Prior to joining the BID, Georgette was the Director of Operations of Triad Consulting Group, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a consulting group which specializes in communications and negotiation to assist organizations in building capacity to manage difficult conversations and critical relationships within their work environment. Ms. Steffens worked for the City of Albany, serving as Director of the Albany HomeStore, strengthening neighborhoods through homeownership. Additionally, she held positions as Economic Developer for the City of Albany in the Department of Planning and Development, where her main focus was the development of the central business district and the City's riverfront, and Program Coordinator for the Center for Economic Growth, the Capital Region’s regional economic development organization.
Ms. Steffens serves as the Chairperson of the Albany Port District Commission, leading maritime and land-based economic activity on the Hudson River and which is undergoing the development of the nation’s first offshore wind manufacturing facility. She holds a BA from Northern Vermont College. She lives in Glenmont with her husband and two daughters.
Member
gsteffens@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: November 2022
Term: At pleasure of Town Board
Committees: Audit (chair), Marketing
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Edward W. De Barbieri is an associate professor at Albany Law School. He teaches courses in housing law, state and local government, and community economic development law and directs a free legal services clinic for small businesses and nonprofits in The Justice Center at Albany Law School.
His scholarship examines ways the public can engage in land use approvals and economic development activities and how that engagement can lead to reforms in economic and social systems. His articles have appeared or are forthcoming in the Fordham Law Review, Indiana Law Journal, UC Irvine Law Review, George Mason Law Review, Florida State University Law Review, Yale Law & Policy Review, Cardozo Law Review, Fordham Urban Law Journal, and Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law. He is the author of the 6th edition of Local Government Law, part of West Academic’s hornbook series.
Prior to joining the Albany Law School faculty in 2016, Professor De Barbieri directed a community economic development clinic at Brooklyn Law School, and was an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at New York University School of Law. His background also includes work as a legal services attorney at the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center, including as an Equal Justice Works fellow. He spent his final year of law school conducting research in Ireland as a Fulbright fellow, and is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, where he concentrated in religious ethics and participated in the Community and Economic Development clinic at Yale Law School.
Member
edebarbieri@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: July 2022
Term: At pleasure of Town Board
Committees: Finance
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A native of Albany, New York, Jahkeen “Jah” Hoke blends vision, drive, and deep community roots into everything he does. A proud graduate of Albany High School, Jah’s family story is woven into the Capital Region’s history—he is the grandson of one of the first Black New York State Troopers, a descendant of a Civil War veteran, and part of a legacy of decorated veterans and entrepreneurs. This heritage has instilled in him a powerful sense of responsibility to serve, lead, and create lasting impact.
Jah earned his Bachelor of Arts in Finance & Business Management from Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he excelled academically while launching community-based initiatives. His professional journey began in banking with KeyBank, moved into workforce development as STEM Workforce Advisor for the City of Albany, and advanced into innovation and technology at GE Research, where he helped secure over $100 million in funding for groundbreaking research.
In 2011, Jah co-founded 4th Family, a nonprofit that has become a recognized leader in empowering youth and families through STEM education, sports-based learning, mentoring, and community wellness. From 2021 to 2023, he served as CEO of Business for Good, managing a $20 million foundation fund dedicated to sustainable economic growth in the Albany region. In 2020, he founded Hoke Development, a real estate firm transforming underutilized properties into vibrant residential, commercial, and mixed-use spaces—driving economic growth, creating jobs, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
Jah’s leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including Albany Business Review’s Power 50 (2022, 2023), 40 Under 40, the Achievers Award – Changemaker, the Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service, the Beacon of Light Award, and multiple proclamations of “Jahkeen Hoke Day” in Albany.
A dynamic leader with a passion for building strong communities, Jah serves on several regional boards in addition to the Bethlehem IDA, including the New York State Empire State Development Capital Region Economic Development Council, the Albany Convention Center Authority (Vice Chair), the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Berkshire Bank Regional Advisory Council. He brings energy, vision, and a results-driven approach to every table he sits at—making him a catalyst for inclusive growth and lasting change in the Capital Region.
Member
jhoke@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: November 2024
Term: At the pleasure of the Town Board
Committees: Marketing, Governance
Member
cwelch@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem Town Board: August 2023
Term: At the pleasure of the Town Board
Committees: Marketing (chair), Audit
Staff
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A Native of Albany, New York, Catherine Hedgeman is a magna cum laude graduate of Union College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with Department Honors in 1996. After college Catherine pursued a career in government relations on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, when she decided to return to her hometown to attend law school. She received a Juris Doctorate degree from Albany Law School in 2000 where she was an associate editor of The Albany Law Review and was awarded the Dominick Gabrielli award for excellence in Appellate Moot Court. After graduation, Catherine practiced in several of New York’s prestigious law firms as an associate and lobbyist.
Catherine is admitted to practice before the courts in the State of New York, U.S. District Courts, Northern District of New York and Southern District of New York. Ms. Hedgeman is also admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the U.S District Court, District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.
Ms. Hedgeman founded the Hedgeman Law Firm in 2007. The Hedgeman Law Firm is a NYS certified Woman Owned Enterprise and specializes in Economic Development, real estate, and nonprofit law.
In 2004, Catherine founded GenNEXT, a business council of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce for business professional ages 23-40. As chair of the council, she focused on preventing the Capital Region’s “brain drain” and on providing meaningful networking and business opportunities for young professionals. In January of 2007, she started her own law firm, the Law Firm of Catherine M. Hedgeman which is located in Albany, specializes in Real Estate, Land Use/Development & Zoning, Commercial Law, Corporate Law and Government Relations. In September of 2007 Catherine founded The Stakeholders, whose mission is to “empower people to stake their claim in the future of their community.”
In 2008, she was appointed to the New York State Young Leaders congress by the Spitzer administration to advise the administration on economic development issues pertaining to the attraction and retention of young people in New York, and how to build sustainable communities. Catherine was also featured in the March 2008 edition of Success Magazine, and is also the recipient of the 2008 Woman of Distinction Award: Junior Trailblazer from the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, the 2005 Capital District Business Review 40 Under 40 Award and the 2005 Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence Award for the Emerging Professional. In November of 2008, Ms. Hedgeman appeared in O Magazine as one of 80 Women who received a Women’s Leadership Award for her work on economic development issues, philanthropy and volunteerism, from the White House Project and O Magazine, The Oprah Magazine.
Over the past ten years, Catherine has served on a number of civic and nonprofit board of directors including, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District Public Relations Committee, the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Center For Economic Growth, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, and the Tech Valley Civic Forum, which involved stakeholders from all sectors – business, government, nonprofit, education, in creating the vision for Tech Valley. As a member of the forum, Catherine assisted in creating a Community Progress Report with key indicators of the quality of life and community well-being in the Capital Region. The Report focused on the human side of economic development and included indicators reflecting key social, environmental and economic factors affecting the community’s well-being and long term sustainability.
Executive Director & Agency Counsel
chedgeman@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem IDA: January 2022
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A certified public accountant in private practice, Maikels has served as a member of the Guilderland zoning board of appeals; as secretary and treasurer of the Albany County Business Development Corporation; as treasurer of the Albany Airport Authority; as a chairperson of Albany County’s Industrial Development Agency; and as an Albany County Legislator representing Westmere.
Chief Financial Officer & Contracting Officer
amaikels@bethlehemida.com
Appointed by Bethlehem IDA: January 2012
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Brianne Conner is the Senior Economic Developer for the Town of Bethlehem. Brianne manages the Town’s business assistance programs. These include a microenterprise grant program, small-business supports, and facilitation of other funding opportunities for larger businesses and projects within the Town. Brianne is a strong supporter and advocate for all businesses within the Town and strives to make Bethlehem a more business-friendly environment. She also works with local and regional partners to attract new businesses to the town. She serves as staff to the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency and serves on the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Prior to joining the Town, Brianne started BreezyCare a local facility-services business where she experienced first-hand the challenges of small-business entrepreneurship. As a business owner she was deeply engaged in the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce and fell in love with the Capital Region. She is a graduate of the Leadership Capital Region program. Born and raised in New Mexico, Brianne relocated to Bethlehem with her husband and five children in 2022 – yes, intentionally! While in the southwest, Brianne held many roles in the disability services field with public, non-profit, and private organizations – most recently as the NM State Director of a multi-state community services organization.
Brianne holds degrees in Music (piano/voice) and Public Administration. While economic development was not her initial career trajectory it is a found passion area. Other areas of passion include whatever her children are currently into, hiking, reading, life-long learning, cooking and singing. She has performed locally with Saratoga Voices, Albany Pro Musica, and currently sings with the chapel choir at St Paul’s Episcopal Church.