Our Staff

Beth Gilles

Executive Director

Beth is a Glens Falls native who started her career at LCLGRPB in 2008 and was promoted to Executive Director in 2018. As Executive Director, Beth leads a team of dedicated professionals, oversees the organization’s operations, collaborates with the Board of Directors to shape strategic direction, and secures funding for regional planning and implementation projects. Under her leadership, the organization has broadened its impact and earned recognition from local, state, and national partners. Beth studied at Paul Smith’s College and the University of Vermont and currently lives in Queensbury with her family. She is a 2024 recipient of Assemblyman Matt Simpson’s “Woman of Distinction” award.

ALLISON HARGRAVE-GADDY, AICP

Principal Planner

Allison joined LCLGRPB team in 2019 and works with municipalities throughout the region on community planning and water quality initiatives. Her focus includes watershed planning, community revitalization, and trails and recreation planning. Allison holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and a Masters of Regional Planning from the University at Albany. Allison lives in Glens Falls with her husband and daughters and enjoys hiking, paddling, and swimming. She serves on the Glens Falls Zoning Board of Appeals and recently became an Adirondack 46er.

Jessica Leerkes

Economic Development Coordinator

Jessica joined LCLGRPB in 2023 to assist with the organization’s economic development initiatives. Previously, she was a project manager for an engineering firm that worked with the municipalities in the Adirondacks on various infrastructure projects. Jessica is a native of Hague and obtained a B.S in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University. She lives in Kingsbury with her husband and two sons.

Cassandra Van Cott

Assistant Economic Development Coordinator

Cassandra joined the LCLGRPB team in 2024 and works with municipalities throughout the region as an Economic Development Assistant. Previously, she worked in Community Development for the Village of Saranac Lake, and she is passionate about downtown revitalization through strategic planning, as well as historic and natural resource preservation. Cassandra holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, with minors in Environmental Science and Environmental Policy, from Clarkson University. She lives in Saranac Lake with her husband and their two dogs.

Samuel Blake

Junior Planner

Sam joined LCLGRPB in 2022 to help continue the work being done in our water quality programs. Graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh with a BA in Environmental Science Planning and Management and obtaining a minor in Economic and Environmental Sustainability. Formally working in the industrial wastewater field, he is well acquainted with importance of clean water. A native of Ballston Spa, he enjoys spending time outdoors skiing or kayaking.

Colleen Nelson, AICP

Senior Planner

Colleen joined LCLGRPB in February of 2025. She works with our region’s municipalities on various community planning and watershed management plans and programs. Colleen has been in the planning field since 2005 when she received her MA in Geography and Urban Planning from Binghamton University. She has a BA in Geographic Information Systems, and has been a certified planner since 2013. After working in the public sector in North Carolina for 9 years, she returned to New York to work in the private sector for another 10 years. Colleen lives in Queensbury and enjoys hiking, paddling, and exploring the Adirondacks with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.