Odell Concludes Successful Term as NYSAC President

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell concluded her term as president of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) in September.

"NYSAC is grateful to County Executive Odell for her leadership over the past year. She is a strong voice for counties and was always ready to share the county perspective with state and federal leaders," said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario. "This was an important and challenging year for counties, and County Executive Odellprovided strong and steady guidance to our membership."

NYSAC provides representation, education and advocacy for New York's counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.

"Counties deliver vital services to our residents, and NYSAC gives us a strong voice before the State and Federal government," said County Executive Odell.

During her term, Odell was a strong advocate for counties, meeting with state and federal leaders regarding county concerns such as the opioid crisis, 911 funding, infrastructure needs, and foster care. Odell also oversaw the launch of the NYSAC Climate Resiliency Committee and the NYSAC Women's Leadership Council.

"My year as President has given me broader insight into the important roles counties have in our communities and the challenges facing our local governments. I am grateful to my colleagues for their support as I worked on their behalf in Washington and Albany."

Current NYSAC President Charles H. Nesbitt Jr., Chief Administrative Officer of Orleans County, appreciates all the effort that County Executive Odell put forth during her term.

"I extend my sincere thanks to MaryEllen Odell for her service these past 12 months as NYSAC President,” Nesbitt said. “MaryEllen provided great leadership to NYSAC even as she faced several natural disasters and adversity back home in Putnam County, where devastating storms knocked out critical infrastructure and left some communities without power for weeks. She spearheaded emergency response efforts not once, but several times in her communities over the past year. All the while she kept our association focused the state level. County Executive Odell's leadership is a great model for us all.”

Odell has been a member of the NYSAC Board of Director since 2013. She is currently pursuing her third term as Putnam County Executive. In this role Odell has made it a priority to bring social and fiscal responsibility to county governance.

She has also served as Chairperson for the Mid-Hudson South Transportation Coordinating Committee (MHSTCC) and currently co-chairs the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC). Her knowledge and expertise on transit-oriented development projects has helped to propel Envision Brewster, a revitalization initiative designed to attract millennials to live, work, and recreate in Putnam County.

Prior to being elected County Executive in 2011, Odell served as a legislator for five years. This included two terms as the Deputy Chairperson of the Putnam County Legislature, in which role she successfully fought to identify and reduce unnecessary government spending.