FOUNDER / BOARD CHAIR

Originally hailing from rural Ohio, Vickie started her professional life as a journalist, radio producer and book author. She has spent the last 25+ years working in the entertainment industry as co-owner of Girlie Action, a PR, marketing, event production and talent management agency. Vickie has been vacationing in the Catskills since the 1980s, and returned to her rural roots when she moved to Big Indian with her wife, Maria Gianas, in 2013. A lifelong activist, Vickie was active in Antiracist Catskills from 2021 to 2023. In 2023. She joined Shandaken’s Housing Smart Task Force, where she is now the chair of the committee, and in May 2025 she launched the Catskills Alliance for Housing & Preservation.

SECRETARY

Sophie relocated to Shandaken from her hometown of Brooklyn, NY just before covid lockdowns in February 2020. In search of community and connection, she co-founded the Phoenicia Farmers Market in 2021, where she and her dog Bindi can be found every Sunday. Sophie has spent her career assisting farmers and small family businesses with marketing, special events, and new business development, and has worked in food and hospitality around the Catskills since moving here. In Shandaken, Sophie has been involved with PH2 since 2022, has served as a member of the Housing Smart Committee since 2023, and recently started as assistant manager at Phoenicia Food Pantry in 2025. Sophie currently serves as Secretary for the Catskills Alliance for Housing and Preservation.

TREASURER

Born and raised in the Catskills, Susie is the Executive Director of Stockade Works, a Hudson Valley-based non-profit that trains, mentors, and refers local residents for jobs in Film & Television. With almost 15 years of experience in fundraising and non-profit management, and both BA and MA in Art History from CUNY Hunter College, Susie has spent the majority of her career fundraising for the arts at organizations in New York City, including The Frick Collection, The International Center of Photography (ICP), and the Public Theater, among others. She lives in Mount Tremper, NY, with her partner and their rescue dog Aggie.

BOARD MEMBER

Sara is a long-time New Yorker and architect committed to solving the housing crisis while also bringing us into a regenerative and thriving relationship with our planet. She is a resident of Shandaken and Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability at Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP), an award winning firm dedicated to housing. She is committed to supporting and preserving the beauty of this Catskills community, and enjoys trying her hand at permaculture gardening. Since 2023 she has been serving as a member of Shandaken's Housing Smart Committee.

BOARD MEMBER

Juan is a full-time resident of Pine Hill, NY, where he and his husband Sam purchased a home in April 2021 after 13 years in Brooklyn. Alongside their two dogs, Hugo and Hazel, they’ve embraced the welcoming community and natural beauty of Pine Hill and the Catskills. Juan works in Albany as an administrator for the State University of New York and tries to contribute to local civic life as a board member of the Pine Hill Community Center and a member of the Town of Shandaken Planning Board.