Meet the Board of Directors

Gail Parrinello

Owner Cornwall Yarn Shop
cornwallyarnshop@aol.com
BS Nutrition, Cornell University
MS Nutrition, Syracuse University

I opened the Cornwall Yarn Shop, Ltd. in 2004 as a means of keeping me busy in retirement while doing something I loved. I was hoping to offer some locally produced yarn, but was greatly disappointed to find none existed. Fast forward to now - I am still in business and happy to say I have my own custom-milled yarn line: Hudson Valley Fibers, made in the region from all locally-sourced wool and alpaca. I am excited about the future of the farm to fabric industry.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Central New York, the 4th child of a John Deere dealer. Both businesses were family-owned and operated and place my roots solidly in New York State agriculture. My husband and I raised our 2 children in Cornwall, NY where my shop is located, and where we still reside today.

Owner Midnight Mercantile LLC

www.midnightmercantile.com
BA Fashion Design, Kent State

Kathy Fogarty was raised in a small town outside Cleveland, OH. When she graduated from Kent State University, she packed her bags and headed to New York City. Kathy spent many years designing clothing in New York City’s garment district for several large and small companies.

Kathy and her husband eventually left NYC to move closer to family in the Newburgh area. As she settled in the area, and with the arrival of their son, Kathy wanted to work closer to home. She knew there had to be a way to bring her creativity, love of beautiful natural fabrics, knowledge of the fashion industry and desire to create a locally-supported business she could call her own. Kathy spent many a night knitting, sewing and weaving things that would be useful, beautiful, and good for the planet.

Her company ‘Midnight Mercantile’ was born. With the help of her dear friend, Gail, and lots of experimentation, Kathy began making 100% wool felt sheets that she made into bags, wreaths, and bottle cozies, and other decorative home products & accessories – giving new purpose to cast-off wool fiber that a local yarn mill was unable to process into yarn. Her felting process does NOT use water or chemicals. Kathy sources her core materials locally with businesses that pay fair wages to their employees.

Kathy Ursem-Fogarty

Lilly Marsh Studios

marsh.lilly38@gmail.com
Facebook: Lilly Marsh Studios
Instagram: @lillymarsh

Lilly Marsh has been fascinated by fiberart for decades, both as an active personal practice and as a technological process of identity in the cultural history of the twentieth century. Her early practice included keeping natural colored Corriedale sheep, and teaching spinning, and quickly grew to include hand weaving, hand and machine knitting, and dyeing. Her knit wire sculptural work has been exhibited across the United States (and Canada). Marsh was awarded her 2016 doctorate in American Studies at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) for original research into 20th century American Hand knitting. Her dissertation “Knitting Rebellion: Elizabeth Zimmermann, Identity and Craftsmanship in Post War America” was completed in August 2016. Currently residing in Queensbury, NY, Marsh divides her time between a hand weaving and dye studio at the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY, and a studio at her home. Her dissertation will be appearing as a book chapter late in 2017 and her current textile work is based in hand-dyed handwoven wearables and home décor.

Lilly Marsh, PhD

Founder & President Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill

mjpacker@battenkillfibers.com
BS Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MS Communications Management, Syracuse University

Mary Jeanne Packer is the president of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill, a fiber processing mill located in Greenwich, NY. Ms Packer founded the mill in 2009 to provide value-added, custom carding and spinning services for fiber farms and others; and to manufacture yarn and fiber products for wholesale and retail markets. The mill produces 100-150 lbs of artisan quality natural-colored and dyed semi-worsted yarn daily using refurbished traditional milling machinery. Battenkill Fibers brought nearly 20 new full time and part time jobs to rural Washington County, NY; and in 2015 was named the County’s Small Business of the Year.

Mary Jeanne Packer

Maple Shade Farm &
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Jeffrey Silberman’s experience includes many years as a professor at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, and served five successive terms as chairperson of the Textile Development and Marketing Department of the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. He retired in January 2020. He is the co-owner of Maple Shade Farm in Katonah, New York, that produces natural fibers and dyes for academic research.

Prof. Silberman is an international textile consultant specializing in natural fiber program development and demand enhancement strategy. From 2001-2016, he simultaneously served as consultant to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Secretariat and as Executive Director to the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP). He has designed and implemented related development programs in more than fifteen countries, including Turkey, India, Armenia and Nepal; linen development programs throughout Russia, including the Vologda, Kaluga, Kostroma, and Yaroslavl oblasts; cashmere identity for the Mongolian Cashmere FibreMark Society in Ulaanbaatar. Prof. Silberman was a core member of the team that developed and launched the Egyptian Cotton Logo and Promotion Program (CottonEgypt) for the Government of Egypt. He is a winner of the Winrock Award for Service and Dedication for his work with Russian flax producers.

Jeffrey Silberman

Cecelia Tkaczyk

Cece’s Wool and Yarn

Former NYS Senator

Board of Directors, Term ending 2026

Board of Directors, Term ending 2024

Board of Directors, Term ending 2024

Wooly Meadow Farms

For many years we dreamed of owning a small farm where we could raise animals and grow food that we could be proud of. In 2015 we found the place where this dream would come true. We have worked hard to build this farm from the ground up. When our son entered the picture, the reasons for our efforts became even more clear. We will be able to pass on to him a place where the animals are well taken care of and the beauty of the land is preserved.

Jim Powers

Mary Louise Mallick

(Ret) First Deputy Comptroller at Office of State Comptroller

Board of Directors, Term ending 2025

Elaine Gerber

Woodland Meadow Farm LLC

Elaine and her husband Chuck founded Woodland Meadow alpaca farm In November of 2011. Since then, their herd has grown from three to over seventy alpaca. Along with the growth in numbers, they have gained an extensive knowledge of all things alpaca. The farm is home to all levels of quality, from champions to fiber animals. The farm philosophy on selling breeding stock is to first meet with potential buyers to find out what they are looking for in an animal. This helps to insure that the new owners are receiving the right alpacas for their needs. All sales come with whatever level of mentoring is needed to create a stress free environment for the alpacas and their new owners.

Board of Directors, Term ending 2025