Who we are
Staff
Board of Directors

Mission

The PCD is a nonprofit partnership between the Village of Hamilton, Town of Hamilton, and Colgate University that works to enhance sustainable economic opportunity and community vitality in Hamilton and the surrounding areas.

History

In August 1998, representatives from the Town of Hamilton, the Village of Hamilton, and Colgate University came together to discuss shared concerns and opportunities for collaboration. Their focus was on revitalizing the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Key issues identified during these discussions included small business development, downtown façade improvements, and the restoration of the Village Green.

As a result, the Partnership for Community Development (PCD) was established in 1999 as a non-profit organization. Rooted in the spirit of collaboration, PCD brings together its founding partners—along with other local governments and community organizations—to facilitate cooperative projects that strengthen the community. While based in Hamilton, PCD recognizes that true prosperity and sustainability require a regional approach, engaging diverse partners to work together toward common goals.

The PCD Team

  • Jocelyn Gavitt, RLA

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Jocelyn Gavitt joined the Partnership for Community Development as Executive Director in April 2022.  In this role, she leads community-based planning efforts and the organization as a whole.  A licensed landscape architect with many years of community design and development experience, she brings a holistic view, engaging the community and its partners to bring about positive change.

    “Hamilton is a gem in upstate NY with so much opportunity.  And this organization fosters a unique collaboration among the community members, the Village, Town and Colgate University.  We have a great team that is working to make this area the best it can be.”

  • Laura Caughlan, AICP

    SENIOR PLANNER

    Laura Caughlan has been with the Partnership for Community Development since 2017. As the senior planner, she works on grant applications and administration and works with local government and other community groups on community development initiatives. She loves living in Hamilton for its quiet neighborhoods and walkability and loves that her work is having direct positive impacts on her community.

  • Melissa Davis

    DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

    Melissa Davis oversees the HUB business incubator serving Madison County, operating in partnership with Colgate University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program. She also serves the greater community as a leader in economic development, connecting businesses and municipalities to resources for project expansion and development. She brings lifelong experience supporting local businesses through her experiences in local and state level positions.

  • Brigette Hughes

    ADMINISTRATOR

    Brigette has been the administrator for the Partnership for Community Development since 2019. She manages thousands of dollars of funding coming in and out of the office, ensures grant activities are well-documented and on-schedule, oversees all HR needs for PCD, and interfaces with grantees and donors.

    Brigette was born and raised in Lebanon, NY and moved back to the area to be closer to her family after spending 20 years in North Carolina.⁣ When she made the decision to move home to NY, Brigette wanted to be part of an organization that helps local businesses and residents. She’s excited to say that her position as Administrator with PCD allows her to be part of a team that does just that!⁣

  • Leah Feder

    COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

    Leah Feder joins the PCD with an active role expanding capacity and reach throughout the county and supporting our local chamber of commerce.

PCD Board of Directors

  • Mary Dinkski is Deputy Executive Director of the Fiver Children’s Foundation as well as a Hamilton Town Council Member.

    “Growing up in Hamilton has helped me to recognize and appreciate the importance of a strong community. Serving on the PCD board allows me to support and help strengthen a community that has given so much to me over the years.”

  • Joanne Borfitz is the Associate Vice President for Community Affairs and Auxiliary Services in Colgate’s Department of Community Affairs. She has helped facilitate many discussions between the university and the Hamilton community.

  • Brendan is a partner/owner of two local food service establishments — Flour and Salt Bakery since 2016 and Martha’s on Madison since 2021.

    “PCD has helped my wife and me open, operate, and grow our businesses in Hamilton. The mission of helping to grow the community in a sustainable way is of great importance to me both as a business owner and a general community member. I am proud to help on the board and hope to foster a welcoming business climate and a vibrant, dynamic Hamilton.”

  • Corey Mosher is a fourth-generation farmer and a partner in Mosher Farms in Bouckville.

  • Britty is a Colgate ’12 alum and has been a full-time resident of Hamilton since 2015. She owns and operates three businesses in town with her husband, Brendan – Flour and Salt Cafe, Flour and Salt Bakery, and Martha’s On Madison. She has held positions on the Hamilton Community Chest board and the Chenango Nursery School board and is also the head of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. She is grateful to be a member of the PCD board and is excited to contribute to the ongoing development of the village.

  • Bill Dowsland has been with Hamilton Central School for 28 years and currently serves as Superintendent of Schools. In this role, he has led district-wide initiatives to improve educational outcomes, support staff development, promote social-emotional learning, facilitate capital projects, and strengthen community partnerships. He values the transformative power of learning and is dedicated to preparing students for success in an ever-changing world.

  • Russ Lura is currently retired, after serving as the Madison County Planning Director for 22 years and as assistant to the Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and budget officer for 3 years. He has been on the Village of Hamilton Board of Trustees for 10 years.

  • Rachel Amann serves as Program Coordinator for the LifeLong Learning Program and HCS Foreign Language Program at the Upstate Institute at Colgate University.

    She loves this area for its wide-open spaces, its peace, and the opportunities for engagement.

  • Shari Taylor was born and raised in Earlville, NY and returned here to raise her own family. She has been involved in the community for many years, including community theater, the Earlville Events, Committee, and as an EMT and member of the Earlville Fire Department.

  • Peter Radosta works as an environmental engineer, serving municipalities with drinking water and wastewater treatment solutions for regulatory compliance and infrastructure improvements. 

    “Being involved with PCD is a rewarding way to be engaged in the vitality of our community, and to share personal experiences and skill sets collaboratively with other volunteers and PCD staff.  The Hamilton area breathes everything I revere––outdoor recreation, all-things-local, and the charm of rural living.”

  • Tracy Frank, CPA, became the Chief Financial Officer of Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Jan 2024. She has worked in health care finance for many years in Utica and Syracuse and she is excited to be part of the Hamilton community.  She is a current member of the Central NY United Way Women United group and a past Treasurer of Brady Social Enterprises, working to serve the near westside community in Syracuse.

    Tracy looks forward to serving on the PCD Board and to connecting with community members on vital issues and projects. She says “I grew up in a small college town in northern NY, and being in Hamilton brings me back to my small-town roots and feels like coming home.”

  • Travis grew up and lives in the Town of Hamilton. He received degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University and now works for the Village of Sherburne, where he oversees operations and projects for the Electric, Public Works, Water, and Wastewater Departments, as well as the first municipally-owned, open-access fiber optic network in NY. Travis has served the Town of Hamilton in a variety of roles, including as a member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee and Planning Board, and currently as a Town Board Trustee.