About Us
A sunny summer afternoon back in 2000 brought a group of Philmont residents together to plant a memorial garden for Preston Stern overlooking the Summit Reservoir. That’s where it all started. Several pot luck dinners later, mostly around Carolyn’s kitchen table, Philmont Beautification was founded. Our mission? To build a not-for-profit charitable organization that would welcome a hands-on experience of collaboration, for all ages, in the spirit of a barn raising tradition to help revitalize an old mill village located in Columbia County, NY.
View a presentation to Eastern New York Main Street Forum in 2007 telling the story of how PBI's Main Street program was started.
View PBI's community-based model and 11 years of growing a local economy in a presentation to the City of Poughkeepsie in 2018.
Board of Directors
Carolyn Stern, Co-founder, Secretary, A resident of Philmont for over 25 years as a small business owner. A lifelong social activist, she and her family have been a vital part of Philmont growth, understanding, and constant encouragement to all. Read the PBI story....it all started sitting around Carolyn's welcoming kitchen table.
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John Gourlay, President, a prior resident of Philmont for over 8 years with 20 years of professional experience in magazine publishing, marketing and executive management, including publications of the National Audubon Society, Utne Reader, PRIMEDIA, and the American Craft Council.
Kate Martino, Co-founder, Treasurer. A life long resident of Philmont Kate raised her family of three children in the village. She has over 20 years of management in local law offices in Columbia County, and professional bookkeeping. Kate brings a life long experience in fabric arts and food justice activism to PBI where she advises on PBI's downtown revitalization and food programming.
Sally Baker, Co-founder, Executive Director. A resident of Philmont since 1997, and Executive Director of PBInc since 2000, and as Project Manager, and Grants Administrator she has guided, developed, and implemented PBI programs and projects including the development of a unique community-based participation model involving several project-based Working Groups in the village producing high levels of consistent community engagement. She was Project Manager for the preparation and Nomination and Designation of the Philmont Summit Lake and Its Watercourse BOA 2014-2019; is the current Project Manager for the 2019 and 2025 awarded BOA Pre-development Activities grant, and the Agawamuck Creek Watershed Management project funded by the LWRP Deptarment of State program for waterfont and watershed development. She initiated and implemented the process and community outreach (2020-2024 ) resulting in the formation of the Village of Philmont Historic District which was listed on the State and National Registries of Historic Places in 2024 consisting of 352 “contributing” properties. As Executor Director of PBI she has administered five funding rounds of NYS Homes and Community Renewal Main Street programs 2007-current, a NYS HCR Rural Area Revitalization Grant (RARP) 2009-2010, a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) 2017, and an HCR Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2017-2018.
She has grown the PBInc organization as Executive Director from a small grass-roots community group into a sustainable not-for-profit organization that includes active support from local private foundations, county, state and federal program funding agencies, and the loyal organization support of business owners, the Philmont community, and local media. She has successfully guided the organization in the planning and implementation of over 50 public/private projects investment in the Village of Philmont since 2007 completing impact building renewal projects including storefront restorations, commercial re-adapts, affordable housing renovations, park restorations, assisting the opening of four new restaurants, establishing a community resource center, operation of a seasonal Main St. farmers’ market 2009-2012, and completed a brownfield site readapt of a 1.1-acre Main St. property donated to the organization in 2012 by Stewart's Shop Corp. It serves local farmers and consumers to address local food security by creating a community-based food system. She brings to PBInc and the Village over 40 years of not-for-profit project development, management, and micro-business certified experience.
She brings to PBI over 40 years of not-for-profit project development, management, and micro-business certified experience for developing small business, community development, and has a long history of activism, including several years in human services peer working with people with disabilities, and as a curator of social-political exhibitions of contemporary arts in NYC. She is a Visual Arts Fellowship Alumni of Syracuse University of Visual and Performing Arts, and a post-graduate from St. Martins School of Arts in London. She believes in community empowerment through hands-on experience and collaboration.
Sally Baker is a non-voting member of the PBI Board of Directors, serving at the pleasure of the Board as Executive Director.
Affiliations: 2014-2017 served as a Director of the Board of the Farmers’ Market Federation NYS.
2001 Co-founders
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Program Advisory Committees
If you would like to join a Program Advisory Committee - please give us a call. 518 697 0038
Summit Lake and Its Watercourse BOA and Philmont Rising - current
116 Co-op Collaboration Team - advising for the start-up of the Philmont Cooperatvie Market & Cafe, and Kitchen at Philmont, 2012 - 2018
Made in Philmont Selection Committee- an advisory group formed to select and review local artisans applications for product display and special projects.
New York Main St Program Selection Review Committee -2005-current - comprised of Philmont and Claverack residents with the capacity to review grant applications received from property owners and nominate PBI/NYMS grant awards for buildings located in the Main St. target area running from Martindale Rd to West Street for renovation and restoration projects of commercial properties and affordable housing properties.
Ex-officio Board Members
PB Inc would like to thank the ex-offico board members for their outstanding committment and support in the early formation years which included laying the administration foundation to build a strong organization committed to benefitting the community in the village of Philmont and residents of Columbia County.
Tim Deak (Chair 2008), Bill Mazalli (Board member 2008), Ardal Powel (Board member 2008) Barbara Sagal (2001-2010), Eileen Ordu (2008-2010), and Gretchen Helimann (2008-2010).
Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and employer.
Policies and Disclosure:
Financial Documents
2019 Accountant's Compilation Report
