APA New York Upstate Elects 2027-2028 Officers

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The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) is pleased to officially announce the certified election results for our Executive Board leadership for the 2027–2028 term. On September 8, 2026, election contractor Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) delivered the official certified tabulation report to the American Planning Association. The election results account for all qualified ballots received on or before September 4, 2026. Across the broader APA national election, a total of 3,109 valid ballots were returned from 30,618 eligible members, yielding a national participation rate of 10.15%.

APA New York Upstate Chapter vice president and President-Elect Sarah GAtti

"I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust our members have placed in me to serve as President of the APA New York Upstate Chapter for the 2027–2028 term,” said Sarah Gatti, Chapter Vice-President. “Communities across Upstate New York are navigating pivotal opportunities in housing, economic renewal, climate resilience, and infrastructure reform. Planners play a crucial role in shaping these transformations. I look forward to working closely with our newly elected board to enhance member support, expand professional development opportunities, and strengthen the voice of planners across our region."

"On behalf of the Nominating Committee, I want to express our sincere gratitude to all members who took the time to vote and engage in our chapter’s governance process,” said Michael Long, FAICP, ICMA-CM who served as Chair of the Chapter’s Nominating Committee. “We are exceptionally thankful to the leaders who have stepped forward to dedicate their time, talent, and vision to guiding our chapter over the next two years. Our chapter’s strength lies in the active involvement of our planning community, and we are confident this incoming board will serve our membership with great distinction."

The following leadership slate has been elected to serve the APA New York Upstate Chapter for the 2027–2028 term:

  • President: Sarah Gatti was elected President, receiving 60 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 60 valid ballots, 6 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Vice-President: Joseph M. Bovenzi, AICP was elected Vice-President, receiving 61 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 61 valid ballots, 5 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Secretary: Melissa Marton, AICP was elected Secretary, receiving 61 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 61 valid ballots, 5 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Treasurer: Mark Castiglione, AICP was elected Treasurer, receiving 58 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 58 valid ballots, 8 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Officer Emeritus: Sean Maguire, AICP, CECD was elected Officer Emeritus, receiving 59 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 59 valid ballots, 7 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Professional Development Officer: Richard Guarino, AICP was elected Professional Development Officer, receiving 63 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 63 valid ballots, 3 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Membership Officer: Angela M Keppel, AICP was elected Membership Officer, receiving 61 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 61 valid ballots, 5 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Education Officer: George Frantz, AICP was elected Education Officer, receiving 60 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 60 valid ballots, 6 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

  • Member-at-Large: Nina Peek, AICP was elected Member-at-Large, receiving 60 votes (100.0% of valid votes cast; 60 valid ballots, 6 unexercised, 66 total ballots cast).

APA New York Upstate Chapter president and officer emeritus-Elect Sean Maguire, AICP CEcd

"It has been an incredible honor to serve as President of the APA New York Upstate Chapter,” said Sean Maguire, AICP, CEcD who will continue on as Officer Emeritus.  “Over my term of four years, our chapter has worked to advance planning on behalf of our members including an outstanding Chapter Awards program, visible recognition of our newest AICP members, developing and nominating more Chapter members for FAICP designation, and making substantial progress to permanently establish the Krasner scholarship. These are just a few highlights of great work we’ve accomplished together. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our board members, committee chairs, and volunteers for their dedication and hard work. As I transition into the Officer Emeritus role, I am excited to support Sarah Gatti who has been invaluable to me as our Vice President and our new Executive Board as they build upon this momentum and lead our chapter into a vibrant future."

Please join us in celebrating and congratulating our newly elected 2027–2028 Executive Board leadership! The newly elected board will officially assume their duties at the start of the 2027 term. Stay tuned for details regarding upcoming chapter meetings, committee opportunities, and events in the coming months.