Meet the Board/Staff

Elizabeth Staubach - Chair

Liz Staubach is a Project Manager working on the advancement of more efficient energy codes in New York State. She has worked at all levels of state and municipal government in the areas of Economic Development, Planning, and Environmental and Infrastructure Policy.

Liz received a masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and a bachelors of arts in Political Science from the University at Albany. She lives in Albany with her husband and four children. She was appointed to the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation in 2021 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Lee Eck, Vice-Chair

Lee Eck is a Business Representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 9, Local 201. Lee began his career with the IUPAT as a painter and drywall finisher. After completing his NYS certified apprenticeship, he began teaching at the Finishing Trades Institute of NY at Albany before accepting a position with the International as a Business Representative. Lee is committed to responsible economic development within the City of Albany and fighting for working class people everywhere. Lee has been active on other boards and committees, including serving as Treasurer of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor, as well as serving as part of Mayor Sheehan’s Transition Team.

Lee lives in the Delaware Avenue neighborhood with his wife and two children - both of whom attend Albany Public Schools. He graduated from Bethlehem High School and attended the University of Evansville. As a music performance major, Lee also had an opportunity to spend a semester abroad at the Harlaxton College located in Grantham, England. Lee was appointed to the board July 10, 2013 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Darius Shahinfar, Treasurer

Darius Shahinfar is the Treasurer and CFO of the City of Albany. He was first elected in 2013, earning the most votes of the City-wide candidates. He has broad experience as an attorney in both the public and private sectors and in all three branches of local, state and federal government. Before being elected, he served as Deputy Albany County Attorney under County Executive Mike Breslin, Regional Representative for then-Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, Appellate Court Attorney under Judge Anthony Cardona, Associate at the Albany firm of Bouck, Holloway, Kiernan & Casey and Senate Fellow on the Local Government Committee.

He earned his Juris Doctor at Albany Law School where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and President of the Student Bar, and his Bachelor of Arts in American History at Bates College. Darius has also served, or currently serves, our community on the boards of: Albany Law School, St. Anne Institute, Families Together NYS, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, National Little League, and the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) of Central Ave., Lark St. and Downtown Albany. A 20+ year resident of Albany and nearly lifelong Upstate New Yorker, Darius and his wife, attorney and former Albany County Legislator Noelle Kinsch are the proud parents of 2 New Scotland Ave. Elementary School children. He was appointed December 11, 2013 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Anthony Gaddy, Secretary

As a Co-Founder and President/CEO of the UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce, Anthony is committed to helping build a stronger overall business community in the Capital Region and Upstate New York. The UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce is one of more than 145 U.S. Black Chambers in the U.S. and Canada.

Raised in Albany, Anthony is a graduate of The Albany Academies and attended the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California where he majored in Economics. He is active in the community, having served as Vice-President of the Schenectady County Public Libraries, the NAACP and the Empire State Black Arts & Cultural Festival and several other organizations. He currently serves as Vice-President of 4th Family, an Albany-based nonprofit that focuses on teaching STEM through sports. Anthony was appointed to the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation in 2020 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Joseph Better

Joseph Better is a Contract Management Specialist employed by the New York State Office of General Services, with over 15 years of experience. He manages a team of Contract Management Specialists that procure and manage various contracts for a variety of building systems, law enforcement products, and other life, health, and safety products and services for use by state agencies, local governments, and other authorized users. A resident of downtown Albany for almost 10 years.

Joe attended La Salle Institute for high school and Hobart College as an undergraduate, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He was appointed to the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation in 2021 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Chris Betts

Chris Betts is an Albany resident, a housing developer and principal of Betts Housing Partners LLC, a firm that specializes in the creation of affordable housing communities.

Chris received his BA from Columbia University and master degrees from the University at Albany and from the University of Pennsylvania.

He was appointed to the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation in August 2022 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

John Maxwell

John F. Maxwell is a 40-year resident of the City of Albany, a real estate attorney, and is a founding member of the law firm of Maxwell & Van Ryn LLP.

He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, LeMoyne College, and University of Buffalo Law School. He attended University College Dublin, Ireland, and is a former faculty member, Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse. He also serves as a member of the Guardianship Committee, Warren, Washington & Albany Counties Chapter, NYSARC, Inc.

He was appointed to the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation in August 2022 and serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany Common Council.

Ashley Mohl, Interim Chief Executive Officer

Ashley has more than 15 years of experience in the economic development field, specializing in small business assistance and strategic initiatives. In addition to serving as CAIDA CEO, Ashley leads a team of economic development professionals implementing Capitalize Albany Corporation’s business attraction and retention efforts, grant administration and development of strategic programs and initiatives in support of strengthening the City’s local businesses and many commercial districts.

Active and recognized in the Capital Region business community for her work, Ashley is a 2019 recipient of the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 Award. Prior to Capitalize Albany, Ashley worked for New York State, last serving as the Director of Economic Development for the NYS Community Development Block Grant Program at NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Ashley serves on the Albany Center for Economic Success (ACES) Incubator Board of Directors and volunteers on the Albany Lustgarten Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a master’s degree in public administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany. Ashley serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany IDA and CRC Board of Directors. This position is appointed annually.

Andrew Corcione, Chief Operating Officer

Andy serves as Chief Operating Officer of the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and Capital Resource Corporation. He also serves as Director of Real Estate Dvelopment at Capitalize Albany. His practice area focuses on supporting citywide commercial real estate development, working with City of Albany Industrial Development Agency applicants, and working to assist businesses investing in Albany’s target growth sectors. Prior to this role, Andy managed the Corporation’s three in-house grant programs that focus on financing development in the City’s downtown and neighborhood commercial corridors and supporting small business growth. Andy serves at the pleasure of the City of Albany IDA and CRC Board of Directors. This position is appointed annually.

City of Albany Office of Corporation Counsel - Marisa Franchini

Hodgson Russ LLP, Special Counsel and Bond Counsel

Finance Committee

Darius Shahinfar - Chair
Elizabeth Staubach
Lee Eck
Anthony Gaddy
Chris Betts

Audit Committee

Joseph Better, Chair
Darius Shahinfar
John Maxwell

Governance Committee

Elizabeth Staubach - Chair
Lee Eck
Joseph Better

Ashley Mohl – Assistant Secretary
Vacant - Assistant Treasurer