MEET OUR TEAM

A North Country native, Dawn has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, the past decade of which has been focused on developing programming and community initiatives to address poverty. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations / Marketing and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. In addition to working in the fields of public broadcasting, academia, and tourism, Dawn served as the deputy director for Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County (2010 – 2018) and the executive director for Watertown Urban Mission (2018 – 2022). A strong advocate of those struggling with generational poverty, Dawn is actively involved in “Bridges out of Poverty” and the “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-by World” workshop series and is co-chair of the North Country Bridges Steering Committee. When not working, she enjoys goofing off with her husband Rick, a transplant from the Greater Toronto Area, and their needy, loveable rescue dog Duke.

Clement was born in Hong Kong and attended boarding school in England in Reading, about 50 miles west of London. After college, he completed his accounting qualification while working full time and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Clement spent much of his career working in London at various accounting firms, mostly as an auditor before moving to Watertown, NY in 2016.  Clement welcomed the change from busy London to a quieter life in the beauty of the North Country.  He is an avid traveler, having visited most countries in Europe and Southeast Asia. Clement currently resides in Watertown with his dog, Darcy, where he enjoys updating his house, golfing and cooking. Clement is an advisory member for the Orchestra of Northern New York and member of Watertown Noon Rotary.

A native of Upstate New York, Rachel worked as a reporter covering various beats at the Watertown Daily Times for three years before joining the team of the United Way of Northern New York in October 2022. Prior to becoming a journalist, she attended Binghamton University and received a bachelor’s degree in English, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University for a master’s degree in the Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism program. When she’s not working or playing with Luci and Loki (her two rescue cats), she enjoys spending time with friends and family, catching up on reading and shows, trying new restaurants and traveling.

April brings more than 16 years of experience in program development, food systems work, and community wellness to her role at United Way of Northern New York, blending her passion for healthy, local food with her commitment to equity, education, and holistic health. Before joining United Way, she served in leadership roles at organizations including Cornell Cooperative Extension, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, and FirstLine Schools. April holds a B.F.A. in Acting from SUNY Fredonia, completed professional culinary training at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, and is currently pursuing dual certification as a Health and Life Coach through the Health Coach Institute. She recently launched Thyme to Thrive Coaching and Cooking, a business focused on supporting individuals through wellness coaching and seasonal, gourmet-style cooking classes. April serves as the Director of Volunteers on the Take Up Space Foundation, Inc. board and is actively involved with NNY Women Who Lead, Little Theatre of Watertown, and Carthage Little Theatre. In her spare time, April enjoys acting, writing, reading, gardening, yoga, Zumba, and creating cozy spaces filled with good food, laughter, and intention with friends and family.

Jennifer joined the United Way team in 2021 as the Community School Site Coordinator at the Edwards-Knox Central School District. Her mission is to enhance access to essential services, foster greater participation in educational programs, and collaborate closely with community partners to elevate the well-being and success of both students and families. In addition to her role at the school district, Jennifer actively contributes to the St. Lawrence County People Project’s Board of Directors, demonstrating her commitment to community development and empowerment. Outside of her professional endeavors, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her four children and her husband Bruce. Her diverse interests span from beekeeping to caring for her beloved sled dog team.