The Hudson Group and its affiliates possess a diversity of skills and experience, seldom available from a single firm, that allows us to address effectively and thoroughly a broad range of subjects and projects. Members of our group have long-term practical experience, extensive technical knowledge and entrepreneurial vision.

Dennis A. Rapp (BS, MPA), President and Principal

Project manager or senior contributor of the firm's work in regionalism and intergovernmental cooperation, economic development, organization and management systems, utility and airline service, strategic planning, and policy analysis and development. Forty years federal and state government service, including senior staff and executive management positions with The White House, Office of Management and Budget, two Congressional/Presidential Commissions, Civil Aeronautics Board, and Department of the Interior. Executive-level positions with NY State Departments of Public Service, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, and Agriculture and Markets.

Ronald H. Miller (BA, MA), Principal

Expert in regional, urban, housing and environmental economics and cost-benefit analysis. Project manager and principal researcher for most of the firm's economic analysis impact assessments and market research projects. Twenty five years of high-level experience with New York State government in environmental policy analysis, planning, program development activities management, and economic impact analysis of regulatory programs. Also held other professional positions focused on housing market analysis, regional planning and economics. Taught graduate courses in environmental planning at the State University of New York at Albany.

Terence P. Curran (BCE, MPA, PhD), Associate

Expert on environmental analysis and management programs. Project manager for the firm's county-wide study of wastewater management. Participated in environmental studies for several transportation planning projects, and a recreational planning study of the Hudson River. Skilled in environmental policy assessment, organizational analysis and strategic planning, water resources planning and management, and solid and hazardous waste management. Professor Emeritus of Marketing and Management, Siena College. Former Adjunct Professor of Urban and Environmental studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Former Executive Director, NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation.

Edward J. DeFranco (BA, MPA, PhD), Associate

Expert in MIS project development and implementation. Held senior positions in national, state and local government service in planning, performance evaluation, project management, business process analysis, systems management, and computerized information technology (IT) in the disciplines of criminal justice and addiction services. Recipient of several industry and public service awards for the conception and management of IT projects. Significant successes in building collaborative IT systems in the intergovernmental zone. Has taught program evaluation and IT courses at several colleges including the State University of New York at Albany, and currently serves as Public Service Professor in the Information Science graduate program.

David Gaskell (BA, MBA), Associate

Expert in state and local public finance. Project manager and senior contributor for the firm's work associated with this subject. Participated in projects involving educational finance, property tax collection procedures, property tax impact on economic development, impact of industrial development on property values, funding alternatives in a redevelopment effort, and fiscal impact study of proposed major resort complex for a proposed transportation system. Thirty-three years experience with New York State in high-level administrative positions, including the Office of Real Property Services, the Department of Social Services, the Ways and Means Committee of the Assembly, the Division of the Budget, and the Office of State Comptroller.

H. Graham Jones (BA, MA), Associate

Expert in technology transfer policies and programs. Thirty years government and industry experience directing development of new products and their markets, and working with technology companies and research organizations. Developed early scientific computing markets and product requirements for scientific computers. Former Executive Director, NYS Science and Technology Foundation, responsible for sponsoring centers for university-industry collaborative research, providing management and financial support for technical entrepreneurs, directing service programs for small manufacturers. As chairman of council of state science and technology officials, was leading contributor to state, national science policy.

John E. Smith (BA, MA, MRP), Associate

Policy expert on energy and its interaction with the environment and the economy. Twenty-five years of high-level experience with New York State government in energy policy and regulatory matters with an emphasis on the integration of energy, air quality and economic development variables, as well as other positions in State government focused on economic development research and policy. Eight years of subsequent experience as a consultant to various business and industry, federal, state and local government and non-profit institutions dealing with electricity de-regulation, clean air and economic issues.

Ivan P. Vamos (BA, MS, AICP), Associate

Senior contributor to the firm's extensive work on planning and development of bicycle paths, trails and pedestrian planning needs. Former Deputy Commissioner of NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Also completed studies on water transportation, coastal erosion, park design and management, swimming feasibility, canals and waterway improvement projects. Clients included governmental agencies and NGOs and work with larger consulting teams. Forty years of planning and project management experience for the State, consultants and the military, included management of engineering, land acquisition, planning environmental management, harbor development, economic and physical and social science research staff.

Steven Appel (BA, MBA), Affiliate

Principal of Appel Research, LLC, a marketing and public opinion survey firm. Performs market analyses for business; public opinion studies for governmental agencies and private associations; Internet web site design and usability testing; and dial groups for moment-to-moment and trade-off decision-making analysis. Conducted studies for clients such as the NYS Department of Health, NYC Police Department, Pharmacists' Society (NY), the Marketing Research Association, Frito-Lay, Pros & Cons Software, Collegiate Marketing Service, and Proctors Theater. Twenty years experience in government, serving as Research Director in both houses of the New York State Legislature.

Mary B. Werner (BS, MS), Affiliate

Expertise in risk assessment and pollution prevention. Twenty-three years of diverse experience as a research scientist, executive assistant and program director with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). As Director of DEC's Pollution Prevention Unit, was responsible for administration of a variety of programs including: outreach, training and publication of technical documents on pollution prevention and environmental management systems for business, non-profits and governments; risk analysis; green buildings; toxic release inventory; and environmental audits. Responsibilities included coordination with US Environmental Protection Agency and grant management.