Our Team

Anna Markowitz (She/Her)

  • Anna has been working in government at the federal, state and local level for the past 15 years and is looking forward to bringing her policy and organizing background to the local green energy field in New York. Prior to joining Communities for Local Power, Anna was an Advance Lead for the White House/ Harris Campaign and organized large scale rallies and events for Kamala Harris around the country.

    Before joining the Harris Campaign, Anna was Chief of Staff for State Senator Michelle Hinchey where her team helped local Hudson Valley residents resolve hundreds of billing issues with Central Hudson. This was by far their biggest constituent issue and she looks forward to bringing that experience to help guide her work at CLP.

    In her prior position as Assistant County Executive for Pat Ryan she oversaw the Youth Bureau, Human Rights Commission, Mental Health Department, Restorative Justice Center, and the Universal Basic Income Pilot for Ulster County and is looking forward to helping young people find paths to green jobs in the Hudson Valley. 

    Anna lives in Saugerties with her family and enjoys hiking, listening to music, and trying as many local restaurants as possible

Lauren Hollick (They/She)

  • Lauren is a workforce development leader, trades worker, and Hudson Valley artist. They manage the Empower Kingston Green Jobs Training Program, with a focus on recruiting and mentoring youth and adults for clean energy careers, expanding access to workforce programs, and introducing trade skills to all ages through workshops and community outreach. Lauren builds and maintains alumni. contractor and employer partnerships to ensure successful training, job placements, and long-term career pathways in the clean energy and building trades.

    A graduate of Dutchess Community College and SUNY New Paltz, Lauren is a lifelong resident of the mid-Hudson Valley and a passionate Art Educator and Activist. Outside of work, they can be found playing guitar in parks, looking for hawks, or in their art studio.

Smiling woman with long dark hair in sunlight, standing in front of greenery.

Rosemary DaCruz (They/Them)

  • Rosemary joined the team in November 2022. Growing up, they watched their mother struggle everyday to make ends meet in the face of an unsustainable, for-profit energy system. Realizing that their story was not unique, they were driven to fight for change to make a better world alongside millions of people fighting against the same inequalities. As a first-generation graduate from Marist University, they fell in love with the Hudson Valley through several years of working in local politics and student engagement. They’re inspired everyday by an ever-growing collection of stories from community conversations and a passion to bring us together to create a sustainable, beautiful future. When they’re not working, they can be found exploring New York with their fiancée Lillyanna or petting stray cats.

Gabby Franzese

  • Gabby is a recent graduate from SUNY New Paltz’s English Literature Program. With more than a year of teaching experience through the college’s TRA program, they are excited to continue learning through the Empower Kingston Program. They like to draw, read (especially memoir and cultural criticism), put cute stickers on things, and support their local libraries.