Dear ANCA Community,
It is with heavy hearts that we learned of the recent passing of Kate Fish — a beloved and visionary North Country leader who served as ANCA’s executive director for nearly 12 years.
During her tenure at ANCA, Kate had an immeasurable impact on the organization and its collaborative work across the Adirondack North Country. We will be forever grateful for her passion, vision and leadership.
When Kate announced her retirement in 2021, she said, “I have accomplished what I set out to do over the past 12 years — building a skilled staff and board, establishing a strong clean energy program, securing new revenue sources, and accelerating our entrepreneur and small business programs. I’m also encouraged as ANCA is becoming a more mindful and compassionate organization where we actively work to center diversity, equity and inclusion in all our program areas.”
Indeed, under Kate’s leadership ANCA established and elevated key initiatives including our clean energy program, the Center for Businesses in Transition partnership, and the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. She inspired the expansion of ANCA’s staff from a handful of members in 2010 to a dynamic team of over 20 individuals working together to grow economic opportunities in our region. She built strong, long-lasting relationships with partner organizations, stakeholders and elected officials across the North Country and New York State.
Beyond her role as an influential leader at ANCA and in our region’s economic development sector, Kate lived a full and vibrant life that inspired us all. An artist, dog lover, skier, and free spirit who cared deeply about her family, community, and the forests and waters of her beloved Adirondacks — she encouraged her colleagues and global community to fully embrace the special opportunities this region offers us all.
On behalf of ANCA’s staff and board, we extend our deepest condolences to Kate’s family, friends and all those who had the opportunity to know her. We are honored to be a part of Kate’s legacy here at ANCA. She will be greatly missed by many.
With heartfelt appreciation and sympathy,
Elizabeth Cooper, ANCA Executive Director, and Kelly Chezum, ANCA Board President
Photo at top provided by ANCA.
Thank you Kate. She and her family have been solid contributors to economic development and the arts here in the Adirondacks for many years. Wonderful folks.