Jeffrey Crist is a fourth-generation apple farmer and lifelong resident of the Town of Montgomery. A descendant of Sarah Wells and William Bull as well as a Cornell University graduate, Jeff has committed his life to agriculture. A past Board Member and past Chairman of The US Apple Association, Jeff worked hard for agriculture and the agricultural sector at a nationwide level. Jeffrey has also served as Chairman of the Walden Savings Bank Board for the last nine years and serves on the New York State Council of Hunger and Food Policy. Chairman Crist is also President of Crist Brothers Orchards, a farm business that has been run by his family for five generations.
Chairman Crist is dedicated to the local community, shown through his twenty years as a member of the Planning Board and four years as Chairman of the Planning Board. His commitment to the community continues as Montgomery IDA Board Member and Chairman. Chairman Crist is excited to continue to serve the Town of Montgomery, bringing his business expertise and unique agricultural experience to the IDA Board.
John Dickson
1st Vice Chairman, Member
First Vice Chairman John Dickson has been a resident of Orange County his whole life. John has lived in the Town of Montgomery for the last thirty-two years. John has been an Electrician for thirty-eight years and is currently the Assistant Business Manager of IBEW Local 363. John is also a veteran, having serviced in the United States Navy.
John is committed to public service and making the Town of Montgomery a better place. He brings a unique experience and perspective to the IDA Board as both a veteran of the United States Navy and as an Electrician.
J. Thomas Jones
2nd Vice Chairman, Member
Tom has built a career devoted to improving the welfare of those in need through economic development/empowerment and poverty alleviation. Tom leads the global operations of Women’s World Banking, driving the organization’s three strategic business lines: designing financial inclusion solutions for financial service providers; social impact private equity fund; and leadership and diversity training. He sits on the Boards of Global Citizen/Global Poverty Project (GC/GPP); Refinitiv Charities; Stichting to Promote Women’s World Banking; and World Animal Protection (WAP) International UK and U.S. Tom serves as the Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committees for GC/GPP, WAP International, WAP U.S., and as a member of the Policy Committee of GC/GPP and Audit Committee of Valley Central School District
Previously, Tom has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Women’s World Banking; worked at the New York City Economic Development Corporation under the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations; the New York City Office of Management and Budget; and served as a political aide in the Tucson, AZ office of U.S. Senator Jon Kyl. Tom is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, holds a Master of Public Administration from the Eller School of Business at the University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University at Buffalo.
Matthew P. Stoddard
Treasurer, Member
Matt Stoddard is a lifelong resident of Orange County and has lived in the Village of Walden in the Town of Montgomery for twenty years. Matt attended Orange County Community College before becoming an Apprentice Ironworker. Matt has made a successful career out of the Ironworker Trade, working his way up from Apprentice to Journeyman Ironworker and Foreman. Matt is now the President of the Ironworkers Local 417.
Matt is enthusiastic about his role as Treasurer of the Town of Montgomery IDA. This role is meaningful to him, as he has a goal to better the community he and his family have lived in for twenty years.
Robert Santo
Member
Board Member Robert Santo is actively involved in the local Town of Montgomery community. Robert received his Bachelor's Degree in Zoology from Southern Illinois University and his MBA in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Robert started his career in the United States Army in the Counterintelligence Division. Robert also worked in the field of professional science, working for companies such as Environmental Science Associates and Johnson and Johnson.
Locally, Robert served the community on the Valley Central School Board for fifteen years, twelve of those years as President. Robert also served on the Ethics Board of the Town of Montgomery for two years, has volunteered for the Town of Montgomery Little League for twenty-five years, the local Boy Scouts for ten years, and St Mary’s Church Council for three years. Robert looks forward to continuing to serve the community on the IDA Board.
George DeClue
Member
Board member George Declue is a long time resident of the Town of Montgomery and graduated with an AAS degree from SUNY Farmingdale and a BA degree from Adelphi University. As a licensed private pilot, George spent most of his career in the aviation industry and is married with two children who graduated from Valley Central.
Felicia Kalan
Executive Director, Procurement Officer
Felicia Kalan is the Town of Montgomery IDA Executive Director and the Town of Montgomery’s Economic Development Director. She studied Political Science and International Studies at the University of Evansville and studied abroad at the American University in Cairo, Egypt- and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from HEC Paris. She has served in government and nonprofit sectors and is the former V.P. of Operations at COhatch, a coworking space company.
About MIDA
The Town of Montgomery Industrial Development Agency
We are a public benefit corporation of the State of New York. A public benefit corporation is designed to promote, develop, encourage and assist in the acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, equipping and furnishing of civic facilities, among others, for the purpose of promoting, attracting and developing economically sound commerce and industry to advance the job opportunities, health, general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of the State of New York, to improve their prosperity and standard of living, and to prevent unemployment and economic deterioration.
Our Mission
The Town of Montgomery IDA advances the economic prosperity and quality of life of the Town of Montgomery and its residents by attracting and acting in support of economic development projects, placemaking, workforce development initiatives, energy sustainability and private investment in infrastructure through utilizing the statutory powers of the agency set forth under the provisions of the laws of New York State.
Our tax incentive programs aid in the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses and job opportunities while strategically positioning the Town of Montgomery as the premier Hudson Valley destination to work, live and visit.
Our Leadership
The Town of Montgomery filed a Certificate of Establishment relating to the Agency with the Secretary of State of the State of New York on November 3, 1971. The Agency shall be comprised of seven (7) members as appointed by the Town Board of the Town of Montgomery. Each Member must be a resident of the Town of Montgomery and must file an oath of office with the Orange County Clerk.
