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GOVERNOR SPITZER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCE ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENTS

Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today announced appointments to the Executive Chamber.

Paul DeCotis will serve as the Deputy Secretary for Energy. Mr. DeCotis currently serves as Director of Energy Analysis for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority where he oversees state energy forecasting and planning, energy policy analysis and development, legislative analysis, and corporate strategic planning. Mr. DeCotis also serves as President of Innovative Management Solutions, a position he has held since 1991. Mr. DeCotis previously served in the New York State Energy Office for fifteen years. While there, he served in several capacities, including Policy Analysis Chief. In that role, he supervised policy analysis and development in areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative energy technologies, and legislation. Since 1985, he has served as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities including the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sage Colleges, Cornell University, Empire State College, and College of Saint Rose.

Mr. DeCotis received his Bachelor of Arts from the State University College at Brockport, his Master of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany and his Master of Business Administration from the Sage Graduate School at Russell Sage College.

As Deputy Secretary for Energy, Mr. DeCotis' annual salary will be $153,000.

Tom Congdon will serve as the Assistant Secretary for Energy. Mr. Congdon has served as Special Assistant for Energy since February. From 2000-2007, he served as a policy analyst in the Attorney General.s Environmental Protection Bureau where he worked on, among other environmental and energy issues, expanding investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Prior to joining the Attorney General's office, he was the policy director at the New York League of Conservation Voters.

Mr. Congdon received his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University at Albany, and his Master of Public Administration from Baruch College.

As Assistant Secretary for Energy, Mr. Congdon's annual salary will be $90,000.

Kristin Proud will serve as the Deputy Director for State Operations. In that role, she will work closely with the Deputy Secretaries and the Director of State Operations to coordinate the activities of the state's more than 60 agencies and authorities. Among her roles will be ensuring focused reporting on agency performance and providing leadership to such major cross-cutting initiatives as the Children's Cabinet and the Economic Security Cabinet.

Ms. Proud has served as Director of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Deputy Secretary for Health since January 2007. Previously she worked for the Center For Disability Service, Inc. as the Senior Director of Community Relations and Planned Giving, and worked for the New York Assembly for over 15 years in a variety of roles.

Ms. Proud received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Albany.

As Deputy Director for State Operations, Ms. Proud's annual salary will be $140,000.