United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region Welcomes New Board Members
POUGHKEEPSIE—United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region has welcomed two community leaders committed to making a difference as Board Members. In addition, two members of the Board of Directors will move into new positions.
Tim Eisentraut, Director of Applications Development at UPS is moving up into the position of 1st Vice-Chair of the Board. Candy Davies, a licensed clinical social worker, recently retired from SUNY New Paltz, has moved into the position of 2nd Vice-Chair.
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is proud to welcome two accomplished professionals from the community as Board Members.
Heather Bell, an accomplished and resilient leader with a diverse background in business, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and philanthropy. She has a strong educational foundation, having earned an AAS in Business Administration with a concentration in Customer Service from Berkeley College and a BAS in Organizational Management from Nyack College, where she achieved a 4.0-GPA while balancing work and single parenthood.
Her career began at Heineken USA in corporate affairs, where she honed her skills in community and government affairs. However, after her sons joined the United States Marine Corps, Heather decided to pursue her entrepreneurial passion and founded A Perfect Plan, a successful event planning business that received several prestigious awards. In 2019, Heather joined the Orange County Chamber of Commerce team as the Director of Membership and was later promoted to Interim President & CEO in 2021, with the permanent appointment shortly thereafter.
Giving back to the community has always been a priority for Heather, inspired by her early experiences with her mother’s involvement in Meals on Wheels, she actively volunteers for many organizations.
Christopher Gilbert, the Director of Research & Development and Innovation at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, has a rich history with the company, including roles in substation design engineering and corporate strategic planning. As the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) lead, Chris plays a key role in developing clean energy strategies that support the company’s decarbonization objectives.
His academic accolades include a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from SUNY New Paltz and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Clarkson University. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chris is deeply committed to his community. His association with Abilities First began in 2018 and he furthered his commitment by joining the Board of the Foundation for Abilities First NY in 2020. Driven by a profound passion for mentorship, he has assumed various roles to foster the development of local youth. As a dedicated contributor to the United Way since 2011, his imprint on the community is considerable.
Residing in LaGrangeville, NY, Chris enjoys cherished moments with his wife Alysse, their children Oaklee and Leo, and their dog Riley.
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region thanks these members of the Board for their impeccable service to the community and welcomes the next generation of Board Members.
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About United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. In 2022-23, charitable contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations to United Way’s Community Fund supported nonprofit partners in delivering services to 214,688, residents of Dutchess and Orange Counties. For more information, go to www.uwdor.org.
