• The Staff
  • The Board
  • Intern Spotlight
  • Volunteer Spotlight
  • Work With Us

Carlene Bermann

Executive Director
Contact Info: carlene@slcha.org
Focus Areas: Educational programming, research & collections, publications, museum exhibits, finance, and volunteer coordination.

Carlene grew up in Hampton, VA, and has lived all over the country. She moved to St. Lawrence County in 2022. Carlene received a BFA in Craft/Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, and an MFA in Museum Studies with a history focus from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. Carlene has 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She considers herself highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and enjoys anything that combines art, nature, and history.

Favorite Food: Mac & Cheese
Favorite Activity: Pondering
Favorite Animal: Snow Leopard
Favorite Thing To Do Outside Work: Explore & travel
Time Period You Would Love To Visit: Cretaceous Period to meet the Hadrosaurs
Object In The Collection That Best Represents You: c. 1900 dog treadmill

Caitlin Layaw

Administrative Assistant & Museum Attendant
Contact Info: aassistant@slcha.org
Focus Areas: Gift shop management, accounting, and general inquiries.

Caitlin is a North Country native, who graduated from SUNY Potsdam where she majored in history. She is currently getting her master’s in Business Analytics at Clarkson University. She previously was the Customer Service Manager at Price Chopper and is the Secretary for the Norfolk Rod and Gun Club.

Favorite Food: Burgers
Favorite Activity: Hiking
Favorite Animal: Flamingo
Favorite Thing To Do Outside Work: Watch Hockey
Time Period You Would Love To Visit: American Revolution
Object In The Collection That Best Represents You: 1859 National Map of the United States

Megan Royce

Engagement and Advancement Coordinator
Contact Info: engagement@slcha.org
Focus Areas: Memberships, sponsorships, marketing, community outreach programming, and social media.

Another native of the North Country, Megan grew up in Flackville. She is currently getting her master’s in Information and Library Science at the University at Buffalo, and previously received her associate’s in Business Administration and bachelor’s in Healthcare Management from SUNY Canton. She previously worked at SUNY Canton as the Support Assistant for Tutoring Services, where she co-chaired the Learning Commons Engagement and Outreach Committee.

Favorite Food: Nora’s Strawberry Shortcake
Favorite Activity: Reading
Favorite Animal: Llama
Favorite Thing To Do Outside Work: Crafting
Time Period You Would Love To Visit: Regency Era
Object In The Collection That Best Represents You: Crary family hair wreath

Sara Lynch

Building and Grounds Keeper

Sara is a local artist born and raised in Potsdam, NY. She has a BFA from Alfred University and recently earned an A.A.S. Electrical Engineering Technology degree and a certificate in Electrical Construction & Maintenance from SUNY Canton. She is also certified in Permaculture Design and is excited to be able to bring together different facets of her work for the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture.

Favorite Food: Indian food, all of it
Favorite Activity: Cooking with foraged foods
Favorite Animal: Rabbits
Favorite Thing To Do Outside Work: Hiking, especially in the winter
Time Period You Would Love To Visit: Early Cambrian period to hang out with trilobites
Object In The Collection That Best Represents You: Butter press, because butter makes everything better

Becky Buckley

Custodian

Favorite Food: Chicken & turkey
Favorite Activity: Reading and researching history, specifically people and the local area
Favorite Animal: Birds, especially cardinals
Favorite Thing To Do Outside Work: Go for long drives or building things
Time Period You Would Love To Visit: 1900’s
Object In The Collection That Best Represents You: c. 1900 Cosmos milk glass set

The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees (also known as the Officers) at SLCCHC is composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each Officer serves a 1-year term. Officers are eligible to serve up to, but no more than, four consecutive terms.

Board members serve 3-year terms. All Officers and Trustees are elected/re-elected at the Annual Meeting at the end of the year.

Interested in serving on SLCCHC’s Board of Trustees? If you love history and community and have time and talents to contribute, we’d love to talk with you! Call us at 315-386-8133 or e-mail info@slcha.org.

William Flynn

President
Contact info: bflynn003@twcny.rr.com

William (Bill) Flynn lives in Ogdensburg, NY. He has been a member of SLCCHC and Board Trustee since 2008, was Board Treasurer from 2021-2023, and was elected as Board President in January 2024. Bill is a retired public-school educator and retired superintendent of Ogdensburg City and Massena Central School Districts. He is involved with the Ogdensburg Zoning Board of Appeals and the Claxton Hepburn Medical Center Foundation. Bill is Chair of the Finance Advisory Committee.

Michael Draper

Vice President
Contact info: mdrapes18@hotmail.com

Michael (Mike) Draper lives in Brasher Falls, NY. He has been a member of SLCCHC and Board Trustee since 2019, and the Board Vice President since 2022. Mike is a music teacher at Massena Central School District and former vice president of the Board of Directors for the Orchestra of Northern New York. He also runs the Hopkinton Historical Group and Hopkinton Museum. Mike is Chair of the Collections & Archives Committee.

Lynne Matott

Secretary
Contact info: lmhmatott@yahoo.com

Lynne Matott lives in Potsdam, NY with her children and grandchildren. She has been a member of SLCCHC since 2021, a Board Trustee since 2022, and was elected as Board Secretary in January 2024. Lynne is retired from a career as a correctional facility librarian, most recently in Gouverneur. Lynne is Chair of the Publications Committee.

Emily Hastings

Treasurer
Contact info: ehastings@ncls.org

Emily Hastings lives in Canton, NY with her husband and son. She has been a member of SLCCHC since 2018, a Board Trustee since 2019, and was elected as Board Treasurer in January 2024. Emily is the Director of the Canton Free Library and a member of Grasse River Players. She is also Chair of the Personnel/Nominating Committee.

Timothy Cryderman

Trustee
Contact info: tcryderman1@twcny.rr.com

Timothy (Tim) Cryderman lives in Madrid, NY. He has been a member of SLCCHC since 2003, a Board Trustee since 2015, and served as Board President from 2021-2023. Tim is a retired facilities operator for St. Lawrence University and a historic reenactor. He is also the president of Forsythe’s Rifles and the vice president of the Fort de La Présentation Association.

Diana Fisher

Trustee
Contact info: dgfisher@slic.com

Diana Fisher lives in Madrid, NY. She has been a member of SLCHA since 2003, a Board Trustee since 2014, and served as Board Secretary from 2021-2023. Diana is a retired high school teacher and retired professor from SUNY Potsdam, specializing in history and government. She is also involved with the Hepburn Library of Madrid and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association. Diana is Chair of the Fundraising Committee and the Audit and Finance/Endowment Committee.

Carol Opdyke

Trustee
Contact info: topdyke@twcny.rr.com

Carol lives in Norfolk, NY and has been a member of SLCCHC since 2003 and a Board Trustee since 2016. She is a retired St. Lawrence University Latin professor, and active in many local organizations.

Stanley Maine

Trustee
Contact info: smaine2@twcny.rr.com

Stanley (Stan) lives in Potsdam, NY and has been a member of SLCCHC and Board Trustee since 1996. Stan is a retired contractor and Civil War enthusiast. He is also the Chair of the Building & Grounds Committee.

Cheryl Shenkle-O’Neill

Trustee
Contact info: cherylon@tds.net

Cheryl lives in De Kalb, NY and has been a a member of SLCCHC since 2010 and a Board Trustee since 2022. Before retiring, Cheryl served as the Executive Director of the Snow Belt Housing Company in Lowville.

Tom Daly

Trustee
Contact info: tdalywrites@gmail.com

Tom lives in Colton, NY and has been a member of SLCCHC and a Board Trustee since 2023. He is also a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam. Before retiring and moving back to the North Country, Tom owned his own marketing consulting business and has lived in many states across the country. Now, Tom is a Teaching Assistant at the BOCES Northwest Technical Education Center in Ogdensburg.

Sharon Tavernier

Trustee
Contact info: taverniers@canton.edu

Sharon lives in Canton, NY and has been a Board Trustee since 2024. Sharon is the College Registrar at SUNY Canton.

Alondra Maldonado-Espinosa

Summer 2024 – Fall 2024

Alondra is a Sophomore at SUNY Canton, majoring in legal studies and minoring in history. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, she is passionate about art, music, traveling, and reading books during her free time. During her fall internship at SLCCHC, Alondra will be learning about the multiple aspects and logistics of running a small museum, including fundraising, outreach, and curating exhibitions. Looking to the future, she plans to continue her studies at Buffalo law school, specializing in immigration law. 

Emily Langer

Fall 2024

Emily is a Senior at SUNY Potsdam, majoring in history and minoring in museum studies. During her fall internship at SLCCHC, Emily will be learning about the multiple aspects and logistics of running a small museum, including archive management, outreach, and curating exhibitions. 

Meara McClusky

Fall 2024

Meara is a Junior at St. Lawrence University, double majoring in history and anthropology and minoring in African studies. She’s originally from New Hampshire and enjoys crocheting, reading, and being outside.

Charlotte Hobbs

Fall 2024

Charlotte is a Junior at St Lawrence University, majoring in anthropology and minoring in art and religious studies. She enjoys reading, playing Skyrim, and sewing.

SLCCHC Internship Experience

We are always looking for student interns to assist with research, collections cataloging, exhibits, programs, marketing, social media and more. If interested, please fill out the internship form below and send to carlene@slcha.org.

To learn more about internship opportunities, call (315) 386-8133 or email carlene@slcha.org. Course credit may be available.

View and download the internship form here.

The St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture would like to recognize the many volunteers who make our daily operations possible. Without them, we would not be able to function. We truly appreciate all your hard work, dedication, and support.

2024 Volunteers

John Austin
Pat Dominie
Mary Gilbert
Courtney LaPointe
Lynne Matott
Alexis Michael
Molly Mott
Vicky Oakes
Cheryl Shenkle-O’Neill
Marcia Thompson-Amyot
Kai Vebber

Volunteers are integral to the daily operations, programs and special projects of SLCCHC. In 2022, volunteers contributed over 1200 hours of service time, doing everything from mowing the lawn to prepping children’s activities for outreach events. As a not-for-profit organization with a small staff, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our amazing volunteers.

Do you have a special skill or interest you would like to share with us? If so, we’d love to hear from you! We have projects available for everyone, ages 14 and up.  

Please fill out this application and drop it off or email it to info@slcha.org.

Employment Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in working with us! We are not currently hiring at this time, but please check back later. We will post as soon as positions are available.