Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.
-Helen Keller
Our Team
Traci Ploufe
Executive DirectorTraci is our beautiful leader. She is a genuine, lovely soul, with a heart the size of Mt Marcy! Her love for the community is being poured into every corner of The Prevention Team as she develops it into the Hub of Hope.
Nancy Paquette
Administrative AssistantNancy Paquette was born and raised in Willimantic, CT. She’s a retired 20-year US Air Force veteran, and arrived in Ticonderoga 5 days before the 1998 Ice Storm. She’s been working with the Prevention Team since December 20, 2004. Nancy enjoys spending her free time at home with her husband and dogs, and solving jigsaw puzzles. She loves to work on her property and tend to her garden.
Julie Baker
Moriah CSD Prevention Specialist-Resiliency CoachJulie Baker has lived in the Town of Moriah her whole life, with three beautiful daughters- her lifelines. She graduated from Moriah Central School in 1990, and then went on to earn her degree in Human Services at Plattsburgh State. With her gift of a compassionate heart, Julie has provided her services through many agencies in the district. She loves helping people, especially youth, strive for a bright future. You can find Julie in her off-time snuggled up with a good book from Dickens or Bronte, or in her garden. She is often reminded of the people she helps as she watches the cycle of life in her plants; when given the right care, they thrive.
Colleen (Cam) Brown
Safe Harbor AmbassadorColleen “Cam” Brown is a Safe Harbour Ambassador. Her professional background includes being a special education teacher, hospice bereavement coordinator, and partner with Trades of Hope. In these roles, Cam’s passion of encouraging individuals to utilize their strengths and resources is a common thread. In addition to exploring the Adirondack Region she grew up in, Cam loves to travel to other countries to visit her sponsored children. Through her travels and work, she has learned the importance of raising awareness and empowering caregivers and youth with healthy choices to prevent exploitation. Cam has combined her love of hiking and heart for others by captaining a 46Climbs team. 46Climbs is an annual event for suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
A fun fact about Cam is that she has a lean-to and greenhouse on her property. These places provide the space for her to enjoy her hobbies of gardening and being in the forest.
Ben Frantz
Prevention Specialist - Lake Placid CSD and Newcomb Cool dude, all heart! He is ever creating great ways for kids to breathe in safe and enjoyable spaces.
Dawn Waters - Prevention Educator She is a sweet, creative mind that isn’t afraid to serenade sweet resilience to you with her guitar!
Ronwyn Kneller
Prevention Specialist/ Educator-Aging WiselyRonwyn is addressing youth AND elders in our community! She is a wealthy of knowledge and a joy to have in the room!
Linda Boyea
Prevention Specialist/Educator - Moriah CSD and Boquet Valley CSD Linda Boyea grew up in the small rural town of Moriah, NY. She attended Potsdam University in 1991, with a BA in early childhood education and history. She then returned home to Moriah, married her high school sweetheart, raised an awesome son, and became connected. Linda’s “natural highs” include fishing, cooking, and entertaining at her home. She loves helping others, spending time with people, and being a difference maker in a struggling world.
Angie MacAlpine
Prevention Specialist/Educator - Crown Point, Schroon Lake, NewcombAngie is a gem of the P Team. She is the adult that everyone wanted to have around as a kid. Angie adores youth and teaching them how to make healthy choices and empowering them to stick with that confidence through the years.
Samuel Gangi
Resiliency Coach- Crown Point
Sam is Moriah Viking who has formally been adopted by the Panthers! The kids love how relatable he is! Sam is super into safe fitness practices-BONUS!
Casey King
Sober Active Recovery Network Facilitator
Resiliency Coach- Minerva
Casey is our Jack of all trades- he meets with kids all day and adults all evening. He is a champion of local recovery efforts and all of those little steps that create a big difference! He’s creating unique ways to make the sobriety journey work within all the priorities in life.
Joi Larruci
Prevention Specialist/Educator -Aging WiselyJoi Larruci is an Essex County transplant, who grew up in and around Schoharie County. She graduated from Schoharie Central High School, but her path in the field of prevention did not start there. She dreamed of being a chef with her own restaurant, and pursued her degree at SUNY Cobleskill, working in the field for some time. She wanted to add to her experience and pursued an education in accounting., working in the accounting field for a period of time. Joi obtained a position with Mountain Lake Services , and knew at that point she wanted to work with and assist people. Since then, she has successfully graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in social work, and after a 3-year break from pursuing her career in social work, she accepted a position as a Community Educator with the Prevention Team in late November 2022. Since her hire date, she has played an integral role in successfully rolling out the WISE programming in Essex County, as one of eight test pilots in the state. Joi is grateful to be a part of an agency that truly makes a difference in the lives of many, and to have the wonderful co-workers on her side that she does, thanks to the Prevention Team!
Emma Summers
Community Mobilization & Resiliency Coordinator
Emma spends her time reaching out to local resources and people while juggling 4 perfectly crazy dogs, 3 cats, and 2 horses! She loves connecting people to people and engaging in individualized ways to find peace in the most stressful and traumatic of situations. She is grateful to have found the Prevention Team!
Abigail (Abby) Reeder
Content StrategistAbby Reeder is a junior at Moriah Central school, and has lived in the town of Moriah her whole life. She has amazing and supportive parents, and two wonderful (sometimes annoying) little brothers. Abby loves to sing with her Mom on the worship team at Lakeside Regional Church, and she’s proud to be part of the body of Christ. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, and is the first and current president of the TPUSA Essex County Activism Hub. When she isn’t lost in a book, Abby enjoys writing her own stories, as well as drawing and hanging out with friends. While she isn’t sure what career she wants to pursue after graduation, Abby knows that whatever she does, she wants to make the world a better place.
Dr. Roger Catana
Board of Directors
Pam Nolan
Board of Directors
Sheriff David Reynolds
Board of Directors
Kris Stonitch
Board of Directors
Arin Burdo
Board of Directors
Allison Whalen
Board of Directors