26 class members will learn about different sectors of county throughout 2026

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Leadership Orleans Class of 2026 kicked off its year of exploration in Orleans County with an opening day retreat today at Fairhaven Inn.

Pictured, front row, from left: Patti Doyle, Ashley Sutherland, Meghan Bevins, Jenai Walker, Krista Dhow and Will Gregoire.

Second row: Pam Wadhams, Ciara Silversmith, Hana Robinson, Rachel Frasier, Darelyn Songer and Brandon Smith.

Third row: Brett Sobieraski, Geen Henry, Lisa Elschker, Susan Thaine and Dr. Taweepon Farrar.

Back row: Sara Flansburg, Jake Weller, Terry Kingdollar, Tim Smith, Gabriella Bottorff, Timothy Dunham, Craig Lane and Chris Hughes. (Missing from photo: Valerie Wells and Amy Crandall.)

Skip Helfrich, executive director of Leadership Orleans since the program started in 2018, discusses different leadership styles during the opening retreat today.

Some of those styles in the “DISC” profile include dominant controller, cautious analytical, influencing promoter, and steadfast supporter.

The “dominant controller” tend to be very determined and decisive, and “results oriented,” Helfrich said, and are often CEOs, entrepreneurs and people who excel at sales.

The “cautious analytical” are very thorough and organized and are often engineers and accountants.

The “influencing promoter” bring lots of ideas and energy and are often politicians, artists and debaters, Helfrich said.

A “steadfast supporter” is a team player and collaborator, often people who excel in human resources, service jobs and as union reps.

Each of the class members did a DISC profile to see where they landed. Helfrich discussed how the different types of people can often clash, and often help each other when they appreciate their different skill sets and styles.

Fairhaven Inn hosted the opening retreat which continues on Friday. This is the ninth class of Leadership Orleans. In the first eight years,  203 people graduated from the program.

The new class of 26 members will spend a year learning about the county and themselves.

The class represents several sectors in the community, including agriculture, education, human services, government, business, a church and volunteerism.

The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community.

The class will meet monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and meeting people from many different sectors in the community. The class will spend different days focused on agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, law enforcement, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development.

The group typically visits about 40 sites around the county and hears from about 50 presenters.

The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are many sponsors of programs throughout the years. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.

This year’s class members include:

• Meghan Bevins, assistant director of Orleans County Office for the Aging in Albion
• Gabriella Bottorff, food safety coordinator for Lake Ontario Fruit in Albion
• Amy Crandall, assistant vice president Generations Bank in Medina
• Patti Doyle, art engagement director for GO Art! in Batavia
• Krista Duhow, learning coordinator at Medina Central School
• Timothy Dunham, executive director of human resources at Orleans/Niagara BOCES
• Lisa Elschker, human resource generalist at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
• Dr. Taweepon Farrar, district superintendent for Niagara/Orleans BOCES
• Sara Flansburg, owner of Blissett’s Specialty Shop in Medina
• Rachel Frasier, executive assistant for Western New Energy in Medina
• Will Gregoire, mechanical engineer for Udderways in Albion
• Geen Henry, assistant director of prevention for UConnectCare in Albion
• Chris Hughes, director of district wellness at Medina Central School
• Terry Kingdollar, family support specialist at Arc GLOW in Albion
• Craig Lane, commissioner of public works for Orleans County
• Hana Robinson, founder of World Life Adventures in Albion
• Ciarra Silversmith, clinic manager at Orleans Community Health in Albion
• Brandon Smith, loan officer at Farm Credit East in Batavia
• Tim Smith, senior principal engineer at Baxter Medical in Medina
• Brett Sobieraski, investigator for District Attorney’s Office in Albion
• Darelyn Songer, secretary to Orleans County chief administrative officer
• Ashley Sutherland, branch manager for M&T Bank in Lyndonville
• Susan Thaine, pastor for First Presbyterian Church of Albion
• Pam Wadhams, director of Headstart for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Janei Walker, HR manager at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Jake Weller, network engineer for Info Advantage in Rochester
• Valerie Wells, volunteer in Lyndonville

Johnson has led the seven-member Legislature the past 8 years

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Lynne Johnson presides over today’s Orleans County Legislature meeting after she was elected by the seven-member Legislature to serve another term as chairman. Lisa Stenshorn, clerk to the Legislature, is at right.

Johnson has led the body the past eight years, serving four two-year terms.

The current term will only be for one year, after the state changed the legislators’ terms from two to one year so the legislators will be up for election on even years instead of odd years. That one-year term will only be for 2026, and then legislators will be back to two-year election cycles.

Orleans County legislators take the oath of office this afternoon in the Legislature’s chambers at the County Office Building. County Court Judge Sanford Church administered the oath to from left: Legislature Clerk Lisa Stenshorn, Legislator Bill Eick, Legislator Don Allport, Legislator Ed Morgan, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson (with daughter Clancy next to her), Legislator Fred Miller (with wife Betty Sue Miller in back), Legislator John Fitzak and Legislator Skip Draper.

Lynne Johnson of the town of Yates had unanimous support among the legislators to continue as chairman. She has been on the Legislature for 18 years.

Legislator Ed Morgan praised her for keeping all the legislators informed and welcoming their input.

“She keeps us all involved,” said Morgan, a Murray resident. “She listens. She doesn’t make decisions on her own.”

Legislator Don Allport commended both Johnson and Bill Eick, the Legislature vice chairman, for their time and effort in leading the county government.

Bill Eick signs the oath of office book. Legislator Don Allport is at left and County Clerk Nadine Hanlon is at right.

Eick of Shelby was re-elected to serve as vice chairman of the Legislature. Eick just completed 20 years on the Legislature, and previously was a Shelby town councilman.

He is a retired dairy farmer who also worked at Western New York Energy. Johnson praised his experience, and the contributions from all seven legislators.

“We argue and share our opinions, and then we all walk out the door as friends,” Johnson said. “Everyone has their own voice.”

Johnson said she spends three to five days a week in the office, but there are also many other phone calls and emails. She said it is an honor to represent the county at ceremonies, events and funerals for veterans.

This year the county expects to break ground on a new facility for the Emergency Management Office and Johnson said a countywide study of fire/EMS services should help guide how those services are provided in the future.

During today’s organizational meeting, the Legislature also:

• Reappointed Lisa Stenshorn as clerk to the Legislature.
• Reappointed Kathy Bogan as county attorney.
• Set the salaries for legislators at $13,886 for the year, with the vice chairman at $15,750 and the chairman at $20,829.
• Designated The Daily News of Batavia as the official newspaper for legal notices.
• Designated Don Allport the majority leader of the Republicans and Fred Miller the minority leader for Democrats. Miller is the lone Democrat on the Legislature.

Kim DeFrank takes the oath for a new term as county treasurer. She has been in the role the last eight years. Her husband, Glenn, holds the Bible.

Judge Church also administered the oath of office to Jesse Cudzilo, a new councilman for the Town of Ridgeway.

Bill Jurinich, a new Yates councilman, takes the oath while his fiancé, Patti Bower, holds the Bible.