Sean Mahar
NEIWPCC Executive Committee Member
Sean Mahar is the interim commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) helping to lead the agency’s environmental protection and natural resource conservation efforts. Prior to becoming the executive deputy commissioner in 2022, Mahar was chief of staff overseeing external agency affairs and operations and guiding implementation of key agency priorities, and previously was the assistant commissioner of public affairs for the agency. Before joining DEC, he was the director of government relations and communications for Audubon New York where he led efforts to advance state and federal conservation policies and build support for wildlife conservation initiatives in the state.
Carol Lamb-LaFay
Representative of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner at NEIWPCC Meetings of the Executive Committee and Commissioners
Carol Lamb-LaFay is a licensed professional engineer with 35 years in development, implementation and management of New York state water programs. She is currently the director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water and is responsible for protecting and conserving the water resources of New York state through the management and policy development of a wide range of programs including monitoring, assessment, permitting, compliance, enforcement, water supply, flood protection and dam safety. Previously, Ms. Lamb-LaFay served as the director for the Bureau of Water Permits responsible for New York’s State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permitting program. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
James V. McDonald
James McDonald, M.D., M.P.H., was appointed acting commissioner of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) on January 1, 2023. Prior to joining the NYSDOH in July of 2022, McDonald served at the Rhode Island Department of Health since 2012. There, he served in multiple roles including interim director of health, chief administrative officer of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, medical director for the COVID-19 unit, as well as the medical director for Center for Customer Services and the Drug Overdose prevention program. McDonald earned his doctorate in medicine from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and his master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Daniel Lang
Representative of the New York Department of Health Commissioner at NEIWPCC Meetings of the Commissioners
Dan Lang is the deputy director of the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) where he provides overall executive direction for environmental health programs throughout the state. Lang previously served as the CEH director of strategic operations, performing program management and team-building support to advance high-priority projects for the Center and the Department, including the wastewater-based epidemiology program. Lang is a New York State Professional Geologist and received his master’s in hydrogeology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s in environmental science from the University of Rochester.
Patricia Cerro-Reehil
Patricia Cerro-Reehil serves as executive director and officer of the board of directors of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA). She has worked for NYWEA for 36 years, and in her current role for 23 years. Cerro-Reehil received an associate of applied science degree from Green Mountain College, a bachelor’s in association management from Empire State College, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Case Western Reserve University. She serves as a member of the board of directors of the Cleveland Historical Society, and as a board member for the Oneida Lake Association.
Mark Klotz
Mark Klotz is a professional engineer with extensive experience in development, implementation and management of water resources and water quality protection programs. After serving for 35 years at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including 13 years as director of the Division of Water, he is currently a supervisory hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in New York. Here, he works on developing research projects, models, monitoring programs, and other tools and information to support state and local governments fulfill their responsibilities for water supply protection, flood damage reduction, water quality protection, and maintaining ecosystem health. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University.
Richard Lyons
Richard Lyons has worked for the Albany County Water Purification District (formerly the Albany County Sewer District) for over 40 years. In June 2015, he retired as executive director and now works part-time as a project manager. Lyons also serves on the county Energy Advisory Group and as president of the Local Development Corporation, which governs the implementation of the Albany Pool Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan. He was president of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) in 2012. Lyons has received numerous awards from NYWEA and the American Public Works Association and received the Water Environment Federation’s Arthur Sidney Bedell Award in 1998.