Director of Development

Terry Platz, Director of Development, facilitates the promotion of Beacon Institute news and events to its constituency, working to provide the most effective messaging of the Institute’s mission to the public in an ever-changing media environment.

In addition to producing written and visual marketing materials, managing the Institute's related websites and social media messaging, Terry is coordinator for Clarkson's RiverU summer environmental program and other special projects.  In 2012, working with John Cronin (Beacon Institute Fellow at Clarkson University), she organized the New York State Hydrokinetic Generation Environmental Policy Workshop, which was sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Before joining Beacon Institute in 2009, Terry spent several years working as event coordinator for the music festival Mamapalooza, establishing the annual day-long event in Westchester County at Kensico Dam in Valhalla, NY. She was instrumental in the creation of its non-profit arm, the Motherhood Foundation.

Terry launched her environmentally related non-profit career in 1999, as land steward for the Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT). Through HHLT, Terry also monitored lands under conservation easement in the town of Philipstown held by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust. HHLT, based in Garrison, NY, is a community-based organization devoted to protecting the natural resources, rural character, and scenic beauty of the Hudson Highlands.

Singing professionally since age six, Terry continued her career in the recording studio after receiving her bachelor of music degree from St. Olaf College. Through the course of her free-lance years singing television and radio commercials, records and films, Terry worked with such talents as Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson and Woody Allen. Terry continues to sing, performing with MotherLode Trio, providing backing vocals on singer-songwriter Dar William’s CD Many Great Companions and the debut CD for Andrew C. Revkin, Dot Earth blogger for The NY Times.