Michael Spada

Executive Board Member

I grew up in the Rondout Valley, between the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains where my introduction to the natural world began at a young age. I earned an A.A.S. from SUNY-Ulster, a B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology, and an M.S. Fish and Wildlife Management from the SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. After graduate school I was hired as a Research Scientist by the Upstate Freshwater Institute (UFI) in Syracuse, NY where I spent nearly 15 years. I began work for the DEP in August 2012, first working as a Scientist/Water Ecologist for the Field Operations group, then as an Instrumentation Specialist for the Early Warning Remote Monitoring group (Water Quality Innovations), and now as an Aquatic Ecologist for the Ecological Research and Assessment group (Natural Resources).

I applaud the vital role the Local 3599 has in offering us valuable benefits such as health, dental, and vision to name a few, as well as workplace protections. In my youth I have worked for private employers that offered no benefits or workplace protections, where you worked at the whim of the employer. For years now I have watched my fellow sisters and brothers spend their valuable time and efforts to ensure these benefits and protections are available for all members, and thought it was my turn to pitch in.