POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Marc Nelson of Poughkeepsie announced a change in personnel in his administration this Monday. Development Director Natalie Quinn left her position with the city on Friday and Joe Donat has been brought in to serve as interim Development Director starting today (March 20, 2023). Nelson said the changes will help move some projects along in the city.
Donat previously served as Chief of Staff for former Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who represented the city during his time in office, and Donat is familiar with the issues facing Poughkeepsie. After leaving Maloney’s office, Donat became the 55th Newburgh City Manager where he served until the spring of 2021. As city manager for one of the most troubled municipalities in the Hudson Valley, Donat dealt with a vast array of issues that provided him the opportunity to interact, successfully, with many government agencies at the county, state, and federal levels.
“I am very excited about the direction my administration and this city are going,” said Mayor Nelson. “I am thrilled to have Mr. Donat and his vast experience joining us.”
Nelson also commended Quinn for her work for the city. “Natalie did a lot of work for Poughkeepsie and I wish her well in her future endeavors.” Quinn joined the city’s planning department in 2018 and was named planning director in 2019 before being tapped as the city’s development director in February 2022.
