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You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers!
NYS Canal Corporation's Public Engagement team is the point of contact for all inquiries—whether from elected officials, community residents, school children, local news reporters and anyone who has questions or needs information about the NYS Canal System. We work with our colleagues throughout the Canal Corporation to get you the best answer or information. The response may come in the form of a simple email, phone call or an in-person meeting where we often bring our subject matter experts to the table for further discussion.
Bottom line: We listen. We aim to be responsive. We want you to contact us with your Canals-related questions, ideas and issues.
Coverage Area and Contact Information
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The NYS Canal Corporation operates and promotes the NYS Canal System including four canals (Erie, Champlain, Oswego, Cayuga – Seneca), hundreds of trail miles, approximately 3,000 structures-many of significant size, more than 100 vessels and about 500 dedicated full time professional and seasonal staff. We will commemorate our Bicentennial in 2025 and are preparing for our third century of operations by revitalizing the Canal System through commitments to increasing economic development opportunities and impact, addressing climate resiliency for safe and reliable operations and expanding and long-range capital planning to ensure structural integrity of our assets for future generations.
The NYS Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the NY Power Authority.
Public Engagement Team
Shane Mahar
Director of Public Engagement
Shane brings together the Public Engagement team of regional specialists (East, Central, West) to ensure collaboration and consistency in how the Canal Corporation helps you. His reach and focus are on topics with strategic impact across the 524-miles of waterways, hundreds of miles of trails and 200 communities along the Canal System. He also directs our Media Relations efforts and serves as the primary spokesperson for the Canal Corporation.
shane.mahar@nypa.gov | 518-603-0791
Jackie Schillinger
Senior Communications Strategy Manager
Jackie has worked on and around the waters of the canals for nearly nine years, and she is still learning new things about it every day! She gets as excited talking about sand sculptures at The Great New York State Fair as she does about infrastructure emergencies, the Albany Symphony Orchestra or robotic dogs. As she says, “You get a little bit of everything at Canals: from arts and culture to history and technology, from crisis management to world class artists and innovators, and it’s all thrilling!”
Jackie.Schillinger@nypa.gov | 518-281-5510
Nick Melson
Manager, Government & Community Affairs (West)
Nick has deep ties to Western New York and broad knowledge of the innovative economic development work the Canal Corporation is undertaking throughout the Western Division. Nick's area of focus is from Rochester to Buffalo as he supports several canal community revitalization efforts. Nick works with local governments and community members to grow recreational fishing opportunities in WNY to expand tourism revenue for small businesses through the Canal Fall Fishing Program. This includes increasing access for anglers to the Lake Ontario tributaries seasonally fed by canal waters through the Access and Conservation Easement (ACE) Program.
nicholas.melson@canals.ny.gov | 716-277-2262
Joell Murney-Karsten
Manager, Government & Community Affairs (Central)
With her dedication to all things Central New York, Joell is involved with topics involving three canals: the Erie, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. She enjoys boating and traveling throughout the region, keeping up to date on local economic development projects, and connecting with local municipalities, community groups and residents. Water management, water recreation and water-front development are high on her list of subjects of interest to her constituency. As a former teacher and Board of Education member, Joell believes in involving students in workshops and project planning as often as possible.
joell.murneykarsten@canals.ny.gov | 315-525-9790
Georgia Wohnsen
Manager, Government & Community Affairs (East)
Georgia covers territory from Sylvan Beach eastward along the Erie Canal to Waterford and north on the Champlain Canal from Waterford to Whitehall. She thrives when visiting and connecting with the communities she covers. Having grown up near Little Falls and now a resident of Waterford, she understands what’s at the heart of an historic canal community. Whether promoting the waterways tourism and arts and culture experiences, playing a role in economic development projects in the Mohawk Valley or communicating the Canal Corporation's efforts to protect the Champlain Canal from the impact of aquatic invasive species, Georgia is passionate about the Canal System, especially the eastern division.
georgia.wohnsen@canals.ny.gov | 518-801-6717
Elizabeth McAndrew
Public & Cultural Relations Coordinator
Elizabeth McAndrew champions diversity, inclusion and accessibility through her work with the Canal Corporation’s programming and event initiatives. She builds meaningful connections as a liaison to community leaders and organizations, ensuring the Canal Corporation is an active partner in cultural, heritage and inclusive events across New York State. Elizabeth is passionate about creating opportunities that celebrate community voices and foster accessibility for all, helping the Canal Corporation strengthen its ties with businesses, neighborhoods and key constituencies.
Michael “Sully” Sullivan
Legislative Affairs
Mike is the Canal Corporation’s Manager for Legislative Affairs at the state level. A regular presence at the State Capitol during session, he follows all legislation that may impact the Canal Corporation and serves as the representative attending related legislative committee meetings and hearings. He also interfaces with all legislators representing Canal communities. In addition to Mike’s work at the Capitol, he represents the Corporation at many events along the system, including The Great New York State Fair, regional boat shows, fishing shows and more – so if you see him around, please be sure to say hello to “Sully!”