Senator James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) is proud to welcome Director of Operations Nicole Clarke, and Director of Communications, Valerie Best.

Nicole Clarke is a longtime resident of the Hudson Valley and a graduate of Wallkill High School. She has B.A. in Healthcare Management and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University. Nicole comes to Senator Skoufis’ office as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, with expertise in helping operations and individuals create processes and build platforms that guide them to success.

A business owner herself, Clarke’s previous professional experience focused on providing small businesses with resources to help them succeed. Additional experience includes opportunities large and small – from single-office Covid testing to state-wide nurse procurement within schools.

“Serving the communities of Orange County is a high priority for me,” Clarke says. “Putting the ideas and goals of the Senator at the forefront, I hope to develop and execute new growth directives for this office to do just that.”

Clarke loves to hike and has been a runner in the New York City Marathon. She is excited to channel her energy into serving the 42nd District.

A California native, Valerie Best comes to this role with over a decade of professional writing experience. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University, and studied English Literature with an emphasis in critical writing at Brooklyn College.

“The communications office has the power to truly engage,” says Best. “One of the most compelling responsibilities of this role is distilling complex ideas into accessible content, so busy constituents can stay informed, without feeling overwhelmed.”