ALBANY COUNTY — Hosting her first ceremony to honor Women of Distinction in her 109th Assembly District, Gabriello Romero made a plea for the women in the room to mentor and empower other women.

“The truth is — and I think we all know it — that when women are at the table of leadership, the conversation changes … policies find compassion and communities gain equity,” she said.

Romero said her team had reviewed many applicants for the annual award and chosen five: Anne Savage, an Albany board of education member; Melody Harkness-Mobele, chief executive officer of Harkness Consulting Solutions; and Annette Brown, who, after losing her son to gun violence, started Parents of Angel Children to give people a safe place to grieve — all of Albany; Deborah Engel, senior liaison for New Scotland; and Ellen Manning, president of the McKownville Improvement Association in Guilderland.

“It’s a testament to the power of women’s leadership across many different spheres,” she said of the recipients at Saturday's event.

“Deb does it all”

Romero said Engel had made “a profound and lasting impact” in her job as New Scotland’s senior outreach liaison.

“Deb does it all,” said Romero, noting that Engel had been instrumental in obtaining state funding for a bus to transport seniors. Engel was cheered by a crowd that had been transported to the downtown event in that very bus.

Romero said that, during the pandemic, Engel saw that vulnerable seniors received meals and vaccines and access to testing kits.

“You have definitely saved many, many lives,” she told Engel, praising Engel’s “swift and compassionate response” during the pandemic.

After she perused the New Scotland Seniors Facebook page, Romero concluded, “Everybody there loves Deb.”

She said of bestowing the award, “This is for heroes that don’t necessarily receive an award every day but goddamn need one.”

“I do the best I can do,” said Engel, noting that she herself is a senior. “So I need some of this stuff too,” she said, concluding, “I’m so privileged to be included with you women of distinction.”

“Strong and steadfast”

Romero said that Manning, as president of the McKownville Improvement Association, is “a strong and steadfast advocate for environmental conservation, local history, and protecting the unique character of McKownville.”

She noted Manning is a regular presence at town board meetings, has served on the town’s tree preservation and traffic safety committees, and has helped in updating Guilderland’s comprehensive plan by serving on a committee dealing with neighborhoods and housing.

“This doesn’t sound very sexy, I know,” said Romero. “But, if you’re from Guilderland, you know how important these initiatives are … to the town’s success.”

She concluded, “Activists like Ellen keep neighborhoods alive and continue to tell their stories.”

On hearing she was chosen to receive the award, Manning said she was surprised and honored.
“But hearing about the work of all these other women,” she said, “I feel just that much more honored to be in their company here today.”

Manning went on, “McKownville is kind of a special little neighborhood in a larger community that is under … constant pressures for different development plans or commercial plans.”

The work to maintain McKownville’s character is a joint effort, Manning said, citing the “incredible researchers” who worked to get an historic-district designation.

Manning thanked both town and state officials for their support and particularly thanked the association’s former president, Don Reeb, whom, she said, taught her “the importance of being a good neighbor.”