Legislator Ken Wishnick brings a wealth of corporate, environmental and economic development experience to the policy making table.  Currently a Century21 Realtor for the greater New Paltz community, Ken previously served as a Divisional Vice President for Browning-Ferris Industries, the 2^_nd largest waste management company worldwide.  In addition, Ken held the post of Executive Director for a New Jersey County’s Department of Planning and Economic Development, and he also served as President of a joint chamber of commerce/tourism marketing organization for a resort area in western Maryland.  Adding to his small business knowledge, Ken had owned a factory in Owings Mills Maryland that was financially distressed when acquired, but was turned around and ultimately sold to a competitor at a significant gain.

Ken attended the MIT/Harvard Program on Negotiation.  He received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from SUNY Binghamton and a Master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Texas A&M University.

As a legislator, Ken has been a sponsor of initiatives including passage of local law #6 of 2012 which bans the use for hydraulic fracturing wastewater on county roads.

His past and present community volunteerism is extensive.  Included are: court mediator through the Ulster County Dispute Resolution Center, Mohonk Preserve photographer, SUNY Lifetime Learning Institute council member/instructor, hosting his own community TV shows on public access TV (see HelloNewPaltz.com and saveadog.info).  He lives in New Paltz with this wife, Fran.