GENESEO, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2024 — Livingston County is pleased to announce that Nathan Cole, the most recent recipient of the Dominic F. Mazza County Management Fellowship, has successfully completed the professional development program and transitioned into a full-time role as a community development specialist with the county’s planning department.
Livingston County created the Dominic F. Mazza County Management Fellowship in May of 2018. The fellowship is named for Livingston’s first County Administrator, Dominic F. “Nick” Mazza, who served the county with distinction from 1989 to 2009. The county designed the fellowship program to provide students pursuing a master’s degree in public administration with practical experience in local government operations and county management.
Cole, a Livonia native and graduate of St. Bonaventure University, began his fellowship in September of 2023 while pursuing his master’s degree from Syracuse University. He is the fourth recipient of the county’s Mazza Fellowship. He said the program has given him a new perspective on the powerful community impact of his chosen profession.
During his fellowship, Cole worked on several noteworthy projects, including supporting the county’s Land Bank operations, collaborating with economic development on innovative tools to better understand the habits of local consumers, and applying his graduate-level research to real-world county initiatives.
“The biggest accomplishment I felt I had in the Mazza fellowship was the work I did with the Land Bank,” explained Cole. “It was rewarding to see the day to day work I was doing come together and help result in the demolition of a Land Bank owned house. I was able to watch the demolition the day it happened. It was cool to see the impact of the work I was doing and it felt like a great ending to my fellowship.”
Livingston County Administrator Ian M. Coyle praised the program and Cole’s contributions.
“The Dominic F. Mazza Fellowship highlights our commitment to cultivating future public servants,” he said. “Nathan’s work shows just how impactful the fellowship can be for young leaders looking to make a difference. His successful transition into a full-time position here demonstrates the program’s value in preparing the next generation of local government professionals.”
In his new role as a community development specialist with the county’s planning department, Cole manages the day-to-day operations of the Land Bank. He also works on grants and planning projects, including addressing housing issues and managing the county’s brownfields grant. He credits the fellowship with preparing him for the transition to county employment.
“The hands-on experience, mentorship from Ian, and connections I built across departments gave me the tools I needed to hit the ground running,” said Cole. “It’s an honor to serve the county I grew up in and to contribute to its continued growth and success.”
Learn more about the county’s innovative programs and initiatives at Livingston County’s official website.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.