Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s Final State of the City Address
In her final year as Mayor of Albany, Kathy Sheehan delivered her final State of the City Address at SUNY Albany’s Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex (ETEC). In this heartfelt address, Mayor Sheehan reflects on 12 years of transformation in Albany—highlighting key achievements and the city’s journey from challenges to opportunities. From reducing poverty and crime to revitalizing neighborhoods and fostering economic growth, the Mayor shares the impact of her leadership—reflecting on 12 years of progress while looking ahead to the future with optimism and vision.
“What is legacy? It's planting seeds in the garden you won't get to see."
— Lin-Manuel Miranda
Artistic Vision
Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s final State of the City address wasn’t just a presentation — it was a heartfelt love letter to Albany. As the city’s first Director of Marketing, I had the unique opportunity to shape this moment into something deeply personal, symbolic, and unforgettable.
When Mayor Sheehan first took office, Albany faced a $16 million structural deficit, a depleted rainy-day fund, and neighborhoods still reeling from the Great Recession. This speech reflected not just how we met those challenges, but how we turned them into lasting opportunities. That duality inspired the event’s creative framework: “A Love Letter to Albany” and the lighter, visual motif of lemonade — a nod to resilience, reinvention, and joy.
From the program book styled like a love story to the symbolic blue carpet exhibit, Neighborhoods in Bloom, every element was crafted with intention. I led the identification of key accomplishments, directed and edited video segments that bookended the Mayor’s remarks, collaborated with a freelancer to create custom vector illustrations, and designed a suite of creative touchpoints — from a limited-edition Nine Pin cider and wine box send-off, to signage, slides, and print materials.
Each piece reflected a core belief: transformation doesn’t happen by chance — it happens by design. And in this case, by love.
This event wasn’t just about looking back — it was about setting the tone for the city’s future. As Mayor Sheehan prepares to leave office, this final State of the City was both a celebration and a transition — a thank-you, a promise, and a heartfelt goodbye.Whether it’s developing campaigns for city-wide initiatives, designing event visuals, or producing high-impact social media content, I’m committed to delivering creativity with purpose.
My role.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s final State of the City address wasn’t just a speech—it was a full-scale storytelling experience. Branded as “A Love Letter to Albany,” the campaign celebrated 12 years of leadership through layered creative elements that invited residents to see their city through a lens of progress, pride, and yes—lemonade.
As the City’s first Director of Marketing, I conceptualized a multi-sensory campaign with dozens of creative touchpoints: from a commemorative cider to custom program books, wayfinding signs, and branded graphics that felt personal, playful, and political—all signed, “With love, yours truly.”
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Developed the narrative arc of the event as a love story to the city, where each creative asset served as a "chapter"—highlighting a decade of achievements in infrastructure, equity, public safety, sustainability, and small business development.
Positioned the program book not just as a schedule, but as a map of the Mayor’s legacy—complete with love letter-style copy, handwritten notes, and milestone callouts.
Branded all materials, including signage and presentation slides, with "With Love, Yours Truly" as the Mayor’s sign-off—reinforcing intimacy and intention.
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Originated and executed a partnership with Nine Pin Cider to produce a limited-edition lemonade cider—transforming a critical tweet into a celebration of resilience and creativity.
Directed the rollout strategy, packaging design, and media integration of the product, seamlessly tying it back to themes of youth, safety, entrepreneurship, and civic pride.
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Wrote and oversaw design of all speech visuals, web content, printed materials, and press releases.
Collaborated with departments across the City to unify messaging around Mayor Sheehan’s priorities and legacy.
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Managed full logistics and creative production for the Mayor’s final State of the City, including venue coordination, run of show, AV direction, and stakeholder engagement.
Ensured each design element—down to the signage and centerpieces—contributed to the emotional and visual cohesion of the event.
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Identified and curated the Mayor’s top accomplishments, translating policy wins into visual narratives.
Commissioned and collaborated with a freelance illustrator to develop a full suite of custom vector illustrations, spotlighting milestones in infrastructure, equity, green energy, and more.
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Designed and produced all keynote slides used during the Mayor’s address, ensuring consistency with the overall creative narrative and thematic design.
Directed and edited three original video segments shown during the program, each highlighting different aspects of Mayor Sheehan’s 12-year legacy—from major capital improvements to grassroots community efforts.
These multimedia elements added emotional depth and clarity to the speech, serving as dynamic visual chapters in Albany’s ongoing story.
Full Presentation
Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s Final State of the City Address
The moment everything built toward — Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s final State of the City address, “A Love Letter to Albany.” This presentation reflects not only 12 years of public service and transformation, but also the creative vision behind every element of the evening — from immersive exhibits and custom-designed visuals, to original videos and meaningful community touchpoints.
Watch as Mayor Sheehan delivers her final address, walking the audience through the progress Albany has made, the partnerships that fueled change, and the people who make this city home. Designed to inspire pride and invite reflection, this speech is a farewell — and a call to carry the love for Albany forward.
Watch the full presentation below.
Opening Video: Setting the Scene
Edited and Directed by myself.
This video was designed to transport the audience back in time—to the Albany that Mayor Sheehan first inherited 12 years ago. Through archival footage, headlines, and imagery of vacant buildings, budget crises, and crumbling infrastructure, the piece reminded the audience of the obstacles that once loomed large. It laid the emotional groundwork for the Mayor’s address, allowing her speech to serve as both a response and a resolution to the city’s most pressing early challenges.
Closing Video: A Love Letter to Albany
Directed by myself.
This final video was a direct extension of the speech’s title and purpose: a spoken and visual love letter to the City of Albany. Narrated by Mayor Sheehan, it layered heartfelt reflections with visuals of the communities, people, and neighborhoods touched by her administration. From playgrounds to police reform, tree plantings to thriving small businesses, the video closed the event on a deeply personal and celebratory note—an authentic tribute to the city she helped transform.
My Creative Highlights
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Event Starts
Custom signage welcomed attendees with warm, personal language.
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Check-In
Staff dressed in SOTC name tags guided guests into the venue.
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Cocktail Hour
Guests walked a symbolic “yellow brick road of progress” represented by a striking blue carpet, flanked by street signs like “Kathy Sheehan Way” and “State of the City 2025.”
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Neighborhoods in Bloom
Guests explored curated vignettes highlighting the Mayor’s initiatives, called Neighborhoods in Bloom.
The exhibit featured neighborhood-specific highlights, visual displays of housing and infrastructure revitalization, and direct engagement with Neighborhood Specialists.
At the exhibit’s end stood an antique painting of Albany—a nod to the city's historical roots through the lens of modern progress.
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Mayor’s Address
The speech itself was positioned as the “heart” of the love letter—reflective and forward-looking.
Speech visuals incorporated the custom illustrations from the program book.
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Kathy's Legacy Lemonade: In Collaboration with Nine Pin Cidery
The event unveiled a limited-run lemonade-flavored cider developed in collaboration with Nine Pin Cider.
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Branded Wine Box
Branded cans and bottles were displayed in a custom wine box inscribed with “With Love, Yours Truly.” Box incorporated the custom illustrations.
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Guest Departure Gift
As guests exited the event, they were presented with a custom Nine Pin lemonade cider nestled inside a branded wine box.
Each box was carefully designed as a physical extension of the evening’s message—emblazoned with “With Love, Yours Truly” to reinforce the Mayor’s parting sentiment.
The bottle featured a custom label commemorating 12 years of service and transformation, making it a meaningful collector’s item for community members and city partners.
The farewell moment was intimate and reflective—giving guests something to sip, savor, and remember.
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Program Book
Attendees received a custom-designed program book featuring the Mayor’s reflections, illustrated achievements, and timeline of service.
Every page was crafted like a chapter of a love story—with a heartfelt close signed, “With love, yours truly.”
Why Nine Pin?
A Cider House as a Case Study in Smart Policy and Local Growth
Nine Pin Cider wasn’t just a catering choice or a local nod for Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s final State of the City address—it was a deliberate symbol. A symbol of what’s possible when local government aligns smart policy with bold entrepreneurship.
When Mayor Sheehan first took office, Albany’s zoning code hadn’t been updated since 1968. It was inflexible, outdated, and failed to account for the mixed-use innovation and adaptive reuse that defines modern urban revitalization. The ReZone Albany initiative—launched early in her tenure—changed that.
Direct Result of ReZone Albany
Nine Pin Cider’s success is directly tied to the zoning overhaul Mayor Sheehan championed. ReZone Albany allowed Nine Pin to:
Open New York’s first licensed farm cidery in a previously restrictive industrial zone
Combine manufacturing, retail, and tasting room operations under one roof
Adaptively reuse a once-vacant building in the city’s warehouse district
Without ReZone Albany, Nine Pin wouldn’t have had a legal path to operate as it does today.
Symbol of Adaptive Reuse & Strategic Investment
Nine Pin transformed a vacant industrial space into a thriving production and retail hub. It represents a new model for economic development in Albany: one that reimagines the old, keeps jobs local, and breathes new life into forgotten corridors. Through the support of state funding and zoning flexibility, Nine Pin scaled its operations and built a brand that now has national recognition.
A Story of Collaboration
Nine Pin is more than a cider company—it's a story of collaboration between city leadership and local business. It’s what happens when:
Government clears outdated red tape
Policy is written with innovation in mind
Small businesses are supported with infrastructure, opportunity, and visibility
It’s a case study in how policy, placemaking, and partnerships can transform a start-up into a regional success—and put Albany on the map as a destination for both business and culture.
External Links
Press
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Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan delivers final State of the City address
WAMC
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Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan delivers final State of the City address
CBS6
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Sheehan outlines plans for Albany in final State of City address
Spectrum News 1
