John Bartow

John Bartow has served as Executive Director of the New York State Tug Hill Commission since 2004. The Tug Hill Commission is a non-regulatory state agency that uses a grass-roots approach to help create a sound environment and economy for this special, rural region of northwestern New York State.

Bartow was born in Buffalo and was raised in several upstate New York communities.  Bartow holds degrees in Natural Resource Conservation from SUNY Morrisville (A.A.S.); Environmental Studies from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse (B.S.); and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from SUNY Albany.

John and his wife, Janet, reside in Adams Center, and they have one daughter, Jessmyn, who is married to Mathew Schwartz and both teach music in the Capital District.