Photo by Kathy Woughter
Melissa Cascini, Lake Placid, NY
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Melissa is the senior program coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, where she supports staff and volunteers working on trails throughout the region. She graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, then served as an AmeriCorps trail steward. Melissa can be found spending her free time hiking, paddling, and being outdoors with her dog in the Catskills and Adirondacks.
Adeline Clayton, Lake Placid, NY (co-chair)
Tahawus Trails LLC
Addie first started working in the Adirondacks with the Adirondack Mountain Club after completing her bachelor’s in environmental studies at the University of Vermont. She now works for Tahawus Trails, a private trail design and construction company specializing in hiking, biking, and accessible trails across New York and the Northeast. In her free time she enjoys biking, skiing, gardening, and training her trail pup, Olive.
Josh Cook, Schroon Lake, NY
Seagle Festival
Josh is the company manager for Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake, where he mentors emerging vocal artists from across the country and leads multi-age educational initiatives. Josh is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University. On his days off, Josh enjoys visiting farmers’ markets, exploring used bookstores, and hiking in the Adirondacks.
Evan Foster, Burlington, VT
Vermont Land Trust
Evan has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Vermont (UVM) and is an avid paddler and skier. Following graduation from UVM, Evan completed two AmeriCorps terms where he gained direct experience working for land trusts. These experiences led him to his current position as lands coordinator for the Vermont Land Trust.
Maya Fuller, Washington, D.C.
The Conservation Fund
Maya hails from Buffalo, NY, and has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and geography from Syracuse University. They currently work for The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit that creates nature-based solutions for climate protection, sustainable economies and vibrant communities, as a program associate in urban conservation. Previously, Maya worked for Abt Global, a global consulting and research firm focused on health, environmental and social policy, technology, and international development.
Dan Galvin, Buffalo, NY
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Dan is a social worker and avid hiker from Buffalo, NY. He is also currently pursuing a master’s in energy regulation law from Vermont Law and Graduate School with the goal of working to preserve wilderness spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Amber Herzer, Queens, NY
Growth Rooted
Amber is the founder and principle of Growth Rooted, a consulting firm dedicated to helping mission-focused organizations expand their impact. Originally from Iowa and now based in Brooklyn, Amber holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. Her commitment to conservation is inspired by her connection to the Five Ponds Wilderness near Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks, where her family has cared for private land for over 80 years.
Grace Hiltunen, Saranac Lake, NY
Black Mountain Architecture
Grace is the business and prosperity manager at Black Mountain Architecture, a firm that focuses on design that bridges the built and natural environments. She has served in the Peace Corps, worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and earned an MBA from Alfred University. Grace is a skier, paddler, and climber whose passion for conservation is rooted in love of place and the belief that strong communities, networks of care, and healthy landscapes go hand in hand.
Olivia Jobe, Valatie, NY
Goldberg Segalla
Olivia is an associate attorney with Goldberg Segalla focused on transportation, environmental issues, and land use. Originally from Buffalo, Olivia earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University at Albany and a juris doctor from Albany Law School. Olivia is committed to broadening access to nature for culturally diverse communities and ensuring conservation benefits are equitably shared. Olivia is also a passionate advocate for women’s and children’s rights.
Lura Johnson, Bozeman, MT
Sanbell
Lura grew up in Keene Valley, and developed a taste for adventure and conservation in the Adirondacks. She earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering at Montana State University, where she researched constructed wetlands as a natural treatment system for municipal wastewater. Lura currently works as an engineer for Sanbell, an infrastructure engineering and community design firm.
Kelly Klingler, Ph.D., Saranac Lake, NY
Paul Smith's College
Kelly is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and an Associate Professor of Wildlife Science at Paul Smith's College specializing in vertebrate ecology, conservation genetics, and wildlife monitoring. She holds a bachelor's degree from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a doctorate from the University of Nevada, Reno, in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. She also serves as a planning member for both the North American Pika Consortium and Northeast Wildlife Trackers. Kelly enjoys teaching, running, birding, and spending time outdoors with her family.
Carlie Leary, Plattsburgh, NY
SUNY Plattsburgh
Carlie is the sustainability coordinator for the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, where she works with a wide range of constituencies to develop and advance campus sustainability plans. Carlie is interested in the ways that society and science intersect, and she brings a background in clean energy, ecology, evolutionary biology, and food studies to the Next Generation Council.
Richard Marrano, New York City
MUFG
Richard is a business and finance professional with MUFG specializing in commercial real estate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s in finance, and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. Richard is a dual citizen of Ireland and the U.S. who grew up visiting the Adirondacks, which led to his interest in both advocacy for preserving the natural vitality of our ecosystems and photography.
Abby Omaña, Essex, NY
Full and By Farm
Abby works at Full and By Farm in Essex, New York. She graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s in science, technology, and international affairs with a minor in philosophy. She spent summer 2023 working as an ecological research technician in Acadia National Park, which fueled her eagerness to work in environmental conservation. Having grown up exploring the Adirondacks, she hopes to return for a career centered on sustainable agriculture.
Danny Papes, New York, NY
The Whitney Museum of American Art
Danny earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Northeastern University before working with Patagonia in retail, operations, and grassroots environmental activism in New York City. He now manages retail and e-commerce at The Whitney Museum of American Art. Danny has a lifelong connection to the High Peaks Wilderness in the Adirondacks, and he can often be found outdoors snowboarding, cross-country skiing, open-water swimming, or climbing.
Mikayla Ploof, Saranac Lake, NY
Mercer Advisors
Mikayla is a relationship manager with the financial services firm Mercer Advisors. She was born and raised in Saranac Lake, then earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from the SUNY at Plattsburgh and a master’s in museum studies from Syracuse University. Mikayla also volunteers as a board member with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation and spends her free time outside with a camera photographing wildlife and the Adirondack landscape.
Charlotte Staats, Keene, NY
Adirondack Park Agency
Charlotte is a state land planner at the Adirondack Park Agency, where she focuses on land use planning for the 3 million acres of state land within the park. She was previously the Trails Director for the Adirondack Mountain Club, supervising professional and volunteer trail crew programs. She has her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from Clarkson University. You can find Charlotte enjoying the Adirondacks while hiking, biking, paddling, or skiing.
Ian Thompson, Kingston, NY
New York State Department of Conservation
Ian is a forester with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, where he manages more than 170,000 acres of Wild Forest and Wilderness areas in the Catskill Forest Preserve. He developed a passion for conservation and sustainable land use while earning a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Vermont. Ian’s time hiking, skiing, biking, and maintaining Adirondack trails is instrumental in shaping his relationship with the natural world.
Gabrielle Ursin, Cambridge, MA
Harvard University
While growing up in New Jersey, Gabrielle often visited her family’s cabin in the Adirondacks. After earning a dual bachelor’s degree in philosophy and earth and environmental geoscience, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in tectonics. Gabrielle has interned for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and brings an interest in the intersection between ethics, science communication, and the environment to the Next Generation Council.
Brooke Wise, Stowe, VT
Stio
Brooke is an assistant store manager for Stio, an outdoor company that creates technical apparel for mountain athletes. She has previously worked in the Adirondacks in outdoor recreation and retail in the High Peaks region and farming in the Champlain Valley. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont as a parks, recreation, and tourism major with a minor in agroecology.