STAFF

Mike has worked in Adirondack conservation for more than three decades, leading protection so far of more than 340,000 acres with more than 720 miles of rivers and streams and 330 lakes and ponds. Mike is a volunteer with the Keene Valley Fire Department, and he is a recipient of the 2017 Adirondack Council Conservationist of the Year award and 2018 Howard Zahniser Adirondack Award.

Kimberly worked in fundraising for independent schools in the Adirondacks and Vermont before joining Adirondack Land Trust. Kimberly grew up in Lake Placid, where her family produces maple syrup. She and her family can be found cross-country or telemark skiing in winter, and swimming and canoeing in summer.

Olivia’s appreciation for wild lands and waters began with the many treks of her Adirondack childhood. She earned a BS in natural resources from Cornell University, then worked as a journalist focused on outdoor recreation, public lands, environmental issues, and the social concerns of North America’s mountain communities. In addition to volunteering with her local library and town parks, she also makes time for human-powered outings on dirt, snow, and water.

A Syracuse University rising senior hailing from Buffalo, Maya is pursuing a double major in sociology and geography, and a minor in environment and society. They are working to advance key projects at the land trust, including integrating access and diversity into all facets of our work, as well as event planning and recruitment with our Next Gen Council. In their free time this summer, Maya plans to hike many mountains and get to know Adirondack communities.

Becca has previously worked as a sustainability fellow with the City of Pittsburgh and a preserve steward with The Nature Conservancy’s Western Massachusetts Field Office. She first came to enjoy the Adirondacks as a leader of volunteer trail crews while earning a BA in environmental science from Skidmore College. Becca volunteers on the Climate Smart Communities Taskforce for the village of Saranac Lake and loves to hike, bike, paddle, and play hockey.

Chris previously led land protection for the Adirondack Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, overseeing conservation of 15,000+ acres of parks, farms and forests. Prior to that, he was a wilderness ranger with the Bureau of Land Management in Yuma, Arizona, and a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Guatemala. He holds a BS in environmental resource management from Penn State and an MS in crop and soil environmental sciences from Virginia Tech.

Connie is fascinated by the relationships between land protection/stewardship, outdoor recreation and community wellness and identity. She has worked primarily in the conservation field for the past 25 years, communicating about threats to water, forests and wildlife; advocating for resources to address them; and cheering for every acre and every shoreline protected for current and future generations. She serves on the board of the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) and lives in Wilmington with her husband and their dog.

Derek has worked for more than 15 years in conservation, beginning with The Nature Conservancy on Long Island, as a preserves director, prior to relocating to the Adirondacks to work at Champlain Area Trails. Derek is an accomplished birder and volunteers for several ornithological organizations. A SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus, he is thrilled to work to conserve the dynamic North Country landscape. He lives in Willsboro with his wife and two daughters.

Susie has managed operations for a number of Adirondack nonprofits as well as her own nature photography business, Alpine Images. Susie enjoys hiking (she is a 46er), camping, canoeing, cross-country and backcountry skiing—and brings her camera on almost all of her adventures. Susie volunteers for the ambulance service in Wilmington, where she and her husband raised two daughters.

Joe formerly worked in stewardship, interpretation, and education roles at Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Yosemite Conservancy, Asbury Woods Nature Center in Pennsylvania, and 350Vermont. Joe brings community outreach and coalition building skills from political campaigns to his conservation career. Joe was introduced to the Adirondacks while obtaining a BS in environmental studies from the University of Vermont. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new summits, playing music, and watching movies.

Megan joined the Adirondack Land Trust after working for The Conservation Fund in Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. She earned a BA in environmental studies from George Washington University and an MS in environmental science & policy from Johns Hopkins University. Her mother’s family has 150 years of Adirondack roots. Megan and her husband live in Saranac Lake, where they have begun raising the next Adirondack generation.

Mary has worked in the Adirondacks for 30 years in journalism and conservation. She is interested in helping Adirondack communities benefit from wildlands, and she volunteers with the Town of Harrietstown’s Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, an in-town network of trails and supported outdoor activities, where she loves to ski and mountain bike.

Aaron joined the Adirondack Land Trust after working with the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts and NRCS. He was raised on a small farm in Central New York and studied at SUNY Plattsburgh and William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, earning a BS in environmental science with a focus on climate change and agriculture. He enjoys road trips to see family and friends, live music, and relaxing on the shores of Lake Champlain with his dog, Levon.

Nancy has worked in nonprofit management and fundraising for 40 years, 20 of them with Adirondack Land Trust. She has a BA in environmental science from University of Vermont, an MBA from SUNY Albany, and has earned Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) status. She lives in Westport, where she and her husband run Crane Mountain Valley Horse Rescue.

Before moving to the Adirondacks, Kathy worked in higher education in Western New York, most recently as Vice President of Student Affairs at Alfred University, where she won awards for work toward cultural diversity and unity. Outside of work, you’ll find Kathy hiking, cycling, kayaking, snowshoeing and reading. She also serves on the Adirondack Health board of trustees.