Rachel Edwards, President

Merri-Lou grew up on a farm in the open spaces of Chautauqua County, NY, learning to treasure that environment from an early age. Currently a city-dweller, Merri-Lou is retired from management of the worldwide presentation technologies group at Eastman Kodak Company. Concern over the expansion of urban sprawl has brought her to the Genesee Land Trust.

Merri-Lou is also an active volunteer at the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm and the Rochester Animal Services, believing strongly that "all things are connected." She also volunteers at Hope Hall School, is a member of the Rochester Audio Visual Association, and is Secretary/Treasurer of the Alfred Alumni Concert Choir. For the Trust, she serves on the Executive and Urban committees.

Erin D. Caldwell Erin is Assistant Director of Regional Marketing and Communications at the American Red Cross and is also a marketing adjunct at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester.  Caldwell lives in West Bloomfield and is particularly interested in sustainable development, promoting local small businesses and community-based living. At Genesee Land Trust, Caldwell serves on the Marketing Committee.

Diane has been a Science Librarian at the University of Rochester’s Carlson Science and Engineering Library for 25 years. She learned to value good stewardship of the land while working beside her father on the family’s dairy farm in Vermont. Relocating to Western New York 30 years ago, she treasured the farms in the Genesee Valley and the forests in the Finger Lakes. Noticing the spreading suburban development in the early 1990’s, she joined the Genesee Land Trust and soon became a member of the Board. Diane is co-chair of the Land Protection Committee. She also serves on the Farmland Initiative and Land Management Committees as well as volunteering for fund-raising activities.

Roger is a physician in private practice of Internal Medicine, Clinical Professor of Medicine at U of R. He is a co-founder of several environmental organizations, such as Save Our Space, Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists, and Genesee Land Trust. Honored by the Monroe County Legislature for outstanding dedication to the environment, Roger is a dedicated conservationist as well as a birder,musician, photographer and sailor. At the Trust, Roger is Co-Chair of the Land Protection Committee and also serves on the Land Management, Nominating Committees and the North Coast and the Farmland Initiatives.

Jill is a graduate of Cornell Law School and Colgate University, whose practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning and administration, preparation of Wills and trusts, estate and gift tax planning. Selected by her peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America, in the area of trusts and estates, for the years 2001 through 2012, and included in New York Super Lawyers for 2007 through 2011, she is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.  Jill is the recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s 2009 Attorney Professionalism Award, which recognizes a member of the Association who displays the highest standards of professionalism in service to clients, outstanding ethical conduct, commitment to promoting respect for the legal system in the pursuit of justice and the public good, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility. Jill has also served on the boards of several other professional and community organizations and is a Past President of the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar and is currently Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Rochester Area Community Foundation. Jill resides in Mendon with her husband, Paul MacAulay, and daughter, Claire. 

Udo is a Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences, University of Rochester.  He is a native of Germany, where he received his education (Ph.D. in physics), before coming to the USA as a research fellow at Harvard University.  In 1980, he joined the faculty in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the UR, serving in later years as director of Environmental Programs and Chair of the Department, before his retirement in 2010.  He is interested in environmental issues and sustainability, concerning the education of the broader public and the development and implementation of new policies in these fields.

Scott Forsyth, is a self-employed attorney with his brother, George. Forsyth & Forsyth is a family firm that was established 115 years ago, and protects the legal interests of families in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, and Livingston Counties. Scott is the past chair of the Monroe County Bar Association Trusts & Estates Section, and is a member of the Monroe, New York. and Florida Bar Associations. At Genesee Land Trust, Scott serves on the Land Acquisition and North Coast committees.

Erin Grant is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region. Erin's professional work has been dedicated to Rochester's non-profit community. She began her career at the Memorial Art Gallery and went on to work in marketing for the University of Rochester Medical Center. A passion for preservation led Erin to the Genesee Land Trust. Whether it is preserving cultural assets, healthcare access or open space, Erin has a deep commitment to ensuring that the resources enjoyed today are available well into the future.At Genesee Land Trust, Erin serves on the Marketing and Newsletter Committees as well as volunteering for special events.

Roni is the CEO of a family owned business and mother of 2 adult children.  Leading the gypsy life of a traveler is her passion as is reading but she is still resisting the Kindle and  IPad.  Gardening is a rising  interest and she has a lifelong devotion to meeting the special needs of women and children.  Contributing  to the work of the Genesee Land Trust reflects her love of the out-of-doors, hiking , geology and history.  Prior to joining her husband a year ago in the business venture, Roni’s 20+ year administrative careers were in senior roles at Highland Hospital, Strong Health and most recently at Gilda’s Club as the Executive Director.  Underpinning her career and interests include undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of areas including Business/Finance, Sociology, Art History with a concentration in Northern Italian Renaissance Art. At Genesee Land Trust, Roni serves on the North Coast Initiative Committee, Alasa Farms, and other ad hoc committees.

Jean is a partner in the Energy & Environment practice of Nixon Peabody, an international law firm with over 800 attorneys.  For the past decade she served as chair of that practice group, and concentrates her practice in the environmental aspects of real estate and corporate transactions, hazardous waste site investigations and cleanups, environmental compliance and enforcement and supporting toxic tort and Superfund litigation.  Jean is also a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor.  She has been a member of the Genesee Land Trust board since approximately 2000, and currently serves on its executive committee and co-chairs the North Coast initiative.

Nancy is a retired Xerox Corporation physicist.  She grew up on Long Island but now lives in Webster with her husband, Peter and children, Allison and Brian. She has always loved nature and resonates with the Genesee Land Trust’s approach to preserving and protecting it.  She enjoys the outdoors including gardening, jogging, walking, bicycling and hiking. She joined the Board in 2005 and chairs the Land Management Committee and is a member of the Urban Initiative Committee.  In addition, she volunteers to teach science lessons in the local elementary school through a Xerox-sponsored program and as a reader for WXXI's Reachout Radio reading service for the print impaired.  At Genesee Land Trust, Nancy chairs the Land Management Committee and serves on the Urban Initiative Committee.