  Genesee Land Trust staff, board, partners, and neighbors at the Harvest Festival 

Who We Are

Staff

At Genesee Land Trust, we know it is our passionate staff, volunteers, and board that move our mission, and we value each person’s experience, perspectives, and unique identity. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff that reflects the region we serve. We strive to create and maintain a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

Meet our Executive Director - Lorna Wright

Lorna Wright (she/her)
Executive Director

Contact Lorna

Lorna oversees operations, strategic planning, and Genesee Land Trust’s conservation programs including new acquisition projects, farmland protection, and programs in the city. Contact Lorna if you are interested in learning about getting involved with Genesee Land Trust and/or protecting your land.

Favorite outdoor activity: Hiking

Fun fact: Plays ultimate Frisbee year round, even in the snow!

Want to know more? Read her Q and A here.

Kevin Farrell Land Stewardship DirectorContact KevinKevin oversees Genesee Land Trust’s conservation lands and stewardship program. He is responsible for our nature preserves, conservation easements, and habitat restoration projects.Favorite outdoor… — **Kevin Farrell (he/him)**
Director of Conservation Programs
Contact Kevin
Kevin is responsible for Genesee Land Trust’s habitat acquisition projects, supporting our conservation partners, and overseeing the Land Trust’s portfolio of nature preserves and conservation easements.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Disc golf!
**Fun fact:** Kevin is working tirelessly to try every cup of coffee in Rochester.
**Want to know more?** Read his Q&A here.

**Elliotte Bowerman (they/them)**
Director of Communications
Contact Elliotte
Elliotte manages Genesee Land Trust’s strategic communications, including events, email, print and social media channels. Please contact Elliotte if you have story ideas or want to share great pictures taken at our properties.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Swimming and painting local landscapes.
**Fun fact:** Elliotte grew up on a local dairy farm in Farmington.

Helen Dumas Genesee River Alliance CoordinatorContact HelenHelen focuses on engaging and developing relationships with neighborhoods, organizations, and City staff on behalf of the Genesee River Alliance. She is responsible for establishing regular … — **Helen Dumas (she/her)**
Director of Urban Engagement
Contact Helen
Helen focuses on engaging and developing relationships with neighborhoods, organizations, and City staff on behalf of the Genesee River Alliance. She is responsible for establishing regular communications with the Alliance and stakeholders and coordinates and facilitates Alliance meetings. Contact Helen with any questions about the Genesee River Alliance.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Sledding in the winter, swimming in the summer, and attending outdoor festivals all year long with her children and grandchildren.
**Fun fact:** She loves cooking gourmet meals for family and friends and can usually duplicate a dish closely after eating it once.

**Amanda Grisa (she/her)**
Farmland Protection Manager
Contact Amanda
Amanda leads our farmland protection team and works with individuals interested in protecting their farmland or looking for land to farm. Contact Amanda if you are interested in protecting your farm or looking for farmland.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Exploring the Finger Lakes on cross-country skis.
**Fun fact:** Her favorite snack is French breakfast radishes straight from the field.

Will Macaluso Preserve ManagerContact WillWill maintains Genesee Land Trust's nature preserves and assists with stewardship volunteer programs. He is responsible for helping maintain and enhance public access and experiences along with plant and wildlife habitats at our preserves.Favorite outdoor activity: Mountain bikingFun fact: He enjoys gardening and his wish list of native plants for his garden is constantly growing. — **Will Macaluso (he/him)**
Preserve Manager
Contact Will
Will maintains Genesee Land Trust's nature preserves and assists with stewardship volunteer programs. He is responsible for helping maintain and enhance public access and experiences along with plant and wildlife habitats at our preserves.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Mountain biking
**Fun fact:** He enjoys gardening and his wish list of native plants for his garden is constantly growing.

**Cassidy May (she/her)**
Land Protection Specialist
Contact Cassidy
Cassidy focuses on supporting the conservation of private lands for wildlife and public nature preserves.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Exploring new hiking trails and peering over the side of a kayak to find cool creatures in the water.
**Fun fact:** Cassidy is known among friends to point out every tree, flower, animal, and rock she finds remotely interesting or beautiful.

**Isabel Stowell (she/her)**
Urban Outreach Coordinator
Contact Isabel
Isabel focuses on connecting with riverside communities and partners about urban conservation issues. Isabel is participating in the Rochester Youth Year Program as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Taking long walks along the water while drinking coffee and chatting with family and friends
**Fun fact:** She has a passion for gemstones and jewelry and can often be found at antique shops and secondhand stores searching for vintage treasures

Asueiza Warmann wears heart-shaped glasses and smiles in the sunshine. — **Asueiza Warmann (she/her)**
Finance and Operations Manager
Contact Asueiza
Asueiza oversees finances and accounting, works closely with the leadership team on the development of the Land Trust’s annual operating budget, and oversees facilities and organizational systems like IT.
**Favorite Outdoor Activities:** taking long walks and bonding with friends and family.
**Fun fact:** Asueiza is a trained chef and once ran a bakery.

**Mckenna Erwell (she/her)**
Community Engagement Coordinator
Contact Mckenna
Mckenna focuses on supporting the Land Trust’s engagement programs and events. She also works to maintain and improve the processes of volunteer recruitment, training,and management.
**Favorite Outdoor Activity:** Hiking and canoeing
**Fun Fact:** She loves to take care of her plants and enjoys shopping at farmers markets and plant nurseries to add new plants to her collection.

Larissa Lalka Database and Administrative AssistantContact LarissaLarissa manages Genesee Land Trust’s database, keeping track of donations and updating membership information. Please get in touch with Larissa if you need to update your contact info… — **Larissa Lalka (she/her)**
Database and Administrative Assistant
Contact Larissa
Larissa manages Genesee Land Trust’s database, keeping track of donations and updating membership information. Please get in touch with Larissa if you need to update your contact information or have a question about your giving.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Gardening and exploring parks and trails with her family
**Fun fact:** She always keeps spare change in her car for farm stands

Liz Sheehan Farmland Protection AssistantContact LizLiz manages the administrative aspects of several grant-funded farmland protection projects. She coordinates with landowners, title companies, attorneys, and consultants throughout the process. Liz… — **Liz Sheehan (she/her)**
Farmland Protection Assistant
Contact Liz
Liz manages the administrative aspects of several grant-funded farmland protection projects. She coordinates with landowners, title companies, attorneys, and consultants throughout the process. Liz focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships with landowners and all project participants with an overall goal of keeping land available for farming.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Flower and vegetable gardening with plants grown in her greenhouse
**Fun fact:** She is fascinated with weather and climate phenomenon and is beginning coursework toward a degree in meteorology.

**Liz DeLorenze (she/her)**
Executive Assistant
Contact Liz
Liz manages the Executive Director’s calendar, coordinates various meetings logistics, and performs other tasks as needed.
**Favorite outdoor activities:** hiking, camping, biking
**Fun fact:** Liz recently completed cycling the full extent of the Erie Canalway Trail.

**Marissa Parker (she/her)**
Seasonal Land Steward
Contact Marissa
Marissa focuses on helping to maintain our trails and also supports the overall health of our nature preserves.
**Favorite Outdoor Activity:** Mountain Biking and Hiking with her dog, Phoebe.
**Fun Fact:** Marissa spent a semester studying climate change and biodiversity in Kenya.

**Jonathan Hoose (he/him)**
Director of Development
Contact Jonathan
Jonathan oversees Genesee Land Trust’s fundraising and development efforts to advance our mission. Please contact him if you wish to learn more about how you can support the work of Genesee Land Trust.
**Favorite outdoor activity:** Running along the Genesee River
**Fun fact:** He has a large collection of houseplants

**Emma Fantuzzo (she/her)**
Communications Assistant
Contact Emma
Emma assists the Genesee Land Trust’s Communications Director with social media marketing and miscellaneous communications needs. Please contact Emma to share photos taken at Land Trust properties.
**Favorite Outdoor Activity:** Hiking and exploring new places.
**Fun Fact:** She loves crafting, baking, and exploring. Her newest exploration goal is to climb all 27 fire towers in the Adirondacks.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Gardening, hiking with her dog, scuba diving
**Favorite nature preserve:** Gosnell Big Woods

**Favorite outdoor activity:** birding, kayaking, and anything around water
**Favorite nature preserve:** Salmon Creek

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Mountain Biking, Invasive Species Removal, Landscaping
**Favorite nature preserve:** Lehigh Crossing Park

Neha Sood, President (she/her)
Director for Campus Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology

Kayleigh Rae Stampfler, Vice President (she/they)
Director of Legacy Giving, Rochester Area Community Foundation

Carl Simon (he/him)
Senior Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability, Foodlink

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Travel, hiking, quilting, reading
**Favorite nature preserve:** Gosnell Big Woods

**Favorite outdoor activity:** agriculture
**Favorite protected property:** Preserved farm land

Favorite outdoor activity: running, cross-country skiing, golf

Favorite nature preserve: Corbett's Glen

Jean McCreary, Secretary (she/her)
Retired, Nixon Peabody LLP

Mark Greene (he/him)
Farmer, Hopkins Farm

Mark Cronin (he/him)
Chief Operating Officer, Accountable Health Partners

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Walking, hiking, swimming, boating
**Favorite protected space:** El Camino

Favorite outdoor activity: Walking any trail that includes a waterfall, reading next to a stream, and trying to stay warm at youth sporting events

Favorite nature preserve: Cornwall Preserve

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Birding, Hiking, Sailing
**Favorite nature preserve:** Island Cottage Woods

Miguel A. Melendez Jr. (he/him)
Chief Community Engagement Officer, Ibero-American Development Corporation; President of Rochester City Council

Amy Reichhart (she/her)
Partner, Lippes Mathias’ Environment & Energy Practice

Greg Lawrence (he/him)
Avian Biologist, Project Manager, Tetra Tech

**Favorite outdoor activity:** hiking, downhill skiing, tennis
**Favorite nature preserve:** Cornwall

**Favorite outdoor activity:** farming, hunting, snowmobiling
**Favorite nature preserve:** Martin Farm on Burritt Rd.

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Hiking, Biking, Sailing, and Skiing
**Favorite nature preserve:** Cornwall

Linda Hellebush Riordan (she/her)
Retired, Director of Development, Young Audiences of Rochester

Chris Martin (he/him)
Principal, Martin Farms

Carol May (she/her)
Retired Physical Education Teacher, Retired Youth Minister, Adirondack 46er, and self-proclaimed adventure seeker

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Photography, swimming, and beach(ing).
**Favorite nature preserve:** All. But if had to choose, he chooses Gosnell Big Woods.

**Favorite outdoor activity:** plant identification, hiking, laying in the grass!
**Favorite nature preserve:** Gosnell Big Woods Preserve

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Watching her grandkids play outside
**Fun Fact:** She enjoys crocheting

Joshua Sankowski (he/him)
Director of Corporate Partnerships, PathStone Corporation

Jacalyn Meyvis (she/her)
Owner, Jacalyn Meyvis Photography

Kimm Proctor (she/her)
Regulatory Compliance Manager, ESL Federal Credit Union

**Favorite outdoor activity:**
**Favorite nature preserve:**

Peter Woods (he/him)
Retired Senior Associate General Counsel, ESL Federal Credit Union

David Ryder (he/they)
Owner, Redmont Nursery LLC

Victor H. Sanchez (he/him)
Associate Project Manager, University of Rochester

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Hiking, gardening, biking
**Favorite nature preserve:** Gosnell Big Woods

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Hiking, kayaking, biking
**Favorite nature preserve:** Salmon Creek

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Running, Hiking, Bicycling
**Favorite nature preserve:** Salmon Creek

Keith Weber (he/him)
Senior Lecturer in Management Information Systems, Rochester Institute of Technology

Mary Hadley (she/her)

Retired, Causewave Community Partners

David G. Urban (he/him)
Wealth Management Advisor, Northwestern Mutual

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Hiking, snowboarding, city walks
**Favorite nature preserve:** Salmon Creek

Sarah Studwell (she/her)
Communications Officer, Rochester Area Community Foundation

Jeremy Paris (he/him)

Civil Engineer, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service

**Favorite outdoor activity:** Hiking, biking, and swimming
**Favorite nature preserve:** Christine Sevilla Wetlands Preserve

Deb Rosen (she/her)

President and CEO, Jewish Family Services of Rochester

Advisory Board

Robert Avery
Judy Bigelow
Betsy Brooks
Lee Caine
Diane Cass
Roger Cass
Kathy Cleary
Richard Dollinger
Rachel Edwards

Connie Ehindero
Tim Fitzgerald
Sandra Frankel
Jeffrey E. Hough
Jim Howe
Rick Marx
Jeff McCann
Merri-Lou McKeever
Jan Miller

Randi Minetor
Tom Riley
Lynn Slowik
James Smith
Kathy Spencer
Bill Steimer
Tom Tette
Andy Wheatcraft
Suzanne Wheatcraft