The Nature Conservancy in New York - CWNY: Meet the Board of Trustees

Maria Bachich

Maria joined our board in 2005. A resident of King Ferry, Maria has a deep interest in conservation and loves working with conservancy volunteers. She serves on several committees, including International, Nominating, Ad Hoc Membership, NY State Board International Committee and is an Ithaca regional team chair. Maria has a diverse professional background and loves birding, hiking, kayaking, travel, and gardening.

R. Hays Bell, Ph.D.

Dr. Bell joined our board in 1999. A resident of Penfield and retired VP at Eastman Kodak, Dr. Bell has broad interests in science and conservation and has been instrumental in helping The Nature Conservancy unite area businesses for conservation causes. He currently serves on the Ad hoc Membership, Strategic Planning, Executive Committee, and Nominating Committees. He enjoys bicycling, NCAA football and basketball (especially Big 10), travel, gardening and hiking.

Richard Bennett, M.D.

A member of our board since 2004, Dick lives in Skaneateles, where he recently retired from a successful career as a pediatrician. Dick is involved in our land acquisition and stewardship programs and has a soft spot for Tug Hill, Montezuma, and the Adirondacks. A history buff, Dick enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, and travel.

Barry Boyer, J. D.

Barry has helped the Conservancy shape our strategic vision since he was elected to our board in 2002. His background in both education and law—he is a professor of environmental law at SUNY Buffalo—has been especially useful to our work in the Great Lakes. He lives in East Aurora and enjoys history, travel, gardening, hiking and photography.

Laurie Branch

Laurie was elected to our board in 2003 and is our current chair. A resident of Olean, NY and our treasurer, she chairs our Finance Committee and serves on our Strategic Planning and Nominating Committiees. Laurie has a background in business and serves on several community boards near her hometown, including her local school board. In her spare time, Laurie likes to dabble in history and enjoys travel and sailing.

Patricia Calkins

Elected to our board in 2007, Patty lives in Webster and is VP of Environment, Health & Safety at Xerox Corporation. Patty is interested in sustainable technologies and serves on the boards of RIT’s Sustainability Institute and the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems. When she’s not working, you’re likely to find her outdoors bicycling, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, or scuba diving.

Thomas Donnelly, Ph.D.

A resident of Binghamton, Dr. Donnelly (“Nick”) has been active with The Nature Conservancy since 1997. Nick is a retired geology professor from SUNY Binghamton and enjoys diverse subjects including energy, climate change, entomology, and freshwater and tropical ecosystems. Nick is a recognized expert on dragonflies and damselflies, and has been instrumental in helping the chapter select and focus on international priorities.

John W. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

Formerly a national governing board member of The Nature Conservancy, we are pleased that Dr. John "Fitz" Fitzpatrick now serves the Central & Western New York Chapter. Fitz is a leading authority on bird conservation and is Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He has led efforts to involve citizens in conservation science and to re-locate the iconic Ivory-billed Woodpecker in southeastern swamp forests. Fitz will help guide chapter initiatives to protect vital avian habitat and to partner with the Cornell Lab and other conservation organizations. Fitz lives near Ithaca and enjoys hiking and watercolor painting and, of course, bird watching.

Paul Fuller

Paul Fuller joined the Board in 2009. A resident of Rome, he is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Family Medicine and Medical Director at University Pediatric and Adolescent Center and Upstate Pediatrics. Paul enjoys hiking, skiing, reading, studying nature, traveling and has recently taken up fly-fishing.

Allen Galson

Allen chaired the Board from 1998-2001 and remains highly active. He hails from Dewitt (near Syracuse) and is the retired CEO of Galson Corporation, an environmental sciences and engineering consulting firm. Climate change is a salient issue for Allen, and he currently serves on the International, Finance, and Strategic Planning Committees. In addition, he is the chapter’s representative to the World Office Trustee Council. An organizer of the Syracuse International Film Festival, Allen also enjoys photography, tennis, sailing and kayaking.

Bruce Gilman, Ph.D.

Bruce was elected to our board in 2000 and lives in Canandaigua. He is professor of natural resources at Finger Lakes Community College with a background in limnology and plant ecology. Bruce is a specialist in alvar communities. He studied Limerick Cedars (an alvar project close to Chaumont Barrens) for his doctoral research and is now a scientist with the International Alvar Conservation Initiative. Near the barrens, Bruce discovered New York’s only known populations of the Michigan lily wildflower. Bruce enjoys paleontology, photography, and most outdoor pursuits.

Richard S. Hill

Dick is a resident of Utica and a Trustee Emeritus of our chapter. He is retired from 22 years at General Electric in engineering, consulting, and management positions. Dick is our preserve monitor at Lake Julia Preserve in Remsen, an 800-acre preserve of northern hardwood forests. Dick was a director of the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust for 10 years and is an avid birder.

Lee Hirschey

Lee was elected to our board in 2003 and is a resident of Hammond, NY, in the Thousand Islands region, where he is part of the antique boat community. As a business owner, Lee brings his broad experience in finance and accounting to our chapter’s Finance Committee. He loves the outdoors, architecture, scuba diving, and travel.

D. Bruce Johnstone, Ph.D.

Bruce was elected to our board in 2005 and serves on our Finance Committee. He is a retired chancellor of the State University of New York, and is now a professor at the University of Buffalo where he specializes in higher education financing. Bruce has served on many collegiate boards and is an avid camper and canoeist.

Victoria Kennedy

Since joining our board in the early 1990s, Victoria’s 40-year environmental career has repeatedly brought us fresh and valuable perspectives. Victoria helped found the US EPA in Washington, D.C. and the Environment Finance Center at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. She is also a former board member of the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation. She lives in Fayetteville and chairs our Nominating Committee.

David Kiser, Ph.D.

Dave joined our board in 2005 and is the current director of health, safety, environment and sustainability and vice president of Eastman Kodak. As a founding member of our “Greater Rochester Businesses for Conservation” group and an advisory board member of RIT’s Sustainability Institute, Dave has helped area businesses establish dialogue on the issue of sustainability. When he’s not working, Dave enjoys history, fishing, hiking, hunting, and photography.

Deb Koen

As CEO of Career Development Services, Deb brings a broad expertise in non-profit management and leadership development to our chapter. She is our Rochester Regional Trustee Team Chair and serves on our Strategic Planning Committee. Deb is interested in issues relating to fresh water, sustainable development, and global conservation, and in her spare time enjoys art, haiku, birding, travel, and kayaking.

Tony Lee, J.D.

Tony is a recent addition to our board. He is a partner in the law firm of Underberg & Kessler where he focuses on estate planning and trust and estate administration. Tony also has a keen interest in and experience with land preservation through acquisitions and conservation easements. He has also dedicated many hours to other non-profits. Tony enjoys bicycling, skiing, fishing, white-water canoeing, camping and other outdoor pursuits.

Tom Lunt

Tom was elected to our board in 2006 and now serves on our Nominating Committee and as our Buffalo Regional Team co-chair. Tom is no stranger to community involvement. He has brought his experience in finance and non-profit management to our chapter and to several Buffalo-area organizations. He has special interests in birding, volunteer recruitment, and land acquisition and stewardship.

Clayton Millard

Clayton is a resident of Rochester and has lent his expertise in finance and geology to our board since 2004. He’s interested in broad topics such as global climate change, invasive species, and land acquisition, and serves on our Finance Committee. He loves to be outside, where he tends his gardens, and goes hiking, fishing, and camping.

Martha O’Donnell

Martha has been a member of our board since 2004. She lives in Clayton, where she’s been actively engaged with several community organizations, including The Red Cross, Jefferson Community College, and the NYS Zoo at Thompson Park. Martha speaks both Spanish and French and has special interests in community-based conservation, ecotourism, fresh water, invasive species, and national parks.

T. Brian O’Shea, J.D.

Brian O’Shea resides on a forested property along a brook in Barneveld. A lawyer by trade, Brian provides legal expertise on matters such as corporate partnerships, public policy, and land acquisitions. Brian enjoys art, architecture, biking, camping, sailing, and other outdoor pursuits..

John Palmer, Ph.D.

John has taught and administered at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University for the last 20 years. His strengths in government, education, and non-profit management will greatly contribute to our strategic planning, public policy, and fund development. John enjoys bicycling, camping, history, travel, and hiking.

Bob Papworth

Bob Papworth joined the Board in 2009. A successful businessman, he hails from Syracuse, where he is a management consultant. Bob became an Adirondacks 46er in 1972, and is passionate about conservation near his home, especially on Tug Hill.

Frederick B. Parker, M.D.

A veteran board member since 2001, Dr. Parker (a.k.a. Fritz) currently chairs our Syracuse Regional Trustee Team, our Ad Hoc Committee on Membership, and our Tug Hill Advisory Committee. He has been active in community organizations around Syracuse for years and is a bird watcher, history buff, hunter, and fisherman.

Joyce Pearson

Joyce was elected to our board in 2003 and lives in Pittsford. Joyce has valuable experience in education, health care, non-profit management, and volunteer leadership. She serves on the International and Ad Hoc Membership Committees. Her interests include photography, birding, kayaking, biking, gardening and writing.

Stephen Rosenfeld, M.D.

Dr. Rosenfeld has served on our board since 2005 and lives in Pittsford. A graduate of University of Rochester School of Medicine, Steve was an immunologist, allergist and rheumatologist on the faculty of the UR School of Medicine before retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2005. He chairs our International Committee and serves on our Finance Committee. A bird and music enthusiast, he also enjoys canoeing, sailing, travel, and other outdoor pursuits.

Sandra Rothenberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Rothenberg is a professor at RIT’s College of Business and shares her expertise in education, non-profit management, and management consulting with our chapter. She is interested in issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and land acquisition. Sandra enjoys travel and hiking.

Sue van der Stricht

A Rochester native, Sue joined our board in 2007 and continues the legacy of her late husband, our former board chair, friend, and colleague, Rob van der Stricht, who passed away in 2006. Sue’s experience in business, government affairs, and real estate makes valuable contributions to our Finance and Nominating committees. Sue enjoys travel and many outdoor activities.