Meet Our Team

Bill Ulfelder, Executive Director

With Bill's leadership, The Nature Conservancy in New York is raising unprecedented resources, investing in cutting-edge science, connecting with new audiences and increasing awareness of key environmental issues. The Conservancy in New York team, guided by Bill, is deeply committed to developing a culture that is inclusive, diverse, and equitable for team members, trustees and partners. Bill serves on the Executive Council and North America Cabinet for The Nature Conservancy.

AnneMarie Blancato, Director of Finance and Operations

AnneMarie oversees the financial health of The Nature Conservancy in New York, which entails developing, monitoring and balancing the operating and capital budgets; tracking long-range plans; and aligning efforts with other departments to prepare and track business plans. AnneMarie has successfully established and executed vision, maintained synergy with Board members and developed effective strategies and plans since she joined The Nature Conservancy in 2019. In 2020, she was recruited to serve on the Director of Finance Operations Cabinet for The Nature Conservancy.

Stuart Gruskin, Chief Conservation and External Affairs Officer

Stu is responsible for developing and supervising implementation of our conservation and policy work, as well as guiding the Conservancy’s Cities Network across the United States. He is particularly interested in how we can apply methods of innovation from other sectors to accelerate and enhance our conservation impacts.

Sandy Humphrey, Director of Talent

Sandy provides strategic Human Resource guidance to the New York Division and the broader Nature Conservancy, and brings a global perspective to ensure the organizational structure and talent of New York are optimized. She is committed to the evolution of the culture; diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts; and developing the team into strong leaders and contributors. 

Laura Leinweber, Senior Marketing Director

Laura Leinweber serves as Senior Marketing Director where she directs marketing and communications for The Nature Conservancy in New York to raise the profile of the Conservancy and engage, inspire, and grow support and influence for the organization’s mission and work. She is an advisor to The Nature Conservancy in Europe, providing marketing and communications strategy and counsel to raise brand profile and mobilize funding. She also serves on the New York Executive Team and Global Marketing and Communications Leadership Team and is currently participating in an extensive executive leadership training with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School.

Jan Mittan, Global Market Development Director

Jan Mittan joined The Nature Conservancy as New York’s Chief Development Officer, where she led the New York Division in raising nearly $400 million in support of the Conservancy’s $8 billion global campaign for conservation. In 2021, Jan became the Conservancy’s first Global Markets Development Director, overseeing strategic development efforts for global markets including New York, London, Hong Kong, São Paulo, and Singapore, working to foster cross-market collaborations and maximize philanthropic opportunities vital to fulfilling the Conservancy’s 2030 Goals, its ambitious plan to secure a thriving planet – for people and nature.

Michael Rodgers, Director of Development

Michael is the New York Director of Development, leading the team responsible for fundraising for the organization’s New York State conservation work and the national Cities Network. In addition to managing this team, he is committed to helping develop the Conservancy’s equitable conservation, urban conservation, and environmental justice principles and practices into strategies to drive philanthropic support.