Mission          Team          Contact          Careers

Meet our Team

Executive Director, Mark King

Mark joined the Conservancy as Executive Director in 2013, but his history of involvement with the organization goes back much further. As one of the organization’s founding board members in 1992, he has had a hand in many of the organization’s conservation successes. Mark’s early work with the Land Conservancy led to a 17-year career with The Nature Conservancy as Director of Land Protection for the Eastern New York Chapter. Before working for The Nature Conservancy he was a Senior Natural Resource Planner with Albany County. Mark began his career working for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation helping with the State’s Bald Eagle reintroduction program. A life-long resident of the Capital District, Mark is passionate about sharing an appreciation for the natural beauty of the area by helping to conserve our open spaces.
Email: mark@mohawkhudson.org

Development and Marketing

Director of Operations and Development, Lea Montalto-Rook

Lea Montalto-Rook is Director of Operations and Development for ​the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy​, responsible for managing the Conservancy’s operations, fundraising, communications, outreach, and events. ​Lea has lived in the Capital Region since 2011. She was previously Director of Individual and Corporate Relations for ​The Wilma Theat​er​ in Philadelphia and ​before that Program Director for the metro-NYC and Northeast marketing activities of Team Enterprises, an experiential and event marketing agency. Lea ​holds an M.S. in International Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and a Graduate Certificate in Theater from Villanova University. Lea ​lives with her husband and ​two​ children ​in Delmar ​and in her spare time enjoys gardening, coaching soccer, and painting.
Email: lea@mohawkhudson.org

 

Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Daron Blake

Daron joined the team at MHLC as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator in 2016. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from SUNY Binghamton and a Master’s in Environmental History from Kansas State University. She has worked with aquatic invasive plant removal projects in Lake Champlain, studied wild bison on the Konza Prairie, and educated visitors about the eastern deciduous forest on field trips. Outside of the office, she can be found hiking, singing, playing board games, or roller skating.
Email: daron@mohawkhudson.org

 

 

Conservation and Stewardship

Conservation Director, Sarah Walsh

Sarah is Conservation Director for MHLC, responsible for oversight of land stewardship and assisting with property acquisitions. Sarah brings nearly ten years’ experience in habitat restoration initiatives for bird habitat, riparian and wetland areas as well as experience in protection of conservation lands, non-profit program development, and trail planning. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from SUNY ESF and her Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Albany in 2012. Sarah is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys back-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddling, sailing, and bird watching.
Email: sarah@mohawkhudson.org

 

 

Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator, Sawyer Cresap

Sawyer joined MHLC’s team as the Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator in 2017 as a born-and-raised Capital Region resident. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy from Syracuse University and brings with her several non-profit experiences and AmeriCorps service from across New England. Her background in conservation and land management ranges from conducting prescribed wildfire treatment, to cultivating pollinator gardens, and creating native species habitat corridors. Sawyer enjoys spending time running and oil painting. She is glad to be sharing her love of open space with others in her work with MHLC.
Email: sawyer@mohawkhudson.org

 

Administration

Office Manager/Bookkeeper, Kristi Perri

Kristi joined the MHLC team as a part-time office manager and bookkeeper in the Spring of 2018. She has experience as an Office Manager as well as a Property Services Director. Kristi’s background is in School Counseling in which she received her MS from Long Island University. Kristi has been in the Capital Region since 2005 having settled in Delmar in 2009. She loves yoga, Crossfit and riding bikes along the Rail Trail with her husband and two young daughters.
Email: kristi@mohawkhudson.org

 

Board of Directors

Christopher Gorka, Chair

Michael Barrett, Vice Chair

Elliott Shaw, Treasurer

Kim Baker, Secretary

Ruth Bonn

Alyson Brody

Sarah Carroll

Clifford Erickson

Sandra Geisinger

Jory Langner

Allie Middleton

Ellie Prakken

Dodie Seagle

Lonnie Threatte

Claiborne Walthall

Advisory Board

Peggy Sherman, Chair

Carol Ash

Matt Bender

Charles Buchanan

Ginny Carter

Jeff Jones

Charles Kruzansky

Dan Lewis

Cathie Love

Chuck Manning

Felton McLaughlin

Stewart Myers

Mike Sterthous

Peter Ten Eyck

Maggie Vinciguerra

Val Washington