Board member since July 2026
Company and job title: Park Maintenance Worker 1 at Erie County Parks and Recreation’s Bureau of Forestry
Location: Unity Island Park
Hometown: Adirondack Park
What experience led you to where you are today at the land trust?
“I first learned about the Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust when I was taking a class in ecological restoration with Nick Henshue at UB. I was looking at different brownfield sites around 1660 Niagara Street… I became familiar with the organization in 2022, and then I joined the land committee in 2024… I started with another land trust, Grassroots Gardens in 2022… I wanted to build a coalition of like-minded land trusts and be in communication with everybody… I was excited that BNRLT was doing urban spaces”
What is your interest in the land trust? Why are you here? What do you hope to accomplish?
“My background in both land trust work and ecological restoration and native plants- it all kind of comes together, and I want to help in any way that I can.”
What is the significance of the place you chose to meet?
“This was the first place where I feel like I got connected to the Niagara River when I moved to Buffalo in 2018. I think I saw the first ice flow in the winter of 2019. This spot really tethers me to the river.”
What brings you joy?
“I love to sing! I used to sing with the Buffalo Gay Men’s Choir… We sang a bunch of different things; we sang some classical music and pop songs… I love the arts in general. I love to draw and paint and do sculpture art… I honestly love the intersection between environment and art. I loved art history in college, learning about the Hudson painters and early American artists…”
What is your favorite outdoor activity?
“I like a good hike, especially if it’s near a body of water…I really do love to cross-country ski in the winter as well”
What is your favorite season?
“I like spring because I love seeing spring ephemeral flowers and the specific pollinators that those attract. I also really like late summer and early fall, partly because of the goldenrod and asters flowering.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
“I’ve always wanted to fly… more like a jump-and-glide kind of fly… I also have a fear of heights, so I would probably max out at like 30 feet.”
Any current projects you’re working on or anything else you’d like to promote?
“I am working with a bunch of regional partners on a Western New York regional native seed hub where we’re going to attempt to collect and grow native ecotype seeds… Personally, I really want to get some more native ecotype plants into people’s gardens… If people want to get involved, they’re more than welcome to reach out to me!”
