Board and Staff | kent-land-trust

top of page

KLT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Michael C. L. Hallows Chair since 2020. First Vice Chair 2017-19. KLT Director since 2005. Former Finance Committee Chair. Retired officer The Seagram Company Ltd. Member St. Andrew’s Church Property and Stewardship Committees. Kent resident since 1986.	Alice B. Hicks First Vice Chair since 2020. KLT Director since 2008. Treasurer 2010-2014. Second Vice Chair 2017-19. Director Kent Land Trust Foundation 2000-2007. Investment advisor over 35 years including as a founder of Iridian Asset Management. Director Kenan Institute for Ethics. Member Kent Planning & Zoning Commission. Kent resident since 1977.	Dana Slaughter Second Vice Chair since 2024. Director since 2020. Former teacher in New Fairfield, Marvelwood & Hotchkiss Schools. Active with KCS Board of Ed, Kent Memorial Library, KCS Scholarship Fund, and Kent Quilters. Kent resident since 1987.
Dolores R. Schiesel Secretary since 2010. KLT Director since 2008. Governance Committee Chair. Resident Partner in the Kent office of Cramer & Anderson LLP. Served 10 years as Kent First Selectman. Founding member and current treasurer of the Kent Community Fund. Kent resident since 1979.	Jim Norton Treasurer since 2020. KLT Director since 2017. President, Norton & Son Inc. Past president, Muralo Company and Elder & Jenks Inc. South Kent resident since 2009.

Directors

Darrell Cherniske KLT Director since 2014. Stewardship Committee Chair. Designer and Project Manager at Kent Horticultural Services since 1994. Member Kent Planning & Zoning Commission. Born and raised in New Milford. Kent resident since 1998.	Kenneth F. Cooper KLT Director since 2007. Nominating Committee Chair. Chief Financial Officer ACK Asset Management. Formerly Chief Financial Officer Republic National Bank of New York. Board President Kent Library Association and Vice Chair Studio in a School. Kent resident since 2004.	Laurie Doss KLT Director since 2011. Chair Marvelwood School Science Department. Charismatic secondary school educator since 1987. Research and projects focused on macro invertebrates, amphibians, birds and vernal pool ecology. Recipient numerous conservation and environmental education awards. Kent resident since 1995.
Darcy Bentley Frisch KLT Director Since 2020. Managing Director at Hearst Ventures, currently holds board positions for early-stage enterprise software companies. Yale Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility since 2009. Active at The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine. Kent resident since 2012.	Diane Meier KLT Director since 2017. President MEIER, award-winning marketing firm. Has lectured on Brand Strategy at University of Pennsylvania, UCONN and Babson College. Published both fiction and non-fiction works. Kent resident since 1998.	Janet Nelson KLT Director since 2007. Farm Committee Chair. Realtor William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty. Steering Committee member Greenwoods Counseling Referrals. Former board member and fundraiser Kent Childrens Center. Kent resident since 1984.
Laura Rothschild Second Vice Chair 2020-2023. Treasurer 2015-19. KLT Director since 2013. CAO and CFO of Daroth Capital LLC and subsidiaries. Director Kenner Family Research Fund. Former director Central Synagogue (NY), Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center (CT), Project Renewal (NY). Kent resident since 1986.	Bob Tobin Director since 2020. Former CEO, Ahold USA. Founder KLT's Kelly Alisha Tobin Internship to promote conservation education. Warren resident since 2008.	Kevin Umeh KLT Director since 2016. Finance Committee Chair. Digital media and E-commerce advisor and consultant. Former member New York Presbyterian Church Session and director Aaron Davis Hall in Harlem. Kent resident 2011-2014, Gaylordsville resident since 2014.
Marc Weingarten KLT Director since 2008. Acquisitions Committee Chair. Attorney and senior partner Schulte Roth & Zabel, New York. Specialty corporate law and finance. Alternate member Kent Planning & Zoning Commission. Kent resident since 1984.	Matthew Winter KLT Director since 2024. Senior VP Andron Construction Corp. Member of US Green Building Council and Passive House Institute. Active with Kent Scouting, Lions Club and Library building committee. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Past chair of Kent P&Z Commission, Firehouse building Committee and Community House renovation Committee. Kent resident since 2000.

Advisors

Wendy Murphy KLT Advisor since 2024. KLT Director since 2008. Independent Science Writer & Editorial Director for Onward Publishing, National Geographic Custom Publishing. Board member Kent Conservation Commission, Editorial Director of Natural & Cultural Riches of Kent and A Hiker's Guide. Kent resident since 1973.	Graham Myers Advisor since 2004. KLT Founding Director, Board Member 1989-2003 and Treasurer 1989-1993. Investment Counselor, previously with Smith Barney & Co and The Chase Manhattan Bank. Housatonic River Commission 1985-1993, Vice Chair 1986-87, Chair 1988-1992. Kent Inland Wetlands Commission Vice Chair, 1988-1992. Board Member Kent Art Association since 2010. Board Member Hunt Hill Farm Trust since 2015. Kent resident since 1982.	Nancy O'Dea Wyrick Advisor since 2010. Board Member 2004-2009. Business Management Consultant. Chair Kent Board of Finance. Former member Kent Board of Selectmen, Vestry St. Andrews Church, Kent Community Nursery School President. Kent resident since 1989.
Jack Rafferty Advisor since 2018, KLT Director since 2003. Retired lieutenant after 35 year career New York City Fire Department. Member Kent Planning & Zoning Commission 2003-2006. Member Kent Volunteer Fire Department/Ambulance Squad. Kent resident since 2000.	Stephen R. Vaughn Advisor since 2018, Board member since 2007. Professional career in retail and wholesale fashion industry, retired as International Director Visual Marketing Judith Leiber LLC. Active in Skiff Mountain preservation. Kent resident since 1982	Tony Zunino Advisor since 2014. KLT Founding Director, Board Member 1989-2013 and President 2002-2009. Architect with focus on environmental issues. Currently President Housatonic Valley Association, Board member Litchfield Hills Greenprint, CT Chapter Highlands Coalition. Kent resident since 1980.

Staff

Connie Manes Executive Director since October 2008. Attorney and consultant specializing in organizational assessment, capacity building and land trust accreditation. Member Kent Conservation Commission since 2007, Chair since 2010. Steering Committee member and Training and Education Chair Connecticut Land Conservation Council. HVA Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative Manager. Kent resident since 2003.	Melissa Cherniske Program Manager since 2020. Works around Litchfield County managing properties. Serves on the Kent Conservation Commission. Active volunteer for the Kent Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Lifelong resident of Litchfield County, Kent resident since 1998.	Angus Gracey Stewardship Manager since 2023. Stewardship Officer since October 2023. Ecological landscaper in Litchfield, Columbia, and Westchester counties; organic farmer; and business immigration paralegal. Wildcat Preserve Fellow at Wildcat Preserve in Hot Springs, NC. Former English and history teacher, political organizer, and journalist. Kent resident since 1998.
Don Lawson Trails Manager since 2023. Lifelong carpenter, trail builder, nature enthusiast. Avid 4-season outdoorsman with hiking and mountain biking mainstay. Area resident since 1982.	Alison Robey Writer for KLT since 2023. PhD student in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Yale University since 2021. BA in Environmental Studies & Mathematics from Williams College. Former intern in conservation and wilderness outreach at KLT, the Central Park Conservancy, and Camp Brookwoods & Deer Run. Kent Resident since 1998.	Gwynne Seufert Office manager since 2012. Community Garden coordinator. Administrative Support for Warren Land Trust. Former teacher, pastry chef, and gym owner, as well as board member of several local youth organizations. Kent resident since 2004.

bottom of page