Judy Terlizzi
PCLT President
Judy Terlizzi has been a member of the Putnam County Land Trust 21 years and board member 18 years serving in many different capacities including Preserve and Head Steward, Volunteer Co-coordinator, Public Relations and Fund Development. These various tasks provided a sound education in helping this all-volunteer land trust move forward. She has led the organization through a Strategic Plan and two LTA Organizational Assessments which have set the ground work for an LTA Accreditation application. Judy is an enthusiastic day hiker and has hiked most of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and New York. She is an avid gardener and has Certificates in Landscape Design and Gardening with a focus on Native Plants. Judy has been a Lake Carmel (Kent) resident for 22 years.
Tatiana Kaletsch
Tatiana is a health behavior & community health specialist with a focus on local nutrition systems and farm fresh food for schools, institutions, and underserved communities. Her love for unspoiled nature began as a child with weekends and summers in northern Connecticut and remained with her life-long. As part of her mission to assist in preserving land and nature, she serves in Advisory and Board positions at NYC Audubon, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Westchester Land Trust, and NY WILD Conservation Film Festival. Drawing from her experience as VIP events coordinator, donor/client manager, advocate, strategic planner, and Board Certified Coach, she shares her passion and expertise for programs and initiatives connecting people to healthy living and the preservation of the environment.
Steven Saidenberg
Steven Saidenberg Is a former Technology Executive who turned to teaching Mathematics and Special Education in the NYC school system. Twenty-three years ago, he purchased a house on Barrett Pond. He has been on a quest to become a good steward of his land by removing invasive species including invasive barberry and Asian bittersweet and planting a wide variety of natives and creating a pollinator garden. Along the way he has become fascinated with the health of our lakes, the forest and the watershed. In Putnam, the triple threat of invasive plants & diseases, warmer temperatures and stronger storms is increasingly stressing our environment. He believes that one of the best ways to mitigate these threats is through preserving land and taking active steps to keep the forests
healthy, He is looking to deepen his connection to and take an increasingly active role in local environmental issues. For him, this connects 3 parts of his life: teaching, land-ownership and community activism.
Jenny Hinsman
Recording Secretary
Jenny Hinsman grew up in Pittsburgh PA and moved to Patterson, NY in 2001. She is an avid organic gardener and is the Chief Operating Officer for My Garden System, Inc. She and her family live close to the Ice Pond and enjoy all aspects of the outdoors, including hiking, skiing, snow shoeing and kayaking. Jenny has been involved in many non-profit organizations including the Brewster Girl Scouts, Dress for Success, The Brewster Rotary and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University (Ohio) and an MBA in Finance and International Business from NYU, and many years of corporate experience in Finance, Strategy and Operations. She joined the Putnam County Land Trust in 2013 to help preserve the watershed and natural habitats of Putnam County.
Michael Principe
Michael Principe studied Natural Resources Management at Cornell University and went on to earn a MS in Environmental Science/Water Resources at SUNY, Syracuse and a Ph.D in Biology at CUNY. He spent 25 years protecting NYC’s water supply through the application of watershed science/ management including extensive land acquisition and 12 years as VP & Senior Technical Leader of an Environmental & Engineering Consulting Firm in White Plains. Michael enjoys gardening, fishing, hiking and music His academic interests include limnology, watershed modeling and aquatic biology specializing in phytoplankton dynamics. He feels that his history of public service and giving back to the community is a good fit for him on the board. He enjoys the rural nature of Putnam County and its wonderful natural resources and feels he can contribute to bringing sustainability to the county.
William G (Bill) Roll
William G (Bill) Roll joined the board of the Putnam County Land Trust in 2015 and has been a trail steward since 2014. Originally from North Carolina, he has been a resident of Putnam County for over 14 year and has lived in the greater New York metro area for over 30 years. An avid outdoors person, Bill enjoys hiking, trail jogging, kayaking, camping, backpacking, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing in Putnam County, the Catskills and Adirondacks. He received a BA in economics from Denison University and attended Oxford University receiving a Graduate Diploma in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Professionally, Bill is co-founder and President of 401K Retirement Partners, LLC – providing 401K plans to companies with headquarters in the tri-state area – and is a FINRA and SEC registered financial and investment advisory representative. In addition to volunteering his abilities and time to the PCLT, Bill assists with leadership of the Brewster Boy Scout, Troop 1 and is a volunteer soccer goalie coach for Putnam County high school teams. Bill lives in Patterson, NY with his wife, Jenny Hinsman, also a PCLT board member, and two kids.
Nelson M. Frias
A native of New York City’s Upper West Side, Nelson lived in Carmel’s Kent Cliffs area for over 10 years before moving to the Bronx, where he and his wife met and started their family. Inspired by the open space, clean air, and natural surroundings of Putnam County, they decided to return. After relocating back to Putnam County, he sought to deepen his involvement in land and public space protection. Drawn by the county’s expansive landscapes and abundant resources, he is dedicated to preserving these pristine environments for future generations.
For over 15 years, he and his family have supported conservation efforts through active membership at the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, and the New York Aquarium.
With over 20 years of experience in financial services and as a graduate of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, he is honored to serve on the Putnam County Land Trust Board. His commitment to preserving the county’s natural beauty is reflected in his and his family’s active involvement in promoting sustainable practices and fostering community engagement for a healthier future.
The Land Trust’s mission to conserve forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and water resources aligns closely with his values. He is particularly inspired by the organization’s vision to protect clean air and drinking water and to provide opportunities for residents to connect with nature. His dedication to nature is further demonstrated by his passion for plants and hobbies such as bonsai cultivation.
Nelson remains committed to advancing these goals and contributing to the stewardship of Putnam County’s natural resources.
Jason Hopper
Jason Hopper, MBA, is a distinguished Senior Project Manager celebrated for his unparalleled expertise in financial analytics and management. With a remarkable history of orchestrating complex projects that consistently exceed expectations, Jason is a master at leading cross-functional teams, streamlining processes, and achieving stakeholder satisfaction. His exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities have driven the success of multi-million-dollar projects, particularly within the utility sector. Jason’s academic achievements are equally impressive, holding an MBA in Managerial Analytics from Mercy College, where he graduated with high honors, reflecting his intellectual rigor and dedication. Known for his visionary approach and commitment to sustainability, Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for environmental stewardship to his role as a trustee of the Putnam County Land Trust. His innovative mindset and unwavering dedication position him as an invaluable asset, poised to make a significant impact on the future of land conservation.
Kathy Kahng
Kathy Kahng has been a part time resident of Kent for the past 15 years. She is a homeowner
in the Hill & Dale Country Club, a private lake community surrounding Palmer Lake. She has
been Lake Chair on the homeowner’s association for the past 7 years. She is serving as Chair
of the Town of Kent Storm water committee since 2016. Kathy is principal at CityRax, Inc. a
public space management consulting firm based in New York City. CityRax works with various
cities, municipalities, transit agencies and local business improvement districts on innovative
street furniture programs in the public space. She holds a BS for Cornell University’s School of
Industrial and Labor Relations
Patricia Kravit
Patty is a retired psychologist with a deep interest in land, water, and wildlife preservation. She is a former vice president and current trustee of the North Salem Historical Society. Patty has generously volunteered her time to the Putnam County Land Trust as well as other organizations such as the Westchester County Land Trust, North Salem Open Land Foundation, Riverkeeper, Herb Society of America, and United Plant Savers. She enjoys hiking, gardening, swimming, and travel. Patty is fluent in both English and Spanish and is eager to devote her time to the preservation of our natural resources.
Betsey Ryder
Elizabeth Ryder, Betsey, as she is known to most, moved to Brewster in
1978 to join the rebirth of agricultural activities on her family’s 1795
homestead.Growing up, she witnessed the ever-increasing concentration of
suburban sprawl in her Long Island home and was determined to preserve the
piece of Putnam County paradise that had been farmed by her family.
Dedicated to Ryder Farm’s stewardship and ‘working landscape’ since her
arrival, Betsey recently retired from growing Certified Organic
vegetables, herbs and flowers — for sale locally and at the NYC
Greenmarket – gratefully transitioning operations to the next generation .
Over the years, Betsey has participated in many local callings – working
as an ER nurse and nursing union participant at Danbury hospital for more
than 40 years as well as serving on the boards of the Southeast Museum,
Putnam County Agricultural Protection Board, Tilly Foster Farm Advisory
Board, East of Hudson Watershed Agricultural Council, Town of Southeast
Historic Sites Commission and Ryder Farm, Inc.In 2014, Betsey received a
NYS 40th Senate District ‘Woman of Distinction’ Recognition.In 2012, she
received Congressional Recognition with the receipt of the celebrated Blue
Heron Award from the Putnam County Land Trust. A graduate of Northeast
University in Boston, Betsey lives on Ryder Farm with her husband John.
As part of her lifelong interests and in the spirit of friend and mentor
Dorrie O’Brien, whose Chickadee Haven is the home of PCLT, Betsey finds a
special and highly personal joy in serving the Putnam County Land Trust:
Save Open Spaces, Inc.
Paul Waclawski
Paul Waclawski is a native New Yorker who has resided in Putnam county for 22 years. He is a retired pharmaceutical executive with graduate degrees in psychology and applied research. From an early age, Paul enjoyed the outdoors. Earning the Eagle Scout rank reinforced that love and developed a commitment to serve his community by providing opportunities for others to encounter nature. As a Boy Scout leader in Brewster Troop 1, he supported the Scouting mission and as a member of the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, spent significant time building hiking trails in the lower Hudson Valley and in trail maintenance. He also participates in Knights of Columbus. Paul’s hobbies include collecting minerals, wood working, hiking, and gardening. He lives in Brewster with his accomplished wife and three sons.
Jason Klein
Jason E. Klein lives in Kent and is founder and CEO of On Grid Ventures LLC, an early stage investment and advisory firm. He is also Chairman of the non-profit Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York. Jason’s past roles include President/CEO of Times Mirror Magazines, the leading publisher of outdoor magazines with 25 titles including Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Golf, Ski Magazine, Salt Water Sportsman, Yachting, and Transworld Snowboarding. This role provided Jason with many opportunities to experience the outdoors and appreciate the importance of public land throughout North America. Jason was also President/CEO of the Newspaper National Network. Jason has served as a board member of several non-profits, including the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. Jason was a Trustee of the New York City Police Foundation for 18 years, a past editorial board Chair of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, and board member of the Magazine Publishers Association. He began his career with as a consultant with McKinsey & Co. Jason has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB from Dartmouth College in Computer Science.
Mindy Capecelatro
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and traveled extensively throughout the country before settling back in NYC. After meeting my husband in 1985 we moved to Brewster, started a family and a business. With my accounting degree and work background we ran a successful office machine dealership which grew into a comfortable business and after 22 years sold it to a younger couple who is enjoying the continuous growth of the company. Wanting to give back to my community, I have served in many volunteer capacities. Having a Type 1 diabetic son I devoted years to the JDRF and their fundraising events. I served for 3 years as the PTSA President at Brewster HS. Followed by a trustee position on the Southeast Open Space Committee. After the committee lost town funding I joined the Brewster-Carmel Garden Club, as a member I was part of many fundraising initiatives there. I first joined the PCLT in 2016, personal reasons caused my absence from 2020 until now. I am happy to be back and help the organization with its mission to preserve open spaces in Putnam County.
Maxine Reddy
Alumni of the Board of Trustees: Many people from all walks of life have contributed their time to PCLT as a trustee. We would like to thanks them all for their service. To see some of the folks that have served as trustees in the past, click HERE.
Want to join the team?
We are always looking for people who share our vision! Contact us today!