Submitted by Betty Sue Hanson on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 2:26pm
Jonathan L. Wiesner leads WLT as New Board Chairman
Allen Hershkowitz, Doug Kraus, and Liz Taggart Join WLT Board of Directors
Westchester Land Trust is pleased to announce that Jonathan L. Wiesner assumed the position of Board Chairman in January 2012. WLT is also benefiting from the leadership and knowledge of Allen Hershkowitz, Doug Kraus, and Liz Taggart, each began their tenure on the Board in late 2011.
Jonathan spoke about his new role and the future of the land trust, “I am deeply proud of the Land Trust’s accomplishments over the past 23 years. As one of the first organizations to be accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, The Westchester Land Trust made a commitment to protect and preserve land permanently. We remain steadfast to this commitment, which is at the very core of our mission. I look forward to working with our dedicated Board and accomplished staff as we move forward with our strategic planning and our continued goal of conserving, and enhancing the physical and aesthetic environment of Westchester County.
WLT is grateful to former Board Chairman, George Bianco, for his successful leadership since 2007. During George’s tenure, WLT moved its headquarters to Sugar Hill Farm in Bedford Hills, initiated the popular Farmers Network and preserved an additional 1,090 acres, increasing the total land protected to more than 7,500 acres. These environmentally critical lands include forests; wildlife habitats; important watershed areas that provide drinking water for New York City and Westchester County; and wetlands which help reduce flooding and increased infrastructure costs.
Bios
Jonathan Wiesner joined the Board of the Westchester Land Trust in 2007 and became Treasurer in 2010 and Vice Chair in 2011. He is a principle and CEO of Sustainable Apparel Group, LLC., known as, Threads for Thought www.threadsforthought.com. The company produces and markets a lifestyle brand of apparel using sustainable materials and works only with factories that treat employees fairly and humanely. A portion of the company’s sales are donated to charities. Jonathan is Chairman Emeritus of the International Rescue Committee. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College. Jonathan lives in Waccabuc and is married to Mary Ann Petrilena. They have two children, Britta and Spencer.
Dr. Allen Hershkowitz is a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and a leader in the movement to make environmental responsibility understandable and achievable for everyone. He champions change on critical issues ranging from sustainable development and recycling to forestry, paper industry impacts, mountaintop coal mining, waste incineration, and medical wastes. A native of New York, Allen received his Ph.D. in political economics, specializing in energy resources economics, from the City University of New York Graduate School. He earned a M. Phil. in political economics, a B.A. (cum laude) from the City College of New York and a Certificat D’assiduite from the University of Grenoble. He resides in New York State and is the father of three children.
Liz Taggart, founder of Amba Farms in Bedford Hills, grew up in the Midwest on a farm that her family still owns and operates. Amba Farms is an organic, bio intensive sustainable farm, which grows primarily heirloom varieties of diverse vegetables, berries, fruits and flowers, www.ambafarm.com. Liz has a wealth of experience in sustainable farming and soil science and has a strong interest in programs that teach and encourage young people about nature and sustainability. Liz received her undergraduate degree from M.E.R.W. in Switzerland, in the study of consciousness, the Vedas and human development. She has an M.A. from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. in literature and writing. Liz lives in Bedford Hills with her 13 year old son, Lincoln.
Douglas M. Kraus recently retired as Partner from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. As a member of Skadden’s litigation department, Doug was actively involved in the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice. He handled complex corporate and securities law matters, advised boards of directors on corporate governance issues, and represented companies engaged in a wide range of regulated industries, including financial institutions, public utilities and railroads. Doug currently works as a private arbitrator and mediator. Since 2006, he has been a member of the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Neutrals for complex commercial matters. Doug has served as the Town of New Castle’s Town Justice since 1994. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (International Relations, magna cum laude) and J.D. from University of Chicago Law School (Assoc. Editor, Law Review).