Leadership

The Kestrel Trust was founded in 1970 by conservation leaders in Amherst. Today it is a regional organization serving nine towns, including Amherst, Belchertown, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Hadley, and Sunderland. During the Trust’s history, we have collaborated with dozens of governmental and non-governmental organizations and landowners to protect thousands of acres. The Trust is led by an active board of conservation professionals and a small staff. The Trust has more than 1,000 active supporters, and welcomes new membership from all those who care about conserving the best farms, forests, rivers and mountains of the Valley.

Executive Director; Kristin DeBoer has been working with The Kestrel Trust since 2002, first as a volunteer board member and subsequently as development director prior to becoming Executive Director in 2006. Kristin has worked in the conservation field for nearly 20 years as an environmental advocate and educator. Kristin holds an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England Graduate School and a BA in Economics/Environmental Studies from Bucknell University. She lives in Pelham, MA with her two young children and husband.

  • Director of Special Projects. Judy Eiseman has served Kestrel as a volunteer board member for almost 20 years. Now she is working as a consultant on special projects. Judy is past President of Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, serves on MACC’s Presidents' Council, serves as a Western Massachusetts representative to the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition and as a Trustee of the Water Supply Protection Trust and on the Advisory Board of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters (MLEV). Judy lives in Pelham.

Office Manager; Christine Foudy is Kestrel's part-time office manager. She brings over 25 years of administrative office experience for a variety of small businesses and non-profits. She is a resident of Florence, MA and has a passion for protecting the local quality of life and beauty of the Valley.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Doug Albertson. Town Planner for Belchertown. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Executive Committee. Doug lives in Belchertown..
  • Paul Beaulieu. Senior Environmental Scientist and manager of Tighe & Bond’s Wetland Services group. Served on the Granby Conservation Commission for ten years. Paul lives in Granby.
  • LeeAnne Connolly. Conservation Administrator for Belchertown and Notary Public, know locally as "the Swamp Cop." A member of the Mass Association of Wetland Scientists, she is also completing the Advanced Certificate Training program with the Mass Association of Conservation Commissions and received MACC's 2008 Conservations Administrator of the Year award. LeeAnne lives in Belchertown.
  • Alexandra Dawson, Esq. Attorney specializing in Planning and Environmental law. Chair of Hadley Conservation Commission. Legal Services Director for MACC. Environmental representative to the Massachusetts Highway Design Task Force. Writes an environmental column for the Hampshire Gazette, is co-author of the MACC Conservation Commission Handbook-- a key resource for information on environmental law and policy. 2006 recipient of a life time achievement award from EPA. Alexandra lives in Hadley.

    Michael Docter, Founding farmer of Food Bank Farm, Michael also owns and operates Winter Moon Farm where he lives in Hadley.
  • Margaret Hepler, Chair. Consultant to local historical commissions across the state. Develops historic resource surveys and National Register nominations, with a focus on historic New England landscapes. Peggy lives in Pelham.
  • Beth Hooker. Agroecologist, Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Mount Holyoke College. In addition to teaching courses in Sustainable Agriculture, Ecology and Environmental Science, Beth also serves as the faculty adviser to the Mount Holyoke student farm. Beth lives in South Hadley with her husband and 2 young daughters.

  • David King, PhD, Secretary. Research wildlife biologist, US Forest Service. Adjunct faculty, Department of Natural Resources Conservation, UMass. David lives in Amherst.
  • Judi Pierce. Judi retired from Massachusetts Audubon in 2004, after 33 years. Over the course of her career, Judi served as as Director of the Central and Western Region, where she oversaw 25 wildlife sanctuaries; and was Director of Arcadia Wildlife in Northampton/Easthampton. Judi lives in Pelham.
  • James Scott, Treasurer. Retired Chemistry teacher. Former Amherst Conservation Commission Chair and board member for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. Active in “Five College Learning In Retirement." Jim lives in Amherst.