2026 Rhode Island Land & Water Conservation Summit
March 21, 2026 | URI Memorial Union
Speakers
Molly Allard
Molly Allard has been with Northern Rhode Island Conservation District since 2013, and served as District Manager since 2022. At the District, Molly has led and supported projects that support farmers and urban growers, advance environmental education, and address the challenges of stormwater management and flooding. She believes in the power of the locally-led Conservation Districts to partner with landowners, growers, and other organizations to conserve Rhode Island’s natural resources from the soil up.
Workshop:
C6. Locally-Led Conservation: The Role Of The Conservation Districts
Robert "Lou" Allard
Robert “Lou” Allard has been the Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator with the RI Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment since 2019. He is an ISA Certified Arborist with a Qualification in Tree Risk Assessment and has an MS in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology from Frostburg State University. Prior to joining RI DEM, Lou worked as a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, coordinating tree planting programs in the cities of Fall River and New Bedford, MA.
Workshop:
A8. The State of Rhode Island’s Forests 2026
Harrison Antone
Harry Antone is the Labor Liaison and Offshore Wind (OSW) Coordinator for Climate Jobs Rhode Island, where he works to ensure Rhode Island’s clean-energy transition delivers high-quality union jobs and strong labor standards. He collaborates closely with building trades unions, union members, and community partners to advance offshore wind and other climate investments. He is also an organizer with the Laborers’ New England Region Organizing Fund, supporting internal organizing, member engagement, and leadership development across the region. Harry is committed to making Rhode Island a national model for climate action rooted in union labor, equity, and justice.
Workshop:
A4. Climate Change, a Just Transition, and the Role of Labor
Janice Baker
Janice has been an educator and lake advocate for many years. She is the Vice President of Save the Lakes, a leader in the Sand Dam Pond Association and the primary architect for the Save the Lakes strategy.
Workshop:
C2. Develop a Strategy for a Community-Based Conservation Organization
Isaac Bearg
Isaac Bearg leads the RI Food Policy Council’s Food, Climate & Environment program, working to enhance sustainability throughout our food system. With a focus on surplus and wasted food, Isaac advocates and educates on how communities and individuals can waste less food, produce more compost, and create a more resilient and healthy food system and state.
Workshop:
A5. Restoring Our Soils, Preserving Our Lands
Dara Benno
Dara Benno is a transdisciplinary designer dedicated to advancing sustainable systems that address environmental and social challenges through research, strategic design, and community-centered work. Dara holds a Master of Industrial Design from RISD and has been increasingly involved in food systems and recovery work since completing the FRRI program, collaborating with organizations like the RI School Recycling Project and Sankofa to push initiatives forward and develop impactful programming. Dara will be an adjunct professor at RISD in the Spring 2026 semester, teaching a core seminar in Nature, Culture, and Sustainability Studies.
Workshop:
B5. Food Recovery for Rhode Island: Community Action for a Stronger Food System
Eliza Berry
Eliza Berry joined the Coastal Resources Center and RI Sea Grant in 2024 with over a decade of experience in coastal management, climate resilience, and conservation across NGOs, government, consulting, and aquaculture. Her work has centered on sea level rise and flood resilience in California and New England, emphasizing cross‑sector collaboration. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School and partners closely with researchers to develop applied management recommendations.
Workshop:
C8. Seeing Inland Flooding More Clearly: New Modeling and Community Science Tools for Rhode Island
Tee Jay Boudreau
Tee Jay Boudreau is the Deputy Chief of the Division of Forest Environment which oversees statewide work in forest stewardship, forest health, fire prevention and preparedness, urban forestry, and state lands management. He holds a Master of Public Horticulture from the University of Delaware, and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from URI.
Workshop:
A8. The State of Rhode Island’s Forests 2029
Marina Capraro
Marina Capraro is the Program Manager overseeing the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for USDA-NRCS in Rhode Island. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management. Prior to her current position, Marina’s work focused on sustainability initiatives in municipal and land use planning, improving farmland access for young farmers, and managing complex grant programs to support land conservation.
Workshop:
A3. Conservation Made Possible: NRCS Funding for RI Land Trusts
Caitlin Chaffee
Caitlin Chaffee joined the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (part of the RI Department of Environmental Management) in Portsmouth, RI in 2020 as the Reserve Manager. Prior to that she served for 14 years as a Coastal Policy Analyst for the RI Coastal Resources Management Council, where she focused on habitat restoration and coastal resilience.
Workshop:
C5. Improving Coastal Resilience and Public Shoreline Access
Brenda Clement
Brenda Clement is the Executive Director of HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University (RWU). She has over 25 years of experience in the housing and community development field. She previously served as the Executive Director of Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) from 2012-2016; and of the Housing Network of Rhode Island and of the Housing Action Coalition of Rhode Island.
Workshop:
B6. How Housing Works with Local Communities and the Environment
Judy Colaluca
Judy is the President and a Founder of Save The Lakes, RI. She is passionate about lakes and ponds.
Workshop:
C2. Develop a Strategy for a Community-Based Conservation Organization
Martha Day
Martha Day is the Stewardship Compliance Coordinator at the South Kingstown Land Trust. A retired real estate attorney, Martha has been involved in all aspects of SKLT’s conservation programs, from pre-acquisition to resolution of violations. Martha is presently working on beefing up the Monitoring Program to develop rapport with property owners and identify violations early on.
Workshop:
C9. Trespass and Encroachment on Preserves and Conservation Easements
Jenn Doherty
Jenn Doherty is a Preservation Planner at Barrett Planning Group, where she brings over ten years of experience in historic preservation at the local and state levels. Her experience includes research and documentation work as a consultant, time as a municipal preservation planner and state historic preservation office staff, and service on a municipal historical commission.
Workshop:
B6. How Housing Works with Local Communities and the Environment
Kevin Essington
Kevin Essington is the Founder and CEO of City Greener Strategies. He has served as an environmental professional and leader for over 25 years. He is the founder of City Greener Strategies, a strategic planning and facilitation firm that helps non-profits elevate and fund big ideas and better integrate people and nature in their work. He is a proven fundraiser, team leader, communicator, and strategist.
Workshop:
B1. A Culture of Philanthropy: What Does it look like (And how can you cultivate it?)
Wenley Ferguson
Wenley Ferguson is Save The Bay’s Director of Restoration. She works on coastal habitat and water quality restoration projects throughout Narragansett Bay and its watershed including salt marsh, anadromous fish, and coastal buffer restoration. Wenley works with partners on design, permitting, implementation and monitoring of restoration and coastal resilience projects.
Workshop:
B8. Salt Marsh Restoration: A Collaborative and Holistic Approach Utilizing Tidal Hydrology Restoration, Marsh Migration Facilitation, and Sediment Placement Techniques
Dylan Ferreira
Dylan Ferreira is a Principal Wildlife Biologist with the Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife within the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. As the deer program lead Dylan oversees research, monitoring and management of Rhode Island’s deer population. In recent years he has worked with municipalities, NGO’s and landowners to help them achieve their property management goals through the implementation of deer hunting programs.
Workshop:
B4. Deer Management for Conservation Landowners – Why & How
Ben Gaspar
Ben Gaspar is a Restoration Ecologist at Save The Bay. His background in habitat management includes salt marsh, grassland, maritime shrubland, and beach strand habitat restoration. He has experience in the design, permitting, implementation, and monitoring of coastal habitat restoration projects and the threatened and endangered species that rely on them.
Workshop:
B8. Salt Marsh Restoration: A Collaborative and Holistic Approach Utilizing Tidal Hydrology Restoration, Marsh Migration Facilitation, and Sediment Placement Techniques
Cindy Gianfrancesco
Cindy Gianfrancesco currently serves as the Chair of the Scituate Conservation Commission and Vice-Chair of the Scituate Land Trust. Cindy is a retired environmental scientist who worked for the State of RI for over 32 years, 28 of which were with RIDEM in the Site Remediation and Brownfields program. She is a Certified Professional Geologist and Certified Invasive Plant Manager. For fun, she enjoys hiking, camping and canoeing with her husband, Chuck, and their dog, Trixie, and playing pickleball. In her free time, she helps maintain their rhododendron collection at Gleaner Gardens and is an avid vegetable gardener.
Workshop:
A10. Why Monitoring Matters
Sean Grandy
Sean Grandy has worked as the Stewardship Manager at Aquidneck Island Land Trust (AILT) since 2022. His interest in land conservation began when he took a course in Baseline Documentation Reports and continued later as a University of Rhode Island Master of Environmental Science & Management (MESM) student when he worked as a summer Stewardship Assistant at AILT, and later again when he worked with the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District. Now as Stewardship Manager at AILT, he works on a variety of projects including monitoring conserved lands, maintaining public trails and properties, restoring ecosystems, and planning volunteer and outreach events. He is particularly interested in implementing new technology into stewardship work, as well as engaging the community in good stewardship practices that they can incorporate at home on Aquidneck Island. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, birding, gardening, and playing the drums.
Workshop:
A7. Stewardship Takes to the Skies: Drones as a Tool for Land Conservation
Karen Griffith
Karen Griffith is a non-profit consultant with extensive experience working to address food insecurity through the East Bay Food Pantry and the Bristol and Warren HEZ’s. While in the FFRI program, Karen began working with the Barrington Farm School and collaborating with the RI School Recycling Project to promote community composting and school composting programs. Karen’s work focuses on developing solutions at the intersection of food insecurity and food waste.
Workshop:
B5. Food Recovery for Rhode Island: Community Action for a Stronger Food System
Erica Hammond
Erica is the Legislative Director of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 275 local union affiliates, representing over 80,000 union members and their families. She is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Board, a steering committee member of Climate Jobs RI, and an executive board member of Fuerza Laboral and the Economic Progress Institute. She is also co-chair of the RI Council for Occupational Safety and Health (RICOSH) and Treasurer of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) RI chapter. In her current role, which she’s held since January of 2025, her primary responsibility is to advance the legislative strategy of the Rhode Island labor movement and strengthen workers’ voices at the State House. Her role includes drafting policy materials and testimony, mobilizing affiliate members, building coalitions with community and labor partners, and steering legislative campaigns from concept to passage. Erica’s journey in advocating for workers’ rights and fostering economic justice is further underscored by her tenure as Field Director of Climate Jobs RI, a coalition of labor and environmental organizations working together to advance worker-centered climate action through policies, programs, and regulations. Prior to that, she worked as the Workforce Labor Liaison at the Institute for Labor Studies and Research (ILSR), where she established strong relationships with RI’s local unions and state agencies. Some of her duties included coordination of ILSR’s Leadership for a Future program and facilitation of their Workplace Health and Safety, and Rights on the Jobs training. Additionally, her experience as Community Organizer with RI Jobs with Justice allowed her the opportunity to forge relationships with community organizations and leaders committed to advancing social and economic justice, while fostering a Rhode Island where everyone thrives. Beyond her professional endeavors, Erica is an avid soccer player, and enjoys volunteering with Special Olympics, spending time with her dog Luna, and exploring her love of food and travel. Erica received her Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Workshop:
A4. Climate Change, a Just Transition, and the Role of Labor
Aislinn Hanley
Aislinn is the Program Director for Climate Jobs Rhode Island (CJRI), a program of the RI Institute for Labor Studies & Research, where she works advancing Rhode Island’s transition to a sustainable, worker-centered green economy. She oversees strategy, stakeholder engagement, and initiatives that ensure climate investments create good union jobs and equitable opportunities from our communities. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Rhode Island, with a concentration in Environmental Policy and a certificate in Coastal Resiliency. Aislinn is also a member of the Providence Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council. She is dedicated to making Rhode Island a national model for climate leadership rooted in labor and justice.
Workshop:
A4. Climate Change, a Just Transition, and the Role of Labor
James Hardy
James Hardy is the Research Analyst for HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University. He manages the Rhode Island Zoning Atlas and conducts research on housing affordability, local economic development, and municipal governance in the Ocean State. His past work experience ranges from real estate finance to educational equity research investigating Rhode Island’s school funding formula.
Workshop:
B6. How Housing Works with Local Communities and the Environment
Dr. M. Reza Hashemi
Dr. M. Reza Hashemi is an associate professor at the University of Rhode Island (Department of Ocean Engineering and the Graduate School of Oceanography) whose research focuses on multiscale processes from catchment to coast. His work supports coastal resilience of communities and industries, focusing on riverine, pluvial, and coastal flooding and infrastructure vulnerability to natural hazards. He applies tools including Digital Twins, AI methods, and advanced numerical codes and hydrological models.
Workshop:
C8. Seeing Inland Flooding More Clearly: New Modeling and Community Science Tools for Rhode Island
Molly Hastings
Molly Hastings is a graduate of the BeaverCorps program at the Beaver Institute in Massachusetts, and the founder of Rhode Island Beaver Management, the first beaver coexistence initiative in the state. Rhode Island Beaver Management installs flow devices, consults on human–beaver conflicts, and provides educational opportunities for the public to learn about beavers and their role in repairing and stewarding the landscape.
Workshop:
A1. Beavers: From Control to Collaboration
Elizabeth Herron
Elizabeth Herron is a research associate with the URI Cooperative Extension Water Program. She has been with URI Watershed Watch, a comprehensive volunteer water quality monitoring program, since 1992, now as program director. She helped build the program to more than 400 volunteers assessing lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, salt ponds and marine waters throughout Rhode Island, southeastern Connecticut, and southeast Massachusetts. That wealth of volunteer generated data has been the foundation of efforts by watershed groups to protect and restore locally critical water resources.
Workshop:
A10. Why Monitoring Matters
Tara Hoda
Tara Hoda is The Nature Conservancy’s Natural and Working Lands Policy Fellow, working with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to mainstream the role of natural climate solutions in the state’s policies, planning, and programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience & Behavior from Wesleyan University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Yale School of the Environment.
Workshops:
A8. The State of Rhode Island’s Forests 2026
C7. Natural Climate Strategies Across Rhode Island
Rachel Holbert
Rachel Holbert, Project Specialist for NBNERR, studied developmental biology in grad school at URI and worked in the Museum of Natural Science’s ornithology department as an undergrad at LSU. Through previous roles in environmental education and climate science communication, Rachel’s career has focused on the intersection of human communities and natural habitats.
Workshop:
C5. Improving Coastal Resilience and Public Shoreline Access
Jarrod Holgate
Born and raised in Providence, Jarrod Holgate graduated URI with a degree in Environmental Science. He has worked in the industry initially with the National Parks Service, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and Greenpeace US. Most recently he has worked with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation helping develop the urban canopy of Worcester. Jarrod joined WRWC in early 2025 as the Stormwater Supervisor, happy to be working back in his home state and for RI environmental progress.
Workshop:
B2. Intersection at the Intersection: The Promenade/Kinsley Greenway – the nexus between transportation, recreation, clean water and flood resilience
Garth Hoxsie-Quinn
Garth Hoxsie-Quinn is the Supervising GIS Specialist for the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning of the state’s Department of Administration. He also serves as the GIS Coordinator for the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS). Garth has more than 20 years of customer service work and working with the general public. Prior experiences include coordination of the Sanitary Survey Inspection team within the Rhode Island Department of Health – Center for Drinking Water Quality and project management for the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Workshop:
B6. How Housing Works with Local Communities and the Environment
Alexandra Ionescu
Alexandra Ionescu is the Associate Director of Regenerative Projects at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, where she leads the Miyawaki Forest Program, curated the 2025 Northeast Miniforest Summit, and works across advocacy and education around beaver-engineered landscapes; she also co-initiated the Below and Above Collective, an interdisciplinary group that constructs floating wetlands combining art with ecological functionality. Shaped by graduate education in Biomimicry (Arizona State University) and Nature–Culture–Sustainability Studies (Rhode Island School of Design), and grounded through the 2025 Water Stories Core Course, she is a Certified Biomimicry Professional whose work centers on restoring ecological relationships that support the web of life, including slowing, filtering, and retaining water across the landscape. She serves in an administrative role on the Board of Directors of the Beaver Institute, is a co-leader of the Beaver Network for the East Coast/Rhode Island, and can often be found tending native plants she grows from seed or watching how water moves across surfaces when it rains.
Workshops:
A1. Beavers: From Control to Collaboration
C4. Growing Climate Resilience with Miniforests: The Miyawaki Method of Afforestation
Aisha Isabel
I’m Aisha. Being from Providence RI, I’ve learned the value of storytelling. I often spend my time in spaces where I get to share my stories with others and learn from them. It’s a passion of mine to continue doing work that encourages people to take space and tell a story that only they can tell.
Workshop:
A2. Beyond Access: Building our Collective Liberation in Outdoor Spaces Intergenerationally
Jody King
Jody King, a seasoned commercial shell fisherman known for his expertise in quahogging, stands as a resilient figure in Rhode Island’s maritime community. With over three decades of experience, King has mastered the art of harvesting shellfish by hand with a long rake, a testament to his dedication to his craft. Rising with the sun each day, he embarks on his boat, immersing himself in the serene yet demanding world of shellfishing. His daily routine, characterized by physical endurance and unwavering commitment, underscores his deep connection to the sea and the livelihood it provides. Beyond his role as a shell fisherman, King embodies the spirit of a community leader and environmental advocate. Serving on panels such as the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council and the Quahog Commission, he advocates for the preservation of marine ecosystems and the rights of shell fishermen as critical to Rhode Island’s culinary tradition. Despite facing challenges such as declining clam populations and bureaucratic obstacles, King remains undeterred in his mission to safeguard Rhode Island’s coastal resources for future generations.
Workshop:
C1. Caring for Fishers is Caring for Waters: Health, Equity, and Resilience in Rhode Island’s Seas
Heather Kinney
Heather Kinney is the Coastal Restoration Program Manager at The Nature Conservancy’s Rhode Island chapter, where she collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to advance coastal research, data collection, habitat restoration, and resource management across the state. She holds an M.A. in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island and a B.S. in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University.
Workshop:
C7. Natural Climate Strategies Across Rhode Island
Mark Kravatz
Mark Kravatz is a mission-driven strategist, facilitator, and organizational consultant with over two decades of experience leading transformative initiatives across the nonprofit, public, and social impact sectors. As the founder of Alidade Consultants, he partners with nonprofits, small businesses, and government agencies to clarify vision, align stakeholders, and operationalize growth through strategic planning, systems analysis, and capacity building. Mark brings a deep background in organizational turnaround, change management, cross-sector collaboration, and data-informed decision-making, having successfully led initiatives in housing, energy, education, workforce development, and sustainability. Known for his ability to integrate systems thinking, community engagement, and practical implementation support, he has raised millions in philanthropic and public funding, rebuilt operational infrastructures, and designed sector-wide mapping and strategy tools. Mark is also a committed community leader, serving in appointed roles on state and local boards and co-founding Open Ascent, a nonprofit advancing equitable access to the sport of climbing.
Workshop:
A9. The Work Behind the Work: Getting Your Organization’s Strategic Game in Order
Julia Landstreet
Julia Landstreet is the Executive Director at the South Kingstown Land Trust (SKLT). Experienced in non-profit management and integrated practices, she is closely aligned with all aspects of SKLT’s mission and land protection practices. She has been integral in the resolution of recent and ongoing disputes.
Workshop:
C9. Trespass and Encroachment on Preserves and Conservation Easements
Alicia Lehrer
Alicia Lehrer joined the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) as Executive Director in March 2008. She holds a BA in Environmental Science from Columbia University and an MS in Natural Resources Science from the University of Rhode Island. Alicia’s work at the WRWC has included spearheading migratory fish passage restoration at the first five dams on the river, establishing WRWC’s Watershed-Wide Flood Resilience Project, and created the Nuevas Voces (New Voices) and Campeones de Combate Climático (Climate Champions) leadership programs training more than 75 frontline resident leaders to direct climate resilience efforts for their neighborhoods.
Workshop:
B2. Intersection at the Intersection: The Promenade/Kinsley Greenway – the nexus between transportation, recreation, clean water and flood resilience
Deanna Levanti
Dee Levanti’s work as a Field Agent with Land For Good is inspired by 18 years of full-time farming bolstered with the experiences of many farmer peers along with way. She believes that secure land tenure and financial stability are crucial to ensure that we have life-long farmers and long term farm viability. She continues to farm produce, herbs, and retail plants in Westport, MA.
Workshop:
C3. Farm Succession and Agricultural Leasing for Land Trusts
Destiny Manston
My name is Destiny Manston, and I was born and raised in Providence, RI. Throughout my early years, I was able to be heavily influenced by local nonprofit organizations, which inspired me to pursue the same as I have gotten older. A big part of my role at Youth in Action is facilitating our winter and summer outdoor exploration retreats as well as conversations revolving around environmental justice, racism, and climate action. This work has also been integrated into my person life as I am now doing outdoor exploration as a hobby.
Workshop:
A2. Beyond Access: Building our Collective Liberation in Outdoor Spaces Intergenerationally
John Marsland
John Marsland is founder of the Friends of the Blackstone and President of the Blackstone River Watershed Council. He has volunteered for 35 years to improve the Natural and Recreational quality of the Blackstone River.
Workshop:
B3. Combating Litter and Marine Debris in our Rivers & Bay
Fred Mattera
Fred Mattera is a retired fisherman. He is the President of The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and Executive Director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island.
Workshop:
C1. Caring for Fishers is Caring for Waters: Health, Equity, and Resilience in Rhode Island’s Seas
Jayne Merner
Jayne Merner is passionate about revitalizing the world’s soil. Raised among the fertile compost piles of her family’s Earth Care Farm in Charlestown, Rhode Island, she now leads the operation of the farm, which has expanded to a second location in Sterling, Connecticut. Jayne has traveled globally to teach about composting, assist in setting up composting facilities, and share her deep connection with the natural world.
Workshop:
A5. Restoring Our Soils, Preserving Our Lands
Quilcia Moronta
Quilcia Moronta is a Community Organizer with Climate Jobs Rhode Island, where she works alongside frontline communities on environmental justice and the transition to a green economy. She is passionate about breaking down barriers for communities most impacted by the climate crisis and making sure working people have a seat at the table. She is also a former union organizer with UNITE HERE Local 26, where she represented hospitality workers for 26 years. Quilcia holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Rhode Island College, and her heart is in advocating for working-class communities, especially those most impacted by racial and economic injustice.
Workshop:
A4. Climate Change, a Just Transition, and the Role of Labor
Heather Parry
Heather Parry coordinates the Blackstone River Coalition’s Water Quality Monitoring Program, which provides high-quality data for state and local organizations and boosts public engagement with the Blackstone River and its tributaries.
Workshop:
B9. WQdashboard: Making Water Quality Data Accessible to the Public
Richard Pederson
Richard Pederson has been stewarding Southside Community Land Trust’s 3/4 acre City Farm for over 2 decades. Building healthy soils, to grow healthy crops to feed a healthy community is the root of the work. Rich is also a home composter/gardener where all food waste/organic matter makes it’s way back to the earth right at home!
Workshop:
A5. Restoring Our Soils, Preserving Our Lands
Tom Pendergast
Tom has been very active in the Coventry community serving as Vice President of the Upper Dam Pond Conservation Association. Tom has also worked extensively with Save the Lakes, RIDEM, EPA and UNHSC. Tom is on the Conservation Commission in Coventry, RI. He also has a strong relationship with State Legislators and US Senate. In his spare time Tom likes to hike, fish and garden.
Workshop:
C2. Develop a Strategy for a Community-Based Conservation Organization
Mark Pereira
Mark Pereira, PE joined the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) as a Civil Engineer in April 2022. Mark’s work at the WRWC supports numerous river restoration and Greenway projects. His work spans all phases of these projects: feasibility and concepts, alternatives analysis, stakeholder coordination, existing conditions assessments, design, permitting, and construction.
Workshop:
B2. Intersection at the Intersection: The Promenade/Kinsley Greenway – the nexus between transportation, recreation, clean water and flood resilience
Annie Ragan
Annie Ragan is the Financial Assistant Program Manager at NRCS, overseeing the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for USDA-NRCS in Rhode Island. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Natural Resource Sciences and a Masters in Environmental Science and Management. Prior to her current position, Annie’s work focused on collaborating with agricultural producers to implement conservation practices and conducting research on how dams within the Pawcatuck River effect herring and shad spawning throughout Rhode Island.
Workshop:
A3. Conservation Made Possible: NRCS Funding for RI Land Trusts
Christopher Riely
Christopher Riely is a Forestry Specialist and Research Associate with the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Natural Resources Science. He works with a range of partners in serving those who own or care for Rhode Island’s forests, associated ecosystems, and the wildlife populations they support. For more than 10 years, he has been involved with research and practice in the emerging field of climate-adaptive forest management. He also serves as Co-Coordinator of the Rhode Island Woodland Partnership. Before coming to URI, Christopher worked for Providence Water managing the public drinking supply watershed lands surrounding the Scituate Reservoir, following early career roles in other regions of the U.S. He is a Certified Forester and Arborist.
Workshop:
A8. The State of Rhode Island’s Forests 2026
Alana Russell
Alana Russell is the Forest Health Program Coordinator with RI DEM’s Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment. In her role, Alana manages the statewide survey and monitoring efforts for forest insect and disease pests. She holds a M.S. in Entomology from Louisiana State University. Her professional expertise includes forest health management, biocontrol, and integrated pest management.
Workshop:
A8. The State of Rhode Island’s Forests 2026
Serena Russell
Serena is the Policy Coordinator for Climate Jobs Rhode Island, where she helps shape policies that advance environmental justice, expand good union jobs, and support a just clean energy economy. Her work focuses on tracking policy trends, collaboration with labor, climate, and community partners, and developing practical solutions tailored to Rhode Island communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental & Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island, with a concentration in Green Business & Sustainability, and a certificate in Energy Economics & Policy.
Workshop:
A4. Climate Change, a Just Transition, and the Role of Labor
Stephanie Santos
Stephanie Santos is a nurse at Miriam hospital that has a passion for the environment, both inside and outside of the hospital. Stephanie serves as chair of Miriam’s Green Team, Chair of Lincoln’s Conservation Commission, and has been involved in many environmental advocacy projects to reduce plastic pollution and sustainability efforts, bridging public health and environmental stewardship through hands-on cleanups, conservation initiatives, and community engagement.
Workshop:
B3. Combating Litter and Marine Debris in our Rivers & Bay
Alicia Schaffner
Alicia has been working for the Salt Ponds Coalition since 2014 and has served on the Rhode Island Rivers Council since 2017. Prior to that, she received a joint degree including her law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law and a Masters of Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island; she also has her Bachelor’s in Biology from Villanova University. She is passionate about protecting Rhode Island’s waterways, especially our beautiful coastline.
Workshop:
B9. WQdashboard: Making Water Quality Data Accessible to the Public
Mariel Sorlien
Mariel Sorlien is the Geospatial and Design Manager for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP). NBEP is a stakeholder-led organization that pursues place-based conservation across the Narragansett Bay region by providing independent convening, scientific data analysis, and watershed project funding.
Workshop:
B9. WQdashboard: Making Water Quality Data Accessible to the Public
Lorén M. Spears
Lorén M. Spears, enrolled citizen of the Narragansett Tribal Nation and Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum, holds a master’s degree in education and received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in 2017 from the University of Rhode Island and a Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa from Roger Williams University in 2021. She is an author and artist who shares her cultural knowledge with the public through museum programs. She has contributed to numerous publications, including Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writing of New England; Through Our Eyes: An Indigenous View of Mashapaug Pond; From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution; and Repair: Sustainable Design Futures. Spears co-edited a new edition of A Key into the Language of America by Roger Williams and recently co-authored “As We Have Always Done: Decolonizing the Tomaquag Museum’s Collections Management Policy,” published in Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archive Professionals. Under her leadership, Tomaquag Museum received the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal in 2016. She has received numerous awards and honors, including induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2025.
Workshop:
B10. Environmental Justice: Indigenous Rights
Bruce Thompson
Bruce Thompson is an inspiring Food Access Coordinator with the Sankofa Initiative, a valuable program of the West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation in Providence. With years of business experience and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Howard University, Bruce embodies the spirit of community leadership as an urban farmer. As a dedicated member of the National Association of Community Health Workers and a board member of Urban Greens Co-op Market, he passionately works to uplift and empower his community.
Workshop:
B5. Food Recovery for Rhode Island: Community Action for a Stronger Food System
Jed Thorp
Jed Thorp is the Director of Advocacy for Save The Bay. He has worked on a variety of environmental and conservation issues during his twenty-plus years as an advocate, and has been a leading voice in advocating for policies and legislation to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris in Rhode Island.
Workshop:
B3. Combating Litter and Marine Debris in our Rivers & Bay
Casey Tremper
Casey Tremper rejoined URI in 2024 as part of the Coastal Resources Center and RI Sea Grant, bringing experience from federal and nonprofit roles in science communication, research, and community engagement. An alumna of URI with degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Affairs, she now leads statewide outreach on coastal resilience projects. She also manages the MyCoast RI application and supports community-facing resilience initiatives.
Workshop:
C8. Seeing Inland Flooding More Clearly: New Modeling and Community Science Tools for Rhode Island
Angela Tuoni
Angela Tuoni is the Director of Climate and Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island. In her role, she oversees TNC-RI’s climate program and works with all levels of government and partner organizations to advance good conservation and climate policy. She holds a B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from The University of Rhode Island.
Workshop:
C7. Natural Climate Strategies Across Rhode Island
Brunilda Velez-Diaz
Brunilda Velez-Diaz is the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs for USDA-NRCS in Rhode Island, where she leads the state’s Financial Assistance and Easement programs in partnership with state and local entities. With more than 21 years of experience managing multimillion dollar federal conservation programs across multiple states, she brings deep expertise in program leadership and collaboration. Brunilda began her NRCS career as a Soil Conservationist in Wisconsin after earning a B.A. in Agricultural Technology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. Throughout her career, she has held key roles including District Conservationist, Area Program Specialist, and Acting State Conservationist in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Kentucky.
Workshop:
A3. Conservation Made Possible: NRCS Funding for RI Land Trusts
Vanessa Venturini
Vanessa Venturini is the Program Leader and co-founder of Food Recovery for Rhode Island, a train-the-trainer program that helps Rhode Islanders maximize food resources at home while participating in food rescue and food recycling at the community scale! She has a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked at URI Cooperative Extension for 17 years, engaging Rhode Islanders in environmental education programs and encouraging conservation practices from gardening to food management.
Workshop:
B5. Food Recovery for Rhode Island: Community Action for a Stronger Food System
Ailla Wasstrom-Evans
Ailla Wasstrom-Evans is an attorney in the Land Trust Alliance’s Conservation Defense Initiative. Her work focuses on defending perpetuity in land and water conservation starting with sound transactions and continuing through routine daily management and skillful and timely dispute resolution. She is based in Connecticut.
Workshop:
C9. Trespass and Encroachment on Preserves and Conservation Easements
Laurel Witri
Laurel is a trained mediator with CMCRI (RI’s USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Program). a Farm Transition Coordinator certified through the International Farm Transition Network, and a Navigator in American Farmland Trust’s Land Transfer Navigator Program. Laurel is the founder of the Land & Sea Together program, and has farmed and/or worked in diverse agricultural programs for over 10 years in NY, NH, and RI. After experiencing an (unsuccessful) farm transition over the course of 2 years, she moved back home to RI with her family to help farmers in the ocean state to feel supported as their farms grow and change.
Workshops:
A6. State of the State – Farmland and Its future in RI
B7. Meet & Greet with Land Access Specialists
Michael Woods
Michael Woods is a conservationist, hunter, and advocate for public lands, waters and wildlife and has served as the Board Chair of the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers since 2019. During his time with BHA, Mike has worked with the General Assembly and state/federal agencies to advance wildlife conservation and public access policies in Rhode Island. Mike has also served as a Board member for the Narrow River Land Trust since 2023, where his focus is on stewardship and property management.
Workshop:
B4. Deer Management for Conservation Landowners – Why & How
Nyrell Wright
Hi I’m Nyrell I graduated from Ecubed Academy High School in 2025, and I started Youth in Action the summer going into my sophomore year in 2022, and am still involved as an alumni even after graduating. Throughout the years, I have been a youth and was also a part of the staff helping the programming team. Going to Youth in Action has taught me the importance of helping the community in any way possible.
Workshop:
A2. Beyond Access: Building our Collective Liberation in Outdoor Spaces Intergenerationally
Adam Yorks
Adam Yorks does conservation stewardship work in his hometown of Little Compton, RI. Promoting biodiversity on past and present agricultural lands is a passion that Adam brings to his land trust work as well as his sheep farming business.
Workshop:
A7. Stewardship Takes to the Skies: Drones as a Tool for Land Conservation