Board & Staff
HLT is governed by a Board of Trustees and managed by professional staff, and supported by volunteers and donors.
Staff
Catherine Suttle joined the Hunterdon Land Trust in 2007. Since that time, she has taken responsibility for planning, developing and carrying out capital projects at the historic Dvoor Farm. Her duties in this capacity include: leading planning activities for future uses of the Dvoor Farm; managing capital improvements to the Dvoor Farm buildings and property; overseeing repairs and maintenance of the Dvoor Farm buildings; and assisting with stewardship management of the farm.
Catherine is also heavily involved in procuring funding for HLT. She researches funding opportunities for general operating, stewardship and program initiatives offered by corporate, foundation and government entities. She then writes and submits grant applications, and coordinates and produces grant reports when needed.
Catherine has a wealth of experience leading and managing complex projects in which multiple stakeholders are involved. Her past work experience includes a career with Merck and Company, Inc., where she held site and global management positions across Materials Management functions. Prior to joining Merck, Catherine was part owner of an architecture and construction firm which specialized in renovation of residential and commercial buildings, primarily those with historic character. Catherine holds a B.S. in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Tennessee, an M.S. in Ceramic Sculpture, and an M.B.A. in Logistics from the University of Tennessee.
Jackie began serving as Land Acquisitions Director in 2014. In this role, Jackie identifies parcels of land for possible acquisition based on our Comprehensive Land Preservation Plan and criteria approved by HLT’s trustees, and handles outreach and negotiations with landowners.
She handles the myriad documents related to land acquisition projects. Jackie also applies for and manages grants to support capital projects and land preservation work. Regarding legal matters, she provides advice to board staff as needed, and acts as legal counsel to HLT in land acquisition matters
Jackie received both her undergraduate and law degree from Florida State University. Previously, Jackie practiced law with a private law firm specializing in real estate, where she focused on land acquisition for public projects and real estate project management for governmental entities. She was admitted to practice law in New Jersey in 1994.
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Mary joined the staff of the Hunterdon Land Trust in 2009 and brings extensive financial management experience to our organization. Since 2001, Mary has provided financial support to New Jersey environmental nonprofit organizations.
She is responsible for the accuracy of HLT’s financial records and oversees all financial activities while ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices that govern nonprofit financial management.
Mary’s previous work experience includes a career at the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, where she held senior management positions in finance and business analysis.
A graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting, Mary has also completed financial management training programs at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Northwestern University and the Kellogg Institute.
Robert Reid is Hunterdon Land Trust’s Facilities Manager and has been involved with the Hunterdon Land Trust since 2003.
Up until 2022, Robert served as our Farmers’ Market Manager. He is a former member of the Dvoor Farm Committee and a former Board of Trustees member. He works for the Raritan Headwaters Association as Property Manager in addition to being a member of NY/NJ Trail Conference, Musconetcong Mountain Conservancy, and the Keep It Green Campaign Committee.
Robert is a former member of the Alexandria Township Open Space Committee and the Highlands Coalition Policy Committee.
In addition, he holds a Master’s degree in sculpture and maintains a studio where he continues to make sculpture and furniture. Born in Montreal, Robert has lived in the Hunterdon County area since 1992.
Laura joined Hunterdon Land Trust in 2022 as Director of Administrative and Social Affairs. She is responsible for general office management at the historic Dvoor Farm and works to support staff, volunteer, Farmers’ Market, and fundraising activities. She coordinates with Board Members and Committee Members to execute HLT goals and strives to provide supporters of the HLT mission with a point of contact and a sense of appreciation.
Laura served for 25 years as Controller and HR Manager at Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants, Inc. and previously worked in accounting and finance positions. Laura holds a B.S. in Business Management with an English minor from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ and an A.A.S. in Accounting from Raritan Valley Community College.
Laura strongly believes in adding value to life by leaving things better than you found them and appreciates the opportunity to work in a purposeful position that helps protect the unique natural resources of Hunterdon County.
Board of Trustees
Nancy Cunningham grew up in a small town surrounded by farmland in central New Jersey. After living in other places around the country, she settled in Ringoes 32 years ago. A sociologist by training, she has worked in the public and private sectors as an educator, trainer and advocate for a range of issues. For the past two decades, Nancy has worked in the field of philanthropy as a CEO and consultant. She has served as a trustee for numerous nonprofit organizations through the years and as a member and chair of the East Amwell Board of Adjustment for more than a decade. A volunteer for the Hunterdon Land Trust for several years, she is delighted to be serving as a trustee. Nancy and her partner love to travel, hike and kayak.
Larry LaFevre is a founding member and Chair of the Holland Township Municipal Agricultural Advisory Committee, township liaison to the Hunterdon County CADB, and active in the Holland Township Historic Preservation Commission and other historical societies. Larry has a BS in Economics and worked as an IT Manager at the Office of Information Technology, State of NJ, for more than 20 years. He has been involved in the Hunterdon Land Trust for more than 15 years and a trustee since 2008. Larry has a daughter, son-in-law and grandson living in South Orange, NJ. He was born, raised and still living near the banks of the sacred Delaware River in Holland Twp.
Phil grew up in Bay Head, New Jersey, and later attended the University of New Hampshire where he enjoyed weekends and summers hiking in the mountains. His love of food and travel led him to pursue a career in Manhattan, working for specialty cheese and food importers. In 1996 he founded FoodMatch, Inc. now a national supplier of authentic, sustainably produced Mediterranean foods to Fortune 500 retail and restaurant chains.
He is closely involved with urban pantries and community outreach centers in NYC such as the Sylvia Center. Phil sits on the Oldways board of directors, encouraging positive public health through heritage diets and nutrition. He has also served as a delegate for the U.S. Department of State’s Global Entrepreneur Program on two missions, one in Greece and one in Portugal, mentoring local entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
In their free time, Phil and his family enjoy the beautiful rolling hills, fields, and woods at their West Amwell farm.
Lynn grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Accounting. She moved to Atlanta to begin a 25-year career in the Bell System, starting with Western Electric and ending in Lucent Technologies, including positions in New Orleans and ultimately in New Jersey in 1980. During that time, she got an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. Upon leaving Lucent, Lynn had various positions in nonprofit organizations, including trade associations, animal welfare organizations, and finally South Branch Watershed Association. She also served on the Boards of St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center and the Patriots Path Council Boy Scouts of America.
While working at SBWA, Lynn became familiar with HLT and ultimately became a supporter and volunteer.
Lynn is married to Bud Becker and lives on a small River Friendly farm in Raritan Township with their two dogs and a small herd of Black Angus cattle.
Julia Allen joined HLT’s Board of Trustees in June 2022, and brings to our organization an extensive professional and civic background. She has been the co-owner and operator of Misty Acres Farm in Readington Township since 1975.
She served five terms as mayor of Readington (1999, 2004, 2009, 2013 and 2014) and was a member of numerous township boards including its Planning Board, Board of Health, Environmental Commission, and Open Space Committee. She also served on the NJ State Agricultural Development Committee, the South Branch Watershed Association Board of Trustees, and the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission. For Hunterdon Land Trust, she worked on our Board of Trustees Steering Committee from 1997 to 2003.
Julia has earned the Distinguished Leadership Award for Elected Officials from the American Planning Association, the Achievement in Planning Award from the New Jersey Planning Officials and the Conservation of the Year (1980) Award from the South Branch Watershed Association.
Julia was graduated from The George Washington University with a B.S. in chemistry. She is married and has five children and 14 grandchildren. In her spare time, he enjoys hiking.
Dean spent the entirety of his childhood in Marlboro, NJ, next to Big Brook Park, a 400-acre parcel of land where he hunted for fossilized shark teeth in Big Brook Creek. He attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, where he earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Science. After college, he took a year-long AmeriCorps position as an Assistant Horticulturist at the Arboretum of Flagstaff.
More recently, Dean worked as an Urban Farmer and Educator for The Center for Environmental Transformation in Camden, NJ, where he managed a one-half acre urban farm and created and implemented youth educational programming around Camden’s food and environmental justice issues. In 2017, he started an organic vegetable farm, Cabbage Throw Farm, that now services three year-round farmers’ markets and a 90-member CSA program on 20 acres of leased land.
Trishka Waterbury Cecil is Of Counsel with the law firm of Mason, Griffin & Pierson, PC in Princeton, New Jersey, where since 1999 she has practiced in the areas of local government and land use law, prerogative writ litigation, and appellate litigation. Ms. Cecil is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as before the federal District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. She earned her juris doctor degree cum laude in 1996 from the Boston University School of Law, after which she clerked for the Honorable Philip S. Carchman.
Cecil is the New Jersey State League of Municipalities’ Deputy General Counsel, Associate Counsel with the New Jersey Planning Officials, a past president of the Institute of Local Government Attorneys, and Assistant Editor of the Local Government Law Review published by the Institute. She is the appointed attorney for Princeton, Clinton Township, Hopewell Borough, Union Township (Hunterdon County), the Cranbury Township Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Plainsboro Township Planning Board, and the Stockton Borough Planning Board, and has served as special counsel for a number of other municipalities. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Institute of Local Government Attorneys’ Fred G. Stickel Award for Excellence in Municipal Law & Service to the Legal Profession. Ms. Cecil lives in Hunterdon County with her husband and seven-year-old twins.
Dan Saunders has served on numerous governmental bodies including the New Jersey Historic Trust and the New Jersey Historical Commission (both ex officio). As the Administrator of the Historic Preservation Office, he managed the New Jersey Historic Sites Council (project review) and the State Review Board (New Jersey/National Register nominations). Saunders also served on Hopewell Borough’s Planning/Zoning Board and its Historic Preservation Commission.
Deborah Woodard rejoined Hunterdon Land Trust’s Board of Trustees in 2023 after having served as its president from 2003 to 2005.
“In what in many ways seems like another lifetime, I was the HLTA board president,” Woodard said. “At the time, we were mostly volunteers, just beginning to venture into hiring staff. Margret Waldock became our first executive director during my tenure.”
During her time away from HLT, Woodard has certainly kept busy. She took a classes at Vermont Law School and became immersed in environmental issues again. Several years ago, she worked to lobby in Washington, D.C. for federal wildlife corridor legislation. She also played a role in forming the Pennsylvania Habitat Connectivity (PHC) to support connectivity efforts in PA and the region. “With much effort, we saw the passage of a study bill, House Resolution 87, authorizing the development of a statewide synthesis report on the status of wildlife corridors and their potential to support ecological connectivity in the state. We continue to be a resource informing the study, PennDOTs connectivity agenda and future legislation,” she noted.
And Woodard has always nurtured a love for the outdoors. “My interest in land conservation comes as a lover of the wild,” Woodard noted. “I’ve skied and paddled kayaks and canoes in quite a few places. I hike everywhere I can, as often as I can, and love doing it with my dogs.”