Officers

John Markelon

President

John joined the Board in 1993 for two years; and later joined in 2012. He served as Secretary from 2018 -2020 and President from 2020 – present.

John is a retired Public high school science teacher & Envirothon Advisor/Coach. He has led efforts to create pollinator friendly backyard habitat and using native plants in landscaping projects. He enjoys active traveling adventures, live music and playing guitar. John has lived in Litchfield since 1991 where he and his wife raised their two children.

Christopher Hoopes

Treasurer; Finance Chair

Chris joined the Board in 2020. LLT treasurer since 2021. After graduating from Hamilton College, he spent 30+ in NYC working on the media side of advertising for Omnicom agencies such as DDB, OMD and PHD. His heart has always belonged to Litchfield. He had the blessing of growing up here, walking, biking and running through all of its beauty. He is proud LHS grad who selflessly helped his fellow students excel by pushing the limits of the lower end of grading curves. He watches too much soccer. Come on you Spurs!

Marcia Fowler

Secretary; Acquisitions Chair

Marcia joined the Board in 2017. She has served as LLT Secretary since 2020. She is currently the Acquisitions Committee Chair. Marcia is an Alternate Member of the Litchfield Conservation Commission. Former Market Manager for Herman Miller. Active with Animal Rescue Foundation. Litchfield resident since 2006.

Trustees

Berta Andrulis Mette

Director

About Berta

Berta joined the Board in 2018. She is a homegrown resident of Litchfield for 55+ years, with the joy of many ventures near and far along the way. Berta has been the Executive Director of the Litchfield Community Center since its inception in 2000. Berta is a devotee and advocate of family, friends, community, animals, land, water, faith and compassion, with a bit of stargazing when the light is right.

Ryan Bares

Director; Stewardship Chair

About Ryan

Ryan joined the Board in 2021. He serves as the Stewardship Committee Chair. He has lived in Litchfield County his entire life and currently resides in the Milton section of Litchfield with his wife and son. Ryan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth and is an all-season outdoor enthusiast. He is Business Unit Director at Hubbell Incorporated.

Susan Clarkin

Director

About Susan

Sue joined the Board in 2021. She serves on the Events and Public Relations Committees. Sue serves as a commissioner of the Litchfield Inland Wetland Commission. Wamogo High School Science Teacher since 1999 and taught Japanese 1994-1998. Currently teaching Biology at Naugatuck Community College. Litchfield resident since 1989.

Martin Connor

Director

About Martin

Marty joined the Board in 2022. Martin (Marty) Connor is a Planning Consultant with 35 years of land use planning experience. He retired from the City of Torrington after 22 years as City Planner. He has served as Goshen’s Town Planner for 30 years. He continues to provide land use consulting services for several Northwest CT Towns and private clients. Certified Member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and CT Zoning Enforcement Officers. Marty is an avid skier and has taught skiing at Mohawk Ski Area for 33 years. Currently serving on the Town of Litchfield Inland Wetlands Commission and as a Director on the Friends of Litchfield Community Greenway. Married to Janice Connor and a Litchfield resident.

Rosemarie Greco

Director; PR Chair

About Rosemarie

Rosemarie joined the Board in 2020. She serves as the Public Relations Committee Chair. Retired Executive Director, Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center which granted a conservation easement to the Litchfield Land Trust.

She was the Executive Director of Religious Education in Southern Colorado and college faculty member in Uganda.

Rosemarie has been a Litchfield resident since 1990.

Jim Katzin

Director

About Jim

Although he lived in Manhattan for ten years following graduation from Oberlin College, Mr. Katzin considers himself a life-long resident of Litchfield. He wasted nearly 40 years as a computer programmer for some of the largest commodities traders and hedge funds on Wall Street. He would have preferred hanging out in the woods or playing music on a porch with friends. He is married to costume designer and glass artist Phoebe Austin Katzin.

Jessica MacDonald

Director

About Jessica

Harmony joined the Board in 2021. She holds a double B.A. from Connecticut College, and owns her own web and graphic design firm, Dog & Pony Design. In addition to her work with LLT, she also serves as the Chair of the Litchfield Democratic Town Committee.

She lives in Bantam with her husband and sons, and enjoys hiking, reading and baking

Thomas McGowan

Director

About Thomas

Tom joined the Board in 2020. He chairs the Governance Committee. Tom brings vast regional planning experience and conservation work. He has been Executive Director for Northwestern Regional Planning Agency. Established and became Executive Director for the Lake Waramaug Task Force, Weantinoge (now NCLC), & Sunny Valley Foundation. As Land Use Planning Consultant/Town Planner, Tom assisted in twenty four 10 year Town Plans of Conservation and Development.

Will Neary

Director; Accreditation Chair

About Will

Will joined the Board in 2023 and Chairs the Special Accreditation Committee. A Wamogo graduate, he left the area to pursue his education and embark on a career in Sales and Marketing, returning to the area to raise his family. He has resided in Litchfield for over twenty years, has run the Road Race 25+ times, Chaired Litchfield’s Economic Development Commission and also sits on the Board of the Litchfield Preservation Trust. During the warmer months you might see him running the trails in Whites Woods and along the Greenway.

Bruce Schnitzer

Director

About Bruce

Bruce joined the Board in 2017. He is a private equity investor and Litchfield resident since 1978. Bruce is the owner of the Oliver Wolcott, Sr. House which granted a conservation easement to the Litchfield Land Trust.

Recent past President of the Seherr-Thoss Foundation. Member of the Litchfield Town Commissions on Broadband Availability and on the relationship between the Town and the Borough of Litchfield.

Harmony Tanguay

Director

About Harmony

Harmony joined the Board in 2021. She holds a double B.A. from Connecticut College, and owns her own web and graphic design firm, Dog & Pony Design. In addition to her work with LLT, she also serves as the Vice Chair of the Litchfield Democratic Town Committee.

She lives in Bantam with her husband and sons, and enjoys hiking, reading and baking

Emeritus
John Fulkerson • David Geiger • Richard Heys • Peter Litwin • Herbert Schettler

Staff

Dean Birdsall

Executive Director

Executive Director since 2022, Board of Directors 2016-2022, Stewardship Chairperson, 2019-2022. Former Chemical Industry Executive, Science and Environment Teacher, CFPA Trails Committee member and Trail Manager. Passionate outdoor enthusiast and environmental advocate. A proud father of two remarkable daughters, an enthusiastic community volunteer, and a Litchfield resident since 2001.

Kim Fischer

Administrative Office Manager

Kim joined LLT as Administrative Office Manager in 2022. She is a member of the Litchfield Traffic Safety Committee, and the owner of Kimberly Koser’s Dance Academy since 1985. She is passionate about the beautiful town of Litchfield where she and her husband, Ed, have lived since birth. Kim shares her repurposing, recycling, and vintage automobile passion with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law.