Layout: Staff Member

Nathan Helmuth

Nathan Helmuth

Land Protection Manager

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Maintaining landowner and easement records
  • Annual monitoring of easements
  • Creating baseline documentation for new easement acquisitions

Past Experience

Graduate Research Assistant with Western Illinois University studying resource and habitat availability for waterfowl on the Mississippi River.

Biological Science Technician with USGS Avian Malaria Genomics Research Project in Hawaii.

Biological Science Technician with USGS in Florida, protecting nesting habitat for endangered shorebird and sea turtle species.

Research technician with Smithsonian, conducting census wide survey of Kirtland’s Warbler populations in Michigan.

Education
BA in Environmental Biology and Development (double major) from Houghton College

Favorite Protected Place
Yellowstone National Park

Hobbies
Rock climbing, running, reading, birding, fishing, and the New York Times crossword.

Jonathan J. “JJ” Schell

Jonathan Schell

Jonathan J. “JJ” Schell

Associate Director

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Prepares and implements property protection strategies
  • Oversees all aspects of program development and administration for purchase of development rights projects including working with, and communication to, partner organizations.
  • Oversees all grants to ensure compliance with terms and expectations. Assists the Executive Director in developing and implementing strategies for increasing outreach, programs, and grants/donor programs.
  • Inspires, mentors, and trains land protection and stewardship staff and volunteers.

Past Experience
Former Agriculture Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Agriculture Mechanics/Welding Instructor with the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Howard G. Sackett Technical Center.

Education
Bachelors of Arts in Agriculture Engineering from State University of New York at Cobleskill
Masters in Arts of Teaching from Cornell University

Favorite Protected Place
Adirondack Park and any protected farmland throughout NYS

Hobbies
Spending time with my wife and 3 children, managing my small farm, watching NY Giants football, Craft Beer connoisseur, and tinkering on various mechanical projects in my garage.

Linda Gibbs

Linda Gibbs

Community Programs Director

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Developing and coordinating community outreach and education programs to further THTLT’s mission.
  • Working with trail volunteers, networking on behalf of THTLT in the North Country, and engaging people of all ages with Nature.

Past Experience
Linda has worked as an environmental educator and natural resources specialist in New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Colorado. She worked as staff for Tug Hill Tomorrow in its early years, and is happy to be back to help people have fun and learn about the region’s rich natural history, and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

Education
Bachelors of Science in Forestry and Wildlife Management from SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse
Masters of Science in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England

Favorite Protected Place
East Branch of Fish Creek headwaters and Glacier National Park

Hobbies
Hiking, canoeing, and camping with her family

Emily Males

Emily Males

Communications and Marketing Director

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Produce printed publications (Greenings, brochures and any promotional materials)
  • Manages online media outlets (e-newsletter, Facebook, Instagram and the website)
  • Assisting in fundraising efforts including donations/major gifts management and stewardship

Past Experience
Prior to joining Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Emily worked as the Marketing Coordinator at both Victory Promotions in Watertown, NY and The Golden Cleat in Clayton, NY

Education
Bachelors Degree is Business, Management and Economics with a concertation in Marketing from SUNY Empire State University

Favorite Protected Place
Grindstone Island Preserve

Hobbies
Spending time with family and friends, hiking with her dog and exploring new places

 

John Souva, III

John Souva, III

Land Protection/ Education & Outreach Manager

Primary Responsibilities

  • Maintaining landowner and easement records
  • Annual monitoring of easements
  • Creating baseline documentation for new easement acquisitions
  • Developing and coordinating community outreach and education programs to further THTLT’s mission.

Past Experience

Land surveying technician around Watertown and Northern NY.

National and State Park ranger positions around the country.

Education

Bachelors from Alfred State in Land Surveying Engineering Technology.

Associates from MVCC in Engineering Science.

Favorite Protected Place
Olympic National Park

Hobbies
Spending time outdoors with my family: hiking, fishing, canoeing, and camping. Exploring new places. Board Games.

Karen Weston

Karen Weston

Karen Weston

Office Manager
kweston@tughilltomorrow.org

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Coordinating, planning and supporting daily operation and administrative functions
  • Managing accounting and pay roll
  • Developing admin and procedural processes that reduce redundancy

Past Experience
Job cost accounting and contract administration.

Education
Associates Degree from Jefferson Community College in Accounting

Favorite Protected Place
Florida Keys and Everglades

Hobbies
Boating, snorkeling, and spending time with her grandchildren

 

Mark Pacilio

Mark Pacilio

Executive Director

 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Works with the board of the directors and the community to provide leadership for the annual, and long-term, direction and standards of operation for the land trust
  • Manages the land protection program and the development of strategic community conservation efforts
  • Provides guidance and insight into the creation of community partnerships, working with the Army on land protection projects, and establishing land protection goals
  • Ensures that the land trust operates in accordance to national best practices
  • Oversees all fundraising activities
  • Identifies opportunities to connect children and adults to nature and farms within Tug Hill

Past Experience
Most recently held the position of Administration Operations Director at the Neighborhood Center in Utica from 2016 to July 2022. He was chief of staff in the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2016. He was an owner and managing partner in several businesses from 2005 to 2009.

He has also been an adjunct instructor at Jefferson Community College since 2008 teaching business and government courses. He was the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northern New York from 1999 to 2005, Executive Director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Delaware from 1995 to 1998, and the Associate Executive Director of the Delaware Center for Justice from 1993 to 1995.

Education

Bachelors of Science from Utica College of Syracuse University

Masters in Public Administration from the University of Delaware

Favorite Protected Place
Sackets Harbor Battlefield and Washington Park

Hobbies
Attending live music shows and Syracuse Football games