About Us

Jenny Hansell

Jenny Hansell came aboard BNRC as its third President in February 2018. Born in Boston, raised in Detroit, Jenny earned her BA from Yale and Masters in Public Administration from University of Connecticut. Before she moved to Massachusetts to join BNRC, she lived in Sharon, CT and for 17 years was Executive Director of the North East Community Center in Dutchess County, NY. She has worked as an Environmental Policy Analyst at the National Audubon Society and Associate Director of the Council on the Environment of New York City and held positions at Creative Art Works and Sesame Workshop, both in New York.

Rich Montone

Originally from the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, Rich arrived to the Berkshires in 2009. His interest in conservation arises from lifelong connections to woodland wildlife. Rich earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of New Hampshire, and a Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. Rich collaborates with BNRC supporters to raise funds that protect land, create access to nature, and make life in the Berkshires uncommonly good.

Photo credit Emily Lord

Beth Mills

Beth joined the staff at BNRC in May 2022 as the Director of Land Conservation. Originally from southern Connecticut, she earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her Ph.D. from the University of California, at Davis. She moved back east to the Hudson Valley from New Mexico in 2017 to serve as the Director of Conservation at the Columbia Land Conservancy, across the state line in Chatham, New York. While living in New Mexico, where she raised her two children, she worked for the local government in Santa Fe as an open space and trails planner, and with the statewide New Mexico Land Conservancy as their Conservation Director. She is happy to be back doing conservation work in her ”home landscape” in the northeast and particularly in Berkshire County.

Mackenzie Greer

Berkshire-born and raised, Mackenzie Greer fosters BNRC’s growing public programs including Community Conservation and The High Road. Mackenzie balances her passion for community-focused work with her skills in long-range, strategic planning. Her career path brought her to BNRC after time as an urban and regional planner, following a dual-Master’s program in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from UMass Amherst. Currently, Mackenzie is leading BNRC’s effort to expand its agriculture conservation and access program.

Doug Brown

Doug grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, where he spent most of his time exploring the protected woodlands in town, and north on the trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Doug earned his BS in Environmental Science at the University of Vermont, and his Masters in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. Prior to joining BNRC, Doug worked as a land steward at the Upper Valley Land Trust in Hanover, NH, and the Public Lands Manager at Columbia Land Conservancy in Chatham, NY.

Adam Galambos

Adam’s passion for conservation was cultivated at a young age while exploring the coastal ecosystems along the South Shore of Massachusetts. After moving to the Berkshires in 2009, Adam earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a master’s degree in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University. Passionate about technology and the relationship that teams have with it, Adam administers the organization’s systems, IT, and GIS.

Mariah Fogg

Mariah grew up in the Southern Appalachians and developed a passion for the natural world at at a young age. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from UNC Asheville and is working on a master’s in Wildlife Conservation and Management from Unity College. She is also the President of MassLand’s Early Conservation Career Network. Mariah’s work at BNRC involves efforts to help the Berkshire outdoors be welcoming for all through the management of community programs and volunteer offerings.

Tyler Fogg

Tyler grew up west of Boston, Massachusetts and discovered his love of being outdoors at an early age. He studied and Anthropology and Geography at University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker class of 2010. His passion for preserving national parks and conserved lands has been fed and developed by his experiences working on trail crews across the country. He has worked from the backcountry of the Trinity Alps of northern California, to historic building preservation in Virginia, to the stone steps of Acadia National Park. Tyler joined the BNRC team in May of 2019 and is grateful for the chance to continue providing public access to natural spaces for all people.

Deanna Smith

Deanna landed in the Berkshire region in 2014 after completing an education in Environmental Science and Outdoor Leadership from SUNY Oneonta. Although she had little prior knowledge of the Berkshires, she was enamored by its abundant natural beauty and the picturesque charm of the many towns and villages dotting the countryside. In 2016 she founded a trail design and construction company that allowed her to work on a multitude of trail development initiatives both locally and across the country. Most recently, she served as the Natural Resource Steward Coordinator for the Student Conservation Association, where she managed conservation projects in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains. She brings her entrepreneurial spirit and love of sustainable outdoor recreation to BNRC and looks forward to carrying The High Road initiative into the future.

Josh Hopmans

A native of the Berkshires, Josh grew up in Hinsdale with conserved land all around him. This setting fostered his love for natural spaces and wildlife. He started with BNRC in 2017 as an intern building trail at Clam River and monitoring conservation restrictions. Currently he maintains BNRC’s properties and trail networks and helps with property improvement projects.

Nick Pitel

Nick grew up exploring the woods & waters around Otego, New York & became fascinated with nature at an early age. He received a B.S. in Field Biology from Paul Smith’s College and an M.S. in Forest Ecology & Management from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. Nick has previously worked in western Massachusetts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture developing conservation plans for farm and forest landowners & for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources stewarding protected farmland. He is also a licensed forester. Prior to joining BNRC in November of 2022, he worked with Columbia Land Conservancy to protect forest land in Columbia County, New York. Nick has lived in the Berkshires since 2011 & is excited to work with local landowners & communities to protect & preserve important Berkshire landscapes.

Jenifer Dickinson

Jenifer was born and raised in Hartford, Vermont and from a very early age she had a love of wandering around in nature. She got her BS in Environmental Science from Keene State, NH and her Masters in Conservation Biology from Antioch University of New England. Prior to joining BNRC, Jenifer worked for the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire and spent a few seasons as an outdoor and environmental educator with the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the YMCA. She is currently the chair of the Mountaineering Committee for the New Hampshire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and a rock and ice climbing leader. With a background in Environmental Science and Biology, she is excited to steward and monitor the many beautiful properties of the BNRC’s portfolio.

Jonathan Lueken

Jonathan was born in Concord, NH and has had a passion for the outdoors and wildlife since he was a boy. Homeschooled through high school, he has taken varied courses in survival, disaster relief, agriculture, and emergency medicine. He lived in a rural African village for three years, where he learned the local dialect and their way of life. His work with BNRC started in fall of 2019 as part of the trail crew, helping with the construction of the Mahanna Cobble trail in Pittsfield. In 2021, he took the position of Trail Crew Lead. Bare foot running, birding, and hiking are some of his favorite ways to enjoy nature. Jonathan serves as the Trail Crew Team leader, directing and working alongside the trail crew to build and maintain the trails for all to enjoy the natural beauty around them.

Charlotte Hood

Despite growing up in New York City, Charlotte always found herself drawn to the natural world and quickly found herself at home amongst the trees attending Skidmore College in upstate New York, obtaining a degree in Environmental Studies. Charlotte loves sharing her love for nature with others as BNRC’s Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator.

Ashley Winseck

Ashley was born and raised in the Berkshires, where she developed a true love for nature and the outdoors. Prior to joining BNRC, she served as an Executive Assistant at Cain Hibbard & Myers, Senior Managing Editor at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and Marketing Manager for Theory Wellness. Ashley earned her BA in English from Sacred Heart University in 2007 and brings 15 years of project management and communications experience to her role as BNRC’s Special Assistant. Her work at the Council focuses on supporting the President, the Board and Board committees, and senior leadership, as well as managing special projects for the organization.

Amy Dryansky

BNRC’s Grants Specialist has worked as grant writer, administrator and communications professional for conservation, arts and human service agencies. She’s also a poet and teaches creative writing at area colleges. Amy earned a BFA in Painting and Art History from Syracuse University and an MFA in Poetry from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Currently a resident of Conway, Amy’s lived in western Massachusetts for many years and has strong ties to Berkshire County. She finds inspiration for her creative and professional work by being outdoors—on land and on the water!

Photo Credit: Trish Crapo

Kathleen Smolinski

Kathleen started at BNRC in May 2022. She was born and raised outside of Albany, New York and has always had a passion for exploring and connecting with nature. Kathleen has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from SUNY Oswego and a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies from Syracuse University. She utilizes her professional experience in fundraising and administration to connect the important work of preserving nature to BNRC supporters.

Donovan Snyder

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Donovan felt pulled toward the mountains of New England. After studying sociology and education at Clark University, he spent several years working as an educator in the nonprofit field. Donovan has also worked as a bike mechanic and ski instructor and led an Appalachian Mountain Club youth trail crew on the New England National Scenic Trail. After moving to the Berkshires in 2022, he discovered the beauty of BNRC’s trails by volunteering as a trail steward. Donovan joined the team in the spring of 2023 and is animated by the work of maintaining and improving BNRC’s trail networks.

Jake Yankee

Jake is BNRC’s 2023 summer trail crew member, serving with us through the Student Conservation Association. Originally from central Massachusetts, his affinity for forests and mountains has brought him out to the Berkshires. He has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation from UMass Amherst, and previously served in an AmeriCorps program in New Hampshire and worked as a seasonal park ranger in Utah. His hobbies include hiking, kayaking, swimming, reading non-fiction, and playing guitar. Look for him out on the trails this summer!

Peyton Webb

Peyton was born and raised in Windsor, Massachusetts, and has always had a passion for the outdoors. He attended Wentworth Institute of Technology this past year to study engineering. As a member of BNRC’s Stewardship Crew, he works to maintain and improve all of BNRC’s Reserves and trail networks.