Bedford Hills, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, announced several new additions to its leadership team. Anthony Barzilay Freund, of Bedford, and Chantel McGee, of New York City, joined the Board of Directors, and Ava Cohn, of Bedford Corners, David Michael, of Sleepy Hollow, and Michael Rubbo, of Verbank, joined WLT’s Advisory Board. This diverse group of professionals brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the fields of community engagement, nonprofit management, ecology, art, technology, and marketing. WLT’s Board of Directors is led by Bruce Churchill, chairman, Nanette Bourne, vice chair, Joe Edgar, treasurer, and Amy Ferguson, secretary. The Advisory Board is co-chaired by George Bianco and Tatiana Kaletsch.

The new leadership members will work alongside WLT’s staff, Advisory Board, and Board of Directors to support land protection and stewardship, increased access to the outdoors for all, and stronger local food systems.

“The five individuals joining Westchester Land Trust’s leadership represent a robust range of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our work,” said Bruce Churchill, chairman of WLT’s Board of Directors. “As we continue to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve, we need big, bold, different ways of thinking, and I’m confident that this group will bring that kind of fresh energy to our organization.”

Anthony Barzilay Freund is the editorial director of the e-commerce marketplace 1stDibs, where he oversees all digital and print content, including 1stDibs’ weekly Introspective magazine, The Study blog, and The 1stDibs 50, an annual celebration of interior design’s most compelling talents. He also serves as 1stDibs’ director of fine art. Prior to joining 1stDibs in 2010, Freund was editor in chief of Art+Auction magazine and, before that, the longtime arts and culture editor at Town & Country. He began his career at Esquire. Freund’s writing on art and design has appeared in a variety of magazines and he is frequently sought out as a commentator on trends and the market, and as a panel moderator at industry events. A Bedford resident residing on a conservation easement held by WLT, Freund is a graduate of Columbia University, and he also attended Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

“As a lifelong resident of northern Westchester County, I’ve never taken for granted the gift of our green landscapes, just a stone’s throw from one of the world’s largest urban centers,” Freund said. “However, woodlands and farms I knew as a child no longer exist and open space throughout the county and beyond continues to be under threat. Westchester Land Trust has done remarkable work safeguarding the region’s natural resources, work that feels even more urgent in this time of radical climate change and diminishing natural resources. I’m excited to help support the organization’s vital efforts.”

Chantel McGee is a conscious leader, community builder, and humanitarian. Over her 15-year career, she has driven innovation at Google and Meta, founded a nonprofit, launched digital ventures with celebrities, covered news as a reporter for CNBC, and advised startups and social impact organizations. McGee previously worked with WLT to oversee an 18-month feasibility study of incorporating urban conservation and agriculture more prominently into the organization’s work.

“Spending time in nature, looking up at the sky, the shapes of the moving clouds, the way the light shines through the leaves, and listening to the bird songs being carried on the wind brings awareness to my interconnectedness with everything,” McGee said. “And it deepens my gratitude for our collective home. Westchester Land Trust unlocks access to those moments of presence and so much more by protecting the land that continues to give to us all. I feel fortunate to be a part of this community and to do this vital work alongside the most dedicated, passionate, and kind people I have ever encountered.”

Ava Cohn is a community-minded volunteer and recent graduate of Columbia University. A resident of Bedford Corners, she has interned for child advocacy organizations and volunteered for several social causes, including food insecurity, refugee and immigrant services, and disability education access. Ava has connected with WLT staff around engagement of young adults in its mission and programs and plans to continue this work more formally as a member of WLT’s Advisory Board.

“I have always had a passion for working alongside my community members to improve the integrity and inclusiveness of our environments and neighborhoods,” Cohn said. “I have seen the tremendous approach to conserve and protect our land through the hands of those who truly respect and care for it. I want to stand beside those staff members at Westchester Land Trust and be able to instill and provide the same level of care and effort into protecting our land and resources as they do.”

David Michael is a sonic ecological artist and a technology professional in the cryptocurrency sector. A resident of Sleepy Hollow, Michael was first introduced to WLT when walking the organization’s preserves while capturing field recordings for artistic projects. He has lectured at SUNY Purchase College and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, and served in artist residencies in Alabama, South Africa, and Brazil.

“As I have come to know the patchwork of organizations involved in land conservation in our region, Westchester Land Trust has always stood out in its drive to acquire small but important pieces of land and keep them open to the public,” said Michael. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Westchester Land Trust’s Advisory Board and looking forward to supporting the organization in raising awareness of the importance of conserving our natural public spaces.”

Michael Rubbo is a professor of environmental studies and science at Pace University with a background in nonprofit leadership. Rubbo previously served as the executive director of Woodcock Nature Center in Connecticut and director of conservation science at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining. He is a resident of Verbank in Dutchess County and holds a PhD in biology from Pennsylvania State University.

“I have worked with WLT staff on a number of projects throughout the years and have always found their work to be at the forefront of regional conservation,” said Rubbo. “I am looking forward to helping WLT advance its mission and to working together to provide unique experiential learning experiences for Pace students that also facilitate WLT initiatives.”

WLT’s president, Kara Hartigan Whelan, remarked on the vast wisdom and value of the five professionals, adding, “This extraordinary cohort represents the future of Westchester Land Trust and the type of inclusive approach needed to tackle the challenges we face head on. We’re eager to learn from our new leaders’ diverse fields of experience and incorporate their insights and ideas into our work.”

The new additions to WLT’s leadership team will join other members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board to serve as the governing bodies of the organization, overseeing policies, fiscal and strategic planning, and supporting WLT’s commitment to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy future for all.