Bedford Hills, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, announced two new additions to its leadership team; Bruce Ward of Katonah joined the Board of Directors and Sesh Murthy of Yorktown Heights joined the Advisory Board. Ward and Murthy bring extensive experience in the fields of project analysis and computer science technology, respectively. Both will use their professional insights to work alongside WLT’s staff, Advisory Board, and Board of Directors to support land protection and stewardship, increased access to the outdoors, and stronger local food systems.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bruce and Sesh to the Westchester Land Trust team,” said Kara Hartigan Whelan, president of WLT. “Their impressive professional experience will be incredibly valuable to our organization as we continue to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve.”

Bruce Ward, an avid outdoorsman, has a robust background in project management, risk assessment, and business analysis. He has worked with top companies in the finance industry, including Citibank, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Chase, and HSBC. Prior to his current residency in Katonah, Bruce lived in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, where he gained an appreciation for a multi-dimensional approach to community land use across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Bruce spends much of his free time hiking, cycling, and snowboarding, and tending to the care and stewardship of his property in Katonah.

“As a longstanding Westchester resident, I’ve always admired the unique opportunity that we have to enjoy the wondrous diversity of our natural world, particularly here in New York,” Ward said. “I’m proud to support the work and mission of Westchester Land Trust and look forward to getting active in upcoming projects.”

Sesh Murthy first became involved with WLT as a volunteer, working alongside the stewardship team at his neighborhood preserve, WLT’s Hunter Brook Preserve, in Yorktown Heights. He quickly became a dedicated volunteer and is now helping with projects across WLT’s service area. He currently serves as the dean of computer science and software engineering at Western Governors University. Previously, he held several executive positions at IBM. He co-founded a cloud security company that counts the world’s largest payment processor as one of its customers. Murthy loves to hike numerous trails throughout the region, particularly the ones at Hunter Brook Preserve.

“I am excited to join Westchester Land Trust,” Murthy said. “I have seen firsthand the value that the organization brings by volunteering with the WLT team. I look forward to making an impact in our community, including urban areas.”

WLT’s preserve manager, John Zeiger, has worked closely with Murthy on various volunteer projects and added, “Sesh has been a dedicated volunteer for years and exemplifies the many ways people can support our organization. From getting his hands dirty out on the trails at our preserves to sharing his expertise as a member of our Advisory Board, he’s shown up for us time and time again.”

Janelle Robbins, vice president of conservation at WLT said, “The addition of Bruce and Sesh will continue to grow the diverse pool of skills and experience on our Board and Advisory Board. We’re eager to embrace their insights on ways to improve our impact across Westchester County and beyond.”

Ward and Murthy will work alongside members of the Advisory Board and Board of Directors to serve as the governing bodies of the organization, overseeing policies, fiscal and strategic planning, and supporting WLT’s commitment to creating a brighter future.