Professional Staff
The best way to contact us is by phone (607-547-2366) or by email.
We are always eager to hear from you!
Gregory Farmer
Executive Director
gfarmer@otsegolandtrust.org
Gregory Farmer, Executive Director, joined Otsego Land Trust in 2021. A native of upstate New York and an alumnus of SUNY Oneonta's Cooperstown Graduate Program, Greg worked with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations throughout New England to promote sustainable development and affordable neighborhood-based housing. As a cultural resource consultant, Greg assisted museums, nature centers, and land trusts in researching, documenting, and sharing community stories. Greg enjoys history, paddling, and traditional music. He is pleased to be helping to conserve the Otsego region’s spectacular landscape.
May Leinhart
Land Protection Manager
mleinhart@otsegolandtrust.org
May Leinhart manages the conservation easement program at Otsego Land Trust. May is originally from the Southeast, where she grew up on a working cotton farm, studied English at the University of the South at Sewanee, and obtained a Masters in Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University. May has served on staff for conservation organizations in Tennessee, New Mexico, South Carolina, and now New York. She has experience with conservation easements, rural land use planning, and state and federal funding for conservation projects. She worked with her family to place a conservation easement on their historic farmland in Mississippi, and she enjoys helping landowners and families in the Leatherstocking region through the same process.
Justin Williams
Agricultural Specialist and Public Lands Manager
jwilliams@otsegolandtrust.org
Justin Williams recently began working with Otsego Land Trust in August of 2023. Justin has a diverse background working in environmental consulting over the last eight years with a specialization in wetland delineation, ecological permitting, and project management, primarily on sustainable energy projects throughout the northeast. Born and raised in Binghamton, NY, Justin received a B.S. from SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry in Environmental Policy, Planning, and Law with a minor in Water Resources. Justin is excited to have an active role in conserving the Susquehanna’s surrounding land and water.
Cherise Tolbert
Development and Communications Manager
ctolbert@otsegolandtrust.org
Cherise Tolbert began working with Otsego Land Trust in early 2023; she is thrilled to be an active participant in conserving the beautiful landscape of the region. A native of Vermont, she has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Vermont’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a minor in Community and International Development. Cherise also earned her Master’s from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. For many years, Cherise enabled non-profits, collegiate institutions, and startups with multiple aspects of management, communications, and connectivity.
Tracy has been with the Otsego Land Trust since 2021 and is very happy to be working for a beloved local organization whose mission is to protect land and waterways. She has worked in accounts management for two decades and has been on television production projects from inception to final editing stages for international broadcasting networks and major U.S. commercial clients for 30+ years. Using her many years of accounts management experience, Tracy keeps Otsego Land Trust’s ship running in peak order.
Kate is responsible for monitoring conservation easements and maintaining the gardens and trails at Brookwood Point. A graduate of St. Michael's College, she developed an interest in landscaping while on the college grounds crew. Since 2021, Kate has been cultivating native plants at our public properties while making friends with the resident chipmunks, rabbits, snakes, snapping turtles, deer, and mergansers. In her spare time, Kate enjoys hiking, drawing, and expanding her knowledge of plant identification.
