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.
Emma Drake
Conservation Easement and Stewardship Manager
edrake@otsegolandtrust.org
Emma Drake has a degree in Environmental Science from Union College and joined Otsego Land Trust in March 2025. She had previously helped to map hemlock stands in Otsego County, evaluating mitigation strategies for the hemlock wooly adelgid. Emma is an Albany native now living in her great-grandfather's homestead on the west side of Otsego Lake. She is proud to continue the family tradition of stewarding the land and actively contributing to the local community.
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.
Catherine Nolan
Communications and Development Manager
cnolan@otsegolandtrust.org
Catherine Nolan joined the staff early in 2025 to expand Otsego Land Trust's community connections. Born in Cooperstown and raised in Australia, she enjoys exploring the local landscape and the wider world. Catherine is drawn to stories of people and the land. With experience in marketing, an eye for design, and a lifelong passion for conservation and preservation, she hopes to encourage others to explore the natural world and develop a deep love of the land.
Eric Thompson
Site Manager, Brookwood Point Conservation Area
brookwoodpoint@otsegolandtrust.org
Eric Thompson came to Otsego Land Trust in February 2025 as the Site Manager for Brookwood Point. A veteran of the US Navy, Eric has a Master’s in Animal Behavior and Conservation from CUNY Hunter College. Eric previously worked as a caretaker of a historic site that also doubled as a conservation area, pollinator refuge, and sacred space. Eric’s background includes carpentry, wildland firefighting, horticulture, and pollinator and wildlife habitat creation and management. He is motivated to conserve Brookwood Point for future generations.
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.
