ADIRONDACK COUNCIL STRENGTHENS CLEAN WATER PROGRAM AND CORE WORK WITH KEY STAFF ADDITIONS, ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD CHAIR
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. – The Adirondack Council is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members to its team in June and July. Jennifer Jallos-Restrepo joins as Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Mary Haskell as Development Officer, and Sunita Halasz as Clean Water Community Advocate.
“As we face new challenges that will reshape the future of the Adirondack Park, we are excited to expand our team with individuals who bring expertise and energy to address these critical issues,” said Raul J. Aguirre, Executive Director of the Adirondack Council. “These hires strengthen our core mission and will enhance our ability to safeguard the Park’s natural resources, particularly as we look to engage and partner with communities in the western part of the Park. This is an important opportunity to also celebrate the upcoming retirement of longstanding staff members and announce the appointment of a new Board of Directors Chair.”
Strengthening Clean Water Advocacy with Expanded In-Park Presence
Building on efforts that began in 2021, the Adirondack Council is excited to welcome Sunita Halasz as Clean Water Community Advocate. In this new role, Halasz will work alongside Director of Conservation Jackie Bowen to focus on clean water issues in the central and western Adirondacks, including the headwaters of the
Raquette and Black River watersheds. Her work will concentrate on strengthening community partnerships, advancing clean water infrastructure projects, influencing policy, and empowering local action to ensure the health of waterways across one of New York’s most ecologically vital regions.
“Expanding our presence in the Raquette Lake region will enhance our on-the-ground impact, further informing our advocacy efforts in Albany and Washington, D.C.,” said Aguirre. “Sunita will build upon the foundation laid by our first Clean Water Advocate and continue the important work of David Miller, who has been a cornerstone of our Clean Water program. We’re fortunate to have Sunita’s expertise as we move forward, especially as David prepares for retirement at the end of September.
Halasz, a Saranac Lake resident, joins the Council after serving as the project coordinator for the Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resiliency Network known as ACORN. She holds a Master’s degree in Ecology and a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Ecology, both from Cornell University.
The Adirondack Council will bid farewell to David Miller, the Clean Water Program Coordinator, who has been with the organization since 2021 after initially joining as a consultant in 2016. “Dave’s leadership has been transformative to our clean water efforts. One of the greatest assets of the Adirondack Park is its pristine lakes, rivers, and streams, and Dave has been at the forefront of this critical work. His departure will be deeply felt by the entire team and the communities we serve.”
New Staff Strengthen Operations and Development
“We are pleased to welcome Jennifer Jallos-Restrepo to our leadership team,” Aguirre said. “Jennifer and new Development Officer Mary Haskell will reinforce the strong foundation that supports our core work. Their skills and fresh perspectives will help us grow sustainably while staying deeply aligned with our mission.”
Jallos-Restrepo, most recently of Seattle, WA, began working alongside Director of Operations Elaine Burke in June, who is the current chief financial officer. Burke plans to retire at the end of the year. Prior to joining the
Council team, Jallos-Restrepo had been chief financial and operations officer for Global Visionaries, an international youth leadership not-for-profit focused on social justice and environmental advocacy. She has a bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s Degree in humanities from the University of Chicago.
The organization will also bid farewell in December to its longest-serving employee, Elaine Burke, of Port Henry, who managed the organization’s finances and oversaw its operations, beginning in 1988.
“The Adirondack Council has been fortunate to have Elaine Burke’s meticulous stewardship overseeing its financial health and ensuring the smooth operation of our complex work and far-reaching organization,” said Aguirre. “Elaine has been with the Adirondack Council for 37 years and is irreplaceable. But we are excited to see her have the time to spend with her family, get out fishing on Lake Champlain, go to vintage car shows, and
in all ways enjoy her well-earned retirement. She will be deeply missed, but she leaves us in good hands and in great organizational health.”
Haskell, of Elizabethtown, will work with Director of Development Janine Scherline on strengthening systems, building relationships and engaging the Council’s members and donors. Haskell has been the distribution coordinator for the Essex Food Hub in Westport and also worked for Paul Smith’s College and the Adirondack North Country Association. She studied fine arts at Arcadia University.
Adirondack Council Welcomes Diane Fish As New Board Chair
The Adirondack Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Fish as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Fish, a former Director of Development and Deputy Director at the Council, brings more than two decades of experience with the organization. She retired in 2021 after serving the Council for 20 years, and has since been a valued member of the Board.
Fish takes over the role of Board Chair from Sarah Collum Hatfield, who served in this capacity for the past four years and has been on the Council Board for 19 of the past 20 years. Hatfield’s leadership and many years of board service speak to her deep belief in the Council’s mission and her love for the Adirondack Park. The Board and staff are deeply grateful for her dedication and service.
“I’m honored to step into the role of Board Chair and work alongside such a passionate and committed team,” said Diane Fish. “The Adirondack Council has a long history of protecting the Park’s unique natural resources, and I’m excited to help guide the organization through this new chapter. I also want to thank Sarah Collum Hatfield for her remarkable leadership over the past four years and her greater role as a board member for much of the past two decades—her impact on the Council will be felt for years to come.”
Aguirre echoed Fish’s sentiment, noting, “We are thrilled to welcome Diane as Board Chair. Her deep institutional knowledge and longstanding commitment to the Adirondacks will be invaluable as we continue our work to safeguard the Park. At the same time, we are grateful for Sarah’s visionary leadership, which has
set the stage for even greater successes ahead. Sarah leaves an incredible legacy as a board member that is only exceeded by her love for the wild places of the Park and her commitment to the western Adirondacks. She will be greatly missed.”
Founded in 1975, the Adirondack Council is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization committed to protecting the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. The Park contains one of the largest intact temperate forests in the world and is home to approximately 130,000 New Yorkers. The Council advances its mission through research, education, advocacy, and legal action. It envisions an Adirondack Park with clean air and water, core wilderness areas, working farms and forests, and inclusive, thriving communities.
For more information: John Sheehan, Director of Communications, 518-441-1340