Staff

	William C. (Willie) Janeway, Executive Director William C. (Willie) Janeway returned to the Adirondacks to become the Executive Director and leader of the Adirondack Council in May 2013 after close to six years as the Regional Director for the State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson Valley/Catskill Region. He brings to the Adirondack Council team a life-long passion and interest in the Adirondacks and nearly 30 years of experience as a professional conservationist, fundraiser, administrator, coalition builder, and advocate for the environment. When not working Willie can be found outdoors. He is an Adirondack 46er, a year-round hiker and skier, a runner, and a fisherman. He and his family share a camp in the Park. Willie and his wife Mary live in Keene.

	Amanda Birchenough, Associate Development Director Amanda joined the Adirondack Council staff in April of 2021. She returned “home” to the Adirondacks after spending 15 years in marketing and development positions in Rochester, NY, Truckee, CA, and Middlebury, VT. She comes to the Council most recently from St. Lawrence University, where she managed the Reunion fundraising program. Amanda holds a BA in English Literature with a double minor in Environmental Science and Journalism from the University of New Hampshire. She loves exploring (skiing, hiking, paddling) quiet places in the Park and connecting with nature, growing her own flowers and produce in the community garden, and camping in her pop-up trailer with her partner, Matt, and her cocker spaniel, Henry. She is also an avid picnicker and delights in making homemade chutney, salsa, pickled treats, and jam.

	Jackie Bowen, Associate Director of Conservation Jackie joined the Council in 2017 as the Grant Conservation Fellow and is now the Associate Director of Conservation. Jackie leads the Council’s engagement on climate change policies and issues for the Adirondacks, monitors regional land use and natural resource policies and projects, coordinates research efforts, and manages the Clarence Petty Internship program. She holds a Master’s of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Jackie appreciates the natural, recreational and spiritual qualities of the Adirondacks. She particularly loves hiking, finding a good swimming hole, and cross-country skiing.

	Elaine Burke, Director of Operations Elaine joined the Adirondack Council staff in 1988. As Director of Operations, she is responsible for managing the daily finances, human resources, and office systems that support the Council’s operations to achieve its mission. Growing up in the Champlain Valley provides a great appreciation for the Council’s work and a love for the Adirondacks. She enjoys the outdoors and spends time fishing on Lake Champlain. She likes exploring different areas of the Park to experience the distinct differences that make the Park as a whole unique.

	Kevin Chlad, Director of Government Relations Kevin joined the Adirondack Council staff in 2011. He leads the Council’s Albany-based Government Relations team, building coalitions and lobbying government officials to improve protection and grow funding for the Adirondack Park. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys the wild places of the Park with his wife and child.

	John Davis, Rewilding Advocate John returned to the Adirondack Council staff in 2021. He is now the Rewilding Advocate for the Council and also the Director of The Rewilding Institute. In these complementary positions, he promotes the protection and restoration of wilderness and wildlife throughout Adirondack Park and beyond. In recent years, John has also worked as a land steward with Adirondack Land Trust, Eddy Foundation, and Northeast Wilderness Trust, especially in Split Rock Wildway – a wildlife corridor linking Lake Champlain with the High Peaks. John often explores wild places, by hiking, paddling, and cross-country skiing. His long conservation treks are described in his book Big, Wild, and Connected: Scouting an Eastern Wildway from Florida to Quebec and in the TrekWest film Born to Rewild. John lives with his wife Denise Wilson-Davis in Essex, NY.

	J.A. Tyler Frakes, Membership Director Tyler joined the Adirondack Council staff in 2007. He keeps the Adirondack Council's members and supporters informed, working with program staff to create letters and publications covering Adirondack conservation topics of interest and importance. A North Country native from Port Kent, NY, Tyler can be found enjoying the beauty of the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley in his free time. He is an avid gardener, hiker, fisherman, golfer, and sailor.

	Lisa M. Genier, Program Analyst Lisa grew up in Mineville in the Adirondacks and joined the Council in 1992 working as its Legislative Associate in the Albany office. She played a role in the creation of the Environmental Protection Fund, which is used to fund land purchases and environmental programs in the Adirondacks and around the state. Lisa now works part-time as Program Analyst writing action alerts, managing the Council’s website, and serving in a consultative role on legislative and other issues. Lisa is a member of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Accessibility Advisory Committee that works to make the Forest Preserve more accessible for people with disabilities. In her free time, Lisa enjoys listening to music, spending time with family and friends, enjoying her family camp in the Adirondacks.

	Julia Goren, VISION Project Director Julia joined the Adirondack Council staff in 2018 as the Director of the Adirondack Vision Project, a thirty-year strategic vision for the future. Julia holds an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England. Her previous work includes fourteen years with the Adirondack Mountain Club overseeing the Education Department and High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program, as an educator with the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, and as an interpreter and trail crew member. Julia loves hiking, skiing, paddling, working on the perfect backcountry cup of coffee, and meandering through the woods with her family.

	Jessica Grant, Executive and Fund Development Assistant Jess joined the Adirondack Council team in 2021 as the Executive and Development Assistant. Originally from rural Alaska and Oregon, Jess pursued a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology at ESF to protect all of the wildlands, waterways, and working farms and forests she calls home. She previously interned at the New York State Senate and then with the Adirondack Land Trust, solidifying her passions of environmental policy and conservation communications. The Adirondack Park is a sacred place to her, and she is dedicated to supporting efforts to protect these spaces. Outside of the office, Jess enjoys making new friends on the trail, foraging for fungi, and whitewater kayaking.


	Jess Kelley, Development Assistant Jess is a native of Keene, NY. Upon graduation from Keuka College, she began her career as a high school biology teacher. After earning a master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Jess worked as a Stem Cell Biologist for a Fortune 500 company. As an 8th generation ADKer, she returned to her beloved Adirondacks with her husband and son to be closer to her extended family and friends. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, fishing, singing, and making custom jewelry. She’s thrilled to be a part of the team at the Adirondack Council working with colleagues who share her passion for protecting the wildlands of the Adirondacks.

	Justin Levine, Communications and Outreach Assistant Justin joined the Council staff in 2021 as the Communications and Outreach Assistant. He previously worked as a regional marketing manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and was an award-winning journalist and photographer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Lake Placid News. Since graduating from Paul Smith’s College in 2004, Justin has worked in the environmental field in various roles in both the Adirondacks and Florida. When not working, Justin loves spending time with his family and volunteers as the president of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks.

	Aaron Mair, Director of an Adirondack Wilderness Water and Jobs Coalition Aaron joined the Council in May 2021 as Director of an Adirondack Wilderness Water and Jobs Coalition. He is an environmental justice pioneer who has worked over the last 40 years in the spaces of health, environment, climate change disparities, and wilderness protection. He is an urban environmental activist and a regional and national environmental justice organizer and strategist who has advised two presidents and Congress, served on the national board of directors of the Sierra Club as its 57th president, and as the New York State Atlantic Chapter Chair.

	David Miller, Clean Water Program Coordinator David has been the Council’s Clean Water Program Coordinator since 2016 as a consultant and joined the Adirondack Council staff in January of 2021 as a part-time employee. He has researched and written reports aimed toward clean water solutions for the Adirondacks. David works with other stakeholders on clean water infrastructure needs and septic system pollution issues in the Park. He also assists with the Council’s road salt pollution campaign and the need for expanded water quality monitoring programs in the Park.

	Ryan Nerp, Conservation Research Associate Ryan joined the Adirondack Council 2021. Born in the Catskills and now residing in Saranac Lake, Ryan completed degrees from SUNY Fredonia and Paul Smith's College. Previously he was a summit steward with the Adirondack Mountain Club for four seasons and spent his winters sugaring at Cornell's Uihlein Maple Forest. On the weekends, you can find Ryan cross-country skiing or bushwhacking around quiet places in the Forest Preserve.

	Debbie Pastore, Director of Fund Development Debbie joined the Adirondack Council in July 2015 and brings over two decades of development experience to the Council having worked in both educational and cultural institutions. She also brings her life-long passion for the Adirondacks to her work with the Council. Debbie moved to Park full time and found her “perfect fit” when she joined the Council staff to help fulfill the Council’s mission and vision and work with supporters of the Park. When Debbie is not working, she can be found in the Adirondacks hiking, kayaking or perpetually trying to “green up” her black thumb in the garden!

	Megan Phillips, Vice President for Conservation Megan joined the Adirondack Council in 2021 and brings more than a decade of experience in environmental science and policy to the Council’s Conservation team. She is focused on developing and implementing science-based, landscape-scale conservation strategies to carry out the Council’s mission. A native Midwesterner, Megan earned an undergraduate degree in Conservation Biology and a Master’s degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She moved to New York in 2014 and developed an affinity for the Adirondacks and is pleased to be putting down roots in the Town of Keene. When not in the office, you can find Megan packing in (and out!) the perfect summit picnic, seeking new swimming holes, scouting for antiques, and getting to know the Park’s people and places.

	John F. Sheehan, Director of Communications For the past 30 years, John has been the voice of the Adirondack Council on radio and television and in local, regional, and national media. He helps the public and the media understand the unique nature of the Adirondack Park and the Council’s efforts to sustain its clean air, wilderness, wildlife, clean water, and vibrant communities. John is a frequent guest lecturer at New York colleges and addresses civic and not-for-profit organizations, scientific societies, and community forums to provide guidance on how to employ media strategies to help with advocacy efforts. John lives in Albany where he is an active volunteer and baseball fan and player. He also enjoys time at a family camp in the Adirondacks.

	Charlotte Staats, Conservation Assistant Charlotte joined the Adirondack Council as the Executive and Program Assistant in April 2020 and transitioned to the Conservation Assistant position in January 2021. She is responsible for providing programmatic support, review, analysis, and research of significant conservation and environmental policy issues that the Adirondack Council engages on. Charlotte engages and networks with academic, governmental, and non-profit entities, monitor for emerging conservation issues and assist in the development of related Council policies and positions. Charlotte grew up in Westport along Lake Champlain and spent five seasons working for the Adirondack Mountain Club's professional trail crew. Beyond going outside to enjoy the natural world whenever she can, Charlotte also loves to watercolor, dance to live music, cook, and spend time with her family and friends.