Trail Conference Team

Andrew Rosenthal-Baxter

Field Trail Builder

Andrew joined the Trail Conference in April 2023 as a Field Trail Builder, coming from a variety of trail programs scattered across the country. He entered into the world of trail work with the Student Conservation Association in Oregon, and then proceeded to work for Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in partnership with the US Forest Service, Vermont’s Green Mountain Club, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Maine. He holds a B.S. in ecology and environmental sciences from the University of Maine.

Arden Blumenthal

Conservation Dogs Program Coordinator

Arden Blumenthal joined the Trail Conference as a volunteer for the Conservation Dogs Program in Spring 2019.  She graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech where she worked with various species of wildlife, including the elusive eastern hellbender.  She went on to pursue an MS degree from Purdue University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, learning valuable project management skills through her research. In addition to scholastic achievements, she dedicated over 400 hours to volunteering and years shadowing another trainer/handler to learn practical skills in the field. Now as the Program Coordinator, she’s able to use her experiences in ecology and animal behavior to find innovative, holistic, and practical solutions to socio-environmental and conservation problems.  Arden is passionate about continuing education, knowledge sharing, and helping other aspiring young professionals find their way into this niche field, which is why she is a founding member of the Conservation Dog Alliance. In her free time, she enjoys all outdoor activities, trying new breweries, playing board games, and reading. 

Ben Sugar

Senior Trail Builder

Ben joined the Trail Conference in February 2018 with over 15 years of experience in trail building, designing, and management. He discovered his love for the outdoors while building trails with AmeriCorps in New Hampshire in 2003. Ben holds a B.A. in History from James Madison University and has graduate studies in Recreation Resource Management from Utah State University.

Brent Boscarino

Director of Land Stewardship

Brent Boscarino joined the Trail Conference in 2019 as the Invasive Species Citizen Science Program Coordinator in association with the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (LH PRISM), a regional alliance of environmental organizations and stakeholders that is coordinated by the Trail Conference. Brent now serves as the Director of Land Stewardship at the Trail Conference and the Coordinator of the LH PRISM. Brent spent the previous 10 years as a high school science teacher, research scientist and environmental outreach coordinator at the Poughkeepsie Day School and the Harvey School. In his role as Senior Research Associate at Poughkeepsie Day, Brent ran multiple invasive species-based research projects in collaboration with Hobart and William Smith, Ithaca, and Bard Colleges. He holds an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from Cornell University. Brent is an enthusiastic nature lover who aims to inspire a sense of wonder about the natural world. 

Cynthia Germana

Finance & Operations Associate 

Cynthia joined the finance team in the winter of 2024 as the Finance & Operations Associate. She enjoyed a long career in banking as a Relationship Banker and embraced the hospitality industry. Cynthia holds a bachelor’s degree in Deviant Behavior & Social Control from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is currently in pursuit of an Associate in accounting. Cynthia aspires to explore more trails with the guidance of her new colleagues. A wife and mother of four, Cynthia enjoys being with her family and experiencing new activities together.

Hank Osborn

Director of Programs

Hank began maintaining trails as a boy in Garrison, NY before chairing the Garrison School Forest Committee.  As a member of two local Greenway Committees, he was a part of the very first Fjord Trail discussions.  Hank taught geology, environmental science and ecology at Tabor Academy and served as associate professor and rowing coach at Columbia University and Dartmouth College.  He holds degrees in Sociology and Geology from Rutgers and completed graduate work at Dartmouth in Environmental Studies.   After two NOLS courses and a Wilderness EMT certification, he served as President of Fahnestock & Hudson Highlands State Parks and currently leads a NYORC workgroup and the Topfield Center Advisory Council.  He enjoys exploring the trails of the Hudson Valley with his family.

Jacqueline Hanley

Grant & Contract Manager 

Jackie joined the Trail Conference’s Advancement Team as Grant & Contract Manager in 2022. She cultivated a passion for exceptional visitor environments and experiences during her lengthy career as a public sector Architect. Jackie graduated from the Cooper Union School of Architecture and is a LEED-certified professional with the U.S. Green Building Council. As a resident of Rockland County, she finds inspiration in the beauty and bounty of the Lower Hudson Valley. Jackie is thrilled to apply her appreciation of public lands, outdoor recreation volunteering, skills in accessible and sustainable design, project management practice, and love of collaboration to her role at the Trail Conference. During time away from Advancement, she enjoys hiking with her well-used NYNJTC guide and map collection, spontaneous adventure, yoga, art, and outdoor exploration with family.

Matthew Thompson

Communications Specialist and Content Strategist

Matthew joined the Trail Conference in 2024 as a Communications Specialist and Content Strategist. He steps into the position with a boundless passion for the outdoors, a keen eye for storytelling, and more than a decade of experience in digital marketing and the literary publishing world. He’s thrilled to bring his editorial talents to the Trail Conference to help tell its story and champion its vital role in sustaining our region’s natural spaces. An avid traveler and irrepressible wanderer, Matthew has explored the mountains of Slovenia, the fjords of Norway, and the islands of Greece while proudly calling the Catskills of New York his home. He’s also a Trail Conference volunteer, maintaining a stretch of the Long Path in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. Matthew holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He enjoys reading, writing, music, and hiking in the northeast with his wife and their rescue dog, Molly. 

Patrick Erb

New Jersey Program Coordinator

Patrick joined the Trail Conference in 2024 as the New Jersey Program Coordinator. After graduating from Ramapo College with a B.S. in Environmental Science, he volunteered as an AmeriCorps member working on trails in the Smoky Mountains. Since then, he has worked alongside the U.S. Forest Service in California, land trusts in Washington, and many other non-profits across the country. Patrick has a deep connection to the forests and hills of northern New Jersey where he grew up. Fishing, hiking, and connecting with people are his passions.

Jennifer Zack

Charitable Gifts and Events Manager 

Joined the Trail Conference in 2012 as Darlington Schoolhouse Campaign Assistant. Jennifer came to the organization after two years as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Greater Philadelphia and a crew leader with the Student Conservation Association. Before joining the Trail Conference team, she worked as a field manager at New Jersey Environmental Federation, which works on environmental campaigns. Jennifer earned her B.A. in anthropology and sociology at Stockton University in 2009. She resides in Highland Lakes, N.J. where she loves exploring the Appalachian Trail from her backyard with her husband and adventurous son. On her family’s bucket list is to visit a different National Park each year.

Jeremy Apgar

Cartographer

Jeremy joined the Trail Conference in 2007. He produces a variety of maps, including published trail maps of the NY-NJ area as well as maps to aid with trail-building efforts, open-space acquisition, and various advocacy and stewardship initiatives. Prior to joining the Trail Conference, Jeremy received his Master’s degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Lehigh University. While obtaining his Master’s degree, he published his research findings that utilized GIS, remote sensing imagery, and fieldwork in the Yukon Territory, Canada to learn about climate change in the Arctic. Jeremy fondly remembers his experiences exploring the trails of northwest New Jersey as a kid and currently resides in the woods of Andover, N.J., with his wife and two kids.

Jim Bixler

Web & Salesforce Manager

Jim is a dedicated professional with a passion for the outdoors and a deep love for the Hudson Valley, where he has lived for nearly 20 years. With over a decade of experience in sales, project management, and team leadership, Jim brings valuable skills to his role. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ithaca College. Jim believes his professional journey and experiences have culminated in a fulfilling phase of his career. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and trail running, live music, and spending time with his wife and their two rescue pups

Margaux Bouniol

Office Associate

Margaux joined the Trail Conference in 2025 as the Front Desk Associate. Having grown up just down the street from the Trail Conference Headquarters and the Ramapo Reservation, Margaux has a long-standing personal connection to the organization’s mission and work. After spending four years abroad, Margaux earned a BA in Social Sciences from Amsterdam University College and an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from the University of Edinburgh. Now back in their hometown, they are excited to be hiking the trails they love with their dog Polo, supporting the Trail Conference’s day-to-day operations, and continuing their volunteer work with the Invasive Species Surveyor project.

Lettie (The Trickster) 

Conservation Dog

Lettie is a working Labrador retriever born on 3/20/23.  At only 42 lbs this spicy peanut is the perfect size to bust through thick cover and curl up in Arden’s lap at the end of the day.  Lettie is still growing up but she has shown a ton of promise on her first project, Sticky Sage.  A diligent, yet flashy worker, this girl loves to use her nose and will do just about anything for food.  Lettie believes the world is her personal waterpark and adults don’t know anything. In her free time enjoys pestering her brother Peat, digging holes, and looking for literally anything that can pass as edible.  

Josh Howard

Executive Director

Josh joined the Trail Conference in 2002 (as Josh Erdsneker) in the position of Volunteer Projects Director. He went on to serve as Director of Membership & Development before being named Deputy Executive Director in 2008. He was appointed COO in March 2019, and Executive Director in October the same year. Josh graduated in 2000 from the University of Miami with an MBA and concentrations in international business and leadership. He spent five years working for the University of Miami as a computer trainer and help desk administrator. The highlight of Josh’s outdoor adventures began on July 14, 2001, when, from atop Mount Katahdin in Maine, Josh embarked on a five-month and five-day southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. During his 2,168-mile odyssey, he rediscovered his passion for the outdoors. His experiences along the A.T. motivated him to become more involved in protecting and maintaining the trails and trail lands he had just hiked through. These days, Josh can be found enjoying hiking and trail running with his family.

Katie Kourakos

Volunteer Engagement Manager

Katie joined the Trail Conference in 2022 as the Volunteer Engagement Manager. She came to the organization with 7 years of experience as a Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services at a large facility for veterans. She also has several years of experience coordinating and developing programs in the fields of human services and the arts. Katie’s interest and appreciation for the outdoors started when she was young and went on her first hike on the Appalachian Trail while at sleepaway camp.  While pursuing her BA in Archaeology from George Washington University, she began to take her interest in the outdoors more seriously and joined a hiking group with fellow students and undertook a nearly 50-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in 24 hours. Katie continued her studies at Seton Hall University, graduating with a MA in Museum Education, while simultaneously working in healthcare and interning at local museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, coordinating staff and volunteer-led programs in both work and internships. After graduating she joined the National Park Service in Denali National Park as an Interpretive Park Ranger. She now resides in the Hudson Valley where she enjoys taking advantage of the local trails, breweries, drive-ins, and historical sites.

Krysti Sabins

Stewardship Communications Coordinator 

Krysti is a photographer/videographer and all-around communications specialist with over ten years of experience working with non-profits and small businesses. Through visual storytelling and digital marketing campaigns, she has helped promote and establish individual brands, missions, and messaging. After graduating from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Photojournalism, Krysti pursued her personal passion for environmental conservation, sustainability, and social/environmental justice. She began her career at a tiny environmental non-profit in Edison, NJ, where she worked out of a trailer – in a swamp – as their Multimedia Producer…and it’s only been up from there!

Lady

Conservation Dog 

Lady is a border collie mix who joined the Trail Conference as a conservation detection dog. Born around September 2019, she has a high work energy and ball drive, which led her to a career in conservation detection. Lady is enthusiastic about her work and enjoys relaxing under blankets after a long day.

Melissa Cascini

Senior New York Program Coordinator

Melissa Cascini joined the Trail Conference in March 2020 as the New York Program Coordinator, later moving into the role of Senior Program Coordinator in 2024. She grew up in northern New Jersey exploring the trails in Norvin Green State Forest, Ringwood State Park, and the Delaware Water Gap where she found her passion for hiking and the outdoors. After graduating from Ramapo College in 2017 with a degree in sociology, Melissa joined the Trail Conference Conservation Corps in 2019 as the Crew Leader for the Trail Steward Outreach and Education Program. She spent the entirety of the program educating hikers and assisting volunteers with trail maintenance in the Hudson Highlands and Catskill Forest Preserve. These experiences, as well as the volunteers that she was able to engage with, further prompted Melissa’s passion for the environment and drove her to seek a career with the Trail Conference. When she’s not out hiking, Melissa enjoys gardening, baking, paddling, camping, and continuing her exploration of local trails.   

Mary Perro

Chief Financial Officer 

Mary Perro, joined the Trail Conference in 2015. She is a CPA who majored in accounting and economics at Manhattan College. After graduating college, Mary was an AmeriCorps member through Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, where she fell in love with the outdoors. Mary returned to New Jersey as an auditor and then as an accountant in the pharmaceutical industry. She enjoys hiking, spreadsheets, traveling, and exploring Morristown, N.J. with her husband and son.

Mike Morris

Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Mike Morris joined the Trail Conference in 2022 as the Volunteer Engagement Associate. Mike is a familiar face to many at the organization, having served two terms with the Trail Conference Conservation Corps. During his time as a Corps member, Mike functioned as the Harriman Trail Crew Leader, working regularly with volunteers, other Corps members, and members of the public, and leading several successful workshops. Prior to joining the Conservation Corps, Mike earned a degree in marketing and worked at Eastern Mountain Sports, gaining essential customer service skills while applying his passion for and knowledge of the outdoors. Mike is an Eagle Scout, and in his free time, he can be found hiking and backpacking all seasons of the year.

Myra Romano

Trail Steward Program Coordinator

Myra Romano joined the Trail Conference in 2022 as the Trail Steward Program Coordinator, bringing with her valuable experience from two AmeriCorps seasons with the Trail Conference Conservation Corps. In 2020, she served as a Trail Steward in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, and in 2021, she took on the role of Trail Steward Crew Leader in the Catskills. Prior to her work with the Trail Conference, Myra built a diverse career as a visual designer, working in industries such as parks and recreation, ed-tech, finance, and advertising. Her passion for nature began during her childhood in New York’s Hudson Valley, where she spent countless hours hiking the Hudson Highlands and exploring the forests near her home. Myra is a certified Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor, a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), and a NYS DEC licensed hiking and camping guide

Jake Haisley

Trail Steward Program Associate

Jake joined the team as the Trail Steward Program Associate in April of 2026. Jake resides in Catskill, NY, and is an avid four-season hiker and proud Winter Northeast 115er, having summitted all the northeast 4000 footers in the winter. He volunteers as a hike leader at Sam’s Point, a trail maintainer in the Catskills, and as a veteran member of Catskill Mountain Search and Rescue. Jake is a lifelong student of the forest and its history, and aims to learn a new plant or animal on every trip. He is a graduate of Earlham College with a BA in Sociology/Anthropology.

Pat Gallagher

Advancement Director

Pat Gallagher joined the Trail Conference in December 2022 as the Advancement Director. He brings more than a decade of nonprofit experience to the role, having spent his career in development and fundraising supporting organizations that are working to provide access to life’s necessities. During his time at Pathways Vermont, Pat implemented a communications and fundraising system that developed a start-up organization into a statewide leader in housing and mental health services. At Family Reach, he expanded the organization’s national footprint by leading a team of fundraisers providing financial lifelines to families experiencing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis; and most recently, Pat lead the development team at Jazz House Kids, providing music education to underprivileged youth. When he’s not helping to raise necessary funds for the Trail Conference, Pat enjoys hiking, skiing, and partaking in the occasional karaoke night. 

Nancy Krause

Conservation Corps Program Coordinator

Nancy Krause became the Conservation Corps Assistant in October of 2019.  She first joined the Trail Conference staff in March 2018 as an Executive Assistant. Nancy is dedicated to the restoration of the Welch Trail Education Center camp and enjoys organizing and participating in workdays there.  Prior to moving to New Jersey, Nancy worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and for the National Park Service. She has a B.A. in economics and a M.A. in environmental science. Nancy is a very active volunteer in her community, currently serving on the Shade Tree Commission and her church council. She is an avid cook and outdoors person who is most at home when she is camping.

Peter Dolan

Senior Trail Planner

Peter Dolan joined the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in 2013 and holds the title Senior Trail Planner. He leads the creation of planning resources for partners including municipalities, State agencies, land trusts, and other entities which manage open space. This work includes the creation of trail plans, inventories/assessments, layout and design proposals, interactive GIS maps, regulatory reform recommendations, and related documentation for projects in anticipation of formal permitting or RFPQ processes.

Peter’s planning work is informed by a range of outdoor experience including a degree in field science from Bucknell University, wilderness guide work with an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, multiple seasons of hands-on trail construction, ongoing service as a Search and Rescue team member, and more. All of these disciplines come together in planning work which is data-driven, while also deeply aware of the impact that trails have on both the environment and the human experience.

Other roles include Chairman of NJDEP’s State Trails Program Council, member of the Access Nature Forum’s Regulatory Reform and Site Assessment Working Groups, and speaker at events such as the International Trails Summit, NJ Land Conservation Rally, and NJ Trails Summit. In his previous Trail Program Manager role, Peter led the Trail Conference team on projects across over 200 land management units and 2,150 trail miles including long-distance trails such as the Appalachian Trail, Long Path, and Highlands Trail. This experience still informs his planning work, and his close collaborative ties with local volunteer committees remain an important part of projects.

Peat

Conservation Dog

Peat is an American Field Labrador born on Christmas Day, 2020. He started working on his first species, Scotch broom, at only 9 months old! This goofy, hardworking, and ultra-motivated guy has a long career ahead of him. Peat is still a veritable puppy who loves giving sloppy kisses and doesn’t quite know where his limbs are just yet. In his free time, Peat likes to solicit belly rubs, steal socks, lick the countertops, and of course, play, play play!

Ryan L. McClean

Ecological Stewardship Program Manager

Ryan’s love for nature was fostered at a young age through years of outdoor activities with the Boy Scouts. In an effort to better understand what he loved, he received his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from The College of New Jersey in 2017. He got involved with invasive species by spending time in a research lab that focused on how invasive species and deer interact with the native forest plant communities. After three years in the lab, including two summer experiences, he completed his capstone project researching interactions between invasive plants and invasive earthworms. Since graduating, he spent two years serving with AmeriCorps. His service included managing invasive plants with the Invasives Strike Force, building trails in Sterling Forest, and restoring and protecting aquatic resources in Montana. Ryan spent 2019 as the Trail Conference’s Conservation Corps Invasives Strike Force Crew Leader before transitioning to the position of Terrestrial Invasive Species Project Manager. When he’s not waging war against invasive plants, you can find him looking for interesting bugs and fungi, cooking for friends and family, and unwinding through gaming.

Paula Casey

Finance & Operations Senior Associate

Paula joined the finance team in the spring of 2021. She enjoyed a long career in hospitality with roles in Information Technology and Operations, and more recently as General Manager at the Stony Point Center. Stony Point Center is part of a wider association of Presbyterian Camps and Conference Centers with a focus on Outdoor Ministry. During her tenure there, she oversaw daily operations and managed capital improvements. As a transplant from Boston, Paula has enjoyed exploring Hudson Valley rail trails on her bike, beaches from Long Island to the Jersey Shore, and the hiking paths from Norvin Green to the Catskills. She is a proud North Rockland community member, having raised three (now young adult) children there. Paula uses yoga and the outdoors to stay grounded and is thrilled to work at the Trail Conference to support others in connecting with nature.

Sarah Jackson

Conservation Dogs Program Associate

Sarah Jackson joined the Trail Conference’s Conservation Dogs Program in 2024 with her professional conservation detection dogs, Ptero and Lady. She leads the Volunteer Dog Surveyor Program, developing training resources and workshops that prepare volunteers and their pet dogs to assist with invasive species surveys throughout the region. Sarah also develops and deploys professional conservation detection dogs for invasive species early detection, endangered species conservation, and ecological research projects in collaboration with agency and nonprofit partners.

Prior to joining the Trail Conference, Sarah worked on professional conservation detection dog projects involving bird and bat mortality monitoring, endangered plants, bog turtles, invasive mussels, and other wildlife research. Before transitioning into conservation, she worked as a wildlife pilot, commercial cargo pilot, humanitarian pilot in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and aviation maintenance general manager. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Delta State University, a Master of Arts in Biology from Miami University, where her graduate work focused on conservation detection dogs, and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

Inspired by her first rescue dog, Jack, Sarah is passionate about helping people experience the extraordinary bond that emerges when dogs and humans work together as teammates toward a meaningful conservation goal.

Zachary Cole

Long-Distance Trails Program Coordinator

Zac joined the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in 2022 as the Long-Distance Trails Program Coordinator. Zac grew up in northern Italy with plenty of opportunity to camp and hike in the Alps. These experiences and his interest in environmental conservation set him on the path to a career advocating for the natural environments we all love to recreate in. Prior to joining the Trail Conference, Zac was Outreach & Education Program Director at the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and before that, Zac held several positions in the UK and Austria working on projects related to urban sustainability and corporate environmental and social responsibility. Since moving to New Jersey, Zac has devoted his time to exploring our local trails and cycling throughout the region. Zac holds a BA in English Literature and an MSc in Environment & Sustainable Development.

Victoria “Tori” Finn  

Conservation Corps Manager 

Victoria (“Tori”) Finn joined the Trail Conference in August 2019 as our new Conservation Corps Manager. After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in sociology and women’s & gender studies, Tori joined AmeriCorps Vista with NJ LEEP, a Newark-based non-profit that helps high school students attain higher education and careers. After completing a year as an AmeriCorps member, she joined NJ LEEP full time as a manager of their volunteer program. Tori’s experience in nonprofits, her passion for service, and her love for the outdoors make her right at home in the position of Corps Manager. When she’s not convincing people to join the absolutely amazing and wonderful Corps, you can find her cooking way too ambitious meals and attempting to garden.