Leiz named new executive director of North Salem Open Land Foundation

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - There’s a new face at the helm of the North Salem Open Land Foundation.

Joyce Leiz took over as the nonprofit land trust’s executive director in July, stepping up for John Baker, who retired.

(Baker served for four years after succeeding Jocko McKean.)

Pointing to the “tremendous growth” it had experienced under Baker’s leadership, the NSOLF said his accomplishments included the acquisition of 168 acres off Hardscrabble Road and new initiatives such as Pitch in for Preserves and the Baxter Sentinel Tree Program.

Baker “has bolstered the foundation’s mission to preserve and take care of open space in North Salem and the surrounding area,” the organization added.

As for Leiz, she “brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience in conservation and development,” the NSOLF noted.

Most recently, the Connecticut resident served as executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Prior to that, she held a number of roles with that organization, including director of development and chief operating officer.

During her eight-year tenure with the CAS, she advanced its recognition as a statewide environmental advocate and helped pass numerous conservation initiatives.

Of those, one of the “most important environmental victories in years” was a ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, aka neonics, on turf grass that covered roughly 300,000 acres of lawn and golf course greens.

Environmental groups and scientists say neonics cause massive harm to bees, birds, and aquatic life and leave chemical residues in drinking water and food that may threaten human health.

According to the CAS, Leiz also helped grow its conservation science initiatives to include the undertaking of an osprey prey study and a partnership with other organizations on increasing river water testing in the state.

CAS Board Chair Pamela Fraser was quoted on www.ctaudubon.org as saying that Leiz’s commitment to environmental stewardship and her vision for the organization had left a “lasting impact” on both its mission and the communities it served.

“Her leadership has helped shape the organization into what it is today,” Fraser said.

In announcing the appointment in July, NSOLF Board Chair Pam Pooley said she was confident that Baker and Leiz would work together to ensure a smooth transition for the organization’s operations and strategic plan.

 “Following an extensive search process, I am delighted that our leadership transition is right in step with the Foundation’s vision for and commitment to protecting our town’s unique rural character. I hope you share my excitement as our next half-century of land conservation marches forward,” Pooley said.

For more information about the North Salem Open Land Foundation, visit www.nsolf.org.