Catskill Mountainkeeper Staff

Ramsay Adams, Executive Director

Ramsay-Adams Ramsay is engaged in all aspects of Mountainkeeper’s work, including shaping programs and campaigns, guiding the team, and cultivating strong relationships with allies and strategic partners in the Catskills and across NY State. He is a member of NY State's Catskills Strategic Planning Advisory Group, which is charged with protecting the Catskill Park's natural resources while making sure the growing number of Park visitors have a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive experience. Ramsay sits on the Advisory Board of Hudson Riverkeeper, serves as a Trustee of the Catskills Fly Fishing Museum, and is a founding partner in the Catskill Brewery--which produces craft beer in a green building awarded the US Green Building Council’s LEED Gold Certification. He's also a film and television music supervisor, author, and educator. Ramsay received a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and lives with his wife and kids in the beautiful Sullivan County Catskills, where his family's history is many generations deep.

Wes Gillingham, Associate Director

Wes Gillingham

As Mountainkeeper’s co-founder and Associate Director, Wes helps develop the strategic thrust of our programs and coordinates collaborative efforts working with regional, state, and national partners on Extreme Energy Extraction and fossil fuel infrastructure fights. Dedicated to pushing New York into a Just Transition away from fossil fuels he has personally lived off the electric grid for over 30 years and serves on the advisory board of the Center for Earth Ethics. From 1996 to 2007 Wes and his wife ran a 150-member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable operation and during that time he also served on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY. Prior to farming, Wes served as an Acting Director of Field Programs for the National Audubon Society Expedition Institute, teaching graduate and undergraduate environmental education throughout North America and also worked as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service. Although graduating from the University of Maine his real education comes from his extensive experiences in rural and wilderness America. Growing up learning about the interaction of humans and natural world here in Catskills and leading educational trips throughout the U.S give him a real-world grounding that few people in today’s society have.

Kathleen Nolan, Senior Research Director

Kathy Nolan

Kathleen Nolan, MD, MSL, is Mountainkeeper’s Senior Research Director working out of our Woodstock, NY office and focusing on issues related to the health impacts of fracking and fossil fuel infrastructure, in addition to spearheading our work in the Catskills High Peaks region. Kathy majored in philosophy and theology at Saint Louis University and graduated with honors, going on to pursue a Medical Degree, along with a Masters of Studies in Law, from Yale. Following a residency in pediatrics and fellowship training in clinical research design, Kathy worked at the Hastings Center, writing and teaching on diverse topics in bioethics, before coming to the Catskills in 1989 to pursue residential training at a Zen Buddhist monastery. In 2003 Kathy became Executive Director of Tibet Aid in Woodstock and in 2009 founded Catskills Live! Trails and Wilderness Association. In 2011 Kathy joined Mountainkeeper’s staff and cofounded Concerned Health Professionals of New York. Kathy was elected to the Ulster County Legislature in 2017 and in 2021 and since 2019 has served as the President of the Board of Samadhi Center Inc., a mindfulness-based recovery outreach center in Kingston NY. Kathy volunteers with several area nonprofit organizations, including the Catskill Heritage Alliance and the Shandaken Community Gardens.

Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Director

Katherine Nadeau is Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Deputy Director. She guides the organization in strategic planning, and oversees its external communications and legislative advocacy. As a NY Renews steering committee member and fierce advocate for climate solutions, Katherine helped enact New York’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, among other state environmental laws. Driven by a vision for equity, justice, and a world where everyone has clean air and water, Katherine collaborates to create lasting change. When she’s not working, you’ll find her hanging out with her fantastic daughters, outdoors with her Girl Scout troop, teaching yoga at the local YMCA, or in the kitchen, baking bread.

Beth Scullion, Chief Operating Officer

Beth Scullion

Beth oversees all of Mountainkeeper’s administrative and operational needs; she manages Board relations and compliance issues, handles finances ranging from bookkeeping to grant reporting, maintains donor databases, oversees correspondence and mailings, manages the organizational calendar, ensures compliance for fiscal sponsor grants, and coordinates office management and upkeep. A life-long resident of the Catskills, Beth attended both Sullivan County Community College and SUNY New Paltz, majoring in early education. She joined Mountainkeeper in 2007 after working for several years in the commercial insurance industry.

Taylor Jaffe, Program Associate

Serving as a Program Associate, Taylor Jaffe is reimagining and renewing Mountainkeeper’s role in Environmental Justice issues in the Catskills. From food access and security to understanding the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, Taylor brings a community focused lens to her work. Prior to working for Mountainkeeper, Taylor graduated with a BA from Colgate University, with Honors in Political Science. In addition to environmental justice work, Taylor lives and works on Snowdance Farm with her family, and enjoys writing and performing music.

Eugene Thalmann, Food and Agricultural Advisor

Eugene Thalmann, M.S, CNS, CDN, is Mountainkeeper’s Food and Agricultural Advisor, managing the Liberty Farmers’ Market and following changes to NYS agricultural policy. He is also vice-president for the Callicoon Farmers’ Market board, serves on the Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension program advisor committee, and sits on the board of the Catskills Food Hub. Eugene is a NYS licensed Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, with a M.S in Nutritional Science from SUNY Buffalo; when he’s not busy running the farmers’ market, he’s growing chemical-free fruits & veggies on Sprouting Dreams Farm, and helping people understand the role diet and lifestyle plays in improving health and well-being.

Kate Hagerman, Program Manager

Kate Hagerman is an environmental activist, filmmaker, and yoga teacher. Leading to protect pollinators and preserve the wild landscape of the Catskills by monitoring development and stopping illegal dumping of construction and demolition debris from New York City that pollutes streams, wellheads, and wetlands, Kate serves as Catskill Mountainkeeper's Program Manager. She has made numerous environmental documentaries for Catskill Mountainkeeper including the award winning short film Save the Pollinators. When Kate is not working for Catskill Mountainkeeper or teaching meditation and yoga, she enjoys exploring the vast network of hiking trails in the majestic Catskill Park.

Ivo Kennedy, Communications Coordinator

As Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Communications Coordinator, Ivo Kennedy makes sure our supporters have the latest details on our work and ongoing developments in our region. He also manages Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Trail Stewards program, with the goal of mitigating damage to our region’s beautiful natural spaces so that they can continue to be enjoyed by visitors and residents. Ivo graduated from Binghamton University with a Master’s Degree in Public Health, and is a strong advocate for prioritizing environmental health as a way to drive positive health outcomes. When not working, Ivo loves rock climbing, hiking, baking sourdough bread, and learning about wildlife.

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