Pia Ruisi-Besares

Plant lover Pia researches how to make ecosystems healthier. She uses her knowledge, gained via study and work spanning the country — from Vermont to California, Alaska, and Hawaii — to optimize ways the Hudson Valley’s woods, wetlands, meadows, and waterways support people and wildlife. Pia also is committed to ensuring everyone benefits from nature. As an Americorps member with The Watershed Project, she helped create urban forests in neighborhoods of Richmond, one of the San Francisco Bay area’s most disadvantaged cities, that had been virtually depleted of trees. Contact: pruisibesares@scenichudson.org

Pete Lopez

Throughout his career, including a decade as a New York State Assembly member and Region 2 administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pete Lopez has been committed to enhancing public health and safety. Among his achievements, improving drinking and wastewater infrastructure in urban and rural communities, and promoting grassroots initiatives in agricultural and environmental sustainability. Having led recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and New York after major storm events, Pete also knows firsthand the urgency of confronting climate change. Contact: plopez@scenichudson.org

Hayley Carlock

Deputy Counsel, NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting

A lawyer by training, Haley was the previous Director of Environmental Advocacy & Legal Affairs at Scenic Hudson before joining the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), where she now works toward helping New York State reach its renewable energy goals by consolidating the environmental review and permitting process of major renewable energy facilities. Hayley handles and supervises a portfolio of complex renewable energy cases and represents ORES in hearings and judicial proceedings.
Contact: hayley.carlock@ores.ny.gov

Ned Sullivan

Throughout his career, Ned has used his expertise in forging partnerships to achieve great victories. As Maine’s Environmental Commissioner, he united a bipartisan group of business and environmental leaders to draft landmark legislation ending the discharge of deadly dioxins from pulp and paper companies. At Scenic Hudson, he actively guides our collaborative approach that has led to success in milestone projects such as daylighting (uncovering) the Saw Mill River in downtown Yonkers and transforming a portion of Beacon’s former industrial waterfront into magnificent Long Dock Park. Contact: nsullivan@scenichudson.org