Patrick Lynch has spent 15 years building environmental advocacy and community resilience programs in watersheds worldwide. Patrick comes to The Central New York Land Trust from Syracuse University, where he oversaw rural development programs and worked with municipalities and state agencies across New York to secure funding for water infrastructure improvements. He previously served in several nonprofit leadership roles, including Director of Policy and Planning for a watershed association in New England and International Director for a Chilean foundation in Patagonia. 

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Patrick holds a B.A. in Economics and English Literature from Fairfield University, a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School, and  a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He enjoys paddling Central New York's many lakes and rivers with his wife, and in 2025 is working to finish paddling the entire Erie Canal for its 200th anniversary. Follow his journey @plynchrivers on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky. 

Devon Dunbar has a robust background in the nonprofit sector, and brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to support our mission of preserving and protecting lands throughout Central New York.

Following her undergraduate work in Environmental Studies at SUNY Potsdam, Devon attended SUNY-ESF for graduate school to study Environmental Policy. Since then, she has held impactful positions at Adirondack Experience and New York Funders Alliance, focusing on nonprofit memberships, operations, and development. Devon also has experience in grant writing for nonprofits, making her an invaluable part of our fundraising team to help secure the future of The Central New York Land Trust. 

Outside of work, Devon enjoys wood-burning crafts and kayaking and hiking in CNY and the Adirondacks with her husband. She is excited to share her passion for Central New York’s natural landscapes with the Land Trust's many members and followers. 

​Jan Witter has been with The Central New York Land Trust for the past 5 years - first as Office Administrator and now as Office Operations Manager. 

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Although her background is in law, banking, and education, Jan brings an enthusiasm for environmental conservation and a support for the Land Trust's mission and vision for Central New York that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Jan has been instrumental in orchestrating the Land Trust's staff and Board of Directors to stay on target for projects and events, maintain budget goals, adhere to regulatory guidelines, educate the public on the Land Trust's mission, and raise funds to continue the organization's conservation work of over 50 years in Central New York. 

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Jan has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Master's in Literacy from SUNY Cortland. In her spare time, Jan enjoys walking, hiking exploring old cemeteries, and reading. 

Since 2019, Marty Weiss has been our go-to volunteer map-maker, creating detailed preserve maps that help bring CNY Land Trust properties (new, old, and prospective) to life. Before joining us, he spent years in a similar role with Oswego County, where one of his proudest achievements was developing an interactive 3-D "Story Map" highlighting public hiking lands. 

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In retirement, Marty channels his passion for GIS, hiking, and public service into conservation work and also volunteers at Syracuse's Museum of Science and Technology, where he shares his love of geology with visitors of all ages. 

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Motivated by a belief in protecting the natural world for future generations, Marty says he is more than happy to keep volunteering while he is able. We are so grateful for his dedication and the clarity his maps bring to our mission.