Who We Are

The Berkshire Natural Resources Council is located in Pittsfield and works throughout the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts through the efforts of a dedicated staff.

Tad Ames joined the Council in 1990 after graduating from Yale University and working as an editor of The Berkshire Eagle. His desire to "do something instead of just write about it" led him to the field of land conservation. Tad has continued to work with landowners to find ways to conserve land in Berkshire County. His writing abilities have been put to use publishing the Council's newsletter and various publications, and in a compilation of trail notes soon to be released as a guide to friendly family hikes in the Berkshires. He is former chairman of the state board of Environmental Management, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Environmental League of Massachusetts.

Narain Schroeder, the councils Director of Land conservation, originally hails from Vermont. He grew up on a small beef farm in a community sustained by farming, logging, and maple syrup production. He has a Planning Degree from the University of Colorado and a Masters Degree in Environmental Biology from Antioch. Narain guides the efforts to the Council preserve and protect more of the Berkshires.

Kim Burbank provides legal services for the Council, and he is a member of its board of directors. For 32 years, the Council has relied more than anyone on the accuracy of Kim Burbank's legal advice - and the generosity with which he dispenses it. On May 22, 1999 the Council tried to show in some small degree how greatly it appreciates Burbank's help by dedicating a trail in his honor on Yokun Ridge in Lenox. "The Council has had the good fortune to protect over 8,500 acres around the Berkshires. Every one of those acres has passed under Kim's eyes on its way to the Registry of Deeds."

Bryan Emmett joined the staff of the Council in the fall of 2003 after graduating from the University of Michigan and taking a brief hiatus from work and school on the walls of Yosemite. Bryan is working to build the Council's resource management capacity, setting his sights on new trails, restoration projects and more complete inventorying of our lands.

Peter Tucker a consulting forester based in Alford, an important part of the BNRC stewardship team. For nearly 20 years the council has benefited from Peters extensive forestry experience and his thorough work both in the field and in the office. Peter's detailed field maps grace numerous BNRC files and have helped monitors navigate around many properties.

Sally Cornwell has helped keep the council running smoothly since 1989. She maintains the membership databases for BNRC and ten other landtrusts in Berkshire County. In addition to being here longer has than the rest of the staff she also has the cleanest desk, the quickest laugh, and the best golf game.

Karen Ross is a dedicated volunteer who has spent many summer days organizing years of records and visiting properties and landowners to inspect restricted parcels of lands. Her roots run deep in the Pittsfield area, and she is familiar with many of beautiful places hidden away in the Berkshires. She is appreciated for her work and for the fresh eggs and vegetables that come into the office from her farm in New Lebanon, NY.

George Wislocki founded the Council along with Donald B. Miller, the former publisher of the Berkshire Eagle, in 1967 - leading a movement of land conservation in New England and the nation. George was educated at Bard College in New York and is involved with numerous environmental organizations throughout Massachusetts. George has worked with hundreds of landowners in negotiating agreements to conserve the pristine lands of the Berkshires, and is responsible in part for the preservation of the Berkshire landscape. George retired in 2001.

Board of Directors

Tad Ames, President
Walter Cliff, Chairman
Michael Belknap, Vice Chairman
B. Carter White, Treasurer
Kelton M. Burbank, Counsel
Sarah H. Bell
Robert Berle
Erik Bruun
Joseph Colonna
Dicken Crane
Timothy Crane
Susan P. Crofut
George L. Darey
Nancy Fitzpatrick
Rachel Fletcher
Bobbie Hallig
Larry Lane
Wendy Linscott
Michael G. Miller
Margot N. Paddock
Abby Pratt
Deborah A. Reich
John H. Rice
Joyce Scheffey
Greg Whitehead

Published by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council
20 Bank Row, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
(413) 499-0596