Our Board is Growing
Hilltown Land Trust welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors this year.
Tariq Abu-Jaber of Williamsburg is a member of his town’s Planning Board, and previously served on the board of Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Sanctuary.
Tiffany Thibodeau of Worthington was HLT’s first Office Manager before pivoting full-time to providing grants consulting in service STEM education, youth workforce development, and college access. She serves on the Worthington Conservation Commission.
Tariq and Tiffany will both continue to serve on HLT’s Stewardship Committee in addition to
their new board roles. We’re excited for them to bring their expertise to our conservation mission!
Board Chair Rus Peotter Retires
Hilltown Land Trust’s former president Rus Peotter, of Chesterfield, retired in 2024 after twelve years of board service. Rus, who led the board as president for four years, will continue with HLT in an advisory role.
Our longtime vice president Susan McAllister of Williamsburg has stepped up as our new Board president.
We’re grateful for the years of service and leadership Rus gave to Hilltown Land Trust during a period of exceptional growth and change for our organization. We look forward to continuing to receive his guidance in his new advisory role, and to working with Susan as our new president.
Welcome back, Wendy!
Wendy Sweetser Ferris has returned to HLT’s affiliate The Trustees as vice president for the Central and Valley region. As part of her new role, Wendy will help our affiliated organizations build a stronger community of conservation and stewardship in the Hilltowns.
“I’m thrilled to be back at the Trustees helping conserve and steward vital places in this special region,” said Ferris. “Western Massachusetts will be a special focus in our new strategic plan which launches later this year. Our region will play an important role in climate resilience, land conservation, and habitat protection.”
From 2002 to 2012, Wendy worked at our Bullitt Reservation offices in Ashfield as the director of The Trustees’ Highland Communities Initiative, building community and land care capacity throughout our region. We’re delighted to have her back!
