ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
The Long Island Conservation Alliance is a science‑driven, community‑rooted 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring ecological function across Long Island’s most vulnerable landscapes. As one of the most densely populated islands on the planet, Long Island faces unique ecological pressures, making restoration and resilience work especially urgent. The Long Island Conservation Alliance rebuilds native ecosystems, strengthens biodiversity, and improves the resilience of natural systems that support the health and wellbeing of local communities. In addition to its restoration work, the Alliance leads three signature youth programs—Tykes That Hike, Sprout Squad, and the Youth Leadership Ambassadors—which empower children and teens to develop ecological literacy, emotional resilience, and a lifelong connection to nature. Through habitat restoration, invasive species removal, native plantings, youth engagement, and long‑term ecological monitoring, the Alliance advances measurable, science‑based conservation outcomes across the region.
As a certified land trust, the Alliance is positioned to accept conservation easements and take on land acquisition projects that permanently conserve properties for the long term — working with landowners, communities, and nonprofit organizations across Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens to conserve land of all sizes, from pristine natural habitats to ecologically degraded parcels in need of significant restoration. This gives property owners who want to conserve their land, but lack the resources or expertise to restore and manage it themselves, a direct and permanent path to conservation.
Leadership Rooted in Conservation
The Long Island Conservation Alliance is powered by a passionate team of environmental experts, civic leaders, and community advocates who share one goal: restoring Long Island’s natural landscapes.
Meet the people working every day to restore Long Island’s ecosystems, plant native, remove the invasive, and conserve our lands.
Devon Giordano, Executive Director
Devon Giordano is a strategic leader with deep experience in conservation, philanthropy, and civic engagement. A Long Island native, she brings both a global perspective and a local passion for protecting the region’s natural resources and connecting its communities through meaningful environmental action.
Before joining the Long Island Conservation Alliance, Devon served as Associate Director of Development at The Nature Conservancy, where she advanced mission-driven fundraising and partnerships. Her career also includes leadership roles at Cornell University’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, Long Island University, and the Hagedorn Foundation, where she directed a regional campaign benefiting more than 100 nonprofit organizations.
As founder and principal of DG Strategy Advisors, Devon provided strategic fundraising and organizational counsel to mission-focused institutions. She is known for building strong partnerships, engaging boards, and leading collaborative efforts that drive lasting impact — strengthening both communities and the environment they depend on.
Marshall Brown, Board President & Co-Founder
Marshall Brown is a social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering communities and advancing environmental restoration. Beginning his career in New York’s “Silicon Alley,” he worked with early internet and civic-tech startups, helping them develop technologies and business strategies that served the public good.
In the 2000s, Marshall helped pioneer New York City’s public Wi-Fi movement, bringing free wireless access to parks across four boroughs — including Times Square and Union Square. He later led Save the Great South Bay, a nonprofit of over 15,000 members focused on uniting scientists and local residents to protect Long Island’s waterways and ecosystems.
In 2021, he co-founded The Long Island Conservation Alliance, focusing on community-driven habitat restoration and sustainable land management. He also co-founded Spadefoot Ecosystem Solutions, developing nature-based approaches to water treatment and pollution reduction.
Marshall believes that lasting change begins locally — when technology, community, and nature work together toward a shared future.
Frank Piccininni, Board Vice President & Co-Founder
Frank Piccininni is a biologist, environmental attorney, and lifelong advocate for ecological restoration. As Co-Founder of the Long Island Conservation Alliance, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to restoring functional habitat across human-impacted landscapes.
Frank holds a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law, an M.S. in Biological Sciences from Marshall University, and a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is also the founder of Spadefoot Ecosystem Solutions, where he leads nature-based restoration and green infrastructure projects, specializing in invasive species management, ecological design, and adaptive landscape solutions.
Frank serves as Co-Chair of the Land Use Committee of the Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and sits on the board of Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons. A native Long Islander and father, he is deeply committed to restoring the island’s natural heritage for future generations.
Judy Christrup, Philanthropy and Outreach Advisor
An accomplished environmental development and communications professional, Judy brings over three decades of experience driving conservation efforts across Long Island. She specializes in donor cultivation and stewardship. Judy spent nearly nine years with The Nature Conservancy New York, managing a high-value donor portfolio and securing major gifts following an 18-year tenure at Group for the East End. She now applies that expertise in strategic communication and regional advocacy to her current roles with the Long Island Conservation Alliance and the Landcraft Garden Foundation. Her commitment to preserving local ecosystems traces back to an early, eclectic career that even included a chapter as a professional chef, establishing a lifelong appreciation for the land and its abundance.
Amanda Abraham
With more than 20 years of experience in fundraising for arts, education, and land conservation organizations, Amanda has secured multimillion-dollar gifts, led high-performing development teams, and executed successful fundraising strategies across major giving, planned giving, and digital channels. She most recently served as Associate Director of Development at The Nature Conservancy and previously as Director of Development at the Peconic Land Trust, where she managed a program engaging more than 5,000 donors annually. Amanda holds a B.A. in Classics from Connecticut College and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, and is a regular speaker at the National Land Conservation Conference and AFP Long Island Philanthropy Day.
Dr. Hildur Palsdottir, Board Member
Dr. Hildur Palsdottir brings to the Long Island Conservation Alliance a unique blend of scientific expertise, ecological advocacy, and a deep commitment to healing our relationship with nature. A biophysicist by training, she earned her Ph.D. in Cellular Bioenergetics from the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Germany, followed by postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and New York University Medical School.
Hildur is the Co-Founder of Sol Center, a nature-based healing arts center in Port Washington, and ReWild Long Island, which promotes native planting and ecological restoration. She also serves as President of the Science Museum of Long Island and sits on the advisory board of the Center for Earth Ethics.
As a certified meditation instructor, Reiki Master Teacher, and eco-minister, Hildur’s work bridges science, spirituality, and community. A native of Iceland, she is passionate about “rewilding” and the belief that caring for the planet begins with caring for ourselves and one another.
“We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
Dr. Kristin Perret, Board Member
Dr. Kristin Perret is a clinical psychologist with a passion for the education of both children and adults on ethical, sustainable, and health-centered practices. She earned her Ph.D. and master’s degree with distinction from Hofstra University. Dr. Perret trained in several hospital systems, including LIJ/Northwell and Montefiore Medical Center, and worked as an attending psychologist within the Montefiore health-care system, where she taught medical students and supervised trainees before opening her full-time private practice. She also holds a volunteer faculty position within the Northwell Health system.
Within her role at the Long Island Conservancy, her mission is to utilize her expertise in human behavior and social change to offer specific and realistic approaches to environmental change at the household level.
There is endless information about all of the current “wrongs” in our ecosystem. When a problem is presented as “too big,” we can become paralyzed. Real change means taking small steps that are achievable, measurable, and sustainable—and then doing them consistently.
Her youth and household initiatives aim to educate individuals and families about how their day-to-day choices can create a large impact over time. The goal is not perfection. It is helping people understand that the choices they make every day matter, and giving them realistic ways to make those choices healthier for themselves, their families, and the environment.
Dr. Perret is also an expert in mindfulness-based approaches to change, which are rooted in research-based principles of human behavior and evolutionary biology. By reconnecting people with nature, we can become more aware of our environment and better able to make eco-responsible choices, while also improving our own overall health and well-being.
As a mother of two and a native Long Islander, Dr. Perret is eager and excited to share her knowledge and hopes to move groups and individuals toward a healthier tomorrow.bodying the Conservancy’s mission to foster a healthier, more connected Long Island.
Dr. Artie Kopelman, Board Member
Dr. Arthur “Artie” Kopelman brings over four decades of experience as an environmental educator, marine scientist, and conservation leader to the Long Island Conservation Alliance. He is Co-Founder and President of the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI), where he also serves as Senior Scientist and Naturalist.
A population ecologist by training, Dr. Kopelman has studied finback, humpback, and other whale species in New York and New England waters since 1987, and has led long-term research on the population dynamics of New York’s harbor seals since 1995. His work at Cupsogue Beach Park has advanced understanding of seal site fidelity through photo-identification research.
Dr. Kopelman earned his Ph.D. in Biology from the City University of New York Graduate Center and served as a Professor of Science at the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) for 39 years, where he was named SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and later Professor Emeritus. He also lectured on marine mammals at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
Matt Gettinger, Board Member
Matt Gettinger, our designated “Plant Manager,” is a third-generation nurseryman with deep roots in Long Island’s horticultural and conservation communities. He holds a degree in Operations Management and Marketing from the University of Delaware and serves as Co-Founder and President of Long Island Natives, the region’s largest producer of native plants.
Among his many accomplishments, Matt helped lead the MillionTreesNYC initiative with the New York City Parks Department, contract-growing more than 150,000 native trees over a nine-year period. He is a New York State Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional and serves on the Executive Board of the Long Island Farm Bureau.
An avid fly fisherman and lifelong outdoorsman, Matt is passionate about restoring native landscapes and ensuring that Long Island’s natural heritage continues to flourish for generations to come.
Ethan
Sustainability Senior Manager at Macmillan Publishers where he leads the company’s greenhouse gas inventory and supports emissions reduction initiatives across global operations. His work focuses on advancing data-driven climate strategy, implementing decarbonization and waste-reduction projects, and engaging employees in sustainability. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State and a master’s degree from Hofstra both in Sustainability.
Invite Long Island Conservation Alliance to Speak in Your Community
Education and outreach are vital pathways to successful conservation. The Long Island Conservation Alliance welcomes opportunities to engage with schools, neighborhood associations, and community groups to share knowledge about habitat restoration, native planting, and sustainable land stewardship.
By deepening understanding of what’s at stake — and what each of us can do — we can inspire collective action and create a healthier, more resilient Long Island for generations to come.