Our Current LeadNY Class
The men and women of Lead NY Class 18 come from diverse backgrounds and regions, but all have a common commitment to the future of the food and agricultural system. Upon graduation, they will join the ranks of nearly 500 alumni who are currently making a difference locally, regionally, and nationally. This network of graduates provides leadership to a wide range of organizations and industries.
Meet our current LEAD class
Emma Andrew-Swarthout
Dir. of dairy Industry Image
American dairy Assoc.
North East North Syracuse, NY
Trevor Bathel
Relationship Manager
CoBank
Enfield, CT
Whitney Beaman
Program Manager / Dir. of Brand Strategy
Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing / Bedell Cellars
Cutchogue, NY
David Bittner
Orchard Manager
Bittnery-Singer Orchards
Appleton, NY
Mark Bordeau, SNS
Senior Director of Food Service
Broome-Tioga BOCES
Endicott, NY
Renee Ciardi
Field Advisor
New York Farm Bureau
Albany, NY
Jessica Decker
Quality Systems Manager
Bonduelle USA
Brockport, NY
Kate Downes
Outreach Director
NY FarmNet
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Christina Hall
Ag Safety Educator
NYCAMH
Cooperstown, NY
Leslie Hamilton
Production Manager
Triple H Farms
Leicester, NY
James Harris
Forester
Wagner Hardwoods LLC
Cayuta, NY
Lucas Irwin
Crop Adviser
CaroVail, Inc.
Salem, NY
John Kelder
Partner
Kelder's Farm LLC
Kerhonkson, NY
Richard Kimmich
Credit Manager
Dairy Farmers of America Financing
East Syracuse, NY
Jerome Kingston
Ag Manager
Seneca Foods
Geneva, NY
Samantha Levy
New York Policy Manager
American Farmland Trust
Saratoga Springs, NY
Heather Meehan
Program Coordinator
EastEnd Food Institute
Southampton, NY
Kathleen Noble Wolfley
St. Economist & Research Specialist
Bliming and Associates
Madison, WI
Mathew Pinckney
Branch Manager
Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC
Genoa, NY
Nolan Reeves
Crop Production Manager
Reeves Farms
Baldwinsville, NY
Emily Robertson
Senior Loan Officer
Farm Credit East, ACA
Phelps, NY
Adam H. Seybolt
Director of Manufacturing
Stewart's Shops Corp.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Martin Slade
Service Manager of Anatomic Pathology
Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Matthew Toussaint
Partner/Manager
Toussaint Farms LLC
Medina, NY
Kimberly Trombly
Field Advisor
New York Farm Bureau
Albany, NY
Chad Wall
Veterinarian 2
New York State Dept of Agriculture & Markets
Albany, NY
Matt Wells
Director of Field Services
NY Apple Sales, Inc.
Glenmont, NY
Hannah Worden
Sales Team Leader
ABS Global
Clifton Springs, NY