People
It takes five Villages
DCLT is a community of conservationists who cherish the five Villages of Dennis and their unique natural and cultural features.
Cultural Respect Easement Celebration, 2022
Board of Trustees
Joe Masse
PRESIDENT
Joe Masse, President
Joe is the former President of the Customer Support group at Warner Lambert/Pfizer. Locally, Joe has served on the Bass River Park Use Committee, Save the Crowe, Fire Chief Search Committee, and the Dennis Port Public Library Building Committee. Joe has served as a Trustee for almost two decades, and in that time has served as Board Chair or President since 2015.
Kathleen Fowler
VICE PRESIDENT
Kathleen Fowler, Vice President
Kathleen has been practicing law in Dennis for over 25 years. Her focus is on estate and tax planning and estate administration. Kathleen moved to Dennis in 1998 along with her husband and two sons, who all live and work on Cape Cod. For fun, Kathleen paints, throws pots, and makes mosaics.
Frank Dahlstrom
TREASURER
Frank Dahlstrom, Treasurer
Frank has been a Dennis resident for over 30 years. He has served on the Comprehensive Planning Committee, the Dennis Planning Board, the Dennis Sign Code Committee, and Save the Crowe. Currently he is a member of the Community Preservation Committee. Dr. Dahlstrom has a dental practice in Dennis Village and lives in East Dennis with his wife, Shawn, an artist.
Katie Clancy
CLERK
Katie Clancy, Clerk
Katie is a native Cape Codder and Dennis resident. Katie graduated from University of Massachusetts with a degree in Zoology and has a master’s degree in Education from Lesley College. Katie owns the Cape House at William Raveis Real Estate. Her involvement with the Trust started with volunteering at the Summer Auction, and she’s since become actively engaged with DCLT’s Communications Committee.
Connie Bechard
TRUSTEE
Connie Bechard, Trustee
Connie, a full-time resident of Dennis for nearly 50 years, is a founding member of the Trust. Connie has a degree in Zoology from the University of Massachusetts, is a past member and Chair of the Dennis Planning Board, served on the Dennis Land Acquisition Committee, and now serves on the Zoning Bylaw Study Committee.
Mark Burgess
TRUSTEE
Mark Burgess, Trustee
Mark spent his childhood and college summers working in Dennis. He graduated in 1984 with a degree in Ocean Engineering, and after working for various firms in California, moved to Dennis in 1996 to be near his family. Mark has been a consulting engineer since 2008. He enjoys camping, all kinds of paddling, and the outdoors in general.
Dianne Callan
TRUSTEE
Dianne Callan, Trustee
Dianne joined the DCLT Board in 2012. Dianne has a background in environmental law and spends much of the year at her home in South Dennis.
Dorria DiManno
TRUSTEE
Dorria Dimanno, Trustee
Dorria is Professor Emerita in Communications at Curry College, retiring after more than 25 years of teaching. She worked previously in broadcasting and media production. She holds degrees in media studies/public relations and a doctorate in education. Dorria served on the Planning Board and the Community Preservation Committee, and is now a member of the Zoning Bylaw Study Committee. She is most passionate about her grandchildren, film, environmental issues, and baseball.
Thomas Dingman
TRUSTEE
Thomas Dingman, Trustee
Tom has worked in the administration of Harvard College for 45 years, most recently as Dean of Freshmen. His family started the Mashantum Tennis Club in town; they, like he, have been committed to preserving open space and raising awareness about the environment. In his free time, Tom enjoys racket sports and long walks on Dennis Beaches with family and friends.
Christine Eosco
TRUSTEE
Christine Eosco, Trustee
Chris is a resident of South Dennis and was nominated a Trustee in 2023 (to be formalized at the 2023 Annual Meeting). Chris brings 25 years of executive experience in the banking industry, including global roles on three continents. Chris formerly sat on both the executive and grant committees of the United Way Board for Cape Cod & Islands and serves as the Board Treasurer for the Cape Cod Theatre Company. Chris volunteers as a career coach for “We Can,” a not-for-profit organization helping women reenter the workforce. Chris serves on DCLT’s Finance Committee, and spends part of the year at her second home in Italy.
Christopher Foley
TRUSTEE
Christopher Foley, Trustee
Chris Foley came to the Trust from a successful career as a physician and having managed a large medical practice in Connecticut. Chris serves as chair of DCLT’s Finance Committee. Chris and his wife live in East Dennis, where Chris enjoys learning about local history, and in his spare time, is a master woodworker.
Richard Johnston
TRUSTEE
Richard Johnston, Trustee
Rich is a founding trustee of DCLT and served as president from 1997 to 2015. He also served as president of the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts from 2000 to 2015. Since 2015, Rich has been Chief Legal Counsel to former Massachusetts Attorney General, now Governor, Maura Healey and oversaw, among other responsibilities, enforcement of the state’s environmental laws. Previously, Rich was a longtime partner in the Boston office of the international law firm WilmerHale, and was also involved in several pro bono efforts in Africa regarding education, economic development, and land rights of indigenous peoples.
Bob Laufer
TRUSTEE
Bob Laufer, Trustee
Bob has owned a home in East Dennis since 2009, where he has since retired. He was the Chief Financial Officer for Stratus Technologies, a global leader in the undustry. He earned a B.S. degree from Babson College and a master’s degree in business administration from F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. Bob is actively engaged with DCLT stewardship activities and serves on DCLT’s Finance, Membership, and Land Committees.
Paul McCormick
TRUSTEE
Paul McCormick, Trustee
Paul is a restaurant owner and entrepreneur in the town of Dennis, who also serves on the Town of Dennis Select Board. Paul brings a breadth of experience and knowledge of the Town and Cape business community to the DCLT and serves as a Co-Chair of the Events Committee.
Ann Risso
TRUSTEE
Ann Risso, Trustee
Ann enjoys spending time in Dennis with her husband and children. She has been volunteering with the DCLT since 2022 on land stewardship, vernal pool identification, and water quality sampling. She was previously an attorney for The Nature Conservancy.
Victoria Scaltsas
TRUSTEE
Victoria Scaltsas, Trustee
Vicki is a native Cape Codder and Dennis resident and has always been interested in preserving the beauty of natural environments. She graduated from Simmons College with a degree in Communications and also holds a Certificate in the Culinary Arts from Boston University. Currently working in Medical Sales, Vicki happily spends her free time leading DCLT’s Events Committee and the annual Summer Auction.
John Todd
TRUSTEE
John Todd, Trustee
John lives in West Dennis, and had a successful career at Fidelity Investments. John applies his keen financial background through service on DCLT’s Finance Committee.
Trustees Emeritus
Carole Bell
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
Carole Bell, Trustee
Carole is an 11th generation Cape Codder and a founding member of the Trust. She is a past member of the Dennis Beach Committee and the Arts & Cultural Council. Carole currently is the President of the Village Improvement Society (VIS) of Dennis, which owns the Village Green, playground, and the Revolutionary Soldier’s Training Field. In 2004, the VIS partnered with the Town of Dennis to un-develop a former gas station and create a pocket park, known as Nobscussett Park. Carole serves as advisor to the DCLT’s Land Committee.
Beverley LeBlanc
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
Beverley LeBlanc, Trustee Emeritus
Beverley is a founding member of the Trust, and served as a member of the Town’s Land Bank Committee and the Land Acquisition Committee. After graduation from UMass, she taught 1st grade, and later served on the Guilderland, NY School Board. Also, by forming and leading a group called The Dennis Committee, Beverley helped to organize and lead a grassroots effort to promote the acquisition of several parcels of land for open space in the Town of Dennis in the mid 1980s, leading to the formation of the DCLT. Beverley serves on DCLT’s Land Committee.
Edmond Nickerson
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
Edmond Nickerson, Trustee Emeritus
Edmond has been a longstanding member of the Board of Trustees, and a resident of South Dennis. Edmond traces his roots to the early Nickerson family on Cape Cod, and is an expert in the history of South Dennis.
Paul Prue
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
Paul Prue, Trustee Emeritus
Paul has lived in Dennis for nearly his entire life. He is retired from Prue Foundry Inc. and is a retired Deputy Chief of the Dennis Fire Department. Paul has been a DCLT Trustee for many years, is a past member of the Town of Dennis Land Bank, and has been an elected Dennis Water District Commissioner for many years. He currently serves as the Commission Chairman, and remains engaged with DCLT’s Land Committee.
Christopher Wadsworth
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
Christopher Wadsworth, Trustee Emeritus
Christopher has been a valuable contributor to the Board of Trustees, most recently, directing the Membership Committee.
James (Jim) Wick
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
James Wick, Trustee Emeritus
Jim became a Trustee in 1996 and lived in Dennis from 1996 until 2020. He was employed by the IBM Corporation for 33 years, including positions as Manager of Competitive Evaluation and Manager of Market Research. Jim was a member of the South Side Civic Association, Dennis Capital Outlay Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and the Dennis Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. At the DCLT, he served as the chair of the Finance Committee.
Advisors
Brad Boyd
ADVISOR
Brad Boyd, Advisor
Brad is a resident of South Dennis and an active supporter of the DCLT, the Rotary Club of Harwich/Dennis, and other nonprofit organizations. Brad leads DCLT’s annual Duck Race and plays an active role in many DCLT events.
John Bujalski
ADVISOR
John Bujalski, Advisor
John is a retired veterinarian. He and his wife, Diane moved into their Cape home, which they have owned for 20 years, full time in 2020. Originally from Chicago, John is a die hard Cubs fan. After attending the annual DCLT Auction, John decided that he would like to get involved in giving back to preserve our Dennis community. He is actively involved in DCLT’s Membership and Community Science Committees.
Kate Byron
ADVISOR
Kate Byron, Advisor
Kate is a realtor, a long-time Dennis resident, and an active steward of the Dennis Village community. Kate chairs DCLT’s Land Committee and plays an active role in DCLT events.
Peter Flood
ADVISOR
Peter Flood, Advisor
Peter is a Dennis resident and an engineer and environmental consultant. Peter brings expertise in science and resource management, having formerly served on the Dennis Conservation Commission. Peter now serves on DCLT’s Land Committee.
Molly Gedutis
ADVISOR
Molly Gedutis, Advisor
Molly is currently in the 12th grade at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. She participated in DCLT’s summer science fair internship program in 2023, to complete an experiment advised by DCLT and the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project. Molly is interested in nature and public health and is actively involved in DCLT’s Community Science and Communications Committees. Outside the lab and classroom, Molly enjoys serving as the School’s Drum Major and enjoys reading, is learning German, and is actively applying to college and scholarships.
Mark Kesling
ADVISOR
Mark Kesling, Advisor
Mark relocated to Dennis from Indianapolis in 2021, where he currently runs his nonprofit, The daVinci Pursuit and remotely teaches an Urban Ecology course for Butler University. He has a background in Elementary and Art Education and has worked extensively with science museums. Mark serves on the DCLT’s Community Science and Communications Committees. In his spare time, Mark enjoys photography, leading walks for DCLT, and volunteering for IFAW.
Sarah Rothermel
ADVISOR
Sarah Rothermel, Advisor
Sarah grew up in New Jersey but spent summers in East Dennis, where she moved full-time in 2016. She had a successful career as a corporate attorney for WilmerHale. Sarah now serves on DCLT’s Communications Committee and further serves on the Board of the Sesuit Neck Property Owners Association. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, swimming, and taking walks in the great outdoors.
Joel Freedman
ADVISOR
Joel Freedman, Advisor
Joel joined DCLT’s Advisory Board in spring 2024, after helping DCLT craft and negotiate a walking trail easement through private property adjacent to its headquarters at Not Enough Acres Farm. Joel currently works part-time in real estate law and had served for many years on the Town of Lincoln’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Joel and his wife split their time between Lincoln, MA and Dennis Village, where Joel’s family has owned a home since he was a teenager. Joel is actively involved in DCLT’s Land Committee and also serves in the “Core Group” of Dennis Citizens for Responsible Development. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and watching the Red Sox.
Staff & Service Members
David Fryxell, Ph.D.
Executive Director
David Fryxell, Executive Director
Dave fell in love with Dennis while visiting family during summers past, having worked as a deckhand for Albatross Fishing out of Sesuit Harbor, and then as a summertime natural resources officer for the Town. Dave earned an honors B.Sc. in biology from UConn before completing a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution at UC Santa Cruz, and a postdoc at the University of Auckland’s School of Environment. After leaving his academic research, he started as the Trust’s Executive Director in 2022. Dave enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, dogs, family, students, and just about anyone who cares to join!
Janice Backus
Administrative Assistant
Janice Backus, Administrative Assistant
Janice lives in Dennis and has worked for the DCLT since 2019, providing administrative support regarding DCLT’s donors and donations. Janice has a background in accounting and is a wizard at Microsoft Excel.
Contact: info@dennisconservationlandtrust.org
Tara Brew, M.Sc.
TerraCorps Member
Tara Brew, AmeriCorps Member 2023
Originally from New York, Tara graduated with a BA in English and Environmental studies from SUNY Geneseo in 2019 and has been living in Massachusetts since then. She moved to Massachusetts to pursue an M.Sc. in Conservation Medicine at Tufts University, a degree focused on the intersections between environmental, wildlife, and human health. While serving with the DCLT, Tara will formalize DCLT’s educational programming and take lead of DCLT’s land stewardship activities.
Jen Clifford
AmeriCorps Cape Cod Member
Jen Clifford, AmeriCorps Cape Cod Member
Jen hails from Kittery Point, Maine and recently graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Geography and a minor in Education. She has studied global environmental activism, political ecology, landscape theory, and is interested in people’s relationships with the land and water. In the future, Jen hopes to work in land stewardship, environmental education, and event planning. She is delighted to be DCLT’s Service Member for AmeriCorps Cape Cod’s 25th year.
Contact: jennifer.clifford@capecod.gov
Carl De Puy
Environmental Educator
Carl De Puy, Environmental Educator
Carl grew up in Reno, NV and became a resident of Dennis after meeting his wife Caitlin – a Cape Cod native – while volunteering for Vista-AmeriCorps in Nevada. Carl joined DCLT in June of 2023 to help DCLT’s student interns with their research projects for the Massachusetts Science Fair. He attended Huxley College of Environmental Science at Western Washington University and received his master’s degree in environmental science at Green Mountain College. His Master’s thesis focused on understanding saltmarsh dieback within the Cape Cod National Seashore. During the school year, Carl teaches ecology and environmental science at Dennis-Yarmouth High School and, in past summers, he has worked with other environmental non-profits on a variety of environmental sciences projects.
Contact: depuyc@dy-regional.k12.ma.us
Lauren Dreyer
Outreach Coordinator
Lauren Dreyer, Outreach Coordinator
Lauren joined DCLT’s team as part-time Outreach Coordinator in March 2024. She is a marketing strategist with extensive experience in digital marketing, branding, and project management for small consumer packaged goods startups to Fortune 500 giants. Originally from Nebraska, Lauren has fond memories of spending summers with family on the shores of East Dennis. In 2022, she and her husband decided to become permanent residents and settled in Brewster. Lauren serves as a Cape Cod and the Islands Score.org Mentor and as a Board Member of the Brewster Ladies Library.
Jillian Maranda
Environmental Research Intern
Jillian Maranda, Environmental Research Intern
A Cape Cod local, Jillian grew up in the town of Yarmouth and graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. She fell in love with the beaches and the beautiful landscapes of New England, knowing she wanted her college experience at UConn to be geared towards environmental studies. As her college career enters its final year, Jillian will be working with DCLT the summer of 2024 and throughout her final school year to conduct senior thesis research on herring predation in small coastal streams.
Fernando Mendonca, Ph.D.
Biodiversity Scientist
Fernado Mendonca, Ph.D., Biodiversity Scientist
Consultants
Bob Brodeur
Printing
Michael Bulger
Auditor, Lamb, Mason, Bulger & Co.
Ashley Hansen Killgallon
Bookkeeping, Hansen Business Solutions
Christine Lemay
Webmaster, Morningstar Design
Dina Pandya
Fall Newsletter Design
Seth Rolbein
Land Protection Consultant
Nancy Shoemaker
Spring Newsletter Design
Volunteers
Land Stewardship
Events
Office
Community Science