Our Organization

The Arboretum is led by its Board of Directors, whose members are elected at the Annual Meeting held in May of each year for three-year terms.  The Board meets at least three times per year.  It also conducts business through committees formed by the Board from time to time.  There is an Executive Committee that is empowered to act between regular meetings of the Board; and following Standing Committees: Audit, Building & Infrastructure, Education, Finance, Governance, Horticulture, Nominating, Stewardship, Tree Health and Volunteers. Committee members can include persons who are not members of the Board.

STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jennifer Hemmerlein

Jennifer Hemmerlein is thrilled to join Mountain Top Arboretum as Executive Director. Jennifer has over 22 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, and administration. Most recently, Jennifer served as Executive Director of the Friends of Clermont State Historic Site in Germantown, New York, where she developed and expanded several programs, including their primary educational program, Harvesting History, and several low and zero-cost public programs, including the popular Harmonies on the Hudson Concert Series. Jennifer is also a former theatrical stage manager and member of Actors' Equity Association. Jennifer holds a B.A. in English from Colgate University, as well as a M.A. in English from The Ohio State University and currently resides in Norton Hill.

DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Marc Wolf

Marc joined Mountain Top Arboretum in 2016 as Director of Horticulture and served as Executive Director from 2017 to 2023. He received his BA from Williams College, is a graduate of New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture and interned at Chanticleer Garden. Marc studied with the noted landscape architect Darrel Morrison and worked as his field assistant on projects at New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and for private clients.  As a writer and performer working in theatre, film and television, Marc received OBIE and National Endowment for the Arts Awards, among others. Marc enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing and exploring the native plant communities of the Catskills. He lives in Elka Park with his partner Craig Thompson. Marc agrees with the late, great poet Mary Oliver that “the song you heard singing in the leaf when you / were a child / is singing still.”  

MEMBERSHIP & OFFICE MANAGER
Cookie Brindle

Cookie joined the Arboretum in 2021. She has a twenty-year background in project management and decorative finishing in New York City and beyond. She moved to Phoenicia in 2017 with her partner Tom.
Cookie enjoys birdwatching, hiking, interspecies friendships, music and film. She can be heard on WIOX community radio hosting a music program of her favorite tunes.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Abby Coffin, Chair
Robert Kerns, President
Jeannette Price, Vice President
Pierce Sioussat, Treasurer
Karen Taggart, Secretary
Mermer Blakeslee
Sydney Frazier
Larry McCaffrey
Joseph Pepe
Henrietta Pertuz
Michael Reynal
Dean Riddle
Bruce Riggs
Vern Rist
Mary Tynes
Meg Waldron

TAX EXEMPT STATUS

The Mountain Top Arboretum is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity formed under the laws of the State of New York.  Further, the Arboretum is qualified as a tax exempt organization under the Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue, making contributions to the Arboretum tax deductible as permitted by law. The Arboretum prepares an Annual Report which is submitted for approval to its Board of Directors, a copy of which can be obtained upon written request.