Our Team
“A few people of integrity can go a long way.”
-Bill Kauth, Founder of the Mankind Project
Sharon Pelosi, Chairperson
Sharon grew up in Norwich and graduated from Norwich High School in 1987. She received a BS in Urban and Regional Studies at Cornell University in 1991, and a law degree from Boston University in 1994. She is admitted to the bar in Massachusetts and New York and presently works as an Administrative Law Judge for the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board. She has extensive experience in the environmental regulatory field having served as Special Counsel for Public Access at Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, Deputy General Counsel for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Program Director for the Waterways Program and Director of the Wastewater Permitting at Massachusetts DEP. She returned to Norwich in 2005 to raise her family. Together with her husband, Scott, she has a real estate business renovating historic residential buildings to restore their architectural integrity and adapt them to modern uses. Sharon has been a member of the Friends of Rogers Board Directors since 2009, was instrumental in securing a contract with the NYS DEC that allowed Friends of Rogers to operate the facility after the 2010 state fiscal crisis, and served as President of the Board for several terms. Sharon is an avid hiker and trail advocate. She became involved with the effort to construct a riverfront walking trail in 2005, is a founding member of the Chenango Greenway Conservancy and currently serves as the Chairperson.
Christopher Olds
,
Vice-Chairperson
A native to Upstate New York and a graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. Capitalizing on his connection to natural resources, Chris is a NYS Licensed Outdoor Guide and is a fly-fishing instructor for the Dave Brandt Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Olds cut his teeth in the Not-for-Profit sector as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, transitioning into the role of Business & Economic Development Coordinator for the Chenango Area Corporation and then the Partnership for Community Development. He has an extensive background in event management, development and fundraising. Chris is currently the Assistant Coach of the Galena Growlers NY NICA Mountain Bike Team and is the President of the Board of Education for the Norwich City School District. Olds is the Corporate Safety and Government Territory Sales Manager for Five Star Equipment, Inc., specializing in John Deere industrial construction and forestry equipment. He is currently the Vice-Chairperson of the Chenango Greenway Conservancy.
Tom Holmes, MD Vice-Chairperson
Doctor Holmes is a retired family physician who has been active in the Norwich community for many years. His interest in the Greenway began while encouraging his son with an Eagle Scout project in 1998 and led him to become a founding member of the Chenango Greenway Conservancy in 2006. Dr. Holmes has been instrumental in developing connections with state and regional greenway and trails organizations, as well as logging many hours and miles of trail development and maintenance.
Cathy Cruz, DVM, Secretary
Doctor Cruz has been a resident of Chenango County since 1957, she attended St. Paul School and graduated from Norwich Senior High in 1970. She is a 1974 graduate of Cornell University and received her degree in Veterinary Medicine in the Philippines in1978. From 1978 to 2018 she was a practicing veterinarian at Four Winds Animal Hospital, Pitcher Veterinary Clinic, Mason and O’Keefe Veterinary Associates and Pet Street Station Animal Hospital. Dr. Cruz retired in 2018 but remains involved in the Chenango County Rabies Program through the Department of Health. She was active on the NYS Veterinary Medical Society and served as the first woman president in 1995. She also served briefly on the NYS Board for Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Cruz has been an avid outdoor enthusiast all of her life, active in cross country skiing, hiking, biking, snow shoeing, camping as well as hunting and fishing. She is a long-standing member of the Bullthistle Hiking Club as well as a supporter of Rogers Center and the Chenango Bird Club. In 2006 she joined the Chenango Greenway Conservancy to participate in developing a walking trail along the Chenango River and that project has grown to include development of other green space and trail development. She is currently Secretary for the Chenango Greenway Conservancy.
Jill Liberatore, Treasurer
Jill grew up in the Norwich area and graduated from Sherburne-Earlville High School in 1999. She attended Union College for undergrad, and UMass Law at Dartmouth for Law school. Jill is admitted to the bar(s) in MA and NH, but after nearly two decades in New England, moved back to Norwich for that ‘small town feel’and to be close to family. She now works in Compliance at NBT Bank.
An avid animal lover and rescuer, Jill is happiest in nature and enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and community service. Jill’s connection with nature also extends to the local Stone Quarry history as well. Her grandfather worked at the quarry, where he later helped to build St. Bartholomew’s Church with bluestone used from the quarry.
While living in Cambridge, Jill was involved in local government projects to create and expand bikeways, as well as more green space throughout the city for off-leash dog space and public enjoyment. Other community involvement included volunteering with Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, a non-profit aimed at assisting and connecting with isolated or lonely senior citizens; and Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which provides support to those living with vision loss.
Upon returning to Norwich, Jill was thrilled to join the Chenango Greenway Conservancy, and excited to now serve on the Board.
Matt Gladstone
Matt grew up in Norwich is a graduate of Norwich High School and a 2019 graduate of Oneonta State with a degree in environmental sustainability and geography. He works for the Chenango County Environmental Health Department as a public health technician. Matt volunteers at Greek Peak Mountain Resort as a ski and snowboard instructor for people with physical and mental disabilities. During the summer months he is an avid mountain biker who loves riding the local trails and longs for more trails and new places to ride. He has biked at the stone quarry for many years and long dreamed of turning it into a public recreation area for hiking and biking. He joined the Chenango Greenway Conservancy in 2020 to help turn this idea into reality.
Dr. Yusuf Harper
Dr. Yusuf Harper, a resident of Norwich for 24 years and our newest addition to the Chenango Greenway Conservancy Board of Directors. After retiring from medical practice over five years ago, Yusuf has dedicated his time to various environmental and community pursuits.
Yusuf's passion for the outdoors started in his childhood and evolved into serious mountaineering, rock climbing, and kayaking on major rivers, experiences that have deeply informed his perspective on nature and conservation.
Beyond his adventurous pursuits, Dr. Harper is a pillar in the Norwich community through his environmental contributions. He is the founder of a large organic farm, a testament to his commitment to sustainable living. His roles as a beekeeper and a mushroom grower and forager further illustrate his deep connection with the land.
Dr. Yusuf Harper's diverse background as a medical professional, an environmental enthusiast, and a family man makes him a valuable addition to our board. We are excited to have him bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to help guide the Chenango Greenway Conservancy towards a vibrant future.
Ewen Kelly
Ewen lives in Norwich with his wife and two children and is a Mechanical Engineering Manager with Chentronics. He was born at Chenango Memorial Hospital and has lived the majority of his life in Norwich. Ewen loves the outdoors and has been riding his mountain bike in the greater Norwich area – including the Stone Quarry Property - for more decades than he’d like to admit. He has also logged countless hours designing, building, and maintaining trails. Ewen became involved with the Greenway in 2020 and joined the Board of Directors in 2021. He is passionate about the Greenway mission and excited to contribute to the betterment of our community.
John Killean
John Killean joined the Greenway Board in November 2022. In 1978, he began working in Norwich at Simmonds Precision after leaving the military. John met his wife Judy while working at Simmonds Precision. Both John and Judy are avid outdoor enthusiasts; they enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. They raised three children in Norwich. John is a graduate of Leadership Chenango, former youth sports coach and a former Norwich school board member. He retired from Chentronics (part of Koch Industries) in 2022.
Christopher Sprague
Christopher grew up in Chicago and graduated from Penn State in 1998 with a B.S. in Forest Science. After a short time with the U.S. Forest Service in Maryland and West Virginia, he joined the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in 2000 in Clinton County. Since 2002 he has worked at the Sherburne DEC office managing over 18,000 acres of State Forest in Plymouth, Pharsalia, Pitcher, and German. As a field forester, Christopher was responsible for management planning, timber sale marking and administration, and all trails and recreation facilities on these forests. In 2020 he became the Supervising Forester and now manages the Sherburne District which serves Broome, Chenango and Madison Counties. Christopher has resided in City of Norwich since 2002 with his wife and family. He and his wife, Rebecca, are founding members of the Bullthistle Hiking Club, organized by Ed Sidote in 2004, and has served in several roles with the Club including hike leader, Programs Chair, and Board Member. Christopher was appointed to the City of Norwich Parks Commission in 2008 and has served as Chairperson since 2013. He is a member of the Lost Pond Club and has served as Secretary and Forestry Chair since 2010. He joined the Board of the Chenango Greenway Conservancy in 2019 and is excited about the potential of the organization to expand access to greenspace around Norwich.
Beth Stewart
Beth is a long time Norwich resident. She and her husband, John, owned and operated Garf’s Deli for 27 years. Over the years, she has been an active volunteer for various causes and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience.
She loves spending her time out in nature. She has hiked all the high peaks of the Adirondacks making her a “46’er.” Her current challenge is hiking the 580 miles of Finger Lakes Trail. She hits those trails once a month.
She is excited to be on the Board of Directors and part of the Greenway’s effort to expand community land use.