Scenic Hudson Names New Board Members

(POUGHKEEPSIE) - At its recent annual meeting, Scenic Hudson named five new board members to further its mission of protecting and restoring the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital public resource.

Mary Byrne-Ling
Mary Byrne-Ling represented Fortune 100 companies and independent producers in the areas of international film and television sponsorship, production and marketing for 24 years, the last 17 of them as president of Mary Byrne Associates. Her concern for environmental and land-use issues is profound. She recently launched a beef cattle operation and counts sustainable agriculture among her other keen Hudson Valley interests. Ms. Byrne-Ling, a resident of New York City and Sharon, Conn., looks forward to using her experience in television and film marketing to help Scenic Hudson communicate the human benefits of improving the environment and protecting the beauty and history of the Hudson River Valley. During 2002 she created a task force to inform Northwest Connecticut residents about the implications of the proposed St. Lawrence Cement plant upwind of their towns. She organized informational forums that sparked vigorous community activism that helped defeat the plant and introduce Scenic Hudson to the Northwest Corner. A member of the Natural Resources Defense Council and U.S. Audubon, she also participates in Sierra Club's National Advisory Council activities.

"Mary Byrne-Ling proved to be a visionary strategist and an energetic activist during the campaign that defeated a massive coal-fired cement plant proposed for Columbia County. Now that she will be a member of our board, we look forward to her strong commitment to advancing environmentally and economically healthy communities and linking the Hudson Valley and Northwest Corner of Connecticut," said Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson.

Kristin Gamble
Kristin Gamble is president of Flood, Gamble Associates, Inc., a registered investment advisor. She has more than 25 years experience in the financial services field and is a chartered financial analyst and a certified investment counselor. Prior to forming her own firm, Ms. Gamble held professional investment positions with Manufacturers Hanover and Merrill Lynch. Her business affiliations include serving as a board member and Audit Committee member for furniture manufacturer and retailer Ethan Allen, Inc. and as a trustee for Federal Realty Investment Trust. Both organizations are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. A resident of New York City and Columbia County, she was active in Scenic Hudson's campaign to stop an environmentally and economically damaging coal-fired cement plant proposed for Columbia County.

"Kristin Gamble is an experienced investment professional who will help Scenic Hudson manage its financial responsibilities and ensure maximum efficiencies for our organization and our supporters. Her home base in Columbia County has strengthened her commitment to the Hudson and preserving beautiful areas along its shores while promoting smart economic growth. She will be a great asset," said Mr. Sullivan.

Gretchen Long
A lifelong conservationist, Gretchen Long left a successful business career in 1990 to dedicate herself to serving nonprofits that made a significant impact in protecting our environment and the great outdoors. Her tenure as a business executive included 13 years as a managing director with an executive recruiting firm in New York City, and prior to that she was senior vice president and director of human resources for the Community Service Society of New York. Ms. Long's current nonprofit commitments include being a trustee of the national Land Trust Alliance, trustee and past chair of the National Parks Conservation Association, honorary trustee and past chair of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies - which has a long record of Hudson River research - and trustee of the Sonoran Institute. Her previous nonprofit involvement included being a trustee and chair of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), trustee and chair of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and a trustee and vice chairman for Environmental Defense.

"An astute businessperson and energetic advocate for land preservation and a healthy environment, Gretchen Long has an outstanding record of standing up for treasured natural resources and the public's right to enjoy them. Her national profile and perspective on our issues will be invaluable," said Mr. Sullivan.

Nicholas Platt
A career diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Pakistan and Zambia, Nicholas Platt is president emeritus of the Asia Society and a recognized expert on Asia. In 1972 he accompanied President Richard Nixon on the historic trip to Beijing that signaled the resumption of relations between the United States and China. From 1992 until last summer, he was president of the Asia Society. He is a member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations, a director of Fiduciary Trust Company International and chairman of the Advisory Council of the US-China Education Trust. Mr. Platt resides in New York City and has a home along the Hudson River in Piermont.

"We are excited about the global vision and experience Nicholas Platt will bring to Scenic Hudson's mission. His expertise in government relations will be hugely important in our work from New York City to Albany," said Mr. Sullivan.

Leigh Seippel
President of his own investment firm, Seippel & Co., Inc., Leigh Seippel was a founder of First Reserve Corporation, a leading institutional investment manager. Earlier in his career he was an attorney with the firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. A resident of New York City and Cold Spring, Mr. Seippel has served as a senior advisor to Scenic Hudson on plans for its West Point Foundry Preserve in Cold Spring. An active fisheries advocate, he is a member of Cold Water Conservation and the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

"The Hudson River Estuary and the health of this treasured environmental resource are top priorities for Leigh Seippel, as are issues related to the valley's unique heritage. Scenic Hudson plans to take advantage of his knowledge in this area as well as his broad legal and financial management expertise," said Ned Sullivan.