Pat Szarpa Is Retiring

As Land Trust Executive

COOPERSTOWN – Patricia Szarpa will retire as executive director of the Otsego Land Trust in February, the board of directors announced.  An interim executive director will be appointed while a successor is sought.

During her tenure, Szarpa, former Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce executive director, worked to increase support from major funders, focused on preserving sensitive blocks of land in the Butternut Valley, and increased social media presence, including new website that will be launched by year’s end.

A believer in partnerships, Ms. Szarpa has worked with OLT’s staff to develop
productive relationships with the Nature Conservancy, with local hotels to increase
Green Lodging certifications in the area, and with the Baseball Hall of
Fame by offering Brookwood Point for rental to team parties during Induction
Weekends.

This last supports Brookwood’s maintenance, allowed planning for new bridges, and funded a master plan for restoration of the site’s historic formal gardens.]

Prior to her departure, Ms. Szarpa will finalize the Land Trust’s application to the Land Trust Alliance for accreditation.