Brown brings more than 20 years of conservation leadership and land trust experience
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., May 28, 2026 – Saratoga PLAN’s Board of Directors launched a national search for the executive director position in January to identify the organization’s next leader. After an extensive search process led by a task force made up of members of the board of directors, PLAN is thrilled to announce that Jamie Brown has been selected as executive director.
The task force received more than 50 applications from candidates across the country for the position. Over the past five months, the group conducted a comprehensive review process that included multiple rounds of interviews with numerous well-qualified candidates. Saratoga PLAN staff and founding members also participated and provided feedback throughout the process.
“Jamie Brown understands both the immense value of the landscapes we protect and the urgency of protecting them now,” said Jessica Schwartzman, board chair of Saratoga PLAN. “Building on the extraordinary leadership and lasting impact of Rob Davies, Jamie brings the expertise, relationships and vision to lead Saratoga PLAN into an exciting new chapter of conservation for our region.”
Brown most recently served as New York senior program manager for the Land Trust Alliance, where he worked with more than 100 land trusts across the state. In that role, he managed major state conservation grant programs and helped strengthen organizational capacity, fundraising and accreditation efforts for land trusts throughout New York.
Prior to joining the Land Trust Alliance, Brown served as executive director of the Lake George Land Conservancy for more than six years. During his tenure, the organization completed more than 25 conservation projects and raised roughly $8 million to support land protection efforts. He also helped grow stewardship endowments, diversify revenue sources and strengthen community partnerships.
Brown previously held leadership roles with the Open Space Institute and Ducks Unlimited, where he worked on collaborative conservation projects. During his five years as national director of land protection at Ducks Unlimited, he worked with a field staff of 20 to protect more than 80,000 acres throughout the nation.
His career in the land trust community started in 2004 with the Land Conservancy of New Jersey. Prior to that, Brown practiced law in New Jersey for five years in the areas of real estate, municipal, and land use planning law.
“I am excited and humbled to be Saratoga PLAN’s new executive director,” said Brown. “The organization is working hard to ensure that Saratoga region residents and visitors continue to enjoy the amazing quality of life found here. I look forward to jumping into this work with PLAN’s great team of staff, board members, volunteers and community partners.”
Brown will build on the organization’s strong foundation and guide efforts to advance local conservation in alignment with its 2025-2030 strategic plan. He will work closely with partners and municipalities to protect working lands in the Saratoga region and advance major conservation projects, including the Palmertown Range Initiative, a multi-partner effort to conserve a crucial unfragmented area within the Adirondack foothills and important farmland protection across the region.
About Saratoga PLAN
Saratoga PLAN stewards and protects farms, forests, and waters of the Saratoga region and the southern Adirondack foothills – now and forever.
Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) has helped conserve over 14,000 acres of land in Saratoga County. PLAN helps landowners conserve farmland, woodlands, and natural habitats, and connects people to nature through an extensive trail network, including 13 public nature preserves open for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and nature study. Saratoga PLAN helps communities create plans that balance growth with conservation to sustain the Saratoga Region as a great place to live, work, visit, play and farm. PLAN facilitates community-based conservation by partnering with municipalities to help them accomplish their community’s conservation goals.
For more information, call 518-587-5554, or visit www.saratogaplan.org.
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