2024 Honorees
Marcia Bystryn has devoted decades of service to environmental causes, notably leading the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) for nearly two decades. As the leader of NYLCV, Marcia played an integral role in advocating and achieving major statewide environmental policy advancements that fight climate change, conserve land and water, and protect public health. Previous roles include Senior Business Manager for Economic Development and Senior Corporate Policy Manager for the Environment at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Marcia serves as a committed board member at the Natural Areas Conservancy and Goddard Riverside where she is Board Chair. She previously served as the co-chair of the board of directors of the Peconic Land Trust.
Carter H. Strickland, Jr. is the Chief Sustainability at the State University of New York and previous roles included Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President and New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Carter teaches about environmental infrastructure at Columbia University and has served as a board member of the Land Trust Alliance (New York), Billion Oyster Project, Natural Areas Conservancy, and Regional Plan Association. A lover of nature and the City, his work has involved blending the two through creation of the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan, numerous parks and trails, and other investments in open space that have many public health, sustainability, and resilience benefits.
