Our Board of Directors

Randy Coburn worked for over 30 years in NYS government managing a wide range of economic development programs.   Randy enjoys outdoors activities and the beauty and quietude of Five Rivers.  He and his wife Athena are happy to support its mission of environmental education.

After a career working indoors with adults, Andrea Ricard now enjoys working outdoors with children.  As a Guided School Program Instructor and Friends Greeter she believes that future generations must learn to love the outdoors, to protect our environment when they become working, voting adults.

Dr. Stephanie Maes brings professional experience with the NY Department of Education, and as Assistant Professor of Geology at the College of Saint Rose training Elementary Education majors in techniques of outdoor education. She and her family are also frequent visitors to Five Rivers.

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Reid Prinzo is a Glenmont native, who returned to the area after spending 15 years in Boston. He is now a Financial Advisor at Bryant Asset Management in Slingerlands, specializing in Environmentally Sensitive and Sustainable Investing. Reid was drawn to Five Rivers by his fond memories of the facilities as a child. Reid feels that the environmental education Five Rivers provides is essential to fixing the Climate Crisis our planet currently faces.

Cyndee Berlin brings over 25 years of experience in government, communications and consumer advocacy to her role at Friends of Five Rivers.  She believes that nature provides the key to our physical, mental and emotional well-being.  Cultivating an appreciation for the importance of land preservation and inspiring people to expand our mind and senses through natural beauty has always been her passion.

It is essential for us to do more than educate people about the world that supports them.   People must experience nature and work to conserve their corner of the planet. Five Rivers is a unique treasure where children and adults can help to preserve our environment.

Larry Naviasky resides in Delmar and is a local attorney. His concern for the environmental education dates back to his days at Union College where he chaired the Student Environmental Alliance and wrote his senior thesis about the 1970 Clean Air Act. His love for Five Rivers grew from numerous visits to the Center with his three, now grown boys, Jake, Gabe and Ethan. Larry believes the mission of Friends of Five Rivers is imperative: “Environmental education of our children is essential to their understanding of how humankind impacts our water, air and earth.

Andrew’s background is based in design, manufacturing and construction.  He helped write a lot of the early Integrated Pest Management pillars that are still part of their Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses.   He’s been enjoying Five Rivers since the ripe age of six and hopes to pair the Friends up with new partners and programs, especially within the architecture, design and construction community.

Mary Louise Stanford is a native of the Beverwyck neighborhood of Albany, and a Delmar resident for more than 30 years. A chemist and attorney, she is the mother of two adult sons who have spent many happy hours hiking and skiing at Five Rivers.

Michael Stratton has worked in higher education for over 27 years. Michael enjoys working with students and is inspired when students have a moment of sudden insight or discovery.  Michael loves spending time in the woods. He has thru hiked several long distance trails including the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, Wonderland Trail, West Coast Trail, Cohos Trail and Northville-Placid Trail. He has been an Adirondack Lean-to adaptor for years and has also hiked all 46 of the Adirondack high peaks. At home he enjoys teaching and creating stained glass and copper wire trees.