Meet the Team
Dr. Nina Schoch
Executive Director & Director of Science and Conservation
Dr. Nina Schoch is the Executive Director of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, and has studied loons in New York’s Adirondack Park since 1998. A wildlife veterinarian and rehabilitator, she also has a master’s degree in Natural Resources/Wildlife Management. Dr. Schoch practiced small animal medicine in New York’s Adirondack Park from 1991-2002, is a member of numerous conservation and wildlife health related organizations, and has written many scientific and lay articles about the results of the Adirondack loon research. She received the 2018 Adirondack Research Consortium’s Elizabeth Thorndike Adirondack Achievement Award, the 2011 NYS Outdoor Writers Association M. Paul Keesler NY Outdoor Citizen Award, and was inducted into the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2014.
Griffin Archambault
Research Biologist - research@adkloon.org
Griffin began working with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in 2023. Griffin grew up outside of Boston, MA. In 2020, he received his BS in Wildlife Ecology, with a concentration in Wildlife Science and Management, from the University of Maine (Orono). Griffin has studied and worked with a wide range of wildlife species, including spruce and ruffed grouse, American marten, black bears, white-tailed and mule deer, wild turkeys, and most importantly, common loons. Outside of New York, he has worked in Maine, New Hampshire, Kansas, Georgia, and North Carolina. Griffin hopes to make a difference by bringing his passion for loons and applied conservation to the Adirondacks. Other than working with loons, his hobbies and interests include fitness, hiking, camping, snowboarding, kayaking, and everything else outdoors.
Hannah Falkenmeyer
Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper - hfalkenmeyer@adkloon.org
Hannah grew up on the outskirts of Schoharie, NY, on a dairy farm. After graduating from Paul Smith’s College with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Resort, and Tourism Management, she spent time working for the United States Postal Service and more recently for a local NYS Woman Owned Business. Hannah is passionate about snow, riding horses, her dogs, and husband.
Brendan Gruber
Wildlife Technician & Loon Center Associate - bgruber@adkloon.org
Brendan comes from the Hudson Valley, NY. He received his Bachelor’s degree in astronomy with minors in biology and physics in 2023 from SUNY New Paltz. Brendan is an avid birder, and has assisted with several citizen science projects in Dutchess County. He has previously worked at a summer camp as the assistant director and presented at planetarium shows at the John R. Kirk Planetarium. He always enjoys learning more about birds and other wildlife and hopes through his time working with loons to learn much more and to help out wildlife that may be in need of aid. In his free time, Brendan enjoys watching and photographing birds, stargazing, and playing tabletop or video games with his friends.
Susan Harry
Philanthropy Director - sharry@adkloon.org
Susan comes to the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation having worked professionally and as a volunteer for a variety of wildlife conservation organizations. She is passionate about protecting the environment for future generations to enjoy. Her efforts to raise awareness and funds for the African Black Rhino led to her receiving the 2010 Anna Merz Honorary Award for support of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and golden retrievers. She loves hiking, cross-country skiing, traveling, and of course, the Adirondacks.
Denise Silfee
Education & Communications Director - education@adkloon.org
Denise grew up in Pennsylvania but spent most of the past 18 years living in Oregon and internationally. She has graduate degrees in education and journalism with a focus on science and environmental communications. Denise served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand from 2011-2013 and has worked abroad in Sudan, Egypt, Ghana and Panama. In 2023, Denise and her partner took a break from work to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. She joins ACLC in 2024 eager to help others better understand our interconnected relationships with species and ecosystems. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her partner and her dog, MoMo, preferably while backpacking, taking multi-day canoe trips, skiing and traveling the world.
Karli Wood
Loon Center Manager - kwood@adkloon.org
Karli’s passion for the outdoors began while growing up in the Southern Adirondacks. She graduated from Castleton University in 2022 with her Bachelor's of Science in Resort and Hospitality Management. Karli has previously worked at a wilderness lodge where she volunteered with New York State DEC to maintain a portion of their trail camera network in the Adirondack High-Peaks. Karli has worked for both small Adirondack businesses and large corporations. She volunteered with ACLC in the summer of 2023 during the loon banding fieldwork and started working with the ACLC later that year. In her free time, Karli enjoys unplugging and connecting with nature, whether it be hiking and paddling in the summer, or snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter.