Leadership

Board of Directors

Henry DeLozier

Chairman

Phoenix, AZ

Mr. DeLozier is recognized around the world for his leadership in strategic planning for golf-related businesses, and he was called one of the “Most Influential People in Golf” since 1999 by the Crittenden publications. He joined Global Golf Advisors in 2008 as a principal after nine years as the vice president of Golf of Pulte Homes, where he helped the company become the largest developer of golf communities and golf courses in the United States. Henry serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). He is also a Past President of the Board of Directors for the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) in America.

Bio

Rich Katz

Vice Chairman

Washington, DC

A sought-after speaker and master strategist, Rich Katz is one of golf’s most networked executives. In 2001, he founded Buffalo Communications that recently re-branded as Buffalo.Agency, the world’s largest integrated marketer specializing in the golf-lifestyle.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., Buffalo was established as a division of Billy Casper Golf – owner-operator of more than 150 golf courses, country clubs and resorts – for which Katz was an early director. Newly spun off from the parent company under the Buffalo Groupe entity, the 55-person Buffalo’s data-driven approach helps 60-plus clients connect with buyers to grow their brand equities and revenues globally.

Katz also leads a reputable golf consultation team that’s worked for P.F. Chang’s, Canon, AT&T, Merrill Lynch, Nestle, Mission Hills Resorts (China) and countless endemic brands on five continents. For more than a decade under his guidance, Buffalo managed media and Tour players for the extravagant Hassan II Golf Trophy in Morocco that evolved into a European PGA Tour event. Katz has formulated major partnerships with Golf Channel, NBC, ESPN and ABC, and early in his career was an agent to 20 PGA and Champions Tour professionals.

A major contributor on the World Golf Foundation Advisory Committee, Katz also served on the National Golf Course Owners Association Curriculum and Education Committee and is integral to the WE ARE GOLF coalition’s government lobbying initiatives. He is on the Board of Directors of Digital Golf Technologies and Audubon International.

Bio

Marvin Moriarty

Secretary

Amherst, MA

Mr. Moriarty spent nearly 40 years with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the last eight years of which were as the Regional Director of the FWS' Northeast Region. After retiring in 2011, Mr Moriarty joined the Board of Directors of his local land trust, as well as the Board of Directors of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC). He is also a Co-Chair of the Science and Stewardship Committee of the Friends of Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge. His main focus since retiring has been seeking ways to link private sector development communities with the broad range of science and expertise available in the Federal, State, and NGO conservation community.

Bio

Matt Ceplo

Treasurer

Westwood, NJ

Mr. Ceplo is the horticulturist at Sleepy Hollow C.C. in Scarborough NY. Prior to that he
was a certified golf course superintendent at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, NY for
over 25 years where he guided his course through certification in the Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf in 2000, and then expanded his involvement
by becoming a member of the Audubon Steward Network. In 2013, Mr. Ceplo received
the GCSAA President's Award for Environmental Stewardship. His other honors include
the MGA's 2012 Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leader in Golf Award and the Global
Sports Alliance's 2011 New York Environmental Stewardship Award.

Bio

Jennifer Grant, Ph.D.

Geneva, NY

Dr. Grant is an entomologist at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and currently leads the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell’s campus in Geneva, NY. Her research focuses on low-impact pest management practices for turfgrass, and how IPM systems work on golf courses, school grounds and home lawns. She is a recognized expert in the field of IPM who lectures extensively across the country.

Bio

Jake Riekstins

Guelph, Ontario

Mr. Riekstins is a graduate of the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada holding a degree in Agricultural Sciences with a focus on horticultural science and business. He built an appreciation for environmental stewardship in the golf space through his three-and-a-half decades of work on golf courses in Canada and abroad. As a golf course superintendent, he achieved certification in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary program during his time at a 36-hole facility and spearheaded the same certification process following the build of a new golf course in a reclaimed sand and gravel pit. Following a four-year international post where he served as Director of Golf Construction and Agronomy, he joined Landscapes Unlimited, the prolific American golf course builder where he currently serves in the position of Chief Development Officer.

Bio

James Singerling, CCM

Alexandria, VA

Mr. Singerling is a Director at DSG Global Inc. Prior to that, he served as the CEO of Club Managers Association of America (“CMAA”) for 25 years until his retirement in 2015. He is credited with elevating the professional role of club managers by creating industry-standard development and certification programs. Singerling is also recognized for building new relationships for the industry with federal and state governments and for the development of professional club management associations internationally. Regions where his leadership is recognized include South America, Australia, China, South Africa and the Asian-Pacific corridor, among others.

Bio

Randy Winegard

Burlington, IA

Mr. Winegard is the Chief Executive Officer of Winegard Company, a family owned multi-million dollar business located in Burlington, Iowa. Prior to Randy taking the helm in 1977, after his father’s retirement, Winegard Company was solely invested in designing and manufacturing traditional over-the-air residential TV antennas, mounts and accessories. Since then the company has expanded greatly, adding satellite television and commercial 2-way VSAT real-time broadband technologies to its products and opening many new markets around the world for uses in home, recreational vehicle (RV), trucking, automotive, marine, medical, military, emergency response and oil, gas & shale drilling industries.

Bio

Staff

Christine Kane

Chief Executive Officer

Christine Kane

Christine Kane joined Audubon International as the organization’s Executive Director in October 2016 and assumed the title of Chief Executive Officer in 2018. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the nonprofit organization’s operations, including its core certifications, member services, and human and financial resources.

Kane has served at the senior management level in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years and is skilled in program development, strategic planning, fundraising and communications. Her experience in the environmental sector includes work on a wide range of environmental issues including hazardous waste site identification, BMPs for non-point source water pollution, land conservation and trail management.

She holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University, a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the CFRE credential (Certified Fundraising Executive), the only internationally recognized, professional credential for fundraising professionals.

When not curled up in her favorite chair with a good book, Christine can be found cycling on the beautiful country roads near her home or buying unique, one of a kind items at auctions for the renovation of their circa 1868 home, after which her husband will point out, “We don’t need that right now.”

Bio

Fred Realbuto

Chief Operating Officer

Fred Realbuto

Fred Realbuto, Chief Operating Officer, has been with Audubon International for 20 years, the last 10 as director of the Green Lodging Program and more recently the Green Hospitality Program. He served on the New York State (NYS) Governor’s Green Hospitality Pilot Program that introduced formalized certification for lodging facilities in NYS. He also authored the Florida Green Palms Certification Program currently in use in the State of Florida, certifying lodging facilities throughout the state.

He holds an Undergraduate degree in Education and a Graduate Degree in Law.

Bio

Frank LaVardera

Director, Environmental Programs for Golf

Frank LaVardera

As the Director of Environmental Programs for Golf, Frank LaVardera oversee AI’s highly regarded Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf as well as the Signature and Classic Sanctuary programs for new and renovating golf courses. His department also includes the organization’s newest programs – Monarchs in the Rough and the Raptor Relocation Network.

Frank brings extensive experience as an environmental consultant working on a wide range of projects. This experience includes preparation of environmental resource plans, stormwater management plans, best management practices plans, and wildlife habitat assessments. His past experience also includes working on several golf course improvement projects for the U.S. Navy. He holds a Master of Science degree in Urban and Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor of Science in Land & Water Resources from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

An avid golfer, Frank is a long-time member of the Edison Club in Rexford, New York.

Bio

Kat Welch

Director, Signature Sanctuary Certification

Kat Findlay

Kat Findlay, Director of Signature & Classic Sanctuary Certifications at Audubon International, the global leader in environmental sustainability certifications for golf, focuses her efforts on ensuring the environmentally sustainable design and long-term management of golf courses, communities and resorts undergoing development or renovation around the world.

Kat joined Audubon International’s team in 2019, as an Environmental Program Specialist, working with golf courses pursuing certification in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf, concentrating on increasing sustainability across existing course infrastructure. In addition, Kat managed two of Audubon International’s Conservation Initiatives – the Raptor Relocation Network and BioBlitz.

Prior to her career in the golf industry, Kat gained significant experience managing habitat and wildlife across multiple states while working for both state and federal agencies. Her previous work provided the opportunity to work across many different landscapes ranging from the urban setting of New York City to the rural landscape of Idaho.

Kat was raised in the New York State and holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management from the State University of New York at Cobleskill and a certificate from The Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science.

Kat serves on the Women in the Golf Industry board as Secretary and in her free time she enjoys playing a round of golf with her family at The Country Club of Troy or enjoying a leisurely ride on her horse.

Bio

Alison Davy

Finance and Operations Manager

Alison Davy

Alison Davy, Office Administrator, has worked in not-for-profits for over 25 years. Since moving upstate six years ago, she has served as Development Director at Bridge Street Theatre and Blue Deer Center where she helped both organizations broaden their donor bases and improve their community outreach. Most recently as Development & Outreach Coordinator at Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville she helped the organization in its fundraising, strategic planning and education efforts.

Alison enjoys working in the not-for-profit sector where she can support missions she is passionate about including environmental protection and stewardship. Before moving upstate, Alison lived in New York City where she worked in the financial sector and was also a classical singer and teacher.

Bio

Scott Turner

Environmental Program Manager

Scott Turner

As an Environmental Program Manager, Scott Turner focuses his efforts on the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf.

Scott brings experience in developing and evaluating environmental, social and economic case studies along with establishing sustainable management practices and applying innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.

Scott was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada and has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton University’s Geography and Environmental Studies program. He’s currently in the process of completing a Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management from Vancouver Island University in British Columbia, Canada.

Scott is an avid golfer and traveler, having played at over 150 courses and visited 48 countries. When not on the golf course or vacationing, his leisure time is spent putting his feet up watching the NFL and NHL, along with spoiling his two-year-old Golden Retriever, Doug.

Bio

Tallis Warren

Member Services Manager

Tallis Warren

As the Member Services Manager, Tallis Warren manages the member database and is the main point of contact for our nearly 2,000 members.

Native to the Capital Region, Tallis holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and Rhetoric from UAlbany. A portion of her undergraduate career was also spent at Stony Brook University in Long Island studying in the Ecosystems and Human Impact program.

Prior to joining Audubon International, Tallis worked in the veterinary industry for over five years. Trained in both administrative and hands-on vet assistant work, she has an extensive background creating positive experiences for pets and their owners. She is certified as a Feline Friendly Veterinary Professional by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and continues to volunteer with local adoption groups. Her passion for animal advocacy projects coupled with interest in environmental stewardship influenced her to transition to an environmental nonprofit.

A dancer of over 15 years, Tallis has also taught ballet, tap, and jazz techniques to students at a local dance studio. In her leisure time, she can be found out on her kayak, baking a new cookie recipe, or snuggling up with her beloved senior cat, Bennie.

Bio

Sarah Honan

Environmental Program Specialist

Sarah Honan

Sarah joined Audubon International in January of 2023 as an Environmental Program Specialist. She is passionate about jobs that help to bridge the gap between humans and the environment, and Audubon International does just that. Sarah is beyond excited to help our members become more environmentally sustainable while achieving their recreational goals. Previous to working with AI, Sarah spent time as a zookeeper, working in medical laboratories, and volunteering in Thailand. She has also worked on research spanning from identifying apple esters, to water quality monitoring, to IPM.

Sarah obtained her two undergraduate degrees from Keuka College in Environmental Science and Biochemistry. She is currently finishing up her Master’s at Paul Smith’s College in Natural Resources Conservation with a specialization in sustainable communities, and a certificate in aquatic resources and forestry. When she isn’t working or buried in homework, Sarah enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, golfing, brewing, playing soccer and enjoying music. When she has down time she is usually rewatching The Office or Parks and Recreation with her Bearded Dragon, Albus!

Bio

Kelsey King

Environmental Program Specialist

Kelsey King

Kelsey King joined Audubon International as an Environmental Program Specialist in January of 2023. Her focus is on the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf, as well as working on the BioBlitz program.

Before her career at Audubon International, Kelsey was an environmental educator, an avian specialist, a wildlife manager, and a veterinary assistant. Through her work, she has gained many valuable experiences. Kelsey also serves on the board for Friends of Dyken Pond in her spare time.

Kelsey was raised in New York and has lived all over the state. She holds various degrees, her most recent one being from the State University of New York at Cobleskill; a Bachelor’s in Wildlife Management. She also received an Associate’s in Science from Hudson Valley Community College. She plans on continuing her education in hopes of obtaining a Master’s or Doctoral degree.

When she isn’t helping her family’s business; managing over 85 properties, she spends her time chasing her three-year-old son and four dogs. She also enjoys spending her time outdoors year-round. In the winter, she can be found either snowmobiling the Tug Hill Plateau or gracefully falling down a mountain on a snowboard. In the other seasons, she enjoys bird watching, fishing, looking for herpetofauna, kayaking, and hiking. Kelsey enjoys relaxing indoors by painting, playing guitar, or just reading a good book.

Bio