Information provided by candidates for a 2027-2029 term on the Central-Northern New York (CNNY) Group Executive Committee

Thomas Amidon
Tom Amidon is Professor Emeritus at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Before retiring, he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering.

Tom’s expertise and primary work have been in renewable resources, sustainable forestry practices and renewable and biodegradable products. He has been a leader in clean manufacturing processes (not using heavy metals, harsh chemicals and not creating compounds which are difficult to recycle and are biodegradeable) and sustainable economic enterprises. He emphasizes reducing the Carbon and energy intensity of manufacturing processes.

Tom has received many local and national awards, such as being named the college’s Exemplary Researcher, a College-level award recognizing a successful researcher with exemplary research activity, a strong publication record and a graduate/undergraduate student mentorship record.  He recently received an outstanding achievement award at the biannual Biorefining and Bioeconomy conference in Beijing, a conference he co-founded 20 years ago.

Ph.D., Silviculture, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, M.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, B.S., Forest Management.

Lana Brogan
I am Lana Brogan, a nominee for the Sierra Club Central-Northern New York Group's Executive Committee. I am a recent graduate of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Renewable Energy. 

I have been interested in the outdoors and often spend my recreational time hiking, rock climbing, and practicing yoga. During my time at SUNY ESF, my coursework focused on the pollution caused by the fossil fuel industry, with an emphasis on developing sustainable energy solutions for the United States. Through this experience, I became increasingly interested in the fate and transport of environmental pollutants and their broader impacts on human and environmental health.

My interest in environmental activism and sustainability continued to grow as I became the Vice President of the Sustainable Energy Club (SEC) at SUNY ESF. In this role, I advocated for environmental sustainability initiatives and gained experience engaging with professionals in both the renewable energy and fossil fuel industries. I also had the opportunity to connect with former CNNY Executive Committee President Rhea Jezer, with whom I spent a year serving as an intern. This experience highlighted the important intersection between environmental issues and political involvement that is necessary to create meaningful change.

Since the beginning of 2026, I have served as an acting member of the CNNY Executive Committee, attending monthly meetings and focusing my efforts on increasing engagement among environmentally conscious young adults throughout Central New York. I would be honored to continue serving on the Sierra Club Central-Northern New York Group Executive Committee. I am committed to doing everything I can to support our members, strengthen community engagement, and advance meaningful environmental advocacy throughout our region.

Rhea Jezer
Rhea Jezer is President of Energy21 and Founder and Director for twenty two years of the award winning Annual Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century, noted as one of the most important renewable energy conferences in the Northeast. She is presently Associate Professor (Adjunct) at SUNY ESF, and serves on the Sustainable Resources Management Curriculum Advisory Committee. Previously she served on the faculty of Cazenovia College.

Dr. Jezer is a noted environmental consultant and policy advisor to eco-businesses, candidates, environmental groups and elected officials for both major parties. She was an environmental advisor for Sen. Hillary Clinton for nine years as well as on Clinton’s Leadership Council. She worked closely with Gov. George Pataki, heading the CNY campaign for the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, and on the Governor’s Superfund Reauthorization working group. Rhea was an advisor to Attorney General Cuomo as well as when he became Governor Cuomo.

Rhea Jezer is currently co-chair and political chair of the CNNY Sierra Club, having served as chair for many years. She was also chair of the New York State Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter for several years. She is an active member of the BOD of the New York League of Conservation Voters. She was twice was a Congressional Candidate. Rhea attended as a delegate to the Democratic National Committee and was a member of the (DNC) platform committee.

Dr. Jezer holds a Ph.D from Syracuse University, MA in Musicology from Columbia University, and BA from Brooklyn College.

Rhea is seeking your vote to continue her work in the CNNY Group of Sierra Club.

Lisa Lehmann
Lisa Lehmann has been active with the Sierra Club for more than 20 years and has been an active member of the ExCom for many of those years. Lisa has also been very active in electoral politics, working with local and national campaigns. She currently serves on the Political Committee for the Atlantic Chapter.

Lisa Lehmann has a Ph.D. in American History from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. She currently works as a Delivery Director for ITX, a Rochester-based Information Technology company.

Marcy Waldauer
Marcy Waldauer brings vast experience in environmental education and community work. She was on the faculties of Colgate University and Onondaga, Cayuga, and Mohawk Valley Community Colleges teaching courses in ecology and environmental sciences as well as chemistry, anatomy, and biology. She also taught at the high school level in physics, biology, and earth science and was the director and coach of the Eagle Hill Middle School Science Olympiad Team.

As a current ExCom member and Secretary, she notes that for many years she taught Ecology and Environmental Science at the college level – teaching about the issues Sierra Club supports. Being on the ExCom is an additional step to taking on the role of actually promoting these initiatives.

Marcy has served on several boards including the YWCA and Nelson Ying TRSEF (Tri-Regional Science and Engineering Fair). Professionally, she was Director of the CNY American Civil Liberties Union and also the Consortium for Children’s Services.

Marcy holds a Ph.D. from SUNY ESF as well as a Ph.D. from Syracuse University.

Peter Wirth
Peter Wirth grew up in NYC but spent summers at his grandmother's farm in the Catskills where he developed a love for the outdoors. He has been a life-long environmentalist. His home has had rooftop solar for 13 years, and they recently added an air-sourced electric pump to the heating system, switched to a tank-less hot water heater, and installed a level 2 charger for electric cars. They have done numerous insulation and electric conservation upgrades over the years (an air sealed attic with cellulose insulation is next). Their goal is net zero and while not there yet, are getting close.

He is co-founder of Climate Change Awareness and Action, a local climate change organization with 1,400 members. We encourage public policy and individual lifestyle choices to help the transition off of fossil fuels.

He is looking forward to helping the Sierra Club in their climate change-related activities.

He attended the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University and has an MSW with a concentration in community organizing.