Barnstable Land Trust Announces Leadership Transition
Janet Milkman, Executive Director
Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) today announced that Executive Director Janet Milkman will retire on October 16, 2026, following 10 years of dedicated leadership at the organization. Under Janet’s guidance, BLT has grown its impact, strengthened its conservation and stewardship programs, and protected special places across Barnstable for generations to come.
“Janet has given BLT a decade of extraordinary leadership, vision, and commitment,” said Justine Laugharn, President of the Barnstable Land Trust Board of Directors. “Her influence on this organization and on the future of conservation in Barnstable will be felt for years to come. We are deeply grateful for everything she has done to move BLT forward.”
During Janet’s tenure, BLT has expanded its conservation work, strengthened its stewardship of protected lands, and grown its programs and connections with the community. Her leadership has also helped position BLT for its next chapter, including the organization’s ambitious For Now & Forever Campaign, a $10 million effort to protect land and invest in the long-term stewardship of Barnstable’s conserved places.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together over the past 10 years,” said Janet Milkman. “BLT is an extraordinary organization because of the people who believe so deeply in its mission - the staff, volunteers, board members, donors, landowners, and community partners who make this work possible. I am confident that BLT is well positioned for its next chapter, and I look forward to watching all that comes next.”
Kelsey Ellis, Director of Development
As BLT continues its search for a new Executive Director, Kelsey Ellis, BLT’s current Director of Development, will serve as Interim Executive Director when Janet departs this fall. Ellis has served as BLT’s Director of Development since 2022 and brings extensive experience in fundraising, strategic planning, donor engagement, and nonprofit leadership.
“Kelsey has played an important role in BLT’s growth over the past four years, and we are fortunate to have her step into this role during this transition,” said Laugharn. “Her knowledge of BLT, its supporters, and its mission will provide valuable continuity as we conduct a thoughtful search for our next permanent Executive Director.”
The search for BLT’s next Executive Director is actively underway, and applications remain open. The organization is seeking a dynamic leader who can build on BLT’s strong foundation and lead the organization into its next era of conservation, stewardship, and community engagement.
BLT’s mission remains unchanged: to protect special places in Barnstable for present and future generations. With the For Now & Forever Campaign in its final stretch and conservation and stewardship work continuing across the town, BLT remains focused on building a lasting future for the lands and communities it serves.
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Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected 1,250 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more. As a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy, BLT also leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about BLT, visit the website at http://www.BLT.org or call 508-771-2585. To view one of their free trail guides (Barnstable Trail Guide, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), click here; to learn more about their Words in the Wild poetry initiative on the trails click here.