Amanda Branson is the director of operations and finance at Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy where she oversees business operations and planning, as well as the partnership program of NCLC.  Amanda was formerly the executive director of Naromi Land Trust in Sherman, CT.  As Naromi’s first executive director, Amanda led the organization through accreditation in 2018 and 2020 merger with Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust. Amanda also led all of Naromi’s numerous stewardship initiatives and all acquisition projects completed between 2016 and 2019.  Amanda is co-chair of Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s Accredited Land Trusts working group and chair of the governance sub-committee; co-chair of SALT (Small Area Land Trusts); and a member of the CLCC Conference planning committee.

Amanda led the CT Records Project, a joint program of CLCC and the Land Trust Alliance to coach small land trusts throughout Connecticut on sound recordkeeping practices and conducting a detailed review of each land trusts land records from 2013 to 2016.  Amanda provided consulting services and coaching to nonprofits on sound record-keeping practices, accreditation preparation support, and building organizational strength.  Previously she was a program associate at Rivers Alliance of Connecticut helping  advocate for Connecticut’s waters and to organize statewide conferences on hydropower and recreational liability.

Amanda lives in Kent with her husband and their three young children.  Amanda has a BFA in Printmaking with a minor in Art History from Maine College of Art. She has exhibited her art in Maine, Connecticut, and New York and maintains a studio practice.

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