Board of Directors
Daniel J. Morast, President
Dan joined Orenda’s board in 1993 and is a former President of the International Wildlife Coalition (IWC) then in East Falmouth. He specialized in non-profit management working for The Cousteau Society in New York and the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Yarmouth Port. A hallmark of the IWC was its successful track record in regional and international lobbying and civic outreach on behalf of dolphins, whales, and endangered over-exploited wildlife. After serving as Orenda’s Vice President for a decade, Dan assumed the responsibilities as President of the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, Inc. in 2019. His stated primary goal is to provide professional administrative guidance so that Orenda specialists will have the means to acquire land, to establish and manage open-space sanctuaries, and to be successful advocates and educators for the protection of wild animals, and the conservation of natural ecosystems that sustain us all.
Meghan Douglas Hill, Executive Vice President & Clerk
Meghan Douglas Hill, Executive Vice President & ClerkMeghan Douglas Hill joined the Orenda Board in 2021 and currently serves as Vice President and clerk, contributing to all aspects of Orenda’s mission. When she is not working to protect land and wildlife, Meghan works as the Digital Communications Strategist and Community Manager for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. An impact writer and communications designer by trade, Meghan is passionate about the creative potential of solutions journalism and the power of storytelling to bring about social change. She has extensive experience working in media for value-driven organizations in the nonprofit, public and private sectors. Meghan earned her MBA from Babson, where she aimed at addressing humanitarian challenges and leveraging theory and tools that bolster the potential for solutions to be impactful, scalable and sustainable. She also earned a master’s degree in education with distinction from Lesley University and graduated with the New England Scholar designation from the University of Connecticut, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In her free time, Meghan can be found managing her family’s modern-day homesteading venture on their Cape Cod micro farm.
Kenneth Burnes, Assistant Treasurer
Kenneth Burnes, Assistant TreasurerKen grew up in the Boston area and summered on the Cape. He resided in the New Seabury section of Mashpee for 30 years and joined Orenda's board in 2002. In addition to overseeing Orenda’s endowment and financials, Ken visits the off-Cape Orenda sanctuaries.
Grant Wiklund, Treasurer
Grant Wiklund, TreasurerGrant joined the Orenda board in 2020 and was soon thereafter elected as Clerk, given his expertise in real estate and finance. A lifelong interest in the outdoors and hiking led Grant to Orenda. Awarded the rank of Eagle Scout as a teenager, Grant believes the woods should always be left cleaner and better after passing through them. Grant intends to apply his skills to future land acquisition and stewardship efforts, including inspection and mapping of Orenda’s many wildlife sanctuaries.
Chris Miller
Chris MillerChris has served as Director of the Natural Resources, Conservation, and Harbormaster departments in Brewster since 2007 and has a background in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Chemical Engineering. Chris lives in Brewster with his wife and two kids, and grew up in the northeast. He is an avid scuba diver, sailer and outdoorsman and is eager to apply his experience to work protecting our wild lands through Orenda.
Amy Daubert
Amy DaubertAmy joined Orenda’s Board in 2021. She is a graduate of Williams College (BA) and The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (M. Ed). She describes herself as a professional volunteer. Currently, she is the president and head agent of her class at Williams. She also is a Vice Chair of the Williams Alumni fund. Amy is a member of the Vestry of The Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill and chairs the Stewardship Committee. She also is a member of Advisory Board of the YMCA and development chair of Somos Amigos Medical Missions. Six years ago, Amy started a counseling program for disadvantaged students to help them plan for life after high school and continues to mentor them on their journeys through college and beyond. Amy is a lifelong summer resident of the Cape and like her relatives before her, shares a deep passion to preserve the land.
Zak Mertz
Zak MertzZak Mertz joined Orenda’s Board in 2021. He is the Director of the Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable, MA and the Assistant Director of New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, MA. He has worked in the field of environmental conservation and research for the past decade, and is a State and Federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Previously Zak worked as a hydrologist and holds a Master’s degree from UMASS with a concentration in both physical and socio-hydrology. In addition to serving on Orenda's Board of Directors, Zak Currently serves as a board member for the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Massachusetts and the New England Wildlife Centers.
Dalius Vasys
Dalius provides business consulting and executive coaching services to entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. Previously, he practiced business law for 40 years. He represented clients in various corporate transactions and acted general counsel to many privately held companies. Dalius is a native Bostonian and has homes in Barnstable, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Dalius is a member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Barnstable Land Trust on Cape Cod. He is a board member of the national Lithuanian Foundation and the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) in Chicago. Dalius enjoys travel, history, literature and the arts. He joined Orenda's Board in 2024, and is committed to the protection of wildlife and the preservation of open space and historic structures.
Caitlin Wojkowski
Caitlin Wojkowski is a longtime resident of Barnstable, where her strong ties to the community drive her dedication to service and education. For over two decades, Caitlin has been a special education teacher. Outside of her teaching role, she devotes herself to community involvement as a Girl Scout troop leader and active volunteer, contributing her time and skills to various initiatives. Caitlin's commitment extends beyond her hometown, as she works to preserve the natural beauty and resources of Cape Cod and beyond, ensuring a sustainable future for all. Caitlin joined Orenda's Board in 2024.
Honorary Board Member for Life
Jefferies Wyman, Jr.
Jefferies Wyman, Jr.Recently Jeff was named an honorary Board Member for Life in honor of his long standing service to Orenda. Jeff was a longtime friend and donor to Orenda before he joined the board. A resident of West Barnstable and Sharon, Mass., Jeff was an integral part of the 1998 project to protect land on Meadow Lane in West Barnstable that eventually evolved into the Smith’s Dock Sanctuary. This helped ensure that the endangered Diamond Back Terrapin turtles had a suitable and protected habitat.
Board of Advisors
Barbara Birdsey, Founder & Past President
Laura Herbst, Past President
Mark Robinson, Executive Director of The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, Inc.
Staff
Jane Ounanian, Office Administrator
Jane was introduced to Orenda Wildlife Land Trust through their First Day Hikes Cape Cod event, which was held at our Turtle Garden sanctuary in West Barnstable. In further researching Orenda’s mission and learning about our sanctuaries, Jane reached out and inquired about how to best support us. Jane joined our staff in January, 2023 as our part-time office administrator, and is involved with the organization's Communications, Education & Outreach and Development committees, as well as taking part in the Terrapin Protection Program. Jane enjoys exploring and learning about the Cape’s unique ecosystem.
Lynn Atkins, Land Steward
Lynn's life has been defined by being outside, and traveling widely. Her education and work history
revolve around natural resources. She holds an AS in Rural Resource Management from Sterling College in Vermont and a BS in Forest Resource Management from the University of Montana with a focus in silviculture and wildland fire management. Early in her career she worked on small farms in Cape Breton and the New England area, and taught Scoutcraft at the Goshen Boy Scout camps in Virginia. She spent time working for the US Forest Service in Idaho and on the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan, Alaska. There she received training and experience related to managing forests on a large scale. Living in the west exposed her to rich, First People cultures, in school and also work. She has since come to believe that the only sustainable natural resource management is one with a strong, spiritual component, in the Indigenous traditions. She is fascinated by how culture affects decisions about nature. She subscribes to E.O. Wilson's Half-Earth Project and believes the world needs (a lot) more wilderness. Lynn enjoys kayaking, sewing, writing poems/essays, reading, and listening to many genres of music. She LOVES to walk her two rescue dogs around at night.
Tyler Linnell, Residential Caretaker, Nelson Sanctuary, Plymouth
Tyler became the Caretaker of Orenda’s Nelson Sanctuary in Plymouth, Massachusetts during the Fall of 2019. Tyler developed a passion for the outdoors at an early age, and enjoyed extensive travel across the globe visiting 5 different continents.
Having seen much of the world and witnessing its natural beauty firsthand, Tyler holds a special place in his heart for the Nelson Sanctuary and currently resides as guardian of the land and cottage on the property. Tyler is an avid outdoorsmen and believes strongly in environmental preservation and sustainability. He appreciates the peace and tranquility of preserved land and the value to future generations.