Leadership & Staff List

President and CEO Erik Kulleseid is a visionary conservation and public land management leader, bringing decades of experience to the Open Space Institute (OSI). With a passion for protecting natural resources and creating welcoming parks, Kulleseid has dedicated his career to enhancing outdoor experiences for all.

Prior to his appointment as OSI president and CEO, Kulleseid served as the Commissioner of New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation where he recorded steady growth in visitors while overseeing major capital initiatives, including the opening of Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn and the creation of the Autism Nature Trail in Letchworth State Park.

His position at OSI marks a return of Kulleseid to the organization. During his original eight-year tenure at OSI, Kulleseid launched its parks initiative, prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity in public park design and stewardship. His leadership resulted in a program that has grown into a multi-state pillar for OSI with transformative projects at Minnewaska, Fahnestock, Thacher, and Letchworth State parks and the development of OSI’s River-to-Ridge Trail in New Paltz, New York, and the creation of a 70-mile-long riverine park network along the Black River in South Carolina.

Kulleseid’s decades-long conservation career has been built on protecting land for public use and natural resource protection through formative years at the Trust for Public Land and prior government service as Deputy Commissioner for Open Space Protection at New York State Parks.

With a proven track record of success in government and nonprofit sectors, Kulleseid brings a unique blend of strategic vision and practical experience to his leadership at OSI. He is committed to advancing land conservation through fostering partnerships, embracing new opportunities, and ensuring that public lands remain accessible and welcoming for generations to come.

Serving in an executive function at OSI since 1996, Blumberg provides management and strategic oversight for the organization’s robust programmatic initiatives. Working with OSI’s staff and Board, she directs long-term planning and growth, fundraising, and program integration. Blumberg oversees initiatives including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; OSI’s many leadership roles serving the greater land trust community through the Conservation Capital, Conservation Communities, and Outdoors America Programs; and liaises on governance issues with the Board of Trustees. Prior to joining OSI, she worked in nonprofit leadership, administration, and fundraising in both the conservation and historic preservation fields. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American History and Environmental Science from Bowdoin College, and a degree in Conservation Biology from Columbia University’s Center for Environmental Research and Conservation. Blumberg serves as Chair of the Board of the American Littoral Society, and serves on the New York Advisory Board of the Land Trust Alliance and the Advisory Committee for Glynwood.

Nate Berry manages OSI’s land acquisition projects across the eastern U.S. With a talent for creative and complex deal structures and financing, he is responsible for assessing conservation priorities and funding opportunities, deal negotiation, and due diligence. After graduating from Yale College with a B.A. in Economics, Berry joined OSI as a consultant, later becoming a Project Manager, head of Stewardship, and before taking his current position, ran OSI’s Loan Program. In 2014, with the opening of an office in Charleston, South Carolina, Berry launched OSI’s Southeast land acquisition program which has protected more than 70,000 acres over the past decade.

Samayla Deutch has been with OSI since 2004. Before coming to OSI, she had over 30 years in private practice concentrating in all aspects of commercial real estate as a partner in the Boston law firm Sherburne Powers & Needham, and counsel to the New York City law firm Seward & Kissel, LLP. She previously served as a Trustee of the New England Aquarium in Boston, a Board member of the Garde Center for the Performing Arts in New London, Connecticut, and a Board member of the New London Development Corporation. She is a graduate of Wellesley College (AB) and holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Master of Laws degree from George Washington University Law School. She is a member of the Bars of New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. Deutch oversees the full range of legal matters affecting OSI, including real estate acquisitions and dispositions, grants, loans, contracts, leases, conservation easements, stewardship and governance issues and non-profit law. She also has primary responsibility for the organization and management of the legal department.

Eileen Larrabee oversees and manages the OSI’s communications and development functions, including media relations, publications, public and community relations, fundraising, and reputational risk assessment. As a member of the management team, she works to shape OSI’s strategic goals, programming, and policy. She joined OSI in 2011, when she helped launch OSI’s Parks program. Prior to her tenure at OSI, Larrabee served as Director of Public Information for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. She also worked for 16 years in the New York State Assembly, including eight years in the Majority Press Office. Larrabee holds an undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and a master’s degree from the Rockefeller Institute of Public Affairs and Policy at the State University of New York at Albany.

Kathy Moser directs OSI’s Parks, Stewardship and NY Government Relations programs and serves on the OSI Management Committee. She ensures OSI’s work in Parks, Stewardship and NY policy promotes the organization’s strategic plan. Moser is the primary OSI liaison for NY state agencies, the Legislature and the Governor’s office. Prior to OSI, Moser was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in December 2011. She directed DEC’s portfolio in Lands/Forests, Fish/Wildlife, and Marine Resources. Moser has also worked as Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives at World Wildlife Fund. She held various senior positions at The Nature Conservancy in New York State (Acting State Director) and in their International Program (Regional Director for Central America) from 1992 to 2009.