Our Staff
Anita Bono, Community Educator. Anita holds a bachelor of science degree in nutrition from Syracuse University and serves as a nutrition educator with adult audiences. Prior to joining Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, Anita worked in the area of prenatal and infant nutrition.
Kathleen Dischner, Multi-County Team Leader, Nutrition. Kathy holds a bachelor of science degree in nutrition and dietetics from the State University College at Buffalo and a master’s degree in community health education from SUNY Buffalo. Kathy is a registered dietician with extensive experience in nutrition and community health who leads nutrition education programs for Cornell Cooperative Extension in both Onondaga and Cayuga Counties.
Jessi Lyons, Team Coordinator, F.R.E.E.. Jessi holds a bachelor of science degree in environmental science from Southern Oregon University; conducted post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Kentucky in global information systems, studio art, and urban/regional planning; and, earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Jessi’s experience includes: crop farming, forestry (including, but not limited to, leadership of AmeriCorps teams responsible for forest fuel monitoring, trail construction, riparian restoration, and public education), forest ecology research (including the writing of scientific manuscripts), wildlife field instructor for youth; and local research on the CNY food production system and the future of I-81. Jessi is a founding member of Syracuse Grows, a local foods organization.
Michael Mahanna, Horticultural Educator. Mike comes to us after spending 20 years at Hamilton College as a Horticulturist and Certified Arborist. He studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Morrisville State College and has been a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture for over 18 years. Mike has also been a Master Gardener with CCE of Oneida County for over nine years. He has also lectured on various gardening topics for local and regional garden clubs and organizations. Mike is a member of the New York State Arborist and serves on the board of directors for the New York State Urban and Community Forestry Council.
Micheal Mathews-Rogers, Account Representative. Mikki has worked in administrative roles for over twenty years, including most recently at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina. She recently returned home to Central New York and, as the spouse of a veteran, is delighted to work with a program that helps to return veterans to the labor force.
Jo-Ann Treasure, Senior Administrative Assistant. Jo-Ann holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix – Houston, TX campus, and a Bachelor of Business Management from LeTourneau University. She also served in the US Navy where she was a Certified High Pressure Plate Welder. With her diverse back ground, extensive administrative and travel experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization. Jo-Ann recently returned home to Central New York after living in Houston, Texas.
David Skeval, Urban and Community Forestry Educator. David holds a Master of Science degree in Forest Resource Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a dual B.A. in Advertising and Psychology from Syracuse University. He previously worked as Chief Forester for Cotton-Hanlon and has managed 50,000 acres of forest land in New York and Pennsylvania. More recently, he has worked as a consulting forester serving forest landowners throughout New York. David is a native of Central New York.
Sue Parker, Program Educator. Sue holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Science from SUNY Empire State College. Sue has had a lifelong interest in local food production; developing and teaching an award winning school gardening program, managing at a local food distributor CNY Bounty, and working on a local sheep dairy farm. Sue is involved in “the NIFA project”, a five-year project that seeks to improve food access for vulnerable communities by analyzing the entire food chain of a selected market basket sold at two supermarkets each in Syracuse and Madison County. By surveying local grocery stores, restaurants, and food distributors, the project will explore how regionally-produced foods could improve food access and affordability for disadvantaged communities. Sue also has extensive experience in arts and the environment, including working as a hotshot firefighter in the Cascades, working as Park Steward at Stone Quarry Art Park and teaching fiber arts to adults and youth.
Derek Simmonds, Community Educator- Food Systems. Derek holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources Management with a focus on policy and a Bachelors of Science degree in Forest and Environmental Biology from SUNY ESF. Prior to coming to CCE Onondaga, Derek worked in Ecuador for Fundación Ecocostas, managing a USAID project focused on diversifying livelihoods, building local governmental and NGO capacity and developing a scientific knowledge base to better manage the Estuary of Cojimies. He was also in Peace Corps Malawi, working as a Natural Resources Extension Agent. Derek is also a Certified Arborist and is enrolled in the Online MBA program at the UMASS-Amherst Isenberg School of Management. He is currently working on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded ‘Enhancing Food Security in the Northeast with Regional Food Systems’ research project in Syracuse and Madison County.
Cheryl Neal, Community Educator. Cheryl holds a bachelor of science degree in nutrition from Syracuse University and works as a nutrition educator with youth audiences. Cheryl’s past work experience includes numerous positions in healthcare and wellness.
Fran Lawlor, Community Educator. Fran holds a M.S. in Forest Ecology from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Previous experience includes The Nature Conservancy working as a Stewardship Ecologist focused on threats from exotic invasive species including early detection, GIS/mapping, management and ultimately habitat restoration, founding member of SLELO, St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Weed Management Area, now one of NY state’s PRISM regions ; CABI – Switzerland researching biological control agents for Phragmites; NYS DEC Region 7 managing field work towards eradication of giant hogweed; Mumbling Mountain, an organic community supported agriculture (CSA) vegetable farm; a founding member of the central NY chapter of NOFA-NY (Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York) and past member of the NOFA-NY certification review board and governing council. Fran is a board member of the New York State Urban and Community Forestry Council. She is a native of central NY. Amelanchier canadensis is her favorite tree and in June she can be found competing with the birds for the fruits.
Sherry Martin, Water Quality Community Educator. Sherry received her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in both Natural Resources and Biology and Society. She spent the last year completing her honors thesis regarding the barriers of World Heritage Listing in relation to the conservation of Aboriginal knowledge and cultural resources in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Queensland, Australia. Prior to joining Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, she worked as an Aquatic Ecology Educator with NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, educating diverse groups on Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone and designing interpretative program materials, including adapting instructional materials for Project Wild Aquatic K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide regionally. She has a lifelong interest in water resource management issues and resource-based design and planning.