Five Rivers Staff
Liz Short, Executive Director
Liz became Executive Director of Five Rivers Conservation Trust in December 2020 after serving for over a year on the Board of Trustees. Liz has combined her team building and project management expertise to lead the organization through a period of change and growth, laying the foundation for increased land conservation and community engagement in the region. She formerly held senior positions at Stonyfield Farm and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. Liz received an MBA and MS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute and a BA in Biology from Cornell.
Liz and her husband chose to settle in Concord after graduate school, where they enjoy sharing all the wonderful things about the Granite State with their two daughters. Her family especially enjoys camping, hiking, and eating local food.
Email: liz@5rct.org
Phone: 603-225-7225 Ext 203
Jeff Evans, Director of Conservation
Jeff joined the staff at Five Rivers in 2022 after nearly two decades as an academic ecologist. His research focused on the biology and management of invasive species and agricultural weeds, which gives him a unique perspective on the conservation challenges and opportunities on Five Rivers’ conserved lands. Jeff earned his Ph.D. in Entomology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Michigan State University and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and the US Department of Agriculture in Urbana, Illinois.
Jeff lives with his wife and three children in Concord, where he tries to find time for exploring the lakes and woods of New Hampshire every moment he can. He can be found on the trails around Concord many mornings with his dog, Rosie.
Email: jeff@5rct.org
Phone: 603-225-7225 Ext 202
Rebecca Lapitino, Operations Manager
Rebecca is a lifelong New Hampshire Native with deep roots in the Five Rivers region. Her early connection to the state’s woodlands inspired her dedication to conserving New Hampshire’s natural heritage. With a background in Resource Management, she has devoted 30 years to nonprofit administration, contributing her expertise to organizations such as NH Audubon and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests.
Beyond her nonprofit work, Rebecca has operated her own businesses in organizational efficiency, hospitality, and currently, the music industry. She resides in Concord with her family on the bluff of the Merrimack River. An avid explorer of local woodlands, she embraces the title of “anti-peak bagger,” preferring to wander through any non-elevated forested parcel. A supporter of the arts, when not in the woods, she enjoys attending arts events with her family throughout the region.
Email: rebecca@5rct.org
Phone: 603-225-7225 Ext 201
