Our People
David Newman
Founder & Managing Director
David is a lifelong conservationist and former environmental lawyer with over a dozen years of experience with the Natural Resources Defense Council advocating for sustainable fisheries through law, policy, and science. Over the past decade, he has shifted his work toward ecological restoration and the development of the nursery and propagation orchard at Arthur’s Point Farm. David is passionate about creating models of climate-resilient farming and ecological land stewardship. He chairs the Columbia County Climate Smart Task Force and serves as a member of the County’s Environmental Management Council.
Stephanie Lazar
Founder & Operations Director
Stephanie is a former public health policy and advocacy professional with a passion for natural systems, regenerative agriculture, and social justice. Her public health work focused primarily on global health and development issues, catalyzed by her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Morocco. She developed strategies and managed programs to improve children’s health on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2015 Stephanie began shifting away from global health to focus on food access and regenerative farming in New York. As a founding member of Arthur’s Point Farm, Stephanie is excited to contribute to responding to the climate challenges of our time.
Carlos Acevedo
Field Manager
Carlos grew up on a farm in the village of Las Choapas in Veracruz, Mexico working with cattle and other livestock. He moved to Columbia County in 2011; in 2019 he began working at what would become Arthur’s Point Farm. Carlos works across all aspects of the farm, from planting, nursery cultivation, and compost tea treatments to biochar production and processing. He also does carpentry and keeps the tools and machinery in good repair.
Kelly Schramm
Nursery Manager
Kelly is a first generation farmer new to Columbia County. Originally from Westchester County, she has lived in Central and Western NY working on various small vegetable farms for over a decade. While still in awe of the bounty which can be produced in mere months from a handful of seeds, Kelly’s interests have grown to include perennial production. She is in the planning stages of starting a farm focusing on regenerative agriculture with her partner, Nathan, on his family’s land in Western NY. Keen to learn what trees can teach us, she is excited to contribute to her community’s resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Kelly is serving on the organizing committee of the Hudson Valley Young Farmers Coalition.
Zahra Bellucci
Agroforestry Manager
With a background in farming and forestry, Zahra is passionate about engaging in land stewardship through agroforestry and tree-based agriculture. Prior to forestry work, Zahra gained experience growing annuals on various farms across NY state. After studying forestry at the SUNY ESF Ranger School, she spent several years in the Catskill Mountain region providing services to landowners such as on-site consultations, fruit tree pruning and grafting, wildlife habitat management, forestry education, and more. During this time, she also developed a program to assist landowners in adopting agroforestry practices in the management of their land. She is excited to contribute to the continued care and establishment of the orchards, forest, and ecological restoration areas at Arthur’s Point Farm.
Florentino Garcia
Farmer
Florentino grew up in a village called Guadalupe Victoria in Veracruz, Mexico. Growing up, he helped his mother grow crops on their family farm. At 17, he began working as a barber, but went back to working on the family farm when the pandemic hit. He also grew coconut trees on the side to give away to friends. In 2024, he started working for Arthur’s Point Farm as a seasonal worker from March through November. Florentino likes learning about how to raise and care for different plants and working with equipment that he never used before.
Francisco Mendez
Farmer
Francisco grew up in a small village called Ejido Gustavo dias Ordaz in Veracruz, Mexico. When he was younger he worked on a beef cattle farm with his father, helping maintain productive pastures to raise heathy cows. When he was 20 he began work as an internet technician during the week, while continuing working on the farm on weekends. He joined Arthur’s Point Farm in 2025. Francisco enjoys learning about new kinds of trees, unfamiliar to him in Mexico.Â
