Meet our Staff
Lauren Kras
Executive Director
Lauren Kras is a conservation leader who believes protecting land works best when people feel deeply connected to it. As Executive Director of the Squam Lakes Conservation Society, she leads with energy and a commitment to building community around the places we love.
Throughout her career, Lauren has advanced land protection and stewardship by building the partnerships and trust that make conservation last. At SLCS, she is guiding the organization’s next chapter—expanding strategic land protection and strengthening the community that supports it, while honoring Squam’s history and preparing for its future.
Outside of work, Lauren is a lifelong birder and can often be found on a trail with binoculars in hand or competing in dog agility with her three dogs while her cats supervise from the sidelines.
Emily Landry
Land Acquisition Director
Emily joined the Squam Lakes Conservation Society as the land acquisition director in 2023. She brings years of experience in stewardship and was part of the first AmeriCorps cohort at SLCS back in 2018.
To further the mission of SLCS, Emily leads the land conservation process. This includes working with landowners, drafting conservation easements and baseline documentation reports, making maps, coordinating with attorneys, surveyors, and appraisers, and getting out in the field to explore potential conservation land. If you are interested in conserving your land in the Squam Lakes community, please contact us!
Katie Currie-Huggard
Stewardship Director
After earning a degree in Outdoor Education and Natural History from Sterling College in VT, Katie developed a deep appreciation for environmental protection. Following graduation, she spent three years at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, VT, where she met her partner, Abe. She then worked as a Senior Land Steward at the Upper Valley Land Trust in Hanover, NH, focusing on easement stewardship, fee land maintenance, and collaborating with volunteers. Katie lives in Haverhill, NH, bordering the White Mountains National Forest, which allows her to conveniently hike up Black Mountain from her doorstep. Her interests include gardening, hiking, skiing, kayaking, birdwatching, and exploring various locations. Her time at SLCS has strengthened her love for Squam’s special places and people. Her favorite place to visit on Squam Lake is our Doublehead Preserve and she hopes to see you out there!
Denise Siraco
Director of Operations
Denise joined the team at SLCS in 2021. Although Denise grew up in Massachusetts, she lived all over the country before settling in to the Lakes Region in New Hampshire in 2001 to be closer to family. Denise has honed her skills in marketing, graphic design, social media marketing, guest services and event coordinating throughout her 20 plus years in hospitality management and non-profit educational organizations, as well as owning her own small graphic design-web design business. She is used to wearing many hats, and sincerely enjoys it.
