STAFF
DISTRICT STAFF
HEATHER HOLLAND
Executive Director
Holland came to the district as a farmer, entrepreneur, and community leader with two decades of experience in New England’s agricultural sector.
She and her husband own Outland Farm & Brewery, a 75-acre farm in Pittsfield, where they raise animals on pasture as a way to improve soil health, restore the land, and demonstrate the connection between conservation, agriculture, and community.
Her background blends hands-on land stewardship with leadership roles across several nonprofits and mentoring work for agricultural businesses, giving her a unique perspective on both the challenges and opportunities facing Somerset County. As executive director, Heather coordinates outreach efforts, programs, workshops, and projects and serves as a liaison for the agency to the public and private sector.
LAURA SUOMI-LECKER
Technical director & Ag Allies Program Manager
Laura has been the Technical Director at Somerset County Soil Water Conservation District since 2007. She enjoys working with farmers and landowners on nutrient management and conservation planning. She is a Nationally Certified Crop Advisor, Natural Resources Conservation Service Certified Conservation Planner, Comprehensive and Certified Nutrient Management Planner and Maine Certified Soil Scientist.
Laura is the former education and outreach coordinator and a long-time volunteer for Avian Haven Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Freedom and her passion for birds has led to the creation of the Ag Allies grassland bird habitat program.
Prior to working at the District, Laura was a Soil Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She received a B.S. in Soil Science from the University of New Hampshire and an M.S. in Ecology from Penn State University.
After witnessing the devastating effects of an early mowing on the bobolink nestlings on the property she and her husband now own, Laura started the Ag Allies grassland bird program in 2016. Since then, she has directed the program and spent time field training at Cornell and with Dr. Noah Perlut on his long-term grassland bird study in Vermont.