WeConservePA’s Policy Advisory Committee is charged with studying and discussing opportunities to improve public policy at all levels of government and private measures that could be taken by the land conservation community to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation efforts. The committee makes recommendations to WeConservePA board and staff on these matters.
Committee members are appointed by the board of directors. Individuals wishing to serve should contact WeConservePA for more information.
In addition to members of the board, the following individuals serve on the committee:
Kevin Abbey
Land Conservation Manager, ClearWater Conservancy
Kevin Abbey joined ClearWater in 2013. His chief responsibility is to work with landowners who want to protect their land with a legal agreement called a conservation easement. He is also responsible for monitoring ClearWater’s protected properties and maintaining strong relationships with the owners of those lands.
Kevin brings more than 30 years of experience in community development, technical outreach, environmental management, and transportation policy to ClearWater. His former position of general manager of the Centre Area Transportation Authority brought Abbey and his young family to the Centre Region in 1984. Followed by service in the Pennsylvania Senate as executive director of the Transportation Committee and more recent assignments at Penn State’s Institute of Energy and the Environment, PennTAP and the College of Engineering, he has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the environment.
He holds a B.S. in zoology from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in language and literature from Central Michigan University and has a professional certification in applied river morphology.
George Asimos
Attorney, Saul Ewing, LLP
In his real estate and land use practice spanning more than 20 years, George Asimos divides his practice between development advocacy and transactional work. He is particularly experienced representing clients in the areas of telecommunications, oil and gas, as well as the growing Marcellus Shale industry.
On the development side, he represents developers, land owners and others seeking project approvals from municipalities in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania in matters relating to zoning, subdivision, and land development. His projects include telecommunications facilities, quarries, warehouses, and residential communities. As a result of his experience in the municipal approval of telecommunications facilities, representing most of the largest telecommunications and tower companies, he has been heavily involved in litigation on behalf of telecommunications companies under the antenna siting provisions of the Federal Telecommunications Act. Though his clients are limited to private sector developers, industrial companies and landowners, his work is informed by his 17 years in Township government and eight years on the Chester County Planning Commission Board.
On the transactional side, George represents real estate owners and investors in the purchase, sale, and leasing of all basic categories of real estate, including office, commercial, and industrial properties, raw land for development, and unique properties such as quarries, telecommunications towers and golf courses.
A substantial part of George’s practice also involves advising land owners and nonprofit land trusts on the donation of conservation easements and related real estate planning. He has drafted, or advised landowners on, more than 200 conservation easement donations protecting more than 40,000 acres of land in more than 10 states.
Reneé Carey
Executive Director, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy
Reneé has been with the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy since 1994, becoming Executive Director in 1998. She is past President of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, and still serves on the organization’s board as well as its conference committee. Additionally, Renee’ sits on the Pennsylvania Forestry Association Board and serves on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Forest Stewardship Committee.
Cynthia Carrow
Vice President, Government and Community Relations, Western PA Conservancy
Cynthia Carrow oversees WPC’s public policy work, as well as the Community Gardens and Greenspace program which is responsible for more than 140 signature gardens and greening projects in 19 western Pennsylvania counties.
Cynthia is a long-time conservationist and advocate for protection of the natural environment. She participates in a wide variety of conservation and environmental programs and activities across Pennsylvania. She is chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). She has served as a member of the council since 1997. Created by law and reporting to the governor, the General Assembly, DEP, and the public, the council’s duty is to review the work of the DEP and make recommendations for improvements, study major environmental issues facing Pennsylvania, and promote sound environmental legislation. She is co-chair of the PA Abandoned Mine Land Campaign, a statewide coalition of conservation/environmental organizations advancing reauthorization of the federal program to clean up lands and waters.
Cynthia also is actively involved in the Pittsburgh community and serves on the following boards and advisory committees: WQED Multimedia Community Advisory Board; the advisory board for the Department of Science, Robert Morris University; the board of Conservation Consultants, Inc.; the board of Healthy Home Resources; the advisory council of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania; the Pttsburgh Cultural Trust Advisory Committee; past president of the board of directors of the Animal Rescue League/Pennsylvania Wildlife Center; and a member of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Capital Bicentennial Committee.
Cynthia attended Clemson University and the University of Pittsburgh where she received a B.S. degree.
Brenda Costa
Executive Director, French Creek Valley Conservancy
Brenda Costa joined French Creek Valley Conservancy in 2016 as the Executive Director. Previously, Brenda worked in environmental and geologic consulting for more than 20 years, with a concentration on groundwater. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Allegheny College and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Penn State, and has served on the Board of the Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists. Brenda focuses on land protection and conservation efforts in northwest Pennsylvania, as well as providing educational programs to schools and community groups. She enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors- traveling, hiking, kayaking, and skiing- especially in the company of her husband and two sons.
Jim Engel
Executive Director, Tinicum Conservancy
Jim brings 16 years of land conservancy experience and a lifelong passion for the natural environment. His family roots include Pennsylvania and he has a special love for the Delaware River and its tributaries. Jim joined the conservancy in February of 2008 and the Conservancy is benefiting from his knowledge accumulated through seven years as the executive director of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and fundraising positions with The Nature Conservancy and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Jim and his wife, Dawn, and daughter, Abbey, live on a forested parcel adjacent to several thousand acres of preserved farmland.
James Finley
Penn State University (retired)
Jim retired in 2017 after 42 years working for Penn State. At that time, he was the Ibberson Professor of Forest Resources, Director of the Center for Private Forests at Penn State which he founded in 2011, and Pennsylvania extension forester. During his tenure at Penn State, he conducted research and extension education programs focused on people and sustainable forest resource management on private forestland. He was the co-founder of Penn State’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment dual title graduate degree program, and senior research fellow for the Pinchot Institute for Conservation. He serves on the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Eden Hill Conservancy, and Foundation for Sustainable Forest boards. Linda Finley, his wife of nearly 20 years, and Jim own and 270 acres of forest in Elk County.
Brian Gallagher
Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Brian has been with WPC since 1999, first in the garden and greenspace and conservation programs before joining the public policy team in 2004. He works on a number of issues including the federal farm bill, abandoned mine lands, and wildlife funding, and is also involved with WPC’s accreditation efforts.
Prior to joining the conservancy, he worked for an arts agency in Florida. He has a degree in cultural anthropology from Florida State University. He grew up in the Mid-Mon Valley, south of Pittsburgh, where he frequently visited Mingo Creek County Park.
Bill Gladden
Executive Director, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust
Bill has over 30 years of public and private sector experience in land use and preservation. He was born and raised in western Pennsylvania and holds a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia. Bill began the Chester County chapter of his career in 1994 and was asked to establish the county’s department of open space preservation in 2004. The department is responsible for monitoring land preserved through County programs as well as the administration of grant programs that represent an investment of over $200 million and have helped finance the preservation of over 55,000 acres of farms, forests, parks and preserves. In 2018, Bill was named executive director of French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust.
Kathie Shirk Gonick
Director of Land Protection and In-House Counsel, Lancaster County Conservancy
As director of land protection, Kate works with landowners, businesses, funders, and local and state government to identify and protect Lancaster County’s most vital natural lands. Kate, a native of Lancaster County, previously held a position at the Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, PA, drafting subdivision and land development, and zoning ordinances, and working on general land use and historic preservation planning. Kate also held the position of cultural resource and environmental planner/archaeologist for the Pinelands Commission and developed a program in archaeology for Cheyney University teaching several courses and establishing a laboratory and university guidelines.
Kate practiced land-use law for over 25 years before receiving her M.A. in anthropology/Aachaeology from Temple University where she is a doctoral candidate. Kate holds a B.A. from Sweet Briar College and a J.D. from Penn State University Dickinson School of Law. Kate enjoys all types of winter activities, including downhill and cross-country skiing and hiking. Other hobbies include gardening and writing. Kathie and her husband, Jeff, live in Manheim Township.
John Goodall
Western Area Manager, Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
John conducts conservation easement outreach, participates in marketing efforts associated with the Conservancy’s Municipal Assistance Program, assists with monitoring, enforcement, and administration of conservation easements within our program area which encompasses approximately 24 townships in southwestern Chester County as well as adjacent townships in Lancaster County. He also coordinates and manages agricultural preservation outreach efforts that include conservation planning and implementation of best management practices to mitigate agricultural impacts on water quality. John is Director at the Conservancy’s 771-acre Laurels Preserve located in nearby East Fallowfield, Newlin and West Marlborough Townships and oversees the stewardship of the natural areas and trails.
Dawn Gorham
Director of Land Preservation, Wildlands Conservancy
Before joining Wildlands in summer 2015, Dawn served as the executive director of Pocono Heritage Land Trust where she was responsible for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive land conservation program, as well as the day to day management of the small land trust. Today, Dawn’s years of land conservation expertise are supporting Wildlands’ mission to protect critical natural areas and waterways. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental and forest biology from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry and resides in the Poconos.
Kelly Herrenkohl
Vice President of Communications and Engagement, Natural Lands
As Vice President of Communications and Engagement, Kelly oversees a team of people who focus on connecting people to nature—from events and volunteers, to communications and graphic design. She also oversees the organization’s Urban Program, which is working to foster opportunities for city residents to enjoy the outdoors.
Prior to joining Natural Lands, Kelly spent a decade working for Vetri Community Partnership, which promotes health and wellness through teaching cooking skills to children and families. “While cooking and land preservation may seem at odds with one another, they are actually the flip sides of the same public health coin…getting your body moving and engaging with nature is just as important to physical, mental, and emotional health as feeding yourself more fruits and vegetables,” she shares.
Kelly’s favorite place to be outside is her backyard garden. “It’s been a labor of love for the last 15 years. My kids have joked that I love working in my garden more than I love them. That is totally not true!”
She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and International Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Missouri.
Sean P. Kenny
Executive Director, Farm and Natural Lands Trust of York County
Sean has been with Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County since 2008. FNLT has more than 10,000 acres under conservation easements on over 130 properties property of agricultural and environmental importance. Prior to joining FNLT, Sean was employed with the York County Chamber of Commerce following graduation from York College of Pennsylvania. Sean lives on a FNLT preserved farm, which is bisected by the Heritage Rail Trail, with his wife and two young children. Sean has or had leadership positions with local arts, young professional and culture organizations, as well as sitting on the York County Planning Commission.
Kris Kern
Senior Land Conservationist, Heritage Conservancy
Kris has more than 10 years of land-use planning and conservation experience. In addition to assisting with Heritage Conservancy’s grant writing and fundraising efforts, Kris works with municipalities and private landowners to protect land via conservation easements and fee acquisitions. Before joining Heritage Conservancy, she worked for the County of Bucks, administering three grant programs under its open space program. Kris is a graduate of Kutztown University and the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning.
Christopher M. Kocher
President, Wildlands Conservancy PA
No stranger to the Lehigh Valley or Wildlands, president Christopher Kocher’s more than 15-year tenure began when he joined the organization as an environmental scientist in 1995. Throughout his career, he’s raised community awareness about the region’s specific conservation needs, and has notably developed several key, broad-based partnerships that continue to be vital to fulfilling our land protection, environmental stewardship and education mission.
His conservation work has been recognized statewide by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and other like-minded organizations.
Chris and his wife, Sheila, live in Whitehall and are parents to Ella, Jack and their loveable yellow lab, Daisy. As a family, they enjoy connecting with nature on the Ironton Rail Trail and the nearby Coplay Creek.
Jeffrey Marshall
President, Heritage Conservancy
As president, Jeff leads the Conservancy’s principal mission-related initiatives including Lasting Landscapes, historic preservation, land protection negotiation, and high-level strategic master planning. Jeff has more than 25 years of combined experience in land protection and historic preservation. He is actively involved in administering the conservation easement and facade easement programs with expertise in the employment of protection strategies for significant resources. He gives public education programs and acts as a preservation advocate throughout the community. Numerous articles have been published on his endeavors in the preservation field.
Deborah Nardone
Executive Director, ClearWater Conservancy
Deborah Nardone has primary strategic and operational responsibility of carrying out ClearWater’s mission and vision. She helps lead staff, volunteers, and friends of the organization to implement that mission while setting strategic direction for the organization. She is also the lead fundraiser and represents the organization to the community at large.
Deb has 20 years of broad experience in the field of natural conservation with local, state and national organizations including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, and the Sierra Club.
She was awarded the Conservation Professional of the Year Award by National Trout Unlimited in 2010 and was named one of the top 40 Pennsylvanians under the age of 40 working to protect the environment by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Nardone earned bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and political science from Juniata College and a master’s degree in environmental pollution control from Penn State University.
She resides on a small, wooded lot with her husband, Jason Little, and their son, Jonah. Together, they enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing, hunting, gardening and cooking.
Andy Pitz
French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust (retired)
A key leader and thinker within the conservation community, Andy has spent his entire professional career working to permanently protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources. From 1986 to 2012, he worked in various capacities for Natural Lands, where he coordinated public-policy activities, developed strategic and ecological management plans, supervised transactions on hundreds of projects, and initiated several landscape-scale conservation efforts. Pitz retired as the executive director of the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust in 2019. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its staff and conservation holdings, achieved accreditation, developed a new strategic plan, increased revenue, and undertook the largest conservation project in its 50-year history.
Pitz was a founder of PALTA and served as president for six of the organization’s early years. He was instrumental in the hiring of PALTA’s first executive director in 2000 and the passage of the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act in 2001. He rejoined the board in 2013 and served until his retirement.
He has also been active in the Climate Reality Project as a presenter and activist. He participated in one of the first groups trained by Al Gore in 2007, and in the following years presented more than 80 times in 15 states, focusing on the links between land conservation and climate change.
Todd Pride
Managing Director, Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County
Todd joined the TLC Team in 2019 as Managing Director to lead the organization as it enters its 25th year. He brings over 20 years of corporate management experience from the financial services and merchant banking industry. From 2017 – 2018, Todd worked with the TLC Team to expand the wildlife segment of their education programs along with serving as an organizational advisor. For the past decade, he led Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers & Outdoors Partners as their Managing Partner and Lead Coach. As a nationally recognized fishing, hunting heritage, conservation, and diversity training organization, the Mid-Atlantic operation trained and introduced over 11,000 diverse youth and adults to our region’s outdoor natural resources. Todd is also an avid hunting and fishing trainer.
Todd believes land preservation is critical to protecting and enhancing wildlife habitats and is thrilled to be part of the expanding educational activities that currently extend into 60 environments in our multi-state region as he oversees TLC’s conservation work.
Lauren Pregmon Tetreault
Attorney, Pregmon Law Offices
Lauren Pregmon Tetreault grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Kenyon College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. After graduating cum laude from Kenyon, Lauren attended Wake Forest University where she received her law degree. While at Wake Forest, Lauren studied in both London and Venice.
After graduation from law school, Lauren moved to Atlanta to practice commercial real estate law for Parker, Hudson, Rainer and Dobbs. It was not long, however, before Lauren had the opportunity to relocate to Philadelphia to partner with her mother, Patricia, at Pregmon Law Offices. Since 2000, Lauren has practiced general real estate with a strong emphasis on conservation law. Lauren is proud to have counseled land trusts and landowners in conservation transactions which have resulted in thousands of conserved acres throughout the Commonwealth. As a frequent lecturer on conservation easements, she shares her passion for protecting critical natural resources with seasoned professionals as well as new members of the conservation community.
Ron Ramsey
Senior Policy Advisor, The Nature Conservancy—Pennsylvania Chapter
Ron is the senior policy advisor for The Nature Conservancy’s Pennsylvania chapter.
Diane Rosencrance
Executive Director, Delaware Highlands Conservancy
Formerly a senior director at Natural Lands, Diane joined the Conservancy in 2016 with twenty years’ experience in land conservation. She is a registered landscape architect and her portfolio includes assisting landowners in preserving their properties through conservation easements and fee-simple transactions, landscape and watershed-scale projects, stewardship and trail plans, and park master plans. Diane has a B.S. in landscape architecture from Temple University.
Sally Zaino
President, Manada Conservancy
Sally is one of the original founders and Board members of Manada Conservancy and has served in several roles since its inception in 1997, both as a volunteer and as former Executive Director. She chaired the East Hanover Township Environmental Advisory Council for 10 years, is a former township supervisor and planning commission member. She has represented Manada Conservancy at a number of regional planning committees, including regional comprehensive planning, and the recent Return on Environment Study for Dauphin County, an analysis of the economic value of conserving natural resources. She is also a part-time writer, editor, and poet.
