Wagon Wheel Farm, Winchester, Va., October 2009
H. Hedrick Belin, President
Hedrick joined the Conservancy in January, 2007. Charged with directing the Conservancy as it meets the myriad of challenges facing the Potomac River, he will guide the Conservancy through its next phase of growth and help expand our important conservation work throughout the watershed. Hedrick will provide the leadership to actively protect water quality, preserve scenic beauty, and encourage responsible recreation in the Potomac River watershed. He comes to the Conservancy with over 15 years of nonprofit fundraising and leadership experience, most recently as Vice President of the Metropolitan Group, a strategic communication and resource development consulting firm. Before joining the Metropolitan Group, Hedrick worked for several conservation groups, including the National Park Foundation, Izaak Walton League of America, and the League of Conservation Voters. In addition to his extensive fundraising and management expertise, Hedrick has experience mobilizing grassroots advocates, formulating public policy, partnering with public agencies and developing conservation programs. Hedrick received his bachelor's degree in history from Yale University, and his master's in public administration from George Washington University. He lives with his wife and two children in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Patrick Felling, Virginia Policy Coordinator
Pat works on state and local policy initiatives out of our Shenandoah Resource Center in Winchester, VA. In addition to taking leadership of our existing state-level work, he designs and manages a new policy initiative for the Potomac headwaters area. Pat works with our local partners to implement regulatory changes that will improve water quality throughout the Shenandoah watershed and downstream Potomac, particularly in Shenandoah and Frederick (VA) counties. Pat has a wealth of experience in the environmental field, and a successful history of working with a broad range of partners. He has 14 years of environmental policy experience in state government, including strategic plan development and regulatory work. He is also an adjunct science professor at Shenandoah University.
Anne Sundermann, Senior Director of Communications and Outreach
Anne joined the Conservancy in December 2006. She writes and edits the Conservancy's quarterly newsletter, RiverScape, brochures, reports, and other materials. Anne produces the webpage and email newsletters, RiverUpdate, and works with the media to publicize Conservancy activities. She also oversees the Conservancy's public support activities, including Growing Native and the River Center at Lockhouse 8. Anne was most recently the outreach director at the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, and has worked in communications for several DC-area nonprofit organizations. Anne has a B.A. in English Literature from Villanova University. In her free time, Anne likes to hike, kayak, and sail.
Deanna Tricarico, Outreach Coordinator
Deanna organizes the Conservancy’s public support efforts, including Growing Native and the River Center at Lockhouse 8. She is responsible for fall seed collections, and for promoting the volunteer training program. Deanna comes to the Conservancy after several years’ experience coordinating events, recruiting and training volunteers, and cultivating relationships at The Animal Medical Center in New York City and as a volunteer at Sweetbriar Nature Center. Deanna graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Political Science and Foreign Languages.
Lydia Tukarski, Communications Assistant
Lydia joined the Conservancy in September 2009. As the Communications Assistant, she coordinates media relations, assists with writing and editing newsletters, brochures and reports, updates the website, and helps out with public support activities such as Growing Native and Lockhouse 8. Lydia comes to the Conservancy with a background in public relations and communication. She has experience coordinating a variety of public interest and “green” campaigns, and has worked with organizations such as 350.org and the National Environmental Education Foundation to ensure the success of their communication goals. Lydia earned her BA in Communication Studies with a minor in German Language, Literature and Culture from the University of Maryland at College Park. She has lived and studied in Italy and Germany and when she’s not traveling, she can be found hiking, cooking obscure foreign dishes, or buried away in a modern art museum.
Emily Warner, Conservation Associate
Emily joined the Conservancy in March of 2009. She works in the Potomac headwaters region on land protection transactions, watershed restoration and conservation projects, and educational programs. Before joining the Conservancy, Emily served as Executive Director of the Hampshire County (WV) Farmland Protection Board. Her recent experience includes establishing riparian forest buffers with Chesapeake Bay Foundation and conducting stream assessment and restoration projects with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College of Meadville, PA. In her free time, Emily enjoys running, hiking, canoeing, gardening, and bread-baking.
Kelly Watkinson, Senior Director of Land Protection
Kelly joined the Conservancy in May 2005. Based at our Shenandoah Resource Center in Winchester, Virginia, Kelly is responsible for carrying out the Conservancy's land protection efforts in the headwaters of the Potomac River watershed. This effort includes outreach to landowners about opportunities for land conservation through conservation easements. She is also responsible for representing the Conservancy on issues that affect the communities of the Shenandoah Valley and adjacent West Virginia. Kelly comes to the Conservancy from the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, where she was Watershed Coordinator for the York and Rappahannock River Basins. A former Peace Corps volunteer, she has worked to promote conservation and sustainable farming techniques in Guatemala. Kelly holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management from Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In her free time, Kelly enjoys traveling, camping, gardening and restoring an old farmhouse in the country.
Emily Warner, Conservation Associate