Letter from the Board Chair

It is truly exciting, energizing, and humbling to begin my service as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Willistown Conservation Trust. It is exciting to be part of such an inspiring organization with its scientifically-focused and highly successful core activities: Bird Conservation, Community Farming, Education & Outreach, Land Protection, Land Stewardship, and Watershed Protection. These programs make a genuine positive difference in our lives by demonstrating how open space preservation, agroecology, habitat preservation, and stream quality enhancements can meaningfully improve our environment.

Linda I. McIsaac

Silenia Rhoads

Justin N. Thompson

Richard A. Warden

Jason D. Weckstein, Ph.D.

Jeanne B. Van Alen**

Alejandro Zozaya

**President Emerita

STAFF

Todd Alleger | New England Motus Project Technician

Molly Clark | Rushton Farm Production Manager

Aaron Coolman | Motus Technician & Avian Migration Ecologist

Sue Costello | GIS Coordinator

Mike Cranney | Preserve & Facilities Manager

Fred de Long | Director of Community Farm Program

Michelle Eshleman | Motus Avian Research Coordinator

Alison Fetterman | Bird Conservation Associate & PA Motus Project Manager

Blake Goll | Education Programs Manager

Eliza Gowen | Community Farm Outreach Coordinator

Noah Gress | Rushton Farm Field Manager

Chelsea Heck | Director of Annual Giving and Outreach

Erik Hetzel | Director of Land Protection and Public Grants

Sarah Hutchin | Garden and Landscape Coordinator

Andrew Kirkpatrick | Director of Stewardship

Lisa Kiziuk | Director of Bird Conservation Program

Kelsey Lingle | Director of Communications and Marketing

Lindsay Martin-Carlson | Event Support Manager

Lauren McGrath | Director of Watershed Protection Program

Monica McQuail | Communications Specialist

Molly Scott | Events Coordinator

Anna Willig | Watershed Conservation Research and Data Specialist

FRONT COVER | David Hucker

It is energizing to have an opportunity to work with and support the efforts of WCT’s Leadership Team led by President & Executive Director Kate Etherington and Associate Executive Director Julie Graham who are building on the extraordinary legacy of the founders of WCT and leading us into a new era of success. It also is energizing to be part of an organization dedicated to taking on the challenges of preserving key properties in our area at a time when open space faces some real threats.

It is humbling to follow three outstanding Board Chairs: Mark Ledger, Janice Murdoch, and Beth Hucker. I had the privilege of working with Mark, Janice, and Beth since 2014 when I joined the WCT Board. Their leadership not only strengthened WCT, but it also inspired me to want to build on the many successful initiatives that they helped develop. Finally, it is humbling for me to have an opportunity to work with the Bonnie Van Alen, whose inspirational leadership is a core value upon which we all want to build.

As for my background, I am a partner at the law firm of Saul Ewing where I handle complex business litigation and environmental litigation, and I counsel various boards on governance issues. I previously served as the Board Chair of The Haverford School, and I currently serve on the Board of the YSC Academy. I grew up in Downingtown and graduated from The Haverford School, Harvard University, and The Dickinson School of Law.

I look forward to getting to know WCT’s many dedicated supporters like yourself!

John Stoviak Chair, Board of Trustees