Scott Housten, a resident of Ocean City, Maryland, has been birding throughout Worcester County and Maryland's Eastern Shore for more than 20 years. An avid traveler and experienced birder, he has explored birding hotspots across Central America and Southeast Asia and has led guided birding tours for the Delmarva Birding Weekend, the former Eastern Shore of Virginia Birding & Wildlife Festival in Cape Charles, and wildlife and birding tours in El Salvador. Scott is also a frequent contributor to the Maryland Biodiversity Project, having submitted more than 1,700 photographs of birds and insects to its database. When he's not in the field birding, he enjoys traveling, archaeology, and the colorful world of lucha libre wrestling.

Sandi Olek is the Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where she leads efforts to expand, promote, and celebrate outdoor recreation. She works with land and resource managers, communities, outfitters, tourism partners, and organizations to help Marylanders connect with nature and become stewards of the environment. Sandi leads a dynamic team that is focused on strengthening Maryland’s outdoor recreation economy and expanding access to outdoor experiences through initiatives such as the Outdoor Recreation Summit, regional trail planning, policy coordination, and tools that promote getting more people outdoors.  Sandi has held leadership roles across environmental education, sustainable community planning, and state forest programs, and has experience in local planning, regional environmental conservation, and bay restoration.  Sandi holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Marine Ecology from Old Dominion University.

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Matt Heinsimer is a Senior Director of Media Partnerships at Outside, where he's spent the last three years building brand and destination partnerships across the outdoor recreation space. Before Outside, Matt spent his career working across travel, auto, tech, and telco — giving him a broad lens on how brands connect with audiences who care about getting outside and exploring their world. He's excited to be building a growing partnership with the State of Maryland and the Office of Outdoor Recreation. 

Matt lives in North Jersey, just outside New York, with his wife and two kids (7 and 5), where East Coast family beach trips are a summer tradition. Outside of work, he's usually chasing a run, a hike, a swim, or — best of all — first tracks on a ski hill in the winter.

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Josh Kurtz is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and conservationist, passionate about the beauty of our state and all the resources it has to offer.

Under the Moore/Miller administration, Secretary Kurtz leads teams across the state, working to improve water quality and bay resilience, restore and conserve forested land, expand access to our state parks, monitor and slow the spread of invasive species, and ensure the state maintains sustainable fisheries.

Kurtz previously served as the Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and has also served as policy and government relations director for The Nature Conservancy in Maryland, where he created and led advocacy campaigns leveraging strong relationships with partners and industry leaders to build support for policies regarding conservation and climate change in both the Maryland General Assembly and the DC City Council.

Kurtz lives in Crownsville, Maryland, with his wife, Samantha, and their son. He holds a master's degree in public policy from George Mason University and a bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware.

Aviva North is a Senior Associate Principal at Coraggio Group, where she leads tourism strategy and destination stewardship consulting. She has guided DMOs, local governments, and nonprofits through strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable recreation strategy. Aviva brings a deep passion for community economic development and sustainable outdoor recreation, grounded in advocacy, equitable engagement, and capacity building. Prior to Coraggio, she worked in rural recreation development across Colorado as well as rural higher education access.

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A former long-distance cyclist and an avid walker, Sue retired from local government service after 37 years as the Director of Caroline County Recreation and Parks. “Trails within parks are valuable assets; connecting parks and people to other community destinations like libraries, schools, and main street shopping—now this is invaluable!” She currently serves as the Board Chair for the Maryland Eastern Shore Trails Network, a volunteer network of trail advocates and educators. She’s also a trained mediator, an artist, and a leader within the Rotary Club of Denton, Maryland. 

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Eric Luedtke serves as Director of Capital Projects for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. DNR is the largest landowner in the state, and manages thousands of buildings and other facilities across those lands. As Director of Capital Projects, Eric works with agency leadership to set priorities for capital investments in the DNR system. He also oversees the team that maintains DNR facilities and constructs new facilities for use by the public and a diverse range of DNR staff from park rangers to Natural Resources Police officers to scientists. In addition, Eric’s team administers the Waterway Improvement Fund capital grant program, which for more than 50 years has been the largest source of funding for waterway improvements that support recreational boating in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Prior to joining DNR, Eric worked in the Governor’s Office as Chief Legislative Officer and as a Senior Policy Advisor, and served three terms as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, where he rose to the position of Majority Leader. He lives in Ashton, Maryland with his wife Dawn, a member of the Montgomery County Council, and their four children.

Laura Scharle is a content creator and independent consultant, specializing in marketing, communications, and interpretive planning in the areas of outdoor recreation and heritage tourism. In 2021, she launched DelmarvaTrailsandWaterways.com, a "one-stop-shop" for every trail, kayak launch, bike path, beach, and fishing pier across Delmarva. Since then, she has grown her social media channels to nearly 40k outdoor-loving followers. Prior to starting her consulting business, Laura spent 17 years working for Delaware State Parks as a Park Interpreter and Programs Manager. She is an avid sea kayaker and completed a personal goal of paddling 600 miles around the Delmarva Peninsula in 2023. She lives in Ocean Pines with her husband and son.  

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Shawn Kimbro is the 2025 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Angler of the Year. A life-long fisherman and the author of three popular fishing books, he is recognized across the Chesapeake region as a leading voice for stewardship within the fishing community. His innovative and conservation-oriented techniques for both fly and light tackle fishing have been featured in multiple national and regionally focused publications. His how-to fishing videos have garnered over 5 million views on YouTube and on other social media platforms. He is the longest serving board member for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and also works closely with the Maryland Coastal Conservation Association. He is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council’s Shad and River Herring Advisory Committee. His avocational interests include mentoring prospective anglers and collecting vintage and antique fishing equipment. When he isn’t fishing, he is the director and research coordinator for the Sleep Medicine program at George Washington University.

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Kate Fritz has had the honor of serving as the CEO for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay since 2017. She earned a BA in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and an Executive Masters in Natural Resource Management from Virginia Tech. Her 20+ year career has been focused on water resource management in the Chesapeake Bay, specifically focusing on leading change at the intersection of land, water, and people Kate enjoys traveling the watershed with her fly rod, exploring some of the most beautiful places in the Chesapeake region. She has lived in five of the seven jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay, and calls Annapolis, MD her home. Kate believes that if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

Ashley Cleveland, MCMP, is an urban planner, civic engagement strategist, and outdoor access advocate with more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of government, community development, environmental stewardship, and public investment. Her work focuses on building the civic infrastructure, partnerships, and organizational capacity that help communities turn local ideas into sustainable impact.

Ashley previously served as a Senior Program Associate with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, where she provided technical assistance and coaching to cities implementing resident-led, volunteer-powered neighborhood improvement initiatives through the Love Your Block program. Her experience also includes serving as a senior advisor to local government leaders and on Utah’s outdoor recreation grant advisory board, giving her perspective from both the grantmaking and grant-recipient sides of community investment.

Through Cleveland Consulting LLC, Ashley works with public agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to strengthen engagement strategies, partnerships, funding readiness, and systems for community-led implementation. She is also a regional speaker and facilitator on civic infrastructure, outdoor access, public space, and equitable community development.

Jason Swann serves as Intermountain West Conservation Finance Director for the Trust for Public Land, where he has helped raise over half a billion dollars in public funding through legislative and ballot initiatives supporting parks, trails, conservation, and public lands. A former financial services professional, Jason transitioned to conservation, bringing financial expertise and community-driven advocacy to advance equity and outdoor access — including playing a central role in creating Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program by leading a coalition of 60+ organizations whose recommendations led to its passage. He serves on the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office advisory board, was appointed by Senate President Coleman to the State Trust Lands Conservation and Recreation Working Group, volunteers on the COS Leadership Committee, and the Wildfire and Watershed Initiative for Resilient Colorado, and has held prior appointments to Governor Polis’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board and as co-chair of the City and County of Denver Environmental Justice Committee. In 2025, he helped establish the Colorado Community Schoolyards Grant Program, which supports underserved schools in converting schoolyards into vibrant, nature-rich spaces. In 2024, Jason launched Rising Routes Alliance, a nonprofit focused on strengthening the outdoor access ecosystem by supporting the leaders and organizations driving it forward. He lives in Denver, Colorado, and spends his spare time backpacking in the state's high alpine mountains. 

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Silas Chamberlin, PhD, is President of Firefly Outdoor + Economics, a non-profit consulting firm that advises clients on issue related to the outdoor recreation economy. Sias is passionate about work at the intersection of economic development and the environment. His second book, Wild Profits: Exploring America's $1 Trillion Outdoor Recreation Economy, is under contract with Island Press. Since September 2025, Silas has] served as the inaugural executive director of the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania.

 

Silas is also a professional economic developer, working as Chief Strategy Officer and VP of economic development at the York County Economic Alliance, a position in which he oversees the economic strategies and initiatives for a county of 450,000+ residents and 20,000+ businesses. In 2020, he led the creation of York County's new 10-year economic development plan, which ultimately convened 1,000+ stakeholders to cast a bold vision for people-focused and place-based economic development. He founded the award-winning York County Trail Towns program—now active in 7 communities—and leads development of the $75 million Codorus Greenway, the largest green infrastructure project in York County’s history.
 
 Silas also chaired the YoCo Strong Recovery Task Force, which advised York County on the allocation of $132 million in federal pandemic recovery funds and currently chairs the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force, which is advancing a $27 million investment in countywide broadband expansion.
 
 Silas previously served as CEO of Downtown Inc, executive director of Schuylkill River National Heritage Area, and in regional leadership roles with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
 
 Silas holds a PhD in environmental history from Lehigh University and certificate in commercial real estate development from Cornell University. Yale University Press published his first book On the Trail: A History of American Hiking, in 2016. Silas is a past chair of the PA Humanities Council, current member of the PA Downtown Center's board, and serve as Chairman and a Governor’s appointee to PA’s Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council. Silas also serves on the national foundation board of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

 

Missy Rentz spent nearly three decades in marketing and brand strategy for professional sports — including the Houston Texans, the Washington Wizards, and Roc Nation. In 2020, she left it all for a year on the road, camping across the country, and came home with a different mission: helping people find their way back into their own lives through time outdoors.

She's the founder of Catch Yourself Smiling and host of The Parks Podcast, now in its third year and 80+ episodes deep. The show exists to help people discover, protect, and fall in love with America's public lands — one park, one guest, and one good conversation at a time — with a new soft spot for birding.

Wayne Klockner serves as the executive director of the American Birding Association. He joined the ABA after a long career in conservation with The Nature Conservancy and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Professionally, Wayne has lived and worked in Maryland, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, and Indonesia, fulfilling his dream to work conserving natural lands and waters for all life. Wayne has been a lifelong birder; as a pre-teen in New Jersey, his spark bird was the Dark-eyed Junco. He has since pursued birds in 20 countries and counting but most enjoys documenting the seasonal changes in birdlife in patches close to home. Wayne lives in Ocean City, Maryland with his wife, Lisa, and a springer spaniel named Lizzy.

Kaili van Waveren is the Executive Director of ThorpeWood, where she works at the intersection of nature, mental health, grief, and environmental stewardship. Originally from California, Kaili has called Frederick County, Maryland home for the past 13 years.

Kaili holds a Master’s degree in thanatology from Hood College, where she also taught in the Department of Psychology and Counseling, and a bachelor’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University. Her work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: meaningful experiences in the natural world can change how we understand ourselves, connect with one another, and relate to the places we call home.

Kaili also leads The Umbrella Project, a nature-based grief support program that uses backpacking, hiking, and other experiences in nature to help people navigate loss and life transitions. After years of volunteering with The Umbrella Project and serving on its Board of Directors, she now helps lead the program as part of ThorpeWood’s nature-based mental health programming. Through this work, she has seen firsthand how powerful emotional experiences in nature can deepen connection to the natural world and, in turn, inspire people to care more deeply for it.

Her training includes wilderness first aid, grief counseling, mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based ecotherapy, meditation instruction, and nature education.

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Ryan Galligan is a Forest Technician with the Maryland Forest Service for Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties. Ryan received a degree in Forest Technology from Allegany College of Maryland in 2006. Since then he has gained extensive experience in fire science going on over 20 wildfire assignments across 10 western states. In this time has also been instrumental in expanding prescribed fire program onto private and local government lands on Maryland's Eastern Shore. This includes over a decade of experience as a burn boss, firing boss and mentor to younger staff on prescribed fires. Serving as the sole technician on the Lower Shore, he has built a highly effective, field-driven program that delivers habitat improvement results across public and private lands. Ryan is an avid outdoorsmen spending most of his free time hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors.

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Deborah is the Director of Ecological Management at the Maryland/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, where she has worked since 2001. Her work focuses on restoration at more than 30 Conservancy preserves across Maryland and DC, from the Central Apps to the Coastal Plain. She works with staff and partners to restore natural communities across the state, ensuring they are healthy and resilient in light of an uncertain climate future. Restoration activities include native plantings, prescribed burns, invasive species control, sustainable timber harvests, and monitoring how plants, animals, and natural communities respond to these conservation actions. As a firefighter, Deborah serves as Engine Boss and Firing Boss. Deborah is the project lead for the Potomac Headwaters Fire Learning Network, and she serves as adjunct faculty at Frostburg State University and Salisbury University. 

Before coming to The Nature Conservancy, Deborah worked on the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor for the World Bank, focusing on Belize, Nicaragua and Honduras.  

Degrees held: 

• PhD, Entomology and Plant Biology, Louisiana State University
• MS, Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee
• BS, International Environmental Studies, International Food and Agriculture, Rutgers University, Cook College

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I am a wife, mother of three young men, and a small business owner. I am a member of the Woodland Point Hunt Club in Southern Maryland and a Management Partner at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Johnston County, NC. I am a certified Hunter’s Safety instructor, a mentor via Learnhunting.org, and the Maryland Chapter President of American Daughters of Conservation (ADC). I have a Master’s degree in Architecture and a Bachelor’s of Psychology which drives my interest in the effects of the built environment and harmony with nature on the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of the people using the space. My favorite hobbies all have three things in common: 1. Being outside, 2. Hunting, fishing, growing, raising, foraging, cooking, and eating food, and 3. enjoying time with friends and family. 

Chris Hopkinson was the 1st person to standup paddle board the entire length of the Chesapeake Bay starting in Havre de Grace and finishing in the Atlantic back in September 2020. His mission then was to drive awareness and funding for Oyster Recovery Partnership. His paddle journey raised over $193k and was featured in a documentary film Power of the Paddle; https://www.pbs.org/video/power-of-the-paddle-4lmicj/

The Bay Paddle https://www.baypaddle.org/ is now an annual day of paddle races on Kent Island that brings over 300 paddlers to the Chesapeake and continues to raise funding and awareness for Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Conservancy and Waterkeepers Chesapeake.  

Leila (pronounced LEE-luh) is the Bays Restoration Officer at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where she coordinates the state's internal and external work to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, as well as the lands and waters that surround them. Leila, who lives in Greenbelt, is a scientist by training and holds a PhD in organometallic chemistry from the University of Maryland. Her favorite outdoor activities are birding, hiking, yoga, and running. 

Ashley Cleveland, MCMP, is an urban planner, civic engagement strategist, and outdoor access advocate with more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of government, community development, environmental stewardship, and public investment. Her work focuses on building the civic infrastructure, partnerships, and organizational capacity that help communities turn local ideas into sustainable impact.

Ashley previously served as a Senior Program Associate with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, where she provided technical assistance and coaching to cities implementing resident-led, volunteer-powered neighborhood improvement initiatives through the Love Your Block program. Her experience also includes serving as a senior advisor to local government leaders and on Utah’s outdoor recreation grant advisory board, giving her perspective from both the grantmaking and grant-recipient sides of community investment.

Through Cleveland Consulting LLC, Ashley works with public agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to strengthen engagement strategies, partnerships, funding readiness, and systems for community-led implementation. She is also a regional speaker and facilitator on civic infrastructure, outdoor access, public space, and equitable community development.

Stephanie Benavides is a Program Administrator with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where she leads the Greenspace Equity Program, a grant program focused on expanding equitable access to parks, greenspaces, and outdoor recreation opportunities across Maryland. In her role, Stephanie works with communities and partners to support projects that create meaningful, accessible, and lasting outdoor spaces, particularly in communities that are overburdened and/or underserved.

Passionate about community development, environmental stewardship, and connecting people with resources, Stephanie brings a practical, collaborative approach to grantmaking and community partnerships. She is especially interested in helping organizations understand funding opportunities and translating community needs and ideas into strong, impactful projects.

Allison Gost is a Senior Program Manager for Climate Resilience, Adaptation & Priority Water Projects for the Maryland Department of Transportation's Office of Environment. She brings over 10 years of experience in state level climate adaptation and resilience - having previously worked for the Maryland Departments of Health and Natural Resources, a Masters in Public Health in Applied Environmental Health Sciences, and a lifelong commitment to the environment to her current role. Since joining MDOT in 2022, she has been responsible for the development and delivery of a variety of programs and projects which increase the resilience of the transportation system, fund tree planting in communities impacted by transportation projects, provide technical assistance and implementation support, and facilitates collaboration with partners at the local, state and federal level. She also co-leads the annual MDOT Grants Roadshow initiative. This effort brings together partners from across MDOT, to showcase grant opportunities and provide direct technical assistance to eligible organizations in support of local and state goals, through a series of workshops hosted across the state. As a lifelong Maryland resident, and a lover of the environment, she spends her time outside of work exploring trails, parks, and recreational opportunities across the state.

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Martha Waldron is a grantmaking and heritage professional with experience in grants administration, marketing, planning, and facilitating community projects, programs, and initiatives with a wide variety of external partners and collaborators. She holds a master's degree in Cultural Heritage Management from Johns Hopkins University and currently works as a Program Officer for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program, a state program that awards approximately $3 million towards capital and non-capital project grants highlighting Maryland's diverse heritage, enhance local communities, and promote tourism, sustainability, and economic development.

Jose is the Program Manager for Community Forestry at the Chesapeake Bay Trust, where he manages the Urban Trees Program, the Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund, and the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund. He has a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Cultural Studies from the University of Notre Dame, with a strong focus on Environmental Humanities. He is also an experienced educator and curriculum designer who has worked as a high school teacher, workshop facilitator, educational content creator, and manager of a department of Language and Literature in Colombia, his home country.

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Lianna administers the Urban Trees grant programs at the Chesapeake Bay Trust to plant trees in urban underserved areas of Maryland. Her work is dedicated to building the green and inclusive communities of the future. Before urban and community forestry, Lianna's work focused on food systems and environmental education. She researched sustainable food systems with the World Food Policy Center and the Environmental Defense Fund. Lianna was a founding teacher on educational teams that launched two urban middle schools: the Evergreen Middle School for Urban Exploration and the Brooklyn Garden Charter School, which both pioneered innovative approaches to education grounded to inclusion and environmental engagement. Lianna has Masters' degrees in Environmental Economics and Policy and K-12 Language and Literacy Education. 

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Megan D’Arcy has spent her career at the intersection of conservation, rural communities, and public investment. She is the Program Administrator for the Rural Maryland Council, where she leads the administration of major state grant programs investing millions of dollars each year in Maryland’s rural communities. Her work connects funding, policy, and partnerships to advance projects ranging from community and economic development to agriculture, health, infrastructure, and rural capacity building.

Before joining RMC, Megan spent 15 years in the land conservation field in Pennsylvania and Maryland, including 10 years with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, where she focused on land conservation and stewardship. That experience continues to shape her approach to rural

development, recognizing that thriving communities, working landscapes, natural resources, and economic opportunity are deeply connected.

Megan holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Kutztown University and a Master of Environmental Studies in Natural Resource Management from the University of Pennsylvania. She also serves on the Maryland Environmental Trust Board, bringing both a statewide funding perspective and a conservation background to her work supporting Maryland’s rural communities. When she’s not working, Megan is happiest outdoors.

Ashlie is the Outreach Coordinator for Assateague Island Alliance, the non profit friends group organization supporting Assateague Island National Seashore. She began her career with a Bachelors degree in Marine Biology which led to a 12 year adventure in Environmental Research and Education in various areas of the coastal mid-Atlantic region. Ashlie's current position with AIA allows her to balance raising a family and expressing her passion of Coastal Ecology. Ashlie aims to connect people to the fascinating processes unfolding in a naturally existing barrier island ecosystem found at Assateague Island National Seashore.  

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Paul combines a deep scientific background with a lifelong passion for outdoor stewardship. Holding a Master of Science in Geology from Temple University, he spent 25 years in the oil/gas industry and working as an environmental consultant/construction manager. Today, he is an American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 1 Coastal Kayak Instructor and owner of his own kayak eco-tour business, having previously guided with Coastal Kayak in Fenwick, DE.

Currently enrolled in the Maryland Master Naturalist program, Paul actively volunteers with local environmental non-profits to lend his skill set to their missions and continue to share his love of the environment with a broader reach of people. His passion for nature was sparked in childhood by his grandfather, Bill Peters, and high school biology teacher Jim Stevenson in Tallahassee, FL. Driven by that same spark, Paul is dedicated to exposing community members to local ecosystems and inspiring a shared passion for protecting our natural world.

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At MD DNR, I am a biologist that specializes in the conservation, restoration, and monitoring of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. I support all of these efforts through spatial data management in ESRI's ArcGIS, open-source coding in R, and review requests to conduct research, restoration, or mitigation using SAV. Prior to working at DNR, I completed my M.Sc. degree at the Horn Point Laboratory where I evaluated the impacts of living shorelines on near-shore SAV beds.

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Erin is a member of the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps (CCCC). For her service year she is partnering with Maryland DNR's SAV team to assist in rerooting (pun intended) SAV education and community engagement. With a Bachelor's in Environmental Studies from St. Mary's College of Maryland, Erin has a wide range of experience in the environmental field. In the future, she hopes to continue building skills in restoration, community outreach, and leading environmental education and activism.

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James is a PhD student from Caltech studying the microbial ecology of marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows. His focus is on methane cycling microbes and how their organization in space and time impact emissions and may change in future climates, using a combination of laboratory experiments and field sampling. He is currently working as part of the Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) team at MD DNR as part of a policy internship where he helps the team with their SAV Watchers training program, conducts site surveys, and is updating minimum habitat requirements for SAV in the Chesapeake. During graduate school, he helped lead the department's outdoor education program to introduce local school kids to the natural world in their own backyards, and taught an environmental justice course for graduate and undergraduates. Along with his love for the outdoors, James is an avid musician, performing with the Caltech Wind Orchestra and Octech Choir.

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Jared Parks, a native of the Eastern Shore, is the Director of Land Programs for the Lower Shore Land Trust where he works with landowners to preserve their properties from development. Previously, Parks spent 11 years doing similar work with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Jared has been birding nearly his entire life and participates annually in multiple bird counts. He has also competed with his brother and 3 other birders in Cape May’s World Series of Birding, winning the Cape Isle Cup twice. Parks began his more formal ornithological training by banding birds at the Damsite Bird Banding Laboratory in Kent County MD as a youngster and has banded birds and worked as a field technician and crew leader on bird population projects in MD, MO, WI, CO, and WA. He lives just outside of Salisbury, MD.

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Alex Bausman serves as the GIS Forester for Chesapeke Forest Lands and Pocomoke State Forest with the Maryland Forest Service . He earned his bachelors of science majoring in Natural Resources Management with a minor in Forestry from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Alex assists in managing a combined acreage of approx. 97,000 acres of public land spread across the lower six counties of Maryland's eastern shore. The size and scope of his role is his favorite aspect of the job because every day is different than the last, and almost every day he can be in the woods. This is reflected in his work where he not only has his traditional forestry responsibilities but also serves as the eastern region drone pilot, and wildland firefighter for wildfires and prescribed burns. In his free time Alex enjoys hiking, camping, paddle boarding, and fishing on public lands and waters. 

Charly Sager is a Forest Restoration Planner for the Maryland Forest Service, based in Salisbury. She coordinates the forestry portion of Maryland DNR's Roots for Resilience (R4R) initiative, a landscape-scale effort to restore ecosystems on the Eastern Shore, from living shorelines and marsh habitat along the Bay and its tributaries up into the forests. Before R4R, Charly designed interpretive materials and conducted landscape-scale research for the Delmarva Woodland Stewards program. She has a background in mathematics and science communication and has cultivated almost all of her knowledge about forests and forestry on the job. Her favorite things about working here are participating in prescribed burning and unlocking new flowers, birds, mushrooms, bugs, and trees while in the field. In her free time, Charly enjoys crafting, playing guitar, doing crossword puzzles, and exploring.

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Brian Scharle is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture specializing in wildlife management to resolve human – wildlife conflicts. He is an experienced local fisherman with a passion for both kayak and surf fishing. Brian lives in Ocean Pines with his wife and son.

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Anthony manages the Web and Graphics shop for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and serves as the agency's photographer. He is also the author of the department’s monthly celestial report, where he shares guides and photography of night-sky events across DNR's social media platforms.

Robby Chin is a Gyotaku (gyo - fish, taku - rubbing) artist based on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Inspired by the diverse and vast beauty of the waterways of the Shore, Gyotaku is a way for Robby to enjoy sustainably caught and foraged food while forever honoring life and the memories from that day.

After earning degrees in Environmental Studies and Business Administration, Robby worked on several local sustainable farms, deepening his appreciation for the Eastern Shore’s waterways and the connections between community, food, and the environment. Through fishing, oyster farming, and exploring local waters, he developed a passion for sharing the stories and beauty of these ecosystems through art.

For more than a decade, Robby has refined his Gyotaku practice to inspire others to value and protect the region’s most important shared resource—its waterways. In recent years, he has shared his work throughout the community by exhibiting and selling his art, presenting on the history and process of Gyotaku, and leading hands-on workshops and educational programs in schools and beyond.

When he’s not creating artwork, Robby serves as a Program Specialist for a peer mentoring program at his alma mater, Salisbury University, and works as a Personal Trainer at Olympia Fitness Clubs, specializing in mature populations.

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As Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for the Surfrider Foundation, Kayla supports a vibrant network of volunteer-run chapters across New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from West Chester University and two years of service in AmeriCorps, Kayla brings extensive experience in the environmental nonprofit sector. She is passionate about building and strategically growing volunteer programs that connect people to the outdoors in meaningful and impactful ways.

In her free time, Kayla enjoys being outdoors, running, and spending time with friends and family.

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Brianna Amingwa, affectionately known as ‘Ranger Bri,’ is a passionate environmental educator and Founding Director of Deeply Rooted Outdoor Education (DROE). Deeply Rooted is a Maryland based professional development firm dedicated to culturally responsive and inquiry-based outdoor learning. Through DROE, Bri partners with K-5 schools and nature-based organizations to build programming that creates real-life learning experiences for academic achievement and outdoor connection.

Brianna is a mother of two, avid equestrian, and certified USA Archery Level II Instructor Trainer. With a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University, she has dedicated her career to fostering meaningful connections between communities and nature. Before founding her business, Brianna enjoyed a rewarding career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for nearly 13 years. She supervised a thriving environmental education program at America's First Urban Wildlife Refuge and concluded her federal career as the National Coordinator of Youth Employment and Environmental Education.

Named a Global Top 30 Under 30 Environmental Educator by the North American Association of Environmental Educators, Brianna has developed and managed education programs reaching nearly 18,000 students annually. Her expertise includes culturally-responsive teaching, trauma-informed approaches, and mastery of Next Generation Science Standards. 

Today, Deeply Rooted Outdoor Education supports students, families, and educators in finding connection, community, and comfort in nature. Brianna’s work is rooted in her own experiences as a “city kid” discovering the wonder of the outdoors. She remains committed to breaking barriers and inspiring others to explore the natural world.

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State Park Professional with a special passion for state parks with over 40 years of state and local park experience. I have served in the public sector for over 40 years and have experience in natural resource management, public safety, emergency response, human resources, community outreach and advocacy for state and local parks. 

DNR/Maryland Park Service - worked a seasonal employee at Sandy Point State Park. 1983-2012 Park manger, Park Ranger and Senior management level positions responsible for employee recruitment, management of the agencies training program, law enforcement records, emergency management preparedness and served as agency liaison to Governor's Commission on Parks. 

Friends of Maryland State Parks - 2013-present Member of the all volunteer Board of Directors member, currently as the President of the Board. Directs all activities of 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Led the creation of a foundation to accept donations and provide small grants to state parks across the state that promote conservation, education, access and diversity.

Maryland Wildland Firefighter from 1988-2024.

Virginia Polytechnic and State University— 1982 Bachelor of Science : Forestry, Wildlife and Park Mgt. 

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Donna Racine is a dedicated public service professional that since 2022 has been serving as Seasonal Volunteer Coordinator for Assateague State Park within the Maryland Park Service. Prior to joining the Assateague State Park staff Donna was a volunteer camp host. Earlier she worked for Delaware State Parks as a Volunteer Coordinator and Park Interpreter also beginning as a volunteer camp host. Donna graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. She brings unique experience as a nurse leader and prior military service officer. Donna coordinates most all aspects of volunteer engagement for over 100 camp hosts that serve more than 300,000 campers during the six month season.  Donna also volunteers in her community. 

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Carly Brukiewa is the Statewide Volunteer Coordinator for the Maryland Park Service. She has been in this role for a little over a year working to continue the development and tracking of the volunteer program in Maryland’s state parks. Having worked in parks since 2021 in a variety of roles she has had the opportunity to work with many volunteers all across the state of Maryland. 

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As a UMD Extension Agent Associate, Joy Rafey has served the Maryland Master Naturalist Program since 2013, becoming statewide coordinator in 2023, and is a Certified Maryland Master Naturalist herself. Joy holds a Masters in Recreation and Parks Management from Frostburg State University and is co-editor of “The Maryland Master Naturalist’s Handbook,” published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2025.

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My name is Malik Carroll, and I am a Program Planner and Recruiter for Annapolis Area Community Boating. I have a passion for outdoor recreation and enjoy introducing children from underserved backgrounds to sailing and boating experiences they might not otherwise have. With a background in biological sciences, I also enjoy incorporating STEM concepts into our curriculum to spark an interest in science among the children we serve.

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Allison Gost is a Senior Program Manager for Climate Resilience, Adaptation & Priority Water Projects for the Maryland Department of Transportation's Office of Environment. She brings over 10 years of experience in state level climate adaptation and resilience - having previously worked for the Maryland Departments of Health and Natural Resources, a Masters in Public Health in Applied Environmental Health Sciences, and a lifelong commitment to the environment to her current role. Since joining MDOT in 2022, she has been responsible for the development and delivery of a variety of programs and projects which increase the resilience of the transportation system, fund tree planting in communities impacted by transportation projects, provide technical assistance and implementation support, and facilitates collaboration with partners at the local, state and federal level. She also co-leads the annual MDOT Grants Roadshow initiative. This effort brings together partners from across MDOT, to showcase grant opportunities and provide direct technical assistance to eligible organizations in support of local and state goals, through a series of workshops hosted across the state. As a lifelong Maryland resident, and a lover of the environment, she spends her time outside of work exploring trails, parks, and recreational opportunities across the state.

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David Landis is an outdoor recreation consultant and route development specialist focused on helping rural communities leverage gravel cycling and bikepacking as economic-development tools. Through his company V2V Trails, he works closely tourism partners, municipalities, nonprofits, land trusts, and regional organizations to design, analyze, and publish gravel route networks that prioritize safety, storytelling, and local business engagement. David has led or supported numerous route development initiatives across the Mid Atlantic and Appalachian region, translating back roads and public lands into visitor-ready assets that strengthen local economies while respecting community character and land-management goals.

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Martha Waldron is a grantmaking and heritage professional with experience in grants administration, marketing, planning, and facilitating community projects, programs, and initiatives with a wide variety of external partners and collaborators. She holds a master's degree in Cultural Heritage Management from Johns Hopkins University and currently works as a Program Officer for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program, a state program that awards approximately $3 million towards capital and non-capital project grants highlighting Maryland's diverse heritage, enhance local communities, and promote tourism, sustainability, and economic development.

Tom Simon is the cofounder and CEO of SuperFun Eco Tours. After studying Adventure Recreation at Ohio University and working as a seasonal ranger for the National Park Service, Tom cofounded SuperFun Eco Tours in 2010. The business later expanded to include Assateague Outfitters.

Since 2014, Assateague Outfitters has operated in partnership with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s coastal waterways. The partnership combines outdoor recreation and environmental education with direct financial support for local conservation efforts.

Today, Tom oversees guided environmental tours, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and bicycle rentals, retail operations, and The Five Tides restaurant at Assateague State Park. His work focuses on responsible tourism, strong public and nonprofit partnerships, and helping visitors build a deeper connection with Assateague Island.

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Ryland Taylor is a Coastal Climate Coordinator with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the Watershed and Climate Services Unit. She has worked in this job for three and a half years helping to coordinate statewide climate adaptation and resilience initiatives with a specific focus on the coastal zone. Prior to that, she worked for five years as a senior environmental specialist on the Poplar Island beneficial reuse project. Ryland completed her B.S. in Biology at Florida State University and her M.S. in Biology at Kansas State University with a thesis on Striped Bass movement ecology in Plum Island, Massachusetts as part of the Plum Island LTER. In her free time she enjoys kayaking and hiking all over Maryland with her dog, Ayla!

A local public health nurse & emergency planner at Dorchester County Health Department. DCHD Climate & Health Team Lead. Currently an American Health Initiative Bloomberg Fellow at Johns Hopkins University. UMD SPH (2019) & SU Nursing Alum (2023).

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Meghan Rhode is the Assistant Park Manager for Assateague State Park. She has worked for the Maryland Park Service for 21 years, 17 of which have been spent working at Assateague State Park. During her time at Assateague she has managed the environmental education programs, coordinated large scale dune management projects, and helped manage the state park campground. She graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. In her free time she is an avid birder, and loves sharing her hobby with her two kids!

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As Membership Manager for ShoreRivers, Courtney works on the development team managing supporter engagement, gift processing, and donor stewardship. She also assists with events and communications.

Courtney came to ShoreRivers in 2018 after working 11 years with the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) in Grasonville. At CBEC, she served in many different roles engaging citizens of all ages in environmental education and stewardship. Courtney has a degree in marine biology from Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania, and has experience in field research and outdoor environmental education in Pacific Temperate, Caribbean Tropic, and Mid-Atlantic Estuarine environs. She has taught in the public and private school sectors for Pre-K through college. She is a certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association of Interpretation and American Canoe Association Kayak Instructor Level 2. 

Courtney and her husband, Tom (former Miles-Wye Riverkeeper), with their two daughters, Sadie and Teagan, live on the shores of the Wye River in Queenstown. In her free time, Courtney gets outside for triathlons, kayaking, hiking, and camping. She loves connecting with her community as a volunteer with several nonprofits.

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Maegan grew up in the Mountains of South Carolina and moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to attend Washington College, where she studied environmental and political science. Maegan first started working at ShoreRivers in the summer of 2022 through a Washington College internship. She joined the team full-time in the spring of 2023 after being a ShoreRivers intern for nearly a year. In her role as Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, she oversees ShoreRivers volunteer programs, hosts community stewardship and education events, assists with community and aquatic restoration work, and co-facilitates the Environemntal Justice Workgroup. 

Leila (pronounced LEE-luh) is the Bays Restoration Officer at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where she coordinates the state's internal and external work to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, as well as the lands and waters that surround them. Leila, who lives in Greenbelt, is a scientist by training and holds a PhD in organometallic chemistry from the University of Maryland. Her favorite outdoor activities are birding, hiking, yoga, and running. 

Anne Kyle serves as the Product Development Manager with the Maryland Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism Development. Anne oversees the research, development and delivery of nationally significant heritage tourism projects and outdoor recreation initiatives, including the Chesapeake Bay, Scenic Byways, and Underground Railroad programs. She manages projects and collaborates with partners and colleagues to create a wide range of interpretive media that tell compelling stories about Maryland's nature, history, heritage and culture. Anne previously worked as a Nature Tourism Coordinator, Park Naturalist and Park Service Associate for Maryland State Parks in Central Maryland. Anne is an award-winning member of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and previously served on NAI's Chesapeake Region board. She is a Certified Heritage Interpreter, Certified Interpretive Manager and Certified Interpretive Planner through NAI.

Cassandra is managing director of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen Maryland’s visitor economy and position the state as a premier travel destination. A longtime tourism and economic development professional and former travel journalist, she previously led tourism and economic development for Talbot County and spent many years with Southern Living. A Tennessee native who grew up on a dairy farm, Cassandra holds a degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee and has a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Leslie Troy is the Communications Manager for the Maryland Office of Tourism, where she leads the state's public relations and social media strategies to inspire travel and elevate Maryland's diverse destinations. With more than 20 years of experience in communications, media relations, and storytelling, she has built successful campaigns spanning entertainment, tourism, and destination marketing. In her role, Leslie works closely with partners across the state to promote Maryland's outdoor recreation, heritage, and cultural experiences through strategic media outreach and collaborative marketing initiatives. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and previously served on the Executive Board of the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA).

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Dr. Danny Twilley is the Assistant Vice President of Economic and Community Development at West Virginia University, serving out of the Provost’s Office. In this role he and the team utilize asset based economic development by investing in people and place to support talent attraction and retention programs including the remote worker initiative, community and economic development, asset development and enhancement, business and workforce programs, and research. He approaches this work by developing effective collaborations and partnerships across the University, state and local governments, non-profits, industry, and related groups to stand-up and advance initiatives. In doing so he strives to make West Virginia the premier place to live, work, play, go to school, and do business.  

 

Through his and the team’s work he has helped secured over $55 million in external funding through federal, state, and philanthropic partnerships.  Additionally, he has supported partnering organizations in applying, receiving, and executing $20+ million in funding. In his academic role he is an Associate Professor in the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources where he has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, technical reports with a research interest centering on community evaluation, population trends, factors to talent retention and attraction, how recreation transforms people and place which includes the psychological outcomes of leisure engagement, recreation’s role is community development, and the socio-economic impact of recreation-based development.  

Cassandra is managing director of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen Maryland’s visitor economy and position the state as a premier travel destination. A longtime tourism and economic development professional and former travel journalist, she previously led tourism and economic development for Talbot County and spent many years with Southern Living. A Tennessee native who grew up on a dairy farm, Cassandra holds a degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee and has a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Patti Stevens is the founding co-chair of the Worcester County Bike and Pedestrian Coalition, which works to improve and expand safe places to ride and walk for residents and visitors to the Eastern Shore.  Patti was appointed by Governor Hogan to the Maryland Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and by Governor Moore to the Commission for Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs.  She helped convene Maryland Eastern Shore Trail Network and now serves on the Advisory Committee.

Patti moved to Ocean Pines, Maryland in 2019 after retiring from Fairfax County, Virginia where she was Executive Director of the Office of Public Private Partnerships.  Patti and her husband Pat Trate enjoy the beach, pickleball, biking, and paddling.

As the Education Coordinator at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, I work to provide vision and leadership for our organization's education programs and public involvement initiatives. Our education team creates and develops collaborative, immersive experiences for our community, designs curriculum, leads interpretive programs, mentors seasonal staff, and provides professional development for formal and nonformal educators. Alongside my wonderful team and local partners, we also organize and facilitate community engagement opportunities such as volunteer experiences like Discover Your Watershed, the Bay Day environmental festival, and the Explore the Estuary adult learning series.

Liz joined the Maryland Coastal Bay Programs in January of 2017. A Berlin native, Liz left her hometown to obtain her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College, and her M.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in environmental education and interpretation from UNC-Wilmington. Liz previously worked as a naturalist at an outdoor school in Texas, as an ocean educator for MarineQuest, and as a crew chief for the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

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I’m the Park Manager at Pocomoke River State Park, where I oversee park operations, recreation, and visitor experiences along one of Maryland’s most unique waterways. I’m an avid paddler and outdoor enthusiast and enjoy sharing the Pocomoke River and its surrounding swamp with others, especially the quiet, winding waters of Corkers Creek. I’m looking forward to leading participants on a guided paddle through this hidden gem of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

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