Joyce G. Austin
Administrative Assistant
215-345-7020 x 114

Joyce is the Administrative Assistant for the Properties & Programs department and the main technical support for production of narrative documents and other printed materials. She has worked in secretarial/administrative assistant positions for over 25 years and has completed numerous documents for the Conservancy.

Esmé Artz
Communications Associate
215-345-7020 x 131

Esmé works within Heritage Conservancy’s Development & Community Engagement department to execute communications operations including writing press releases and newsletters, managing the organization’s website and social media, and implementing advertising and visibility strategies. Before this, Esmé worked as a publicist at an agency in New York City for both corporate and not-for-profit clients, and then in the press department at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Laura Baird
Senior Land Conservationist
215-345-7020 x 135

With over a decade of experience in land conservation, Laura’s primary role as Senior Land Conservationist is to negotiate land protect transactions by writing grants, meeting with landowners and preparing baseline documentations in order to acquire conservation easements. She also works with municipalities to assist in the implement their open space plans. Prior to Heritage Conservancy, Laura was a Community Planner at the Monroe County Planning Commission where she managed the County Agricultural Land Preservation Program. Laura has Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies from East Stroudsburg University.

Kristin Brathole
Staff Accountant
215-345-7020 x 118

Kristin is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining Heritage Conservancy, she worked for organizations in the accounting and finance fields. Position responsibilities include: managing all accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, performing bank reconciliations, among many other day to day financial and accounting operations.

Linda J. Cacossa
Chief Operating Officer
215-345-7020 x 124

As Chief Operating Officer, Linda is responsible for the day-to-day business operations of Heritage Conservancy. This includes all fiscal activities, fundraising, marketing/branding and communications, property management and organizational strategic planning. She provides guidance to department management, establishing organizational performance metrics; driving the goal-setting process throughout the organization; and, conducting regular operating reviews to assess financial results and projections relative to budgets. Ms. Cacossa provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that Heritage has the proper operational controls and administrative procedures in place to effectively grow the organization. Linda, a resident of Doylestown Borough, brings substantial experience including 20+ years in land planning and engineering as well as nonprofit management experience as the Executive Director of Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Karen Cook
Administrative Assistant / Receptionist
215-345-7020

Karen has over twenty years of experience as an Administrative Assistant, having worked for GE (prior Betz Labs) in Trevose, PA in the Corporate Sales Training Center. She coordinated weekly sales training classes and sales training events for more than 1,000 sales representatives at the corporate headquarters and other global locations. She also worked directly for the Vice President of Engineering and Vice Presidents of Corporate Sales.

David Dator
Conservation Steward
215-345-7020 x 121

Dave works within Heritage Conservancy’s Properties & Programs department and is responsible for maintaining over 61 of the Conservancy’s properties. Dave holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Temple University and a B.S. degree in Sociology from James Madison University.

Mark Donnelly
Manager of IT, Finance and Admin
215-345-7020 x 110

Mark brings with him over 30 years of experience in the electronic and computer field. Prior to joining the Conservancy, he served as an Electronics Engineer in the weather measurement field; building the first computerized humidity test facility in this area. He supported the Dupont corporate account for Hewlett Packard before moving on to establish and manage the computer service area for Buckingham Computers where he maintained the Conservancy’s network for seven years as a consultant.

Robin Folkerts
Vice President of Development & Community Engagement
215-345-7020 x 128

Robin brings over ten years of fundraising experience, particularly in the field of conservation. Prior to joining Heritage Conservancy, she worked with Wildlands Conservancy, The Philadelphia Zoo, and The Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania. Robin graduated from Messiah College with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science. Her responsibilities include all fundraising activities, public relations, external communications and marketing of the organization.

Erin Hockensmith
Conservation Steward
215-345-7020 x 134

Erin works within Heritage Conservancy’s Properties & Programs department to ensure all day-to-day tasks are completed. She maintains the beautiful Aldie Mansion, as well as several other Heritage Conservancy properties. Erin also coordinates all in-house events at Aldie Mansion, from caterer selection to food and décor. She graduated from Temple University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and brings with her five years of experience in plant maintenance from Bountiful Acres Garden Nursery.

Michele Koch
Volunteer Coordinator
215-345-7020 x 140

Michele coordinates the efforts and recognition of Heritage Conservancy’s 140+ volunteers. She graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape contracting and previously worked for a large landscape company in New Jersey.

Jeffrey L. Marshall
President
215-345-7020 x 113

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 over 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.

Patricia McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant
215-345-7020 x 108

Pat has been with the Conservancy for ten years. She served as receptionist and has been providing administrative support to the President of the organization. Before coming to the Conservancy, she owned and managed her own business.

Susan Myerov, AICP
Senior Planner
215-345-7020 x 101

Susan is a certified planner with over twenty-four years of experience in environmental planning and land use projects. As the conservancy’s senior planner, Susan’s responsibilities include preparation of watershed-based conservation plans, storm water management education and outreach, and preparation of open space plans. Sue currently represents the conservancy on the board of the Tookany / Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. Sue holds a Master of City Planning Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. degree in Man-Environment Relations from Penn State University.

Jim Thompson
Senior Conservation Steward
215-345-7020 x 120

Jim has over 20 years of experience in conservation and land management. He identifies, evaluates and monitors natural resources on conservancy-owned properties and conservation easements. His primary responsibilities include preparing annual monitoring reports for these properties; conducting baseline documentation surveys and report preparation for acquisitions and conservation easements. Jim holds a B.S. degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment

Margaret Uliano
Membership & Special Events Associate
215-345-7020 x 107

Maggie works within Heritage Conservancy’s Development & Community Engagement department, and is responsible for the many aspects of the organization’s membership program. She is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Conservancy’s special events, both fundraising and membership based. She studied Anthropology, with a focus in Archaeology at Temple University, and then went on to study Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She worked in Alumni affairs at Temple, and most recently as a Pastry Chef in Philadelphia.

Karen S. Williamson, R.L.A., C.P.S.I.
Planner / Landscape Architect
215-345-7020 x 115

Karen is a landscape architect with considerable experience in the planning and design of land developments and park, recreation and open space projects. She is involved in master planning, heritage tourism, greenway/trail development and scenic byway and wild and scenic river projects. Her public outreach activities focus on promoting the concept of green infrastructure, the control of invasive plants, and environmental education programs for youth and municipal officials. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University and is licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, in addition to being a Certified Playground Safety Inspector.

Sandra Yerger
Associate Director of Development
215-345-7020 x 103

Sandy has managed all aspects of member relations for Heritage Conservancy including planning, organizing and implementing special events, fundraising, educational programming and volunteer activities for seven years. She is currently responsible for much of the Conservancy’s development of community outreach programs that target both private citizens as well as businesses and corporations.