Laura Heckman, Executive Director
Laura Heckman was hired
after an extensive search process and started in her role in October 2008.
Laura has seventeen years of experience leading innovative non profit initiatives,
public programs and community service partnerships. She was most recently
the Executive Director at Holcomb Farm in Granby, CT. Prior to that she lead
the Central Park Conservancy's environmental education centers, recreation,
volunteer and public programs in New York City.
Our Staff
The Nature Center employs 25 full-time, part-time and seasonal
staff who are dedicated professionals. Approximately one-third attend
to the administration of the Nature Center and two-thirds to the educational
programs.
Our educators come from diverse backgrounds; many hold Masters degrees
and all have extensive experience in the environmental education profession.
Our teachers believe in the benefits of an interactive learning environment.
We are dedicated to providing programs that include experiences involving
interactive, hands-on lessons in a comfortable learning atmosphere.
We strive to deliver programs that meet the needs of mixed audiences.
| Name |
Administrative
Staff |
Extension |
| Laura Heckman |
Executive Director |
19 |
| Sharon Anderson |
Visitor Services & Volunteer Coordinator |
11 |
| Marianne Dec |
Education Program Administrator |
20 |
| Chrissy
Elmblad |
Development Associate |
50 |
| Kevin
Kelly |
Director
of Finance and Business Operations |
17 |
| Jose Maldonado |
Buildings & Grounds Manager |
14 |
| Ginny Sisson |
Director of Institutional Advancement |
18 |
| Hooey Wilks |
Part-time Accounting |
13 |
Hilary
Wittmann |
Director of Marketing |
21 |
| Name |
Education
Staff |
Extension |
Colin Brown |
Environmental Educator |
41 |
| Ali Beatty |
Environmental Educator |
43 |
Nicole Daurio |
Environmental Educator (part time) |
|
| James Ford |
Environmental Educator (part time) |
|
| Claire Foster |
Environmental Educator |
42 |
| Keith Marshall |
Director of Education |
15 |
| Geoffrey McCann |
Education Program Manager |
38 |
|
| Melanie
Pearson |
Director of Animal
Care |
44 |
| Name |
Early Childhood Education
Staff |
Extension |
Melinda
DeLucia |
Early Childhood Teacher |
33 |
| Amanda Choun |
Early Childhood Teacher |
31 |
| Stephanie DeYoung |
Early Childhood Teacher |
31 |
| Christine Dinella |
Early Childhood Teacher |
29 |
| Raina Douglass |
Early Childhood Teacher |
31 |
| Patricia Figueroa |
Early Childhood Teacher |
33 |
| Marianne
Kay |
Asst. Director of Early
Childhood Programs |
28, 33 |
| Whitney McCarthy |
Early Childhood Teacher |
|
| Marnie Miller |
Early Childhood Teacher |
|
Mary Moran |
Early Childhood Teacher / Nurturing Nature |
35 |
| Meredith Staud |
Early Childhood Teacher |
33 |
| Paula Stecher |
Early Childhood Teacher |
29 |
| Priscilla
Woyke |
Director of Early Childhood Programs |
16 |
|
Board of Trustees
The administration of the New Canaan Nature Center is overseen by
a Board of Trustees, the members of which are drawn
from both the Town of New Canaan and surrounding communities. An Advisory Board also provides guidance in planning.
| Mary Otocka |
President |
| Rebecca Allen Barlow |
Vice President |
| Debbie Wright |
Secretary |
| Christopher A. Pohle |
Treasurer |
| |
|
Paul C. Ahrens
Peter R. Ahrens
Steven Batchelor
Shelly A. Berta
Jennifer S. Burns
Kelly P. Frankenfield
|
Catherine C.B. Gedney
G. Warfield Hobbs
Muffy Lewis
Doug Mueller
Tracy Spain
|
Ex Offico |
Jeb Walker
First Selectman |
Penny Young
Liaison Town Council |
|
Advisory Board
|
Dr. David E. Abbey
Toni Boucher
Norma T. Dana
Jim Fowler
James R. Hays
|
John W. Hetherington
Fred Krupp
Thomas B. Lewis
H. McKelden Smith
George Valchar
|
| |
|
|