In celebration of its 40th Anniversary, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), has selected 40 Pennsylvanians under the age of 40 as recipients of its 40 Under 40 Awards. Recipients will be honored at PEC’s 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Civic Club of Harrisburg on September 22nd.
Nearly 100 environmental professionals and volunteers were nominated for this statewide honor. Nominees included volunteers and professionals in a diverse range of environmental fields throughout the entire Commonwealth including planning, research, education and advocacy.
“PEC has reflected much on our past successes during our 40th Anniversary, and recognizing this next generation of environmental leaders is our way of looking to the future with a great deal of excitement,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of PEC.
“We learned that these young leaders stand poised to tackle our state’s most important upcoming challenges including Marcellus Shale development, renewable energy, and stormwater, among others,” he said.
The 40 Under 40 Recipients are:
1. Sherry Acevedo, 36
Resource Conservation Specialist, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
Easton
2. Phyllis Barber, 38
Sustainanbility Coordinator- Environmental Management, Highmark, Inc
Pittsburgh
3. Lindsay Baxter, 27
Sustainability Coordinator, Office of the Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
4. Thomas Baxter, 31
Executive Director, Friends of the Riverfront
Pittsburgh
5. Heather Blakeslee, 36
Programs & Advocacy Director, Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Philadelphia
6. April Claus, 37
Director of Environmental Education, Sewickley Heights Borough/Fern Hollow
Nature Center
Sewickley
7. Maureen Copeland, 27
Community Programs Manager, GTECH Strategies, Inc.
Pittsburgh
8. Danielle Crumrine, 32
Executive Director, Friends of Pittsburgh Urban Forest
Pittsburgh
9. Timothy Dugan, 29
Assitant District Forester, PA-DCNR- Bureau of Forestry
Elverson
10. Katherine Gajewski, 30
Director, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia
11. Marijke Hecht, 39
Director of Education, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Pittsburgh
12. Tara Hemmer, 37
Special Projects Manager, Waste Management of Pennsylvania
Fairless Hills
13. Robert Hughes, 38
Executive Director, Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Ashley
14. Stacey Kennealy, 29
Certification Program and Sustainability Director, GreenFaith
New Brunswick
15. Christine Knapp, 31
Director of Outreach, Citizen’s for Pennsylvania’s Future
Philadelphia
16. Christopher Kocher, 37
President, Wildlands Conservancy
Emmaus
17. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, 33
Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
Philadelphia
18. Emily Landsburg, 32
CEO, BlackGold BioFuels
Philadelphia
19. Lauren Lazzari, 29
Vice President, Investar, Inc.
Johnstown
20. Megan Lehman, 29
Environmental Planner, Lycoming County
Williamsport
21. Brian Linton, 23
Founder, United By Blue
Philadelphia
22. David Masur, 38
Director, PennEnvironment
Philadelphia
23. Maura McCarthy, 36
Executive Director, Friends of the Wissahickon
Philadelphia
24. Deborah Nardone, 36
Coldwater Resource Specialist, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited
Pleasant Gap
25. Joel Perkovich, 31
Principal, Tsuga Studios and Allegheny GreenRoofs
Pittsburgh
26. Daniel Reilly, 36
Attorney/Associate, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Philadelphia
27. Jennifer Rezeli, 37
Principal, Re:Vision Architecture
Philadelphia
28. Ann Roda, 30
Market Based Programs Coordinator, Office of Water Planning, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
Harrisburg
29. Jake Romig, 37
President/Founder, Ecostruction LLC
York
30. Todd Sampsell, 38
Deputy State Director, The Nature Conservancy
Harrisburg
31. Kristin Sewak, 35
Executive Director, Natural Biodiversity
Windber
32. Aurora Sharrard, PhD, 30
Director of Innovation, Green Building Alliance
Pittsburgh
33. Brian Shema, 34
Director of Conservation, Audubon Society of Western PA
Pittsburgh
34. Jennifer Shuey, 39
Executive Director, ClearWater Conservancy
State College
35. James Sloss, 35
Energy & Utilities Manager, City of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
36. Amy Jo Smith, 28
Grant Manager, Economic Development Corporation of Erie County
Erie
37. Sarah Thorp, 38
Master Planning Manager, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Philadelphia
38. Susan Turcmanovich, 38
External Affairs Manager, Pennsylvania American Water
Wilkes-Barre
39. Brad Waldron, 34
Vice President, Novel Geo-Environmental, LLC
Moon Township
40. Nathan Wildfire, 28
Sustainable Policy Coordinator, East Liberty Development, Inc
Pittsburgh
For more information about PEC’s 40th anniversary celebration, visit www.pecpa.org/40.
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The Pennsylvania Environmental Council promotes the protection and restoration of the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education and advocacy with the private sector, government, individuals and communities as partners to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, PEC serves the entire state through offices in Meadville, Luzerne, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.