Meet ESLC Staff
For organizational questions, contact Robert J. Etgen.
Robert J. Etgen has been the Executive Director of ESLC since October 1990. Prior to joining ESLC, Rob was the Land Trust Program Manager for the Maryland Environmental Trust where he assisted in the formation of 18 private land trusts. Before that, he worked for the Soil Conservation Administration of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Attorney's General's Office in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and two private law firms in Baltimore. Rob started his career as a Forest Ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Morgantown, West Virginia as head of a research program studying the impacts of the Gypsy Moth. He has authored several manuals, booklets, and papers on land conservation issues. Rob was the founding director of the Maryland Heritage Tree Conservancy and serves on the board of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Scenic Maryland, and the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Bay Program. In 1996 he received the Aileen Hughes Award for leadership from the Maryland Land Trust Alliance. Rob received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland and a B. S. in Forestry from West Virginia University. He is also a member of the Maryland Bar. Rob spends his spare time with his wife Suzanne and daughters Caroline and Rose on Colchester Farm in Kent County where they live and where Rob serves as business manager for the 357-acre diversified farming operation. You may contact Rob at 410-827-9756, ext. 166 or retgen@eslc.org
For organizational questions, contact Amy Owsley.
Amy Owsley is ESLC's recently named Deputy Director. She returned to the Eastern Shore from New England in 2007 after leadin a coastwide conservation collaborative for the Land Trust Alliance called the Maine Coast Protection Initiative. In Amy's time with ESLC before working in Maine, she created and led the original Eastern Shore 2010 initiative and launched a land use planning educational forum for the Shore. Amy has a Masters in Forest Science from Yale University, a Bachelor's in Earth Sciences from Pennsylvania State University, and was a Knauss Seagrant Fellow, Morris K Udall Congressional Scholar, and fellow for the National Conservation Leadership Program . She resides in Easton with her husband, Ryan Ewing, their infant son Liam and dog, Radar. When not following the latest land use planning news and politics, you can often find her poking around beaches and trails with Radar, knitting with friends, and enjoying time with her famly. You can reach Amy at 443.262.6600 or aowsley@eslc.org.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
For organizational information, please contact Nina White.
Nina White is ESLC’s Director of Administration and has worked for the organization for 13 years. Nina started with the Conservancy April 1996 as the Administrator and was promoted to Director of Administration January 2000. Prior to joining ESLC’s staff, Nina worked for the Wildfowl Trust of North America as the Finance Manager. Nina has more than 15 years experience in finance departments; the bulk of which she has spent with nonprofits. Nina lives outside of Centreville with her husband Billy, their two sons Billy and Brian, and their black lab Jesse. You can reach Nina at 410-827-9756, ext. 164 or nwhite@eslc.org
For media and public communications, please contact Kristine George.
Kristine George is ESLC’s Director of Communications. She joined the organization in January 2007. An Eastern Shore native whose family works in the equine industry, Kris worked locally as a journalist and editor for the Chesapeake Publishing family of newspapers before heading to Delmarva Foundation’s Corporate Communications department where she was responsible for media and public relations. Her professional experience also includes three years with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Zone Management program. A graduate of Salisbury State University, Kris received her undergraduate degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing her Masters in Management and Public Relations from the University of Maryland. In her spare time, she enjoy writing and photography and playing with her kids. She resides in Easton with her husband Kevin, two young sons, Noah and Nate and their basset hounds Sydney and Shelby. You can reach Kris at 443-262-2815 or kgeorge@eslc.org.
For organizational information,, please contact Laura Sanford. 
Laura Sanford joined ESLC as Program Assistant for the Southern Office in April 2008. An Eastern Shore Native whose family has been on the Shore since the early 1600’s, Laura has an Associates Degree from Anne Arundel Community College in Computer Networking, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Salisbury University in Biology Botany track.Before joining ESLC, Laura worked at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Adkins Arboretum. She owns an organic wholesale plant nursery (primarily native plants) and is obsessed with plants and protecting the rural way of life on the Eastern Shore. She resides in Centreville with her husband, son, two cats, and dog named Chance.
You can reach Laura at 410.901.9988 or lsanford@eslc.org
DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP STAFF
To make donations to ESLC, contact Jennifer Pollard.
Jennifer Pollard is ESLC's Director of Annual Giving. With more than 15 years' experience with nonprofits, including nine years with ESLC, she has also worked in development and public relations for the Macon Heritage Foundation, Orchard House-Home of the Alcotts and Old York Historical Society. Jennifer earned a B. A. in History from Georgia College. She recently completed the Institute for Conservation Leadership's Complete Fundraising Program and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), one of only aproxmately 124 in the state of Maryland. She resides with her husband and two cats in Chestertown. When she is not working, she is a member of the Chester River Rowing Club and is pursuing yoga teacher certification.You can reach Jennifer at 410-827-9756, ext. 155 or jpollard@eslc.org
For membership information, contact Robin Telepchak. 
Robin Telepchak is ESLC’s Membership Coordinator. Originally from Pennslyvania, Robin moved to the Eastern Shore from Texas in 2004. During her time in Texas she was employed with The Tarleton Alumni Association where she worked as Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper. Prior to her move to Texas she worked as Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper for Goss & Topp advertising agency in Delaware.
You can reach Robin at 410-827-9756, ext. 162 or rtelepchak@eslc.org.
LAND CONSERVATION STAFF
For information on how to protect your land in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties, please contact Sandra Edwards. 
Sandra Edwards is the Land Protection Specialist for Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties and works primarily out ESLC's Northern Office in Galena. Sandra works directly with landowners interested in voluntarily preserving their land and she also works closely with the counties, towns and the State on community (public access) type projects. Sandra is a native of Cecil County, has a farming (equine) background, and currently resides in Chesapeake City with her dog Ben. Sandra is a charter member of the Cecil Land Trust. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, hiking, camping - basically anything outdoors. Prior to joining ESLC, Sandra worked for more than seven years as a Cecil County planner, where she led a number of conservation initiatives. She also worked as a field archaeologist with the University of Delaware. Sandra earned a B.S. in Geography with an emphasis in planning from Salisbury State University. You can reach Sandra at 410.648.5840 (office) 410.924.2778 (cell) or sedwards@eslc.org.
For information on how to protect your land in Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester Counties, please contact Jared Parks.
Jared Parks joined ESLC as Land Protection Specialist in February 2007 and is based in ESLC’s Southern Office. Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, Jared has spent the past four years as a faculty research assistant and crew leader for the grassland restoration project on Chino/Bluestem Farms in Queen Anne’s County. In addition to his work on Chino, Jared has worked with a University of Maryland PhD candidate on a project studying conservation buffers on different farms in Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Talbot counties. His professional experience also includes serving as a research technician for the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Colorado Bird Observatory. Jared received his Masters of Environmental Studies at Evergreen State College and his Bachelors in Anthropology from Lawrence University. You can reach Jared at 443.988.8128 or jparks@eslc.org.
For stewardship information, contact ESLC's Stewardship Manager Megan D'arcy.
Megan D’Arcy is our new Stewardship Manager comes to us from the Heritage Conservancy, a non profit land trust based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where she spent four years identifying, evaluating and monitoring natural resources on conservation-eased properties. Prior to that, she worked as a consultant for Natural Lands Trust, conducting bioassesment studies for an Aquatic Resource Assessment and Conservation Plan and conducted field assessments of plant communities and mapping these communities using GIS technology. As the Stewardship Manager for ESLC, Megan will be responsible for continuing to implement and improve easement stewardship, assist with the development of a volunteer and outreach program and manage and develop organizational GIS resources. Megan received her Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelors in cultural anthropology from Kutztown University. Megan serves on the board for the Society of Ecological Restoration mid-Atlantic chapter. When she is not putting her nose to the grindstone for ESLC she enjoys kayaking, scuba diving, travelling and exploring her new hometown of Easton. You can reach Megan at 410.827.9756, extension 163 or by email at mdarcy@eslc.org.
LAND USE PLANNING STAFF
For information on ESLC's land use planning work and advocacy positions or for information on ESLC's land use planning efforts, please contact Morgan Ellis or Jake Day.
Morgan Ellis joined the ESLC staff as a Land Use Planner in February 2007 and is based in ESLC’s Northern Office. Originally from Kentucky, Morgan most recently worked for the city of Eugene, Oregon as a Planning and Community Development intern. In this capacity, Morgan conducted research on affordable housing and green developments and created reports for municipal staff with her research findings. Prior to that, Morgan worked for the Fayette, Kentucky Soil and Water Conservation District where she worked on a variety of conservation projects throughout the county and developed environmental education workshops and presentations. Morgan received her Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and her Bachelors in Natural Resource Conservation and Management from the University of Kentucky.
You can reach Morgan at 410.739.8549 or mellis@eslc.org.
Jacob Day joined ESLC in November 2008 , advising the Eastern Shore's towns on growth and planning issues. A Salisbury native, Jake has focused much of his research on sustainable economic, energy, and land development on the Delmarva Peninsula. He previously served as President and Chairman of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). Jake has also served on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national Board of Directors and in other capacities within AIA, ACSA, NCARB, and NAAB. Jake was the Editor-in-Chief of the international architecture and design student journal, Crit. Jake graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master's in Environmental Policy. He also holds a Master of Urban Design from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor's in Architecture from the University of Maryland. He currently resides in Salisbury with his wife, Alison and their dog, Baxter. Jake spends much of his free time sprucing up his new home. When not working in the yard, Jake is developing design and idea competition submissions with various partners. Look for upcoming submissions to the Google 10^100, Pamphlet Architecture, and Imagining Recovery competitions. You can reach Jake at 443.988.8815 or jday@eslc.org.
Members of ESLC's Board of Directors come from each of the six counties in our coverage area. Please click here for the full listing of ESLC"s 2009-2010 Leadership.
