Michael Dunmeyer

Stewardship Specialist

Michael joined ESLC in May of 2020, working with landowners and volunteers to ensure our preserved properties are protected and well-maintained. Born and raised in a sprawl development in Queen Anne’s County, he recognizes the strong development pressures placed on the region’s prime agricultural lands and natural features.

Michael earned his BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from University of Lynchburg, interning with ESLC for two summers, and earned his MPP in Environmental Policy from University of Maryland with focuses on development and climate change. Michael lives in Easton with his girlfriend, and enjoys songwriting, spending time with his family, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends. Michael also volunteers as an adult leader with Boy Scout Troop 464 in Ruthsburg.

MDunmyer@eslc.org  •  (443) 262-5577 (c)

Josh Deutsch

Advancement Assistant

Josh joined ESLC in November, 2019 as the Advancement Assistant and is responsible for supporting all advancement functions, including donor records, mailings, social media, fundraising, events and other initiatives. Driven by his passion for helping people and doing good in the community, Josh is excited to bring his expertise to this dynamic organization which is dedicated to improving the quality of life on our Eastern Shore.

Josh graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Public Relations as well as focuses in Digital Design and Marketing Management. Prior to joining ESLC, Josh worked with the Cambridge Cold Weather Shelter in Dorchester County, Character Counts Mid Shore, and most recently the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. He also serves as an active member of the Rotary Club of Easton.

Josh grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast but has come to call the Eastern Shore of Maryland home with his fiancé, Courtney, and dog Oscar. Outside of work, Josh enjoys golfing, fishing, running, camping and just about anything that can be experienced outdoors. He believes that time spent outside is not only important, but necessary.

jdeutsch@eslc.org  •  410.690.4603 ext. 170

Larisa Prezioso

Conservation Assistant

Larisa joined ESLC in January 2020, after graduating from Washington College in 2019. Originally from rural Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Larisa came to the Eastern Shore to obtain degrees in Environmental Science and Biology. While at Washington College, Larisa developed her interests in conservation, preservation and sustainability, travelling to places such as the Amazon Rainforest and the Galapagos Islands in order to study topics such as the plastic waste epidemic and invasive species control. She also deckhanded a research vessel owned by the college, the Callinectes, growing her connection to the waters of the Chesapeake. Outside of the office, Larisa enjoys birding, collecting shells along the beach, tending to her plentiful houseplant collection, and taking care of her fish.

lprezioso@eslc.org  •  410.690.4603 ext. 163 • 908.246.3419

Owen Bailey

Towns Project Manager

Owen joined ESLC July 2015, after having worked at the Rose O’Neill Literary House at Washington College for almost seven years. As the Towns Projects Manager, Owen oversees the numerous town and community projects aimed at building vibrant and resilient Eastern Shore Towns. He once served on the Chestertown Historic District Commission, and currently serves on the Chestertown Planning Commission and the board for the Friends of the Kent County Public Library. 

Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, Owen Bailey earned a B.A. in American Studies and an M.A. in English from Washington College. He lives in Chestertown with his wife, daughter, and dog Daphie. 

obailey@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x0 • 410-810-4864 (c)

Jim Bass

Coastal Resilience Program Manager

Jim joined the ESLC team in June of 2018. As the Coastal Resilience Program Manager, he assists local and state government partners in planning for the impacts of climate and sea level change. Jim studied Environmental and Emergency Management at the University of Delaware, and prior to ESLC he worked for nearly ten years in local government emergency management. At work, Jim is most passionate about hazard mitigation and building a resilient community through creative partnerships. Out of the office you can find Jim hiking with his wife and daughter or playing music in the back yard.

jbass@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x156 • 336-971-3138 (c)

Carol Bean

Agricultural Specialist

Carol joined ESLC after more than a decade working in the local food movement. She is passionate about how food creates community and believes that supporting working landscapes is one of the best – and most delicious – ways to preserve rural areas. As our agricultural specialist, she works to advance economic opportunities in food and farming related industries.

Carol attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York and graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Public Policy. She moved to the Chesapeake Bay upon return from an extended stay in South East Asia doing development work. She and her waterman husband own Know Good Farm in Witman, MD where they marry two iconic Chesapeake industries, farming and fishing.

cbean@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x162 • 410-829-1829 (c)

Rob Etgen

President

Robert J. Etgen has been the Executive Director of ESLC since October 1990. He started his career as a Forest Ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service and also worked at times for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Attorney General’s Office in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, two private law firms in Baltimore, and with the Maryland Environmental Trust where he assisted in the formation of eighteen private land trusts. In land conservation Rob has published extensively, received numerous awards including the Chesapeake Bay “Conservationist of the Year” in 2007, and has led Eastern Shore Land Conservancy to become one of the most successful and innovative land trusts in the Country. In community service Rob has served on the founding boards of several organizations, is currently serving as Vice President of the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, and has been a “Big Brother” since 1994. Rob received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from West Virginia University. Rob spends his spare with his wife Suzanne and two daughters Caroline and Rose, going on adventures around the Eastern Shore.

retgen@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x166 • 410-924-3141 (c)

Wayne T. Gilchrest

Education Programs Director (SEEC)

The former U.S. Congressman was a longtime social studies teacher at Kent Couny High School. Wayne’s work at the Sassafras Environmental Education Center (SEEC) helps to promote environmental literacy across the Eastern Shore, especially in Kent County. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Wayne is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Navy Commendation Medal. He lives in Kennedyville with his family and spends many hours hiking and canoeing around Turners Creek, which also is home to SEEC.

wgilchrest@eslc.org  •  (410) 348-5214

Lauren Halterman

Director of Advancement

Lauren joined ESLC in spring of 2018. She grew up on the Western Shore of MD, but came to Washington College as a freshman and never wanted to leave the Shore. Lauren received her BA in Business Administration from Washington College in 1987.

She has more than 20 years of fundraising experience with Washington College and Chesapeake College. She has also used those skills as a volunteer with Easton Little League, her sorority (Zeta Tau Alpha), and at her children’s schools. Additionally, Lauren has worked as a Special Assistant to Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot – a perk of that job was traveling with the Comptroller and getting to see the beauty of our wonderful state.

She lives in Easton, has three grown children, and enjoys reading, needlework, walking and spending time with her family. Fun Fact: She hosted a Muscular Dystrophy carnival in her backyard when she was about 10 years old, raising $80. She started her career as a fundraiser early!

lhalterman@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x167

Jennifer Hizer

Education Program Manager (SEEC)

A Virginia native, Jennifer graduated from Virginia Tech in 2012 with a B.S. in Natural Resources Conservation & Recreation Management and a minor in Forestry. Jennifer completed an internship with the U.S. Forest Service and after graduation worked with Ecobeco to provide residents across the state of Maryland with energy efficiency education. Through this position, she found the Eastern Shore and has been a resident of Cecil County since 2014.

Jennifer has since completed a Volunteer Maryland Americorps Service Year gaining valuable program management experience at a local non-profit homeless shelter, Deep Roots. Joining Eastern Shore Land Conservancy in September 2017 as the Education Program Manager of the Sassafras Environmental Education Center has allowed her to continue working with other local non-profits by providing environmental education not only to local school groups, but to disadvantaged and minority groups in the surrounding area.

While a typical day at work may involve canoeing, fishing, hiking, or gardening Jennifer also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and pets, painting, backyard birding, and visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains.

jhizer@eslc.org  •  (410) 348-5214

Darius Johnson

Communications Manager

Darius joined the ESLC in September 2018 to manage adaptive reuse and community projects focused on building vibrant Eastern Shore towns. Graduating from Washington College in 2015 as a Vincent Hynson Scholar with a B.A. in Business Management, Darius has further developed his interests and skills in the areas of Workforce Development, Fundraising, Program Management, Data Analytics, Education and Project Management. Prior to joining the ESLC, Darius has spent several years working for organizations such as Prometric, Johns Hopkins Neurology, and most recently, the Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation. He also spends time supporting his father’s concrete masonry business based out of Worton, MD.

An Eastern Shore native, Darius enjoys learning about the history that is deeply rooted in its communities while spending time kayaking its waterways, or hiking its trails. Darius currently lives in Grasonville, MD with his partner Arden and their dog, Izzy. He still pours concrete every now and then, too!

djohnson@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x154

David Satterfield

Conservation Specialist

David joined ESLC in January 2018 after a stint as ESLC’s Stewardship Intern in 2016 and Stewardship Contractor in the Fall 2017. An Eastern Shore native, David grew up on a farm in southern Caroline County. As a child he developed a love and respect for wildlife through hunting and fishing with his family. In 2011, David turned his respect for wildlife into a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Towson University. When not working he enjoys spending time with his dog, Duke, gaming with friends, cooking, reading books, and birding.

dsatterfield@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x169 • 410-422-1996

Julia Babbitt Williams

Manager of Outreach and Advancement

A native of Virginia, Julia has spent the majority of the past 30 years living in Maryland since receiving her B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech. In addition to her work at the Shore Update community paper, she has worked as an environmental educator and operations manager at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, was the executive director of MACMA, and a program coordinator at The Gunston School. She joined ESLC in the fall of 2017 as the outreach and engagement manager to help promote the mission, understanding, and relevance of ESLC’s vision by engaging with the people and organizations most affected by a rural landscape and vibrant towns. She currently holds the position of Manager of Advancement, a role that allows her to interact with the generous donors who make ESLC’s mission come to life. Julia currently lives in Centreville with her husband, son and two dogs. She also has two grown daughters. She enjoys singing, hiking, being on, in, and around the water, and keeping up with the constant chaos of her family.

jbabbitt@eslc.org  •  (410) 690-4603 x171 • 410-353-9353