Board of Directors

Judy, founder of EcoPlant Consulting, is a native plant, invasive plant and ecology consultant. As chair of the Committee on Invasives Lists for the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC), she is implementing the Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool and expanding MISC’s invasive species lists of plants, insects, other animals and pathogens. She consults and teaches workshops for both individuals and organizations like the University of Maryland Extension, the Natural History Society of Maryland and the Irvine Nature Center. Her specialties include selection of appropriate native plants for specific ecoregions and growing conditions, and also control of invasive plants. She provides recommendations on transforming degraded properties from landscapes dominated by invasives to healthier ecosystems with native plants. The Daily Record selected Judy as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 1998, 2001 and 2004, and inducted her into its Circle of Excellence.

Matthew is an Ecological Society of America Certified Ecologist and owner of Sarver Ecological, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in conservation and restoration planning and wildlife habitat. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, cum laude, from Cornell University with a concentration in Neurobiology and Animal Behavior. Matt’s clients have included state agencies, conservation NGOs, and private landowners. An avid birder for 20 years, Matt is currently Conservation Chair of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, and serves on the boards of several state and regional professional societies and committees in the fields of science and conservation.

Marc is invasive plant control coordinator for Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning commission, chairs the Natural Places committee of the Maryland Sierra Club and chairs the biological control working group for MAIPC. He established a program to provide local friends of parks groups and public and private landowners with several models of invasive plant removal projects to draw upon in Maryland and the region. As Invertebrate Zoologist with the Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, he was responsible for listing of endangered and threatened 36 species (25 mussels, 7 snails, 3 fish, 1 turtle) .

Based in Boiling Springs, PA, Marian serves as the Director of Science and Stewardship for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). She coordinates natural resource and land stewardship programs for the Trail, including the A.T. invasive species monitoring and management program. Marian received her BS in Biology from Juniata College, and her MS in Ecology from the State University of New York’s School of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Andrew received a BS in Environmental Studies from Gettysburg and his Biology MS from Shippensburg University in 2009. Currently, he works as an Ecological Program Specialist with Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Forestry where he helps to form policy and manage rare plant populations and invasive plants on state forest land.

Patricia Pearl Greenberg currently works as the Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program Manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority Natural Resources Branch in Northern Virginia. She holds a master’s degree from George Mason University in environmental science and policy with a focus on urban forestry. Her interest in invasive species management and protecting natural areas started during her undergraduate studies at Eckerd College, located in Florida. Patricia’s challenging and rewarding experience in Peace Corps Panama increased her passion for sustainable, community-based ecosystem management and protecting the global forest. She is an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist, Wildland Firefighter, and a Certified Pesticide Applicator. Patricia has dedicated the past 13+ years to learning through field work, certifications and research about invasive species management for the ecological restoration of the urban forest. She and her son, Mateyo, live in Reston, Virginia. Patricia loves talking to friends and strangers about how to protect the planet by supporting native species in their yards and living environmentally friendly lives at home.

Nicole Hersch is a regional planner and community designer with the New River Valley Regional Commission. She holds a dual masters in landscape architecture and natural resources from Virginia Tech and currently serves as the Co-chair of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Board of the New River Conservancy and on the Executive Committee for the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. She is passionate about improving the way our landscapes are designed and utilized and is currently working to bring the Plant SWVA Natives Campaign to the New River and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia and to start a community-supported native plant propagation center. Nicole is currently a Fellow at the Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute.