OUR TEAM
They say the whole is only as good as the sum of its parts. The same is true of the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development. Our staff members are the driving force behind our work. Please get in touch if we can help you in any way.
Our Staff
JOCELYN LAHEY
Executive Director & Environmental Programs Manager
A native of Auburn, Maine, Jocelyn graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Minors in Biology and Nature Tourism. Her ten-year career in conservation has included work in the Maine Forest Service Insect and Disease Laboratory, onboard commercial fishing vessels as a NOAA At-Sea Monitor, and as the District Manager for the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District. The last four years as Executive Director of The Watch Hill Conservancy have expanded her experience and reinforced her value of building strong partnerships. When not exploring a new hiking trail or fishing spot, Jocelyn can be found tending to her growing indoor and outdoor gardens, nestling with one of her four critters (three cats and a dog) and a good book, or creating something tasty in the kitchen.
AMANDA FARGO JOHNSON
Agricultural Programs Director
Amanda Fargo-Johnson has been a CT RC&D employee for over 18 years working on such programs as the Connecticut Environmental Review Team Program, AGvocate Program, CT Farm Energy Program, CT Soil Health Initiative, No-Till/Cover Crop Equipment Hubs, FarmUP & Veteran FarmUP, and other CT RC&D agriculture programs & projects. In addition, has been assigned to be the CT Farm Energy Program Director. As staff she spearheaded the CT Farm Energy Program from its infancy when it began as a pilot project back in 2009 and has grown it into a successful statewide program aiding farm owners and rural small businesses across CT. To date the CT Farm Energy Program has helped to implement over 25 million dollars in energy projects by providing assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in applying for the USDA RD REAP grant/loan program. Through her role at CT RC&D Amanda serves on the CT Energy Efficiency Board, CT Compost Alliance, CCSWC Soil Health Committee, Working Lands Alliance Steering Committee a project of American Farmland Trust, and the CT Chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition. Amanda is a University of Connecticut graduate in 2001 with a dual degree in Natural Resources Management & Engineering as well as Landscape Architecture. She is active in her community by volunteering in her town, she was a founding member and Vice Chair of her Town’s Agriculture Commission and was a founding and organizing member of the popular Bozrah Farmers Market for its first 7 years.
SARAH LAYTON
Agricultural Programs Coordinator
Raised in Old Lyme, Connecticut, Sarah graduated from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA with a Bachelor's in Creative Writing and a minor in English Literature. Sarah's experience in working for non-profits includes grant writing and fundraising, community outreach program management, continuing education training, marketing, and event planning. Sarah loves spending time with her husband, their three young children, and three pups; tending to their flock of 30 chickens, flower and veggie gardening, reading/writing, and throwing on her pottery wheel.
CHRISTIAN SWANSON
Energy & Environmental Programs Coordinator
Christian is originally from New Hampshire and attended the University of Connecticut, Storrs studying Animal Science with a focus on livestock production and management. Her love for agriculture began at a young age in 4-H showing sheep and other small livestock. For the past 13+ years, she has been the Animal Control Officer for the towns of Montville and Salem, CT which gave her a great understanding of navigating regulations, statutes, public outreach, and education. Before taking on that role, she accrued years of experience running livestock operations, including her family farm, Broad Brook Acres, LLC in Preston, CT. They are members of the CT chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, CT Farm Bureau, and New CT Farmer Alliance. Christian also serves on the Ledyard High School Vocational Agriculture Advisory Board and relishes the opportunity to teach the next generation about agriculture in Connecticut. Christian enjoys spending time with her family including her two young sons, hiking, fishing, hunting, and trail riding her horses.
JANE FLYNN
Financial Administrator
Jane brings more than 20 years of business accounting experience to her role as financial administrator. Her experience with state contracts, budgeting, financial statements, payroll along with all audit and tax compliance reporting, will aid her in her new role. Jane, a CT native, is an ardent outdoorsman. Her passion for conservation and sustainability for CT will pair with that of the mission of CT RC&D.
TARA CLEARY
Administrative Financial Coordinator
Tara Cleary joined CT RC&D with both a technology and financial background. She has over 20 years of experience in Accounting, Information Technology and Business Operations. Tara has worked handling financial information including both accounts receivables and payables, contracts / agreements, and payroll. She has an in-depth knowledge of IT related systems and the integration needed for financial operations. She also has experience in the non-profit space in both IT and business operations. Tara received her Associates from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH and her Bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University. A lifetime CT resident, Tara lives locally and away from work, you can find her spending time with her husband and three children.
Our Consultants
JILLIAN SHEA
Agricultural Consultant
Jillian Shea is a self-proclaimed "Jill of all Trades", spreading herself across many sectors of agriculture around Connecticut. With a background in farming and education, Jillian has designed and run environmentally-centered internships for young people through CT RC&D's Youth Empowerment programs. She continues to assist CT RC&D with equipment sharing hubs for farmers, drawing from her experience with our farmer resource assistance program, FarmUP & Veteran FarmUP. Jillian also manages the Connecticut Flower Collective, and runs her own plant design business, PlantHer.
PAULINE GALEZOWSKI
Marketing Outreach Consultant
Pauline has a background in Environmental Geography, GIS and Global Sustainability. A graduate from Central Connecticut State University, Pauline spent several years with the Office of Community Engagement gaining experience in working with non-profit sectors such as AmeriCorps VISTA and JumpStart: fundraising, event planning, marketing, program management, data collection and grant reporting. Outside of the office she loves to spend her time traveling, hiking, skiing, cooking, painting and interior design.
Job Jump Start Personnel
The Job JumpStart Program fosters the professional development of Program staff in their pursuit of a career in conservation, nutrient management panning, soil technology/engineering, and more. The Job JumpStart Program is funded through a Cooperative Agreement with USDA NRCS. Program staff work out of NRCS offices around Connecticut.
“I loved working with CTRC&D and NRCS because I got to collaborate cross-disciplinarily with conservation planners, soil scientists, and engineers; spend days out in the field and catch beautiful pastoral views; increase my comfort with making GIS maps; and engage with land-stewarding, proactive farmers. In the end, my experience in the JJS program launched me into a position working directly with NRCS!”
-former Job Jump Start alumni