OUR TEAM
Executive Board
Our Board Members
- PRESIDENT: John Guszkowski, Principal, Tyche Planning and Policy Group
- VICE PRESIDENT: Tyra Penn-Gesek, Director of Planning & Development, Town of Thompson
- TREASURER: Rosa Browne, Community Program Developer
- SECRETARY: Margot Burns, Senior Environmental Planner, Lower Connecticut River Valley COG
- Taijah Anderson, Chief of Staff, CT Lieutenant Governor’s Office
- Jane Brawerman, Executive Director, Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
- Lois Bruinooge, Executive Director, The Last Green Valley
- Aaron Budris, Senior Regional Planner, Naugatuck Valley COG
- Maureen Goulet, Principal Program Manager, Capitol Region COG
- Mark Hoover, GIS Director, Connecticut Metropolitan COG
- Jim Larkin, Director of Regional Planning, Northeastern Connecticut COG
- Dan Mullins, Eastern Connecticut Conservation District
- Joanna Shapiro, Executive Director, North Central Conservation District
- Jim Sipperly Environmental Planner, Middletown, Partner Organization CT Forest & Parks Assoc
- Chris Sullivan, Executive Director, Southwest Conservation District
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 has been a dedicated member of the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D) team for over 20 years, leading and supporting a wide range of impactful agricultural and conservation initiatives across the state. Her leadership has been instrumental in the development and success of key programs such as the Connecticut Farm Energy Program (CFEP), CT Soil Health Initiative, Climate Smart Agriculture grants and equipment hubs, FarmUP & Veteran FarmUP, and CT Veteran Grown, among others. Amanda played an important role in launching the CT Farm Energy Program in 2009, guiding it from a pilot project into a successful statewide initiative. Under her direction, the program has facilitated the implementation of more than $30 million in energy projects, helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses across Connecticut access USDA Rural Development REAP grants and loans to improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy technologies. Through her role at CT RC&D, Amanda serves on the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board, CT Compost Alliance, Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation Soil Health Committee, and the Working Lands Alliance Steering Committee, a project of the American Farmland Trust. She is also a founding member of the Connecticut Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, supporting veterans entering agricultural careers. Amanda holds dual degrees in Natural Resources Management & Engineering and Landscape Architecture from the University of Connecticut. In addition to her professional work, she is active in her local community. A founding member and Vice Chair of her town’s Agriculture Commission and helped establish and organize the town’s popular Farmers Market during its first seven years.
SARAH LAYTON
Agricultural Programs Coordinator
Sarah Layton, is a Connecticut native who graduated from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA with a Bachelor's in Creative Writing and a minor in English Literature. Sarah has over 9 years of experience with non-profit management, grant writing and fundraising, community outreach, continuing education training, marketing, and event planning. Sarah primarily works on CT RC&D’s Climate Smart Agriculture Grant, CT Veteran Grown and CT Soil Health initiatives. She is a Certified Compost Operator and steering committee member of the CT Compost Alliance, co-president of the Deep River Garden Club, and owner of Wild Hill Farm in Deep River.
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.
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.
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 ALUMNUS
CT RC&D Alumni Staff & Interns
CHRIS ROBERTS
BEN ROOSA
IREDIA OHENHEN
ANDREA PERES
RILEY DOHERTY
DAVID LLOYD
JEANNE DAVIES
RENEE EWING
PHILIP HORNIG
GEORGE WILLIAMS
FERNANDA MASTROLUCA
JESSICA LORD
CHRIS MELENDEY
MELISSA HUNT
MEGAN MCCLELLAN
JOSH BRISTOL
HANNAH HUBER
KOURTNEY MAJOR
SAM BELANGER
Connecticut RC&D Office
1066 Saybrook Road
P.O. Box 70
Haddam, CT 06438
1.860.345.3977
hello@ctrcd.org