Leadership

Lauren joined the C&O Canal Trust in February 2021, serving as Director of Development prior to becoming President & CEO in April 2023. During her tenure leading the Trust’s development team, the organization steadily enhanced its fundraising efforts, growing critical support for conservation, education, and preservation efforts in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. A native of Shepherdstown, WV, she grew up exploring the C&O Canal at Lock 38.

Lauren has over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience. She worked at the Brookline Arts Center (BAC) in Massachusetts before returning to the area. She served in many roles at BAC, including Assistant Director, Director of Operations, and Executive Director. Prior to joining the BAC, she served as the Managing Director of Gallery 263 in Cambridge, MA. Lauren earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from The Institute for Nonprofit Practice at Tufts University. She is also an alumna of the Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership. In 2024, Lauren was recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of West Virginia.

Lauren lives in a 125-year-old home in Charles Town, WV with her husband and daughter and is passionate about native plants and conservation, art, education, and food.

Jane came to the Trust with more than 25 years of experience coordinating business processes in the manufacturing industry. She earned a degree in Information Technology from Hagerstown Community College where she graduated with top honors. Her skills span a wide array of business functions that include network administration, database administration, and accounting. In her free time she enjoys biking the canal and gardening at her home in Boonsboro.

Maureen joined the Trust as Director of Development on March 18, 2024. She brings over 20 years of experience in public/private partnerships at the national, regional, and state levels. Most recently, Maureen founded her own consulting firm focused on outreach strategy and operations, successful public-private partnerships, and executive communications. Maureen served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 14 years in multiple public-facing offices. She earned a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Growing up in the D.C. area, Maureen took her first ride on the canal with her father. That first introduction resulted in a lifelong love of cycling and the C&O canal. In 2020, Maureen completed her first ride through the canal and in 2021, rode from Pittsburgh to Georgetown to complete the full GAP/C&O experience. Maureen resides in Bethesda Maryland with her dog Bo and splits her time between cycling the canal and adventures on the Chesapeake Bay, sailing her restored Tanzer near Annapolis. A Montgomery County Master Gardener, Maureen’s hobbies include learning about trees, native plants, and garden design.

Kalina joined the Trust in February 2023. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Hood College and a master’s degree in Communication Studies from Shippensburg University. Kalina brings eight years of experience in grant management, non-profit fundraising, event planning, and program administration. She loves to learn new things and is a strong proponent of lifelong learning. As an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys walking, biking, and hiking at various parks in the tri-state area with her husband, Chris. Together they live on a farmette with their horses and cats.

Allison joined the Trust in February 2024. She is a graduate from the University of Delaware and has a degree in Environmental Studies. Previously, Allison has worked for Delaware Nature Society and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed where she worked in education, communication, and community engagement. Growing up, Allison spent every summer camping in state and National Parks around the country. She is excited to now be working with individuals and communities to support and celebrate our National Parks. In her free time, Allison enjoys reading, kayaking, and volunteering in the community.

Aidan has been the Director of Programs and Partnerships since March 2020, overseeing the implementation and function of programs, volunteer service projects, and events in the Park. Originally from Michigan, Aidan has a background in outdoor education and facilitating programs with youth, non-profit, and corporate groups. They also spent nearly two years teaching English in Taiwan. They have a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University and enjoy hiking, biking, rock climbing, good books, and campfires with friends. They live in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Becky joined the Trust in May 2023. After graduating from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, she began her career with the C&O Canal as an intern for the National Park Service. As an Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, she worked closely with both the NPS and C&O Canal Trust to support the Volunteers-In-Parks and Canal for All programs. She also collaborated with the NPS Office of International Affairs to welcome a volunteer from Chile for the Summer 2022 season. Community service comes naturally to Becky. She volunteers her time on the weekends to care for cats and kittens at her local animal shelter. When it’s time to rest and recharge, Becky likes to travel (8 countries and counting), read and collect postcards.

Alexia joined the Trust in January. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies from Kenyon College. While in college, she did volunteer work in a nature conservancy, participated in a student-led farm, and acted as an environmental blog intern. She started her career with the Forest Service at Mount Saint Helens in Washington and comes to the Trust with passion and enthusiasm for community service. She is a proud plant-mom, artist, baker, and roller-skater.

Arden joined the Trust in February 2024. He is a graduate of Hood College and has a degree in archaeology. After college, he worked as an archeologist in a cultural resource management firm before working with the National Park Service at Petersburg National Battlefield. While in Petersburg, Arden established two volunteer programs that managed archeological site monitoring and invasive species removal on Civil War earthworks. Arden loves anything to do with the outdoors and is especially fond of hiking. He strongly believes in the preservation of historic properties and their utilization as interpretive tools for education. In his free time, he enjoys working on carpentry projects, gardening, boxing, and reading.

Don became involved with the C&O Canal Trust as a volunteer quartermaster for the Canal Quarters program in 2016, and was hired as Canal Quarters Operations Coordinator in October 2021. He previously served as a volunteer with the C&O Canal Bike Patrol and the Maryland City (Anne Arundel County) Volunteer Fire Department. In his role as CQ Operations Coordinator, Don handles maintenance issues and visitor concerns for the seven historic lockhouses in the Canal Quarters program, coordinating with National Park Service Maintenance, volunteer Quartermasters, and other service providers. He also responds to after-hours problems reported via the emergency hotline and assists with other Trust programs. Don is an avid gardener, woodworker, tinkerer and outdoors enthusiast, and is very active with local sustainability efforts in his hometown of Poolesville, Maryland. He retired from the Federal government in 2017 after 27 years of military and civilian service.

Trey is a recent addition to the C&O Canal Trust team. He will be interning here for a year through the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corp.  Originally from Indiana, he graduated from Goshen College with a degree in Environmental and Marine Science. While at school, Trey had the opportunity to travel to a variety of places, including Germany, Great Britain, and Indonesia. While in Indonesia, Trey spent time volunteering at a small university helping out in the environmental science classes as well as teaching English. In his spare time, he enjoys going out with friends, playing board games, and experimenting with new recipes.

Tymber joined the Trust in April 2020. She is a freelance writer and editor with a specialization in nonprofit communications. A graduate of Antioch College, Tymber has a B.A. in Literature and the Human Condition. She has previously worked with Tecumseh Land Trust in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia where she created social media content and organized community events. In her spare time, Tymber enjoys hiking, reading, and playing with her cats, Theo and Franklin.

Grace joined the Trust in January of 2023. She is a recent graduate of Shepherd University with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication and a minor in Graphic Design. While at Shepherd, she worked with the Student Success Center hosting events, crafting social media posts, and assisting students new to the center. In her free time she enjoys going for walks in the Park, special effect makeup, and staying up-to-date on recent media trends.