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 Penn Soil RC&D Management Team

The Penn Soil RC&D Board of Directors is comprised of four voting members from each of the eight counties we serve.  The board meets quarterly to establish policy and review program direction.  The board also elects an executive committee of officers annually to conduct the business of the Council and work with the Executive Director to make decisions as necessary between Council meetings when time is of the essence in capturing resources for our region.

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Chairman Tom McClure, Erie County

Tom McClure serves as the District Manager for the Erie County Conservation District and has been involved in the Penn Soil RC&D since 2015.  Tom brings 25 years of experience in the hardwood lumber industry, the orchard and vineyard ag sector and now leading local conservation efforts.

Vice-Chairperson Katie Stover, Warren County

Katie Stover serves as District Manager  the Warren County Conservation District.  

Treasurer Donna Zofcin, Forest County

Donna joined the Forest County Conservation District & Planning Department in November of 2008 as an Administrative Assistant after having 20 years of experience in the legal field in the private sector.  She became Executive Director/Manager in 2014 and has been involved with the Penn Soil RC&D Council since that time. 

Secretary Tracey Crawford, Crawford County

Tracey Crawford serves as the District Manager for the Crawford County Conservation District and has been involved in Penn Soil since 2015.  Tracey brings nearly 30 years experience working with landowners, agricultural producers, municipal officials and cooperating agencies to bring funds to Crawford County and establish conservation practices. 

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Executive Director, Sue Nielsen

Sue has over 20 years of business experience and of working in PA & NY with many non-profits, from environmental causes, youth groups, organizing community events, educational outreach

& Special Olympics. Sue has been a Conewango Creek Watershed Assoc.  Board member for over 17 years and is the current Board Chairperson, is a swimming, kayak & water safety instructor, is a Master Watershed Steward and an artist.

MISSION  STATEMENT

The mission of Penn Soil RC&D Council is to improve the economy, environment and social well-being of the people of Northwest Pennsylvania.

Who  We Are...

Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council is a registered 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization formed in 1964, serving the residents of eight northwestern Pennsylvania counties. Penn Soil RC&D Council actively seeks and manages grants for projects proposed by local communities and organizations which are consistent with the RC&D mission.  Primarily, we provide technical and/or financial assistance to community groups or agencies pursuing projects in one of four elements of our Strategic Area Plan: Community Development, Water Management, Land Management, and Land Conservation.  We also act as a fiscal agent for groups that do not have a 501(c)3 designation, such as The Toy Shoppe of Warren, The Allegheny Outdoor Club, Northwest Project Grass and most recently the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania - Kinzua Country Service Unit 3628 (Warren Co.), The Kinzua Heritage Festival , Bee Courageous and the Allegheny Greenhouse senior volunteer group.

 

Penn Soil RC&D has operated as a true stand-alone charitable organization since losing federal funding through the USDA in 2011. Since then, Penn Soil has been able to remain afloat without any constant, direct funding sources. Raising money through writing grants for proposed projects and soliciting donations are our main funding sources to currently pay a part-time Executive Director, a part-time office assistant AND fund all of the projects that we have made possible in an 8 County region!

 

Since 2011, Penn Soil has secured over 4.35 million dollars in grants and donations and has leveraged that funding to support projects at a ratio of 9.4:1 compared to our annual administrative budget! Penn Soil RC&D has had an influx of requests for assistance from many groups and organizations over the last 6 months. We have several new community projects in the works already and are quickly reaching our capacity of how many projects we can plan, write grants for and manage with two part-time staff.  We are registered with the IRS, PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations and Guidestar, the national clearinghouse for charitable organizations. You can look us up at www.guidestar.org and view our most recent IRS form 990. You can also keep up with us at http://www.facebook.com/PennSoilRcd.  

Some of the dozens of projects that Penn Soil RC&D has been a sponsor or partner of include:

  • Two Mile Run Dam project that created Justus Lake in Venango Co.

  • Two Mile Run Park Nature Lodge Accessibility project, Venango Co.

  • Clarion River Canoe Access project in Forest Co.

  • Creating a Value-Added Dairy program offering cheese making classes in several counties

  • Tionesta Public Boat Launch in Forest Co.

  • The Storywalk Trail at Chapman State Park, Warren Co.

  • Akeley Swamp Water Control Structure, Warren Co.

  • Allegheny Geo Trail Project in 10 counties in PA

  • Amish Gray Water Treatment System Research Project

  • 180 Rural PA Dry Fire Hydrants installed statewide

  • Bollinger Enterprises Concession Stand project at Chapman State Park

  • 9 years of coordinating the Nature Art Showcase and Sale in Franklin, PA in conjunction with Franklin On Ice, Venango County

  • Big Bend Bird Viewing Platform and ADA compliant Big Bend Riverside Watchable Wildlife Trail Paving project, Warren Co.

  • Bevington Boat Launch Access Area on Beaver River in Lawrence Co.

  • Conewango Creek & Allegheny River Cleanups, Warren Co.

  • Sponsoring & winning the Allegheny River as PA River of the Year 2017 designation and providing 13 mini-grants to multiple counties for community projects

  • Chandlers Valley Community Assoc. Dam Repair project, Warren Co.

  • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach project, Area Wide

  • Energy Harvest Solar Powered Water Pumping project for intensive grazing

  • Alternative Energy Education for Erie County Envirothon

  • Fuels for Schools Educational Program at Edinboro Energy Fair, Area Wide

  • Hosting Geo Woodstock IX Event bringing 5,000 visitors to Northwest PA in 2011

  • Tionesta Handicapped Accessible Fishing Pier in Forest Co.

  • Tionesta Beach Recreation Area Improvement project, Forest Co.

  • Local Agriculture as An Integrating Concept Educational Project, Warren Co.

  • Meadville Market House, Crawford Co.

  • Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club Trail Grooming Equipment project, Forest & Warren, Co.

  • Morrison Trail Improvement Project, Warren Co.

  • Kellettville Re-Route of the North Country Trail project in Forest Co.

  • Lowlands Trail North County Trail Connector project, Chapman State Park, Warren, Co.

  • Northwest PA Nutrient Reduction Demonstration project, Area Wide

  • PA Wilds Trail Conference, Area wide

  • Kinzua Beach Pathways project on the Allegheny Reservoir, Warren Co.

  • Northwest PA Project Grass initiative and field days, Area Wide

  • 5-year research project with the USDA and Michigan State University's Forest Carbon and Climate Program team to analyze ecosystem services management options as it pertains to carbon sequestration and climate change

  • Tri-State Poultry Assoc. Exhibit, NWPA, NEOH, & WNY

  • Upper Shenango River Water Trail Project, Mercer Co.

  • On-Farm trials of Warm Season Grass Varieties, Area Wide

  • Numerous projects at the PA Fish and Boat Tionesta Fish Hatchery, Forest Co.

  • Erie Bluffs State Park Trail Improvement project, Erie Co.

  • Pennsylvania Crude, Boomtowns and Oil Barons Book publishing

  • Hatch Run Conservation Demonstration Area improvements, Warren Co. 

  • New and Beginning Farmer's and Women in Agriculture project working in conjunction with multiple county NRCS and Conservation District offices and staff

  • Outdoor & Water Safety Day program to rotate around at least 9 Northwest PA counties 

  • Many years of organizing Warren Co. Winterfest at Chapman State Park, Warren Co. 

  • DRINC - an EPA grant project to address water treatment concerns in Fryburg, Pa, Clarion Co.

  • Adding value to local switch grass production technology project, Area Wide

  • and many, many, MANY more!!

PASSIONATE PEOPLE:
Join Our Team

For a complete list of the current Penn Soil Board of Directors, click here.

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