Staff Directory

(all emails are first initial + lastname @ctwoodlands.org)

 


Jennifer Benner - WalkCT Communications Coordinator
Jen originally hails from the shores of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University. After graduation in 1995, she headed off to Nantucket, Massachusetts where she worked as a gardening manager. In 2001, she was lured off the island to be an editor at Fine Gardening magazine in Newtown, Connecticut.

Looking for a chance to bring her communication skills and passion for conservation and hiking together, Jen landed on our doorstep in 2008.

As the WalkCT Communications Coordinator, she is helping to build the WalkCT Web site and get the word out about this exciting program. When not in the office, you’ll likely find Jen getting her hands dirty in her garden or hiking the trails near her home in northwest Connecticut with her husband Brent and favorite pooch Porter.

Lori Paradis BrantLori Paradis Brant – Education Director
Lori teaches students how to think about the local environment as the state co-coordinator of Project Learning Tree - an interdisciplinary environmental education curriculum for teachers, scout leaders and other educators. Connecting people to the outdoors is important to Lori and she enjoys coordinating CFPA’s Student and WalkCT Family Hike program. Throughout the last 15 years, Lori has helped teachers incorporate environmental education into their curriculum to meet state education standards; trained nature center staff; and created and led programs for children.  Her past work has led her from farm to forest to sea as she has enjoyed employment with CT DEP, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Bauer Farm Park, Connecticut Audubon Society, and the Long Island Sound Taskforce.  

Lori is President of the Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association, chairs the Education & Outreach Committee for the CT Forestlands Council, and serves on the CT Urban Forestry Council.  

The outdoor adventure of letterboxing is more exciting when shared, so Lori enjoys this quest with friends and family. She also enjoys history and scrapbooking and is currently working on documenting her grandparents’ lives in Germany during WWII.  The Brant’s three cats and one dog let Lori and her husband share their home with them.

Steve BroderickSteve Broderick – Forester & Program Director, Goodwin Forest Center
Steve is CFPA's Forester and Program Director at the Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center in Hampton. CFPA contracts with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to operate this state-owned facility, which originally belonged to the same James L. Goodwin for whom our Association Headquarters is named. The Goodwin Center lies on the southern edge of the 2,000-acre Goodwin State Forest, and includes a small wildlife museum, meeting and office space, a 2-acre native plant wildlife garden and an 80-acre demonstration forest. The Goodwin Center's mission, defined by Mr. Goodwin in 1964 when he gifted the property to the state of Connecticut, is to provide "forestry, wildlife and general education for youth and adults."  

Steve came to CFPA after a 30-year career as Extension Forester with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. An avid fisherman, hiker and cross-country skier, Steve and his wife Karen live on a 40-acre Tree Farm in Eastford where they make maple syrup, grow Christmas trees and manage timber stands and wildlife habitat.

Ann ColsonAnn T. Colson - Trail Conservation Director and GIS Specialist
Ann works with the Trails Committee and over 100 trail managers and maintenance crews to keep the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail system open and maintained for public enjoyment.  She is also editor and project manager for the Connecticut Walk Book, CFPA's popular two-volume guide to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails.
 
Prior to her work with CFPA, Ann was Volunteer Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy CT Chapter, where she worked closely with the TNC Science & Stewardship team on endangered species protection and land stewardship.  For several years she was a newspaper reporter, photographer, and editor for the Shore Line Times newspapers and the Hartford Courant. She also has served as a volunteer board member of the Clinton Land Conservation Trust for more than 10 years.

An avid hiker and environmental advocate, she has especially enjoyed helping her children and grandchildren develop their own sense of wonder as they discover and explore special places along the trails.

Linda Cunningham – Financial Management Assistant
Linda plays “utility infielder” for CFPA taking on diverse tasks including database entry, answering phones, preparing correspondence, keeping records of special events, processing mailings, opening and distributing mail, financial record-keeping and preparing vendor invoices for payment.  Linda is also well known as the “party planner” and “master baker” of CFPA andoften plans and cooks for CFPA events.

Linda grew up in Guilford and then moved to Portland 49 years ago.  She was a music (piano) major at UConn, with a minor in Psychology.  She has continued her musical skills playing for local church musicals and accompanying choral groups within the school system.  Since 1990, Linda has played the organ for several area churches from Meriden to North Guilford.  

Linda has also volunteered in her church and community in many capacities, including the Portland school system in both home economics and music programs.  She served many years as a volunteer treasurer for the Portland Visiting Nurse Association, as well as having been its Secretary and President.  She served on a “Dollars for Scholars” committee to raise funds for scholarships.  For a number of years she led the Friends of the Portland Library as its President, as well as serving other short-term stints in PTO, girl scouting, and Junior Women’s Club.

Linda has “retired” several times, but always finds a way to stay active as part of organizations she feels are worthwhile.  Both Linda and her husband are hikers and share the desire to give back to CFPA for their extensive use of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails.  Linda served as a CFPA volunteer for a year, and ended up becoming a part-time employee when she proved indispensible.

Eric Hammerling – Executive Director
Eric has been CFPA’s Executive Director since May, 2008 and comes to CFPA after serving for over five years as the Executive Director for the Farmington River Watershed Association based in Simsbury.  Eric holds an M.S. in Environmental Science/Range Management from U.C. Berkeley, and a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Through his work at the Farmington River Watershed Association, Eric spearheaded the ongoing effort to conduct a Congressionally-authorized Feasibility Study to evaluate whether the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook should be added to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System (a distinction recently achieved in CT by the Eightmile River).  In his 18-year conservation career, Eric has also worked for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on both coasts, the Center for Ecological Technology in Northampton, and for the late Congressman Silvio O. Conte who represented Western Massachusetts.  Eric currently serves as the President of the Board for Rivers Alliance of Connecticut.

If not hiking a Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail or cheering for the Michigan Wolverines football squad, Eric and his son will likely be found kayaking on the flatwater rivers and lakes of Connecticut.

Damon HearneDamon Hearne – Land Conservation Director
Damon works with landowners across the state to protect working forest lands and areas adjacent to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails.  He has a passion for land protection and enjoys finding conservation solutions that best fit the needs of landowners.  He also has experience in environmental project management and land use issues.  Damon has an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environment from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a B.A. degree in biology from Earlham College.  

In addition to his land conservation duties for CFPA, Damon sits on the steering committee for the Connecticut Land Conservation Council and oversees the CFPA website.  Damon has experience in serving both as an employee and as a board member of regional land trusts.

Damon enjoys woodworking and hiking the Cockaponset trails with his wife Megan and dog Rover.

Leslie Lewis – WalkCT Director
Leslie  joined CFPA in 2007 to promote walking and other opportunities on trails, pathways, and sidewalks around the state.  WalkCT was established to improve the health of our residents, boost tourism and economic development, and develop routes for non-motorized transportation.

Prior to coming to CFPA, Leslie was employed by the CT Department of Environmental Protection for 29 years.  She worked on projects including the implementation of the Bottle Bill, preparation of municipal guides on recycling and household hazardous waste management, and preparation of the Department’s Environment/2000 plan.  From 1997 through April 2007 she served as DEP’s Trails and Greenways Coordinator, responsible for grants, state-wide trail planning and technical assistance.  Appointed by Governor Rell to the CT Greenways Council, Leslie also serves on the DOT’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee and the Safe Routes to School Committee.

Leslie enjoys making her property attractive for native plants and animals through backyard plantings and habitat improvements and enthusiastic (if not always successful) organic gardening.

Jim Little, Development DirectorJames W. Little - Director of Development
Jim is responsible for member relations, developing grants, program sponsorships, planned giving, and for public relations.

Jim spent the first 24 years of his career in the trust and financial services industry, eventually becoming Senior Vice President and Department Manager of the American Savings Trust Department.  It was at American Savings that Jim first came into contact with CFPA when the bank was hired to restructure CFPA’s investments.  When American Savings was acquired, Jim declined an offer to stay with the bank and chose to pursue a personal goal to teach English in an urban school. At that time, Jim was invited to join CFPA’s board and chair the finance committee. He taught for four years at a magnet school, the Metropolitan Learning Center, before agreeing to help create an expanded development office at CFPA.

Jim has served on several boards including Easter Seals, the New Britain High School endowment and CFPA. He was Telethon Chairman of the Easter Seal’s telethon, Chairman of the Norwich Annual Bishop’s Appeal, a corporator of New Britain General and the Hospital for Special Care.  Jim is currently investment chair of the Diocese of Norwich Foundation and he is also treasurer of the New England Vincentian Order endowment.

Jim lives in Hebron with his wife, Margaret and has three children.

Teresa Peters, Office Manager
Terri oversees membership and volunteer administration as well as book sales, event logistics and almost everything else that keeps CFPA afloat.  Terri works with trail volunteers on a daily basis and acts as the point of contact for the office, in addition to being the glue that keeps us together.  Like a brilliant but modest movie projectionist, Terri works behind the scenes so everyone can enjoy the results of CFPA's productive teamwork. 

Terri and her family enjoy hiking and maintaining a local section of mountainous trail and are long-time members of the CFPA family.