About Willowsford
Conservancy

Willowsford Resident – The Greens
Term Ending 2023

Claudette is a research specialist with 20 years of experience in the environmental movement. She has spent her career investigating environmental, human rights and public health concerns and advocating for innovation and policy solutions. She began her career serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Zambia where she worked with community groups to protect water sources and promote sustainable agriculture. Claudette holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s in environmental policy from the University of Michigan. She has been a Willowsford resident since 2015 and lives in the Greens with her husband and two children.

Willowsford Resident – The Greens
Term Ending 2023

Greg Licamele lives in The Greens with his wife, three daughters, two cats, one dog and a plethora of pollinators in his garden beds. For the last 15 years, Greg has worked for Fairfax County Government as a senior public information officer responsible for the government’s digital presence through its website, social media and online engagement platforms. Since March 2020, Greg has served in leadership roles for the county’s COVID-19 response. In addition to these roles, he also served during numerous emergencies and crises that have impacted the county, while also providing strategic communications guidance on issues ranging from strategic planning to land use to environment to homelessness. Prior to his public service for Fairfax County, Greg worked as a communications specialist at The George Washington University, where he earned two master’s degrees. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Greg currently serves on the board of trustees for Mt. Irenaeus, a unique Franciscan community located near St. Bonaventure where connection to nature is a central element of the non-profit.

Willowsford Resident – The Greens
Term Ending 2024

Karyn is originally from Chicago, though she has lived in Northern Virginia for nearly 35 years. She is a Professional Engineer with a degree in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame. Karyn retired from Fairfax County with 30 years of public service, overseeing projects ranging from sidewalks and trails to major interstates, all of which included thoughtful consideration of environmental elements. Karyn and her husband Ken live in The Greens, and have family in the Grove and Grant villages. They happily enjoy grand parenting, volunteering, and hiking and biking the trails of Willowsford and beyond.

Willowsford Resident – The Greens
Term Ending 2024

Jake is a Service Delivery Manager within Cisco’s National Security Office. He leads a team of 24 engineers in support of the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. In 2015, He retired from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving both command and staff roles at The Pentagon, U.S. Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command. Jake has deployed overseas in support of Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He received a BA from The Citadel and an MBA from Georgetown University. Jake and his wife Lorena live in the Greens with their two dogs Butters and Sombra.

Term Ending 2023

Avi Sareen is president and principal wetland scientist with TNT Environmental, Inc., a leading wetland and natural resource consulting firm in Northern Virginia. He is a Virginia certified professional wetland delineator, professional wetland scientist, certified arborist, and certified ecologist. Mr. Sareen’s firm is multi-disciplined, specializing in fields of wetland science, regulatory consulting, biology, ecology, botany, forest ecology and arboriculture.

Having grown up in the hills and mountains of the Shenandoah, Taryn cultivated a love for the forests and farms of Virginia. She spent several years working on farms and ranches in Virginia and realized that managing land was where her passion lay. She went on to obtain a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Environmental Resources Management with a minor in Urban Forestry.

While studying at Virginia Tech, Taryn worked on a large wilderness operation, completing research on invasive plant removal and reforestation of native species. She managed an American chestnut tree orchard, monitored 2,500 acres of forest, and worked with the VA Department of Forestry to create a reference resources for landowners. Taryn later worked at Arborscapes in Richmond where she was an arborist and plant health care technician. She gained experience in the pruning and felling of trees, and in the diagnosis and treatment of plant disorders and pests.

Taryn joined the Willowsford Conservancy team in 2020 and she is excited to help achieve its vision. She is passionate about creating and conserving spaces where residents can better enjoy and understand nature. In her free time, Taryn can be found hiking the Appalachia or working in her garden.

Sam joined the Conservancy team in February 2022. Sam attended West Virginia University and studied Forest Resource Management and Urban Forestry. Growing up in Northern Virginia, most of his weekends were spent fishing, golfing with his grandfather, and hiking landscapes with friends. Sam enjoys attending music shows, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, and rooting on his Green Bay Packers when he’s not working. He’s excited to bring his positive attitude and passion for connecting people with the natural world to Willowsford!

I am very excited to be a Ranger with Willowsford Conservancy. Landscaping is in my blood. Since I was 13, I had several neighborhood clients who employed me to mow, mulch, weed, string trim their lawns. I was born in Russia and landed at Dulles Airport at 6 ½ months with my new Mother and Father on Christmas Eve. My sister, who also was adopted from Russia a year earlier, was waiting with family and friends. I graduated from Briar Woods High School in 2016. Throughout the years, sports were a big part of my life including Tae Kwon Do, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse (my favorite). Since graduating, I’ve taken classes at Northern Virginia Community College while working at various jobs.

I enjoy animals and have a Chinese water dragon and spotted gecko and the family has two “fat” cats and an old boxer. When I’m not working, you can often find me fishing, playing sports, generally enjoying the outdoors including the beach. I’m a huge ice hockey fan, especially the Washington Capitals. I love the time I get to spend outdoors working here. Every day is different, and I enjoy seeing all the wildlife including rabbits, deer, turkeys, etc. I’m happy to be a part of the Land Stewardship team and am excited to learn about conservation here at the Conservancy.

I have always had a penchant for the outdoors, it probably stems from my childhood where I was lucky enough to grow up in the small town of Letchworth, just north of London in the UK. It was one of the first modern day planned communities established in the 1800’s by a group of Quakers who were looking for a healthier way of life than could be found in the congested and dirty cities born of the industrial revolution.

Some of my fondest memories are of those warm summer days listening to musicians play on the band stand in the park, splashing in the paddling pools and walking with my mother through the commons on the way to school. As a teenager I played football in the green spaces and explored the trails through the countryside, farmland and woods that surround the town and are still there today. The green space has enabled the town to keep its identity in an otherwise world of suburban sprawl. Those old Quakers knew the value and beauty of the land and understood their connection to it. They didn’t use words like sustainability, conservation, recreation and lifestyle, they were farmers who valued the land and simply knew a healthier way to live.

As the Conservancy Ranger here at Willowsford I hope to find your connection to the land and its beauty, whether it’s through recreation, conservation, education or simply a love of the outdoors I hope that I can help develop a program that fits you.

As a project manager I have worked with local zoning, permitting, historic and civic groups to make sure that projects fit in with the neighborhood and community they serve. As a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and BSA Scoutmaster I have training and experience in youth leadership, trail construction and maintenance.

Andrew founded Grinnell Heritage Farm and farmed with his wife, Melissa, on family land which was settled by his great-grandparents in 1857. Andrew became interested in pursuing a career in organic agriculture while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. His agricultural and wildlife habitat interests stemmed from his upbringing in northeast Iowa while planting thousands of native trees and shrubs and gardening alongside his parents.

At Grinnell Heritage Farm this led to a growing 25 acres of organic produce, establishing pollinator gardens, seeding cover crops, planting beetle banks, and growing hundreds of thousands of plants for transplant in the greenhouse. These practices have been highlighted during field days by Practical Farmers of Iowa, NRCS, the Xerces Society, and numerous educational institutions.

The Dunhams have been recognized as leaders in agriculture, including receiving an Iowa Environmental Leader award. Andrew has a degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. When not farming, Andrew enjoys spending time with his three children, reading, and exploring the natural world.

Eric grew up on the rolling hills of Iowa where he helped with his family’s 700-acre conventional farm. His love of the outdoors has stayed with him through the years as his interest shifted away from conventional crops to growing top quality organic produce. He can frequently be found on a tractor out in the fields singing as he goes about the daily tasked of farm life. When not at work, Eric likes to relax in the shade with his wife and two pet cows.

Rachel is new to the Willowsford Farm team, but has several years of experience working on certified organic fruit and vegetable farms. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where her love of the great outdoors was spurred by the beautiful and diverse terrain.

When not working Rachel enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her husband and pets.

Ben is from Mountville and this is his first year at the farm. After studying Environmental Policy at The University of Colorado Boulder he worked as project manager for Anacostia Riverkeeper, a water quality non-profit in DC. His interest in sustainable farming led him first to Wild Hope Farm in South Carolina, then to Willowsford.

In my new role at Willowsford Farm I am most looking forward to all things melon season and refining logistics in our packing shed facility.