Gail Farmer (She/Her) Email & Phone Number

Ambler, Pa

Lead a conservation organization that manages 12 nature preserves, 24 miles of trails, 17 staff, an annual operating budget of $1.8M and a $8M investment portfolio. Provide strategic vision and direction for the organization and oversight of programs, finances, and overall operations. Lead efforts of the Board and key staff to ensure that the organization has sufficient financial resources to achieve goals. Serve as spokesperson for the organization with a focus on cultivating external relationships that result in support for our conservation efforts. Report to and collaborate with the Board of Directors.• Led a collaborative strategic planning process resulting in board approved plan reflecting a clear vision of the future as well as a fresh mission statement• With staff leadership, created an outcomes driven implementation process for delivering on the strategic plan, addressing staff-identified challenges and leveraging staff strengths• Overseeing change management for organizational restructure associated with new strategic plan• Engaged in a budget remediation process which resulted in closing FY 2017 with a surplus; worked with Director of Finance to align accounting operations with Generally Acceptable Accounting Practices• Operationalizing commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging through changes in our organizational policies, practices, and culture.• Advisory role in the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership, a collaborative effort among 13 municipalities and 4 nonprofits to create a shared water quality improvement plan for the Wissahickon Creek• Collaborated with key board and staff to raise $3.25M in 2022, $2M in 2018; $1.4M in 2019, and $800k in 2020 for land protection campaigns and special projects through public/private partnerships. In 2020, launched a $1.3M capital campaign to renovate our headquarters. Renovation was completed in 2023.

Philadelphia, Pa

Provided vision and leadership for the Center’s education programs and initiatives. Managed a $900,000 budget and oversaw 10 full-time, 9 part-time and 5-17 seasonal educators. Facilitated collaboration within and across departments, cooperated with the development office to generate contributed support for programs, and developed strategic partnerships to increase our reach and capacity. Positioned the Schuylkill Center as a leader in the region through participation in a variety of regional committees, networks and task forces and presenting our work at conferences and other professional venues. Staff liaison to the Board of Directors, participated in committees and task forces as requested by the Executive Director. Key Outcomes:• Increased education gross revenue by 257% and doubled the proportion of revenue that is net • Implemented changes to staff recruitment, hiring practices and team culture to improve diversity, equity and inclusion on our team. • Developed and implemented business plan for Pennsylvania’s first Nature Preschool (fully licensed by state)• Convened and led a new city-wide cross-sector coalition, Nature PHL, that aims to increase park & trail engagement in Philadelphia through strategic collaboration among the Schuylkill Center, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR), and the USDA Forest Service (FS). • Increased public program engagement by 300% by cultivating strategic partnerships, such as Musehouse Center for Literary Arts, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, DelVal Regional Planning Commission, University of Pennsylvania Center for Public Health Initiatives, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Set priorities and strategic vision for the Institute’s statewide programs. Hired, supervised and evaluated full-time, part-time and seasonal program staff. Developed and managed program budgets. Oversaw risk management and information management protocols for all programs. Oversaw program administration and marketing efforts. Worked with executive leadership on strategic planning and fundraising. Key Outcomes: • Identified and cultivated partnerships that enabled us to reach racially and culturally diverse communities • Tripled our organizational and program reach and contact hours with target audiences • Increased annual program revenue by 40% during my tenure • Established and cultivated 30 partnership relationships with agency, institutional, business and nonprofit organizations to collaborate on the Wildlife Leadership Academy and Pennsylvania Master Naturalist • Increased program partnerships and in-kind support, providing us increased capacity and cost-savings amounting to 10% of our annual budget

Managed the long-term American Kestrel nestbox monitoring project. Trained and mentored international interns in methods of environmental education and avian research techniques. Coordinated logistical and administrative aspects of the internship program. Led programs for the public in raptor identification and ecology and Appalachian natural history. Produced education materials interpreting Hawk Mountain research and migration science. • Direct supervisor of 15 international interns in residence• Authored 3 scientific and 2 education manuscripts, published in professional journals and books• Organized and instructed an annual professional development workshop for teachers using satellite telemetry research and data as a tool for teaching inquiry-based science

Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, Ca

Designed and implemented avian research and monitoring projects on the Sanctuary and fully incorporated these projects into our education programs. Wrote grants and raised funds to support these projects. Hired and supervised summer education interns. Key Outcomes: • Designed and managed 3 long-term conservation monitoring projects (stream bio-assessment, wildlife monitoring in restoration sites, MAPS & MOSI avian monitoring), which utilized volunteers and addressed conservation priorities for the Sanctuary and the region• Organized, trained, and supervised 15 volunteers assisting with ongoing monitoring projects• Expanded our program offerings to include after school programs, youth summer programs, adult field ecology camps and undergraduate field courses• Designed, planned and instructed a series of Starr Ranch Junior Biologists summer camps

Master Of Science, Environmental & Forest Biology

Bachelor Of Arts, Behavioral Ecology