Center for Park Management: Meet the Staff

We are a passionate cross-functional team of management experts committed to the protection of our national parks.

Julie Williams, Vice President, Center for Park Management

Prior to joining the CPM team, Julie was a Senior Program Manager at The Partnership for Public Service, where she led the Advisory Services initiative, providing innovative solutions to significant management issues confronting the federal government, including utilizing tools and systems to drive innovation and increase management efficiency in the public sector. Julie is an accomplished executive, managing small- and large-scale public engagement, leadership development, workforce management, and training initiatives, as well as having led her own consulting practice in diversity training and sexual harassment prevention. She has extensive experience in organizational development and design, coaching, planning, fundraising and communications. Julie holds an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York and a B.A. from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.

Michael Heaney, Deputy Vice President, Center for Park Management

An alum of NPCA's Business Plan program, Michael joined NPCA on a full-time basis in 2002 to head the implementation of management strategies in parks- a program that helps parks to implement management solutions to a variety of financial, operational and organizational issues. To date, Michael has now visited over 100 national parks and led projects in around twenty national parks. Michael shares his love of parks with his wife Tipton- a former Course Director for Outward Bound and now a practicing physician. Prior to joining NPCA, Michael gained extensive international experience in the business arena- working in Europe and Asia, where he led projects in enterprise-wide process and organization change, procurement and strategic sourcing. A native of Scotland, Mike holds a Bachelor's degree from De Montfort University in England and a MBA with concentrations in finance and technology management from The Graduate School of Management at the University of California in Davis. Michael's pursuit of the outdoors is fuelled by his interest in photography, sailing and as a SCUBA diving instructor.

Caitlin Downey, Analyst, Center for Park Management

Caitlin joined NPCA in July 2010. Caitlin holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Development from Virginia Tech. An avid traveler, after graduating college she embarked upon a six-week, cross country camping trip that took her through dozens of National Parks and ultimately gave her a new respect for the Parks, and a new appreciation for their preservation. Upon running out of gas and money, her trip landed her in Boston, where she then spent six years working in development for WGBH, Boston's PBS station. After relocating to the Washington DC area – which she considers home – in early 2010, Caitlin was immediately drawn to NPCA for its mission, and recognized an ideal opportunity to combine her personal passions with her professional ambitions. Caitlin tries to spend as much time as possible outdoors, whether running, biking, or just being by the water.

Charity Self, Director, Center for Park Management

Charity joined CPM in March 2008 as a Director. Charity brings over seven years of consulting experience to help with park management issues. She also has five years of experience in the non-profit sector handling public relations, media relations, and special events. Charity holds a B.A. in Political Science from Elon University and a M.A. in International Relations, with a concentration in public policy, from Baylor University. As part of her graduate studies, Charity worked on ecotourism projects in Belize and Guatemala.

Craig Pelka, Program Coordinator, Center for Park Management

Craig joined NPCA in September of 2011. Prior to joining NPCA, Craig worked in a variety of roles with the Career Development Center at the University of Illinois Springfield. His work experience includes coordinating career fairs and educational events, enhancing employers’ recruitment strategies, and advising students on career opportunities and job search strategies. Craig holds a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, Graduate Certificate in Management of Nonprofit Organizations, and M.P.A. from the University of Illinois Springfield. He completed his M.P.A. closure project on stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and management issues facing state wildlife agencies. While in graduate school, Craig traveled to Peru to study NGOs, political resistance, and the impacts of natural gas exploitation on the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous communities.

Cyndi Szymanski, Director, Center for Park Management

Cyndi joined NPCA in March of 2008 after working for 8 years in the Washington, DC office of the National Park Service. Originally hired as a Presidential Management Fellow, she worked on national program management issues with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program. In addition to working on outdoor recreation issues, Cyndi served as a training manager, worked on the EPA/NPS Groundwork partnership, and managed the service-wide Challenge Cost Share program. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco working on an Environmental Education project in the proposed Eastern High Atlas National Park. Cyndi has a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cornell University, a M.S. from SUNY's College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and an M.P.A. from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Cyndi lives in Golden, Colorado with her husband, two daughters and dog. She spends her free time in the Rockies trying to get herself and her family outdoors as much as possible.

Elizabeth Anderson, Marketing & Communications Program Manager

Growing up surfing and hiking in Southern California, Elizabeth has always held a deep appreciation for the environment. This passion for the outdoors eventually led her to the University of Oxford where she earned an M.S. in Environmental Policy. Elizabeth also studied environmental issues at Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned a B.S. in Policy and Management and a B.A. in Spanish. Before joining NPCA, Elizabeth managed and designed a number of environmental communications campaigns and empirical research studies at SGA, a boutique social marketing agency in California. There she led the strategic planning process and implementation of a variety of campaigns for an array of public-sector clients including the Environmental Protection Agency and the San Francisco Department of the Environment. Elizabeth is a published author in social marketing and behavior change science and has been honored with several national awards to this effect, including the 2010 Silver Anvil Award for Public Service and the 2009 EPA National Achievements in Environmental Justice award.

Erik Eichinger, Director

Erik's adventures in the outdoors began as a child in Michigan camping with his parents and grandparents. Over the years, the breadth and depth of his experiences expanded to include backpacking and hiking in dozens of the National Parks and thru-hiking America’s first National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail. He and his wife, Whitney, share a love for the outdoors and are teaching their son Owen about the outdoors as well. Prior to joining NPCA in 2010, Erik spent the first 14 years of his career in both consulting and corporate environments. His focus was on organizational change management and organizational development with Fortune 500 companies, both nationally and internationally. He holds an MBA with a focus on Human Resources from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School. His favorite outdoor activities include hiking, backpacking, nature photography, and fishing.

Geoff Kish, Director, Center for Park Management

An alumnus of the NPS Business Plan Initiative, Geoff joined NPCA in July 2009 to continue efforts to enhance park service management practices. Geoff is motivated by opportunities to drive environmental conservation through the infusion of best practice business management. He brings public sector experience in strategic planning and change management, previously holding positions in IBM’s Global Business Services and at World Wildlife Fund. Geoff received a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. He has traveled to six continents, enjoys scuba diving, backpacking, and spending time with his son, wife, and dog.

Hayley Mortimer, Senior Director, Center for Park Management

As an alum from NPCA’s Business Plan Initiative, Hayley joined NPCA’s Center for Park Management to help develop sustainable strategies that meet park management needs. Prior to joining NPCA, Hayley was an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton in the Economic and Business Analysis Group. Her work primarily focused on providing market research, financial analysis and asset management strategies for the NPS, BLM and the Forest Service. Before Booz Allen, Hayley was the Managing Partner and Co-Owner of Ripple Effect Consulting. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a MPA from Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Her love and commitment to national parks began in 1997 as a member of a trails crew in Yellowstone where she worked on back country trails for a season. Hayley is married to Greg Findley, also a former BPI alum, and spends her time chasing after her young sons Parker and Benjamin on various national park trails located in the Northern Rockies region.

Jamie Varner, Senior Director, Center for Park Management

Jamie joined the Center for Park Management in March 2008 driven by a love of nature and a desire to help make the world a better place. Immediately prior to joining CPM he was with Hertrick & Associates, a public accounting firm that specializes in providing Controller and CFO level services to privately held businesses. Jamie has also owned and operated a $6 million manufacturing company, been Vice President and a Financial/Operations Analyst for a $600 million distributor, and worked with several early stage companies. Prior to starting his business career he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware, and a MBA from Wharton. Jamie is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an active license with the State of Maryland. His favorite outdoor activities are hiking, kayaking, and skiing; and getting his family outdoors as much as possible spending several weeks each year in the Adirondacks.

Jodie Riesenberger, Program Director, Center for Park Management

Jodie joined NPCA in the fall of 2004. As Program Director she is involved with many aspects of the Center’s program work as well as fundraising efforts. She has a background that includes both programmatic and fundraising work in international development, population and conservation. Prior to joining NPCA, Jodie worked at the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) where she was responsible for foundation relations. Prior to that, she worked at Population Action International and Conservation International on population, health and environment issues. She holds a Masters in Public Health/International Development from George Washington University. She conducted her graduate fieldwork in the Peruvian Tropical Andes. She has a BA from State University of New York at Oswego. She is an avid runner, occasional triathlete and general outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Julia Eiferman, Program Coordinator, Center for Park Management

Julia joined NPCA in August of 2007 as an Assistant for Corporate and Foundation relations. She has been with CPM since April of 2009 and looks forward to working towards NPCA’s mission from a new perspective. A Boston native, Julia’s love of the outdoors was shaped by summers in New England and trips to the western National Parks. She is also enchanted by Chile’s national parks after trips to Patagonia and the Atacama desert. She graduated from Bates College in Maine with a BA in Environmental Studies and a minor in philosophy.

Kristen McConnell, Director, Center for Park Management

After a lifetime of vacationing in and around national parks, Kristen joined CPM in January 2008 to apply her work experience in a way that gives back to these amazing places. Kristen came to NPCA from Environmental Defense Fund, where she focused on building support for sustainable fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico. She earned a Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin, and worked for the National Park Service as a Business Plan Consultant and then Partnership Researcher for the Northeast Regional Office during her time in graduate school. She received her Bachelor's degree from New York University, and then began her career at the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department. Kristen lives in Austin, Texas and spends her free time playing in the dirt with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

Robin Abramowitz, Associate Director, Center for Park Management

Robin joined NPCA in October of 2010. While pursuing her MBA at Duke University, she worked for the NPS as a Business Plan Consultant at Haleakala National Park. Besides the obvious benefits of spending a summer on Maui, this experience motivated her to pursue a career that allows her to combine her management background with her love of the national parks. Prior to NPCA, Robin has worked in corporate relations and development at the American Red Cross, Rice University, and the Human Rights Campaign. Robin also brings management consulting experience, having begun her professional career at Navigant Consulting in Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, where she served as a licensed EMT on Georgetown’s EMS squad (she’s got great stories!). She lives in northern Virginia with her fiancé Dave and dog Sugar, and can often be found cooking, hiking, or just relaxing on the back porch.

Sara Conner, Senior Team Coordinator, Center for Park Management

Sara joined NPCA in September 2011. Sara’s appreciation for parks and the outdoors can be tracked back to her upbringing on a farm in rural Virginia, where she quickly acquired her deep love for the environment from her father, an avid outdoorsman. She grew up hiking, camping, kayaking and spending as much time outside as possible with her family. Sara received a BA in International Studies from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she focused her studies on politics and social movements. Before joining NPCA, she spent the early years of her career developing her business management skills in a variety of entrepreneurial industries, ranging from retail to intellectual property. These experiences served to solidify her passion for effective and efficient management systems, a quality which immediately attracted her to CPM. In addition to being an environmental enthusiast, Sara also spends her time volunteering for local and sustainable food initiatives.

Stephanie Hester, Associate Director, Center for Park Management

Stephanie joined NPCA’s Northern Rockies team in February 2007, reinvigorating its advocacy presence with the 13 monuments, battlefields, and historic sites in the region. In March 2009, she joined CPM to apply that experience and her education to park management issues. Stephanie earned a BA in Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College and a MBA from the University of Montana. Prior to NPCA, Stephanie worked for 10 years in the publishing industry as a marketing manager and acquisitions editor specializing in books on outdoor recreation, nature, and regional history. She maintains those interests as a freelance project manager, editor, and published author. She also worked for the Washington and Montana State Legislatures and Atmosphere Alliance. Stephanie lives in Helena, MT, with her husband and two sons, and spends her spare time exploring the outdoors, cooking, and traveling.

Stephanie Wight, Associate Director, Center for Park Management

Stephanie joined NPCA in June of 2009. Prior to joining NPCA, Stephanie worked in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors building off a variety of experiences and gaining skills in project management, communications, and strategic planning. She holds an MBA and MA in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BA in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound. While in graduate school she focused her studies on the nexus of business and the environment working on numerous projects with protected areas around the world including strategic planning for a marine protected area in Fiji and analyzing tourism markets in Baja California, Mexico, and the South Pacific. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Stephanie is looking forward to exploring her new home city, Washington DC, and the East Coast.

Last Update:November 10, 2011

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