Eric Olson, Director, Trustees for the Parks
Eric Olson joined the NPCA staff in June 2012 as the Director of the Trustees for the Parks. Growing up on the east coast, Eric explored a number of historic, cultural and natural heritage parks including: Acadia National Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, Shenandoah National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Eric’s ventures west have included visits to Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Channel Islands National Park.

Eric is responsible for recruiting members of the Trustees for the Parks and keeping NPCA members informed on the latest park issues and victories. Eric has a strong background in member engagement and fundraising through his professional experiences with the Smithsonian Institution, Chicago Humanities Festival, Newberry Library, and the Fund for Public Interest Research.
Phone: (202) 454-3331 Email: eolson@npca.org

Sharon Enright, Regional Director of Development – Pacific Region
Sharon Enright was hired as the development director for NPCA’s Pacific Region office in May 2006. She brings more than 20 years of experience as a fund raiser, having worked in a variety of non-profit organizations. She has raised money for the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park, for Sunny Hills Children’s Services in Marin County, California, and for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco. Sharon has an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in Education and Public Policy from Stanford University. She is an avid hiker, having hiked in many national parks as well as on a number of Europe’s long distance trails. She cannot imagine a more perfect job than one that allows her to work with people intent on preserving our national parks and national historic sites.
Phone: (415) 989-9921  Email: senright@npca.org

Emily Jones, Senior Program Manager – Southeast Region
Emily Jones came to NPCA after working for the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Emily has a BA from the University of Tennessee and attended graduate school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Social Work. Emily's work in non-profit development and education has honed a deep appreciation for diversity in people and cultures.  Her background includes promoting and implementing employee directed workplace giving programs, bilingual curriculum development, electronic books, biological inventories, as well as supporting just and sustainable rural community development.
Emily’s work at NPCA focuses on building momentum within local communities in conjunction with garnering congressional support in the southeast to ensure our National Parks become a national priority as we move toward celebrating the Centennial of America's National Parks in 2016.
Phone: (865) 329-2424 Email: ejones@npca.org

David Patton, Lead Regional Director of Development
Alaska, Northern Rockies, Northwest, and Southwest Regions
Dave Patton joined the NPCA staff in February 2008 as the Regional Director of Development for the Northwest.  Growing up on the east coast, Dave experienced the rich cultural and natural heritage that our national park units provide.  Whether on a school field trip to Valley Forge or vacations to Acadia National Park, Dave inherited an appreciation for what these great parks symbolize as the best of America's treasures.  Living in the Northwest (Seattle) has only increased that appreciation.  Seattle is in a perfect location with several great parks within a few hour’s drive and dozens that can be reached for a long weekend.  Dave is excited to connect NPCA’s important conservation work to a greater Northwest community.

Dave brings a strong background in non-profit fundraising and management.  Prior to NPCA, Dave worked with Seattle-based Cascade Land Conservancy as Director of Individual Giving and held several positions at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., raising critical funds to support their programs.  Dave also worked as Associate Sales and Marketing Director with Maine WoodWorks, a furniture-manufacturing unit of Creative Work Systems, a social service agency located in southern Maine. Dave is humbled to be working for NPCA and supporting a great mission.  
Phone: (206) 903-1127 Email: dpatton@npca.org

Carole Southall, Regional Director of Development – Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions
"I spend my days with philanthropists, volunteers, and staff who contribute their resources to make the world a better place," says Carole Southall, the new Director of Development for NPCA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. Carole has been a fundraiser for more than 20 years, affiliated with organizations such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Royal Nature Conservancy (complete profile on LinkedIn). She loves major gifts for its deeply personal connection to individuals. "Most of America’s greatest Parks and Historic sites came about because of philanthropists who give major gifts of land, or regular citizens who fought to conserve an important aspect of American heritage." Carole fondly recalls that her parents' idea of the best vacation in the world was to visit a national park, and together they crisscrossed the country visiting national parks in 49 states (Alaska someday!). Today she lives in Wilton, Connecticut with her architect husband, also home to Weir Farm National Park, where she spends many weekend hours as an amateur painter.
Phone: (212) 617-8298 Email: csouthall@npca.org