The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) has elected five new members to serve on its board of directors. The candidates were unanimously confirmed this past September. The new board members are as follows:

Bill Conrad serves as the Executive Secretary, Stackpole Hall Foundation, in St. Mary’s, Pa. His family’s foundation provides support for higher and secondary education, literacy and vocational projects. Bill is an avid canoe and paddle builder, and he founded and is president of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association. He and his wife have attended WPC river trips and are experienced wilderness canoeists.

Jim Finley has been a member of WPC since 1998, and a member of WPC’s Resource Conservation Advisory Committee since 2002. He is a Professor of Forest Resources at Penn State University and lives in the State College area. His academic interests include ecosystem management on mixed ownerships; forest management; private forest owner issues and education; sustainable forestry; and human dimensions of natural resources. Jim and his wife love to travel, often by way of a canoe he crafted by hand.

Dennis Fredericks serves as the Manager – Conservation Properties and Activities, for CONSOL Energy Inc. Dennis is responsible for performing an inventory of CONSOL’s inactive and closed mine properties to identify opportunities for improved conservation and reclamation practices. In tandem with internal departments, national conservation groups and regulatory agencies, Dennis works to affect regulatory change on a state and national level, supporting the company’s commitment to science-supported conservation and sound stewardship practices on all their energy properties. Dennis resides in rural Washington County.

Rob McDowell has maintained a membership with WPC for twelve years. Rob is recently retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Education Management Corporation. He has had a lifelong interest in hiking and outdoor recreational activities. Rob is a resident of Mount Lebanon, Pa.

Jack Millstein, Jr. is managing director of Millstein Industries, LLC., a real estate investment company, and serves as trustee of the Millstein Charitable Foundation. Jack has been an active member of our Fallingwater Advisory Committee for nearly a decade. He enjoys hiking, golf and the arts. Jack is a resident of Youngwood, Pa

Our volunteer Board of Directors provides a great deal of time, talent and funding support. They are a dedicated group who individually and collectively bring institutional expertise and oversight including governance, investment management, technical, fundraising, community building and legal experience to the institution. Their service is appreciated.

View a slideshow from the WPC 2006 Annual Business Meeting.