Board of
Supervisors
Art Dunlap, Chair
Art joined the district as an associate supervisor in 2003 and in July 2004 he
was appointed to fill the two-year position vacated by Clinton Fox. In 2007 Art
was appointed chair. Art was born in Farmington and raised in Auburn. He has
worked for the Town of Poland as Code Enforcement officer since 1998. He holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of
Maine, and has taken several additional undergraduate and graduate courses in
business. He also is a member of the Poland Historical Society and Poland
Preservation Society. Dunlap also belongs t the Masons, Eastern Star, and
Shriners. As CEO of Poland, he has been instrumental in directing people to seek
out technical assistance provided by the Conservation District. Art's experience
in municipal governance and planning strengthen the district.
Paul Roseberry,
Vice-chair
Paul was elected to the board of supervisors in 2005 and is still serving as
vice-chair. He is a graduate of Richmond High School and has served on the
Agricultural Committee of the Maine State Grange. Paul continues to take courses
to enhance his skills. He is an Organic Dairy farmer out of Richmond Maine. He
has been farming in Sagadahoc County for decades, installing and maintaining
many types of conservation practices on the family farm. these practices have
improved soil and water quality. His knowledge, as well as his passion for the
environment, make him a valuable resource to the district.
John Hemond, Secretary
John has been with the district as a Supervisor from 1983 to present, throughout
his years with the district he has served a couple of terms as chair and has
been secretary since 2002. John has also served with Maine Association of
Conservation Districts Vice-President from 1996-1998 and as President from 1998
to 2001; Nutrient Management Committee Chairperson for MACD 1997-1998; and
Nutrient Management Rules Subcommittee 1996-1997. He also serves on the Farm
Services Agency County Committee; is a member of Twin county Dairy Herd
Insemination and Farm Bureau. In 1987 the Hemond family was awarded the Green
Pasture Award as Maine Dairy Family of the year, and in 1990 the were recognized
as Outstanding Conservation Farmers. John has had an active role in addressing
Nutrient Management issues and concerns; building the partnership with Maine
Departments of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection, as well as Natural
Resources conservation Service; and obtaining a substantial funding increase
for Districts throughout Maine for watershed improvement projects as well as
general funding needs. John continues to demonstrate sound land use practices
with a diversity of applied conservation practices.
Shirley Hatch,
Treasurer
Shirley has over 20 years of service with the District. During that time she has
served a term as chair and is currently the treasurer. She and her husband Bill
(an Associate Supervisor) have raised 7 children to have 20 grandchildren.
Shirley enjoys bowling, she participates in art classes and is very involved as a
Grange leader. Shirley and Bill are semi-retired dairy farmers in Wales who were
introduced to the District by Bill's father. Shirley is very involved with the
District through fundraising projects, in promoting conservation education, and
providing guidance as a result of her personal experiences and interests.
Shirley states that one of her main goals for staying involved with the District
is that "I work to educate all ages on methods to keep our water purer, soils
cleaner, and to ensure future generations of a better place to live."
Mark Emmons,
Supervisor
Mark grew up in Southern Maine working on his best friend's dairy farm, The Dunn
Farm. He has owned and operated D&E Trucking Company from 1979-1991, doing
excavation, hauling products from raw milk and lumber to oil deliveries. He
served in the United States Marine Corps from 1981-1985. He moved to Sanford in
1994 and worked for Oakhurst Dairy from 1995 until retiring in 2004. After
retiring, he moved to Livermore with wife of 18 1/2 years and 3 daughters. Over
the last 10 years he went from part-time to full time farming, running White
Birch Farm raising beef, pork, poultry, eggs, piglets and hay. He became active
the the district in 2007.
Associate Supervisors
Katie Carville, represents a voice for water quality concerns and other natural resources. Katie joined the district in 2005.
Sonny Chipman, has served the district as a supervisor and associate supervisor providing a local voice for agricultural crop production needs for over 20 years.
Leo Ferland, active with the district since 1947, and has been a part of the board when he was first elected in 1954.
Bill Hatch, Introduced to the district by his father over 20 years ago and he with his wife Shirley have been active member ever since.
Dick Thibodeau, in 2000 he was introduced to the district through his Little Wilson Pond watershed association.
Bill Varney, served as a supervisor for over 5 years and has continued to serve as an associate helping the district with its annual Conservation Plant sale.
Rick Jones, our newest associate, is a Maine licensed forester and wetland scientist with experience in forestry and environmental sciences. He received a degree in forest utilization and wood technology from the University of Maine in 1981, and is a licensed professional forester and a certified forester Jones is the owner of Jones Associates, Inc. which provides a variety of services to its clients. These services have included land management, forestry services, and coordination of numerous projects through the Maine State DEP/LURC, federal and local review processes. The district is excited to have him on board!
District Staff
Susan Gammon,
Executive Director
Susan has a B.S. degree from the
University of Maine and post-graduate work in Geology. Related experience
includes: Geologist-Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Independent
Contractor-Dept. of Conservation, Aquifer Mapping; 319 watershed grant project
management; watershed management planning; outreach and education, USDA/NRCS CIG
management and grant writing. A former dairy farmer, she has volunteered
services to her home town for many years, coordinating and planning conservation
practices such as buffer plantings, wetland mitigation, new resource friendly
trails, stream surveys and a comprehensive conservation land management plan as
well as permitting for facilities and writing grants for all of the above.
Megan Wooster, Project
Manager
Megan is the newest member of Andy Valley SWCD. She was born and raised on Mount
Desert Island, and after high school she went to the University of New
Hampshire. There she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Conservation and a Masters of Art in Environmental Education. After some time
working and traveling she joined AmeriCorps where she spent a year with ME DEP’s
Stream Team out of Portland. From there she was lucky enough to work with Andy
Valley on some projects and she was hired as a program coordinator in late fall
2007 after finishing up 11 months with AmeriCorps. Megan has experience with
outreach and education, fundraising, water quality testing, several types of
surveys, data entry, and some event planning.
Jane Heikkinen, Office
Manager
Jane has an education background in
Business Administration and Accounting. She has over 30 years experience in
accounting, business administration, internal auditing, outreach, public
relations, customer service, and educational event coordination. Jane has
provided grant financial management for over 15 years.
Scott McLaren,
Conservation Technician
Scott has a BS in Environmental Studies and is a licensed site evaluator and a
permitted septic system designer. Scott is skilled and experienced in providing
technical assistance, site assessment, erosion control designs, recommending
conservation measures, and supervising or inspection construction.
Contracted Engineer
Ross Cudlitz,
Contracted Urban Development Engineer
Ross is a Licensed Engineer. AVSWCD has contracted his services. He is licensed
i erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, site evaluation, and
architect engineering design. His skill and knowledge are well respected in the
environmental community. Many municipalities, development agencies, and Maine
Department of Environmental Protection request his services.
NRCS Staff
Tim Yarab, District
Conservationist
Bio coming soon
Paul Carmichael, Soil
Conservation Technician
Paul was hired as a Soil Conservation Technician for the Lewiston field office
in 2002. This position under the USDA's Career Intern Program allows learning
and procedures and processes utilized to improve our environment while
sustaining our nation's natural resources. Paul has been quoted, "My goal since
I returned to school as a non-traditional student has been to obtain a position
where I would be able to make an effective difference in natural resource usage.
My successful completion of this training program will allow me to move closer
to achieving my overall goal. " He enjoys working with the people of
Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties to better utilize and sustain our natural
resources.
Regional NRCS specialist based out of the
same USDA building as the district.
Candi Benwitz,
Agricultural Engineer
Brian Stuart, Engineering Technician
Adam Cattrell, Agricultural Engineer
Dave Wilkinson, Soil Resource Specialist (regional specialist out of the Oxford Field Office)
IT Staff
Halla Black, Computer Specialist
Click here to learn about the district's history.
