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BNAN Staff Descriptions

Valerie Burns has been with BNAN since 1987, first as Executive Director, then as President of BNAN and then also as Vice President of the Trustees of Reservations. She oversees strategic planning and the long-term vision of the organization as well as day-to-day operations, programming and fundraising. Before joining BNAN, Valerie served as Planning Director for the Boston Harbor Association, and Director of Planning for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Valerie earned her Bachelor of Arts in art history, film and photography from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and also completed special studies in art history at Loyola University in Rome, Italy.

Vidya Tikku has served as Vice President with BNAN since 2005, responsible for development and fundraising as well as overall supervision of Urban Wilds, the Greenway projects and various special projects. She came to BNAN after working as Program Manager for the City of San Francisco Neighborhood Parks Council, and Program Manager for the Sustainable Living program in India. Vidya earned her certificate in Enterprise Management, IIT, India, and her Masters in Urban Design & Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Shea Ennen has been with BNAN since 1987 and is the Operations Manager, providing administrative support for all aspects of BNAN operations. He also plays a vital role as the field coordinator for many of the BNAN programs. Shea is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Boston/College of Public and Community Service. Linking open space advocacy with civic responsibility, Shea is a member of the Executive Committee of the Clam Point Civic Association in Dorchester; he is a veteran of the US Navy.

Jeremy Dick is Director of Property and Horticulture, responsible for managing BNAN's properties, operating BNAN’s City Natives campus, and developing and implementing horticultural programming. Before joining BNAN, Jeremy served on a re-vegetation crew working within Mount Rainier National Park in Ashford, Washington. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of New Hampshire and completed the Horticultural Training Program of the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Jeremy was an Americorps volunteer.

Candice Cook has joined BNAN as the Program Manager in early 2007. Candice has worked with urban middle and high school youth in education and environmental science for the past four years, here in Boston and out in the woods in Oregon. She served as a Teaching Fellow for Citizen Schools in Boston and as Education Outreach Coordinator for the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library. She also worked as Outdoor School Program Leader for the Multnomah Education Service District in Portland, Oregon, and as Education Assistant for the Urban Ecology Institute in Chestnut Hill.Candice completed her Masters in Education, specializing in curriculum and instruction from Lesley University. Candice earned her undergraduate degree in Geography from Arizona State.

Karen Chaffee, Stewardship Manager, comes to BNAN with a background in horticulture, environmental education and landscape design. After building her career in New York City as an environmental educator in the public schools, an Urban Park Ranger, and a horticulturalist with the Battery Parks City Parks Conservancy she returned to her hometown of Boston in 2006. Since pursuing a Masters degree in landscape design from the Conway School of Landscape Design and Planning in 2007, she has worked towards strengthening her Bostonian roots through continuing her work as a garden educator with youth and guiding communities through the landscape design process. Most recently she worked as a CityRoots Project Coordinator with the Urban Ecology Institute collaborating with Boston neighborhood groups to help them actualize their visions to turn underused or neglected land into vibrant green community spaces.

Bill Stanton joined BNAN at the beginning of 2010 serving as Coordinator of Grants and Outreach. Bill works with staff to raise revenue for the varied BNAN programs and manages the organization’s publicity. Bill has a Law degree from Boston University and extensive non profit management experience. He is also the recipient of the 2002 EPA Environmental Merit Award.

Grantley Payne has joined Boston Natural Areas Network as Boston Is Growing Gardens (BIGG) Project Manager, and will supervise BNAN’s ambitious plan to double community garden capacity and participation in Dorchester. His responsibilities include working with local residents and with Dorchester health centers, community development corporations, and civic associations to increase the number of Dorchester residents of all ages who will get involved in their local community gardens, growing their own nutritious food. Grantley is a graduate of Hampton University in Virginia, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology. Working as a nutrition educator for the University of Massachusetts Nutrition Education Program for seven years, Grantley developed a passion for promoting healthy eating and physical activity. A resident of Dorchester, Grantley looks forward to making his own neighborhood healthier through community gardening, outreach, and education.

Erika Rumbley joined BNAN in 2011 as the Garden Educator. She brings experience in small-scale agriculture, public education, and community organizing. She is a graduate of Vassar College in Environmental Studies. Since completing her farm apprenticeship at West Wind Farm in Port Angeles, WA in 2005, Erika has worked with people of all ages, sharing the tools for success in small-scale, sustainable agriculture. Before joining BNAN, Erika served as the Community Garden Network Coordinator for Southside Community Land Trust in Providence, RI.

Mathew Cahill joined BNAN in 2011 as the coordinator of the Boston Urban Forest Program. As part of this program, Mat will run the Grow Boston Greener project which, through city-wide tree planting activities, will increase the tree canopy in Boston. He will also engage groups and individuals interested in trees to become active members in the Boston Urban Forest Coalition. Mathew received his Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and is a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. He has worked with urban forestry non-profits in New York, California and Michigan and has owned and operated a tree service company in Ann Arbor, MI.

Kim Kudrna has been a Program Assistant with BNAN since 2001, managing aspects of membership recruitment and retention, serving as a coordinator for various BNAN programs, and acting as key liaison for community gardeners. She now has also taken on the role of newsletter production manager, driving the layout and printing on the organization’s primary communication tool.