Kathy joined the Trust in January 2020. She is a programmatic team leader through her management of the Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program and Healthy Communities, Healthy Environment Grant Program. She is also proud to lead the Trust’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion body of work to drive equitable and inclusive engagement of all communities in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Prior to joining the Trust as a full-time staff member, Kathy served as the intern for the Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program at the Trust. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is currently working towards a Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins. She also is a certified Level 1 Chesapeake Bay Landscaping Professional (CBLP). Kathy looks forward to continuing to support the work and relationships maintained by the Trust in her role.

Susana S. Altmann is the principal and founder of Susy Altmann Studio, a client-focused residential and institutional landscape design and project management firm with projects in the Greater DC area, South Florida, and the Caribbean.

Susy graduated with a degree in Architecture from Caracas, Venezuela, and practiced landscape architecture in both Israel and Caracas before immigrating to the DC Metro area over twenty years ago. With a passion for the outdoors, water, and natural environments, Susy has designed and installed over ninety (90) green infrastructure projects in Montgomery County, Maryland.

She is a Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist, a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, a Montgomery County ‘Rainscapes’ Contractor, and a Prince George’s County ‘Raincheck’ Contractor. Her landscape designs have received multiple awards from Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) annual ‘Keep Montgomery County Beautiful’ program in the category of Sustainable Landscaping.

Susy has also contributed to Spanish and bilingual training programs for landscape contractors and homeowners through the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional program, Nature Forward, and the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy.

As avid outdoor enthusiasts, Shane and his partner Gregg wanted to create a space on their 0.11 acres in Hyattsville where nature and the community could interact. The backyard was prone to puddling following rain storms and the outflow of water from the barren landscape only contributed to discharging into the sewer, and from there, the Chesapeake. With the yard as a blank canvas, they knew they wanted to create a native habitat for the local (and migrating!) animals while establishing an environment that would be multi-functional. The Rain Check Rebate Program was a critical tool in them being able to complete extensive work, laying the groundwork for additional phases of building-out and supporting their goals of addressing natural issues in a conscientious manner.

Virginia Kay Tippie is a Coastal Oceanographer with over 50 years of experience in marine and coastal policy and management.  She began her career as a Coastal Resource Specialist and Marine Affairs Coordinator at the University of Rhode Island (URI) in the 70’s co-authoring the RI Coastal Zone Management Plan, the first plan submitted in the country.  She later served as the Director of the URI Center for Ocean Management Studies and coordinated major interdisciplinary studies on issues such as marine pollution, fisheries management and ocean exploration & research. Recognized for her ability to synthesize scientific information and develop action-oriented plans, she was asked to serve on numerous advisory groups including the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the newly established U.S. Congressional Chesapeake Bay Research Program in the late 70’s.

In 1981 she moved to Annapolis, Maryland to coordinate the development of a characterization of the bay and a management plan to restore the bay.  As the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program, she was responsible for developing the final reports of this major US Congressional study which culminated in the first federal/multi-state Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983.  Subsequently, as the technical director of the restoration effort, she facilitated the establishment of the federal/multi-state management structure and coordinated the development of a bay-wide monitoring program.

In 1986, Virginia joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the Director of NOAA’s Estuarine and Coastal Programs Office.  She was responsible for developing an agency-wide plan to address the nation’s coastal crisis.  Subsequently, President George H.W. Bush appointed her NOAA Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.  At NOAA, she helped facilitate the establishment of a global ocean observing system, modernized the tide and charting program, expanded the marine sanctuary program, strengthened the coastal zone management program and improved pollution monitoring and response capabilities. While at NOAA, she facilitated the establishment of numerous multi-agency, federal/state and public/private partnerships.

Virginia then culminated her federal career as the Director of the Coastal America Partnership under the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  Through four administrations. she was involved in coordinating the federal response to national and international marine/coastal policy and environmental issues.  She also established several action-oriented multi agency initiatives that engaged the private sector including the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership to restore coastal habitat and the Coastal America Learning Center Program to promote public awareness and understanding of marine and coastal environmental issues through aquariums and museums.  During her federal career, Virginia received numerous commendations for her efforts including Vice-President Gore’s “Hammer Award, the Harvard Kennedy School “Reinventing Government Award” and the “Sophia Smith” Lifetime Achievement Award from her alma mater Smith College.

In her retirement, Virginia continues to work on coastal and environmental issues with a special focus on bay restoration efforts and educational programs. An avid boater, she has been an active member of Eastport Yacht Club (EYC).  She founded and chaired/co-chaired for 10 years, the EYC Environmental Committee which mobilizes volunteer efforts to restore oysters, monitor bay waters, educate youth and promote bay stewardship within the club and our community.  She also served as Executive Secretary of the EYC Foundation for several years and established an ecosystem health module for their STEM Program and a marine science component for for their scholarship program,  She is currently a Coastal America Foundation director and a Chesapeake Environmental Protection Association trustee.  You will also find her out on the bay studying issues first-hand from her center-console “Mallard” or taking kids out to place oysters on the Severn River Reef aboard her partners’ Chesapeake Bay Deadrise “Penny”.