Fred W. Koontz, Ph.D, Executive Director
Joining Teatown in June 2005, Dr. Fred Koontz brought a wide range of experience working with wildlife and environmental education, including 21 years in the nature conservation and environmental protection fields. A native of Baltimore, Fred received his Ph.D. in Zoology in 1984 from the University of Maryland. While in graduate school, he worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park, specializing in animal communication and the social behavior of mammals.  Fred’s vast experiences include a 15-year career at the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he was a former Curator of Mammalogy at the Bronx Zoo. He was also the founder and first director of the Society’s Science Resource Center, which was created to train conservation professionals to incorporate cutting-edge methodologies and technologies into their work. As Program Director and Executive Vice President at the Wildlife Trust, he founded the New York Bioscape Initiative, a program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying biodiversity and health in the tri-state metropolitan region. A highly regarded leader in the field of nature conservation, environmental protection and education, Fred has spoken extensively on both animal behavior and wildlife conservation, including television and radio programs. He has authored more than 50 articles, and has held adjunct positions at three universities. He has served on committees for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program, American Zoos and Aquariums Association and other organizations. Locally, he serves on the Town of Philipstown Natural Resources Committee and is a member of the board of the Hudson Highlands Land Trust.

Dianne Barron, Director, Administration & Operations
Ms Barron is responsible for the overall daily functioning of Teatown’s operations and staff. She joined Teatown in 2001 after 24 years of experience in the for profit business world having held such positions as Ferro Alloy Trader at Associated Metals & Minerals, Nickel Trader at Brandeis Intsel, a division of Pechiney, and Assistant to the VP of Raw Material Sourcing and Trader for Ferrous Metals at Metallurg.  She also worked at Perry Kennedy Realty for 9 years as a Licensed Realtor

Diane DiVernieri, Director of Finance
Ms. DiVernieri is responsible for overseeing all the financial activity and records at Teatown including A/R, A/P, payroll, budgeting and reporting.  She has worked at Teatown since August 1997.  Ms. DiVernieri received a BA in Math from New York University in 1969

Anne Wakelee Bishop, Director of Development
Ms. Wakelee Bishop began her career at Teatown in 2001 when she was hired as an Administrative Assistant. Since then, she has received several promotions including Office Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and Special Events Officer and Volunteer Manager.  In 2006 she was named Director of Development and is responsible for overseeing Teatown’s development activities including membership, volunteers, marketing, public relations, fundraising special events and major gifts.  Prior Ms. Wakelee Bishop worked as a Personnel Associate for MCI in Rye Brook, N.Y.  She has a B.A. in Business Management from Simmons College in Boston, M.A.. In 2006, she received a Fundraising and Board Development Certificate from SUNY Purchase having completed a 16-course, graduate level program. She is a member of the Association of Development Officers.

Phyllis Bock, Director of Education
Ms. Bock is responsible for overseeing all the children and family nature programs at Teatown including weekend programs, summer camp, school vacation camps and children’s multi-week series.  She has worked at Teatown since October, 1991, when she began as a volunteer Nature Guide. Ms. Bock possesses a BA Biology with a concentration in field studies from Queens College, CUNY.  She is a member of the Yorktown Conservation Board and  the Advisory Committee on Open Space.

Mike Rubbo, Ph.D., Daniel Kampel Director of Environmental Stewardship
Dr. Rubbo is responsible for leading Teatown’s science-based habitat management initiatives and developing specific monitoring and management protocols aimed at preserving Teatown’s biodiversity.   Previous to the position at Teatown, he worked as an environmental consultant in Dutchess County, where he specialized in biodiversity assessment and habitat mapping.  Dr. Rubbo received his Ph.D. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University in 2004, his MS in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2000 and his BS from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse in 1995. After graduating, he was a Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where his research focused on the ecology of vernal pools.

Lisa Baugh, Environmental Educator
Beth Rhines, Environmental Educator
Erin Smithies, Animal Care Supervisor & Environmental Educator
Lisa Kelly, Animal Care
Elissa Schilmeister, Animal Care
Barbara Giannettino, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Linsay Cochran, Environmental Leaders Learning Alliance (ELLA) Coordinator
Luis Pereira, Facilities Manager
Mike Reyes, Maintainer
Alex Cochran, Land Steward
Leah Kennell, Wildflower Island Curator
Millie Dellaquila, Administrative Assistant
Jo Ann Gackstetter, AM Receptionist
Sandy Rotella, PM Receptionist
Debbie Fortunato, Weekend Receptionist
Mary Haley, Weekend Receptionist

Contractual Resources:
Lisa Fine, Event Consultant
John Grant, Cliffdales Farm Caretaker
Marca Grant, Environmental Educator
Lydia S. Howie, Senior Development Consultant
Lorraine Federico, Environmental Educator
Terry Kardos, Environmental Educator

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