Emily Granville, Communications Coordinator
If you have been reading this year’s monthly newsletter articles, you may already know what a Board of Directors is and why they are important. PCCD’s Board is the hidden force behind the District. Not only do our Directors provide leadership, they also provide community insight, which is essential to the District as it allows us to better understand the community and its needs. The Board supports our mission to protect and conserve Pike County’s natural resources and ensures the staff have what they need to make that mission attainable. Long story short, they are pretty vital to District work. But who are they really? Who are the people behind the metaphorical mask we call “Director?” They are members of the community just like you! Local citizens who want to make a difference in the world around them.
Still not enough to really understand who they are? I get that, which is why I set out to learn more about our Board members and why the District is important to them. Although I wasn’t able to speak with every Board member, I did learn a lot from many of the people who help lead and support the District and now, hopefully, you will too! Let’s take a look at some of the answers I received.
Kelly has been with the District since 2014. She was invited to serve as an Associate Director, which led to her learning about the good work the District does to protect soil and water in Pike County. Due to her love of insects and bugs, the water quality studies/work the District does, which is all about aquatic insects, intrigued Kelly the most.
Kelly feels that educating the public and providing resources to their questions are among the most important roles the District fulfills. Kelly states, “Pike County Conservation District is a wealth of information and [is] connected to so many local conservation partners that are helpful to residents and visitors of our beautiful county!”
There are many things Kelly enjoys about being a Board member including legislative advocacy, volunteering her time, and meeting all the interesting people in our county and state that share a similar passion of conservation.
Kelly brings communication skills, an artistic background, creativity, and sense of humor to the District!
If Kelly could describe the District in three words, she would say: Education, Protection, Stewardship.
PCCD Board of Directors Vice Chairman Kelly Stagen presenting the accepting the Education Conservation Achievement Award to Michael Pfaeffle who is accepting the award on behalf of Gregory Martel.
Tim is very new to the board; he joined us in January of 2026.
Tim answered that the most important thing any district can do is community education, which he feels the PCCD does a wonderful job at. He believes that most residents in Pike County do genuinely care about protecting our natural resources but that they may lack the education to do so.
Tim is still new to the PCCD Board, but he looks forward to working with the amazing individuals that make up the rest of the Board. He loves being involved in the community, the feeling of making a difference, and giving back.
As a contractor, Tim brings a “boots-on-the-ground perspective” to the District. Since he works daily with water, drainage, and infrastructure, Tim sees firsthand how conservation decisions play out in real time. His experience allows him to “balance environmental protection with practical, cost-effective solutions that actually work in the field.” He understands regulations not just on paper, but in practice as well. He states, “I value collaboration between property owners, municipalities, and conservation professionals to protect natural resources while supporting responsible development and maintenance.”
If Tim could describe the District in three words, he would use the phrase: Protecting Resources Together.
John has been with the Board since 2012. He was invited by our Program Specialist Ellen Enslin who had first met John while reviewing a complaint about his property! John wasn’t aware that he was not within regulation but was willing to do what was required to get back into compliance. Since then, he has been a dedicated member of our Board and a great advocate for spreading awareness.
For John, the most important work the District does is helping to keep our streams and lakes clean and educating others about the importance of maintaining the environment. By keeping our waterways free from pollution, we can ensure there is clean water for everyone to enjoy and that our environment continues to thrive. Outreach programs, especially ones with high school students, help to get the word out about conservation and foster a better appreciation for our natural world. Through education, we can hopefully create the next generation of conservation leaders.
John’s favorite park of being a Board member is the people. He lives out in the woods where there aren’t a lot of people around, so attending meetings, events, and helping out around the District is how John stays social!
John brings a strong appreciation for the environment, especially our waterways. His undergraduate degree in Physics has actually helped him better understand the natural world and how it works. John mentioned a project he is particularly fond of: his work on the Hudson River. John worked with others to improve the quality of the river. Huge improvements were made, and the Hudson River was turned from a dumping ground for waste to a place where you could drink the water! There were even some swimming spots that opened along the river.
If John could describe the District in only three words, he would say: Sensitivity, Education, and Responsibility.
District Manager Tara Burnham (left) with Board member John Milliken (right) during the PCCD Route 402 Clean-Up
Paul Ranello – Associate Director
Paul has been with the District since 2016. He also serves with the Pike-Wayne Chapter of Trout Unlimited as their Conservation Chair and is also a past President of theirs. This chapter of Trout Unlimited is one of the District’s Nominating Organizations, which help connect community groups with the District’s Board of Directors by recommending individuals to serve on the Board. Through this connection, Paul became more familiar with the District and was later nominated by the Board of Directors to be an Associate Director.
Paul stated that everything the District does is important work! But if he had to narrow it down, our water quality monitoring program is critical. To assess and track surface water quality, the District samples and monitors various watershed locations around Pike County. By studying macroinvertebrates and fish in these locations, as well as performing water quality tests, District staff are able to assess and track changes in water quality.
Paul’s favorite part of being a Board member is being able to get involved with the community. Paul often joins District staff for local events, where he is able to connect with people and share the work of the District.
Paul has a lot of experience in conservation work and currently serves as the Conservation Chair for the Pike-Wayne Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
If Paul could describe the District in three words, he would say: Involved, Knowledgeable, and Dedicated.
Associate Director Paul Ranello at PCCD’s table during the 2025 Festival of Wood
There you have it! Some thoughtful insights into why the District is so important to our Board members and what being a member means to them. As you may be able to tell from the answers above, these Board members all share two things in common: their passion for conservation and their dedication to PCCD. Our Board of Directors come from all walks of life and each member brings a unique perspective to the role. We are lucky to have the Board that we do! Their expertise, knowledge, and support all help to keep the District running smoothly and effectively. The word “Director” can sound intimidating, but our Board are members of their communities doing their part every day to make the world a little greener.
And a big thank you to our Board members for all the work they do for the District!
