Over the years Valley Conservation Council has had a small staff supplemented by a broad network of professional contacts and dedicated volunteers.
Meet the VCC Staff
John Eckman, Executive Director, joined the VCC staff in January of 2004 after being a member since 1991. John has worked with non-profit conservation and education organizations since 1987. A native of Waynesboro, John’s background includes experience with cultural and natural heritage conservation, public education policy, and rural economic development programs. He has worked on national projects with the Rural School and Community Trust and locally with the Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum. John also worked with The Mountain Institute for 10 years and served as Chief Administrative Officer of this international conservation organization. He is a JMU graduate and holds a master’s in Environment and Community from Antioch University. John currently serves as the Chair of the Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council and on the board of the Virginia Conservation Network. Email: john [at] valleyconservation.org
Sara Hollberg, AICP, Planner, is one of the founding members of VCC. She has consulted on a number of VCC projects over the years–as an author of both editions of Better Models for Development in the Shenandoah Valley and the State of the Valley report, editor of our newsletter, and coordinator of the Shenandoah Land Use Network. She continues her public policy work encouraging strong comprehensive plans and sensible community design. She is also leading VCC’s efforts to encourage local government engagement in conservation programs such as purchase of development rights which can help keep the Valley a viable farming area. Sara graduated from William and Mary, worked in editing in Washington, DC, and earned a master’s in planning degree from the University of Virginia. She and her husband Mark and their three young children live in walkable downtown Staunton, so they can devote their spare time to managing the family tree farm in Campbell County. Email: sara [at] valleyconservation.org
Sheryl Van Gundy, Office Manager. Born in Charlottesville, Sheryl grew up in northern Virginia and worked for years in Washington, D.C., as a legal secretary. For the last decade, she lived in Loudoun County and worked in Winchester organizing and running the North American registry of Selle Francais, a specialized breed of French horse. Sheryl has a deep love for Virginia and a special fondness for the Shenandoah Valley and its majestic beauty and historic and cultural heritage (especially Civil War history). She lives in a historic home on 25 acres in Augusta County where she breeds and raises horses. Having traveled to many farms throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and France, she knows there is no place like home in Virginia. At home, she is surrounded by her eight horses, one donkey, four dogs, and more cats than she would wish to publicly acknowledge. Email: sheryl [at] valleyconservation.org
Genevieve Goss, Upper James River Steward, serving Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, and Rockbridge counties. Genevieve has been VCC’s presence in Botetourt County for many years and has also served as a VCC Board member. Genevieve has established the Botetourt Community Partnership, a community group that meets quarterly to discuss local planning and land use issues in the county. She has also been active in promoting promoting voluntary means of land protection which has led to real gains in conservation in Botetourt County, including more than doubling the acres under easement in the county in 2006 alone. Genevieve received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, and a master’s degree from Indiana University , and is an adjunct professor of Spanish and French. She and her husband have become active in the International Dark-Sky Association, in hopes of preserving the beautiful night skies of rural Virginia, and have introduced improvements to Botetourt County’s lighting ordinance. Email: genevieve [at] valleyconservation.org
Where are they now?
Many former VCC staff members continue their conservation work in the region:
- Faye Cooper works in several capacities with Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and also has her own consulting business, Cooper Conservation Advisors, LLC.
- Jeff Everett has been the Agricultural Land Preservation Specialist with the highly successful farmland program of Carroll County, Maryland.
- Kathy Holm is with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. For seven years she was coordinator of the Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council
- John Hutchinson is Director of Preservation and Planning with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
- Gavin Sanderlin is now in Bedford as a conservation specialist with the Peaks of Otter Soil and Water Conservation District.
- Mary Joy Scala is a Neighborhood Planner for the City of Charlottesville.
