Who We Are

Board Members

Jack Cohen  - As executive director of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Jack oversees operations for its 200 members. In addition to promoting tourism, he serves on the County Park Board, and has been on the Cranberry Twp. Park Board since 1994. He is also a member of the Cranberry Sunrise Rotary. Butler County has so much to offer visitors, but as Jack says, "We need members like Moraine Preservation Fund to help us tell compelling stories to attract them. Undoubtedly, Moraine State Park has a lot to offer visitors, mostly due to the volunteer efforts of Moraine Preservation Fund. I am honored to be a board member and consider it a priority to share the group’s important environmental messages."

Peter Ebner  - Peter is currently MPF's Co-President with Elizabeth Wilson. He is a long-standing member of Moraine Preservation Fund, and is a captain for the Nautical Nature.

Megan Gahring - In 2004, Megan and her husband built a small home on a property next to Moraine State Park, and currently reside there with their two dogs, Justin and Simon. She enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, gardening, cooking, bird watching and spending time with nearby family. As a teenager, Megan volunteered with MPF’s Osprey Propagation Program and helped with banding, feeding, and monitoring the young osprey until they took flight. She graduated from Ohio University in 1995 with an Environmental Health Science degree, and currently works for the Lawrence County Conservation District as a Watershed Specialist. She has both a professional and personal interest in the environment and conservation-related initiatives.
Megan is currently MPF's Treasurer.

Laura Jo Gallagher - Laura Jo has been a volunteer with MPF since 2002, and truly enjoys the time spent working with other volunteers and board members to further the organization. She says, "We each have our own niche and specialties, be it the barn owls or the Nautical Nature, and that variety all comes together to make Moraine Preservation Fund a solid organization."

Heather Jerry - Heather has been a member of MPF since 1993. She has been on the Board of Directors since 1996, holding positions of Treasurer, Vice President and President in recent years. She is currently employed by Marshall Township as the Parks and Recreation Director. She is usually accompanied by her son, Chance, who has been visiting Moraine since he was 12 days old. In Heather’s spare time, she enjoys nature, and camping with Chance and her husband Jim. Heather holds a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State University. The Jerrys recently welcomed their newest family member, Coleen, in December 2006. Heather is currently MPF's Vice President.

Ruth Roperti  - Ruth Roperti has been involved with Moraine Preservation Fund for over 14 years. She first became involved with planning environmental education programs offered aboard the Nautical Nature and on shore at the park. Shortly after joining MPF, she became a board member, and has served on the board multiple times during her 14 years here. Ruth currently creates and directs the school programs, and continues to carry out this responsibility. Ruth was an elementary teacher in the Riverside School District for 37 years, and continues to teach graduate courses for teachers. She is currently the president of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators, a statewide professional organization. 

Catherine Tulley  - Cathy has volunteered for MPF since October 2005, when she began helping with the mapping side of the satellite telemetry study. She graduated from Slippery Rock University in the summer of 2007 with a bachelor of science in geography. She is now a graduate student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where she is studying for a master's degree in geography, concentrating on GIS, natural resources, and planning. Her interests include outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, birding, organic gardening, and issues relating to environmental conservation and smart growth planning. Cathy is MPF's Secretary and helps to maintain the website.

Elizabeth Wilson - Elizabeth is a Registered Nurse. She is an alumna of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, New Castle and Slippery Rock University from which she earned a Diploma in Nursing. Professionally, after working nineteen years in a hospital setting, she currently enjoys working as a Substitute School Nurse for Laurel and Union School Districts. She plans to pursue a B.S.N. degree and School Nurse Certification in the fall of 2006. Elizabeth is an active member of the following organizations: Girl Scouts of Beaver and Lawrence Counties, Inc. (8 Years) serving as a Troop Leader, Service Unit Manager, Trainer, Camp Nurse, Assistant Camp Director, and Program Operating Unit Member (Environmental Education). Boy Scouts of America; Moraine Trails Council (5 Years) serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader Boy Scout Troop #745 Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Member; Trinity Episcopal Church (12 Years) serving as Christian Education Director, & Lawrence County 4-H (4 Years). Elizabeth is currently MPF's Co-President with Peter Ebner.

Office Staff

Valerie Vernier  - Valerie is a graduate of Slippery Rock University's Parks & Recreation Program. She has a background in outdoor facilities management and sales, and began working for MPF as an intern. Valerie handles our barn owl, Annie, at educational and community events, and also makes sure our gift shop looks good!

Interns

John Lewis  - John is interning at Moraine Preservation Fund during the summer of 2007. He is about to enter his senior year at Slippery Rock University with a Major in Environmental Studies and minors in Geographical Information Technology and Biology. In doing his Internship, he hopes to expand his knowledge of the surrounding environment by working with MPF’s Barn Owl program, Nautical Nature Boat Tours, and their interactions with the park. His interests include the outdoors, geology, biology, hunting, fishing, GPS, biodiesel, and most of all wildlife. John eventually hopes to become a wildlife biologist. 

Volunteers

Your name here! Please give us a call if you are interested in volunteering for MPF.