Bruce FiCken, Chair Person
Bruce W. Ficken chairs Cozen O’Connor’s Construction Law group and is a recognized authority in representing clients in construction and commercial litigation, as well as managing risk in construction projects. As lead counsel, he has successfully conducted more than 60 major trials in the United States and in international arbitrations. He has also helped numerous owners and developers with contract documentation, contract and project administration, and dispute avoidance and resolution. Bruce is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and as a mediator, he has successfully helped resolve major construction disputes…more
Anthony Maginnis, Vice Chairman
Anthony “Tony” Maginnis, a lifelong resident of Whitemarsh Township has been a member of the Whitemarsh Foundation board since its inception and Chairman from 2014-2020. During his tenure as Chairman, Tony has overseen the development and funding of both the Dixon Meadow Preserve and Meadow House…more
Kimberly Sheppard, President
As President of Whitemarsh Foundation, Kimberly (Kim) Sheppard is tasked with the strategic planning and execution of programs, fundraising and stewardship for all aspects of the Foundation. Ms. Sheppard, who was instrumental during the inception of Whitmarsh Foundation, initially served as Executive Director, and in 2014 was elevated to President…more
Maura McCarthy, Executive Director
Maura McCarthy, Ph.D., is a nonprofit leader with nearly 20 years of experience building organizations at the intersection of conservation, community, and public space. As CEO of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, she sharpened the organization’s focus and scope while leading the Conservancy’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, growing City-wide community programming, implementing transformative capital projects in FDR Park, and updating planning for the Fairmount Park Centennial District. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Friends of the Wissahickon, advancing watershed conservation, biodiversity and volunteer stewardship in the 1800 acre Wissahickon Valley Park. A native to Southeastern PA, Maura is originally from Chester, PA, attended New York University as an undergraduate, and holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford. Her background in the social sciences informs her approach to fostering consensus and equity in civic life. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the Wissahickon watershed.
Robert Wurtz, Board Member
Harriet Campbell, Board Member
Gail Harrity, Board Member
Gail Harrity is a highly collaborative and accomplished leader. She is a mission-driven, can-do executive with a high level of energy, a vigorous work ethic, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
As former President and Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, she provided leadership oversight of the museum’s fundraising and business activities for over two decades. She played a central role in strategic planning efforts and implemented numerous programs to increase attendance, enhance visitor experience, and provide global digital access to the museum’s collection of over 240,000 works of art…more
Thomas O’Rourke, Board Member
Clifford Haugen, Board Member
Clifford specializes in helping individuals, families, and non-profit entities identify and address complex financial and strategic challenges. Whether it be helping a multi-generational family work through governance issues or a non-profit entity facing transition and growth issues, Clifford is adept at planning for, implementing, and executing upon a wide range of complex asset conveyances including succession planning, intergenerational wealth transfers, and charitable gifting…more
Louise Johnston, Board Member
Louise R. “Weezie” Johnston has lived in the Chestnut Hill area for most of her life. During her 43-year career as a Realtor, she made time for volunteering, gardening, and daily walks in the Wissahickon.
Over the last three decades, Louise has been a Trustee of The Hill at Whitemarsh, and on the Boards of Friends of the Wissahickon, the Ambler Choral Society, and Face to Face, a community service organization in Germantown which deals with homeless issues.
Currently she is a resident at The Hill at Whitemarsh, and is on several conservation committees there and through her garden club, The Weeders. She still loves gardening.
Robert m. peck, Board Member
Historian, naturalist, and writer Robert McCracken Peck serves as Curator of Art and Artifacts and the Editor of Scientific Publications at The Academy of Natural Sciences, where he has been a Fellow since 1983. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master of Arts degree from the Winterthur Program in American Cultural History, the University of Delaware…more.
Debra L. Rogers, Board Member
Debbie started her risk management career in 1988 when she joined the risk management department at CertainTeed. In the ensuing 25 years, she has held positions of increased responsibility in many facets of risk management. Since 2003, Debbie has led the global risk management function at Aramark, with responsibility for safety & risk control, insurance placement, analytics and insured claims management. Aramark, a publicly traded company, is a leading global provider of food, facilities and uniform services to education, healthcare, business & industry, sports, leisure and corrections, and other clients had sales of $13.9 billion in 2013…more.
Kenneth LeRoy, Board Member
Born and bred in Philadelphia, Ken LeRoy is a Temple University School of Horticulture alum (A.S. 1984). Upon graduation Ken managed the fruit and vegetable gardens at Ambler until 1986 when he left Temple for the University of Pennsylvania. Ken honed his horticultural skills as a section leader of the English Park at the Morris Arboretum. He was accepted into the International Society of Arboriculture in 1989, Certified Arborist #78 in the Pennsylvania/Delaware chapter…more.
Ellin Dixon-Miller, Board Member
Ellin was a graduate of Springside School, Cabrini College, BA History, and Nova Southeastern University, MS Education. She taught at The Benjamin School, North Palm Beach, FL for 13 years following her retirement from her equestrian career…more.