MEET THE STAFF
Kathy Phillips
Executive Director Assateague COASTKEEPER Kathy Phillips, a Worcester County, MD resident since 1971, came to ACT in 2007. She has extensive experience in advocacy and coalition building. Trained and certified in water quality monitoring and pollution response, she has been providing a ‘voice’ for our coastal waters since 2006.
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Steve Farr
Development Director Steve came to ACT in 2007 after spending more than 20 years in the strategic philanthropy practice of a Washington, D.C. based global public affairs agency. He directs all of ACT’s fundraising activities, including grant writing, donor cultivation, and events management, while also contributing to outreach, communications and administration activities. Steve graduated from Yale University with a BA in American Studies.
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Matt Heim
Outreach and Administrative Director Matt Heim came to ACT in 2013. He grew up on the Lower Shore and earned a Master’s Degree in Chesapeake Studies from Salisbury University in 2008. He recently coordinated ACT's Offshore Drilling Campaign and also oversees ACT's administrative operations and communications.
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Verena Chase
Coast Kids Director Verena has worked for ACT since 2005. She coordinates monthly events and the Nature Explorers summer camp, teaches environmental education classes, and manages the Coast Kids membership. Verena holds an MS in Environmental Protection from FH Bingen, Germany.
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MEET THE BOARD
Ken Wolf, President
Ken joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as President since 2015. He also serves as Chairman of the Ocean Pines Association’s Environmental and Natural Assets Advisory Committee. He has been a regular visitor to the Coastal Bays area for over 40 years and has a home in Ocean Pines and one across the bridge in Arnold, MD. Ken is retired after a successful career in the industrial packaging business.
Ken joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as President since 2015. He also serves as Chairman of the Ocean Pines Association’s Environmental and Natural Assets Advisory Committee. He has been a regular visitor to the Coastal Bays area for over 40 years and has a home in Ocean Pines and one across the bridge in Arnold, MD. Ken is retired after a successful career in the industrial packaging business.
Jeff Royer, Vice President
Jeff joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as Vice President since 2015. He is a native of the Eastern Shore and currently lives in Snow Hill on the shores of the Pocomoke River. Jeff retired in 2014 after teaching biology for 36 years in Wicomico County. When he’s not attending Board meetings and ACT events, Jeff enjoys waterskiing, kayaking, bicycle riding and ballroom dancing.
Jeff joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as Vice President since 2015. He is a native of the Eastern Shore and currently lives in Snow Hill on the shores of the Pocomoke River. Jeff retired in 2014 after teaching biology for 36 years in Wicomico County. When he’s not attending Board meetings and ACT events, Jeff enjoys waterskiing, kayaking, bicycle riding and ballroom dancing.
Tom Simon, Secretary
Tom joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as Secretary since 2015. A proud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Tom moved to the Shore in 2008. After several years as a park ranger at Assateague, Tom founded SuperFun Eco Tours and Assateague Outfitters providing kayak rentals and tours for visitors to the National Seashore. In the offseason, he bartends at Berlin’s Burley Oak Brewery.
Tom joined the ACT Board in 2013 and has served as Secretary since 2015. A proud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Tom moved to the Shore in 2008. After several years as a park ranger at Assateague, Tom founded SuperFun Eco Tours and Assateague Outfitters providing kayak rentals and tours for visitors to the National Seashore. In the offseason, he bartends at Berlin’s Burley Oak Brewery.
Tom Bickerstaff, Treasurer
Tom is a retired regulatory life insurance actuary who brings years of managerial accounting experience to the ACT board. He enjoys sailing, kayaking and woodworking. Tom is also a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader at Community Church at Ocean Pines and additionally is a member of the Snow Hill Rotary Club in Rotary District 7630. He and wife Marian reside in Ocean Pines, MD.
Tom is a retired regulatory life insurance actuary who brings years of managerial accounting experience to the ACT board. He enjoys sailing, kayaking and woodworking. Tom is also a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader at Community Church at Ocean Pines and additionally is a member of the Snow Hill Rotary Club in Rotary District 7630. He and wife Marian reside in Ocean Pines, MD.
Holiday Johnson, Board Member
Holiday s a mother and award-winning filmmaker. She is a director and owner of one of the leading foodservice companies in Canada known as Cara . Holiday is active in the community and charitable towards the environment, she is a director of The Langar Foundation, a foundation dedicated to Canadian charities. Holiday and her husband Chris Johnson are avid sailors, hailing from a long time maritime tradition.
Roger LeMaster, Board Member
Roger is a Washington tax attorney and former association executive with extensive administrative, political and legal experience acquired through years of service with the U.S. Senate, major associations and leading law firms.
Roger also maintains a second home on Chincoteague Island where he is actively involved in community service.
Jim Rapp, Board Member
Jim currently serves as director of the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center in Eden, Maryland. Prior to holding this post, he was the director of the Salisbury Zoo. Jim is the past president of the Assateague Coastal Trust, Wicomico Environmental Trust, Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council, and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. Jim enjoys birding and paddling in Delmarva's natural areas, where he has lived for 40+ years. He currently resides in Baltimore, where he enjoys exploring the city’s urban parks and trails with his wife and daughter.
Holiday s a mother and award-winning filmmaker. She is a director and owner of one of the leading foodservice companies in Canada known as Cara . Holiday is active in the community and charitable towards the environment, she is a director of The Langar Foundation, a foundation dedicated to Canadian charities. Holiday and her husband Chris Johnson are avid sailors, hailing from a long time maritime tradition.
Roger LeMaster, Board Member
Roger is a Washington tax attorney and former association executive with extensive administrative, political and legal experience acquired through years of service with the U.S. Senate, major associations and leading law firms.
Roger also maintains a second home on Chincoteague Island where he is actively involved in community service.
Jim Rapp, Board Member
Jim currently serves as director of the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center in Eden, Maryland. Prior to holding this post, he was the director of the Salisbury Zoo. Jim is the past president of the Assateague Coastal Trust, Wicomico Environmental Trust, Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council, and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. Jim enjoys birding and paddling in Delmarva's natural areas, where he has lived for 40+ years. He currently resides in Baltimore, where he enjoys exploring the city’s urban parks and trails with his wife and daughter.
