Board of Directors

Kent County Conservancy, Inc., is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation comprised of a group of conservationists and citizens focused on strategically acquiring & protecting lands within Delaware's Kent County that have important rural & urban heritage resources.

LYLE JONES - President

Prior to his retirement from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in late December 2013, Lyle Jones was a Planner for the Division of Watershed Stewardship in the Watershed Assessment Section and worked on soils and wetlands issues for the State. He received his B. S. and M.S. in Soil Science from The Ohio State University. Lyle mapped soils in Ohio prior to attending the University of Arkansas to work on his PH. D.  In 1985 he was hired by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to conduct soil based site evaluation for their new on-site wastewater disposal systems regulations.  From 1998 until his retirement, he worked with TMDLs and pollution control strategies as part of this duty.  He was involved with 8 tributary action teams in their development of pollution control strategies for 9 different watersheds in Delaware.  He implemented many of those strategies on the ground project best management projects with both state and federal funding.   He is presently a commissioner with the City of Dover’s Silver Lake Commission.

RACHAEL PHILLOS - Vice President

Rachael Phillos, a Delaware native, has felt a connection with nature since she was a young child and her family’s yearly camping trips cemented it. This connection is what set her on her life’s path.  She was hired as Park Superintendent at Fort Delaware State Park in the fall of 2015. Rachael has been working with Delaware State Parks since June 2006.  She started at White Clay Creek & Lums Pond, moved to Trap Pond, and prior to the new position at Fort Delaware she worked as the Trainer/Educator for Killens Pond State Park. She also worked for Delaware Nature Society at Abbotts Mill.  Rachael has a BS in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology from University of Delaware and holds a number of certifications including First Aid/CPR/AED instructor, Small Craft Safety Canoe and Kayak Instructor, Basic Water Rescue Instructor, and National Association of Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide.

Originally from Georgetown, she now resides in Frederica.  In her spare time she likes to walk her 85lb dog, a Rottweiler mix named Ranger at the local State Park.  He sometimes walks her instead.  She is an avid reader, and occasionally binges on Netflix DVD marathons.

AnThONY DEPRIMA - Treasurer

Tony became the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility’s (SEU) first Executive Director in October 2011.  The SEU is a unique non-profit organization offering a one-stop resource through its Energize Delaware initiative to help residents and businesses save money through clean energy and efficiency. The SEU was created in 2007 by the State of Delaware to foster a sustainable energy future for the state.

Prior to his appointment he served as Dover, Delaware’s City Manager, a position he was appointed to in November 2001.  Dover operates an electric and water utility with over 20,000 customers.  While City Manger a major initiative of Mr. DePrima‘s was to implement a wide array of projects and programs in support the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. His efforts were recognized by the Delaware Sierra Club’s Cool Cities Program. One project was the Dover Sun Park, this 10MW facility is the largest solar power plant in the northeast, and represents a partnership between Dover DE, eight municipalities, Delmarva Power, and the developer LS Power. 

Prior to being City Manager, he served as the Director of Planning and Inspections for the City of Dover, Delaware. 

He has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech and a B.S. Degree in Human Ecology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.  In 2019, Tony received his Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware.

Margaret Conroy - Secretary

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Gerald I.h. Street - Past President

Gerri has been an attorney in private practice for over 40 years enjoying a wide variety of clients and matters. One of those matters involved protecting an undeveloped parcel of land from development as a result of which he and Chazz Salkin became good friends. That case led them to a quest of how to help protect the natural resources of Kent County.

Over the years, the board of KCC grew to include members who loved the natural world and brought some special interests or experiences that are needed to help the vision become a reality. For example, all understand that it is critical to have the next generation become involved in the vision which means school children’s involvement is very important. Hence an example of what board member David Vaughn does to help advance the vision. As a former teacher, principal and Director of the local public school districts, he is especially qualified to engage schools and their students in the vision.  

KCC embraces the concept of working with other groups as vital to the vision and to that end works closely with other nature groups, local and state governments on a regular basis. As another example, one of the board members and current vice president of KCC is the County Executive of the Kent County government another is the former City Manager of Dover, etc.

Gerri is married, has four children and nine grandchildren all of whom share his love of nature, whether hiking, camping, skiing, birding, kayaking or canoeing. It is their futures which provide much of the energy that drives Gerri to give the vision its best chance to succeed.

CHARLES A. SALKIN - Past President

Chazz retired in 2013 after a 35-year career with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, the last 21 years as Director of State Parks. 

In addition to his statewide responsibilities for 16 state parks and over 27,000 acres of land, Chazz directed the state’s Open Space Program from its inception in 1990 and served on the Open Space Council for 21 years.  He placed a strong emphasis on historical and cultural preservation and interpretation and was a co-founder of Preservation Delaware, Inc.

Chazz is a native of northwestern Pennsylvania and received a BS in Park Administration from Penn State in 1975 followed by a year of graduate study in Outdoor Recreation Planning and Landscape Architecture.  From 2005-2007 he served as President of the National Association of State Park Directors.

Chazz and his wife, Susan, have lived in downtown Dover for 35 years.  They have one daughter, Emily, and two grandchildren.  In addition to his work with the Kent County Conservancy, he has served as the Chair of the City of Dover Historic District Commission and on the board of directors of the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve and the Woodlawn Trustees.

Rob Line

Rob Line is originally from Lexington, Richland County, Ohio but has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Miami-Dade County, Florida; and the last 24 years in Dover, Delaware. He graduated from Ohio State University with a BS Degree in Zoology in 1978. Rob began his carrer as a Naturalist/Park Manager/Natural Areas Program Manager for the Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department in Miami, Florida over 15 years (1979-1995). There he spear-headed park habitat recovery following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and also established the Natural Areas Management Division within the Miami-Dade County Parks Department in 1989.  Rob also served as the lead biologist with Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program to guide acquisition of remaining habitat. Further on, Rob worked for the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation, first as the head of the Natural Areas Program and began the Environmental Stewardship Program. After 21 years in Delaware and 36 years working Recreation Naturalist/Biologist/Administrator, Rob retired in 2016.

Jennifer Volk

Jennifer Volk is a native Delawarean and has considered herself an environmentalist ever since getting her family to recycle for a class project she did during Earth Week in 7th grade.  She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Delaware and then earned a Master of Science in Chemical Oceanography, also from UD. Upon graduating, Jennifer was hired as an Environmental Scientist in the Watershed Assessment Section of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.  Long time board member, Lyle Jones, was her first boss!  While at DNREC, Jennifer developed Total Maximum Daily Loads for watersheds with excess nutrients and developed watershed implementation plans that detailed the practices and actions that should be implemented to reduce nutrient inputs to our natural waters.

After almost a decade with DNREC, Jennifer accepted a position as an Environmental Quality Specialist with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.  She continues to work on issues related to water quality and now also climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies too.  Jennifer splits her time between her educational responsibilities while also serving as the Associate Director of UD Extension.  In this capacity, she provides leadership on several organizational initiatives.  Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and exploring all that Delaware’s natural areas have to offer.

Matt CHesser

Matt Chesser is currently Legal Counsel for Delaware Technical Community College where his primary responsibilities are in the area of transactional law. Previously, Matt worked for almost 15 years for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Parks and Recreation. There, he became the primary architect and project manager of the Auburn Valley Master Plan, which proposed the conversion of the former National Vulcanized Fiber plant in Yorklyn to what would eventually become Delaware’s 17th state park, Auburn Valley State Park.

Matt has an Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology from Delaware Tech, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health from Salisbury State University, and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law. He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in the fall of 2000.

Matt enjoys the collector car hobby, boating, and fishing with his family. He lives in Dover with his wife, Kim, and three youngest children.

Stephanie Stotts

Stephanie Stotts is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Director of the Wesley Tree Ring Laboratory at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. Stephanie originates from Kansas, earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Baker University in 2005.  She then moved to Dover, Delaware where she earned a Master’s of Science in Natural Resource Management from Delaware State University in 2008.  During this time, she worked as an environmental science intern at the Delaware National Estuary Research Reserve where she became enamored with the beauty of Delaware’s wetlands and forests. Stephanie received a Ph.D. in physical geography from University of Delaware in 2013. At Wesley, Stephanie teaches environmental courses and mentors research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research focuses on using tree ring analysis to study coastal forest response to salinization. A passionate gardener, Stephanie helped found and serves on the advisory board for an on-campus community garden. Outside of work, Stephanie is enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 growing boys.

Theresa “tess” Charney

Tess Charney, Planner IV, Delaware State Parks

Tess is a former middle and high school Language Arts/Special Education teacher. As a teacher of exceptional children, Tess provided intense reading instruction to students with disabilities. In addition to teaching, Tess was also the advisor for the Best Buddies Friendship program, promoting inclusion of students in the school community and, advisor of the ECOTEAM initiative that gets students involved in environmental education from K through high school.

After a wonderful teaching career, Tess joined Delaware State Parks as a planner and Federal Grants Coordinator. Tess feels that for those struggling, outdoor experiences provide peace, promote curiosity and provide accessible opportunities for healing and self-discovery.

A self-proclaimed “bird-nerd” and “tree-hugger” (figuratively - not in the radical sense), Tess tries to get outside as much as possible. Tess and her husband Jim have a small hobby farm complete with chickens, a dog and 2 cats. They also have a cabin in West Virginia and try to steal away for hiking, campfires and fishing as often as possible. Tess and Jim have 2 sons and 2 daughters with whom they have shared their passion for the outdoors from an early age.