2026 Board Member Candidates

The Governance Committee of PVAS is pleased to present the 2026 Slate of Candidates for the PVAS Board. Terms begin September 1, 2026. 

Active PVAS Members will receive an electronic ballot via email, as will active National Audubon Society Members who live in our service area. If you are an active member but require a hard copy of the ballot, please call the office at 681-252-1387.

Theresa Trainor, President (1st term): She has spent the last 30 years in the Federal government and hopes her experience will help support the important mission of PVAS. Most recently Theresa was at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, before that at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Eastern Management Development Center, both here in Shepherdstown, and before that at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. She has specialized in leadership development, is a certified professional coach, and loves coaching, facilitation, training, and team building. She also loves swimming, hiking, kayaking, and making art and was a yoga teacher at Jala Yoga prior to the pandemic. Theresa lives with her husband Eddie and their Schnoodle, Ruby.

Janet Ady, Vice President (1st term): Janet began her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Environmental Education Center at the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, then moved to Alaska as the regional Environmental Education Coordinator. In 1990, she joined the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, WV, in the design stages, developing education and outreach training and education programs. Janet then led the Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships for the Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Office in Washington, DC, from 2016 until her retirement in 2020. Janet has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, teaching credentials in High School Biology and Elementary Education, a Master’s in Natural Science, a doctorate in Sustainability Education (focusing on community science for conservation and positive youth development), and a certificate in Sustainability and Behavior Change (exploring what motivates people to adopt environmentally sustainable behaviors). Ms. Ady advises several national, state, and local-level conservation and environmental education organizations and joined the board of the Audubon Society of Central Maryland in 2021. Her passion is to connect people of all ages with their natural world to promote environmentally responsible behavior.

Patti Mulkeen-Corley, Secretary (3rd term): Patti is a retired teacher who lives outside of Charles Town with her husband, Tom. Patti is a hobbyist beekeeper. Beekeeping, by its nature, keeps one aware of climate, environmental issues, and native plants. Gardening got her interested in cooperating on compiling the “Plant this, NOT that” list. She volunteers at Cool Spring with the Weed Warriors initiative. She is also a longtime member of both the WV Rivers Coalition and the Jefferson County League of Women Voters.

Marellen Johnson Aherne, At-large Member (1st term): Growing up in Minnesota, Marellen Johnson Aherne spent endless hours fishing and gardening with her father. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees were earned at the University of Minnesota in Theater Arts. Later in life, she pursued a doctorate in Organizational Development at the Fielding Institute and was certified as an executive coach by Georgetown University. Marellen’s career began working in the non-profit world, leading both social service and arts organizations. Her move to Wall Street took place in 1979, where she served as Corporate Vice President for PaineWebber (UBS), leading the sales and marketing efforts in several divisions. Upon leaving Wall Street, she served as Executive Vice President of a management consulting firm and subsequently founded her own consultancy. She retired in 2013. Marellen is an avid traveler, theater goer, gardener, kayaker, and pickleball player. Her volunteer work is extensive, having served on several boards, including serving as President of Contemporary Theater Arts Festival. Marellen lives with her “babies,” a nearly 13-year-old dog, Cooper, and a two-year-old cat, Maxine.

Peggy Bowers, At-large Member (2nd term): Peggy Bowers is a professional horticulturist and garden designer. She has spent nearly 20 years working and managing both private and public gardens, including Dumbarton Oaks, The American Horticultural Society River Farm, and as the Garden Manager at the George Washington Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. In 2018, Peggy and her husband David built and opened Sundogs Bed and Breakfast located on 46 acres close to Shepherdstown, WV. Peggy and David are dedicated to restoring the woodlands and meadows and creating sustainable pollinator-friendly gardens. Peggy’s passion for pollinators can be seen not only at Sundogs but also at the new Shepherdstown Public Library, where she is the lead designer of a community effort to create habitat gardens. Peggy is active in supporting many community-wide efforts and currently serves on the steering committee for the Town Run Watershed Group. Peggy continues to provide garden designs and consultations with the goal to promote life spaces for native insects and birds, and to teach and inspire others to create their own much-needed wildlife habitats in their own backyards.

Todd Fagan, At-large Member (1st term): Todd Fagan is an avid birder who grew up north of Philadelphia, honorably served one term in the US Air Force, then settled in the DC area in 1988.  He met his wife, Susan, in southern MD, and she encouraged him to pursue his interests in geography and the environment.  After earning his B.S. and M.S degrees in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Todd applied his knowledge and experience by introducing new ways to access and apply spatial data to solve modern problems in local government. In 2022, Todd retired as a certified GIS Professional with over 25 years of experience in computer mapping, geographic analysis, and public service with Loudoun and Jefferson counties.  Since moving to the Shepherdstown area in 2002, he has volunteered in a variety of ways: stream monitoring, bird counts, and on his neighborhood HOA Board. Todd continues to look for ways to volunteer his time in support of environmental causes and is excited to contribute his unique perspective to the PVAS Board.

Effie Kallas, At-large Member (1st term): Having lived in the Eastern Panhandle for most of her life, Effie Kallas has enjoyed the opportunity to serve the community in many different capacities.  Active participation in a wide range of organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, Stubblefield Institute – Community Engagement Committee, Shepherdstown Parks & Rec Committee, Shepherdstown Centennial Lions Club, and Jefferson County Youth Treatment Court, to name a few, have been a privilege.  Effie looks forward to working with the PVAS Board and helping to advance its mission.  An attorney, Effie lives in Shepherdstown where she and her husband raised three beautiful children.

Charles Kovatch, At-large Member (1st term): Charles Kovatch is an environmental professional who has spent over 25 years navigating the intersection of policy, science, and conservation. Currently an independent consultant specializing in environmental and regulatory compliance, Charles brings a valuable perspective to the board, helping organizations translate complex regulatory challenges into durable, practical solutions. His career is anchored in high-level public service, including leadership roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he managed domestic and international chemical safety program implementation. Charles’s technical background spans water policy, environmental toxicology, and strategic engagement, bolstered by experience with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Senate. Charles is dedicated to ensuring that local conservation efforts are supported by sound science and a resilient long-term strategy. He is particularly focused on how PVAS can continue its impact through thoughtful partnerships and sustainable growth. Charles holds a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an M.S.P.H. from the University of South Carolina, and an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland. Charles’s lifelong appreciation for the outdoors began in the mountains of Pennsylvania as a young sportsman and continues today in Shepherdstown, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. When time allows, he still enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, traveling, cooking, and playing mediocre ukulele.

Mike Rock, At-large Member (2nd Term): Michael T. Rock is the Samuel and Etta Wexler Emeritus Professor of Economic History at Bryn Mawr College. Michael has taught at Mount Holyoke and Bennington College as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi, Vietnam. His teaching and research focus on democracy and development. He is currently working on a book titled, American Elites’ Uneven Commitment to Democracy and Development. His teaching and published research also focus on the environment and development in East and Southeast Asia. In addition, Michael is the author or co-author of numerous journal articles and chapters in numerous edited books. Since moving to Harpers Ferry, with his wife Maggie, three years ago, he has become involved in town governance and is currently chair of the Harpers Ferry Water Commission. The Commission advises the Harpers Ferry Town Council on matters related to the Harpers Ferry Water Works (HFWW) and Commission members work closely with the Public Works Administrator of the HFWW. Michael is an avid hiker and trout fly fisherman.