Council Members

City of Hartford - Forester
50 Jennings Rd, Hartford, CT 06120
860-757-0683 or 860-372-2674
DIONH001@HARTFORD.GOV

Heather Dionne is the City Forester for the City of Hartford, Connecticut.  Over the past six years, she has been managing an urban forest that includes 434 shoulder road miles and almost 3,000 acres of greenspace and forestland. Educating the public on the importance of trees, climate change and proper arboricultural practices are her focus. She has worked hard to encourage decision makers to see trees as a necessity and not just a luxury, especially regarding budgeting and planning. Seeing first-hand the social injustices in a city relating to tree canopy gives her a vantage from which she can bring stake-holders together to come up with solutions.

Heather studied Urban and Community Forestry at Unity College in Maine, is a licensed arborist in Connecticut and with the International Society of Arboriculture, and recently acquired her certification as a supervising forest products harvester in CT.

The Nature Conservancy in CT - Urban Conservation Program Manager
55 Church St, Floor 3
New Haven, CT 06510-3029

DREW.GOLDSMAN@TNC.ORG
Phone: (203) 568-6273
Fax: (203) 568-6271
NATURE.ORG

Drew Goldsman is the Urban Conservation Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. The Urban Conservation Program provides support to cities across Connecticut, currently with a focus on Bridgeport, embracing natural solutions as an integral way of equitably fostering vibrant and healthy communities. Current initiatives range from supporting a resilient coastline to on-the-ground community engagement.  The work includes investments in the urban forest and in green stormwater infrastructure. Drew has a strong background in urban environmental and social justice causes. With past positions focusing on transportation equity and affordable housing policy, Drew believes the built and natural environments are deeply tied and must equitably benefit all residents. Drew holds a Master of Urban Planning from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College.

Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) - Education Director
16 Meriden Road
Rockfall, CT 06481-2372
(860) 346-TREE
info@ctwoodlands.org
ekravet@ctwoodlands.org

Emma comes to CFPA from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, where she managed the Sustaining Family Forests Initiative – a national program aimed at training natural resource professionals in more strategic and effective landowner outreach. She has previously worked in food and agricultural policy, youth development, and farm-based education. Emma also holds a dual M.A./M.S. degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Agriculture, Food and Environment from Tufts University.

Emma’s passion for experiential education has led her all over the east and west coasts, Central America, and Nova Scotia. She lives in New Haven where she can be found exploring East Rock Park and samba dancing.

YALE SCHOOL OF FORESTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Urban Resources Initiative - Greenskill Manager
195 Prospect St
New Haven, CT 06511
KATHERINE.BEECHEM@YALE.EDU
(203) 432-6189

Katie received her B.A. in Biology from Goucher College and her M.F. in Forestry from the Yale School Forestry & Environmental Studies.  Prior to studying at Yale, Katie worked with the Baltimore County Forest Sustainability Program, where she led the effort to plant 1,000 shade trees around public facilities and contributed to the reforestation of hundreds of acres of abandoned agricultural land.  She has also worked as a graduate teaching fellow at Yale F&ES, a research assistant at the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry, an environmental educator at the National Aquarium, and as an Ultimate Frisbee coach.