Staff

Joel Dunn
Executive Director

Joel Dunn is executive director of the Chesapeake Conservancy, which works to ensure access, conservation, enjoyment and stewardship of the Chesapeake's great rivers and special places.  The Conservancy advances this mission through direct action, education and by forging partnerships with government, businesses, nonprofits and citizens.

Before joining the Conservancy, Joel conducted government relations and project management in the Chesapeake region for The Conservation Fund. His work helped establish and expand protection for National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and National Trails, including the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Dunn also worked with David Burke, a Senior Advisor to the Conservancy, to produce A Sustainable Chesapeake: Better Models for Conservation - a book highlighting conservation success stories in the Bay. 

Joel received a Master of Environmental Management degree and a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University, where he was a Doris Duke Fellow. Last year, Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment gave him their Rising Star Award for his work in conservation. Dunn is a resident of Annapolis, Maryland, where he is Vice-Chairman of the Annapolis Conservancy Board.
 He can be reached at jdunn@chesapeakeconservancy.org

David Burke, AICP
Conservation and Strategic Planning
David is a planning consultant certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners with over three decades of private and public sector experience in the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond, developing and managing numerous coastal, wetland, watershed and land conservation programs and projects.
He can be reached at dburke@chesapeakeconservancy.org.

Colleen Whitlock
Director of Administration
Colleen manages the administrative responsibilities for the Conservancy.  She is familiar with the John Smith trail having been Sultana Projects' Communications Director for the Captain John Smith 400 Project and 2007 shallop voyage around the Bay.  She holds a B.A. in History from Washington College as well as an M.A.T. in Elementary Education from East Tennessee State University.
She can be reached at cwhitlock@chesapeakeconservancy.org. 

Joanna Ogburn
Program Director
Joanna has extensive experience in stakeholder-driven conservation efforts and has focused her career on the link between public involvement and land protection. She grew up in Easton, MD, and before joining the Chesapeake Conservancy ran a county-wide land conservation program in Savannah, Georgia. As the sole staff for the Chatham County Resource Protection Commission, Joanna gained experience in all aspects of conservation. Joanna has a Masters of Environmental Management (Duke University) and a Bachelors of Science (University of Richmond).

David Blitzer
Chesapeake Fellow
David recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelors of Arts (double major in history and political science). Originally from the Philadelphia area, David spent his summers on his grandmother's farm in Chestertown, MD where he developed his passion for the Chesapeake Bay. He will be working on government relations for the Chesapeake Conservancy and is looking forward to gaining valuable experience in the environmental and political arenas.

Advisors 

Michael Shultz, APR
Public Relations Advisor
Michael leads the Conservancy's public relations effort. He is a communications consultant accredited by the Public Relations Society of America who has worked with regional and national groups to develop and execute their strategic and communication plans. He has played in and written about the Chesapeake during most of his career.
He can be reached at mshultz@chesapeakeconservancy.org

Chesapeake Conservancy supports Governor’s parks, open space budget

The Chesapeake Conservancy commended Governor Martin O'Malley for his plan to fully fund...

Congress supports Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails

Joel Dunn, executive director of the Chesapeake Conservancy today commended U.S. Senators and...

Key committee okays Gateways Network

Joel Dunn praised the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for voting out of committee a...