Contact
For general inquiries e-mail: [email protected]
If you want to send us mail:
American Conservation Film Festival
P.O. Box 889
Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443
Development & Communications Director: Jennifer Lee
[email protected]
Festival Operations Manager: Hilary Lo
[email protected]
Our Board of Directors
Jeff Feldman, President
A leadership development trainer, team building facilitator and green building consultant, Jeff Feldman has been a teacher of one sort or another for over twenty years. With degrees in Environmental Education and Experiential Learning, Jeff served five years on the faculty at Penn State University. In 1993, Jeff founded Eagle’s View Enterprises, a leadership development and team building firm offering training, facilitation and coaching to leaders and organizations across the public and private sectors. Jeff also runs GreenPath Consulting, a green building consulting firm with a focus on supporting people in living more lightly on the planet. Jeff lives in a solar, strawbale house with his wife, son, dogs, cats and chickens.
Jeff Groff, Vice President
Jeff is Assistant Professor of Physics in Shepherd University’s Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in applied science with a focus on computational biophysics from the College of William and Mary in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree in physics from McDaniel College in 2001. Jeff teaches a variety of introductory and upper-division physics courses including a course he designed called Physics of Energy for environmental sustainability majors.
Jeffrey Gustafson, Secretary
Jeffrey has a background in community development and urban planning. Also, through his Masters in Public Administration, he has focused on nonprofit management, human resources, budgeting and financial management. Some of his past experience includes workforce development for Ansted, WV; strategic planning for downtown renewal in Montgomery, WV; and a budget analysis of the State of WV Division of Corrections. Jeffrey serves on two local campaigns: Skinner for WV and The Library Project. He has a passion for promoting walkable communities and affordable housing.
Lauren Ames, Board Member
Lauren is an experienced interior designer who runs her own business, Lauren Ames Interiors, in Shepherdstown, WV and Chestertown, MD. In Chestertown, she collaborates with the Massoni Gallery, working with regional and national artists. Previously she worked for the design firm Essary and Murphy ASID, in Atlanta. Her work emphasizes the combination of contemporary and historical elements and focusses on the importance of artwork in creative and successful design. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a Master of Arts in English from Agnes Scott College.
Michael Hobert, Board Member
Michael was born and raised in Clarke County, Virginia, where he has a law practice on Main Street in Berryville. He believes films are a critical medium to bring public awareness to conservation issues and is excited to support sharing a wide range of documentaries that inform and inspire. He served for many years as a Virginia County Supervisor and on many non-profit Boards of Directors in the region.
Janna Bond, Board Member
Janna is a new resident of West Virginia with a passion for environmental and cultural conservation. An active volunteer, she has aided with several ecology research projects and many community service efforts. She works for a local bank and earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida in 2014.
Nick Snow, Board Member
Nick grew up in Cleveland, OH, where he witnessed the burning of the Cuyahoga River and, subsequently, the power of intelligent science to clean up the local waterways. He graduated from Yale University in 1978 with a BS in chemistry and from Ohio State University in 1985 with an MD. He has been in private practice as a gastroenterologist in Winchester, VA, since 1995.
Nick is particularly interested on the impacts of climate change on human health and well-being and has taken courses, attended conferences, and written over 30 editorial pieces on the subject. He is married to Dr. Cathleen McCoy and has two adult children. He lives in Boyce, VA, in a passive and active solar house. Nick hopes to be able to combine his love of the earth and movies to contribute to ACFF.
Our Staff
Jennifer Lee, Development & Communications Director
Jennifer lives in Clarke County, Virginia, where she grew up and fell in love with woods, animals, fields, rivers, and bugs. She has worked in development, event planning, and outreach for national and local non-profits dedicated to environmental or historical preservation for most of the last 20 years. She has served as a columnist and contributing editor to the local newspaper and holds a Communications degree from George Mason University and a Master Gardener’s certification.
Hilary Lo, Festival Operations Manager
Hilary’s p
rofessional background includes nonprofit development, community outreach and public education. Her work has led her to serve young students, adults with a disability and seniors. A lifelong interest in environmental and cultural conservation began on a small farm in the West Virginia hills. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Education at WVU. Always engaged in community activism and continuing education, Hilary has served on the Shepherdstown Public Library Board, the PTO and volunteers at local schools.
Past ACFF Board Members
Keith Alexander, Amy Mathews Amos, Alice Barkus, Sue Caperton, Steve Chase, Lawrence Cumbo, Chuck Dunkerly, John Grabowska, Thomas Harding, Don Henry, Chris Hoelzl, Catherine Irwin, Judy Katz-Leavy, Alex Kemnitzer, Karen Kinnett, Dave Kirkwood, Edward Leavy, David Lillard, Mark Madison, Farzad Mahootian, Rachel Dorsey McGowen, John McGrath, Stan Mopsik, Wendy Mopsik, Sue Pellish, Anne Sechler, Vanessa Serrao, Thomas “Topper” Sherwood, Michael Spensley, Barbara Spicher, Susan Walter, Ann Watson, Lisa Welch, Susan Womeldorf, Lynn Yellott
