Staff

Heather McMann, Executive Director

Heather began consulting with Groundwork Lawrence in December 2005 and joined the staff as the Operations Director in 2006. In June 2009 she assumed the Acting Executive Director’s position and was appointed Executive Director in October. Heather holds a breadth of experience in nonprofit management, with a focus on preparing organizations for growth. Since returning to Massachusetts in 2001, Heather has focused on youth development and creating our communities’ next generation of social justice leaders. She is received an MBA from The Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, a BA from Smith College and has more than fifteen years of experience in the non-profit sector. In addition to her work with GWL, Heather serves on the MA Public Health Association's ActFRESH campaign, is a Commissioner of the Essex National Heritage Area, and is a member of the Haverhill Brownfield Steering Commission. In 2010 Heather was honored to be one of the YWCA of Greater Lawrence Tribute to Women Awardees and to be included in the Irish Echo's Top 40 Under 40. Contact Heather at hmcmann @ groundworklawrence.org or x7009.

Rose Gonzalez, Deputy Director

Rose joined GWL as Program Manager in May 2006 and in July 2010 became Deputy Director. A resident of Lawrence with a passion for arboriculture, fresh locally-grown food, gardening, and community organizing, Rose connects GWL directly to youth, families, and institutions in our community. Five years ago she developed our “Eat Right / Move More” curriculum, piloted with local 6 graders, which is now the foundation of a schoolyard gardening program city-wide. In addition to implementing healthy community programming, Rose works more broadly to develop dynamic partnership opportunities from which our youth can learn and thrive. Prior to joining GWL, Rose worked with the non-profit Lawrence Grassroots Initiative as an Environmental Justice Coordinator and as a Community Organizer of "Human Rights Week." In 2011 Rose was honored to be one of the YWCA of Greater Lawrence Tribute to Women honorees. Rose graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Communication. She is a Board Member of Neighbors in Need, co-chair of the Mayor Health Task Force's Obesity Prevention and Intervention working group, and a TogetherGreen fellow. Rose is a member of the current Sandbox Leadership Institute, certified as a Master Urban Gardener and ServSafe, and has received training in Asthma Environmental and Clinical Issues and AMC's Youth Outdoor Leadership Training. Contact Rose at rgonzalez @ groundworklawrence.org or x7002.

Brad Buschur, Project Director

Brad is responsible for managing the design and construction of landscape and infrastructure improvements throughout Lawrence, including the Spicket River Greenway, Riverwalk Trail, and community garden sites. He is overseeing GWL's expanding role in supporting low-impact development (LID) practices and economic development in the city and implementing Lawrence's Open Space and Recreation Plan. Brad most recently worked as a Project Coordinator for Cabot, Cabot & Forbes in Boston, MA where he coordinated the firm’s build to suit projects, leasing of existing properties and prepared feasibility studies for multifamily housing development. Previously he worked as a Landscape Designer on park projects in Boston as well as large commercial and institutional projects in Russia and Pakistan and as a Land Protection and Conservation Associate with The Nature Conservancy. Brad holds a B.A. in Urban Planning and Political Science from Miami University and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts. Contact Brad at bbuschur @ groundworklawrence.org or x7003.

Rosa Pina, Outreach and Events Manager

Born and raised in Venezuela with Dominican parents, Rosa came to live to the U.S. in her teens. After living in Lawrence for 10 years and working closely with the community at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), Rosa moved to Florida where she was involved in working with the underprivileged Spanish population. She became a spokesperson for the Healthy Start Coalition of South West Floria, promoting health and safety in local TV programs on Telemundo and Univision channels. Rosa has a long history of participating in numerous charitable programs, fundraisers, and non-profit organizations such as the United Way, and has worked closely with the local health department. Rosa is an eager pro-community person, who enjoys working closely with residents. She recently returned to Lawrence after 11 years and looks forward to re-integrating herself into the city. In December 2011 Rosa was sworn in as a Committee Member of Semana Hispana (Hispanic Week), an event with 34 years of tradition that celebrates Lawrence's Latino heritage and culture. Rosa is very happy to become a member of the GWL team. Contact Rosa at rpina @ groundworklawrence.org or x7001.

Anna Rickards, Program Manager

Anna began working with GWL as a 2010 LISC AmeriCorps Summer Intern and she’s joined the staff full-time as GWL’s new Program Manager. Anna will be leading GWL’s education programs including the Green Team and Schoolyard Gardening, as well as managing the Farmers Market, the Community-Supported Agriculture and the Share-a-Share programs. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, where she worked at Growing Power, Anna moved to Lawrence in 2009 to work as a dance teacher for Movement City, part of Lawrence CommunityWorks. Anna received her B.S. in Biology from Oberlin College, and since graduating has been growing food and educating youth on both rural and urban farms in Ohio and Milwaukee. She loves dancing, gardening, cooking, and working with youth. Contact Anna at arickards @ groundworklawrence.org or x7004.

Tracy Sopchak, Development Manager

Tracy began volunteering with Groundwork Lawrence in February of 2010 through Jericho Road Lawrence and just recently joined the staff as the part-time Development Manager in September of 2010. Tracy brings technical expertise in engineering and software development from a previous career in the corporate realm. She transitioned to environmental sustainability and justice grant-writing work through volunteer involvement in local organizations during the past 6 years while she stayed at-home with her son. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition to her work with GWL, she stays involved with the Town of Reading’s Climate, Energy and Environment Advisory Committee. Contact Tracy at tsopchak @ groundworklawrence.org or 7005.

Maria Natera, LISC AmeriCorps Member

Maria joined the team of GWL as a LISC AmeriCorps member in September 2010. She is currently managing the development and implementation of a series of healthy living workshops for the Lawrence community and is also working to strengthen the growing community garden network. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Maria moved to New York in 1993 and six years later to Lawrence, where she received her Associate’s degree in Psychology and Social Work from Northern Essex Community College and is currently working towards a B.S. in Psychology at UMass Lowell. Maria is a passionate and committed member of the Lawrence community and says she loves to work with children “because they are the future.” When she is not at the Groundwork office, she is a volunteer Lead Weaver at Lawrence CommunityWorks. Contact Maria at mnatera @ groundworklawrence.org or x7006.

Abby Beissinger, MassLIFT AmeriCorps Member

Abby joined the GWL team as a MassLIFT AmeriCorps member in September 2011, serving as the Service Learning Coordinator. She is currently helping manage the Green Team and Schoolyard Gardening programs with local elementary and middle schools. Originally from Oak Park, IL, Abby received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. During her time at UW, she studied sustainable development in Costa Rica with the School for Field Studies and taught environmental and agricultural development on Lingira Island in Uganda with the EDGE Project. In addition to her work with GWL, she is also a resident and youth mentor at Movement City, part of Lawrence CommunityWorks. Abby loves growing food and flowers, and engaging youth in dance and the environment. Contact Abby at abeissinger @ groundworklawrence.org or X7011.

Josh Raser, MassLIFT Americorps Member

Josh joined the team of GWL as a MassLIFT Americorps Volunteer in September 2011. He is an outreach coordinator and is working with community groups to take on service projects such as community gardens, the Methuen/Lawrence Rail Trail, improvements such as invasive vine removal and rain gardens along the Spicket River Greenway and conserving land in areas such as Ferrous Site and Kane Lot. Originally from Escondido, CA, Josh received his B.S. in Agricultural Business from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and after graduating in 2008 served in Peace Corps Ecuador as a sustainable agricultural/small business volunteer and worked with a local cooperative of credit and savings on projects such as a community compost pile and family and community gardens. He enjoys being outside and active, gardening, and reading a good book. Contact Josh at jraser @ groundworklawrence.org or X7010.

The Green Team

The Groundwork Lawrence Green Team is a year-round program that offers part-time, paid employment for 10 Lawrence high school students each year. Members learn about and lead local environmental and healthy community initiatives, conduct research, raise awareness, challenge their peers to do community service and participate in hands-on improvement projects throughout the city. The program is intended to promote the protection and restoration of Lawrence’s critical ecological systems, natural resources and public health by engaging teens in advocacy and service-learning focused on the community’s parks, streets, gardens, waterways and vacant open spaces. The Green Team program has dual goals: to prepare Lawrence’s youth for a lifetime of environmental and healthy community leadership, and to invest in Lawrence’s future capacity to improve its physical environment.