Advisory Committee
Ryan Jeroski
Hampton Township municipal manager Ryan Jeroski co-chairs WPC’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee. Ryan brings both professional insight and personal passion to his conservation work.
How has your role as municipal manager influenced your perspective on local conservation efforts?
Three things that have influenced me are the impacts of poor stormwater management (especially in light of more severe storms in our region), the effect and response to suburban sprawl, and the value residents place on parks and open space.
Often, the first two topics play directly into one another. One of the most consistent complaints municipal managers in Western Pa. get relates to drainage issues. Often this is the result of development of larger tracts of previously undeveloped land, which naturally had infiltrated and properly filtered water.
We see the effects of runoff on our streams and waterways, filling them to the brim with rushing water that degrades stream banks and causes erosion. Conversely, every manager has seen residents enjoy walking on trails and spending time in public spaces that have been preserved for the community to use.
What drew you to get involved with WPC, and what motivated you to step even further into leadership as a co-chair of the ELAC?
I was drawn to WPC because of the breadth of initiatives. WPC has land preservation, watershed restoration, wildlife monitoring, urban forestry, environmental science/research, and community gardens all under one roof, which is truly amazing.
I took the step into ELAC leadership because I wanted to engage each member of the Committee and ensure their interests were heard and considered. And I’m pretty good at building rapport and pushing projects forward.
What opportunities do municipal leaders have to collaborate with environmental organizations like WPC?
If you are in a borough or other community with a central business district or street trees, working with TreeVitalize is a wonderful chance to add to your urban canopy and beautify your community. All communities can benefit from putting in community gardens to reinforce the sense of place and aid pollinators.
The following lists some of the ways you can volunteer at the Conservancy. We welcome volunteers to help in our community flower gardens, plant trees or maintain our preserves and trails, among other tasks. View a list of our current or upcoming volunteer opportunities and register for one today.