Our Staff
We are a small, hard-working team helping local people save local land. While we take on summer interns and part-time educators, the majority of our year is spent efficiently and effectively managing the acquisition, management, improvement, and promotion of our lands and providing all ages opportunities to learn more about and enjoy the outdoors.
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As the Development Director at ALT, Tyler utilizes his background in environmental policy and nonprofit fundraising to conceptualize and promote land conservation throughout the Southwest PA region.
Tyler came to Pittsburgh as an Erie transplant after studying Environmental Science and Policy at Allegheny College and the University of Eastern Finland for his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Moving to the City in 2017, Tyler has managed a green infrastructure grant program at PWSA, served as the Development and Marketing Lead at Conservation Consultants, Inc., and, most recently, acted as the Grants Manager at Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh.
Consideration for his overall environmental impact has been ubiquitous throughout Tyler’s entire life. From his love of the outdoors, to his oft tiresome need to be always decreasing his everyday footprint, Tyler feels truly at home with ALT. When not at work, Tyler enjoys writing, playing basketball, shooting pool, singing karaoke, and calling movies “films”.
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Lindsay Dill
Senior Director of Marketing & Community Engagement ldill@alleghenylandtrust.org412.838.2838
Lindsay Dill (she/her) serves as Allegheny Land Trust’s Senior Director of Marketing & Community Engagement; she has been with ALT since 2014 and has evolved her role to further the organization’s impact. Lindsay leads ALT’s marketing, communications, and community campaign engagement efforts by telling ALT’s story across various print and digital platforms and by working with grassroots community organizers to spread awareness and raise local support for saving local land.
Lindsay holds degrees in Photojournalism and Global Cultural Studies from Point Park University and is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative program. In addition to her work at ALT, Lindsay serves as the Secretary on the Troy Hill Citizens neighborhood Board in the City of Pittsburgh.
She is passionate about community work that invites all voices to the table, supports more sustainable practices, and solidifies a sense of place to live and play within. In her free time, Lindsay can be found biking, running, and city-stair climbing. Lindsay’s favorite conservation area is Dead Man’s Hollow because of its rich history, dark tunnels, and location along the Great Allegheny Passage.
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Tom Dougherty
Vice President of Development & External Affairs tdougherty@alleghenylandtrust.org412.838.2813
Tom joined the ALT team in January 2017 after a 31-year corporate business development and marketing career, coming to the conservation world from PPG where he had been a Director of Marketing since 2003. He is responsible for growing public awareness of ALT, and expanding its base of support among individual, corporate, foundation, and public contributors.
Tom redirected his career based solely on his deeply-held belief that ALT’s mission of helping local people save local land is vital to the quality of life in our region saying “I am honored to be part an organization that has preserved thousands of acres of green space, and excited about our amazing potential for additional land conservation and expanded environmental education programming in the years to come.”
A native of Western Pennsylvania, Tom holds a B.S. Degree in Management from Penn State University and an M.A. in Corporate Communications from Duquesne University, and has been involved over the years as a member and volunteer of several area conservation and trail groups. He loves hiking, running, paddling and skiing in the region’s woodlands, trails, waterways and mountains; and declines to name a favorite ALT conservation area saying “each one provides its own unique experience!”
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Alyson has a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability (2014) and a Master of Sustainability and Master of Business Administration (2018) from Chatham University. She has over 21 years of combined work experience in various roles with the military and private sector. She joined ALT in 2017 as an intern, upon graduation in 2018 she accepted a full-time position, and has evolved her role with the organization ever since.
Alyson has lead ALT’s efforts on land use research projects; new resiliency efforts like carbon credits; non-traditional conservation efforts of community garden preservation, green infrastructure and other urban greening efforts; and more relating to land conservation. Alyson is also the Land Protection GIS associate and works with WPRDC to develop the Greenprint Tool. She is also certified Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA), a certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) and works as an Adjunct Instructor for her Alma mater.
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Guido Girimonti joined ALT’s staff in Fall 2019 as the organization’s first-ever, highly crucial Land Manager. He conducts annual monitoring, marks boundaries, maintains restoration project progress, supports volunteers, maintains green space health and trails, and so many more unique projects on the land.
Guido has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help our team address the ever-changing needs of managing Conservation Areas from his experience as a US Army Veteran and his 39-year career in Emergency Services, including being a paramedic at Ground Zero and serving 20 years as a fire fighter at the ACAA Airport.
His endless energy and positive attitude are a great addition to the team. When he is not with ALT he’s likely to be found training beagles at his local hunting club or whipping up something in the kitchen at home with his wife and dogs. You’re likely to catch Guido out on the land wearing his high-vis green ALT shirt, feel free to stop and say hello.
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Shelley organizes and nurtures the organization’s database and relationships with members and donors. When Shelley joined ALT in 2021, she was effusive: “In my 15+ years of working with nonprofits, I’ve never met an organization as capable, effective, and inspiring as ALT. I’m so happy to be a part of this extraordinary team.”
Her background is steeped in Pittsburgh neighborhoods, community development, and nonprofit management consulting with Dewey & Kaye and the Community Technical Assistance Center. Shelley studied English Literature and Cinema at Denison University, but through the lens of ecology and the human relationship to the natural world. Her own relationship with the natural world is as an outdoorswoman, wildlife gardener, and community activist.
ALT has nearly 2,000 active members; and if you’re one of them, there’s a good chance you’ll connect with Shelley because she will very likely be on the other end of your phone call or email to ALT. Reach out to her at any time.
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Sara joined ALT in May 2023 as the organization’s first Education Associate. She will manage school and education partner relationships, outreach program coordination, and internal material supplies. While she is new to this role, Sara has a long history as a contract-based environmental educator with Allegheny Land Trust; if you’ve attended one of our public events, you may have been guided by Sara. Most recently, Sara worked as an Environmental Educator at Powdermill Nature Reserve. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators, and is the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club’s Photography Chair.
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As ALT’s Field Coordinator, Dani works with volunteers and staff to manage, maintain, and improve the environmental well-being of our conservation areas.
They have a strong belief that nature is for everybody, and that access to green spaces is invaluable. Dani hails from Elk Neck State Park in Cecil County, Maryland and moved to Pittsburgh in 2000. They previously worked as the land-based Program Coordinator for Allegheny CleanWays, working year-round to clean up illegal dumpsites on vacant and city-owned property. Their upbringing in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and involvement with environmental nonprofits has nurtured their appreciation for the ecosystem’s ability to heal itself with the help of well-informed human intervention, as well as the incredible power of volunteer community involvement!
In their free time, Dani enjoys exploring the city by bike, camping all over our great commonwealth, quilting, foraging, and gardening.
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Casey joined ALT’s team in 2022 as a conservation associate and now directs the organization’s conservation easement efforts. An integral part of his role is working with landowners to conserve their property in perpetuity. Casey also leads water conservation projects in the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed, manages ALT’s project evaluation process and due diligence, and supports data management and reaccreditation.
A graduate of Saint Vincent College, Casey devoted his research to water quality, with a focus in mine drainage and eutrophication. He also studied reef ecology, watersheds, and flood mitigation in Australia through the School for Field Studies program. Outside of his research, Casey lent a hand at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve taking care of animals, stewarding the land, and assisting education programs. He received the Water Works Operators’ Association of Pennsylvania’s David A. Long Scholarship Award, and later received his certification in Wetland Delineation. Before coming to ALT, Casey worked as an environmental consultant.
In his free time, Casey plays the oboe, enjoys spending time outside, traveling abroad, and rooting for the Pittsburgh Penguins!
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Tom joined ALT as the Community Conservation Director in February 2023. He is advancing Community Conservation initiatives for ALT by creating, developing, and sustaining relationships with residents, community groups, and neighborhood development organizations to facilitate green space protection in the City of Pittsburgh and first ring suburbs.
Before starting at ALT, Tom worked at Grounded Strategies directly collaborating with cohorts of residents throughout the City of Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley to design, plan, and implement placemaking projects on vacant and overgrown lots.
In his free time, Tom enjoys stewarding the community orchard at South Side Park, riding his bike, or catching a scary movie.
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Emilie joined ALT in 2010 as the Stewardship Coordinator. She is now serving as ALT’s Interim CEO.
An undergrad degree in biology from Denison University and a Master’s Degree in Forest Resources from Penn State University, Emilie is equipped with the right knowledge for the job. With past work experience in the public, private, and non-profit sector of land conservation, Emilie develops and implements multi-disciplinary natural resource management programs and strategies that address the diverse natural lands of southwestern PA.
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Emilie appreciates what the outdoors provides to children, adults and all other creatures. Emilie resides in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, and can often be found exploring ALT green spaces with her family and dog. Her favorite ALT conservation area is Fern Hollow, for this is where her husband Matt took her for their second date!
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After volunteering for several years, Caitlin joined the ALT staff in 2014. She now directs ALT’s “forest” of volunteers, and manages ALT green spaces.
Caitlin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Carlow University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University. Before joining ALT, Caitlin ran participation in a children’s respiratory health program at Healthy Home Resources, and provided environmental and safety regulatory education, consulting, and training in the United States and Canada at Printing Industries of America.
She currently serves on the Trail Pittsburgh Board of Directors, and –when not covered in dirt on an ALT green space– she is likely to be found planning her next cooking or crafting project with her two Chihuahuas. Caitlin’s favorite green space is Sycamore Island, because it encapsulates the work of ALT’s mission with so much history, ecology, and stewardship activity in one, isolated location. It embodies a lot in a small package — like her dogs!
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Julie Travaglini
Senior Director of Education & Curriculum jtravaglini@alleghenylandtrust.org412.783.0757
Julie is the Senior Director of Education and Curriculum for Allegheny Land Trust. In her role, she creates hands-on STEM and place-based lessons for children and adults alike as well as providing state accredited professional development for educators.
Working in the field for almost 20 years, Julie regularly travels the country speaking at national and international conferences on the importance of innovative environmental education for all. A community leader, she serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE), maintains leadership positions with the Western PA Mushroom Club and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Washington County, and holds Board roles with Wild Ones and Beverly’s Birthdays Pittsburgh.
She has won multiple awards for her work including Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year from PAEE and an Emerging Alumni award from her bachelors and masters alma mater, Muskingum University. In 2023, she self-published a children’s book called Super Skills of Backyard Bugs.
In her spare time, she can be found looking for mushrooms, enjoying our National Parks, watching football and monitoring her fantasy football score, or crocheting mythical creatures.