The Park Pride Team

We Heart Parks

The work of Park Pride is truly a team effort of donors, sponsors, volunteers, partners, and more. Leading the charge is a dedicated staff working tirelessly every day to improve our parks and neighborhoods.

Allison Barnett (she / her)

Chief Administrative & Program Officer

Favorite Hometown Park:
Cook Co. Forest Preserve (Northbrook, IL)
Park Pastime:
Picnicking, relaxing, watching kids play

Ellen Bruenderman (she / her)

Director of Community Services

Programs:
Friends of the Park, Volunteer Program
Favorite Hometown Park:
Garvin Brown Nature Preserve (Prospect, KY)
Park Pastime:
Creek walking and nature photography

Stephen Causby

Associate Director of Grantmaking & Implementation

Programs:
Grantmaking Program
Favorite Hometown Park:
Mattie Freeland Park
Park Pastime:
A park pool on a hot summer day or the Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park

Emily Cruse

Grantmaking Program Specialist

Programs:
Grantmaking Program
Favorite Hometown Park:
Piestewa Peak Park (Phoenix, AZ)
Park Pastime:
Hiking, Nature Photography & Pickleball

Ariane DeLong (she / her)

Chief Development & Marketing Officer

Programs:
Development
Favorite Hometown Park:
Norwood Park (Chevy Chase, MD)
Park Pastime:
Walking, picnicking, people watching

Eli Dickerson (he / him)

Director of Education

Programs:
Educational programming and capacity building
Favorite Hometown Park:
North Inlet-Winyah Bay Estuary (Georgetown, SC)
Park Pastime:
Exploring for giant trees!

Alicia Graham (she / her)

Accountant

Programs:
All
Favorite Hometown Park:
McCurry Park (Fayetteville, Ga)
Park Pastime:
Disc Golf

Michael Halicki (he / him)

President & CEO

Favorite Hometown Park:
Grant Park (Atlanta, GA)
Park Pastime:
Jogging with my dog, taking my kids to playground & pool

Monica Johnson

Director of Development

Favorite Hometown Park:
Grant Park
Park Pastime:
Picnicking and hiking

Hannah Jones (she / her)

Marketing & Communications Manager

Favorite Hometown Park:
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Park Pastime:
Long walks, admiring plants and animals

Faria Khan (she / her)

DeKalb County Community Services Associate

Programs:
Friends of the Park
Favorite Hometown Park:
Piedmont Park (Atlanta, GA)
Park Pastime:
People watching and sunbathing

Marlina McKay (she / her)

Director of IT

Programs:
Database + Website + IT
Favorite Hometown Park:
Piedmont Park (Atlanta, GA)
Park Pastime:
Nature Photography

Grace McKinney

Executive & Development Coordinator

Favorite Hometown Park:
Powderhorn Park (Minneapolis, MN)
Park Pastime:
People watching

Vanessa Miot (she / her)

Senior Manager of Friends of the Park

Programs:
Friends of the Park
Favorite Hometown Park:
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (St. Petersburg, FL)
Park Pastime:
Wandering through park trails with family, letting curiosity lead us

Teri Nye

Director of Park Visioning

Programs:
Park Visioning
Favorite Hometown Park:
Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
Park Pastime:
Birding, taking photos, and walking

Joanna Patterson (she / her)

Volunteer Manager

Programs:
Volunteer Program
Favorite Hometown Park:
Cumberland Mountain State Park
Park Pastime:
Swimming, Hiking, Foraging

Shannon Roudebush (she / her)

Sponsorship & Annual Fund Manager

Programs:
Development
Favorite Hometown Park:
Alexander Park (Lawrenceville, GA)
Park Pastime:
Playing games & people watching

Nick Voravong (he / him)

Associate Director of Park Visioning

Programs:
Park Visioning
Favorite Hometown Park:
The Ridge Nature Preserve (Fayetteville, GA)
Park Pastime:
Hiking and sports

Andrew White (he / him)

Director of Grantmaking & Implementation

Programs:
Grantmaking Program
Favorite Hometown Park:
Henderson Park (Tucker, GA)
Park Pastime:
Frisbee and people watching