Who We Are

Vikram Krishnamurthy

Email: vkrishna@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 101

Vikram Krishnamurthy has been DCH’s executive director since September 2015, after having previously served as our tree program manager from 2002-2005. His current priorities for the organization include achieving certification for nonprofit standards of excellence, launching DCH’s new strategic plan, and developing new youth programming to support the national Seed Your Future initiative. Vikram represents DCH on numerous boards and work groups, including the Delaware Recycling Public Advisory Council, Delaware Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act (offsets work group), Chesapeake Foodshed Network (steering committee), and Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (technical board). His professional affiliations include DE Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement and the American Public Gardens Association, where he founded the Emerging Professional section and its growing membership in 2011. Vikram holds an A.A.S. in Horticulture Technology from J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, B.S. in Anthropology from James Madison University, and Graduate Studies (M.A. candidate) in Urban Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Delaware.

Marcia Stephenson

Email: mstephenson@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 105

As Director of Advancement, Marcia Stephenson leads and advances the organization’s donor engagement, fundraising, and philanthropic initiatives. She leads a team responsible for the full range of advancement activities for DCH with a primary focus on strategic outreach and stewardship of individual, foundation, corporate, and governmental relationships. Having been with DCH for more than 16 years, Marcia previously served as the Member-Donor Relations Manager. In that role, she grew DCH’s membership and donor base and increased volunteer involvement throughout all aspects of the organization while managing major fundraising drives, including our Annual Appeals, and coordinating large-scale aspects of our Rare Plant Auction®. Marcia holds a B.S. in Horticulture with a minor in Art from the University of Delaware.

Valerie Shipman

DCH’s Associate Director of Advancement, Valerie Shipman, is responsible for the research, writing, and tracking of all grant opportunities and awards. She helps facilitate meetings with both current and prospective funders and is involved in other long-term advancement initiatives such as planned giving and major donor relations. During her career spanning 20+ years, she has managed fundraising campaigns, planned multiple special events and performances, and secured significant support for a variety of cultural organizations. She is a current member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, DE, Brandywine Chapter. In her free time, she enjoys classic literature and film, the visual and performing arts, and time spent with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Sue Wyndham

Email: swyndham@thedch.org

As Director of Programs, Sue Wyndham leads the programming team in their activities related to advancing DCH’s educational, community outreach, and greening initiatives. With training and experience in the fields of landscape architecture, horticulture, and psychology,  Sue has spent her career working within a variety of professional settings, advocating for the improvement of outdoor spaces through design, collaboration, and the promotion of environmental literacy and stewardship. In her spare time, she enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities, personal gardening, reading, drawing, and time with friends, family, and pets. A graduate of Longwood Gardens’ Professional Horticulture Program, Sue is also a registered landscape architect with an MLA from SUNY-ESF, and a BA from the University of Delaware.

Caitlyn Ridgley

Email: cridgley@thedch.org   Phone: 302-658-6262 Ext. 107

As Communications Manager, Caitlyn uses her talent of the written and visual word to promote DCH’s programs, events, and campus across print and digital channels. She is a graduate of Temple University with a B.A. in Advertising Art Direction and brings over 8 years of marketing and public relations experience representing multi-million-dollar brands. She joins DCH with her love of plants, the outdoors, and helping others.

Sarah Bett

Email: sbett@thedch.org   Phone: 302-658-6262 Ext. 117

As the Education Manager, Sarah Bett is responsible for developing youth and adult education programs as well as overseeing the Branches to Chances® return to work program. Sarah has a great deal of experience with engaging folks in outdoor spaces and developing educational programs. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Community, Environment, and Development and a B.A. in Spanish. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, and cooking.

Elizabeth Davison

Email: edavison@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 108

As the Membership and Volunteer Manager, Elizabeth (Liz) Davison supports the Advancement Department by engaging volunteers and members, organizing events, and maintaining DCH’s extensive membership and volunteer databases. Liz has a background in customer service and volunteer coordination, where she put her passions for people and the environment to work engaging communities to improve public lands. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from SUNY-College of Environmental Science & Forestry. In her free time, Liz enjoys hiking, reading, cross-stitching, and spending time with her husband and their cat.

Kimberly Easlick

Kimberly Easlick is DCH’s 2021-2022 Public Ally working in Forestry and Urban Agriculture. They are responsible for collecting resources and photos to educate the community on tree care and food insecurity. Additionally, they will engage with various organizations and DCH members to promote environmental efforts. They hold a B.A. in History from the University at Albany. Outside of work, Kim enjoys spending time with animals, art, and baking!

Joseph Poppiti

Landscapes Manager Joseph Poppiti leads the design, planning, and maintenance efforts for DCH across all of our public landscapes and back gardens. Previously, Joseph worked with the non-profit Delaware State Farm Bureau where he managed staff to promote agriculture, including the plant and nursery businesses in Delaware. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Pennsylvania State University, and over the past 20 years, has operated a landscaping business in the Wilmington area. His professional career focused on production agriculture starting on his family’s mushroom farm in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Joseph managed mushroom farms in several locations in the US. He also served on the mushroom association’s Board of Directors. He is active in several community gardens in Wilmington and Kennett Square.

Bonnie Swan

Email: bswan@thedch.org   Phone: 302-658-6262 x 113

Bonnie coordinates the Branches to Chances® and Delaware River Climate Corps programs, develops curriculum, and teaches horticulture and climate-related topics to team members and trainees. She has a M.S. in Public Horticulture from the Longwood Graduate Program and has worked with the DCH as a volunteer and employee.  Bonnie is an avid gardener, growing vegetables and ornamental plants at home.

Ray Taylor

Ray is a graduate of the Branches to Chances Program and has been with DCH ever since graduating in 2017, working as a key member of the Public Landscapes team. Ray enjoys working with, guiding, and mentoring the crew, running equipment, and keeping our landscapes in top shape! He can also be found around the DCH grounds doing whatever it takes to keep things looking great.

Heather Titanich

As DCH’s Community Forester, Heather Titanich works to sustain a safe and equitable tree canopy across Wilmington. This involves coordinating tree plantings, securing sources of funding for tree care, and educating the public about the importance of trees in the built environment by leading DCH’s Neighborhood Tree Steward program. She has a background in public horticulture, where she worked to connect people with plants and promote the diversity of native species. Heather holds a B.S. in Forest Resource and Environmental Conservation from Virginia Tech. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, roller skating, and spending time with her cat.

Adrienne Spencer

Email: aspencer@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 106

Adrienne plans and implements the production, sale, and marketing of fresh vegetables and fruits at DCH’s E. D. Robinson Urban Farm at 12th & Brandywine, interacting with visitors and customers at the farmer’s market. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Howard University and is a longtime Wilmington resident. Adrienne is a  member of  PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) and the 2016 Recipient of the Nancy Caroon Travel Scholarship.

Lauren Sawin

Email: lsawin@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 100

As DCH’s Office Manager, Lauren is responsible for administrative duties, supporting the Executive Director, and supporting all DCH programs. Previously, she worked in a variety of customer service and operations roles with local retailers.

Erica Razze

Email: erazze@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 110

As Special Events Coordinator, Erica Razze is the primary contact for all facility rentals at DCH, including private parties, corporate events and retreats, and weddings. In her role, Erica oversees the scheduling, catering, and facility coordination for all DCH rental space from our larger meeting spaces to the gardens on the grounds. Erica brings expert event coordination knowledge to DCH, planning events for multiple private and corporate clients over the past decade. She has worked extensively with DCH in the past as the Catering Director at Toscana. She holds a B.S. in business from Philadelphia University.

Robert Harris

Email: rharris@thedch.org
Phone: (302) 658-6262 ext. 118

Bob oversees DCH’s facilities and Branches to Chances® program. He majored in Fire Science at City College in California and worked as a city firefighter for over 10 years before joining his family’s fire protection maintenance business. In addition to his work in Public Landscapes, Bob has worked with the Urban Agriculture program in building raised beds and maintaining the farm property, with Community Forestry in planting hundreds of trees, and with the Education program by supervising and mentoring Branches to Chances trainees over the years.