Maysie's Farm Conservation Center - Board of Directors & Staff

Samuel M. Cantrell
President

Sam Cantrell founded Maysie's Farm Conservation Center (MFCC) in January 1999 to increase public understanding of the importance of conservation and ecological thinking by demonstrating and advocating sustainable agriculture and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Sam's background includes work as a field biologist, a conservation organization manager and a farmer and he spent numerous years of travel abroad, visiting about three dozen countries. He also is certified as a biology teacher in Pennsylvania and holds a Masters Degree in Multi-Cultural Education.

Louise Schorn Smith, CPA
Chairperson

Louise Smith has provided meaningful business and financial guidance to Maysie's Farm Conservation Center since the inception of its CSA. Louise's background includes extensive experience with nonprofit financial management, tax planning and fundraising. She also is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration/Management. Her company, Countryside Consulting, Inc., provides financial consulting and grant writing services to nonprofit organizations and small businesses in Chester County and the surrounding areas.

Mark S. Shryock
Treasurer

Mark has been a member of the CSA for several years and was a Distribution Manager for one season. He has a BSBA-Finance from the University of Louisville, a MBA from Millsaps College, and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. Mark is the sole proprietor of The Gideon Group, a Wealth Management and Fiduciary Services firm he started in late 2006. Mark has experience with budgeting, planning, and the challenges that face large and small organizations from a career in Sales and Marketing and as a Financial Analyst.

Colleen Cranney
Director

Colleen Cranney has been a Maysie's Farm member and volunteer since 2001. A former high school math and science teacher, she is committed to educating local people about the importance of conservation and sustainability. Besides teaching at Maysie's Farm workshops, Colleen has taught at Green Valleys Association and is an environmental instructor at Brandywine Valley Association.

William M. Andersen
Director

William M. Andersen is president of Longview Development LP, a real estate development firm based in Berwyn, PA. He holds a BSE from Princeton University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Andersen is a co-founder and board member of the Charlestown Farm Center and a co-founder of the Phoenixville Farmers' Market.

Mason Vollmer
Director

Since 1995, Mason Vollmer has been Gardening Teacher at the Kimberton Waldorf School developing a two-acre organic garden serving children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. He ran a CSA for five years at the Summerfield Waldorf School in Santa Rosa, California that included a dairy cow shared by 14 families, a flock of sheep and chickens. He studied Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in England at Emerson College with Dr. Koepf, and studied Soil Science at California State Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo, CA. He also serves on the Chester County Agriculture Development Council.

David Kline
Education Chair

David Kline brings enthusiasm for education and an appreciation for natural habitats and sustainable living s the education chair for MFCC. David grew up in the Adirondack region of New York where he spent his summers hiking, camping, leading trail crews for Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and the Adirondack Trails Improvement Society, and working for an organic farm. He is a graduate from The University of Vermont with a degree in Secondary Education and Environmental Science. David currently lives with his wife and two children in Downingtown, PA and teaches lower and middle school Science at Montgomery School in Chester Springs, PA.

Samuel M. Cantrell
Executive Director

As Executive Director, Sam oversees the organization and the operation of the CSA and the educational programs at Maysie's Farm Conservation Center (including the Sustainable Agriculture Internships, School and Youth Programs, Teacher Training Workshops, Outreach Programs and a Community Learning Series). He also participates in MFCC's Education Advisory Committee and CSA Core Group.

Colleen Cranney
Administrative Assistant

As Administrative Assistant, Colleen assists the Executive Director with the business support tasks of the organization.