BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert P. Thomas, AIA,  President
Co-founding Board Member

Bob Thomas is a founding partner of Campbell Thomas & Co. Architects, a firm founded in 1976 and noted for historic preservation, energy conscious design, community development, greenways, accessible design and appropriate technology.  Bob specializes in historic preservation, energy-conscious designs, community development and greenways. Bob is affiliated with several organizations in different capacities. Some include: Board Member, Philadelphia Historical Commission; Preservation Committee Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA); Past President, Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley; Founding Steering Committee Member, Greenspace Alliance; Advisory Board Member, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia; President of Philadelphia Chapter, Professional Services Management Association; Board Secretary, Schuylkill River Parks Alliance; and Former Chairman and Board Member of the Schuylkill River Greenway Association. 

Karen Lloyd Borski, Vice President
Board Member since 2009

Karen is an administrator for Borski Associates, a government relations consulting firm based out of Philadelphia.  She served as Interim Executive Director for the Fairmount Park Commission until 2005.  She is also a former Fairmount Park Commissioner.  Karen has actively supported environmental and open space initiatives by serving on the regional Greenspace Alliance and the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp.  In addition to the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, she currently serves on the Board of Visitors for Temple University Ambler.   Prior to her work with the parks, Borski founded and operated a special events firm that included government agencies, corporations and non-profit organizations as clients.
 

Paul Bonfanti, Treasurer
Board Member since 1999

Paul Bonfanti brings over ten years of community organizing experience and in-depth knowledge of Philadelphia’s parks, communities, and nonprofit management to the Board.  He is the Director of Policy and Planning Analysis for the Office of Planning & Institutional Research at Villanova University.  He worked for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green Program from 2001 to 2008, and in 2003 was honored by the Department of Recreation with their Park Partnership Award. Paul formerly served as Treasurer of University City Green, President of the Philadelphia Area Disk Alliance, an athletic organization and park friends group, and the Treasurer of the Ultimate Players Association, the national governing body for Ultimate Frisbee.

Beth Ounsworth, Secretary
Board Member since 1996

Beth is a dedicated parks advocate and is a former President of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance. She is a former board member of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and continues to serve on the Women for the Waterworks Committee.  She has chaired several events for the Waterworks, Chestnut Hill Historical Society and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Beth is also former President of the Friends of Cresheim Trail and spent several years as a volunteer at both Morris Arboretum and St. Vincent’s Learning Center.

Brian Glass, Public Policy Chair
Board Member Since 2012

Brian is a founding partner at Warren Glass LLP, an environmental and water resources law practice. He was formerly the Law Staff Chair at Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) and brings over 10 years of experience in environmental law in Philadelphia to the Parks Alliance board of directors. Brian was twice selected as a Pennsylvania Rising Star and featured in Philadelphia magazine. Brian holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School and a B.A. in English from Haverford College.

Michael Burch
Board Member Since 2012

Michael has served as the Youth Program Director at the Franklin Institute Science museum since 2000 and concurrently teaches Astronomy, Geology, Earth Science & Environmental Science at Delaware Community College. He is a Philadelphia native and is deeply involved in the development of the East Parkside community. He also brings almost 20 years of community service to our board and received the NAACP Extraordinary Citizen Award in 2009.

Nick Esposito
Board Member Since 2012

Nick is currently the Project Manager at Portfolio Associates, Inc.  He offers an extensive knowledge and experience in Landscape Architecture and public and political relations for capital improvements. His professional experience includes over 14 years of service in Philadelphia corporations and contributions to the landscape design of Lincoln Financial field and Valley Green Inn to name a few.  He holds an accredited bachelor of Landscape architecture with a minor in Business Logistics from Pennsylvania State University.  Nick was also a founding member of “Boots Brigade: a nonprofit charity where her raised $25,000 to benefit ALS research and treatment.

Derek Freres
Board Member Since 2012

Derek is currently the Research Director at the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication.  He brings a diverse community service experience to our board and at present serves as a board member of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, Vice President of the Friends of Schuylkill River Park, board member for Center City Residents Associate, and Advisory board member for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Derek holds a Master of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of arts with Distinction in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an accomplished author and researcher with over 13 publications and 25 academic presentations. 

Tracey H. Giang
Board Member since 2009

Tracey is currently the Manager of National Memberships for Comcast. Previously she was a Senior Associate with The Food Trust, as well as working at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Sri Lanka and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.  Tracey is also involved in such community organizations as Bodine Street Community Garden, the Youth Aid Panel, and the Organization of Chinese Americans. 

Doris Gwaltney
Board Member since 2002

Doris was born and raised in Philadelphia and is an active participant in community affairs. She is currently President of Carroll Park Neighbors Advisory Council.  Carroll Park, located at 58th Street and Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia, is one of approximately 80 parks and squares maintained by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation.  Doris is also a Board Member of Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.; a member of Philadelphia Green's Parks Revitalization Steering Committee, and a former member of the Philadelphia Green Advisory Board.  She was featured in the Public Television special “Edens Lost and Found”.

Walter Marlin
Board Member Since 2012

Walter has served on the Finley Recreation Center Advisory Council for 30 years and is currently its President.  He led major fundraising efforts to build the center and fund programs for children, teenagers and seniors in the Finley Community.   Walter, who is a Texas native, retired from the Philadelphia Prisons System in 2004 after 29 1/2 years of professional service in radio and television. His productions sought to education, entertain and inform. During his tenure he consulted with and provided video services for the Philadelphia District Attorney, Special Victims, Police Department, and Water Department. He also supplied original programming for Inmate orientation training videos and several pre-produced documentaries.
 

Updated January 2013