Annette serves as the Executive Director of the Northwest Conservation District, where she brings her passion for environmental stewardship and community collaboration to life. With a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainable Development from Columbia University, she is committed to protecting the natural systems that sustain us—ensuring that future generations have access to clean water, fresh air, healthy soil, and vibrant ecosystems.
Outside of her role with NWCD, Annette runs a small farm and manages her local farmers market, helping to connect people with healthy, local food and strengthen regional resilience. She’s actively involved in her town’s Conservation Commission, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Recycling and Trash, and the Sustainable Goshen group, which proudly earned Goshen a bronze certification through Sustainable CT.
When she’s not advocating for land and water conservation or outside farming, you can find Annette creating art or spending time with her three cats. Her work is grounded in the belief that environmental protection is not just about nature—it’s about equity, community, and ensuring that everyone, now and in the future, can meet their basic needs and thrive.
Audra serves as the program administrator where she brings together her community connections and passion for education and the environment. She is a dedicated educator with a deep passion for the interconnectedness of the natural world and the vital role education plays in shaping well-rounded environmentally conscious citizens. With over fifteen years of experience in environmental and agricultural education, Audra has inspired countless students to explore and appreciate the environment through hands-on learning experiences that bring science, nature, and community together.
She brings this experience to the conservation district where she coordinates educational events in the community on a variety of topics related to soil and water conservation, serves on the Connecticut Envirothon Steering Committee as well as being the Northeast Rep for the NCF- Envirothon Program. Throughout her career she has been involved in the State and National FFA program and is still the Connecticut Superintendent for the Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event. In 2024, she was named the COEEA Environmental Educator of the Year. 🙂
Audra lives in Canaan, CT with her partner Dan and their son Bennett. Together they enjoy working cattle on their farm where they raise and sell beef cattle for other beef producers. They also enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, gardening, and photography.
Hello! My name is Nick Shugrue and I am very excited to be the newest addition to the team here at the Northwest Conservation District! I grew up in Milford, gaining an appreciation for Connecticut’s natural environment by exploring the brook in my backyard and taking trips to our amazing state parks, including Silver Sands where I eventually worked as a seasonal assistant for DEEP.
I am a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences with a major in Environmental Resource Management with a focus in Environmental Science and minor in Environmental and Renewable Resource Economics.
During my college experience, I was employed at Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center, where I worked on projects related to implementation of riparian buffers and other green infrastructure practices to support the Greening Lower Susquehanna Initiative. I gained experience meeting with farmers, landowners, and local government representatives to discuss opportunities for implementing best management practices for conservation and to provide technical assistance.
I have a passion for promoting environmentalism in a broad array of areas including agricultural conservation, watershed protection, and environmental justice. If you are interested in contacting me about these topics or anything else related to my work here at NWCD, you can reach me via email at our general email line info@nwcd.org. I’m very happy to be afforded the opportunity to work on behalf of NWCD to protect the environment of the state that made me the person who I am today.
Cynthia has been a Soil and wetland scientist for 45 years. She is also a certified Permaculture Design Consultant, and environmental horticulturist. Her commitment to organic and ecological farming and land management led her to become a founding director of CTNOFA and she was New Haven County Agriculture and Community Resource Development Agent for UConn Cooperative Extension System from 1980 to 1986, following which she was a private consulting soil scientist until 2017, and owned and operated a commercial greenhouse operation for 15 years.
Cynthia’s published articles have appeared in newspapers, Connecticut Gardener, Fine Gardening and Edible Nutmeg. The March/April 2015 edition of Connecticut Gardener carries her article, “A Permaculture Primer”.
Cynthia accepted the position of Executive Director of NWCD in September of 2017 and used her skills in soils and wetland science as part of that position. She stepped back from the ED position in 2024 and is working as a soil scientist with the district. Cynthia has also taught in the graduate programs at Southern Connecticut State University (Environmental Design), the University of New Haven (Wetlands Ecology), and guest lectured at The Graduate Institute (Permaculture), and is available for consultations and lectures.
Kelsey serves as a Natural Resource Specialist, where she works to protect aquatic resources in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut through; watershed/in-lake monitoring and planning, stormwater inspections, grant writing and promoting freshwater aquatic education.
She is the current aquatics co-chair for Connecticut Envirothon, a high school age environmental competition, and works to develop educational material. She has previous experience as a lab adjunct professor, and believes strongly in the fundamental importance of education leading to action and in fostering environmental stewardship for all ages.
Kelsey also works as the Research Assistant for the Lake Waramaug Task Force, where has helped coordinate the regular monitoring of Lake Waramaug and its watershed. This includes chemical, biological and physical data collection that also includes sampling plan design. She works on compiling and rendering this data for interpretation, all in an effort to help guide lake management decisions. She strongly believes that comprehensive monitoring is required to inform lake management, and is integrated into that process.
