About Us > Board of Directors

CRC Board Members (L to R): Matt Petrie, Gina Foote, Nancy Schon, Renata von Tscharner, Catherine Donaher, Dan Calano, Mark Kraczkiewicz, Jay Baldwin and Karen Schwartzman. Missing from photo are Michael Epstein, Catherine Henn and Linda Lerner.

Renata von Tscharner

Renata von Tscharner of Cambridge was trained as an architect and urban designer in Switzerland. Her professional life has focused on planning and improving public spaces. She has worked on Covent Garden in London, co-authored several books, and taught at various colleges in the US. She windsurfs from Community Boating and in-line skates along the river. (Founder and President, see also

• Renata von Tscharner resume,
• nomination letter for the LaGasse Medal of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects in 2004,
• nomination letter for an Upstander award from Facing History and Ourselves in 2007.)

Jay Baldwin

Jay Baldwin of Cambridge started his professional career as a landscape entrepreneur with City Gardens. After selling his company, he joined Keen Partners — now called Wind River Capital — a venture capital firm in Boston. He jogs along the Charles daily. For many years he has served on the board of the Environmental Careers Organization and the New England Wildflower Society. (Chair of Skatepark Fundraising Committee)

Daniel Calano

Catherine Donaher

Catherine Donaher of Brookline is the principal of CD&A, a planning and development consulting firm. Previously, she was president of the Trust for City Hall Plaza, where she directed a public-private partnership for redesigning and redeveloping this important urban space. She is on the Board of the Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses and Walk Boston. (Clerk)

Michael Epstein

Michael Epstein of Cambridge is a retired physician who spent his 35-year career at Harvard Medical School first as a neonatologist and later as the COO of Children's Hospital and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His thrice a week runs along the River take him from his home, one block off the River, downstream to the BU Bridge or upstream to the N. Beacon Street Bridge.

Virginia Foote

Virginia Foote has a finance background and was the Controller and Director of Strategic Operations for Hult International Business School, a subsidiary of EF Education. Formerly, she taught at the BU School of Management, and worked in investment banking in New York and Mexico. Living in Cambridge near the parklands, she frequently walks, picnics, bikes, and kayaks with her family and dog along the banks of the Charles.

Catherine Henn

Catherine Henn of Cambridge retired from the Boston Globe in 2002 where she worked as the General Counsel and overseer of the Boston Globe Foundation. As President of the Old South Meeting House Association, she pursues her interest in historic preservation, civic discourse and education. She also serves as an overseer at WGBH and as a director of the John F. Kennedy Library. She is an active gardener and enjoys doing environmental volunteer work with Earth Watch. (Chair of Development Committee)

Mark Kraczkiewicz

Mark Kraczkiewicz of Watertown is a retired economist and strategic planner who worked overseas with United States Agency for International Development. Earlier in his career, as planning director, he helped the Commonwealth develop its first program for managing the resources of the Massachusetts Coast. He enjoys daily walks along the Charles River Parklands near his home. (Treasurer)

Linda Lerner

Linda Lerner of Boston spent several years as vice president of Human Resources for UST Corp and US Trust Bank, and now serves as a consultant in leadership development and human resources management. Linda’s column in the Boston Globe addresses employment issues. She exercises regularly along the Charles River.

Matthew Petrie

Matthew Petrie of Watertown is a Senior Architect with ADD in Cambridge. He has worked on the renovations to the Hasty Puddings Theatre and the MIT Media Lab. He is a former Board Member for the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Matthew enjoys walking along the banks of the Charles River with his family and his dog. (Chair of Skatepark Design Committee)

Nancy Schön

Nancy Schön of Newton is probably best known for her “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture in the Public Gardens. Nancy, a renowned public artist, cares deeply for the river and the parklands and works tirelessly to raise funds for the world-class skatepark.

Karen Schwartzman

Karen Schwartzman is founder and principal of a crisis management public relations firm based in Boston’s South End. Consulting to businesses and non profits since 1999, Karen began her career working under the Dukakis administration, then served as chief spokesperson for BankBoston (now B of A). Originally from New York, Karen did her homework on the parklands while a student at BU and MIT—and now walks a multi-mile loop along the Charles several days a week.