Cindy Schwartz, Executive Director since 2006, provides the Maryland LCV Education Fund with its vision, direction, and drive. Previously she worked as a Senior Vice President for State Outreach at the national League of Conservation Voters. In the 2004 presidential elections Ms. Schwartz ran the Environmental Victory Project field effort, which involved over 200 staff, engaged over 18,000 volunteers and contacted 1.3 million voters at the door.Prior experience includes consulting work on historic preservation and transportation issues and with NARAL. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Theater Set Design. Cindy volunteers for local political campaigns and occasionally offers to cook dinner for her husband and son.

Jen Brock-Cancellieri, Deputy Director, joined staff in 2005 and manages legislative campaigns, coalition activities, voter mobilization programs and assists with organizational management. She has over 10 years of experience working for environmental advocacy non-profits. She graduated from Mary Washington College with a degree in Environmental Science and also is a graduate of Green Corps, the field school of environmental organizing. She serves on the board of directors of Environmental Maryland and the Baltimore City League of Environmental Voters and is an active volunteer with the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network. She lives in an Energy Star certified house in Baltimore with her husband and their cat.

Catherine Stirling, Development Manager since June of 2008, is responsible for grant proposals, fundraising, and development efforts. Previously she managed grant review programs for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. As a Fellow at the Center of Strategic & International Studies, she was co-editor of a book examining the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing industries. She has an M.A.L.D. degree from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University and a B.A., cum laude, from Smith College in Government. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation named her a “Chesapeake Steward.” In her spare time, she volunteers for the Severn Riverkeeper, various animal rescue groups, and can be found sculling on the Severn River.

Pete Johnson, Outreach Manager, began in 2008 as an Organizer on our Federal Global Warming campaign and is currently responsible for organizing in Southern Maryland and Baltimore County, implementing capacity building programs, managing statewide field operations and grassroots online advocacy, and overseeing public education campaigns. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Ventura College of Law and is a certified mediator by Pepperdine University-Strauss Institute for Alternative Dispute Resolution. Pete volunteers with the ALS Association (aka Lou Gehrig ’s disease) and he lives with his wife in Rockville with their two boys. Pete describes himself as very part-time musician.

Anne Fitzgerald-Pittman, Field Organizer, joined our staff in 2009. She focuses her work on the Eastern Shore, manages our statewide volunteer recruitment, and designs online communications. She graduated from Hollins University with double honors in Environmental Studies and International Studies. Anne is also a graduate of Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing. During her year with Green Corps she worked with students across South Carolina to pledge to vote for clean energy in the 2008 elections, in Oregon with rural coastal communities to pass state wide global warming legislation, and in Connecticut to fundraise for statewide nonprofits. Anne spends her free time exploring the waterways and islands of the Eastern Shore.

Kim Dissen, Administrative Assistant, is responsible for assisting office staff, running office operations, and assisting with projects whenever needed. She has a B.A. from the State University of New York at Potsdam and an M.S. Ed. (Counselor Education) from the State University of New York at Brockport. She formerly worked as a school counselor of middle school students in upstate New York. After moving to Maryland in 2002, Kim stayed home with her two children until coming to work for MDLCV Education Fund in 2008. Kim lives in Arnold with her husband, children and her dog Winnie and she is involved in many volunteer activities at each of her children’s schools.