Stephanie joined the staff of the Foundation as Interim Executive Director in 2018 after serving several years on the Board of Directors. While on the Board Stephanie served as chair of the Education Committee and later as President of the Board. Originally from Georgia, Stephanie moved to Waterford after completing degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has always had a love for local history and enjoys learning and sharing stories of Waterford’s past. Stephanie lives in Waterford in the William O. Russell House with her husband and three children. During quarantine she is staying busy managing school and work from home, taking daily walks in the village, getting lost in yard work, and learning to play soccer with the kids.
Tracy Kirkman joined the Foundation in 2016, the year after the Fair had been canceled due to a hurricane. Tracy brought over 20 years of membership management and event planning to the Foundation. She received her BS in Business Management with a minor in Hospitality Marketing from the University of Maryland. A Virginia resident since 2006, Tracy resides just outside the village, on a small farm and vineyard with her husband, son, and many, many animals. When not working, she can usually be found outside — tending sheep, working around the farm, hiking or enjoying the beautiful Loudoun County vistas at local wineries and breweries.
Paul became Preservation Associate with Waterford Foundation in January 2020 after 45 years working for NOVA Parks. He managed the W&OD Railroad Regional Park, Temple Hall Farm and Ball’s Bluff Battlefield, among others, and was Operations Director of the parks system for 6 years. Working with the history of the parks was a particular favorite of his, becoming knowledgeable in Civil War, railroad and local history. Paul was a founding member of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum board and has written about history for local and national magazines.
Liz has been working part-time as the Development Associate for the Waterford Foundation since May of 2019. She moved from Falls Church to Waterford with her family in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the Western Loudoun lifestyle. Liz connected with the Foundation as an artisan homestay host for the Fair and as a Trail Run committee volunteer. Liz has a degree in Biology and Chemistry from Virginia Tech. She and her husband are both proud Hokies. Before staying home to raise 3 kids, Liz started in fundraising at the Jane Goodall Institute in Silver Spring, MD and then went on to work as a Real Estate Gift Officer in the Gift Planning Department at The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, VA. Liz is an active member of the Waterford Elementary PTO, enjoys tending to her flock of chickens, spending time outside and dreams of retiring in Utah where she can snow ski to her heart’s content. Liz is very appreciative of all the amazing volunteers, partners, donors and sponsors that support the Waterford Foundation!
After completing her degree in Art History/Archaeology from the University of Maryland, Lisa worked in visual arts administration for regional non-profits. She got the pottery bug after taking a class, leaving the office world for a 3-yr pottery apprenticeship. In 2003, she struck out on her own, setting up a little studio next to her 1845 house in historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. It’s nearly impossible for her to avoid unearthing potsherds while working in the garden, and she loves knowing that in the making of her wares, she continues an historical tradition. A long-time fan of the Waterford Fair, Lisa welcomed the opportunity to work behind the scenes as the Foundation’s Fair Assistant in 2018-19. Valuing creativity and resourcefulness, she appreciates the rewards experiential learning affords and is excited about her new role as the Education Associate. She looks forward to developing opportunities for folks of all ages to learn and share their made by hand skills both here and online. She spends her free time tackling house projects with her partner, Steve, relishing the outdoors on long walks, and volunteering as a WV Master Naturalist.
Claressa joined the Waterford Foundation staff in January of 2020. After growing up in the Northern Virginia area, she has a passion for preserving the special pieces of Loudoun County that she remembers so clearly as a young girl. Claressa is currently grad school studying Communications with a focus in Digital and New Media Marketing, she hopes to bring her passion of media marketing to the Foundation and build an online community of followers who are also passionate about preserving this National Historic Landmark. In her spare time, Claressa and her husband teach private softball pitching and hitting lessons and just recently started their own travel team. Claressa played collegiate fastpitch softball and loves sharing her passion for the sport with young athletes. During quarantine, Claressa is enjoying working on her Pinterest board projects for her home, decluttering, online shopping and taking multiple walks a day with her pup Nala.