Staff & Board

Staff

Natasha Harrison - Executive Director 

Natasha has been in non-profit management for over 27 years. She was the Executive Director at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI for 12 years and prior to that founded and ran the non-profit arts organization Island Arts in Newport, RI for 16 years.  She is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Newport with her husband where they raised their two now grown daughters.

Madison Brady - Communications Manager

Madison is a Newport native who grew up immersed in the city’s rich history. Raised in the Point Neighborhood, she developed an early understanding of the importance of preservation and the profound impact it has on the community. Madison’s appreciation for the natural and architectural heritage of Newport continues to grow through her work at NTC.

Sophie Colantuono - Environmental Education Director

Sophie is originally from Rhode Island and attended the University of Miami where she earned bachelor's degrees in Marine Affairs and Ecosystem Science & Policy. After college, Sophie took her love of nature and passion for outdoor education to The Bahamas where she taught Marine Science for two years. She believes that hands-on learning is the best tool to inspire the next generation to conserve our environment and is excited to continue this work in her home state.

Pilar Kilroy - Operations Manager

Originally from Oregon, Pilar has made Newport her home for the past 25 years. She believes in the importance of Newport's continued beautification, preservation and understanding the storied history of horticulture in our lovely city. 

Morgan Palmer - Plant Production Manager

Morgan originates from Maine, where she grew up on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest and gained a fascination and love of all things nature through time spent exploring the woods. As a resident of the South Coast, she has spent the last 10 years gaining experience in growing as a landscaper, gardener, nursery grower, and cut flower farmer. She also holds a B.S. in Geoscience with a concentration in Geospatial Technologies from Southern New Hampshire University.

Joe Verstandig - Living Collections Manager

Joe graduated from the University of the Rhode Island in 2017 with a B.S. in ornamental horticultural. While in college, he interned at the Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz, New York, as a gardener. During his schooling at U.R.I., Joe worked part-time in the University Greenhouses. After school, Joe worked as a full-time horticulturist at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum. During his time there, he helped maintain world-class gardens, supervised volunteer groups, taught classes, and wrote horticultural articles and blogs. Joe also holds RICH certification. Joe lives in Providence and is a big soccer fan.

Board

Dory Hamilton Benson

Alexa Brazilian McLaughlin

Kara DiCamillo

Lauren Parmelee

William “Rocky” Steeves

Kathleen Weathers

Ex-Officio:

Scott Wheeler - Newport Tree Warden