Our board members

 As the son of a disabled World War II veteran and father of a current Army officer, I am very passionate about our Veterans and soldiers and their service and sacrifice. 

Heroic Gardens is an opportunity to honor our Veterans and enhance their quality of life. Hence, I feel a strong connection to the vision and mission of Heroic Gardens and the outreach and activities we undertake to build relationships within the Veteran community and introduce our Veterans to Horticultural Therapy.

Currently, I work in the accounting field as an Associate at Your Part-Time Controller, LLC, a firm that specializes in the provision of accounting services to non-profit organizations. 

Previously, I worked in senior-level accounting and finance positions at General Motors Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, and MBNA America Bank. 

I started my career in public accounting at Arthur Andersen & Co. and PriceWaterhouse Coopers, where I earned my CPA.

It is a privilege to use my accounting and finance experience and skillset to expand the reach and resources, strengthen the financial position, and provide responsible stewardship over the assets of Heroic Gardens.

My first gardening memory is the never-ending daily chore of picking strawberries from our fields and whatever else was ripe from our gardens, all while growing up surrounded by the beautiful state of Maine.  

My father always managed to create, and still does, the most beautiful yard and gardens.  While I didn’t necessarily end up with his green thumb, I love working in our yard and I am a firm believer that a beautiful natural space around your home – or anywhere where you can enjoy it - makes life so much better.

I married a military guy.  My husband, AJ, followed in the footsteps of his father, uncle and grandfather, all who served in the U.S. Military.  AJ continues to serve the public, though no longer as active military but as a first responder.  Probably as a result of this, 

I feel a special connection to Heroic Gardens mission and the veteran’s who have done so much for us.  Together with my family, I gain satisfaction from the project work with which I am involved with HG.  As we wrap up one transformation, I can’t wait to start the next and see the joy in the eyes of those who will benefit from the work.

As a family, we are avid supporters of our local Boy Scouts troop in which our boys are both active, we volunteer with a local animal rescue and I serve as the Treasurer of our local High School’s Track & Field Booster’s club.  For fun, our family loves to travel.  We have visited close to 150 U.S. National Park sites to date with our two (now teenage sons) who are tiring of us rapidly.  My photos from those trips always include some of the local flora for my “favorites” file.

As for my day job, I am the Chief Operating Officer at Your Part-Time Controller, LLC, a firm specializing in providing accounting services to nonprofit organizations.  I started with YPTC in 2005 after spending several years in the hospitality and manufacturing industries.  

When I found YPTC, I decided that working with nonprofits was where I belonged, and I hope to stay with the firm until I retire at an early age.

 Thom Starke, a decorated US Army Officer and combat Veteran, is a graduate of Springfield College where he earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology/Chemistry. Thom was awarded a US Army ROTC Scholarship and is a Distinguished Military Graduate from the US Army ROTC Officer training program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. 

Thom's Army service included many leadership positions in the United States and overseas including:  Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Aide de Camp to the Assistant Division Commander of the famed Big Red One, the First Infantry Division and several Command and Primary Staff positions. 

Thom is a native of Long Island, New York. In high school he was an accomplished scholar athlete as a wrestler and lacrosse player and was a Co - Captain on several championship teams. He has been a resident of the greater Philadelphia area for over twenty years where he was the Head Coach of a local high school wrestling team and lacrosse team.
 

Thom has extensive business experience in the corporate arena in Sales and Marketing and Service Management. He is currently the Operations Manager of 2 JDOG Junk Removal & Hauling Franchises. Thom is the father of two daughters, Michelle and Kaitlyn.
 

In addition to his business and military experience, Thom has been actively involved in his community and has dedicated himself to the care of veterans. He has served as a Commander at the local and District levels for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and has been appointed to numerous positions as Chairman of local and State Veterans committees. Thom has also served as a member of the Veterans Advisory Board to United States Representative Michael Fitzpatrick and United States Representative Patrick Murphy. In 2006, Thom was selected as Veteran of the Year and was awarded the J. Robert Redfern Award by Pennsylvania District 16 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
 

Heroic Gardens is the perfect fit for Thom and he is excited to continue to serve our Nation’s Veterans with the same professionalism and dedication he provided as an Army Officer in service to his country and his past service to veterans and his community.

Paul Kawoczka is the Co-Founder and CEO of Enliven Planters.

Paul grew up in Yardley, PA. He attended Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem and went on to major in Landscape Architecture at Penn State University. 

From a young age Paul was drawn to the natural world and loved the satisfaction of building something with his own hands. 

His venture into Landscape Architecture combined these passions along with his artistic talents. He earned his degree from Penn State in 2011. 

After graduation, Paul landed a job in project management at a high end residential landscape company in Annapolis, Maryland. There he gained valuable experience in the design and construction of world class private gardens and homes. Paul enjoyed all aspects of a design project, from conceptual drawings through final construction.  

Later, he moved back to the Philadelphia area to join the landscape team at Terrain. There, he honed his skills in sales and absorbed the invigorating atmosphere that the Terrain brand has created around outdoor living. It was during this time that Paul found his true passion, bringing joy to people's lives through experiencing nature. 

In 2014 Paul launched Enliven Planters with a college classmate.

Enliven Planters is a seasonal planter subscription service. Four times per year, they refill the planters and window boxes at people’s homes and businesses. Each year Enliven plants tens of thousands of arrangements in the Philadelphia area, bringing a little bit of joy to each home that they service. 

Over the years Paul has learned a great deal about the nursery/garden industry, working through supply chains and tweaking the business to scale to where it is today. He is passionate about small business entrepreneurship, a topic his friends and family would agree he can get carried away by. 

He is thrilled to offer his expertise and energy to the evolving Heroic Gardens’ initiatives. Paul’s sister is a Major in the US Army and one of his role models. Her success and ceaseless devotion to her military career (a male dominated one at that) has been a daily inspiration for him, especially during the trials of business ownership. He hopes his involvement in Heroic Gardens can bring even a sliver of joy to the lives of the men and women who have served our country selflessly. 

Paul lives in New Hope, PA with his wife, Kiera, daughter, Tommie, and their dog, Riggins. In his free time Paul enjoys spending time with his family, trail running, cooking, home improvement projects, and listening to podcasts.  

He is honored to be a member of this budding organization.

Paul S. Peters III, Esquire is the owner 

of The Peters Firm, PLLC.  

He concentrates his law practice in the areas of  Bankruptcy & Debtor’s Rights, Criminal Defense, Family Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning, and Business Law.  

The Peters Firm, PLLC has locations in Elkins Park, Philadelphia, and Norristown.  

Paul grew up in the Lawndale section of Northeast Philadelphia.  He attended school in the Philadelphia Public School system and was educated at Crossan Elementary, Wilson Middle, and Northeast High.  

After graduating from Northeast High School, he received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Albright College in 1998, and his law degree from 

Widener University School of Law in 2001.

Immediately following law school, Paul opened his own law practice in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.  There, he served clients in and around Philadelphia in areas of law including criminal defense, bankruptcy, 

family law, and personal injury.  

After 13 successful years of practice, Paul decided to take a sabbatical from the law to teach and coach.  Paul spent 5 years teaching business and law classes, coaching track and cross country, and serving as the Human Resources Director and General Counsel at Nazareth Academy High School in Philadelphia.  

Paul continues to serve as an adjunct professor in the Schools of Criminal Justice and Business Administration at Holy Family University.  Paul has taught courses in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Ethics in Criminal Justice (Undergraduate and Graduate), Race & Crime, Juvenile Justice Courses, Criminal Law, Court Procedures and Policies, Labor Law, Legal Issues in  Sports, and Business Law.

While Paul found his work as a teacher and coach to be incredibly rewarding, he missed practicing the law and helping clients.  In March of 2018, Paul returned to the legal profession.  Paul prides himself as an attorney who is highly skilled in the areas in which he practices, and one who assists his clients with care and without judgment, and with a desire to help them navigate some of

 life’s most difficult circumstances.  

It is the compassion, patience, and understanding Paul shows his clients that be believes distinguishes 

him from other attorneys.

Paul has been a dedicated and avid runner for most of his life.  He was a four-year varsity runner on Northeast High School’s Cross Country and Track Teams, where he experienced great success and learned to love and embrace the sport of running. 

 He continued his running career at Albright College participating in the college’s cross country and track teams.  After college and law school, Paul developed an interest in running marathons and ultra-marathons. 

 His first marathon was the Pittsburgh Marathon, and he went on to run the Philadelphia Marathon multiple times, the Boston Marathon twice, and marathons in Miami, Baltimore, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington D.C.  Paul has also competed in 50- mile, 100- mile, 24- hour, and 12- hour races.  The highlight of Paul’s running career was the 200-mile Ragnar Relay that he did with 5 friends in 2011. 

Most recently, Paul did a 12-Hour treadmill run on Giving Tuesday, November 27, 2018, to 

raise money for scholarships at 

Manor College in Jenkintown, PA.

Paul has played guitar since middle school and plays duets with his daughter on the violin at her music school once or twice a year.

Paul is an avid reader and is always

 reading one book and listening to one

 book at the same time all year.

Paul lives in Elkins Park with his wife Heather and daughter Hsin-Hua.  Paul and his wife met the first weekend of college and have been together for 24 years.  Heather is the VP of Human Resources for Allan Myers, a heavy civil construction company based in Worcester, PA.  Their daughter Hsin-Hua is 11 years old and in the 5th grade at Germantown Friends School.The family also has 4 cats, 

and 6 backyard chickens.