Our board members

 The daughter and granddaughter of  Veterans,  organic farmers and conservationists, I have always felt a deep connection not only to our military but also to nature. 

I knew I felt good being out in the garden, but I never really thought about WHY. Once I began to study the scientific impact working with plants could have on a person's own healing process, something just clicked. 

Being involved with the American Legion Auxiliary and other community organizations I had awareness around the staggering numbers of Veterans who return from service with forms of PTSD, anxiety, depression and other invisible wounds of war.  But I didn't know even the half of it.

I made a committment when I founded Heroic Gardens that our organization would play a role in helping with the personal healing process in the Veteran community. 

The rest  of our story continues to be written based on the team's commitment and passion to ensuring we are caring for some of the most precious resources we have in the United States.

I'm an AHTA Recognized Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner that studied Horticultural Therapy at Temple University's Department of Architecture and Environmental Design.  I was a 2020 recipient of The Linda Ciccantelli Memorial Scholarship presented by the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network, and am pleased to share that Heroic Gardens has received a commendation from the Under Secretary of Health and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

" My first gardening memory is as a 3 or 4 year-old, in our tiny back yard in Lancaster, PA, fascinated with 4 O'Clocks, those marvelous flowers which don't open till late afternoon. 

Later, growing up in farm country there, I helped tend our veggie garden, and hung out on classmates' farms. 

Now, garden life is about coaxing veggies and ornamentals to thrive despite shade - and deer."

By day, Dawn is a TV news producer for the ABC-owned station in Philadelphia, specializing in health & medical stories. 

"Before you can tell a good story, you have to listen, inquire, analyze, and empathize."

Dawn has also always dabbled in textiles, color, and design, now as a quilt maker and quilt historian. Dawn is a former board member of American Quilt Study Group and she is a nationally certified appraiser, lecturer, participant in documentation projects, and authorship.     

"It's much like forensic detective work. Through it, one appreciates community, the anonymous contributions of women, and how much textiles shaped America." 

She is also daughter of a WWII submariner from the Pacific Theater. 

I’m Philadelphia born and raised and currently work for the city. Through my professional carrier I encountered Heroic Gardens. 

I didn’t have much experience with gardening until I met Collie but like fate she set me on a new path. In the time I’ve known her I’ve accomplished and learned so much. 

I’ve removed large swathes of bamboo, ripped two trees out of the ground with my hands, and built a patio but the most important part of all of this has been giving back to the veteran community. 

Being a veteran myself, I feel passionate about taking care of my fellow veterans and doing what I can to improve their quality of life. 

After having participated in several projects and volunteer events I gladly accepted a position on the Board when offered. For me, this is the next step to take on more responsibilities and give back to the veteran community in new ways.

 I’ve always been willing and able to adjust, adapt, and overcome any obstacle in front of me and I look forward to continuing my service with Heroic Gardens.

I am committed to making communities more livable and the people in those communities thrive. 

Professionally, I facilitate financing for development that creates new jobs and services in underserved communities. The projects cover areas such as healthcare and youth development programming. I started my career in economic development with PIDC, Philadelphia’s economic development agency and, later, with organizations whose work spans the country.  

Currently, I work for Broadstreet Impact Services where I help source investment opportunities for mission-driven equity investors.

My first knowledge of my dad’s military service was observing him doing his nightly pushups, a practice which he began during his service in the Army. Upon retiring, he volunteered and advocated for Veterans housing issues. He was an avid gardener. In our backyard, he grew strawberries and vegetables, fed the birds, and, with gusto, fought squirrels and sumac trees. Heroic Gardens has enabled me to honor his memory and continue his work to help veterans thrive.

Another passion of mine is health and health equity. In addition to “pushing” more vegetables at the dinner table with my husband and daughter, I serve on the board of Sugga Mamas Diabetes Prevention and Management. This one is for my mom, who was fastidious about proper diet and balanced meals.

As for my own gardening prowess, it is nice to volunteer with seasoned gardeners that are happy to share their knowledge. Because, candidly, no one has ever accused me of having a green thumb.

I joined Heroic Gardens as a volunteer in 2020 and the Board, as treasurer in 2022.

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.

John Pilat was born and raised in the diverse community of Montclair, NJ. He joined the Navy after High School and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence CV-62 working in the boiler and main engine spaces for 4 years. 

Forever a “Snipe” John raised a family of 5 outstanding, productive Americans while continuing to work and supervise boiler operators and HVAC mechanics in varying capacities over the years. 

John currently works for US Facilities as the Chief Engineer at a large industrial steam Boiler and chiller plant and is on the Board of Directors with the Philadelphia Council of the US Navy League. Over his adult life, John has always been a proponent of diversity and inclusion and has served on DEI committees in Companies he has worked for. 

Throughout the years, John has always been most comfortable when he is out among nature. Through his early childhood days camping with his family, attending Army reserve events with his father or participating in Boy Scout and Girl Scout activities, gardening, nature, and being among “The Standing People” have always been his happy place. 

Finding and joining Heroic Gardens has proven to be the most fulfilling way to give back to his fellow Veterans while also providing for his own inner peace and strength.

 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.