Ted Harrison, President

Ted Harrison founded Commonweal Conservancy in 2003 and Commonweal Communities in 2007; he serves as president of the two organizations. For 17 years, Ted was a senior vice president, southwest regional director, and director of a national conservation development program for the Trust for Public Land (TPL)—one of the nation's leading land-conservation organizations. Ted holds bachelor's degrees in anthropology and political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also serves as an ex officio, non-voting member of Commonweal Conservancy's board of directors.

Kate Drahn, Administrative Director

As administrative director, Kate Drahn oversees Commonweal's administrative activities. Before helping to launch Commonweal Conservancy, Kate spent 21 years at the Trust for Public Land. In many roles and capacities, she advanced TPL's transactional, fundraising, public affairs, marketing, and board development work. She holds a B.A. in social science from the University of Redlands and a master's degree in counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe.

Gretchen Grogan, Project Manager

Gretchen Grogan manages the myriad project details of the Galisteo Basin Preserve. Gretchen holds bachelor's degrees in economics and art history from Georgtown University and a master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico. Prior to helping launch Commonweal Conservancy in 2003, Ms. Grogan worked for 15 years in publishing, the performing arts and software development.

Board of Directors

Commonweal Conservancy's Board of Directors is composed of five dedicated individuals. These directors bring a variety of professional skills in real estate development, public financing, corporate finance, open-space acquisition and planning, and nonprofit fundraising. In addition, President Ted Harrison serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the board.

Edison (Ted) Buchanan, Chairman & Vice President

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Ted Buchanan is corporate advisor for the Trust for Public Land. Before joining TPL, he served as managing director and head of real estate investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as managing director in Morgan Stanley's real estate investment banking group and as managing director and co-head of Dean Witter's real estate investment banking group. He serves on the boards of directors of Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Rio Grande School. Ted has been chairman of Commonweal Conservancy's board since November 2003.

D. Ernest Cook, Vice Chairman, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer

Boston, Massachusetts
Ernest Cook is a senior vice president and national programs director for the Trust for Public Land. He oversees the development of several national programs for TPL, including its conservation finance program. Since 1994, this program has aided in the passage of legislation and ballot measures providing more than $30 billion in park and open-space capital funding. Prior to his national service to the Trust for Public Land, he served as regional director of its Midwest and New England regions. Ernest has been vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer of Commonweal Conservancy's board since November 2003.

Stephen E. Thompson, Vice President

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Stephen Thompson is an attorney and an economist. While maintaining a law practice during the energy crisis of the 1970s, he formed renewable energy associations and utilized support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Banking Association to promote energy-efficient investments. He joined The Trust for Public Land in 1982 and helped lead TPL to become a major national land-conservation organization. In 2005 he concluded his career with TPL as senior vice president, overseeing and directing conservation transactions throughout 46 states across the U.S. Steve currently advises national and international nonprofits in climate-change initiatives and land conservation and restoration activities.

Robert W. McIntyre, Treasurer

Palo Alto, California
Robert McIntyre was the senior vice president of finance/CFO at The Trust for Public Land for 30 years before retiring in 2003. He currently performs key financial management roles for a variety of land-conservation and environmental nonprofit organizations including the Sempervirens Fund in Mountain View, California; the Stanford University Historical Society; the Environmental Volunteers of Palo Alto, California; the Peninsula Open Space Trust of Menlo Park, California; and the Dorothy Erskine Open Space Fund of San Francisco, California.

Marilyn Harris, Board Member, Santa Fe, NM

Ms. Harris is a New Mexico Real Estate Broker, licensed since 1985. Her professional focus has been management and consulting for small community homeowners’ associations, structuring financial systems and developing marketing and sales programs. Ms. Harris has worked extensively with Boards of Directors, informing and guiding decision-making on behalf of owner groups. She has been a citizen of Santa Fe for 35 years and raised 3 children in the community. As an active participant in the schools, Ms. Harris spearheaded a volunteer-taught art program for elementary schools and has served on numerous boards and committees in support of education.

Ted O. Harrison, President and Ex Officio Board Member, Santa Fe, NM

Mr. Harrison is the president of Commonweal Conservancy. Prior to founding Commonweal Conservancy, he served as a senior vice president for The Trust for Public Land. Since 1986, Mr. Harrison has helped facilitate more than $150 million worth of open space and community-building real estate transactions. These projects range from large-scale urban open space and watershed protection projects to historic preservation and wild lands conservation throughout the Southwest and California. Mr. Harrison holds a bachelor's degree in political science and anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an advanced management development program degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Mr. Harrison served from the Board’s inception in November 2003 until 2007 when he because an ex officio member.

Commonweal Communities

Commonweal Communities' Board of Directors is composed of three committed representatives. These individuals bring professional skills that range from public financing, open-space acquisition and planning, and nonprofit fundraising to real estate development and corporate finance.

D. Ernest Cook, Secretary/Treasurer, Boston, MA

Mr. Cook is a senior vice president and national programs director for The Trust for Public Land. He oversees the development of several national programs for TPL, including its Conservation Finance program. Since 1994, this program has aided in the passage of legislation and ballot measures providing more than $30 billion in park and open space capital funding. He is co-author of the forthcoming Conservation Finance Handbook and has contributed to an extensive array of research reports published by TPL, including "The Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space." Mr. Cook holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a master's degree in planning and public finance from New York University. Prior to his role at a national level for The Trust for Public Land, he served as regional director of its Midwest and New England regions. Mr. Cook has been Secretary & Treasurer of the Board since the Board was created in March 2007.

Dennis C. Romero, Vice President, Santa Fe, NM

Mr. Romero is a native of Taos and traces his roots to the original Spanish colonists of New Mexico. He received his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Stanford University, and his law degree from Stanford Law School. Mr. Romero practices law in Santa Fe and Taos. He is an avid skier, cyclist, and swimmer, and he also claims an ability to hold a tune on the cello. His daughter Gabriela attends Santa Fe Preparatory School.

Ted O. Harrison, President, Santa Fe, NM

Mr. Harrison is the president of Commonweal Conservancy. Prior to founding Commonweal Conservancy, he served as a senior vice president for The Trust for Public Land. Since 1986, Mr. Harrison has helped facilitate more than $150 million worth of open space and community-building real estate transactions. These projects range from large-scale urban open space and watershed protection projects to historic preservation and wild lands conservation throughout the Southwest and California. Mr. Harrison holds a bachelor's degree in political science and anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an advanced management development program degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Mr. Harrison has been a member of the Board since 2008.

Professional Staff