Professional Staff

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.
[Email Ted]

John Hesse, Senior Project Manager and Director of Sustainability
John Hesse is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of the Galisteo Basin Preserve and overseeing the sustainability programming for the Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve. †John graduated from Cornell University's real estate development program, with a special emphasis in sustainable development. †He has more than 15 years experience in financial analysis and project management.
[Email John]

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.
[Email Kate]

Gretchen Grogan, Project Manager
Gretchen Grogan manages the myriad project details of the Galisteo Basin Preserve. Gretchen received her master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico's School of Architecture and Planning in 2007. Prior to joining Commonweal Conservancy in 2003, Ms. Grogan worked for 15 years in publishing and fine arts.
[Email Gretchen]

Commonweal Conservancy's four-person staff brings more than 65 years of land protection and community development experience to its projects. Collectively, Commonweal's staff has facilitated over $250 million in community building and conservation real estate transactions.