Meet the POWR Board
Richard Sheldon joined POWR’s Board in July 2020. Rich joined Willis Towers Watson in January 2004. He is currently responsible for managing insurance carrier relations for several of the company’s largest trading partners. Rich has over 30 years of environmental consulting, and insurance underwriting, management, and brokerage experience. He has served as a project manager performing field investigations of potential Superfund sites under the direction of the USEPA, and performed and managed Phase I and II environmental site investigations for various industries.
Rich is a part of the Greater-Philadelphia regional WTW Workplace Engagement network, serving as a mentor for the Community Outreach subcommittee, and is trained internally to conduct WTW’s Unconscious Bias and Inclusion & Diversity workshops across offices in North America. Rich received a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science and Geology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Environmental Health.
Anne Daymut attended Chatham University, Indiana University, Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Escoffier Culinary Academy for various degrees, certificates, and programs. In her early career, Anne was an OSM*Americorps/VISTA and then a County Conservation District Watershed Specialist. She is currently the Watershed Coordinator for the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, serving the 24 counties of the Bituminous Coal Region and advocating for the programs and policies around abandoned mine reclamation. She serves on boards for multiple watershed organizations, conservancies, and rail-trail associations.
Ben Franek is an Associate Professor at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania at Bloomsburg in the Physical and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department. He also serves as President of the Briar Creek Association for Watershed Solutions.
Jane Rowan is a wetland ecologist and restoration specialist. She provides services related to wetlands and water resources and Clean Water Act related compliance services to clients in the private and public sectors. She has been nationally recognized for advancing policies for the integrated management of water resources.
Christopher Crockett has over 25 years of experience in the water, stormwater, and wastewater industry. Chris is responsible for environmental compliance, safety, and sustainability for Aqua America and for Peoples Natural Gas under Essential Utilities. Chris was formerly the Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department where he led groundbreaking programs in infrastructure and water quality including Green Cities Clean. Chris has been a board member of several environmental organizations including the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy and Water Resource Association of the Delaware River Basin. Chris received a BS in Civil Engineering, an MS in Environmental Engineering, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering, all from Drexel University. Chris personal goal is to make his life’s work helping ensure our natural resources are preserved or restored to a better state for future generations to come.
Patrick Starr serves as Executive Vice President of PEC. He leads the southeast regional office located in Center City Philadelphia and coordinates several statewide initiatives. These include planning and implementing multi-purpose trails and water trails, promoting and implementing green stormwater infrastructure, coordinating education and outreach to community-based watershed organizations, and piloting a statewide Outdoor Towns initiative. He currently serves as President of the POWR Board.
Janet Sweeney is the Director of PEC’s Northeast office, where she has worked for nine years. Sweeney manages projects and programs of various size, scope and budget, including the Community Illegal Dump Site Cleanup Program, the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Program, Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, and most recently Keep Northeastern Pennsylvania Beautiful. Prior to this role she was Vice President of the Community and Government Services Division of the Northeastern PA Alliance where she managed the PENNDOT Rural Transportation Planning Work Program. She currently serves as Secretary of the POWR Board.
