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MISSION AND VISION
​The Sussex Preservation Coalition collaborates with like-minded individuals and organizations to promote environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and balanced growth. We seek to protect natural habitats, ensure safe water supplies, and support responsible development while encouraging government transparency
We envision a Sussex County whose policies and practices make it a national model for sustainable healthy, ecologically diverse, climate-positive living for all communities.
​​Board of Directors​​
President - Jill Hicks
Jill became active in advocating for the preservation of Sussex County, Delaware, when a 110-acre mature forest full of wetlands located behind her home became the target for a large development. She organized neighbors and others in the surrounding area to oppose the application. Through that loss, she became acutely aware that there are no protections for forests or wetlands in Sussex County. While participating in a rally, “Enough is Enough,” Jill met Jane Gruenebaum. Driven by their mutual concern for environmental and social injustices, Jane and Jill founded the Sussex Preservation Coalition.Jill is a graduate of Penn State University with a B.S. in Music Education. Right out of college, Jill’s career began with Wawa, Inc. where she progressed through the organization as a Store Manager, Real Estate Manager, Director of Purchasing and Coffee Procurement, and Director of Marketing and Supply Chain Information Technology. Before permanently retiring, she had the privilege of teaching elementary and middle school music. A dream realized and treasured.“One of the joys of my life has been bringing people together. Whether it be to sing a song, or to stand up for what’s right, the collective energy of people working together is powerful and rewarding.”
Jill became active in advocating for the preservation of Sussex County, Delaware, when a 110-acre mature forest full of wetlands located behind her home became the target for a large development. She organized neighbors and others in the surrounding area to oppose the application. Through that loss, she became acutely aware that there are no protections for forests or wetlands in Sussex County. While participating in a rally, “Enough is Enough,” Jill met Jane Gruenebaum. Driven by their mutual concern for environmental and social injustices, Jane and Jill founded the Sussex Preservation Coalition.
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Jill is a graduate of Penn State University with a B.S. in Music Education. Right out of college, Jill’s career began with Wawa, Inc. where she progressed through the organization as a Store Manager, Real Estate Manager, Director of Purchasing and Coffee Procurement, and Director of Marketing and Supply Chain Information Technology. Before permanently retiring, she had the privilege of teaching elementary and middle school music. A dream realized and treasured.
“One of the joys of my life has been bringing people together. Whether it be tosing a song, or to stand up for what’s right, the collective energy of people working together is powerful and rewarding.”
Secretary - Valerie Wood
Val has degrees in Animal Science and Regulatory Affairs with 38 years of experience in research and scientific writing for international drug applications. She became involved with local environmental issues when the first 7-11 was proposed at Angola Road in 2019 and her path naturally led her to join Sussex Preservation Coalition.
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"My experience with pharmaceuticals released in the environment gives me a great scientific background for environmental issues. I appreciate how dependent we are on trees and the smallest animals in the food chain. I have respect for every animal in the food chain and every tree keeping humans alive."
Director of Environmental Advocacy - Judy Rose Seibert
Judy Rose Seibert has a BS in Biological Science. Shortly after college, she coauthored a Stewardship Master Plan for a Nature Conservancy preserve in Maryland. She has co-taught plant identification classes for the USDA Graduate School. Starting with Sussex2030, she has attended many County Council and Planning & Zoning hearings and has testified before each of them. As a devoted birdwatcher for 50 years, she is an advocate for responsible growth, which preserves as much habitat as possible for Sussex County’s flora & fauna. She is a founding member of SPC.
Director of Public Relations and Communication
Mary Boggi is currently a supply chain director for a major distributor of gasses and welding supplies. In her free time, Mary enjoys walking the beach and the many trails in Sussex County. Her love of the natural beauty and resources in this area, led Mary to attend several Sussex Preservation Coalition meetings. In time, Mary was asked to join the board, where her operational background will help with fundraising and project management.
"To be asked to join the SPC board, with the caliber of people on the board, is an honor and privilege. This is a can-do organization!"
Director of Land Use Policy - Rich Borrasso
Rich Borrasso is retired and living in Milton with his wife, Sandy. He brings a wealth of strategic planning experience from 44 years in the consumer goods industry holding executive management positions at several Fortune 500 companies. Rich has actively been engaged and participated in the 2018 Sussex County Comprehensive planning process and in 2017 Rich co-founded the Sussex Alliance for Responsible Growth- SARG, a non-partisan Alliance to inform, educate and engage the citizens of Sussex County as to the critical importance of the development, adoption and implementation of the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan. Rich was a member of the 2020 Sussex County Wetlands Work Group contributing to the successful adoption of an updated Wetlands Buffer Ordinance. In 2022, Rich became a Board Member at Large for the Sussex County Preservation Coalition where he devotes personal time on raising awareness and public engagement on critical issues pertaining to land use, infrastructure and natural resource preservation.
Director of Finance and IT - Pam Cole
Pam holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy and a 30 year Information Technology career in local government. Environmental causes have been a long standing priority for her. Now retired, she spent her career applying her skills in IT toward environmental and public health projects. ​
"It is my honor and pleasure to work with the talented and dedicated SPC Board Members and citizens of Sussex County to improve quality of life for humans and our natural world".
Director of Legal and Government Affairs - Joe Pika
Joe Pika is a retired professor and Associate Dean at the University of Delaware where he completed thirty-five years teaching and writing about American politics. During his career, he worked extensively with state government and served as a member and president of the State Board of Education as well as on many education-related committees and task forces. He now serves on the Merit Employee Relations Board, a state body responsible for enforcing Delaware's merit rules covering state employees.
Member at Large and Eyes on County Council - Alison White
Alison has degrees in computer science, and has always loved the outdoors. She lived and worked in New York’s Hudson Valley for 30 years, where she became involved with several local environmental groups, including the Mid-Hudson Sierra Club Group, Hudson Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson. She and her partner first visited the Delaware coastal area in the 1990s and fell in love with its unique coastal and rural character. They bought property in Sussex County in themid-2000s and moved here full-time in 2021, but became concerned at
the visible effects of poorly planned development. Alison became engaged with Sussex Preservation Coalition as it evolved into an umbrella organization for advocates of sustainable growth. In early 2025 she became involved with Eyes on County Council, and was pleased to have EoCC become a part of SPC.
“It’s my great privilege to work with SPC Board Members to preserve the environment and quality of life in this special and unique place.”