Publications, Awards & Recognitions

Brash. A.R. In prep. Year of the Mole Crab: Natural History of Fire Island National Seashore (working title).

Brash, A.R. Due Fall, 2023. A Whaler at Twilight [An Autobiographical Duet of Robert W. Armstrong’s whaling voyage and adventures in the South Pacific 1849-1859.] Lyons Press, Subsidiary of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Brash, A.R. 1-12-2022. Polishing Greenwich’s Hidden Gems. Greenwich Times.

Brash, A.R. Jan., 2022. In Memoriam: Thomas E. Lovejoy. NYC Linnaean Society, Yale School of the Environment.

Brash, A.R. 8-1-2018. A Great State with a Green Future. Op-Ed in New Haven Register, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time. Hearst Publications.

Brash, A.R. 3-23-2015. A Short-Sighted Blow to Connecticut Conservation. Op-Ed in Greenwich Time. Heart Publications.

Brash, A.R., Editor (and author). 2015. Habitat Connectivity; Addressing Biodiversity and Climate Change. State of the Birds. Connecticut Audubon Society Magazine. Fairfield, Ct.

Brash, A.R., Jamie, Hand, and Kate Orff, Editors. 2011. Gateway: Visions for an Urban National Park. Princeton Architectural Press. New York, N.Y. 223 pgs.

Brash, A.R. 2009. Coastal and Maritime Forests. In Target Ecosystem Characteristics for the Hudson Raritan Estuary: Technical Guidance for Developing a Comprehensive Ecosystem Restoration Plan. A Report to the Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J., Hudson River Foundation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. M.J. Bain, et al., Editors. 106 pages.

Brash, A.R. 2007. New York City’s Primeval Forest; A Review Characterizing the Type Specimen. In Nature of New York City’s Parks and Great Gull Island. Pgs. 55 - 78. Transactions of the Linnaean Society of New York. Vol. X. Edward Brothers, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan. 319 pgs.

Brash, A.R., T. Boretti, and E. Feteridge. 2007. The Piping Plover Colony at Rockaway Beach within a Regional Context. In Nature of New York City’s Parks and Great Gull Island. Pgs. 213 – 228. Transactions of the Linnaean Society of New York. Vol. X. Edward Brothers, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan. 319 pages.

Brash, A.R. 2003. In Order to Save the Biodiversity of the Amazon, We Must also Work in the Parks of New York City. In Urban Issues, Vol. 13 (2): 4 – 5. Urban Resource Initiative. Yale University. New Haven, Ct.

Brash, A.R. 2002. The Wilds of New York and Central Park Tour. In City Secrets – New York City. Robert Kahn, Ed. The Little Bookroom. New York, N.Y. 582 pgs.

Brash, A.R., et al. 1999. A Sense of Place. [book on natural history of Fire Island] Techniprint, Inc. Hanover, N. H. 96 pgs.

Brash, A.R. 1998. Beach Conservation Strategy for Rockaway Beach, Queens, N.Y. Department of Parks & Recreation. City of New York. 96 pgs.

Brash, A.R. 1998. Region Six: New York City. In the New York Wildlife Viewing Guide. M. Wilson, Ed. The Watchable Wildlife Series. Falcon Publishing, Inc. Helena, Mt. 96 pgs.

Brash, A.R., et al. 1996. From Lean to Green: A Guide to the Rehabilitation of Inner City Forests. Enterprise Press, N.Y., N.Y. 51 pgs.

Brash, A.R., and R. Gentles, Eds. 1996. Park Rangers Field Manual. Department of Parks & Recreation. City of New York. 369 pgs.

Brash, A.R., et al. 1994. Teachers Guide to Parklands Partnership. U.S. E.P.A. and City Park Foundation Publication. New York, N.Y. 142 pgs.

Brash, A.R. 1992. Seagull Slaughter at Kennedy Airport. Op-Ed in The New York Times. New York, N.Y. May 30 th , 1992.

Brash, A.R. 1987. The History of Avian Extinction and Forest Conversion in Puerto Rico. Biological Conservation, Vol 39: 91 – 111.

Brash, A.R. 1986. Financing and Revenue Management in National Parks. Shore & Beach, Vol. 54, No. 2: 17 – 22.

Lovejoy, T.E. and A. R. Brash. 1984. Homage au Jean D’Arc or the Conservation of the Cracidae. Dodo, Vol. 21:33 – 42.

Lovejoy, T.E. and A.R. Brash. 1984. Tropical Forests and Genetic Resources Areas. In Sustaining Tomorrow. Pgs. 33-141. F.R. Thibodeau and H.H. Fields, Eds. University Press of New England. Hanover, N.H.

Brash, A.R. 1982. Under Sail in New York Bight (Seabirds of the environs). Newsletter of the Linnaean Society of New York, Vol. 36 (6): 1 –3.

Dickerman, R.W., and A.R. Brash. 1980. Barn Owl Thanatocenosis on the Pacific Lowlands of Guatemala. Biotropica, Vol. 12 (3): 228 – 229.

Alumni Community Service Award, Hotchkiss School

Presidential Award, Wildlife Management Trust

Connecticut College Goodwin-Niering Center’s Achievement Award

NYS DEC Commissioner’s Award

City of New York, Mayoral Renaissance Award

Environmental Quality of Life Award, EPA Reg. 2

Lilian Stoner Award, NYS Federation of Bird Clubs

Co-Chair, NY- NJ Harbor Coalition

Chair, EPA’s Harbor Estuary Program, Habitat Work Group

Commissioner, Greenwich Conservation Commission

President, Yale University SOE Alumni Association

Member, Board of Governor’s Island Alliance

Member & Treasurer, Board of Fire Island Association

Commissioner, Suffolk County Vol. Fire Department

Member, Board of Linnaean Society of N.Y.C.

Research Associate – Ornithology Dep’t., American Museum of Natural History

Guest Lecturer – CERC, Columbia Univ.; Yale Univ.; Hunter College, CUNY

1977 – 1981 Connecticut College New London, Ct. | B.A. with Honors, Zoology

1983 – 1985 Yale University, Forestry & Env. St. New Haven, Ct. | M.F.S., focus on non-profit management, ecology

1985 – 1988 Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ | PhD (unf.), quantitative community ecology

2016 – Present Amelanchier Consulting Riverside, Ct.

President

Amelanchier Consulting is a boutique consulting firm focused on helping public and private clients with financial strategies, management solutions, guidance on land conservation issues, and insights into government affairs with respect to regulatory or advocacy work. With a network of advisors, Amelanchier provides insights, guidance, and tangible support to help make the world a greater and greener place.

2013 – 2016 Connecticut Audubon Society Fairfield, Ct.

President

Established in 1889, the Ct. Audubon Society is the original and still independent Audubon organization in the state. With nearly 9,000 members, five nature centers, 2 museums, 20 sanctuaries, $25.5M endowment, and an annual budget of $3.2M, CAS focuses on serving as a portal to nature for citizens across the state, providing experiential science-based education; sharing its knowledge in conservation land management, and using the charismatic nature of birds for advocacy. During tenure:

o Financial acumen, Shifted organization’s life span from 7 years to infinite.

o Cut running $500K deficit to a target of <$200 in FY’16

Increased and diversified revenue stream by modernizing, diversifying and re-branding programming,

o Completed overhaul of school programs (reaching 47 towns, 19,750 kids), brought curricula into alignment with STEM,

o Re-crafted Summer Camp to become highest netting offering, experienced 23% growth) Geographically re-aligned organization within state to capitalize on opportunities; Two center new sites (SE & NW) Two new Regional Boards (SE & Milford)

o Established a culture of philanthropy; Entirely new Marketing/Membership & Development departments Launched three regional capital campaigns underway, Landed transformative gift (1,000 acres, + $19M endowment), Partnership initiative, launched “friends” groups for each center

o Broadened engagement across the state and region to increase impact; Re-branded organization with an award winning, generationally targeted image and new logo, Re-established and hosted first independent Audubon conferences in more than a decade; bringing twelve state organizations together to share best-practices and establish tangible programmatic partnerships. Partners together have more sanctuaries, facilities, a larger endowment, and more members, than National Audubon.

2004 – 2013 National Parks Conservation Association New York, N.Y.

NE Region, Sr. Director

Established in 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is an independent, nonpartisan voice working to address major threats facing the National Park System. NPCA has more than 800,000 members and supporters. In addition to its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., NPCA has 23 regional and field offices around the country.

o Started-up, then led NPCA’s efforts in the Northeast region; New Jersey to Maine. Built a coalition among urban parks and urban national parks and launched a nationwide advocacy campaign under the umbrella of the Urban Park Initiative, Partnered with NPS and Univ. of Virg. to host bi-coastal national conference on Park Design Principles, Co-Chaired the NY/NJ Harbor Coalition, a coalition of harbor related NGOs, instrumental in bringing funds to the region after Hurricane Sandy, Led effort to re-envision Gateway National Recreation Area; culminating in a major DOI Sec. Salazar & NYC Mayor Bloomberg Management Agreement, Led campaigns to garner support for Hamilton Grange move, open the crown of the Statue of Liberty, secure Barrett’s Farm, and create several new parks; Paterson Falls, Stellwagen Bank, Stonewall Inn, and Maine Woods (now Katahdin Woods NM).

o Leveraged media and financial connections in NYC to help: Halt the Administration’s redraft of the NPS’s Management Policies. Worked with Congress/DOI to launch Centennial Initiative that increased NPS operating budget by $400M. Led effort to secure $920M in stimulus funding from Congress for NPs in 2009.

o Built NPCA’s philanthropic strength: Rainmaker; NE was leading region;, responsible for raising more than $20M unrestricted in the period. Managed major fundraising events; including five black-tie galas and raising their individual gross from $70k to $2.2M during the period. Brought home several major foundation grants of six figures, and corporate and individual gifts of seven figures.

o Dramatically broadened organization’s impact in nation’s media capital: Wrote and placed numerous advocacy op-eds, articles, and other stories on regional and national park issues; worked with editorial boards. Developed scores of key relationships with elected and appointed officials from NJ to Maine. Conceptualized, and Executive Producer of Feel Free, nationally televised event in Central Park premiering release of Ken Burn’s national parks documentary. Raised $3.5M for its production.

2002 - 2004 NYC Department of Parks & Recreation New York, N.Y.

Chief, Natural Resources Group

o Responsible for $92M of capital restoration projects in various stages of design and construction.

o Represented agency in various external groups regarding parkland acquisition, coordinated strategic plan and formulated collaborative effort (TPL, NOAA, DEC) for their purchase.

o Formulated the agency’s environmental policies. Managed multiple partnerships among agencies, NGOs, community groups and others concerned with the ‘greening agenda’ in the region.

o Frequently represented agency at press conferences, special events, and other public occasions. Prepared and published an array of articles, publications, and a book about various environmental efforts in and around the city. Multiple TV, radio, printed press appearances.

1992–2002 NYC Department of Parks & Recreation New York, N.Y.

Chief, Urban Park Service

o Responsible for the three uniformed divisions (Rangers, Enforcement, and Communications), plus Special Events Division and the 18 site Historic House Trust.

o Supervised the 300+ full-time and 250 part-time uniformed and deputized officers patrolling the City’s 1580 parks covering over 28,000 acres.

o Senior Operations officer for City on numerous large special events, including Disney premieres, Papal visits, Marathon, and numerous rock concerts (Paul Simon, Sting, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, etc..).

o Led agency’s efforts in Lower Manhattan at and on, as well as after, 9/11.

o Additional accomplishments include: Completely overhauling the recruiting, training, and supervision of uniformed divisions; fully professionalizing the force and bringing it into alignment with sister agencies (i.e., NYPD). Undertook first reverse privatization initiative in agency, and in broadening the revenue stream expanded the enforcement division by 20% through external contracts. Initiated a major effort to refurbish the department’s 15 nature centers, partnering with National Geographic Society, Disney, City Parks Foundation, and others . Conceptualized and launched Forever Wild Nature Preserves, now a 52 wilderness in NYC. Conceptualized and lead Project X, city’s first large-scale effort to re-introduce extirpated species into the city’s parks: swamp azaleas to bald eagles.

1987–1991 NYC Department of Parks & Recreation New York, N.Y.

Director, Management Planning

o Responsible for all internal and external consultancy work for agency. Multiple projects regarding operational efficiency, management restructuring, and revenue enhancements.

o Co-managed agency’s $350M Expense budget, worked with agency’s eight bureaus, budget office, and Mayor’s office to prepare each year’s budget, and implement within agency’s operations. Developed plan to re-configure entire agency during major down-sizing; including aggressively privatizing nearly 15% of its functions. Salvaged deteriorated multi-million dollar consulting contract regarding the optimal allocation of the work force, finishing project with internal assets. Designed and built numerous computerized information systems for the agency, from the Seasonal Budget process to Work Order Tracking Systems. Blended strong quantitative background, operational common sense, and ability to work with personnel at all levels to ensure implementation.

1981–1983 World Wildlife Fund Washington D.C.

Executive Assistant, V.P. Thomas E. Lovejoy

o Managed office; handled logistics for field station in Amazon.

o Researched and prepared speeches, articles, research papers; also worked with Communications to also prepare speeches for WWF President.

o Worked with Development to prepare, and make, presentations on WWF programs in region.

o Ornithologist on expeditions to Orinoco, Amazon, and Central America.