As chief financial officer, Ellen Gardner is responsible for the financial operations and reporting of Chesapeake Conservancy. She is a certified public accountant with over three decades of not-for-profit leadership experience in organizational strategy, financial forecasting, budgeting and grant accounting. Most recently, Gardner was the CFO at Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a global membership association.

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Previously, she held positions of COO and CFO for Community Connections Inc., a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive mental health care and residential services. Earlier in her career she worked at the University of Maryland Baltimore County as the associate director of the bookstore and adjunct accounting faculty. Gardner earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and management from Goucher College and earned her M.B.A. from Loyola College.

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Gardner met her husband Wes on a sailboat in Annapolis, and they have lived in the area for over 40 years. They raised their children to be responsible stewards of the Chesapeake as they enjoyed camping, sailing, kayaking, fishing and wakeboarding. Gardner and Wes have been active volunteers in the community including the USNA Midshipmen Family Sponsor program and the Montessori International Children’s House. Gardner currently serves as a board member for SECU, on the board of trustees of Goucher College and the co-captain of three USTA tennis teams.