MSC Expands Team, Adds Environmental and Community Outreach Staff

Canonsburg, PA – Today, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) announced the hiring of  two community outreach managers, as well as a project director who will oversee the organization’s Environmental Research Collaborative – a multi-stakeholder group working to generate fact-based Marcellus-related research and analysis. Robert Boulware will lead the coalition’s Environmental Research Collaborative while Joy Ruff and Eric Cowden will advance the organization’s community outreach, education and public engagement efforts.

Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC, issued this statement:

“We’re pleased to have Rob, Joy and Eric join our growing Marcellus team. These well-accomplished professionals will play a key role in expanding the coalition’s education and outreach efforts while advancing our industry’s commitments laid out in our Guiding Principles. Expanding our team will allow our industry to be better represented in the communities in which we operate. We’re excited to have such great talent joining our efforts for clean air, clean water, more jobs, and more affordable, reliable supplies of American natural gas.”

	Robert Boulware, Project Director. Prior to joining the MSC staff, Rob served in leadership positions at FedEx Ground and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania State University graduate, Rob knows firsthand the importance of environmental stewardship and working with key stakeholders to advance responsible Marcellus development. Rob will lead the coalition’s Environmental Research Collaborative. He is an active board member of FFA, 4-H, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Trail Alliance. Rob resides in the City of Pittsburgh.
	Joy M. Ruff, AICP, Community Outreach Manager. Joy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has over 15 years of community development experience in both the private and public sectors. Her work in the public sector includes serving as a Local Government Policy Specialist for the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development, where she assisted local governments with strategic and economic planning. Joy will support the coalition’s small business and local government outreach efforts and resides in Ohio Township, Allegheny County.
	Eric Cowden, Community Outreach Manager. Prior to joining the MSC staff, Eric served as director of the Central Region office for the Pa. Dept. of Agriculture (PDA), where he was responsible for facilitating community outreach and economic development activities on behalf of the department. Previously, Eric led PDA’s county fair and agritourism division and administered the Ag and Rural Youth grant program. A farmer by trade, Eric is a Washington County native and earned a degree in agricultural sciences from the Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in business from Delaware Valley College.