Chapter Leaders

Will is a retired professional civil engineer and graduate of University of Maryland. Throughout his career, he worked across all phases of the construction industry, including engineering design, construction management, and risk management. His professional experience spans positions with a private engineering design firm, the U.S. Navy (including service as a civilian employee at the Naval Research Laboratory and Naval Air Station Patuxent River), an electrical contractor, a general contractor, and three national insurance brokerages. During his time in the insurance industry, Will also became a licensed property and casualty insurance broker. Will and his wife Julie reside in Bryantown and are the proud parents of three daughters: Elizabeth, who works in Charlotte, and twins Jillian and Kathryn, both students at the University of Maryland. Will has been an active member of SMAS since moving to Charles County in 1993 and served as treasurer from 2007 to 2019. He enjoys birdwatching, exploring parks, hiking, and woodworking.

Ben Springer was born and raised in Calvert County and has always been a nature lover. He began birding in seventh grade and has continued ever since. He earned a BA in Environmental Studies and a minor in Biology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. After collecting data for the MD/DC Breeding Bird Atlas at Pax River Naval Air Station and serving as a Park Technician at Kings Landing Park, in 2026 he became a Marsh Bird Technician with the Marshes for Tomorrow initiative of Audubon Mid-Atlantic.

Julie grew up in Anne Arundel County and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park. She worked at the National Weather Service for about 10 years before deciding to become a stay-at-home mom.  Julie’s interest in bird watching was piqued by her former boss at the weather service. She has enjoyed adding birds to her life list while traveling and instilling a love of nature in her children.  Julie lives in Bryantown with her husband, Will, and her three children.

Lynne Wheeler has been a member of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society since 2009. She has held multiple positions on the board – President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Membership Chair, and currently holds the position Interim President. She is also the Vice-President for the Port Tobacco River Conservancy, Membership Chair for Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, serves as an Advisory Council Member for Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, and is a member of the Beautification Commission/Keep La Plata Beautiful Committee for the Town of La Plata, our FIRST Bird City Maryland.

She was born and raised in Indian Head, Charles County, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS degree in Medical Technology. She worked as a technical supervisor in hospital clinical laboratories in La Plata, Maryland, and Boca Raton, Florida; a territory manager for Fisher Scientific in south Florida; and in her final working years with Grainger Industrial Supply in southern Maryland. Her hobbies are gardening and propagating native plants, birding, reading, nature, cooking, fishing, crabbing, and good wine. She resides in Chicamuxen with her husband, John Wheeler, a retired Indian Head business owner.

Susan Burch works at Wild Birds, Unlimited in La Plata, where she has gained all kinds of backyard bird feeding knowledge. The love of bird feeding was sparked by her mother-in-law decades ago. Susan was lucky enough to be picked to attend the Audubon Hog Island Field Ornithology Camp in 2026 by Southern Maryland Audubon. She and her husband enjoy birdwatching in their yard and participating in Christmas and May bird counts as well as FeederWatch. In her free time Susan enjoys outdoor nature with her husband and anyone else who will tolerate it, including kayaking, gardening, hiking nature trails, all while watching the birds!

Brandon was born and raised in north-central Maryland and earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry/Mathematics at Washington College in Chestertown, MD, where he also played on the varsity soccer team. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland and two postdoctoral positions at the United States Naval Academy and Johns Hopkins University. Brandon then took a short break from academia, working at Booz Allen Hamilton performing quantum computing and sensing research for private and government clients. He is currently an assistant professor at College of Southern Maryland, where he teaches Chemistry and Physics. Outside of work he enjoys trail running, birding, gardening, backpacking, cooking, and being outdoors with his two dogs. In 2026 he is undertaking a Trail Running Big Year.

Alex Donley is a St. Mary's County native who developed a love for and addiction to birding at the age of 18 and hasn't stopped since. He admires birds in every season, but morning counts during migration are his favorite. Graduating from Frostburg State University in May of 2024 with a degree in Wildlife & Fisheries, he had an internship with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science studying flight calls in new world warblers and has held several field technician jobs throughout the country counting and surveying birds. He is in the Navy, currently working on Joint Base Andrews.

Gabi Zabel is an environmental educator with the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek, MD. Her passions are sharing nature with people and protecting our environment. She loves animals and is active in animal rescue. In her free time, she loves exploring the outdoors, kayaking, and birding.

Toni Kruszka serves as the director of development at the College of Southern Maryland (home of the Hawks!), where she has proudly worked for 36 years. A CSM alumna, Toni is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for students and strengthening the community she calls home.

A lifelong resident of Southern Maryland, Toni lives in St. Mary’s County with her husband, Steve, and their son, Vinny, who is currently a Gull at Salisbury University. She loves the region’s natural beauty and wildlife and takes an active interest in local efforts to preserve habitats and foster environmental stewardship. In her free time, Toni enjoys fishing, kayaking, crocheting, exploring local trails, and adding new species to her “life list.”

Pam Brumbley was raised in Charles County and now resides in southern Prince George’s. Her interests include many outdoor activities in addition to birding, such as camping, canoeing, monitoring bluebird boxes, and hiking. She has a fine art background with a BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and has been a photo editor in the DC and Baltimore area for fifteen years. Pam now works with art reproductions, restorations, and vintage and antique fine art and decor. She is familiar with many parks and trails in Charles and Prince George’s Counties, and has found an interest in exploring not only local birds and plants, but fungi as well.

Pam loves to learn and share knowledge, is passionate about conservation, and likes to get her hands dirty. Pam was awarded a Field Ornithology Audubon Hog Island scholarship in 2024 from the Southern Maryland Audubon Society. She has shared her passion and interest in birds, and the importance of incorporating native plants into our landscape, by helping to lead field trips, as well as participating in Christmas Bird Counts and May Count. Her goal is to help increase and support our bird population by educating nature lovers to provide proper habitat, food, and shelter for our feathered friends and insects.