Gavin Deming, Executive Director
In 2017 Gavin established Allegheny GoatScape as a 501c3 non-profit organization to be able to use goats to work with partners, land managers and municipalities to mitigate invasive and unwanted plants throughout Allegheny County in a more ecologically friendly way. Gavin’s desire to properly manage knotweed and other invasives was planted when a friend suggested using a small nomadic herd to eat overgrown vacant lots throughout their neighborhood in Pittsburgh's North Side many years ago. Participating in agriculture policy meetings to make Pittsburgh more “goat-friendly”, followed by working on a project with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to bring goats to a public space with immediate positive effects on the landscape, he knew he had to get more involved, and a few years later, Allegheny GoatScape became a reality.

Erin Gaughan, Community Engagement Coordinator
Erin first became involved with Allegheny Goatscape as a volunteer in 2020. She quickly realized how much she loved the organization as it lies at the intersection of her two interests: environmental stewardship and animal care. Her background in environmental education and volunteer coordination (with previous professional experience with some of our favorite organizations: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Grow Pittsburgh and Tree Pittsburgh), as well as her first hand experience volunteering with Allegheny Goatscape made her a natural fit for this role. She has quickly fallen in love with each herd and is thrilled to share that love with the rest of us.

Megan Laychak, Field Coordinator
Megan comes to us from backgrounds in farming and landscaping. After years of being acquainted with native and edible flora, she became curious about the role of fauna in our local ecosystem and became an Allegheny GoatScape volunteer in the winter of 2023. When a position for a part-time shepherd opened up with the organization she jumped at the opportunity. Megan and our team looks forward to continuing to support the conservation efforts of the goats as Field Coordinator by preparing their work sites and stewarding the land alongside them.