Staff

Mark Schroeter

Landscape Supervisor

Mark Schroeter served as Oatlands’ Landscape Supervisor starting in 2011, preserving and enhancing its historic gardens with a blend of traditional craftsmanship and sustainable practice. His career began in Florida in 1995 as an estate gardener and later took him to the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., where he maintained the grounds of the U.S. Capitol complex. He also served for five years at the renowned Inn at Little Washington, managing orchards and kitchen gardens for its award-winning hospitality program. Returning to Oatlands, Mark continues a legacy of horticultural excellence, stewarding the land with care and creativity.

Lori Kimball

Senior Manager of Programs and Education

Lori Kimball is the Senior Manager of Programs and Education at Oatlands, leading interpretive planning, public programs, and community engagement initiatives. After a 23-year career in media, Lori pursued her passion for preservation, earning a Certificate in Historic Preservation from NVCC before joining Oatlands in 2012. An award-winning researcher and dedicated public historian, she has served on numerous heritage boards and committees and currently sits on the Loudoun County Heritage Commission, the Lovettsville Historical Society Board, and the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library. Her work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive storytelling and local history.

Tracy Drash

Senior Manager of Operations

Tracy Drash is the Senior Manager of Operations at Oatlands, where she oversees site management, facilities, and business operations with precision and care. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Political Science, Tracy served six years as an Intelligence Officer, separating at the rank of Captain. Her civilian career has spanned the hospitality, wine, and education sectors—including leadership roles at Robert Mondavi Winery, Constellation Brands, and Minnesota’s Agricultural Center of Excellence. Since 2020, she has called Leesburg home, bringing to Oatlands her passion for history, agriculture, and community—and her love of food, wine, and family.

 Margaret Salazar-Porzio, Ph.D.

 Executive Director

Margaret “Margie” Salazar-Porzio is the Executive Director of Oatlands, where she is leading a transformative vision for community engagement, inclusive storytelling, and sustainable growth. A nationally recognized leader in public history and cultural preservation, she brings over 15 years of experience advancing inclusive storytelling, cross-sector partnerships, and organizational growth. Previously, she served in leadership roles at the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and as a Curator and Chair at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. A Distinguished Lecturer of the Organization of American Historians, she is inspired by her Mexican and Japanese heritage and Los Angeles roots. Outside of work, Dr. Salazar-Porzio enjoys life in Great Falls, Virginia, with her husband, their extraordinary son, and two of the sweetest cats in the world.