The D&L Blog

EASTON, Pa., June 2, 2025 — The board of directors of Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) has appointed Antone “Tony” Pierucci as the organization’s new executive director, succeeding Claire Sadler.

Pierucci brings more than a decade of leadership experience in public history, historic preservation and cultural resource management. Previously, he served as deputy director at Gunston Hall, the historic Virginia home of founding father George Mason, where he oversaw strategic partnerships, led multiple departments and supported a $7 million fundraising campaign. Before that, he held senior leadership roles at Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, award-winning nature centers and historic sites, and teams of interpretive and preservation professionals.

Pierucci holds advanced degrees in public history and art history/archaeology, along with certifications in heritage interpretation and emergency response. His extensive expertise and commitment to cultural stewardship position him to lead Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor into its next chapter.

“We have every confidence that Tony will continue to build on the organization’s momentum — connecting the D&L Trail from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre while also enhancing our capacity to preserve and interpret the region’s rich industrial and natural heritage,” said Dick Hughes, DLNHC board chair.

Pierucci will prioritize understanding and serving the diverse communities throughout the National Heritage Corridor. His immediate focus is to engage directly with community members and stakeholders to learn their needs and values.

“The Corridor is rich with history and is grounded in an amazingly diverse natural environment. I look forward to finding ways to enhance the great work DLNHC already does to connect people to their own backyards,” said Pierucci. “I need to get to know the communities this organization serves. So my priority for the first several weeks of my tenure will be to do just that: to travel the corridor, meeting with community members and stakeholders and getting to know what they need from us — what they value and what they want to see more of.”

This announcement comes as Sadler steps down as executive director to focus on her family after more than a decade of dedicated service to Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. During her time with DLNHC, Sadler made a lasting impact through her leadership in trail development, her role as internal lead for the Lehigh Valley Greenways Partnership, one of Pennsylvania’s eight designated conservation landscapes, and her strategic guidance of the organization through an internal staff reorganization, a pandemic, American Alliance of Museums reaccreditation and more.

“Time and again, Claire has shown herself to be a respected and talented leader throughout her tenure at DLNHC. Over the past four years as executive director, she guided the team with dedication, vision and heart. Her leadership will be deeply missed,” Hughes said.

Pierucci assumes the role of executive director as of Monday, June 2, 2025. Sadler will continue to support DLNHC as a consultant during the transition period.

DLNHC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that preserves the historic pathway that once carried coal and iron from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. Today, the organization connects people to nature, culture, communities, recreation and industrial heritage through programs such as the National Canal Museum, the D&L Trail, St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest, Tales of the Towpath curriculum, Get Your Tail on the Trail and more.