David Gest is passionate about ultimate frisbee. From playing in multiple cities to founding a youth league through the Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance, the sport holds a special place in his life. 

And that, he says, is because it’s a game with no referees. Instead, players follow a principle called "Spirit of the Game," which puts the responsibility of calling fouls on the players themselves.

"It teaches honesty, conflict resolution, sportsmanship," Gest explains. "You're supposed to encourage your teammates and even encourage the opposite team."

A little more than a month into his new role as executive director of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Gest finds himself using these skills when faced with complex challenges. He notes that preservation exists on a spectrum, from those who wish to preserve everything in its original state to those who prioritize new development. His role is to find the balance.

"I don't shy away from those discussions, but they can be stressful because you're trying to navigate all perspectives," says Gest. "My goal is to be collaborative and to help people get to a consensus on what changes in the neighborhood can look like."

Just like the conflict resolution Gest practices on the ultimate frisbee field, his new position requires a similar kind of tact. He also brings a similar level of commitment to being on top of his game. 

In perfect alignment

Gest brings an extensive background in city planning, law, nonprofit leadership, and historic preservation to his new position. Originally from Washington D.C., he earned an undergraduate degree in architecture and urban studies from Yale, followed by degrees in law and city planning from Columbia and Penn.

He also brings a deep understanding of the rules. Before joining the Conservancy, Gest was a partner at law firm Ballard Spahr, focusing on zoning and land use. He advised clients on real estate and preservation projects while providing pro bono counsel to nonprofits and individuals. 

He later served as Chief Operating Officer of Mural Arts Philadelphia, overseeing an $18 million budget and multiple departments. Most recently, he founded his own consulting firm, SquareSide, assisting organizations and individuals with nonprofit management, zoning and land use, and civic engagement.

Despite his varied career, Gest says his most relevant experience was his first job after college at a historic preservation consulting firm in Los Angeles. This early exposure sparked an enduring interest in preservation work.

When the Conservancy position opened up, Gest saw his interests and experiences perfectly converge.

"I've always had in the back of my mind an interest in being in either the nonprofit or the public sector," says Gest. "When this job became available it was very exciting because it's even more directly aligned with my experience [than my previous jobs]...I was pretty happy to hit all those connections."

Setting goals

Since starting on Jan. 6, Gest has immersed himself in learning the organization while developing future plans.

"It's been a lot of fun," says Gest. "The staff is really amazing and very friendly and very dedicated. So I really lucked out in that regard. People are really motivated to expand the work of the Conservancy."

In each of the organization’s core areas, Gest says, the staff has been committed to innovation. 

For archives, they're planning a new exhibit in the Conservancy's building at 8708 Germantown Ave., aiming to make it a formal public destination where visitors can explore the space or search the archives.

On the development front, the staff is exploring new fundraising avenues, including local, state, and federal grants, leveraging Gest's government experience. The Conservancy also aims to take on new conservation easements while maintaining its status as an accredited land trust. Additionally, new public engagement programming is in development.

A broader goal for Gest is expanding the Conservancy's geographic reach through partnerships with more organizations in the Wissahickon watershed. The Conservancy's preservation and conservation mission extends beyond Chestnut Hill's borders.

"Since we are an RCO (Registered Community Organization) and I have a background in zoning well before I got here, I was always interested in helping RCOs understand the development process, the zoning process, the historic preservation process, and helping equip them with information or techniques to achieve their goals as a community," says Gest.

Committed to the game

Gest, who lives in Elkins Park, was familiar with the Conservancy and Chestnut Hill before joining the organization. He would often visit with his wife and two kids. As someone interested in city planning, the neighborhood's layout particularly impressed him.

"I remember being very struck by – and I still am – just the idea of living between Germantown Avenue and the Wissahickon, and knowing you can walk out your door one way and experience the shops and restaurants and the commercial sector, and you walk out the other way and you're in the middle of nature," Gest says. "It's just a terrific combination and, in many ways, an ideal setting for a neighborhood."

Gest says he appreciates how much many locals are committed to preserving this unique character of the community – and that is where his background and interests come into play. Everyone may have differing ideas on how exactly to preserve a community, but in the spirit of the game, Gest’s role is to navigate these differences – and find a way for everyone to win.