Pilar Garro, left, and Kathleen Porter, right, are married and working at The Trustees
Pilar Garro and Kathleen Porter serve in key roles on our Trustees’ staff, as a Property Director on the North Shore, and our Director of Member Engagement, respectively. They are also married, and a part of the Trustees Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG).
What do you do at The Trustees? What are your roles?
Pilar (PG): I am the Property Director for 14 properties across the North Shore, including, Long Hill and Moraine Farm in Beverly and Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover. I oversee programming, business operations, and community relations for my area of the state.
Kathleen (KP): I am the Director of Member Engagement. In my role I oversee the Membership journey. I enjoy welcoming and celebrating all our Members across the state. Members are the cornerstone of our work and it is a privilege to engage with them on a daily basis.
What brought you to The Trustees?
KP: Despite popular belief, we actually did not meet at The Trustees, though coincidentally we were both hired within a year of each other. Pilar started as the first site specific Engagement Manager for the organization, based at The Crane Estate, while I began as a Membership Associate at Long Hill. With a background in engineering, I was looking for a career change and had enjoyed my previous experience in fundraising. Pilar was brought on during the Cultural Resources Campaign to oversee public programming, with a focus on bringing the Crane Estate back to life. She especially enjoyed developing the Crane Estate tours, many of which are still offered today.
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, a property that means a lot to Kathleen and Pilar in their personal and professional lives.
How do your identities within the LGBTQ+ community impact you as people?
Both: As members of the LGBTQ+ community, our identities shape how we show up both personally and professionally. For both of us, visibility and authenticity are core values. Working at The Trustees, we’ve felt encouraged to bring our whole selves to work, which has made a significant difference in our sense of belonging and purpose.
Being part of the LGBTQ+ community also informs how we approach our work—whether it’s engaging with colleagues, supporting inclusive programming, or thinking about how our properties and experiences can be welcoming to everyone. We both know how powerful it is to feel represented and respected, and that perspective motivates us to help create an environment where all people feel seen and valued.
More personally, sharing this aspect of who we are as a married couple has also deepened our connection to the organization’s mission of celebrating the diversity of communities across Massachusetts. It has helped us advocate for inclusive practices and given us opportunities to support colleagues and visitors who may be navigating similar experiences.
Kathleen and Pilar enjoy Christmas at Castle Hill
Why is it important to you that The Trustees celebrates Pride?
Both: While this is just one of the many causes The Trustees celebrates, it is the one that means the most to us. This celebration goes beyond an external campaign, it demonstrates that The Trustees supports us not only professionally but also personally. They are creating an inclusive and welcoming community.
What is the best part about working at The Trustees together?
PG: Besides carpooling to various work events, working together gives us a unique perspective on the organization’s work. It allows us to see things through each other’s lens and deepens our engagement with The Trustees.
We’ve had many late-night conversations about programming strategy, membership goals, sales approaches for the properties, and many more. As a couple, we bring a distinctive point of view because our roles are so different. Kathleen works statewide to support the properties, while I focus locally on supporting the teams on the ground. In many ways this represents both sides of the coin and gives us a wholistic approach to our work and decision making.
Kathleen and Pilar at Crane Beach in Ipswich
Pilar and Kathleen at Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover
What advice do you have for any of a similar identity trying to follow in your footsteps?
Both: Be true to yourself and live authentically, personally and professionally. Your unique perspective should be welcomed and celebrated. The challenges we have faced together, have prepared us for the challenges we face at work.
Do you have a favorite Trustees property to visit together? A special memory related to your relationship and a property?
Both: It all goes back to where it started, the Crane Estate. We’ve spent so much time enjoying that special place together. Whether it’s taking in the Art Shows, dressing up for Roaring ’20s parties, joining the Guest of the Crane Tour, or spending a weekend at our favorite retreat, The Inn at Castle Hill, it has always felt like a place that brings us closer and reminds us why we love what we do.
What do you enjoy doing together when you’re not at work?
Both: When we’re not at work, we love going on little adventures together, whether it’s a trip to Disney World, exploring the charm of Charleston, soaking in the desert views out West, or even just a spontaneous day trip up the coast, we are always guaranteed a laugh and good time together. At home, we spend plenty of cozy time with our orange cat, Mac, who has a big personality and pretty much thinks he’s in charge. Weekends in the summer, you’ll almost always find us down the Cape, relaxing by the water, enjoying the sunshine, and making the most of those long, carefree days.
