RIVER NETWORK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Brand & Communications Director
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Amy Boal (she/her) now lives and works in Boulder County, Colorado, on Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne lands.
Amy joined River Network in 2019. Working closely with the entire River Network team as Brand & Communications Director, she steers the organization's brand identity, leads its storytelling, promotes and expands the reach of River Network's work and mission, and helps to build a more inclusive and diverse movement for water.
Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geography from the University of Oregon. She also worked with the local community, writing and developing community action guides with Oregon Toxics Alliance (now Beyond Toxics) on a range of environmental issues. Amy spent the decade before joining River Network producing nonprofit fundraising events and wearing just about every hat in digital media. Outside of work, Amy is raising a toddler, slowly replacing three acres of lawn and pasture with pollinator gardens and vegetable beds, and spends time supporting and volunteering with organizations like Emergency Family Assistance Association, the Boulder Public Library, and Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Andrew Fahlund Chair
- Senior Program Officer for the Water Foundation
Andrew Fahlund serves as Senior Program Officer for the Water Foundation, an innovative collaboration of philanthropies dedicated to the sustainable management of western water resources. Andrew Fahlund directs grantmaking and policy efforts on a variety of issues and helped design and execute a campaign to pass California's historic 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Previously, Andrew Fahlund served as Executive Director for Stanford University's Water in the West program, which engages in interdisciplinary, applied research projects and convenes diverse stakeholders in collaborative dialogues around issues affecting western water management. Andrew also served as Senior Vice President for Conservation with American Rivers. Leading a staff of 45, his department developed and orchestrated advocacy campaigns designating 1,100 new miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, removing more than 200 dams, restoring flows to 2,000 miles of river, protecting 500,000 acres of riparian lands, and securing $6 billion in new federal clean water funding among other achievements. He has served on numerous governmental advisory groups, testified before the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as the California Legislature, and participated in various policy forums and negotiations addressing water policy in the United States.
Andrew Fahlund received his M.S. in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment with honors and his B.A. from Colorado College in Anthropology. He lives in Davis California with his wife Jill and son Zach where they enjoy visiting wild places, meeting new people, listening to music, and cooking good food.
Growing up in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, André was raised in the agriculturally fueled town of Madera, CA. A community where working the land was the norm and recreating in nature seemed foreign to most members of his community. Fortunately for André, one of his uncles discovered the joys of recreating outdoors and shared the discovery with André's family, ultimately instilling a passion for conservation and restoration work. After receiving a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis in 2014, André went on to work for several state and federal agencies, including conducting aquatic restoration in Yosemite National Park. After gaining perspective from his work experiences, André returned to academia to pursue an M.S. in Natural Resources with a Watershed Management emphasis at Humboldt State University. André is additionally involved with Latino Outdoors, a latinx-led organization that connects and engages leaders and community members in the outdoor, conservation, and nature movement. As CalWild's San Joaquin Valley Organizer, André is excited to see public lands advocated for and protected, especially those that inspired him and provide ecosystem services for his community. André now resides back in the San Joaquin Valley and loves to recreate outdoors via backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, or simply observing the raw beauty that nature delivers.
This interview was conducted by Carly Schmidt on October 26, 2021. Photo by Matthew Falcon. Learn more about André's work at https://www.calwild.org/.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of the Saw Mill River Coalition
Ayana joined River Network in 2023. As Communications Associate, Ayana is currently researching inclusive, equitable communications practices, which they will later implement to share stories via social media and moderate River Network's online communities.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance, Operations and People
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director of Strategic Integration for ASU Light
- Scott Miller Treasurer
Bill Brandt is the Director of Strategic Integration for ASU LightWorks. An Arizona State University initiative, LightWorks capitalizing on ASU strengths in solar energy and other light-inspired research. These include solar energy, micro-grids, high penetration renewable integration, and many sensor based control systems. LightWorks also supports technologies focus on photosynthetic and mixotrophic microbial communities - producing renewable products, fuels and clean water. In addition, LightWorks supports renewable based "communities of practice" focused on governance, evaluation and modeling opportunity.
Before joining ASU, Brandt was a Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at BP where he delivered complex M & A transactions including carve outs and joint ventures experience in China, Asia Pacific, Russia and the U.S. Brandt has served on various advisory boards and is a strong promoter of technology to market collaborations in pursuit of accelerating the transition to cost effective renewable energy and water.
Brandt received an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Principia College.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Board of Directors
Bob Sproull, currently chair of the trustees of the Connecticut River Conservancy, is a computer scientist with academic and industrial experience. Before retiring in 2011, he served as vice president and lab director of Sun Microsystems, then bought by Oracle. He previously was on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University, and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Sproull is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, where he has served as chair of the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. He served on the board of directors of the Charles River Watershed Association for 15 years and helped them launch a capital campaign. He lives in Leeds, MA, is the coordinator of the Friends of Mineral Hills Conservation Area, and is a member of the Yankee Rowing Club. He rows on the Connecticut as often as possible and enters an occasional race.
Job Titles:
- Director of Leadership Development
Job Titles:
- Policy Associate
- Resilient Communities and Policy Associate
Originally from San Francisco, California (Ohlone Land), Campbell Simmons now lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Lenape lands.
Campbell joined River Network in 2023. As the Resilient Communities and Policy Associate, Campbell supports organizations in the network to advance climate justice and holistic community resilience that incorporates environmental, social, and economic resilience.
Campbell graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability, Policy, and Equity. Before coming to River Network, Campbell worked at The Wilderness Society as their Equity Associate, building equity into their policies, practices, and programs. Outside of work Campbell is a dedicated birder and poet!
Job Titles:
- Membership & Communications Manager
Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Carly Schmidt (she/her) now lives and works in Denver, Colorado, on Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne lands.
Carly joined River Network in 2018. As Membership & Communications Manager, she leads the River Rally conference planning cycle and oversees River Network's membership program by sharing member stories through the Meet Your Network page and keeping network members connected though the monthly Events & Education newsletter.
Carly earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Tulsa where she was captain of the women's rowing team. She went on to obtain a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences & Policy from Northern Arizona University. Prior to joining River Network, she created content for the Project WILD environmental education guides, facilitated outdoor education programs, and managed marketing and communications at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Outside of work, Carly is a voracious reader who spends weekends exploring local trails, gardening, and cooking through her ever-expanding recipe list.
Job Titles:
- Policy Director at WaterNow Alliance
- WaterNow Alliance Water Policy Director
Caroline Koch, WaterNow Alliance Water Policy Director, leads the organization's work in identifying and addressing policy and legal barriers to implementation of sustainable water management practices through toolkit development, legislative and administrative advocacy, and policy white papers. She was previously a partner at Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc. representing environmental non-profit organizational clients in federal citizen suit actions and impact litigation advocating for the protection of California's water and public trust resources. Caroline serves on the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters Board. She graduated with a BA in English and Public Policy from Duke University and a JD with honors from Golden Gate University School of Law, with a Certificate in Environmental Law.
This interview was conducted by Carly Schmidt on October 28, 2021, with minor updates published on December 6, 2022. Learn more about Caroline's work at https://waternow.org/.
Job Titles:
- Asst Director at University City Exchange and Rio Reimagined
Job Titles:
- Executive Director at Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust
Job Titles:
- Healthy Rivers Program Associate
Originally from Boise, Idaho, Chelsea Silva (she/her) now lives and works in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Newe Sogobia (Eastern Shoshone), Timpanogos, Goshute, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) lands.
Chelsea joined River Network in 2022. As the Healthy Rivers Program Associate, Chelsea supports practitioners in Colorado and other western states by providing capacity-building support to local coalitions as they assess and plan for their rivers, and designing and hosting peer calls and field days for statewide peer learning networks. Chelsea has spent her career dedicated to creating space for diverse groups to participate in equitable watershed planning and management. She served as Executive Director of a small nonprofit watershed organization, spent five years in university settings researching landowner perceptions and decision-making about water and other natural resources in the U.S. and Latin America, and she is trained in natural resource facilitation. Chelsea has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages (Spanish) from the University of Idaho, and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences & Policy from Northern Arizona University.
Outside of work, Chelsea is volunteering in her community, riding bicycles, playing in nature, cooking, gardening, aunting, and crafting.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Groundwork Denver
Cindy Chang is the executive director of Groundwork Denver and has served the organization in various roles since 2010, including as a volunteer, Board, and staff member. She has a background in nonprofit management and philanthropy, and she has a deep passion for the environment. She holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Yale School of Management and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Cindy also earned her B.A. at Tufts University. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, walking, and her two cats.
This interview was conducted by Carly Schmidt on November 8, 2018. Learn more about Cindy's work at Groundwork Denver.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the Alabama River Alliance
- Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance
Cindy Lowry is the executive director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance. She joined the staff in 2005 as Watershed Leadership Coordinator and was promoted to Executive Director in 2007. A native of Alabama, Cindy was born and raised in Oneonta. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science from Auburn University and her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she focused on citizen participation in public policy. Cindy has more than 15 years of experience in the conservation nonprofit sector. Cindy has been recognized by the Metro Birmingham branch of the NAACP (2012), named one of the Women Who Shape the State by al.com (2016) and awarded an Auburn University Alumni Spirit of Sustainability Award (2017). Cindy currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Alabama Arise and is a long-time member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Locust Fork River.
This interview was conducted by Carly Schmidt on November 11, 2018. Learn more about Cindy's work at the Alabama Rivers Alliance.
Job Titles:
- Healthy Rivers Program Manager
Colleen Walters (she/her) was born in the Philadelphia, PA area, on Lenapehoking (Lenni-Lenape) lands, where she still lives today.
Colleen joined River Network in 2020. As Healthy Rivers Program Manager, she works along side local partners to advocate for a fully fishable, swimmable Delaware River using the tools of the Clean Water Act.
Colleen earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University and her Masters of Science in Ecological Restoration from University of Florida. Prior to joining River Network, she worked for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in both Washington, D.C. and later Portland, OR, assisting local organizations in finding solutions to water quantity limitations and supporting riparian restoration projects to provide critical habitat for endangered pacific salmon. Outside of work, you can find Colleen exploring new hiking trails, paddling with her partner and pup by the Jersey Shore, traveling to the next National Park on her list, and spending time with her family watching Eagles games every Sunday in the fall.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of the Orange HUUB
- Sharee Harrison Managing Director at HUUB & Owner of Treasure Islands Promotions
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, River Programs
Job Titles:
- Healthy Rivers Program Manager
Born and raised in the Spokane, Washington, Dr. Brian Murphy (he/his) now lives and works in Denver, Colorado, on Arapaho and Cheyenne lands.
Brian joined River Network in 2022 as the Healthy Rivers Program Manager in the Colorado River Basin (CRB). As part of the CRB team, he provides technical assistance to coalitions, local governments, and other organizations across the CRB working in the river health and resilient communities spaces. Brian leads River Network's integrated river management program that supports local leaders working to ensure their communities and rivers are healthy and resilient into the future. In this role, Brian works with local government staff, nonprofit partners, and community leaders, state and federal agency personnel, practitioners, and other technical experts to help communities protect and restore their river corridors. Partners look to him for help navigating technical hurdles, connecting people, and promoting solutions that balance community development and resource conservation goals. He also supports watershed and stream management planning across Colorado, emphasizing community-based river values, nature-based solutions, and land conservation policies.
Brian has worked in the water resources engineering and river science field for over 20 years and holds a PhD from Colorado State University. His PhD research focused on assessing urban stream processes and emerging management paradigms that integrate social-ecological values. He founded his own consulting practice, River Works, to focus on the "wicked problems" caused by natural and anthropogenic changes on river physical conditions. Brian has published multiple journal articles on urban river condition assessment and management. He also recently wrote a chapter for the upcoming book titled, Rewilding the Urban Frontier: River Conservation in the Anthropocene.
Brian is passionate about working on the ground with communities, providing technical assistance and capacity building. From his doctoral research to his consulting and nonprofit experience, Brian addresses the root causes of degraded river health. He is comfortable working at the complex intersection of watershed planning and community needs, and is known for his drive to understand technical issues deeply, skills in partnership building, and enthusiasm for sharing knowledge.
Outside of work, he is an active mountain enthusiast, exploring Colorado's Front Range with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Drinking Water Program Director
Job Titles:
- Corporate Partnerships Manager
Job Titles:
- Resilient Communities Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice President, River Programs
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Philanthropy
Orange Trail Mix is a HUUB funded environmental justice initiative that welcomes all generations to hike the South Mountain Reservation. Guided by Sharee Harrison and local environmentalist, Mike Brick, the program shows how accessible large natural spaces are to Black and brown communities.
Trail Mix has given me the opportunity to explore the green nature lands that we have surrounding our community, which a lot of the people and residents have no idea…[people] that's been living within the city for all their life and have no idea that 15 minutes away you can go canoeing down the Passaic River. So, having the opportunity with this grant to be able to bring out our community members and give them the opportunities to be part of nature is awesome.
I was able to link up with a good friend, Mike Brick. Mike Brick is a West Orange resident. Me and him have collaborated. I've been living in West Orange for the past seven years, and I have been involved with a lot of the different organizations within the Township. So, me and Mike Brick met on the Downtown West Orange Alliance, which I'm able to work with the small businesses and businesses within West Orange.
Working with him, I have been able to collaborate to bring my friends from the HUUB up to the Eagle Rock Reservation, as well as the South Mountain Reservation, which is the water reservation for the City of Orange. We have active water wells up here. Our water is sent down to the city. So, we knew about it, but for him to research and actually take us on tours up there to see our actual water wells, was everything.
He is a well-known advocate for the reservation. He's the director on the board of the Environmental [Commission]. So, he was able to link me with the Environmental Center and different other organizations that were able to open up free doors for us to be able to bring individuals to the Environmental Center for free to do the canoeing, the walking, the Fairy Trail, and visit the waterfall. We just had kids, a bunch of kids, up to the waterfall and it was hot out, so they got to actually go in the waterfall and the water and splash. Knowing that they went back as a family-they took their whole family back to see it-that was something that was good. They sent me pictures of them all up there. Those are things that I'm getting joy from.
Those are some of the areas we have been; and the Fairy Trail is one of our favorites. That's in Millburn, and that's where it has little fairy houses that have been made historically. Some of these houses have been up here for years. The kids get to go. It's a myth that these fairies live in these houses, and they protect the forests. And so, we get to take the kids up there, and we get to show them the Fairy Trail. And we leave candy, we leave pennies, and the kids are just amazed by the houses, how they're built, the shapes. Everything is built from materials from the woods. So, that is something. And then we incorporate it for next year to work with the kids to make our own little fairy houses and put in my garden-the Ben Jones Garden. So, I'm excited about that.
I'm glad to be able to do it again. I have an inbox full of organizations that are looking to take advantage of what we're doing for next year. So, that I am excited about, and I'm just grateful and thankful for the HUUB, that we do have a hub in our community that is open and always trying to look for different opportunities to be able to advance us and educate the community.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Job Titles:
- Resilient Communities Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Andrew Fahlund Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Drinking Water Program Associate