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Board Member

Friends of the Heinz Refuge

Carol Armstrong is a Penn State University Extension Master Watershed Steward, Green Valleys Watershed Assoc. Schuylkill Water Steward, stream monitoring volunteer with Stroud Water Research Center, Board member of the Friends of Heinz Refuge, Chair of the Plastics Work Group, and Chair of the Charlestown Environmental Advisory Committee. 

Previously in cognitive neuroscience with the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, since 2017 she has worked as a volunteer in watershed restoration. 

Sustainability Manager

City of Reading Public Works Department, Sustainability and Solid Waste Division

Bethany works for the City of Reading Public Works Department, Sustainability & Solid Waste Division, as the Sustainability Manager. As the Sustainability Manager, she leads the City’s efforts to transition to 100% renewable energy & adapt to our changing climatic conditions and does strategic planning to steward our shared built and natural infrastructure, leads Public Works community outreach efforts and supports service-learning projects with our local colleges. 

Bethany graduated from RACC in 2016 with two Associate degrees (Science & Social Science) and from Alvernia University in 2018 and 2022 with degrees in environmental biochemistry and sustainable community leadership. 

Bethany is an active member of Angelica Creek Watershed Association, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, League of Women Voters and co-chairs the Earth Day Berks Planning Committee. 

Volunteer Master Watershed Steward

Senior Project Manager & Environmental Scientist

Princeton Hydro, LLC

Emily Bjorhus is a Senior Project Manager and Environmental Scientist at Princeton Hydro, LLC. In this role, she oversees a diverse portfolio of ecological restoration, wetland mitigation, and watershed protection projects. Mrs. Bjorhus also specializes in regulatory compliance and ecological services. She is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist accredited by the Society of Wetland Scientists. 

Community Science Program

Stroud Water Research

David Bressler works with Watershed groups in the Delaware River basin to help build capacity to monitor and detect changes in stream conditions. He develops water quality monitoring methods centered around Stroud™ Water Research Center’s EnviroDIY Monitoring Stations. Dave assists Watershed groups in integrating these approaches into their programs and customizing them according to their specific needs. He also facilitates Watershed ecology and monitoring workshops in support of community science in the Delaware River basin.

Retired Construction Manager & Environmental Volunteer

Joseph Debes is retired following 45 years of experience in Heavy Industrial Construction with CRMeyer and Sons, where he led the Chester, PA, office.

On a recent development project, Joe was responsible for all permitting and worked with government to meet all regulations. This project introduced him to MS-4, NPDES, and Stormwater Management.

As a volunteer for local environmental groups, Joe has established a Watershed-Friendly Certified Property and is an active member in his township's Environmental Advisory Council. He has also managed multiple continuous monitoring stations in West Chester, PA, supporting Stroud Water Research Center and West Chester University research efforts. 

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Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Legal Fellow 

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Since graduating from Temple University's Beasley School of Law in July 2023, Carlos has worked as the Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Legal Fellow at the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Prior to law school, Carlos attended the University of Central Florida, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in philosophy, with minors in humanities and cultural studies.

Born in Puerto Rico, and raised in both Puerto Rico and Florida, Carlos' upbringing exposed him to several communities suffering from environmental injustices. In particular, he witnessed degradation of these communities' coasts and wetlands. This experience became the impetus for Carlos to attend law school, where he sought expertise in environmental justice and legal advocacy for environmental justice communities. 

In addition to his work at the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Carlos has completed internships for Esperanza Legal Services, the energy sector of Community Legal Services, and the Superfund office of the EPA.

Chairman of the Board

Caln Township Parks and Recreation

Secretary of the Board

Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet

Fundraising Committee Chair

Old Caln Historical Society Board of Directors

After retiring the summer of 2019 from a 31 1/2 year career as a Police Communications Operator with the Pennsylvania State Police, Helen, determined to remain involved with the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet program joined the Board of Directors. 

She rejoined the Environmental/Outdoor Education Staff at CCWA/Paradise Farm Camps in Downingtown, working part-time with  4th - 7th grade students on school sponsored field trips. 

She attended events sponsored by Caln Twp Parks and Recreation, along with joining the Old Caln Historical Society. Eventually she was invited to join Parks and Rec as a volunteer member of the Board where she planned and participated in projects such as  Clean Up Days, Tree Planting,  and Maintenance of the Community Pollinator Garden. 

Following an overlap with the Old Caln Historical Society was discovered, she was asked to help with their Community Flea Market Fundraiser acting as Vendor Liaison and Tour Guide at the Old Caln Meeting House/ OCHS Museum during their First Sunday Open Houses.

Engagement and Schuylkill Action Network Coordinator

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Kaitie Evers is PDE’s Engagement and SAN Coordinator. In this role, she assists with programs related to the Schuylkill Action Network and Delaware River Watershed Initiative, among other regional collaborative initiatives at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to further clean water, healthy habitats, and strong communities.

Tim has been with Schuylkill River Greenways since 2006 serving in several roles and functions over the years. He has over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and over the last 17 years with SRG has managed multiple grant programs and dozens of projects. His passion is for the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund, a grant program that supports water quality projects throughout the watershed. He was also instrumental in SRG acquiring a river based outfitter and creating a strategic partnership with Take It Outdoors, an outfitter delivering outdoor recreation services and programs throughout the river corridor.

Program Director

Perkiomen Stormwater Initiative

Crystal has a Bachelor's degree in Geography from Penn State University and a Master's degree in Transportation Engineering from Villanova. She has worked as a planner and traffic engineer in Southeastern Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. Her experience includes stints as a Transportation Planner for both Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Transportation Engineer for Pennoni Associates, Director of Planning and Development for Lower Providence Township in Montgomery County, Executive Director of Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, and Environmental Project Manager for Stell Associates. 

Crystal is currently Project Director of the Perkiomen Mapping and Flood Mitigation Project for Representative Joe Webster (D-150). She lives in Lower Frederick Township amid the preserved open spaces of Stone Hill, and has two sons and three grandsons.

Program Director

Berks Nature

Michael joined the staff of Berks Nature in August of 2015. He has volunteered for many environmental organizations and is a board member of several more. 

During the summer of 2013, while working on his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science/Biology at Kutztown University, Michael was an intern for the stormwater initiative. While at Kutztown, he spent a lot of his time at involved in extracurricular activities. He was the vice-president of the Kutztown University Environmental Action Club, research assistant, teacher’s assistant, tutor, and did independent research. 

Michael has experience in management, photography, citizen education at the Department of Agriculture, laboratory work, and concentrated on limnology (water ecology) at school. He lives in Sinking Spring with his son Michael Jr.

Devon Guyer is the current Legal Research Fellow at Delaware Riverkeeper Network focusing on water antidegradation. Devon recently joined the organization in August of 2023 after graduating from Lewis & Clark Law School in May 2023, receiving certificates in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Public Interest Law. 

Devon has always cared deeply about environmental and social issues. Prior to law school, attended the University of New Hampshire to obtain her Bachelor's degree in 2020, majoring in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, Justice Studies, with minors in Sociology and Sustainable Energy. 

As a native to Southern Jersey, Devon is especially passionate about the preservation and protection our local environment and communities.

Watershed Coordinator

Berks County Conservation District

Kent Himelright has been the Watershed Coordinator at Berks County Conservation District since 2016. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Schuylkill Action Network Agricultural Workgroup and Berks County Source Water Protection Program. He attended Pennsylvania State University, studying Wildlife and Fisheries Science. He is native to the Susquehanna River Basin but has called the Schuylkill Watershed his home for the last decade with his wife, two boys, and baby girl.

Program Manager for Watershed Outreach

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

As Program Manager for Watershed Outreach, Tali MacArthur's chief responsibility is to advance the mission of the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, which supports local efforts to protect Pennsylvania's streams and rivers, and encourages opportunities for recreation in and along them. 

Tali has expertise in water resource restoration, conservation, and outreach, including 12 years with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Coastal Zone Management Program, and two years as Program Manager with the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.

Tali holds a Master's of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor's in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina Honors College. 

Retired Cell Biologist

Dave Manning is a retired cell biologist who handles the care and data for two EnviroDIY stations and a dozen HOBO temperature monitors in Chester County, PA. He has taught at a variety of levels, and has extensive experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. 

Growing up and working in an arid farming community in California's central valley was formative to Dave's understanding of water's value. This understanding was expanded through participation in outdoor activities where he faced challenges regarding a dearth, surplus, or contamination of water. 

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Science and Policy Analyst

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Matt McCann joined the Delaware Riverkeeper Network in 2015. In his role as Science and Policy Analyst, Matt provides support for the organization's monitoring and advocacy programs. He is responsible for assessing the environmental impacts of proposed projects and providing insights to prevent harm. He also engages in advocacy efforts by communicating scientific information and policy recommendations to government agencies and the general public. 

Matt has a background in herpetology and specializes in threatened and endangered reptiles and amphibians. He has a Mater's in Environmental Policy and Management/Fish and Wildlife Management from American Public University.

Director of Environmental Planning

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

Susan Myerov, AICP, recently joined the staff of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVCP) as its Director of Environmental Planning. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and administration of its environmental programs. The LVPC is the official planning commission for Pennsylvania's Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Prior to this position, Susan served for over 10 years as Watersheds Program Director for the Pennsulvania Environmental Council, leading PEC's watershed and water resource management programs. Susan is the vice chair of the Abington Township Environmental Advisory Council, and served for over 17 years on the Board of Directors of the Tookany-Tacony/Frankford Watershed Partnership. 

Energy Program Specialist

Energy Programs Office at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections

Christopher Nafe is an Energy Program Specialist with the Energy Programs Office (EPO) at PA DEP. He manages the local climate action programs for EPO, assisting local governments in completing greenhouse gas inventories and climate action plans to reduce their emissions. 

Prior to working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mr. Nafe worked as the Sustainability Coordinator for Harrisburg, PA. He received his Bachelor's in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Washington and Jefferson College, and his Master's in Community Psychology and Social Change with a focus on Environmental Issues from Penn State University. He is currently working on a PhD in Environmental Social Science at ASU.  

Coastal Outreach Specialist

Pennsylvania Sea Grant

Zach Nemec is a Coastal Outreach Specialist working in the Delaware River Basin. He joined Pennsylvania Sea Grant in July 2021. He is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating regional outreach programs, with a focus on Watershed restoration and community resilience in Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Zach received his Master's degree in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona. 

Water Quality Program Coordinator

Musconetcong Watershed Association

Christa was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida and moved to Washington, New Jersey in 2011.  She always had an affinity for water and fell in love with the rivers in the NJ Highlands region. This prompted her to return to school to earn a degree in science.  Since her tenure at the Musconetcong Watershed Association, she has successfully procured grants, garnered partnerships across 4 states and built out her community-science program to include monitoring for: live and continuous sensors, harmful algal blooms, macroinvertebrate and habitat assessments, road salt impacts, watershed-wide temperature snapshots and an upcoming bacterial monitoring project. 

Certified Climate Change Professional and Forest Program Specialist

Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry

Meredith Seltzer is a Certified Climate Change Professional and Forest Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Forestry, with 24 years of experience in ecological conservation. She has worked for the DCNR in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, since 2015 managing rare plant communities and wildlife populations on state forest land as part of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. In 2019, Meredith began additionally coordinating and implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation work for the Bureau of Forestry. 

Meredith previously held positions as a landscape ecologist for the Nature Conservancy of South Carolina, and a conservation steward for the Nature Conservancy of D.C./Maryland. In Virginia, she was a wetland restoration coordinator for the non-profit organization, Lynnhaven River Now, and an ecologist for the environmental consultant firm, Geo-Marine, Inc. 

Meredith has a Master's degreee in Forestry with a minor in Zoology from North Carolina State University. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Forestry and Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Tech.

Chair Person

North Coventry Open Space Review Board

Edie Shean-Hammond has worked in heritage conservation for more than 45 years.  

From 1975 until her retirement in 2015, she worked for the National Park Service. Today she continues to serve as Superintendent Emeritus consulting on projects and promoting special events. serves on the Board of Directors of French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. In 2015 North Coventry Township appointed her to their Open Space Review Board and in 2021, she was elected Chair.  

Committed to inclusion and diversity, she serves as President of the Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos and on several other local non-profit boards and committees.

Longtime Schuylkill River Sojourner & Volunteer

The Swisher Studio 

Brian serves as a volunteer for the Schuylkill Sojourn, as a Trail Ambassador and Trail Keeper for the Schuylkill River Trail, and for many other Schuylkill River Greenways events and programs. He has participated in the last 18 of the 25 Schuylkill River Sojourns, as well as sojourns and other paddling events across the Commonwealth and beyond. 

Brian is a graphic designer by profession, as the owner of The Swisher Studio in Reading, PA. The Greenways partnered with Brian to create “A Paddlers Guide to the Schuylkill River Water Trail”, a comprehensive set of maps & guide for this state-designated water trail and National Heritage Area watershed. The Paddlers Guide, which highlights public accesses, hazards, history, amenities, points-of-interest, and more, has won international recognition, including: The British Cartographic Society’s “John C. Bartholomew Award for Thematic Mapping” and “Stanfords Award for Printed Mapping”; The Cartography and Geographic Information Society's "Recreation or Travel Map Award”; and the YUPO USA “Do it on YUPO Print Award”.

Founder & CEO

Trees for Graziers

Austin Unruh is the founder and CEO of Trees For Graziers, a company helping farmers in Pennsylvania and beyond take their grazing to new heights using silvopasture. It is his goal to make silvopasture as easy and cost effective as possible for farmers, which is why Trees for Graziers offers everything from planning and funding acquisition, to planting and aftercare, while also growing silvo-specific nursery stock. 

When not thinking about silvopasture, Austin's favorite activity is picking all manner of tree crops with his young family. 

Watershed Specialist

Montgomery County Conservation District

Brian Vadino is a Watershed Specialist with the Montgomery County Conservation District. He has worked in partnership with Watershed organizations, municipalities, and other entities. Brian works within Montgomery County and throughout the region on planning, design, permitting, funding, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance activities associated conservation efforts. 

Prior to his current position, Brian worked as a Watershed Specialist with the Delaware County Conservation District, Director of Rivers Program with Wildlands Conservancy, and Eastern Area Habitat Management Assistant with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. 

Brian earned his Bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State University in 1997. In 2015, Brian received the Environmental Leadership Award from the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association for “his work with nonprofits, municipalities, landowners and others to promote watershed health and conservation practices.”

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Advocacy and Policy Coordinator

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Anneke joined the Delaware Riverkeeper Network in a full-time role in 2022, but her history with the organization is much longer. She volunteered with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network at a young age when her interest in environmentalism first emerged. Anneke later interned for the organization. 

Driven by a growing interest in environmental work, Anneke chose to attend Ithaca College, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Politics, with a minor in Environmental Studies.  She attended Vermont Law School where she focused on environmental law and graduated with a Juris Doctor.

In her current role, Anneke assists the Deputy Director with grassroots efforts in local communities. She works to embolden individuals in their efforts to stand up for the environment and pursue policy initiatives that benefit Delaware River and all of its communities. Anneke also provides insight and assistance to the Deputy Director in all aspects of campaign planning and implementation.

Watershed Specialist

Delaware County Conservation District

Karen is a Delaware County native and has been the Watershed Specialist at the Delaware County Conservation District since 2018. She earned her Bachelor's in Environmental, Geographical, & Geological Sciences with a focus on Geography and Planning from Bloomsburg University. 

Karen’s experience in urban and suburban resource conservation combined with an understanding of environmental planning principles has enabled her to identify and address resource concerns in Delaware County. Through collaborative efforts with government agencies, volunteer groups, municipalities, and landowners, Karen has planned, designed, and implemented best management practices for the improvement of water quality in the Delaware River Basin.