Staff
Justinn Overton
Abby Brown
Jake Lasseter
Chad Hoffman
Stella Blue
Lucas Allison
Quinn Herring
Richard Rybka
Kacey Hayes
Nicolaas Boot
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
Justinn Overton
Justinn is the Executive Director and Riverkeeper at Coosa Riverkeeper, where she fights everyday for swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for Alabamians. She patrols the watershed, tackles pollution, and leads our investigative and legislative efforts while guiding staff and Board of Directors.
In 2024, she was recognized by River Network as a National River Hero. She has also been awarded the State Alabama River Hero award by Alabama Rivers Alliance. In 2015, she was named one of Southern Living’s “Women of Worth,” and in 2017, she starred in a Voices for Clean Air campaign celebrating her passion for water and environmental justice.
Justinn graduated magna cum laude in Environmental Advocacy from the University of Alabama and earned a Master’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management.
When she’s not saving the river, Justinn keeps her many boats and feet wet with lots of swimmin’, canoe camping, and hiking. She is also a registered yoga teacher, enjoys dancing to the Grateful Dead, and lovin’ on her dog, Stella Blue.
Director of Community Engagement
Abby Brown
As Director of Community Engagement, Abby ensures the people of the Coosa River watershed are engaged in Coosa Riverkeeper programs and are informed and educated about the threats to the Coosa and public health. She manages all education and outreach initiatives to increase organizational reach through collecting accurate information on the health of our waters, engaging the public to be good stewards of our water resources, and ensuring ample operating funds are generated for the organization.
Abby joined Coosa Riverkeeper in 2020 as Development Coordinator through AmeriCorps VISTA, working to improve communications, donor retention, and increasing capacity through various funding sources. After one year of AmeriCorps service, Abby became a full time employee of Coosa Riverkeeper as Outreach Manager, leading all outreach efforts for Coosa Riverkeeper programs while supporting fundraising efforts including donor engagement, communications, and events. Abby graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in 2020 with a B.S. in both Biology and Urban Environmental Science.
Abby loves spending her free time outside with her husband, Jarrod, traveling, obsessing over plants, and snuggling with her 3 kitties.
Water Quality Manager
Jake Lasseter
Jake grew up in Coats Bend, a rural community situated on a bend of the Coosa near Gadsden. He spent his childhood exploring the creeks and woods around Neely Henry Lake and Weiss Lake—hiking, paddling, hunting, and fishing with his dad—discovering an interest in the outdoors early on. While earning a Biology degree from Jacksonville State University amidst a lot of life stress, Jake found Coosa Riverkeeper online and channeled his love and interest for the environment into a role as the North R
oute Field Technician for Swim Guide in 2020. For 16 weeks, he monitored water quality at ten sites, checking water quality each week enduring high temperatures and humidity to inform the public on where it was safe to swim, and ultimately, fell in love with Coosa Riverkeeper’s mission and the work we do.
After his stint as a field technician, Jake became an AmeriCorps VISTA for two years, where he served as the Swim Guide Coordinator. He’s now the full-time Water Quality Manager, where he still manages the Swim Guide program along with responsibilities geared towards assisting the Staff Riverkeeper collate data, manage current water quality issues, help with holding polluters accountable, and researching issues within the watershed. He also keeps a watchful eye on data collection and lab protocols, all while training and managing a team of Seasonal Employees during the summer to conduct our sampling efforts for Swim Guide.
When he’s not busy cracking jokes at Coosa Riverkeeper, Jake can be found enjoying the outdoors, rock climbing, backpacking, paddling, listening to music, playing a video game, or enjoying the company of friends and family—basically living his best life.
He’s tackled both the Pinhoti Trail and the Appalachian Trail, showcasing that he has a serious commitment to walking long distances for fun (and maybe munching on some tasty snacks along the way). Jake completed these adventures in the fall of 2023, and has been back here ever since to help us continue where he left off.
Watershed Specialist
Chad Hoffman
Chad spent his childhood playing in the woods of Pine Mountain, Ga., not far from Callaway Gardens. Through various experiences as he got older he learned firsthand the challenges that major waterways face, along their skinny water. The middle section of the Chattahoochee River is where he learned to whitewater kayak, and where his passion for fly fishing and conservation evolved.
While pursuing a degree in Environmental Science at Auburn University, he spent time working in a paleo limnology lab. He also served as a facilitator at the Auburn University Challenge Course, as well as the Field Coordinator for the Chattahoochee River Conservancy. He also spent a summer in Central Montana, interning for the Friends of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. After graduating in 2018, he moved to Birmingham in 2019 where he worked as an Environmental Specialist at an environmental engineering firm. During this time he became a volunteer with Coosa Riverkeeper and became committed to conserving our river and helping our organization.
As Watershed Specialist, Chad ensures that our Swim Guide and Fish Guide programs are operating smoothly and successfully to protect, restore, and promote the Coosa. He collaborates with our Riverkeeper to manage the lab and investigate pollution. He oversees our field technicians, data collection and analyzation, as well as manages our AmeriCorps members.
Chad is happiest spending time with his friends and family. He loves wading a skinny water stream with a fly rod in his hand and his camera ready to capture special moments on the water.
Office Dog
Stella Blue
Stella Blue has been a member of the Coosa Riverkeeper team since 2017. She provides crucial support to all of our staff members throughout the day, providing emotional support when polluters get us down and requiring a number of belly rubs from everyone in the office. She enjoys getting her paws dirty and boat rides with our Staff Riverkeeper. She also serves as part-time security and welcome committee to our office.
Stella is happiest when she is with her family, running around and sniffin’, chasing deer, or joy riding in boats.
Field Manager
Lucas Allison
Lucas Allison has enjoyed Alabama’s incredible biodiversity since he was a kid. Born and raised in Alabama, his interest and joy for the outdoors started young. Going hiking, kayaking, camping, flipping over old logs to look for bugs and staying at his families small lake house were all mainstays of his childhood that helped create a long lasting foundation based on love and a passion for our natural world. This early passion for our world has influenced many of his interests and hobbies today; he is a regular camper, hiker, climber, and mountain biker. It has also influenced his love for the aquatic world as he has multiple fish tanks all designed after natural river scapes with live plants included.
Lucas graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health. After serving as our AmeriCorps VISTA for a year, we’re excited to bring Lucas on full-time. During this time as an AmeriCorps, Lucas spearheaded our creel survey of anglers, algae monitoring program, and responding to citizen complaints. As our Field Manager, Lucas handles our field investigations for citizen complaints, manages our clean-up volunteers, and collects water quality samples to support our Riverkeeper Patrol program.
Outreach Manager
Quinn Herring
As a homeschooled kid from Montevallo, Quinn spent a lot of time learning under her childhood’s iconic Magnolia tree and picking blackberries from the open fields behind her childhood home. Quinn’s family helped instill the value of the outdoors and never-ending awe for the beauty of the South through camping, fishing, and hiking trips, geocaching sprees, and outdoor camps for kids.
Quinn spent her teenage years volunteering with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens teaching during children’s summer camps and interning in places from Luzoir, France, to Mons, Belgium, and more to focus on off-grid living, beekeeping, and conservation. Quinn joined Americorps NCCC in 2020 working in the Midwest with various nonprofits where she was able to get her hands dirty with field work and outreach experience.
After joining AmeriCorps VISTA in 2023 with Coosa Riverkeeper as the Community Engagement Coordinator, she worked to improve and expand C.R.E.E.K. (Coosa Riverkeeper Environmental Education for Kids), expand outreach via social media, implement litter clean-up days, and more!
As Outreach Manager, Quinn aims to inspire kids through C.R.E.E.K. and adults through River Rats to get outside and make long-lasting relationships with each other and the outdoors.
Quinn is also a proud cat mom and avid angler of the Coosa!
Community Organizer
Richard Rybka
Born to conservation-minded parents, Rich was captivated by natural environments at an early age. He lived to be outdoors – fishing streams, boating on lakes, observing migratory birds, and building walking trails through the woods. His passion for an outdoor lifestyle has strengthened over the years.
As Community Organizer, Rich is part of the Community Engagement Team. He works to increase the organization’s geographic reach and visibility in Coosa River watershed communities and encourage voter advocacy for environmental legislation.
As a Registered Landscape Architect, he has acquired experience with innovative design concepts that reduce the environmental impact of development, improve aesthetic appeal, and protect water resources.
In his free time, he enjoys a simple rural lifestyle with his wife Tracey. The highpoint of his day is hiking a woods trail with their rescue dog Ellie.
Operations Manager
Kacey Hayes
Kacey grew up without cable TV, spending her childhood outdoors and developing a love for Alabama’s natural landscape. Now living by the Coosa River, she enjoys birdwatching and exploring local trails.
As Operations Manager for Coosa Riverkeeper, Kacey ensures efficient program delivery and financial stewardship. With over a decade in administrative roles and a recent stint of self-employment in content marketing, she brings both experience and a passion for nature to her work with the team to protect the Coosa River.
In her free time, she’s either reading, re-watching Parks and Rec, baking, or camping with her husband and two senior dogs.
Field Coordinator
Nicolaas Boot
I grew up on a farm in Georgia and spent a lot of time hiking, hunting, and fishing.
I am currently studying biology at UAB. I am very passionate about the environment and solving issues that threaten our planet.
I started as a seasonal employee during the summer of 2024 where I did Swim Guide and Angler surveys. I’m very excited to now be working for Coosa Riverkeeper as the Field Coordinator!
Board of Directors
Chuck is Client Executive for the Global Sales Division of Ricoh Business Solutions and has spent 20 years in the technology industry. Growing up near Cheaha Mountain he developed a love for the outdoors at a young age. As an avid competitive bass fisherman Chuck has spent countless hours fishing the waters of the Coosa River. A majority of those hours have been spent on Lay Lake which has resulted in a special attachment to that portion of the river. During his time on the water he has witnessed first hand the need for the care and protection of this valuable resource. Chuck loves Alabama football, good music and spending time with his wife, Susan and their two kids, Lyla and Caleb. Cecil Bostany is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the firm of Warren Averett, LLC in its Birmingham office. He has a house on Lake Logan Martin. He is a current Board member and past Chairman of the Board of Birmingham Metro YMCAs in 2001 and 2002, an Executive Committee Board member of both BioAlabama and TechBirmingham and a Board member of the Birmingham International Center and Innovation Depot, the business incubator in Birmingham. Cecil is also a member (since 1986) and former President of the Rotary Club of Shades Valley in Birmingham. A.J. is a Certified Public Accountant and currently works as the Director of Finance at Orchestra Partners Development. He is a Birmingham native and resides in Bluff Park with his wife, Katie, and dog, Cooper. As an avid fisherman, A.J. grew up fishing and exploring the lakes and rivers surrounding Birmingham, as well as the waters of the Alabama coast. He enjoys spending his free time outdoors and is passionate about conserving the state’s natural resources for future generations. A.J. is the former Chairman of The University of Alabama Ducks Unlimited Chapter (2015-2016) and is a member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. Carrie owns and operates GadRock Microgym, an indoor climbing facility and outdoor stand-up paddle board guide service. Since 2017, she has guided and taught stand-up paddling on the Coosa River and its tributary creeks. She believes there is always something to be learned when paddling and finds inspiration out on the water. She is an Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) trail angel for the Gadsden area of the Coosa River. In addition to paddling, she also coaches a competitive youth climbing team, having coached her athletes all the way to Nationals. One of her favorite things to do is take her athletes outside to experience sport and nature together. When not managing the day-to-day operations of GadRock, you can be sure to find her paddling the nearby creeks and rivers or climbing southern sandstone rocks with her family and friends. Chris is an attorney with the boutique immigration law firm of Graham Adair. He has spent the last 25 something years representing corporations in all of their US immigration needs. He was blessed to grow up with a family place on Lake Mitchell with his 5 brothers and 2 sisters and now all his very large extended family. He grew up fishing on the lake, skiing and any other water sport his family could dream up. He has seen the lake change in many ways throughout the years and is excited about working to protect the river and the lake for future generations. Chris is married to Betsy and has two grown men for children Zac and Noah. Kathleen Kirkpatrick is an environmental engineer and climate activist with a passion for helping rural communities in the South become more resilient and sustainable. She grew up mostly in Alabama, left the region to attend college and pursue a career in environmental protection, then returned in 2012 after her hometown of Tuscaloosa was devastated by a tornado. A dedicated advocate for environmental and social justice, Kathleen earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical and ocean engineering from the University of Rhode Island and pursued graduate studies in sustainable building and Biomimicry. With a diverse career ranging from environmental policy, sustainability education, and nonprofit management to movement politics, she continues to work collaboratively with others in the climate & environmental justice movement towards a Just transition for Southern communities and also serves on the board of directors for the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network. Kathleen has held a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) credential since 2009, and was the first Sustainable SITES AP and first EcoDistricts AP in Alabama. Josh is Managing Partner at Big Wills Outfitters. For the past 10 years, he and his family have introduced thousands to the joys of kayaking and the beauty of Big Wills Creek. He lives with his wife Leslie and daughter Courtney within a short walk from the creek’s edge. As a child he and his cousins spent hours hunting crawdads in the streams around their neighborhood. His teen years were spent wade fishing with friends in Little Wills Creek for redeye bass, or boating and skiing on Weiss Lake where his family spent their summers. The adult years brought flyrods, canoes, whitewater kayaks and most of the rivers of Alabama into the mix. Along the way he dropped the whitewater kayaks, but remains an avid paddler and fisherman, spending most of his free time on the Coosa River and its tributaries. Josh joined Coosa Riverkeeper because he feels that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy some time in and around the water. Dion is an artist, passionate activist, volunteer and avid outdoorsman, living in Wilsonville, AL. Having lived along the Coosa for his entire life, on Logan Martin as a child, and now near Lay Lake, he has seen the impacts of the issues the basin faces first hand. He joined Coosa Riverkeeper, first, as an outreach committee member, then, spent time volunteering for the Advisory Council. He can now be found hiking the area trails, or kayaking the skinny water tributaries that feed the mighty Coosa. Megan grew up in Ohatchee, Alabama. After graduating from Ohatchee High School, she attended Troy University, graduating magna cum laude with a B.S. in English and History. She then attended law school at Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, graduating magna cum laude with “Best Paper” honors in Real Estate Practice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and First Amendment Rights. Megan is an associate attorney at Knowles & Sullivan, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama. Her practice largely consists of civil litigation, including environmental and real estate law as well as business litigation and formation. Megan and her husband, Cole, are proud to live in a lake community off Lake Neely Henry on the Coosa River. She grew up on the same lake and is excited to give the same experiences to their son, Atticus. They have two fur-children, Maple and Murphy. Nan is originally from Birmingham, but went from part time to full time Coosa River, Lake Jordan, resident 20 years ago when her husband accepted a job in Montgomery. She retired from her position as Director of Development at Easter Seals of Birmingham, however in 27 years there she held a variety of positions. Fund raising and special events allowed her to put her marketing degree to good use and she continues to help organizations in her area on a volunteer basis.Nan first became acquainted with Coosa Riverkeeper through the summer Swim Guide, allowing testing at their dock. This gives peace of mind when their children and grandchildren visit and swim and play in the water. She became more interested in all aspects of the work of Riverkeeper and is passionate about the cleanliness and safety of the Coosa River. She is a charter member of the Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society, beginning at the age of 6 when it was founded by her grandfather, father and a few fellow “Rockhounds”. She still maintains a collection and a love for rocks! In addition to enjoying living, fishing and playing on the Coosa she loves photography, having completed several certificate programs at UAB. Art is also very important and she volunteers at a local art gallery, enjoys birdwatching, travel, and, of course, spending time with family. She and her husband of 53 years have two sons and three grandchildren. Richie leads growth strategy and contract compliance for SET Logistics, Inc., an Alabama-based freight brokerage firm, creates and sells fine artwork, and pursues various entrepreneurial endeavors in outdoor sporting apparel and merchandise. Since coming to Alabama in 2001, Richie has fallen deeply in love with the Coosa and its tributaries. As a lifelong fisherman and paddler, he finds refuge in the water; and as an artist, draws his most meaningful inspiration from time spent on the river. Richie is passionate about keeping the Coosa wild and protected from contamination of all kinds, and is a vocal advocate for educating his community about the threats facing the Coosa.” Greg is an attorney at Brockwell Smith LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama. His law practice focuses mostly on representing local individuals and businesses in litigation and other disputes. Greg is a native of Anniston and spent his youth roaming around the woods of the Coosa watershed. He now lives in Homewood with his wife and two children. Greg enjoys spending as much time as he can outdoors—trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, and fishing. Tripp is a Corporate & Investment Banking finance professional for Trustmark Bank’s Corporate Banking Segment in Birmingham, AL. He is a lifelong Birmingham native, and resides in Vestavia Hills, AL. With a heavy passion of service and giving back to the Yellow Hammer State and those within it, Tripp continues to actively seek ways to improve the quality of life in the very state that molded him. In his free time, Tripp prefers to be outdoors. He is an avid hunter and fisherman whose keen interest has led him to travel throughout the United States for this very purpose. In these endeavors, he has encountered many different species and landscapes. These opportunities have allowed Tripp to become knowledgeable of what makes for a truly safe and sustainable environment, which has furthered his ability to see what Alabama is doing well and what needs to be improved. These experiences of his, along with countless hours spent in and around Alabama’s forests and lakes, have made Tripp committed to conserving Alabama’s natural resources and wildlife now and into the future. Education & Service: – 2015 graduate of Homewood High School – 2019 graduate of Auburn University (B.S. in Finance; staff member/leadership positions of various community outreach and service organizations, as well as treasurer of the Auburn Student Media SAP) – 2022 graduate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.B.A) – Rotaract Club of Birmingham member (2021-2022 Chairman of Recruitment) Debbie Corum’s career spans from her days as a student activist advocating for the initiation of a women’s intercollegiate basketball After four years at LSU, the Southeastern Conference sought Corum to serve as Associate Commissioner of Championships/Sport Throughout her career, Corum continued to call Lake Mitchell in the State of Alabama her home. She resided on this part of the Coosa River Dylan is Founder and Creative Director for Pitts Media and has worked in the media production industry for over ten years.
Chuck Graham
Cecil Bostany
A.J. Mercer
Carrie Machen
Chris DiGiorgio, J.D.
Kathleen Kirkpatrick
Josh Tidwell
Dion Grimes
Megan Phillips Huizinga
Nan Butler
Richie Gudzan
Greg Brockwell
Tripp Moss
Debbie Corum
Dylan Lard
Past President
Chuck Graham
At-Large Board Member
Cecil Bostany
Treasurer
A.J. Mercer
Vice President
Carrie Machen
President
Chris DiGiorgio, J.D.
Secretary
Kathleen Kirkpatrick
At-Large Board Member
Josh Tidwell
Outreach Committee Chair
Dion Grimes
Legal & Advocacy Committee Chair
Megan Phillips Huizinga
At-Large Board Members
Nan Butler
At-Large Board Member
Richie Gudzan
At-Large Board Member
Greg Brockwell
Board Rotaract
Tripp Moss
At Large Board Member
Debbie Corum
team at her alma mater Vanderbilt University, to being named Southern Utah University’s Director of Athletics, and becoming the first woman named Director of Athletics at an NCAA Division I institution in the state of Utah. Corum retired in June 2022 from her position as Director of Athletics at Southern Utah University. Corum began her professional career as a high school coach for girls’ basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. She was then named Director of Championships at the Southeastern Conference. She left the Southeastern Conference for Stanford University, becoming Assistant Athletic Director. Among her duties, she served as the on-site director for numerous Conference and NCAA Championships. When Louisiana State University lost the lawsuit filed by female athletes who argued for more participation opportunities, Corum’s reputation for integrity and competence led to LSU recruiting her to be Associate Athletic Director and serve as the liaison to the court, leading the University through the corrective action necessary to comply with
Title IX. Per the directive of the federal district court, Corum reported independently to
the federal judge and LSU President Dr. Mark Emmert. Although the court’s directive could have created a hostile environment in which Corum performed her work for the athletics department, Corum navigated this challenging role with great diplomacy. While demonstrating unquestionable ethics, Corum managed to foster and maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with the Director of Athletics and athletics staff.
Administration; she remained there for 12 years, culminating in 18 years at the SEC. In 2002, Corum was one of 12 people selected nationwide to be a panelist for the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. When the University of Connecticut recruited her to be the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Corum welcomed the opportunity to be back on campus and working with the student-athletes. The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team won the national championship every year of Corum’s tenure. A change in Connecticut’s leadership led to Corum heading west to SUU, where she was named Director of Athletics by President Scott Wyatt. Debbie Corum served on the NCAA’s Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and was on the NCAA’s Division I Championship Cabinet. She has been honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA – now known as Women Leaders in College Sports) as Conference Administrator of the Year. Corum later served on the NACWAA Board of Directors. Corum also served on the LeadHERship Board for the United States Coast Guard Academy and on the WeCoach Board of Directors, both organizations providing education and encouragement for female coaches. At their October 2022 Convention celebrating 50 years of Title IX, Women Leaders in College Sports named Ms. Corum as one of the 50 Trailblazers who have led the
way in impacting women’s opportunities in collegiate athletics.
full-time for 17 years and part-time for 16 years. Corum was an advocate for caring for this biologically diverse area. She participated in clean-up days the lake and the nearby roadways and educated everyone she could about keeping the water clean and taking care of the surrounding land in order to protect this valuable resource. Corum currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama.At-Large Board Member
Dylan Lard
He grew up exploring the outdoors of west Alabama, hunting and fishing with his dad and older brother. The love of Alabama’s waterways followed him to east Alabama where he now lives in Anniston with his wife, Hannah, and his dog, Beau. He enjoys music in all its forms and taking the kayaks out on the water whenever he can.
Advisory Council
Bill, a resident of Homewood, has over 20 years of teaching experience as a 5th grade teacher. As a life long educator, he believes that experiential education is essential for growth in kids and adults. This belief led him to creating Treeline Expeditions LLC in 2012. Treeline’s mission is to get people of all ages unplugged and connected to the environment and those they are sharing the experience with. Bill and his wife Suzanne have led backpacking, paddling, and mountain bike expeditions all over the country and sea kayaking expeditions in the Bahamas. Though these adventures seem grand, some of his most rewarding and memorable experiences are sharing the beauty of the Coosa with others. Bill believes it is crucial in order for people to want to protect these invaluable arteries of Alabama that they experience what makes these waterways special. Nelson Brooke has been Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s staff Riverkeeper since January of 2004. As Riverkeeper, Nelson patrols the Black Warrior River and its tributaries from the land, water, and air, looks for and documents pollution problems, responds to citizen complaints, researches and analyzes polluters’ permits, collects pollution samples for laboratory analysis, educates the public about the beauty of the river and threats to it, works to empower stakeholders throughout the watershed, advocates compliance with environmental laws, works on finding solutions to pollution problems, and is a spokesman for the Black Warrior River watershed. Nelson also co-founded GASP, which is working to advance healthy air and environmental justice in the greater Birmingham area. Matthew is the author of Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters Born in 1963, I was raised on a farm in Lincoln Alabama, we farmed soybeans and cows. Graduated from Lincoln High in 1981 and worked as a welder for the Nuclear Power Division of Flour Daniel Construction until going to work for the Department of Defense in 1987 and retired as a Logistics Management Specialist on the Command Staff of Anniston Army Depot in 2017. I currently own/operate a small 300+ Ac Angus cattle farm in the heart of the Coosa River Watershed in Lincoln Alabama. I have an adjoining landowner that applied Septage (Human Feces) as fertilizer on his property that drains onto my property where high levels of E.coli have been detected. I am well versed and have done extensive research into ADPH regulation 420-3-6 Septage Management and am looking forward to working with and supporting the efforts of Coosa Riverkeeper. I am an avid fisherman of the Coosa River, and try to share that experience with as many people as possible. I believe this river is often overlooked and ignored. But the experiences I’ve personally had on this river are unmatched. With Fishing pressure on every Coosa Lake at an ALL TIME HIGH, it is important that our water quality is strong enough to support a healthy population of sport fish. As natural fishing habitat disappears, it is replaced by sea walls and docks. I believe that the more vegetation that is not invasive, the better. It is the river’s natural filter. Max was born and raised in Athens Tennessee. Growing up, hid family boated, camped and fished on Watts Bar Lake on the Tennessee River and spent a lot of time in the mountains of East Tennessee doing the same. Hi father instilled in me to always to respect nature and practice good conservation. Even though he has been on the water since could remember, it was one year on a Boy Scout camp we took a Canoe paddling trip and I was hooked on paddling. Moving to Birmingham in 1973, paddling and outdoors kind of fell by the wayside until he rediscovered the outdoors in the mid ninety’s at the same time when Alabama, with its waterways was actually discovering its great opportunity in the paddling world. While a little white water and river paddling filled his time, when retired and moved to Logan Martin Lake in 2015, flat water paddling and learning the history of the lake. Learning about the lead him having to learn about the history of the Coosa River, both good and bad. He has been a volunteer the last fours years for the Great Alabama 650 Paddling Race which he has thoroughly enjoyed. More recently he is a volunteer with the opening of Pell City Museum. Between the Boy Scout motto, ” Be Prepared” and my career in analysis and logistics he is looking forward to working with Coosa Riverkeeeper’s Advisory Council. Tia is a lifelong resident of Etowah County and currently resides in Southside, Alabama. She has a passion for the Coosa River and the Neely Henry Lake, it is her home away from home! With 26 years of management, marketing, and advertising experience, she utilizes her knowledge and experience to advise local small businesses and non-profits on growth potential and how to achieve their goals. She currently support Rainbow City, Greater Gadsden Tourism, American Legions, VFW 2760, and other various clients. She knows collectively, we can achieve our goals and common purpose to be an asset to our community! Dr. Thorsten Knappenberger is an Associate Professor for Soil Physics and Critical Zone Hydrology in the Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences at Auburn University. He has received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. He joined Washington State University as a post-doc in 2011, studying colloid-facilitated pollutant transport and stormwater mitigation. In 2014, he joined Auburn University in Alabama as an assistant professor for soil physics. At Auburn University, Thorsten’s research focuses on irrigation management based on soil sensors and remote sensing, preferential flow in structured soils, constructed wetland hydrology, stormwater management, geostatistics, as well as the fate and transport of chemicals in soils. He teaches split-level environmental soil physics and soil resources and conservation courses. William Daniel “Dan” Gilliland was born in New Orleans Louisiana. Dan grew up in Mountain Brook An advocate for “taking ownership of, and becoming a stakeholder of your natural world”, Dan oversaw the design and construction of, and wrote all of the interpretive verbiage for the Oscar C. Dunn Rotary Environmental Center and its adjacent nature trails.
Bill Andrews
Amy Badham
Nelson Brooke
Dr. Bryan Burgess
Keith Caton
Lonnie Carden
James Eubank, J.D.
Michael Freeman
Matthew Lewis
Liz Johnson, Ph.D.
Cliff Martin
Ellen Spears, Ph.D.
Michael Steinberg, Ph.D.
Michael Strickland, J.D.
Lee Varner
Alan Wilson, Ph.D.
Heather Tinsley, Ph.D.
Larry Phillips
Andy Coleman, Ph.D.
Kane Estes
Max Jolley
Tia Stephens
Dr. Thorsten Knappenberger
Dan Gilliland
Owner of Treeline Expeditions & Educator
Bill Andrews
Director of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research at UAB
Amy Badham
Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Alabama Rivers Alliance “River Hero”
Nelson Brooke
Alabama Rivers Alliance “River Hero” and founding Coosa Riverkeeper Board member
Dr. Bryan Burgess
Lovelight Farm Manager
Keith Caton
Coosa Outdoor Center/ Southern Trails, owner and Alabama Rivers Alliance “River Hero”
Lonnie Carden
Attorney
James Eubank, J.D.
Environmental Health & Safety Professional- Auburn University & Competitive Bass Angler
Michael Freeman
Presidential Graduate Research Fellow at Auburn University working towards a PhD in genetics
Matthew Lewis
biology, University of Alabama
Liz Johnson, Ph.D.
Lake Jordan property owner
Cliff Martin
Associate Professor in New College/Geography at The University of Alabama
Michael Steinberg, Ph.D.
Attorney, Past Vice President of Coosa Riverkeeper
Michael Strickland, J.D.
Slasham Valley Interiors, owner
Lee Varner
Professor in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Science at Auburn University
Alan Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Montevallo
Heather Tinsley, Ph.D.
Cattle Farmer
Larry Phillips
Biology Professor & Turtle Expert
Andy Coleman, Ph.D.
Vice President & Operating Partner for River Construction and Avid Fisher
Kane Estes
Advisory Council Member
Max Jolley
Advisory Council Member
Tia Stephens
Associate Professor for Soil Physics and Critical Zone Hydrology in the Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences at Auburn University
Dr. Thorsten Knappenberger
Advisory Council Member
Dan Gilliland
Alabama and spent all his spare time as a youth wading, fishing and exploring the network of beautiful
creeks that fed the Cahaba River, catching and studying “anything that swam”, crawled or slithered
there!” Dan’s family purchased a lot on what was to become Logan Martin Lake, and from the time the
water was raised to full pool in 1964, Dan was already honing his fishing skills there. As a later full-time
resident on the lake, Dan spent many hours volunteering with the state fish hatchery at Eastaboga,
working with the beginnings of the Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass stocking programs.
A graduate of Auburn University’s School of Education in 1978, Dan taught school in Shelby County
School systems and later worked with Special Needs students at Mountain Brook City Schools. As a
Program Director of Alabama Easter Seals Camp ASCCA on Lake Martin, Dan wrote and implemented
many environmental education programs for both special populations and mainstream children and
adults in Alabama and around the Southeast.
Dan received the Lake Martin Lake Watch Environmental Steward Award in 2005 for his “establishment
of enduring environmental programs at Camp ASCCA and for his vision and leadership of seeing to
completion the Oscar C. Dunn Environmental Center”. I am honored to be chosen to be a part of the
Coosa Riverkeepers Advisory Council and look forward to the future working with this outstanding
organization!” Dan currently resides with his wife Paulina in Lincoln, Alabama on the shores of Lake
Logan Martin. He has a daughter Lindsey (Clint) and four grandsons, Aiden, Evan, Colt and Alex, who live
in Georgetown Kentucky.
Tributary Board
Anna Screven Kelley is currently living in Homewood. She is an independent sales rep for several major outdoor retail brands such as Teva and Kuhl. She graduated from The University of Alabama, class of 2017. She grew up on the Coosa River on Lake Logan Martin and has many fond memories from there. Her passions include hiking, fishing, and attending live music. She is excited to join Coosa Riverkeeper and be part of Tributary board. My name is Yahn Olson. I am a recent graduate of Cumberland School of Law currently working at Environmental Litigation Group in Birmingham. I volunteered as the legal intern at Coosa Riverkeeper in 2020, and am excited to be back as a member of the tributary board. In my free time I also enjoy fishing, backpacking, playing lacrosse, and spending time with my wife Lauren & and our dog Aspen. Hi there! My name is Brannan Cliver and I am super excited to be on the Tributary Board. I am currently a PhD student at Auburn University after graduating from Auburn in December. I am studying Jamesianthus alabamensis, an Alabama endemic sunflower species that actually grows along the Coosa River! I have loved being an intern for Swim Guide and volunteering with Coosa Riverkeeper and can’t wait to keep that up as a Tributary Board Member. My name is Austin Parker and I live in Leeds, AL. I have worked in Birmingham as a registered nurse for the past 7 years. My favorite thing to do growing up was to be outside on a creek or river, and that is where my happy place is to this day. I currently explore all the Coosa river tributaries usually fishing out of my Jon boat, so that is why I’m so excited to be apart of the Coosa River Tributary Board. We hope to bring knowledge and aid to our river while bringing young professionals together who love the Coosa. Hi, I’m Kayla! You can usually find me outdoors hiking, kayaking, or camping. I love a good adventure! I Reese was born and raised in the Birmingham area and spent much of his childhood on the banks and in the waters of the Coosa River and its tributaries. He attended UAB where he first become involved with Coosa Riverkeeper in 2014 and has stayed involved ever since. Through his work with Coosa Riverkeeper, he developed a passion for environmental health which led him to pursue a Bachelor’s in Public Health and a Master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene, a specialized aspect of occupational health that focuses on safe working environments. He now works in private industry and is grateful to support Coosa Riverkeeper in any way he can going forward. Parker is a junior at UAB Majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Enviornmental Health and a Minor in Community Health . After her Bachelor’s, she plans on pursuing her Master of Public Health in Environmental Health. Parker was a Fish Guide intern in the Summer of 2023. Her time being a fish guide intern and living on Lake Loagan Martin inspired her appreciation for freshwater conservation. Parker saw the effects of how poor water quality could affect not only her community but also the environment she grew up on and loved. She hopes to one day work with freshwater conservation efforts and advocacy. She also hopes to help educate people on how environmental determinates effect a person’s health. When Parker is free, she will spend her free time reading, hiking, and kayaking. 
Anna Screven Kelley
Yahn Olson
Brannan Cliver
Austin Parker
Kayla Minton
Reese Koehler
Parker Henson
President
Anna Screven Kelley
Yahn Olson
Brannan Cliver
Austin Parker
Kayla Minton
got my start with Coosa Riverkeeper back in 2016 as a Swim Guide intern. Since then, I’ve loved every
minute I’ve spent serving this amazing non-profit organization and watching it grow into what it is today.
I grew up living right on the banks of Choccolocco Creek, one of the major tributaries to the Coosa River.
This creek has faced many threats throughout the years, yet it still flows with such beauty and resilience.
Choccolocco Creek has inspired me since I was a child who spent many days playing along its banks. The
restoration efforts for this particular creek, and the Coosa River as a whole, continue to inspire me in my
professional career today. As an Environmental Protection Specialist my focus is on protecting our local
waterways from daily threats, in hopes of maintaining the numerous recreational resources our
beautiful lakes and streams have to offer. My job consists of making sure all state and federal
regulations are upheld and enforced. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. I’m extremely
honored to serve as a member of the Tributary Board and continue my outreach to advocate for the
best interest of the river and the wonderful community who love it!Reese Koehler
Parker Henson
