Riverkeeper

Justinn Overton

Justinn is the Staff 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, legal, and legislative efforts.

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 serves on the Advisory Board for Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, holds the position as the North American Representative for Waterkeeper Alliance’s Waterkeeper Council, and serves on Waterkeepers Alabama’s Leadership Group.

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 with her dogs and fiancé. She is also a registered yoga teacher and enjoys seeing bluegrass music whenever she can.

Executive Director

Kacey Hayes

As Executive Director of Coosa Riverkeeper, Kacey helps protect the river she lives on — a place that shapes her days, her perspective, and her sense of responsibility. Her work is often behind the scenes, grounded in fifteen years of experience in operations and financial administration. With a focus on clarity, structure, and long-term sustainability, she is committed to ensuring both the work and the team can thrive.

Kacey joined Coosa Riverkeeper in 2024 as its first Director of Operations, a role she helped shape, where she strengthened internal systems, supported staff, and helped the organization run smoothly across programs and finances.

When she’s not working to protect the Coosa, she’s usually in or near its waters. Otherwise, she’s reading as much as she can, birdwatching, caring for an ancient beagle and yorkie, or heading to another concert with her husband.

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, and then Director of Community Engagement, 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 with her husband, Jarrod, and son, Judah, hanging outside, reading, and snuggling with her 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.

Education 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), educate the public and our members via social media, implement litter clean-up days, and more!

As Education Manager, Quinn aims to educate and empower 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.

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!

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.

President

Chris DiGiorgio, J.D.

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.

Vice President

Carrie Machen

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.

Treasurer

A.J. Mercer

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.

Past President

Chuck Graham

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.  

At-Large Board Member

Mitchell Baldwin

Mitchell Baldwin is a Senior Financial Analyst at Hibbett Sports and a Birmingham native. Growing up, he spent time fishing with his grandfather at lakes throughout the Birmingham area, an experience that helped shape his appreciation for the region and its natural resources. In his free time, Mitchell enjoys playing basketball and running along Birmingham’s streets and trail systems. He is also an active member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, where he supports community engagement and service-driven initiatives.

At-Large Board Member

Fran Summerlin

Fran Summerlin was born and raised in Attalla, Alabama. After early work in education and conservation, she established Summerworth Down, LLC, a respected equine boarding and training facility. As a Certified Eventing Coach with the United States Eventing Association, Fran has trained riders and horses who’ve competed at the highest levels, including the Olympic Games.

In 2023, Fran led a successful grassroots campaign against a proposed hydroelectric project by Alabama Power that threatened homes and land in Steele. She organized public meetings, mobilized volunteers, partnered with local communities, and brought state and national attention to the issue. Her efforts not only stopped the project but also led to the formation of Save Chandler Mountain, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting the area’s natural and cultural resources.

Fran continues to live on her family farm in Steele, where she remains deeply committed to her community, conservation, and the land she calls home.

At-Large Board Member

Sam Bennett

Sam has always been a river guy. He grew up at the confluence of the Cheat and Monongahela Rivers in the coal fields of southwestern Pennsylvania. Later, he settled along the banks of the Fox River near Chicago. For over a decade now, the Coosa has been home. He enjoys paddling small creeks, urban fishing for redeye bass on the fly, and shore-based striper fishing at the Coosa River dams. His professional highlights include founding a tech startup, building a game and animation studio in Shanghai, and leading global teams to build software for the world’s largest financial institutions. He geeks out on garage rock, cooking, and “chonky data sets.” He lives with his wife Trista in Gadsden.

Owner of Treeline Expeditions & Educator

Bill Andrews

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.

Director of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research at UAB

Amy Badham

Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Alabama Rivers Alliance “River Hero”

Nelson Brooke

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.

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

Matthew is the author of Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters

biology, University of Alabama

Liz Johnson, Ph.D.

Lake Jordan property owner

Cliff Martin

Associate Professor in New College

Ellen Spears, Ph.D.

Dr. Spears published “Baptized in PCBs”.

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.

Associate Professor for Soil Physics and Critical Zone Hydrology in the Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences at Auburn University

Dr. Thorsten Knappenberger

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.

Advisory Council Member

Dan Gilliland

William Daniel “Dan” Gilliland was born in New Orleans Louisiana. Dan grew up in Mountain Brook
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.

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.
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.

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Jennifer Sanford

Jennifer grew up in Birmingham, AL, always playing outdoors with her three brothers. Her deep love for travel and nature came at an early age, a result of family road trips and camping vacations across the U.S. She is an avid backpacker, and enjoys kayaking, skiing and fly-fishing. After 15 years of nursing, this year she will complete a Master’s in Public Health at UAB; Her concentration in Environmental Health aligns closely with her passion for nature and ensuring equal access to the great outdoors. Through internships with Jefferson County Greenways and the Alabama Wildlife Federation she has fallen in love with the fight to protect Alabama’s waterways. She is thrilled to be a Seasonal Environmental Technician for the Coosa Riverkeeper.

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Mya McClain

Hi! My name is Ki’Mya McClain, but I go by Mya. I am a Marine Biology student at Jacksonville State University with a strong interest in aquatic ecosystems.

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Jared Gunter

Spending his most formative childhood years in Alaska, his late teens exploring the streams and mountains of Western North Carolina, and his twenties in the marshes and pine savannahs of North Florida, Jared Gunter developed a deep passion for wildlife and conservation. This led him to begin his career in conservation by earning an Associate’s degree in Horticulture after serving in the Army. Now, Jared brings that passion and expertise to the Coosa River as one of this summer’s Environmental Technicians with Coosa Riverkeeper. His ongoing studies at Auburn University at Montgomery, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, have deepened his commitment to preserving Alabama’s watersheds. The Coosa is his first step in a career dedicated to protecting the state’s riparian ecosystems. Jared plans to carry the hands-on experience from this summer back to the classroom in the fall and toward his long-term goal of earning a Master’s in Conservation Education. When he’s not studying, embracing life as a new father, or caring for his lifelong reptile companion, Tortellini, Jared can often be found casting a long line into the Gulf Coast surf, chasing pompano, kingfish, and snapper. Even on days without a bite, he’s content—he’s still at the beach.

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Chloe James

I am a Biology Graduate Student at Jax State working in the Cancer lab. I am a graduate teaching assistant for intro level Biology classes. I enjoy science, singing, teaching, reading, baking, and going on walks with my dog Hank! 

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Garner Johnson

My name is Garner Johnson, I am an Eagle Scout and love everything outdoors related especially backpacking and rock climbing. I am currently a student at the University of South Alabama studying Aerospace Engineering.

Seasonal Environmental Technician

Margaret Wheatley

I am an Atmospheric and Earth Science major with a concentration in Earth System Sciences and minors in both GIS and business management. I have a strong interest in conservation, GIS, and field ecology. I am passionate about protecting biodiversity and I enjoy hands-on work such as wildlife monitoring, habitat assessment and environmental data collection. I’m excited to gain experience with Coosa Riverkeeper this summer and to contribute to meaningful conservation efforts.