The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is extremely grateful to a team of dedicated professionals who offer feedback on various topics as we strive to protect and promote our river-based resources across an 11,000-square mile watershed. Individuals who serve in an advisory role for us include:
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KAthy SnavelyA former professor of entrepreneurship, and former MSRKA board president, Kathy makes her living as a personal chef. She has loved being in the water for as long as she can remember. As a child, she wandered to the nearby creek to play, when she wasn’t spending summertime at the pool with her family. While attending Houghton College, she found her solace at Letchworth State Park, near the spectacular waterfalls. Kathy spent two weeks several summers volunteering for Children’s Surf & Sand Mission, offering children’s programming on the beaches of New Jersey and South Carolina. An Athena Award recipient, she’s volunteered with many central PA non-profit organizations and helped establish the Agape Family Shelter in Lebanon. Kathy earned her M.Ed., Training & Development at Penn State’s Capital College in 1994. When founding Riverkeeper Carol Parenzan asked her to serve on the board, Snavely relished the opportunity to help preserve and protect Central Pennsylvania’s greatest resource (and largest contributor to the Chesapeake Bay). No matter your political persuasion, faith or profession, we share a need for clean water.
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Ann FisherAnn Fisher (Ph.D., University of Connecticut) retired from Penn State University, where she taught environmental economics and conducted research on people’s perceptions of water quality, their willingness to pay for environmental improvements, and the potential impacts of climate change on the mid-Atlantic region.
Earlier, she worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, developing methods to estimate the value of environmental improvements and how to communicate effectively about the risks of pollutants. Her work experience reflects her passion for a clean environment--especially clean water because it is crucial for healthy ecosystems and for healthy people. She is a long-time member of Trout Unlimited and enjoys fishing in the Susquehanna watershed and elsewhere. |
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David EltonDavid Elton moved to Lewisburg after retiring as Professor of Civil Engineering at Auburn University (Alabama). Dave is an expert in geosynthetics for retaining walls, landfills, slopes and earth dams, as well as building and bridge foundations. He is well published, has received many professional awards, is a Professional Engineer (AL), and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. His interests in environmental projects include stream bank stabilization, erosion control, and surface water quality.
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John LevitskyJohn Levitsky, watershed specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, tackles a wide assortment of water quality issues throughout the northeast section of the state, including Abandoned Mine Drainage concerns at places such as the Plainsville Borehole Discharge. Check out a podcast interview with him about a solution he has for this specific issue and the help he needs to make it realistic.
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Bob ManbeckBob Manbeck has nearly 30 years of experience in the water utility industry and a long time interest in environmental preservation. His work with Pennsylvania American Water and SUEZ included management of public affairs, media relations and governmental relations. This included facilitation of watershed cleanup events and environmental protection presentations for schools and civic groups. He also managed customer advisory council activity and maintained the SUEZ Pennsylvania web and social media sites, which included ongoing messaging related to wise water usage. Prior to the water industry, Bob was a speech writer for state regulatory officials, broadcast journalist and community relations manager for a human service organization.
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Peter PetokasPeter Petokas is a renowned expert researcher on the hellbender, working with the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute to study the hellbender and other species while instituting programs to help offset the drastic decline of the hellbender throughout the Susquehanna River watershed. He has served in an advisory role for the US Fish & Wildlife Service on its last assessment of hellbender protections. Hear more about his experiences in this podcast episode.
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