Board of Directors

Check out a video interview with Kathy Snavely here:
Kathy Snavely, President

A former professor of entrepreneurship, 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.  She dedicates her service to MSRKA to her eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and the great-great granddaughter arriving in February. Send Kathy an email directly by clicking here.
(Terms August 2015-2018; 2019-2021)
​Check out a video interview with Dr. Joseph Simons here:
Dr. Joseph Simons, Vice President

Joseph Simons III is a father of three amazing young men. He has a bachelor of Science degree from Wilkes University and a Doctor of Optometry degree from Salus University. He is an avid outdoorsman who loves fly-fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking, scuba diving, nature photography and writing electronic music and soundtracks on keyboards/synthesizers under the name HOLOMIND. He is a conservationist and a champion of our most precious commodity; cold, clean, clear water. This is a cause he holds dear to his heart.  Water is Life and water that supports native brook trout, he considers as holy water. Dr Simons also serves on the Stanley Cooper Trout Unlimited Board and EPCAMR Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandon Mine Reclamation Board. ​ Email Dr. Simons directly by clicking here.
(Term: July 2019-2022) 
​​Check out a video interview with Ann Fisher here:
Ann Fisher, Secretary/Treasurer

Ann 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.  She also likes to tend the landscaping around her home, and to play autoharp and mountain dulcimer in the Susquehanna  String Theory band. You can email Ann Fisher directly by clicking here.
​(Terms: 2017-2019; 2020-2023)

Past BOARD MEMBERS

Caz Russell

​Caz Russell and his wife reside in Montandon, PA. A lifelong resident of the Susquehanna Valley, Caz has spent most of his life travelling the Susquehanna River. Retiring after 37 years from the electric industry, Caz has now begun his second half career - Caz Russell LLC.

A leadership speaker, teacher, trainer and coach, Caz is most often found with his faithful companions, Chilli and Huck, the family labrador retrievers. Living very close to the river,  he is often found kayaking, canoeing, boating, fishing, waterfowling, dog training and exploring this great natural resource. His passion is preserving the mighty Susquehanna and all of the many adjoining tributaries that flow into her.