Taunton River Watershed Alliance - Board of Directors and Officers

President: Richard Shafer - Taunton (Chair, Program Committee)

Dick is Economic Development Director for the City of Taunton. His TRWA related interests include recreation and the eco-tourism development of the Taunton River and its tributaries.

Vice President: Robert W. Davis - Raynham  Technical Advisor; Chair, Advocacy Committee)

Bob is an Environmental Resource Specialist with the US Army Crops of Engineers, New England Division. His expertise includes aquatic/fisheries sciences, water quality and ecological risk assessment. He is also a member of the Town’s Recycling Committee, a leader in Boy Scout Troop 79, and an officer of the South Shore Soccer League. As Advocacy Director, Bob continues to do yeoman work in coordinating TRWA’s formal response efforts on all issues affecting the watershed.

Secretary: Jasmine Tanguay - Taunton

Jasmine currently works for the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation's non-profit consulting group, CLF Ventures, Inc. She hails from East Taunton, where she developed a lasting fondness for the Taunton River and its watershed. She obtained a Bachelors degree in Human Ecology at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, followed by a Masters in Resource Geography at Clark University. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2000, and Secretary since 2001. As a member of the Water Quality Monitoring Team she took monthly samples on the Nemasket, Cotley, and Taunton Rivers. She has served on the Upper Taunton River Wild and Scenic Study Team since 2001. She. Jasmine's interests include paddling, environmental conflict resolution, bioregionalism, GIS, community planning and environmental justice.

Treasurer: Andrea Monteith – Bridgewater

Andrea’s interest in TRWA came through her local activism in protecting the Lake Nippinecket water quality and the land around it, including leading in the formation of the Lake Nip Focus Team. She is a CPA who works in her family's business part-time while she and her husband Dick are raising three active sports minded children. She is leading TRWA's involvement with the Rivers Continuity Program.

Board of Directors

Ray Brierly – Rehoboth

Ray lives in Rehoboth and is an outdoor enthusiast and the owner of several shops for his business, Canoe Passage Outfitters which he has in locations in Raynham, MA and Warren, RI. Ray is very generous with his time and equipment to lead canoe/kayak trips throughout the year for TRWA members.

Joe Callahan – Berkley

Joe is a staff environmental scientist in the Geologist group of Fluor Daniels GTI, with 15 years of environmental engineering experience. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), and is passionate about camping, fishing and canoeing. Joe has been the primary organizer of TRWA’s annual Overnight Canoe trips on the Taunton River. He also assists TRWA in its advocacy response by giving clear and concise reports on issues of concern within the watershed.

Brian Creedon - Brockton

Brian is Water Superintendent for the City of Brockton. He also coordinates the water quality sampling that is processed at Brockton’s wastewater treatment plant, managed by Viola. Brian is a graduate of Boston College with his BS in Biology & Psychology and Ann MBA from Suffolk University. He is a State Certified Water Distribution and treatment (Grade 4) and a Certified Wastewater Treatment Operator (grade 6), as well as, State certified Waste Treatment Chemist.

Stephanie Danielson -  Brockton

For nearly twenty years Stephanie was a senior business leader in the financial services industry, responsible for developing computer systems for back office operations.  Her knowledge of the business, our market and ability to understand customer needs resulted in a move to a senior position in marketing and sales.  When not working, Stephanie and her husband, with three boys and often their friends, were on bike and camping trips, swimming or hiking.

Stephanie became a member of the Brockton Conservation Commission in 2000 and began taking courses related to wetlands science.  This fueled a long desire for a career change, and in 2004, she became the Commission’s agent and subsequently an environmental scientist for Nover-Armstrong Associates, Inc.   Continuing to work with the Commission, Stephanie is leading a friends group for The Stone Farm.  The Stone Farm was acquired and designated as conservation land by the city in the late 1970’s.  The area has been neglected for years and is constantly under threat of being converted to another ball field.  Over the past year, she created a small, grass roots organization that is beginning to actively manage the site and conducts walks at and events related to the property each month.

Stephanie believes we need to increase awareness and commitment to the importance of our rivers, river continuity and the riverfront areas.

Linda, a Maryland transplant, arrived in the Commonwealth in 1997 expecting to enjoy her husband's retirement. When a zoning issue threatened her Lakeville neighborhood, she realized how important citizen participation is in the protection of environmental and cultural resources. She is a member of the Pierce Avenue Neighborhood Assoc., Friends of the Assonet River Environment, and cofounder of The Environmental Advocates for Massachusetts, Southeast (TEAMS). She has also served her town as a member of the Historical Commission, Planning Committee, Master Plan Subcommittee, Lakeville Development Corporation and the MBTA Rail Advisory Task Force. Linda dreams of the day when property holders will consider themselves trusted caretakers and not masters of the land.

Howard Hayward – West Bridgewater

After supporting global action organizations such as Greenpeace International, Cousteau Society, and the Earth Action Network, Howard decided to follow in his late father's footsteps by acting locally and joined the West Bridgewater Conservation Commission in October, 1998 where he still proudly serves.  By February 1999 he became a member of the Open Space & Recreation Committee where he is currently the Chairman.  Both positions are appointed by the Selectmen.  In April of 2001 Howard ran for, and was elected to, the Board Of Health where he is in his second term and has ambitions of a third.  He recently received a Certificate of Achievement from both the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) as well as the Board of Selectmen for his accomplishment in completing the Advanced Certificate Training Program through MACC for his greater understanding of natural resource protection, legal and technical expertise, and enhanced leadership skills."

Alex Houtzager - Berkley (Chair, Water Quality Committee)

Alex is a retired Civil Engineer from the Army Corps of Engineers as well as a retired army captain of military construction with service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Today, he is a Gentleman Farmer on 60 acres where he grows hay for horses and cows. Alex is a local environmentalist serving on TRWA, the Wild & Scenic Committee, Save Our Bridge as well as a board member of a program at UMASS Dartmouth known as the Second Half.

John E. Kellestrand - Rockland

John has an extensive background in Management Information Systems, and was a past member of MADEP Waterways Advisory Committee. He is very active in the Mass. Sportsmen’s Council, including serving as its Legislative Agent and Treasurer.

Dan Lopes – Assonet

Dan was raised in Assonet along the banks of Paynes Cove section of the Assonet Bay. Growing up, he saw the river fall in quality and decided it was time to get involved, and the TRWA met this need. Dan is a longtime TRWA member and a BOD member for the last few years. His nickname is ‘The Paddler’, and he has participated in all but one of the Source to the Sea/Wild and Scenic canoe trips. He is employed by Mass. Highway. He also spends time with local historical reenactment groups traveling to many states in our country where he has fun checking out the local waterways.

Doug Roberson – Halifax

Doug is active in the northeast portion of the watershed, just downstream of the Monponsett Ponds.  He has done graduate work in Regional Planning, leads occasional nature walks in his area near the Jones River watershed boundary, is an associate member of the Town of Halifax Conservation Commission, and a board member of the Jones River Watershed Association.  In previous years, Doug served on the Halifax Open Space Committee and was instrumental in the town’s protection of a parcel adjacent to the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area, as well as an advocate for the WMA acquisition.

Tim Watts – South Middleborough

Tim is a native of the Town of Easton, and now resides in Middleborough. He grew up fishing, hunting and trapping throughout the Upper Taunton River Watershed, and Hockomock Swamp. Tim is a respected voice for protection of our native fisheries and, with his brother Doug, has filed a petition for designation of the American Eel as an endangered species due to the decline in eel numbers and the annual loss from hydroelectric dams. Tim is also active in TRWA’s efforts to restore fish passage and habitat on the Mill River. He was named a national ‘River Hero’ in 2005 by the River Network. Tim’s amazing website, http://www.glooskapandthefrog.org/, is a great introduction to his work on river issues!