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lzielinski at ctriver.org 603 325-7022 She/Her < Back Lauren Zielinski Stream Restoration Specialist Lauren joined the CRC staff as a Stream Restoration Specialist in July 2024. She has a BSc in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University and an MSc in Ecohydrology from UNESCO-IHE (now IHE Delft) in The Netherlands. She has worked in river science, watershed management, and environmental flows since 2010 and collaborated on projects across the United States and Africa. Some of her highlights include conducting environmental monitoring for stream restoration projects in Lake Tahoe, completing field work in Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park to determine environmental flows in the Mara River in Kenya and Tanzania, leading the first ever environmental flow assessment in the Ouémé River Delta in Benin, and coordinating training courses on water accounting in several countries in Northern Africa and the Near East. Lauren grew up in New Hampshire admiring the beautiful landscapes and waterways, but it wasn’t until she discovered stream restoration during an AmeriCorps internship did her appreciation for water really blossom. Now she works on all aspects of stream restoration, from grant funding and project management to engineering and construction oversight. When she’s not in the water, you can usually find Lauren hiking and camping in the woods or traveling the globe in search of adventure. lzielinski at ctriver.org 603 325-7022 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

mstrider at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 She/Her < Back Mallory Strider Assistant Director of Finance Mallory joined CRC in August 2019. Originally a native of Maryland from the Potomac River Watershed, she moved to the valley in 2014 to attend Smith College. Mallory earned her B.A. in History as a part of the Ada Comstock Scholars Program. As a history major, her capstone project for her archives concentration was a digital narrative and history of the Mill River. Prior to her relocation, Mallory volunteered with the Muddy Branch Alliance doing stream sampling as a part of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Stream Waders Program. Mallory enjoys riding her bicycle, spending time outside, and exploring – sometimes guided by maps and sometimes guided only with a sense of adventure. mstrider at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

aapleton at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 He/Him < Back Ansel Appleton Staff Accountant Ansel Appleton joined CRC’s finance department in September of 2023, assisting with accounts payable and general ledger entries. Before working for the river, he pursued stints as a bartender, a bookkeeper, a traveling slam poet, and a chef. When not filling out IRS forms and expense reimbursements, he can be found reading his long-form articles, or watching the neighborhood squirrels. Ansel is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, a resident of Greenfield, and a proud product of Greenfield Community College. aapleton at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

dchaplin at ctriver.org 413-834-0079 She/Her < Back Diana Chaplin Director of Communications Diana brings over 15 years of experience in communications strategy and marketing for both nonprofit and startup organizations with a distinct passion for conservation and uplifting storytelling. Her background also includes publishing, leadership development, and graphic design. Prior to joining CRC in 2022, Diana was the Marketing Director at global reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted during 5 years of its early critical growth, establishing the organization as a media-savvy environmental brand and growing a robust internal team while funding the planting of over 40 million trees – including being a funding partner of CRC! Diana currently oversees CRC's content throughout this website, email, social media, and custom distribution channels in partnership with programs staff. When she’s not working, Diana enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family in Massachusetts. dchaplin at ctriver.org 413-834-0079 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

amajor at ctriver.org 413-253-6855 She/They < Back Amanda Major Outreach & Events Coordinator Amanda joined CRC as the Outreach and Events Coordinator in 2024. She brings an enthusiasm for community-building and social change. Prior to working at CRC, Amanda's role was an outdoor educator, teaching kayaking and canoeing on the Deerfield River. During this time, she developed a deep gratitude and connection to nature along with a love for the rivers and forests of Western Massachusetts. With a background in reproductive justice and leadership development, Amanda is driven by the intersection of health, social change, and the power of gathering. She is particularly intrigued by the whats and whys behind our moments of connection. Amanda believes in the transformative power of community and strives to build spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Amanda holds both a BA and MA in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. In her free time, she enjoys paddling and participating any and all aquatic activities. amajor at ctriver.org 413-253-6855 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

slennard at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 211 She/Her < Back Stacey Lennard Events Manager & Source to Sea Cleanup Coordinator Stacey’s passion for the Connecticut River began in the spring of 1996 when, after moving to the valley from NYC, she and her husband embarked on their first paddle in celebration of his birthday. They have created a ritual of the event, bringing friends and family along for this annual birthday flotilla. Stacey began volunteering with CRC in the winter of 2015 and currently organizes our public events. She loves to combine her creativity and community-building skills to share the important work of CRC and inspire others to engage with their rivers. Stacey holds an M.F.A. in photography from UMass Amherst, an M.A. in Art Education from City College of New York and a B.F.A. from University of Michigan. She was the Executive Director of Youth Action Coalition—a community-based youth arts and social justice organization—for nearly 20 years, and has been an arts educator and facilitator in rural and urban schools and out-of-school settings. She lives in Leverett, MA with her husband, sons and new puppy, loves canoeing, backpacking, playing the cello, reading, and cooking. At her first Source to Sea Cleanup, Stacey and son Ethan dragged nine tires out of the river! Stacey hopes to be a Source to Sea Through-Paddler in the near future. slennard at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 211 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

csoucy at ctriver.org 802-490-9701 He/Him < Back Charles Soucy Vermont Program Associate Charles joined the CRC team in January 2025 as the Vermont Program Associate. He assists the Vermont River Steward with managing projects, collaborating with community and governmental partners, supporting educational events, communicating with the public, and advocating for clean and healthy rivers. He is especially focused on increasing CRC’s programmatic work in the development of stormwater projects, management of aquatic invasive species, and other types of education and engagement efforts . Before coming to CRC, Charles was a fish farmer, a craft brewer, a facilities manager for arts and cultural non-profits, and a fishing and river guide. Charles holds an M.S. in Environmental Science with a focus on Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and a B.A. in Biology with Honors and Religion from Williams College. He is also the Vice President of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited #450 as of April 2024. He lives with his partner and two kids in southeastern Vermont where they raise chickens, cook delicious food, and create art, as well as hike, paddle, and ski around New England. csoucy at ctriver.org 802-490-9701 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

mlangley at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 She/Her < Back Melissa Langley Lab and Monitoring Coordinator Melissa joined CRC part-time in 2022 as a lab technician and now works full-time to help coordinate volunteer and lab work for seasonal monitoring programs for bacteria, nutrients, and microplastics. She previously worked at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and Buzzards Bay Coalition doing water quality and salt marsh restoration field, lab, grant, and permitting work. Melissa holds a M.S. in Environmental Conservation from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, where she looked at the successes and shortcomings of tidal restoration projects in salt marshes on Cape Cod. She also holds a B.A. in Linguistics from McGill University. In her free time, Melissa loves to cook, spend time at the river, and do arts and crafts. mlangley at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

ngordonkirsch at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 216 She/Her < Back Nina Gordon-Kirsch River Steward in Massachusetts Nina joined CRC’s staff in December 2023 after assisting with CRC’s water quality monitoring program during the summer of 2023. She moved to the Connecticut River Valley from northern California where she spent the past decade working across the water industry including regulatory and monitoring work for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, teaching a high school field course on natural and human-made water systems, and designing and installing professional greywater reuse projects. Before leaving CA, Nina walked 240 miles along the Mokelumne River to trace where her drinking water came from and feels passionate about connecting humans to their water sources. She holds an M.Sc. in Wastewater Reuse from Ben Gurion University, completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Israel and Palestine researching the fate of endocrine disrupting compounds in Palestinian wastewater treatment, and earned her B.Sc. in Environmental Science with a minor in Marketing from the University of Southern California. In her free time, you’ll find her dipping in local rivers (all year round!) and hiking with her dog Petey. ngordonkirsch at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 216 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

mharrisvincent at ctriver.org 603-503-0419 She/Her < Back Marilla Harris-Vincent River Steward in New Hampshire Marilla joined CRC as the NH River Steward in January 2025. Prior to joining CRC, she worked as a research assistant helping develop an environmental health literacy and water education program on the Crow Reservation in Montana. Marilla holds a M.S. in Water Resource Policy and Management from East Central University. During this program she traveled to Lake Victoria in Kenya to participate in an intensive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) program, deepening her knowledge in water and wastewater infrastructure systems, indigenous water technology, sustainable water practices, and international water law. She also received a B.A in Psychology and Environmental Science & Policy from Smith College. When not working, you can find Marilla outside hiking, skiing, gardening, and experimenting with fermentation. She lives in New Hampshire's Upper Valley with her husband, Jack, and their two dogs, Apple and Smokey mharrisvincent at ctriver.org 603-503-0419 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

rdrozdenko at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 203 She/Her < Back Rhea Drozdenko River Steward in Connecticut Rhea joined the CRC team in August 2022. Before joining CRC, she worked as a community engagement professional in higher education – getting students more involved in the community and creating programming for local K-12 students. Community engagement has been an integral part of both her personal and professional life – and she tries to volunteer whenever she can. Rhea holds a BA in Sociology with a Civic Engagement Certificate, as well as a MALS in Social Sciences from Wesleyan University. She has lived in Connecticut for most of her life, and she loves exploring the lovely gems this state has to offer. She can often be found reading a book in a hammock along the Connecticut River, experimenting with different baking recipes, or listening to live music. rdrozdenko at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 203 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

achaffee at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 204 She/Her < Back Angela Chaffee Grant Strategist & Writer Angie began working with CRC in 2010 as an AmeriCorps member. Prior to joining CRC, she graduated with an M.S. from Antioch University New England’s Environmental Advocacy and Organizing Program. During her time there, she worked on a variety of water-focused projects that engaged communities with their natural resources. Angie grew up in Michigan, the “Great Lakes State,” where she also worked as an environmental educator, and got her B.S. in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University. When she’s not working, you’ll find Angie in her garden or baking sweet treats for her friends, family, and co-workers. She lives in Springfield, MA with her husband, Kevin, and their two rescued pets. achaffee at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 204 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate