Rebecca Todd, Executive Director, rtodd(at)ctriver.org, (413) 834-9457
She/Her

Rebecca joined CRC in October 2023. For over 30 years Rebecca has advised organizations, individuals, and businesses in matters related to environmental, educational, contractual, employment, and non-profit management. She served as General Counsel for Antioch University, as Associate Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General in Washington in the Education and Ecology divisions, and litigated cases for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (now Earthjustice) and the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. related to the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and hazardous waste laws. Rebecca also teaches environmental law, legal advocacy, and other subjects nationally and internationally.

In addition to these professional accomplishments, Rebecca grew up in the Connecticut River watershed, has raised a family while stewarding farmland along the river in New Hampshire, and is cultivating a new passion for the sport of rowing.

Ansel Appleton, Finance and Accounting Assistant, aappleton(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 201
He/Him

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.

Kate Buckman, River Steward in New Hampshire, kbuckman@ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 205
She/Her

Kate joined the CRC team as the River Steward for NH in Sep 2022. She spent much of the 25 years before that involved in marine and freshwater research. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Smith College where she worked on coral reef ecology and education in Belize and her PhD from the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography where she focused her thesis research on the ecology of fish at hydrothermal vent systems on the East Pacific Rise. Kate made the short trip north back to her home state of New Hampshire in 2010 and spent many years at Dartmouth College as a member of the Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program studying trophic transfer of mercury and assisting with community science programs in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  

When not contemplating how awesome fish are, Kate can often be found puttering in her yard and gardens, hanging out on the porch pondering which house project to tackle next, or walking her wiggly dog around the neighborhood.  

Rebecca Budd, Restoration Program Manager, rbudd(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 222

Becky joined CRC’s staff in October 2021. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College and M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of New Hampshire. She previously worked with American Rivers and The Nature Conservancy on land protection, river restoration, and conservation GIS projects.

Becky has always lived near the river, from her childhood in Connecticut to her college dorm in “The River Cluster” near the upper Connecticut River. She currently lives in Northampton, MA with her family. In her spare time, she volunteers on rare species and habitat surveys and enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and skiing.

Angela Chaffee, Grant Strategist & Writer, achaffee(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 204
She/Her

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.

Diana Chaplin, Director of Communications, dchaplin(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 206
She/Her

Diana brings over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications strategy in both nonprofit and startup organizations with a distinct passion for sustainability and uplifting storytelling. Her background also includes publishing, leadership development, and graphic design. Most notably her recent experience includes being the Marketing Director at global reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted during 5 years of its 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! She currently oversees our content throughout the 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.

Gabrièl Chevalier, Recreation & Restoration Program Manager, gchevalier(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 210
She/Her

Gabrièl officially joined the CRC team as Lab Manager in 2018 after assisting with CRC’s water monitoring program through an internship with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. She tests water samples collected from rivers, streams, storm drains, and flowing pipes for the presence and abundance of E. Coli bacteria to determine whether those water bodies meet or exceed the State Water Quality Standard. Before working at CRC, she worked with the Appalachian Mountain Club as a data analyst and GIS specialist.

She holds a degree in Geology and Environmental Science from Mount Holyoke College. Gabrièl grew up in Western Massachusetts and is excited to be working with CRC to study and protect the waters in this region. Her love of the local rivers began with canoeing trips along the Deerfield River, extended through college where she rowed daily on the Connecticut River and continues today with her work at CRC.

Rhea Drozdenko, River Steward in Connecticut, rdrozdenko(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 203
She/Her

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.

Aliki Fornier, Ecology Planner, afornier(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 207
She/Her

Aliki joined CRC’s staff in March 2018 shortly after moving to the valley from St. Peterburg, FL. Prior to joining CRC, she was a volunteer at several conservancies around the globe. In 2013, she volunteered at the Maurtitius Marine Conservation Society, working towards the preservation of cetaceans and marine turtles around the Island of Mauritius. In St. Petersburg, she volunteered with the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve helping to eliminate invasive species. Aliki learned of CRC through her participation in CRC’s annual Source to Sea Cleanup, as well as volunteering for our mussel restoration program.

Aliki graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Eckerd College. Growing up in Switzerland, by the Lac Leman, she always spent time around water, exploring its secrets. Aliki also spends some time in Greece every year – where her family resides – sailing or scuba diving with her brother.

Fritz Gerhardt, Conservation Scientist, fgerhardt(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext.219

Fritz joined CRC as Conservation Scientist in January 2019 but has been working as an ecologist and conservation scientist since 1987. He completed his B.A. in Religious Studies at Grinnell College, his M.F.S. in Forest Ecology at Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in Community Ecology at the University of Colorado. He has worked, studied, and taught with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Harvard Forest, Dartmouth and Middlebury Colleges, University of Colorado, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center. For the past eleven years, he owned and operated an environmental consulting firm that specialized in conducting scientific research that furthered our understanding and conservation of the natural environment in northern New England and adjacent Canada. When not working, Fritz and his family enjoy living, walking, paddling, and gardening in the hills and valleys of the northern Connecticut River watershed.

Nina Gordon-Kirsch, River Steward of Massachusetts, ngordonkirsch(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 216
She/Her 

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.  

Laura Herbert, Staff Accountant, lherbert(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020
She/Her

Laura Herbert joined CRC as Staff Accountant in 2022.  She holds a BS in Elementary Education and has taught in the classroom and as an environmental educator.  Since beginning her career in finance and administration, Laura has worked in corporate consulting as well as in the non-profit sector. Additionally, Laura has a lifelong passion for conservation and has worked for various environmental groups doing invasives removal, species inventories, rare plant surveys, and design and implementation of land management plans. She has also developed environmental conservation curricula for students K-6. 

Laura is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with a specialty in the care of rabbits and turtles. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring natural areas and honing her skills as an outdoorswoman. 

Alix Kaplan, Content Coordinator, akaplan(at)ctriver.org
They/Them

Alix joined CRC as Content Coordinator in 2023. Their first experience on the river was working with the Invasive Aquatic Plants Crew pulling out water chestnut. Previously Alix had worked as an environmental educator in Baltimore, MD and as communications coordinator for a chamber music nonprofit.

Alix graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Tufts University. They enjoy animating, drumming, and looking under their microscope. Going on hikes with Alix will take double the amount of time since they must stop and look at everything.

Stacey Lennard, Events Manager and Source to Sea Cleanup Coordinator, slennard(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 211
She/Her

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.

Mary McCaughey, Development Assistant, 413-772-2020, mmccaughey@ctriverorg.
She/Her

Mary joined CRC in September, 2022. Mary has been living in the Connecticut River Valley in Western MA since 2008 when she began her studies in Plant, Soil, and Insect Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Mary reluctantly worked in retail sales and customer service before being lucky enough to join CRC. She currently lives in Easthampton with her husband and dog. She enjoys art, music, and spending time with family and friends.

Brett Morrison, Director of Development, bmorrison(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 218 or 802-375-4519

Brett grew up on the Connecticut River – fishing, swimming, and floating on the brooks, streams, and rivers of southern Vermont’s hills and valleys. He joined the CRC team in 2018, eager to meet CRC members and work toward the river’s better future. His professional experience includes fundraising throughout New England and NYC for the Student Conservation Association (SCA), consulting and business development with a communications and printing company specializing in nonprofit fundraising, and over a decade teaching, coaching and house parenting at New England independent schools (including Bement School in Deerfield, MA and Northfield Mount Hermon).

Since returning to Vermont in 2006, Brett has served on the boards of the West River Watershed Alliance (VT) and the Strolling of the Heifers (Brattleboro, VT), and the Planning Commission in Vernon, VT. He enjoys coaching lacrosse, skiing, playing ice hockey, time with family, and exploring new parts of the river and watershed.

Ryan O’Donnell, Monitoring Program Manager, rodonnell(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext.217
He/Him

Ryan first joined the CRC team in 2013 as a lab tech in the Greenfield Water Quality Lab. He has coordinated volunteer water quality monitoring programs throughout the Connecticut River watershed since 2015. He is especially focused on using volunteer monitoring programs to bridge knowledge gaps and build coalitions where watersheds cross political boundaries. Before coming to CRC, Ryan taught science and music to students of all ages.

Nicole Reigle, Assistant Director of Development, nreigle(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 221
She/Her

Nicole has a background in development, small business administration and marketing. Before joining CRC in 2021 as the Development Coordinator, Nicole served as the Development Assistant for Healing Across the Divides – a nonprofit that provides grants for wellness initiatives for women and children in Gaza and the West Bank. She also created communication materials for Ask Nurses & Doctors, a bipartisan endeavor pushing to elect political representatives who prioritize universal healthcare. Prior to selling the small business she founded and operated with her husband from 2016-2020, Nicole acted as Assistant to the Chief Advancement Officer at Hampshire College.

Nicole holds a B.A. in English from UMass Amherst and is also a freelance graphic designer, interior decorator, and copy editor. Her other passions include stroke research and care, women’s issues, and vegan cooking/baking.

Ron Rhodes, Director of Programs, rrhodes(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 214 or 413-768-4994
He/Him

Ron joined CRC in 2011 as a NH/VT River Steward, spending most of his time removing old dams, planting trees, and working with landowners and partners to implement river restoration projects. Now, Ron is the Director of Restoration Programs where he leads CRC’s aquatic and riparian habitat restoration programs throughout the watershed in NH, VT, MA and CT, and determines short and long-range restoration program opportunities.

Ron is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH where he majored in Political Science and Economics. Prior to moving to the Upper Valley, where he lives with his wife Betsy, Ron worked in politics and government in Washington D.C. and Ohio.

Chris Riffenburg, Director of Finance, criffenburg(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 202
He/Him

Christopher Riffenburg joined CRC in November 2022. Before his time here began, he had a successful tenure as the Financial Manager for Westfield State University’s profitable College of Graduate and Continuing Education; having responsibility for a $13 million dollar budget; and service to more than 5,000 students annually. Prior to Westfield State, he spent more than eight years in non-profit Financial Management, providing leadership in organizations committed to service of low to moderate income residents of Hampden County. He has extensive experience in managing grants and budgets (Private, Municipal, State and Federal). He was, at one point, the financial administrator of a grant funded by the Internal Revenue Service, working with a Qualified Tax Attorney to offer representation to citizens in United States Tax Court.

Chris is a lifelong golfer, who currently resides in Western Mass with his wife and two cats, Tweety and Hoosier. His hope is to bring his experience in financial management to growing a clean, healthy, and full of life Connecticut River.

Mallory Strider, Assistant Director of Finance, mstrider(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 201
She/Her

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.

Kathy Urffer, Director of Policy and Advocacy/River Steward in Vermont, kurffer(at)ctriver.org, 413-772-2020 ext. 215 or 802-258-0413
She/Her

Kathy joined CRC in 2017.  Prior to moving to Vermont, Kathy was Special Projects Manager and Operations Director for Hackensack Riverkeeper in New Jersey. In addition to managing the staff and day to day finances of the organization, she developed and ran their river cleanup program, assisted with their canoe and pontoon boat eco-cruise programs, managed stream restoration projects, and fish advisory, outreach and education projects.  More recently she has served on the Board of the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Association, the Windham Regional Commission, and has worked on education projects related to wastewater treatment.

Kathy holds a M.S. in Natural Resource Management from Antioch New England University, a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers, and is a former Vermont Leadership Institute Fellow from the Snelling Center for Government. She is a self-taught amateur botanist and herbalist and enjoys re-learning about the natural world through the eyes of her two children.