2023-24 Doan Brook Watershed Partnership Board of Trustees
The Partnership’s 16-member Board of Trustees meets bi-monthly to discuss watershed issues and initiatives, funding resources, programs and actions for consideration. Meetings are open to the public and scheduled at varying locations within the Partnership.
DBWP Executive Committee
Chairman – Darnell Brown, At-Large Citizen Representative
President – Nancy Moore, Councilwoman, City of Shaker Heights
Vice President – Gail Larson, Councilwoman, City of Cleveland Heights
Secretary – Laura Gooch, At-Large Citizen Representative & Engineering Consultant
Treasurer – Curt Witchey, At-Large Citizen Representative
Trustees
Joel Alpern – Chief of Education & Experience, Deputy Director, Holden Forests & Gardens
Chris Bongorno – Owner/Principal, Bongorno Consulting LLC; General Consultant, Holden Parks Trust/ University Circle Inc.
Peter Bode – President and CEO, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Andy Boateng – Sustainability and Resiliency Coordinator, City of Cleveland Heights
Ramona Lowery-Ferrell – Director of Public Works, City of Shaker Heights
Stephanie Howse – Councilwoman, Ward 7, City of Cleveland
Ryan Lopez – Commissioner, Water Pollution Control
TBD – Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Jennifer Lumpkin – At-Large Citizen Representative
Alex Litofsky – At-Large Citizen Representative
Stacey Polk – At-Large Citizen Representative
Greg Van Niel – Affiliate Trustee, Volunteer Representative
Cisco Rivera – Affiliate Trustee, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Representative
Dr. Roy Larick – Affiliate Trustee, Bluestone Heights
DBWP Staff
Maureen “Mo” Drinkard, PhD,
Executive Director
Dr. Drinkard is a Stream Ecologist who earned her Doctorate from Kent State University in 2012. She grew up along the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and after living much of her adult life in the south, returned to Northeast Ohio in 2020. For a while, she settled her family of 7 in Shaker Heights in an old house amid the headwaters of the Doan Brook. After a wonderful career as an ecology professor, Mo moved into academic administration and later, non-profit administration. As an administrator, she developed many programs from idea to launch including a technical bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, a MBA in Sustainability, and a nationwide scientific fellowship program placing thousands of scientists in research positions. Her ongoing research and professional interests include riparian, wetland, and watershed ecology, entomology, and sustainability. Mo is an avid gardener and permaculturist, a mad fermenter, and she loves working with data and statistics. Mo is grateful to be able to serve the community and watershed as Executive Director of the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.
Emily Kao 高爱莉,
Watershed Program Manger
Emily received her B.A. in Environment and Sustainability from Cornell University, focusing on Urban Planning and Environmental Justice with a minor in Climate Change. Originally from outside of Boston, Emily relocated to Cleveland at the end of 2022 after graduating from college. Emily has worked with Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District as their Watersheds & Education intern and has also interned with the New York State Water Resources Institute, where she helped to design a climate change exhibit and conducted research to assess the feasibility of acoustic monitoring for measuring riparian recovery. In college, Emily spent her free time teaching outdoor education courses, collecting field data in nearby forests, and cross country ski racing. Emily believes that outdoor recreation and environmental education should be accessible to and inclusive of everyone and looks forward to serving the residents of the Doan Brook watershed as the Watershed Program Manager.
Len Rincon Martinez
NOWCorps Watershed Education and Outreach Specialist
Len is pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and Cognitive Science at Case Western University. Born and raised in CD Juarez, Mexico, Len has a genuine appreciation for nature and their community. Len spent the summer of 2024 working at the CWRU University Farm using sustainable agricultural practices and working on various projects. Len enjoyed growing microgreens, managing the greenhouse and growing his own plot of land. Len also worked with Food Strong as their Care-A-Van intern and helped plan and develop family-friendly events with free music, health screenings, food and art activities. Len strongly believes in the power of community and education as a way to deal with climate change.
Hayley Lalchand
NOWCorps Watershed Science Education and Outreach Specialist
Hayley is a science communicator and writer who is passionate about nature. She graduated from Kent State University with a BS in psychology and a minor in molecular/cellular biology. As a student researcher, she worked on projects that explored how environmental factors influence health. A native Ohioan, Hayley has spent a lot of time appreciating the outdoors, noticing that many people are disconnected from nature’s impact on them and their impact on it. Now, she is an aspiring educator looking forward to connecting communities with their environment and natural resources. In her free time, she enjoys watching frogs, taking photos, and spending time with her husband and cats.
Doan Brook Watershed Heroes
The DBWP honors those individuals who have created positive and lasting change at our annual meeting held in November.
2024: Greg Van Niel
2023: Victoria Mills
2022: John Rode
2021: Case Western Reserve University Student Sustainability Council
2020: Friends of Lower Lake
2019: William Warr and Disabled American Veterans
2018: Friends of Lower Lake
2017: John Reebel
2016: Dr. Roy Larick
2015: Marcia Mauter, Marty Cooperman, and Steve Ingalls
2014: Kathy Smachlo
2013: Virginia Havens and Hawken School Student Volunteers
2012: Julie Patton and Arcey Harton
2011: Carl Czaga
2010: Bob Davis
2009: Lester Stumpe
Doan Brook Impact Award
The Doan Brook Impact Award honors volunteers whose commitment and exceptional service have significantly advanced our mission to restore and protect the Doan Brook watershed. Through their leadership, advocacy, and hands-on involvement in various projects, these volunteers have not only contributed to the restoration of the Doan Brook but have also cultivated a legacy of stewardship that will benefit future generations. The Doan Brook Impact Award celebrates their invaluable contributions and serves as a testament to the power of community action in environmental conservation.
2024: John Reebel