OUR TEAM

Thanks to your generous support, our talented staff is in the field every day to restore wetlands and oyster reefs, reduce pollution and engage all ages in meaningful volunteer and education experiences. Thanks for helping us help the river heal. Your gift makes all the difference.

Lacy Shirey
Executive Director
lshirey@elizabethriver.org
757-828-4741
Pamela Boatwright
Deputy Director & River Star Businesses Manager
pboatwright@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-5422
ext. 421
Phoebe Murrell
Interim Deputy Director – Restoration & River Star Homes Program Manager
pmurrell@elizabethriver.org
(757) 861-1821
Susan Smith
Director of Development
ssmith@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-1422
ext. 420
Casey Shaw
Director of Marketing & Communications
cshaw@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4331
ext. 401
Summer Mace
Director of Education
smace@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4314
ext. 427
Luisa Black Ellis headshot
Luísa Black Ellis
Director of Resilience & Community Engagement
lblack@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4482
Larry LaPell
Park Operations Manager, Paradise Creek Nature Park
llapell@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4748
ext. 415
Jaye Hughes
Human Resources Manager
jhughes@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4532
ext. 403
Shannon Yerabek
Learning Barge Education Manager
syerabek@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4216
ext. 419
McKenzie Arrington
Restoration Administrative Coordinator
marrington@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4234
Mary Batterson Stewart
Business Operations Manager
mbattersonstewart@elizabethriver.org
757-780-5881
ext. 439
Yolima Carr
Conservation Landscaping Curator, Paradise Creek Nature Park
ycarr@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4828
ext. 428
Victoria Dunch
Resilience Research Coordinator
vdunch@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4675
ext. 429
Spider Crab and Kayla Nov 2019
Kayla Gradwell
Volunteer and Education Administrative Coordinator
kgradwell@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-5417
ext. 410
Hailey Lauritsen
Senior Environmental Educator
hlauritsen@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4885
ext. 408
Jamie Melvin
Jamie Melvin
Engagement and EcoDistrict Manager
jmelvin@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-5465
ext. 412
Abbey Marquardt
Educator & Engagement Specialist
amarquadt@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4571
Sarah-McBride
Sarah McBride
School Outreach & Programs Manager
smcbride@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4932
ext. 426
samantha-miller
Samantha Miller
Environmental Project Manager
smiller@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4537
ext. 425
Pamela Northam
Pamela Northam
Education, Government and Public Relations Associate
pnortham@elizabethriver.org
757-828-6107
Mandi Pesha
Restoration Specialist
mpesha@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4709
Jessica Pinsky
Ryan Resilience Lab Administrator
jpinsky@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-5118
ext. 399
Jamie Ramsey
Youth Resilience Educator
jramsey@elizabethriver.org
757-828-4581
Joshua Sawyer
Environmental Field Foreman
jsawyer@elizabethriver.org
757-906-0804
‌Ru Williams
Environmental Justice Coordinator
rwilliams@elizabethriver.org
(757) 828-4635

Board of Directors

Officers

Officers

President | Melissa Page Deutsch
Certified Personal Development Coach, Owner, Inner Voice
Immediate Past President | Ken Kimball
Senior Vice President, Lyon Shipyard
Vice President | Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston
president, norfolk state university
Adjunct Vice President | Ray W. King
Attorney, Woods Rogers, PLC
Treasurer | Dr. Maynard Schaus
Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, Virginia Wesleyan University
Secretary | Louis F. Ryan
retired general counsel, landmark

Directors

Directors

Aimee Batten
Community Leader
Cross Birdsong
Portfolio Analyst, Brown Advisory
Julie Chop
Real Estate Development Specialist, City of Portsmouth Economic Development Department
Hon. Courtney Doyle
Vice president, marketing, Sentara health
Del. Jackie Glass
Virginia House of Delegates, 93rd District
Susan Goode
Community Leader
Herb Haneman
President, Lindel Power Group
Burr Henderson
managing director,truist private wealth
Ryan Kenrick
attorney, Williams Mullen
Jeff Merritt
Market Vice-President, Cox Communications
Hon. Delceno Miles
president/ceo, the miles agency
Molly Mitchell, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Faculty SMS/VIMS and William and Mary, Director of Professional M.A. Program Center for Coastal Resources and Management, VIMS, Batten School of Coastal and Marine Science, William and Mary
Margie Mulholland, Ph.D.
Professor, Old Dominion University, Dept. Ocean and Earth Sciences
Chris Neikirk
Norfolk Southern, retired
Shannon Pierce
CEO, Virginia Natural Gas
Josh Priest
Retired Navy Engineer,  Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Carl “Alex” Retzloff
Attorney, McGuirewoods, LLP
Cameron Robinett
Chief investment officer, cock island capital
Mia Lefkowitz Robinson
Project Manager, Flooring Division, HAPAX
The Hon. Dr. Theresa Whibley MD
Retired Partner, Tidewater Physicians for Women
David White
Executive Director, Virginia Maritime Association