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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
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

Ryan Resilience Lab Event Request

Thank you for your interest in the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab. We’re delighted that our site is in high demand. As the Ryan Resilience Lab is operated by a small non-profit with a big environmental mission, please help us make sure your event is a great fit.

Our priority is to host groups with relevance to our mission: to restore the Elizabeth River through equitable collaboration with diverse communities, governments, and businesses. When space and staff support are available, we are happy to host such groups free of charge, but do request that you consider an organizational membership and allow us to offer the opportunity for individual memberships.

Please fill this form out at least 30 days in advance of the event.

Our maximum for indoor seated events is 85 theater style and 45 classroom style. For standing receptions, the maximum is 100 indoors or 125 indoor-outdoor.
(restoring the Elizabeth River through equitable collaboration) and Ryan Resilience Lab (environmental resilience to sea level rise)
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Start Time(Required)
:
End Time(Required)
:
Set Up Time
:
Take Down Time
:
Set Up Preferences(Required)
Check all that apply
Audio/Visual Needs(Required)
Check all that apply

If given the go-ahead for our event, sponsor organization agrees to these Ryan Lab policies:

Yes, we will offer attendees the option to tour the Ryan Lab(Required)
Yes, Elizabeth River Project can make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding mission and ways to get involved(Required)
Yes, we will join the Elizabeth River Project as a dues-paying organization at a level commensurate with our size and the nature of our operations.
Please see member benefits for further information: https://elizabethriver.org/donor-circles/
Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(Required)
Yes, we will adhere to start and end times (15-minute leeway) and will leave the room as clean as possible.(Required)

Additionally, sponsor organization agrees to these administrative/liability requirements:

  • ERP maintains insurance for its activities at the Ryan Lab. Sponsoring organizations should ensure that they have appropriate insurance coverage as well.
  • Weapons are prohibited.
  • Open flames generally are prohibited (special permission only).
  • Outdoor guests will be required to exit the Learning Park during thunder, lightning, high winds or any circumstance deemed hazardous by ERP.
  • Waiver of Claims: Sponsoring organizations agree to release, waive all claims, discharge, and covenant not to sue Elizabeth River Project, its officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from liability from any and all claims resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in the event and related tours, due to the negligence of sponsor, sponsor's employees, or event participants.
  • Notice of Claims: Sponsor agrees to provide immediate notice to ERP if any participant either files, or threatens to file, a claim arising from or related to the event, so that ERP can notify its insurance carriers.
  • COVID Statement: Participants will monitor their own health prior to reporting to any Elizabeth River Project event/activity. If any signs or symptoms of infection are present, the individual must not report to the event.
  • Photo Release: Photos of the event may be shared as part of grant reporting or posted on Elizabeth River Project website/social media unless otherwise specified by the sponsor organization.
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Youth Water Monitoring Results

Entry Data

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Time(Required)
:

Sample Data

Bacteria

Observations

Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, tiff, Max. file size: 256 MB.
    Add any field observation photos here