GIVE
GIVE

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
Pamela Boatwright
Deputy Director & River Star Businesses Manager
Luísa Black Ellis
Director of Resilience & Community Engagement
Jaye Farrell
Director of Human Resources
Charlie James
Director of Finance
Summer Mace
Director of Education
Phoebe Murrell
Director of Restoration & River Star Homes Manager
Casey Shaw
Director of Marketing & Communications
MeShall Simmons
Director of Development
Ella DiPetto
Lead Scientist
Anna Ardila-McCarter
Resilience Manager
McKenzie Arrington
Restoration Grant Manager
Mary Batterson Stewart
Business Operations Manager
Patrice Calvin
Grassroots Engagement Manager
Victoria Dunch
Resilience Research Manager
Spider Crab and Kayla Nov 2019
Kayla Gradwell
Volunteer Manager
Larry LaPell
Park Operations Manager, Paradise Creek Nature Park
Hailey Lauritsen
Learning Barge Education Manager
Sarah McBride
River Star Schools Manager
Joshua Sawyer
Senior Project Manager
Yolima Carr
Conservation Landscaping Curator, Paradise Creek Nature Park
Layne Houk
Environmental Project Coordinator
Olivia Knight
Restoration Specialist
Abbey Marquardt
Educator & Engagement Specialist
Pamela Northam
Development & Public Engagement Associate
Jess Pinsky
Ryan Resilience Lab Administrator
Jamie Ramsey
Youth Resilience Educator
Anna Spiller
Learning Barge Educator

Board of Directors

Officers

Officers

President | Melissa Page Deutsch
Certified Personal Development Coach, Owner, Inner Voice​
Immediate Past President | Ken Kimball​
Chief Financial officer, Virginia Spaceport Authority​
Vice President | Ray W. King​
Of Counsel, Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC​
Adjunct Vice President | Jeff Merritt​
Market Vice-President, Cox Communications ​
Treasurer | Dr. Maynard Schaus
Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, Batten University
Adjunct Treasurer | Cross Birdsong
Brown Advisory, Portfolio Analyst
Secretary | Louis F. Ryan
RETIRED GENERAL COUNSEL, LANDMARK

Directors

Directors

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Aimee Batten
Community Leader
Julie Chop
Real Estate Development Specialist, City of Portsmouth Economic Development Department
Hon. Courtney Doyle
Vice President, Marketing, Sentara Health
Matt Fine
President, The Runnymede Corporation
Del. Jackie Glass
Virginia House of Delegates, 93rd District
Susan Goode
Community Leader
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Herb Haneman
President, Lindel Power Group
Burr Henderson
Managing Director, Truist Private Wealth
Ryan Kenrick
Attorney, Williams Mullen
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
Mia Lefkowitz Robinson
Project Manager, Flooring Division, HAPAX
Will Smith
Community Affairs, Dominion Energy
Patrick Whelan
Talent Acquisition Officer, TowneBank
David White
Executive Director, Virginia Maritime Association

Community Representative

Directors

Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston
President, Norfolk State University

River Academy Lecture Hall Request

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

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

NOTE: This form does not confirm your reservation, reservations are confirmed upon ERP receipt of signed contract and paid deposit.

Event Type(Required)
*Rates include up to 3 hours for meetings on weekdays and weeknights, and 6 hours for events on the weekends, including setup and takedown. Additional time will be billed at 20% per hour
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Our maximum capacity is 50 for theater or presentation style events and 30 for classroom style.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
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
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved(Required)
This field is hidden when viewing the form
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved

If given the go-ahead for our event, sponsor organization agrees to these River Academy Lecture Hall policies:

Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(Required)
Yes, we will adhere to start and end times (15-minute leeway) and will return the space to the condition in which you found it.(Required)

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

  • ERP maintains insurance for its activities at the River Academy Lecture Hall. 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 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.
MM slash DD slash YYYY

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.

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

NOTE: This form does not confirm your reservation, reservations are confirmed upon ERP receipt of signed contract and paid deposit.

Event Type(Required)
*Rates include up to 3 hours for meetings on weekdays and weeknights, and 6 hours for events on the weekends, including setup and takedown. Additional time will be billed at 20% per hour
This field is hidden when viewing the form
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.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
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
We would like to offer attendees the option to tour the Ryan lab(Required)
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved(Required)
This field is hidden when viewing the form
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved

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

Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(Required)
Yes, we will adhere to start and end times (15-minute leeway) and will return the space to the condition in which you found it.(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.
MM slash DD slash YYYY

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