NALMS Board of Directors
Jeremy Deeds (Region 1 – CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Jeremy Deeds has been an aquatic ecologist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection since 2014. Prior to that, he worked with the Lakes and Ponds Section of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. He has worked on many aspects of water quality and ecological condition, including lake condition assessments, biological community classification, data modeling, and littoral habitat evaluations. He holds an M.S. in Aquatic Ecology from Kent State University and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine.
Nicole White (Region 2 – NJ, NY, PR)
Nicole White is a conservation biologist with over 15 years of experience in water quality monitoring, riparian land protection, and invasive species management. She has worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation managing aquatic invasive species for the past several years. Nicole owns an environmental consulting firm which has contracted with the Westchester County Soil & Water Conservation District, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank. Previously she served as Associate Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development. She enjoys working with a variety of stakeholders in complex watersheds. She earned a B.S. in Conservation Biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry.
Beth Norman (Region 3 – DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV)
Beth Norman is the Director of Science and Research at Lacawac Sanctuary, a 550-acre field station in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and home to one of the southernmost pristine glacial lakes in the United States. Beth is an aquatic ecosystem ecologist whose research spans a variety of freshwater habitats including streams, lakes, and water-filled tree holes. She received her doctorate from Virginia Tech in 2012. Beth directs the Pocono Lake Observatory Network (PLEON), Lacawac’s lake monitoring and education program which includes formal water quality monitoring services and a Citizen Science project on Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania’s 3rd largest lake.
Amy Giannotti (Region 4 – AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Amy L. Giannotti is the owner of AquaSTEM Consulting, LLC. Amy holds a B.S. in biology from Marietta College (OH) and earned her M.S. in environmental science at the University of Virginia. Her current work examines the survival and spread of invasive plant species in freshwater habitats, and specifically considers the effect of urbanization on native plant restoration efforts and water quality. In addition, Amy serves as editor of the journal Aquatics, the official publication of the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society, and she serves on the Board of Directors for this organization. Amy is also an advisor to the University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants and has designed curriculum programs for elementary, middle, and high school students highlighting the impacts that exotic plants have on our waterways. Amy was recently named the Director of Development for Schoolyard Films, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that produces high-end environmental documentaries for K-12 students to foster environmental stewardship and promote awareness of our natural resources. These natural history programs are available for FREE and come complete with study guides and supplemental materials aligned to state and national science standards. Amy also serves as past-president of the Cambrian Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization based in Orlando (FL) that specializes in technical and scientific diving. During her career with the Cambrian Foundation and in conjunction with the Foundation’s research expeditions in Florida, Mexico, and Bermuda, she has initiated many educational and outreach programs, including a variety of projects related to the preservation of cave, karst, and groundwater systems in these regions.
Ralph Bednarz (Region 5 – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
Ralph Bednarz is a retired Limnologist after a 35 year career in environmental protection and water resources management with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Ralph managed Michigan’s inland lakes water quality monitoring and assessment programs. He was responsible for the implementation of the 2007 and 2012 National Lakes Assessment (NLA) in Michigan and he served as a national trainer for the 2012 NLA. Ralph coordinated the development and implementation of the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) volunteer water monitoring network, including the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP).
Ralph currently is working to advance protective lakes management programs in Michigan by serving on the Boards and committees of Michigan-NALMS; Michigan Waterfront Alliance; Michigan Inland Lakes Partnership; and Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, including the Certified Natural Shoreline Professions program. Ralph is also working to protect high quality lakes and healthy watersheds in northwest Michigan, one lake one shoreline at a time, by assisting and educating local units of government and lake associations on protective lakes management strategies. Ralph facilitated the formation of the Rennie Lake Association and he serves as its current president. Ralph has a M.S. in Limnology from Michigan State University.
Victoria Chraibi (Region 6 – AR, LA, NM, OK, TX, Mexico and beyond)
Victoria Chraibi is an assistant professor of biological sciences at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. She teaches courses in limnology, aquatic ecology, and phycology. She received an M.S. in water resources science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Ph.D. in earth and atmospheric sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a paleolimnologist, past research includes Lake Memphrémagog, Lake Superior, and lakes in Yellowstone National Park, while current research focuses on Texas streams and reservoirs. Victoria also specializes in science education and outreach in collaboration with nonprofits, state parks, and educational organizations to develop activities about water resources.
David Casaletto (Region 7 – IA, KS, MO, NE)
David Casaletto is the President of Ozarks Water Watch (OWW), a nonprofit water quality organization. OWW’s mission is to protect and improve the waters of the Upper White River Basin focusing on Beaver, Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals lakes and their watersheds. David has focused on reducing nutrient pollution from failing septic systems and small private wastewater treatment facilities. David was Program Coordinator for the National Decentralized Onsite Wastewater Demonstration Project at Table Rock Lake, a $2 Million cooperative agreement with EPA to find technical and management solutions for failing septic systems at Table Rock Lake.
Trea Nance (Region 8 – CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
Trea Nance is a Water Quality Chemist for the City of Westminster, Colorado where she works on source water quality in Standley Lake. She has worked on several diverse lake and reservoir projects, such as quagga mussels in Lake Mead, Nevada, benthic macroinvertebrates in Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, and cyanobacteria for her M.S. thesis in Fernan Lake, Idaho. Trea is a Certified Lake Professional and has been Treasurer of the Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association (CLRMA) for three years. Trea has been a NALMS member since 2014 and presented her M.S. research at the 2015 symposium where she was the recipient of the Jody Connor Student Award.
Deena Hannoun (Region 9 – AZ, CA, HI, NV)
Deena Hannoun is a Past President of the California Lake Management Society (CALMS). She has worked at the Southern Nevada Water Authority since 2016, where her primary focus is managing the three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model for Lake Mead. Deena also performs statistical analysis and constructs statistical models for water quality data in the Lower Colorado River Basin. Deena earned her PhD in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University, focusing on numerical simulation of brine intrusion in the subsurface.
Mark Rosenkranz (Region 10 – AK, ID, OR, WA)
Mark Rosenkranz has been the NALMS Region 10 representative since 2018 and in that time has served as temporary Chair of the Communications Committee; served on the Conference Committee and Development Committee; and has been Chair of the JEDI Program since its inception as a committee in 2018. During his time on the Board, he has helped edit the Operations Manual and worked with the JEDI Program to ensure DEI is included in all aspects of NALMS.
Mark has been the staff Limnologist with Lake Oswego Corporation since 2002 managing water quality on an urban lake in the Portland Oregon metropolitan area. He received a master’s in environmental management from the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs at Portland State University and is a Certified Lake Manager with NALMS.
Liz Favot (Region 11 – Canada – NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC)
Liz Favot is a senior PhD candidate at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Using information stored in lake sediments, her research investigates the causes of cyanobacterial blooms, and aims to provide historically informed and ecologically relevant management targets. Liz is experienced at distilling research into actionable management issues for cottage, lake, and watershed associations. In her roles as NALMS Student Director, a mentor, educator, and coordinator for the Canadian Association for Girls in Science, Liz has demonstrated a passion for fostering collaborative aquatic science communities.
Jay Toews (Region 12 – Canada – AB, BC, MB, NU, NT, SK, YT)
Jay Toews, a registered Professional Biologist and Chartered/Professional Chemist, is owner of Toews Environmental Consulting & Aquatic Sciences, independently providing specialist advisor and project management services since 2015. Previously the Western/Northwestern Canada Water and Natural Resources Lead for a major engineering firm, Jay has developed collaborative relationships with the limnological community and amassed diverse experience across Canada and internationally over his 26-year career. Jay prioritizes public engagement, which tends to keep questions (“public education opportunities”) coming long after projects are theoretically completed. Jay volunteers as scientific advisor to A Rocha Manitoba and the Riding Mountain UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Lauren Adkins Knose (Student Director)
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Lauren Adkins Knose is a fifth-year PhD student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Her research is focused on identifying changes in environmental conditions that favor toxin producing phytoplankton, leading to harmful algal blooms (HAB) in freshwater lakes. Prior to Miami, she achieved a Master’s in Public Health and worked on developing and implementing health impact assessments for the U.S. EPA. As a graduate student, she led a survey of lakes, in collaboration with PLEON, to characterize the extent of HABs in Northeast Pennsylvania and test various detection techniques to help design HAB monitoring and response strategies for lake managers. She also leads an annual workshop about HABs for community stakeholders. Her goal is to help inform decision-making through better understanding ecological challenges facing lakes and the potential public health consequences.
Brian Ginn (At-Large Director)
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Brian Ginn is the limnologist with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, heads their lake monitoring program, and is one of three Canadian NALMS Certified Lake Managers. Focusing on nearshore zone management, Brian’s work addresses the questions and concerns of local residents; supports the implementation of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan; and investigates macrophytes, benthos, water quality, and the impacts of nutrients, climate change, and invasive species. Brian has a BSc and MSc from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD from Queen’s University. Originally from the Maritime Provinces, Brian is a lifelong resident of Region 11, has lived in four of the provinces, and is very familiar with the diversity of lakes, and lake issues, in this region.
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