Our Board

KWA Officers

Caitlin Johnson, President
Caitlin has a long history with KWA. She was a senior in high school when her environmental science class, taught by Mrs. Angela Page, began volunteering with KWA to help with cleanups on Beargrass Creek. She attended her first Wild & Scenic Film Festival in 2010 where Caitlin and her classmates presented their work on Beargrass Creek to the audience. Caitlin continues her connection with KWA through her service on our Board of Directors since 2018. Not only does Caitlin’s passion for water show in her volunteer interests, she also works in the water field as a Water Resources Engineer with Stantec. Caitlin has her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Louisville. Caitlin enjoys all aspects of water: her favorite way to enjoy water is simply being near it.

Travis Murphy, Secretary
Travis Murphy joined the KWA Board of Directors at the end of 2021, and serves on the Resource Development Committee. He first got involved after returning from working in Indonesia. The tap water there was not potable, and it was common to see open sewage trenches dug right beside a roadway or sidewalk. He saw firsthand how water can make such a difference in the quality of people’s lives and wanted to help KWA’s mission of protecting, restoring, and celebrating Kentucky’s waterways. He holds a degree in European Studies from the US Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of Illinois. He works as a Process Engineer for Michelin and spends his time with his wife and two children when he’s not hiking with his backpacking group.

Layne Taylor, Vice President
Layne is the Chief of Staff to the Chief Medical Officer at Humana, responsible for annual strategic planning, goalsetting, communications, and operations. Layne was born London, Kentucky, with many members of my family still located in southeastern Kentucky in Corbin and the surrounding areas. He grew up on the other side of the Ohio in Sellersburg, Indiana before attending Hanover College, which overlooks the Ohio River. Layne says, "Red River is my favorite Kentucky waterway. Whether it’s overlooking it or spending time in it during trips to Red River Gorge, I’ve always found it peaceful and relaxing."

Tim Wissing, Treasurer
Tim is a principal at Cerity Partners and brings a solid background in financial services ranging from tax compliance to wealth management. Tim’s role as captain of his sons’ Trinity High School Bass Fishing Teams has created an awareness of the importance of keeping our lakes clean. He is a St. Matthews native who often played in Beargrass Creek as a kid. He spends time with his boys and on his farm where three ponds provide water for livestock and agriculture.

Board Members

Alisha Deatrick

Alisha is an AVP is Cash Management Officer for Park National Bank. As a University of Louisville Alumni with an undergraduate degree in Interior Architecture, she has always believed that we have a responsibility to conserve and protect our natural environment. She is a Louisville native who has lived close to Beargrass Creek for most of her life, and enjoys hiking in Cherokee Park around the creek and spent time doing boot camp workouts at Big Rock.

Carter Frazier

Carter Frazier is an Associate at Rose Camenisch Stewart Mains PLLC, where her practice includes general civil, commercial, and tort litigation. Prior to joining RCSM, Carter practiced family law in Frankfort, Kentucky. Originally from Maysville, Kentucky, and Longmont, Colorado, Carter earned her B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder. During her undergraduate studies, she lived in Peru, where she managed a fair-trade textile nonprofit. She received her J.D. from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, where she was active in the Student Bar Association. Carter was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2021.

Tim Moran

Tim loved splashing through his neighborhood creeks as a 90s kid and traveling to national parks or forests to hike amazing trails and play in beautiful waterfalls. He didn’t give much thought to how those same creeks could become polluted without the diligent efforts of government, community groups, and nonprofits. Over a decade ago Tim fell into the water biz when he joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF), a technical and educational nonprofit serving the clean water industry. Tim has dedicated himself to water ever since, working across the sector in manufacturing, consulting, and government. Tim also served in volunteer leadership roles with the Kentucky|Tennesseee Section of the American Water Works Association, the Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky and Tennessee, and WEF. In 2017, he was recognized by WEF with the Volunteer Service Recognition award for his leadership of the annual WEF Community Service Project and Water Palooza education fair. Currently Tim is the Business and Community Partnerships Administrator at Louisville MSD where he organizes community engagement activities and seeks collaboration with local nonprofits. He loves to talk with the community about how MSD protects Louisville’s environment, health, and safety.

Kuntesh “KC” Naik

KC joined the KWA Board of Directors in 2023. KC is Director of Strategic Planning and Chief of Staff at Humana, and previously served as the Operations Leader for the Humana Foundation. KC is originally from Zimbabwe and moved to the United States when he was 11 years old with his family. He has lived in Louisville since then that time and is a graduate of the University of Louisville. He grew up enjoying Floyds Fork which instilled in him a commitment to protection and conservation of nature and water.

Steve Ricketts

Born and raised in London, Steve moved to the U.S. in 2001 to help establish Yum! Brands’ global R&D, Food Safety and Engineering Center. He went on to serve as Yum Restaurants International’s Chief Innovation Officer, working across more than 50 countries and 12,000 restaurants. An Earth Scientist by training, with expertise in meteorology, range and watershed management and postgraduate study in Agricultural Engineering, Steve has long been passionate about environmental stewardship and water conservation. After leaving Yum!, he became an owner of Lexington-based Solar Energy Solutions, helping grow it into Kentucky’s largest solar installer while advocating for clean energy and environmental progress before the Kentucky legislature and Public Service Commission. He later chaired the Kentucky Solar Energy Society, helping expand community solar and strengthen the organization’s statewide impact. Steve is excited to bring his background in environmental science, clean energy, advocacy, communications and nonprofit leadership to Kentucky Waterways Alliance and help advance its mission to protect Kentucky’s waterways.

Ali Swann

Ali works for Humana on the Associate Health and Well-being team, leading their corporate volunteerism strategy. She enjoys connecting her associates to volunteer experiences that spark their sense of purpose. A lifelong resident of Louisville, Ali shared that her best childhood memories involve water, including boating and swimming in Rough River Lake with her family, exploring the creeks and streams in local parks, seeing a Rainbow Darter for the first time. Her favorite waterway is Floyds Fork, sharing that “Paddling down Floyds Fork is such a fun way to feel immersed in nature and experience birds, fish, and other wildlife up-close – and it’s only 25 minutes from downtown Louisville!” Ali says, “KWA’s work resonates with me because I want to make sure future generations of curious kids have clean, safe waterways to experience and explore for years to come.”

Elisabeth Walton

Elisabeth is a senior at Hanover College majoring in Environmental Geology. Her internships have focused on clean water restoration and hazardous waste management, fueling her passion for ecological justice. As a Social Justice Leadership Program Scholar, Elisabeth is committed to advocacy work. She believes that the Kentucky Waterways Alliance is the most effective advocate for protecting and enhancing Kentucky’s streams, lakes, and rivers. In her free time, she enjoys hammocking and reading a good book!

Jamie Young Wise

Jamie is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Louisville. Using a One Environmental Health approach, Jamie’s research integrates human, animal and ecosystem health to gain insight into how environmental contaminants contribute to disease. She also incorporates community-engagement and citizen-science approaches to address concerns about water contamination in rural areas of Kentucky. Before earning her Ph.D. at the University of Louisville, Jamie worked as an Environmental Scientist for a large water/wastewater district in Maine, providing her with a unique perspective and expertise to help address water quality issue through out the region.