KWA Officers
Martin Hjalm, President
Martin first got involved with KWA through Leadership Louisville’s Ignite Program where participants partnered with KWA to help build capacity for our Every Drop program. Martin’s expertise in digital marketing allowing him to play a large role in reimagining this program, and helping to develop the Every Drop website and create a sustainable plan for the program moving forward. Martin’s favorite aspect of KWA is the welcoming culture but also the passion for water that is shared by the staff, board, and members alike. Martin is optimistic for the future of KWA, and looks forward to playing a role in organization’s work moving forward.
Martin first got involved with KWA through Leadership Louisville’s Ignite Program where participants partnered with KWA to help build capacity for our Every Drop program. Martin’s expertise in digital marketing allowing him to play a large role in reimagining this program, and helping to develop the Every Drop website and create a sustainable plan for the program moving forward. Martin’s favorite aspect of KWA is the welcoming culture but also the passion for water that is shared by the staff, board, and members alike. Martin is optimistic for the future of KWA, and looks forward to playing a role in organization’s work moving forward.
Caitlin Johnson, Vice 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.
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.
Pamla Wood, Treasurer
Pamla has been a member with KWA since its infancy, serving intermittently as a board member and occasional contractor. She moved to Kentucky after two years at Boston University, graduating from UK with a BS in Agronomy. Pamla has worked with nonprofits since 1974, alongside her career in federal and state government. Although natural resource management has been her primary focus, with water in particular, she also has decades of nonprofit planning and management experience. She is best known for her group facilitation skills, but provides services in all aspects of organizational development, program management, and accounting. In “retirement,” she intensively studies modern and classical dance, and raises fiber sheep and meat goats on Sunnyhill Farm in Mercer County.
Pamla has been a member with KWA since its infancy, serving intermittently as a board member and occasional contractor. She moved to Kentucky after two years at Boston University, graduating from UK with a BS in Agronomy. Pamla has worked with nonprofits since 1974, alongside her career in federal and state government. Although natural resource management has been her primary focus, with water in particular, she also has decades of nonprofit planning and management experience. She is best known for her group facilitation skills, but provides services in all aspects of organizational development, program management, and accounting. In “retirement,” she intensively studies modern and classical dance, and raises fiber sheep and meat goats on Sunnyhill Farm in Mercer County.
Marcia Boone, Secretary
Marcia is a Leadership and Management Professor at Bellarmine University and has been a trainer and consultant for business operations in corporate and higher education institutions. She has supervised staff and programs in a variety of social service agencies and nonprofit organizations. Marcia has been a member of KWA for many years and is a strong supporter; she joined the Board in 2016. She served as Process Manager of the Executive Search Committee in 2016-2017 and continues to serve as the Chair of the KWA Resource Development Committee.
Board Members
Gordon Garner, Past-President, Salt River
Gordon is a registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky and Arizona. Gordon received both bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky. He was formerly Executive Director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District. He is an advocate for the watershed approach to clean water, and believes KWA is the most effective voice for protecting and improving our streams, lakes and rivers in Kentucky. He believes that climate change and natural resource exploitation are the greatest threats we currently face to protect and preserve our water resources.
Gordon is a registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky and Arizona. Gordon received both bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky. He was formerly Executive Director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District. He is an advocate for the watershed approach to clean water, and believes KWA is the most effective voice for protecting and improving our streams, lakes and rivers in Kentucky. He believes that climate change and natural resource exploitation are the greatest threats we currently face to protect and preserve our water resources.
Tom Vierheller, Big Sandy River (includes Little Sandy and Tygarts Creek)
Tom has served as KWA President, on the Executive Committee as Past President, and as the Big Sandy River Basin Representative in recent years. Tom teaches biology at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Tom serves on the advisory board of the East Kentucky Science Center. In addition, he has offered numerous water quality programs to both youth and adults in the Big Sandy region. For recreation, Tom enjoys time in his kayak on Dewy Lake and the Big Sandy River.
Tom has served as KWA President, on the Executive Committee as Past President, and as the Big Sandy River Basin Representative in recent years. Tom teaches biology at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Tom serves on the advisory board of the East Kentucky Science Center. In addition, he has offered numerous water quality programs to both youth and adults in the Big Sandy region. For recreation, Tom enjoys time in his kayak on Dewy Lake and the Big Sandy River.
Bob Johnson, Jackson Purchase
Bob has served as either a basin representative or the Governing Council Treasurer for a number of years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a minor in Political Science from Murray State University. Currently, Bob serves as the grant specialist for NonProfit Dynamics, Inc., providing technical assistance in project development, grant writing, and grant management.
Bob has served as either a basin representative or the Governing Council Treasurer for a number of years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a minor in Political Science from Murray State University. Currently, Bob serves as the grant specialist for NonProfit Dynamics, Inc., providing technical assistance in project development, grant writing, and grant management.
Kay Harker, Kentucky River
Kay worked in the Department for Environmental Protection from January of 1985 until her retirement in 2007. She worked in the Division of Waste Management, Division of Water and Commissioner’s office. Prior to working in the Department for environmental protection, she taught high school in Kentucky, Florida, and Michigan, worked on a dude ranch in Arizona. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Austin Peay State University and did post graduate work in ecology at the University of Kentucky. She grew up on a large family farm in Tennessee and in retirement lives on a small farm in Franklin County. Her retirement activities include birding, reading, rescuing standard poodles, spoiling her three grandchildren and working on environmental issues.
Linda Cowan, Salt River
Linda is a retired attorney in Louisville. Her law practice in Kentucky focused on employment law. In her early years as an attorney, she practiced in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties. Following her retirement, Linda served as an Adjunct Professor at Bellarmine University teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution. She has extensive board governance experience having served on numerous nonprofit boards. Linda and her husband have three grown daughters. She enjoys hiking and kayaking when not doting on her two grandsons.
Linda is a retired attorney in Louisville. Her law practice in Kentucky focused on employment law. In her early years as an attorney, she practiced in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties. Following her retirement, Linda served as an Adjunct Professor at Bellarmine University teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution. She has extensive board governance experience having served on numerous nonprofit boards. Linda and her husband have three grown daughters. She enjoys hiking and kayaking when not doting on her two grandsons.
Travis Murphy, Salt River
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.
Emeritus Board Member
Frank Elsen
Bev Juett
Hugh Archer
Bruce Scott
Bev Juett
Hugh Archer
Bruce Scott