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.
Board Members
Gordon Garner, Past-President
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.
Kay Harker
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
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.
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.
Travis Murphy
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.
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.
Layne Taylor
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."
Ali Greenwell
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.”
Emeritus Board Member
Frank Elsen
Bev Juett
Hugh Archer
Bruce Scott
Bev Juett
Hugh Archer
Bruce Scott