BOARD OFFICERS
Veronica Berounsky, Ph.D., President
Marine Ecologist, URI Graduate School of Oceanography
Veronica focuses on science, education, and state level conservation issues. She is an active volunteer at NRPA’s educational events and is a dedicated water quality monitor with NRPA’s River Watch program.
Craig Wood, Vice President
Environmental Scientist
Craig’s interests are land management and public access around Sprague Bridge and Salt Marsh Restoration. Craig also leads our Osprey education program for local fourth graders.
David Allaire, Treasurer
Financial Advisor
Dave is a Warwick-based financial advisor who has a home on Marion Street off of Boston Neck Road; born and raised in Woonsocket and presently living in East Greenwich, Dave received his BS in Finance from URI in 1988; he founded and is President of The Retirement Planning Company of New England
Paula Santos, Secretary
Business Consultant and Event Planner
As a resident of the watershed, Paula is concerned about the health of the river and appropriate utilization of its resources. She wants to educate and engage the local community in NRPA’s work.
BOARD MEMBERS
Kathleen Couchon
Kathy Couchon is a longtime resident of Narragansett and a retired secondary science teacher in the Narragansett School System. She came to RI from Massachusetts to earn her degree at URI and after a brief move away, she and her husband returned to live and raise their two daughters here.
Beginning with her husband’s family history with the Middlebridge area and continuing with creating scientific curriculum connections with her students at the Narragansett Pier and High Schools, her association with Narrow River and the NRPA feels special. Kathy has received the NRPA Environmental Educator Award.
A National Board Certified educator and a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching, Kathy is excited to use her educational experience to promote the Narrow River, and especially contribute to the NRPA family and outreach activities.
Kathy enjoys traveling with her husband to visit their daughters’ families and four grandchildren and other extended family around the country. Locally, she likes to bike, hike and kayak, and to continue to cultivate her native pollinator gardens.
Kathleen Dolan
Kate graduated Western Connecticut State University with a BA in English and Fordham University, Bronx NY, with an MS in Theology. After teaching in New York City and Mississippi with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, she spent 23 years teaching high school in an inner city school in Yonkers, NY. Complementing her love of literature she is certified in Kripalu yoga, mindfulness meditation, and campus ministry. An avid walker, she also enjoys salsa and line dancing.
In the nineties, while living in Sleepy Hollow, along the Hudson River, Kate became acquainted with Riverkeeper. It was her first introduction to the power of a local group of concerned residents who were determined to make a difference in a threatened watershed area. Having spent many summers in Quonochontaug, RI, she was delighted to finally have a home on South River Drive in Narragansett where she has been swimming and kayaking along the Narrow River since 2001.
Kate volunteers at Dorcas Immigration Center in Providence and also with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. She has always been impressed by the work of NRPA and its outreach to the community.”I made a promise to myself that once I was able to, I would try to be involved with the needs of the fragile Narrow River watershed that I am so privileged to be a part of, especially now when this river is facing new challenges. NRPA with its mission statement to ‘preserve and protect the river’ is a guardian of this watershed. I am honored to be able to work with such experienced and dedicated members of the NRPA board.”
Peter Gelhaar
Lawyer at Donnelly, Conroy & Gelhaar, LLP, Boston, MA
Peter is interested in continuing the NRPA’s success in preserving the water quality of the Narrow River and also understanding the effect that naturally occurring events at the mouth of the River have on water quality.
Brian Mattiucci
Brian Mattiucci lives with his wife Karin on Middlebridge Rd in South Kingstown, RI. They are both 3rd generation to Narrow River as their families settled here in the 1950’s. To say that this place has special meaning, would be an understatement. They met at the age of 14, got engaged at the mouth of the river, and have spent the last 31 years together (along with their families), enjoying everything that this area has to offer.
Brian oversees business development efforts for Vantage Builders, a commercial general contractor based out of Waltham, MA. His primary responsibility, developing relationships throughout the architecture, construction, and engineering industries, to assist with the growth of this 25 year old firm. Brian also sits on the Board for ACE RI, an after school mentorship program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in building and design. He will bring a level of enthusiasm and positive energy to the NRPA, focused around a hard work ethic and an ability to effectively communicate. That being said, it should be noted that he was doing water testing on Narrow River for his chemistry class at South Kingstown High School back in 1996. It’s probably a good thing for everyone that he decided not to pursue an education and career in science.
He says “I care most about having a safe and healthy Narrow River for all of us to enjoy together.”
Denise Murphy
Attorney at Law at Rubin and Rudman
Denise Murphy is an attorney who counsels regional and national businesses on a broad variety of employment law-related issues, ranging from individual terminations to mass reductions in force. She’s litigated a multitude of cases throughout the nation involving discrimination and sexual harassment matters and guided her clients through mediation and arbitration, administrative forums, as well as in state and federal courts. Denise also conducts independent, third-party investigations into allegations of sexual harassment and discriminatory practices.
Denise is a past President of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) and founding Co-Chair of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Attorney Well-Being. She is a frequent lecturer at legal educational seminars throughout the region and conducts compliance training seminars for her clients. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Best Lawyers in America, Top 50 Women in the Law, is the recipient of Lawyers Weekly, Top Women in the Law, Circle of Excellence.
Denise resides in Saunderstown with her husband David White and is the very proud Mom to 4 children and Nana to 3 (so far) grandchildren. She enjoys swimming, reading, cooking, and living in this beautiful area.
Dr. Whitley Saumweber
Dr. Whitley Saumweber is a Clinical Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island and a Senior Associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. where he serves as Director of the Stephenson Ocean Security Project. His work focusses on issues at the nexus of national security and global ocean health and seeks solutions that support sustainable development and leverage American leadership.
Dr. Saumweber has worked extensively across the Federal government, academia, and the private sector leading major initiatives that integrate marine science with pressing policy needs. He has held appointments as President Obama’s Associate Director for Ocean and Coastal Policy in the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), as a senior advisor to two NOAA Administrators and the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), and as a Visiting Fellow with Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions.
In his role at CEQ, Dr. Saumweber led the development and implementation of President Obama’s marine stewardship agenda on behalf of the White House. This included leading teams responsible for the creation of multiple marine reserves of global significance; developing the first U.S. seafood traceability program to combat illegal fishing; directing our National Ocean and Arctic Policies; and overseeing our national sustainable fisheries policy.
Previously, Dr. Saumweber has directed a national coastal research and monitoring program at NOAA and worked as an ocean scientist and educator. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Saumweber lives with his wife and son in the village of Saunderstown.
James Vogel
Founder and Director, The BioProcess Institute and Adjunct Professor in Chemical Engineering at URI
Jim hopes to help preserve the naturally occurring biodiversity of the Narrow River and to assess the impact of events, both natural and man made, on the river.
CONTRACT STAFF
Shirley Freitag, NRPA Administrative Coordinator
Shirley leads office administration and program operations while keeping stakeholders and the public informed about watershed issues
Betsy Motyl, NRPA Seasonal Events Coordinator
Our Event Coordinator organizes NRPA’s many events.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS:
- Jason Considine
- Annette DeSilva
- Barry Devine
- Sarah Gaines
- Richard Grant
- Sally Kenyon Grant
- Chris Hubbard
- Alison Kates
- Catalina Martinez
- James McGregor
- Ken McShane
- Nate Vinhateiro
