Meet our Staff

Join our mission to help every Baltimore resident get clean water and green neighborhoods. Baltimore thrives when our waterways are clean.

Christina Akins | Human Resources Generalist

As the Human Resources Generalist, Christina oversees various functions such as recruiting, onboarding and training for Blue Water Baltimore and its employees. She is here to be a resource and provide guidance as needed. Christina has over 5 years of Human Resources experience and is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Water Baltimore team. In her free time, Christina enjoys cooking, live events and spending time with loved ones.

Jill Cecil | Director of Finance and Administration

Jill oversees finance, administration, facilities and technology activities at BWB.  It may not be a flashy job, but she enjoys providing the support systems that keep the rest of the environmental warriors out in the field fighting the good fight. Prior to joining BWB in 2011, she spent 12 years managing the finances for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. When she’s not counting beans, Jill can be found out on the water, literally.  Fun Fact: She lives on a boat in downtown Baltimore with her partner and their chihuahua, Little Dog.

Darin Crew | Director of Restoration

Darin oversees our restoration program. He manages restoration and engagement project planning to slow down runoff and filter out pollution. From planting trees in a neighbor’s yard to installing larger rain garden projects, we are trying to model projects that others can replicate throughout the watershed- either in their yards or on public or private property. His favorite part of the job is partnering with communities to implement hands-on projects that improve water quality and achieve community goals. Darin has a BS in Biology and is a Certified Professional Horticulturalist. In his spare time, Darin enjoys running on local trails in the Baltimore area, hiking on trails and being outside and observing nature’s majesty. Darin also enjoys fishing- cat fishing, fly fishing, any fishing is awesome.

Adriana DeLuca | Water Quality Program Assistant

Adriana supports BWB’s water quality monitoring program by collecting water samples throughout the Patapsco and Back River watersheds. She also aids in water-based engagement programming and investigates pollution reports from community members. Adriana received her BA in Biochemistry from Vassar College with a focus on marine biochemistry. Adriana considers clean, accessible water to be a foundational pillar of human life and is ecstatic to participate in measures to improve the health of Baltimore’s watershed. Outside of work, Adriana can be found crocheting or gardening. She also enjoys saying hi to every neighborhood cat while out in the field.

Sarah Holter | Water Quality Program Senior Coordinator

Sarah supports the programmatic field operations of the Waterkeeper team through water quality monitoring, data management and coordination of field volunteers. Being in close proximity to a body of water (fresh, brackish or salty!) is Sarah’s MO, and she can often be found en route to a swimming hole with her dog and some water colors.

Michelle “MJ” Jenkins | Development Manager

MJ is a lifelong volunteer and advocate for community involvement around a wide range of issues. Prior to the pandemic, she was the office manager of a busy medical practice and left to pursue nonprofit work full-time in 2020 as a volunteer coordinator. She enjoys gardening and growing her own food, hiking, camping, and anything involving being near a large body of water. She is also an animal foster, avid world traveler, mixed media artist, and a pretty okay cook.

Robert Jenkins | Nursery Manager

With more than 30 years of experience in Maryland’s horticulture industry, Rob oversees the daily operations of our Herring Run Nursery.  His long-term goals are: to continually expand the Nursery, both in terms of outreach and in support of Blue Water Baltimore’s mission, to increase the Nursery’s production to include more local ecotype natives that are grown and sustainably harvested by our staff and volunteers, to expand the use of natives in the greening of, and pollutant reduction within, our watersheds. Rob has a BS in Biology and an MS in Environmental Science; additionally, he is a CPH (Certified Professional Horticulturist) and a CBLP (Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional). In his free time, Rob enjoys triathlons, mud runs, bouldering, and axe throwing. When he’s not exerting himself physically, he can be found immersed in the story of Kratos and Atreus (playing God of War). Fun fact: Rob doesn’t care for pants, he only wears shorts, no matter the temperature.

Barbara Johnson | Senior Manager of Community Advocacy

As our Senior Manager of Community Advocacy, Barbara manages the organization’s legislative and policy positions relevant to clean water. By remaining rooted in the communities and watersheds we serve, BWB brings the perspective of Baltimore-area residents to the clean water regulatory, legislative, and policy initiatives we seek to enact at the local and state level. Barbara has a BA in Environmental Sustainability & Human Ecology from The University of Baltimore, and she is a CSI (Certified Stormwater Inspector) from the National Stormwater Center. In her free time, she can be found painting, printmaking, and exploring history.

Mary Lewis | Retail Nursery Manager

As our Retail Nursery Manager, Mary is responsible for community engagement, landscape design and consultations, and volunteer management at the Herring Run Nursery. She brings over 13 years of plant-related experience to our team, and truly loves sharing her passion for native plants and environmental conservation with customers and community members. Her quarantine hobbies include chess, skateboarding, and learning Spanish.

David Long | Restoration Technician

David Long is a dedicated restoration technician at Blue Water Baltimore, with a background in warehouse operations from his time at Second Chance. As a Baltimore native, David combines his love for the environment with a passion for music and fine dining. He is a people person who works well with our volunteers and enjoys the hands-on work that he does at Blue Water Baltimore. 

John Marra | Community Program Manager

John manages and leads many of our eco-literacy programs, engagement activities, and green infrastructure projects. As an Eagle Scout since 1999, Americorps member, and a founding member of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society, John Marra strongly believes in the importance of teamwork, kindness, and time spent outside.

Patrick McMahon | Restoration Project Manager

Patrick has had extensive project management experience working with the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) and completing his master’s degree at Towson University. Patrick has also been involved in the construction of many environmental restoration projects while working at Environmental Quality Resources, AWS, and while serving as a county inspector at the Maryland Environmental Service. Following the completion of his master’s, where he published a manuscript entitled, “Effects of stream restoration by legacy sediment removal and floodplain reconnection on water quality,” Patrick taught as an adjunct professor at Towson University. Patrick’s passion for greening urban environments and working towards cleaner – healthier water originates from his love for the outdoors and respect for nature.

Margaret O’Connor | Development Associate

Margaret is a part of the development team and is grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization that shares her concern for the environment. She is originally from Connecticut, but has also spent a lot of time in Cape Cod, MA, which is where she grew to love and appreciate the outdoors. Prior to Blue Water Baltimore, she obtained her BA in Sociology from Loyola University in Baltimore. In her free time, you can find Margaret trying out new restaurants, attending a concert, reading, or exploring the city with friends.

Sean O’Maille | Forestry & GIS Specialist

Prior to joining our organization, Sean was a full-time yoga teacher. He is passionate about trees and native plant species and their benefits for all life in and around Baltimore. Sean leads our tree maintenance program and assists with project implementation and volunteer engagement. Sean is excited to work with communities to bring more natural infrastructure to Baltimore.

Vanessa Pinkney | Administrative Operations Manager

Vanessa serves as the Administrative Operations Manager at Blue Water Baltimore. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring smooth office operations, managing organizational logistics, and supporting the leadership team. She oversees administrative functions such as facilities management, payroll processing, expense report processing, and internal communications. Additionally, Vanessa serves as the liaison to the Board of Directors, coordinating meetings, agendas, and documentation.

Prior to joining Blue Water Baltimore, Vanessa worked for 10 years in academia. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Heather Poff | Director of Development

As our Director of Development, Heather Poff is responsible for centralizing our grants program, deepening relationships with existing grantmakers, and identifying new funding prospects to help broaden BWB’s impact. She comes to us with nearly nineteen years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, most recently managing the grants and workplace giving programs at the Maryland SPCA. She looks forward to sharing the work of Blue Water Baltimore and the role we play in protecting one of Maryland’s most important resources. Heather grew up in Pennsylvania, spending many hours exploring the woodlands and streams near her childhood home. Today, she shares her love of the outdoors with her husband and two children. You will find them at various campsites and beaches in the tri-state area from Spring to Fall. Fun Fact: While working for the Washington National Opera, Heather got to be a supernumerary (fancy word for extra) in their productions.

Champ Powell | Engagement Coordinator

My name is Champ Powell, a Baltimore native with a fervent dedication to marketing and engagement strategy. Specializing in connecting the entertainment industry and influencers with grassroots organizations, I aim to optimize community resources and brand impact through innovative marketing. I excel in forging impactful partnerships that drive engagement and deliver tangible results. Let’s connect and explore collaborative opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

Sydnee Wilson Ruff | Executive Director

Currently serving as Executive Director, Sydnee joins the staff at Blue Water Baltimore after a year on the Board of Directors. She was drawn to Blue Water Baltimore because of its commitment to Baltimore’s neighborhoods; Sydnee is led by a deep desire to amplify the voices of the City’s marginalized communities. Prior to joining Blue Water Baltimore, she spent time honing her skills in operations, communications, and community engagement at a host of nonprofits and local government agencies. Sydnee only works so she can afford to travel. She and her husband have made the world their oyster, but their favorite place to be is at home, in the West Arlington neighborhood, with their four children. 

Fun Fact: Sydnee is a baker extraordinaire and longs to one day own a bed and breakfast here in Baltimore. 

Mike Sharp | Restoration Technician

Born in Baltimore City, Mike has been drawn to the outdoors since childhood, working in the family garden with his father and spending countless hours up in trees and building forts out of scrap wood. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserves specializing in communication security, he started his conservation career volunteering with Bread & Cheese Creek Cleanup, The Nature Conservancy, the MD SPCA, and the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Working extensively with the zoo’s Horticulture Team for several years, he was introduced to the Baltimore City TreeKeepers and their programs, becoming a certified Baltimore City Tree Keeper, Tree Pruner, and Weed Warrior, and began volunteering with Blue Water Baltimore. Mike is elated to work for an organization that not only aligns with his personal values, but he now also is required to work outside and get dirty every day, while also constantly learning new things about our natural world, and that suits him perfectly.  With a background in illustration, the Maryland Master Naturalist program, his various volunteering positions, workshops and events, and a penchant for problem solving, he is looking forward to making a unique impact in our city’s conservation and restoration.  

Emma Slyker | Volunteer Coordinator

With a background in environmental education, Emma is committed to building the volunteer community at Blue Water Baltimore.  She studied environmental studies and philosophy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is passionate about making an impact in our local waterways.  In her free time, you can find Emma rock climbing, hiking, and making art.

Lauren Stranahan | Program Operations Manager

Lauren maintains our day-to-day bookkeeping, including the receipting of grant funds and donations, processing payments to our vendors, and providing financial reports to our program directors. She loves keeping an eye on the details so that our teams working in the field have everything they need to continue their important work. Lauren started out volunteering with Blue Water Baltimore in a neighborhood stream cleanup. Since then she’s become a certified Weed Warrior and Tree Keeper! Lauren has planted ten trees in her own yard and is now her neighborhood’s tree steward.

Corbin Sulton | Implementation Senior Coordinator

Corbin implements our landscape and stormwater restoration projects. He also supervises and mentors our field crew in their daily work. Corbin is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control and is proficient in using heavy machinery and a variety of hand tools.

Alice Volpitta | Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper

As our Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, Alice directs our water quality monitoring programs and spearheads our enforcement efforts. She also oversees the management of our pollution reporting hotline, regulatory & permit review, and policy evaluation work. Alice has a BS in Biology & Environmental Science from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is a Certified Stormwater Inspector. When not patrolling our waterways, she can be found hiking and treasure hunting near them, quilting, and making Pugtatos (you’ll have to ask her to learn what that means).

Peter Weitzmann | Database Specialist

Peter is determined to use data and technology to promote solutions to environmental and social issues in Baltimore. Peter works to support our programmatic and development goals by overseeing the collection, organization, and utilization of data. He has a BA in Liberal Arts (Anthropology) from Hamilton College and is a Salesforce Certified Administrator and a Baltimore Treekeeper. In his free time, Peter plays guitar with his band, and enjoys camping and hiking. Fun fact: Peter has visited five continents, and he has worked or volunteered in four different countries (US, S. Korea, Thailand, Australia).

Jenny Wierschem | Nursery Associate

Jenny supports the work of Blue Water Baltimore’s Herring Run Nursery by assisting with retail operations, production, and outreach, as well as providing consultations. She completed a certificate program in Sustainable Horticulture at the Community College of Baltimore County and is a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP). She has a BA in English from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, an MA in literary nonfiction from the University of Oregon, and previously worked in communications for over 20 years. Jenny is excited to now be helping residents and organizations replace monocultures and invasives with plants native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Carla Welborn | Director of Marketing and Communications

Carla Welborn serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Blue Water Baltimore. With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Carla brings a wealth of expertise in crafting compelling narratives and strategic communication plans that drive impactful results. Throughout her career, Carla has excelled in developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies that align with organizational goals and resonate with diverse audiences. Her strong background in brand development and media strategic planning has consistently delivered outstanding results, significantly enhancing brand awareness and market presence for the organizations she has served.

Malcolm Wilson | Restoration Crew Leader

Malcolm joined Blue Water Baltimore after three years with the Baltimore Tree Trust, where he started as a crew member and worked his way up through the ranks to become supervisor of the tree care division. He was born and raised in Baltimore, and has a background in construction, operating and maintaining heavy machinery, and urban forestry.