Nine Mile Run Watershed Association

Staff

Brenda Smith, Executive Director
Brenda Smith joined Nine Mile Run as Executive Director in January 2008. Over the last two decades, she has helped nonprofit groups as diverse as humanitarian aid organizations and arts ensembles with strategic planning, board development, fundraising, and administrative challenges.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Brenda travelled around the world four times, working on Pitt’s Semester-at-Sea program. Between trips she studied at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In 1989 she co-founded Global Links, a nonprofit organization that provides hospitals in Western Pennsylvania and across the U.S. with an environmentally responsible alternative to disposal or incineration of surplus equipment and supplies. Materials recovered here are sent to hospitals and clinics serving the poor around the world, with special emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Serving as President of Global Links for ten years, Brenda helped the organization grow to include more than ten paid staff members, hundreds of volunteers, and average annual donations valued at more than $1 million.

Prior to joining NMRWA, Brenda worked in either a volunteer or consultant capacity with the Three Rivers Community Foundation, the Renaissance City Choirs, the Creative Nonfiction Foundation, and Building New Hope.  She also served for three years as the full time Development Director of Chatham Baroque, and still attends this ensemble's extraordinary concerts whenever possible.  Currently an active participant in the Clean Rivers Campaign and the Green Infrastructure Network, Brenda is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), and was recently honored by the Women and Girls Foundation as one of 15 "Womens Greening the Pittsburgh Region."  She lives in Squirrel Hill with her partner, Rosemary Welsch.

 Gary Rigdon, Director of Programs
Gary is a native of Pittsburgh who was born in the Nine Mile Run watershed.  He joined our staff after being employed for many years in the corporate world doing sales and marketing, working as a consultant for Allegheny Land Trust and Sustainable Pittsburgh, and serving as a volunteer in leadership positions for the Friends of North Park, Pine Creek Watershed Coalition, and North Area Environmental Council.  Gary enjoys spending as much of his free time as possible XC skiing, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking.  His passion for protecting, conserving, and restoring the environment has grown from the energy and sense of well-being he gains from experiencing the beauty and wonder of nature.  Gary’s work at NMRWA is driven by his desire to make our urban communities healthier places for us all to live, work, and play.

Luke Stamper, Sales Manager - StormWorks
Luke first joined NMRWA in the winter of 2005 as an intern working within the GreenLinks program.  He has an undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master's of Education from Slippery Rock University.  Luke's responsible for the development and performance of all sales and marketing activities for StormWorks.  He is currently implementing strategies to provide Nine Mile Run's stormwater expertise to residents all over the country.  Any free time he has is spent perfoming in Pittsburgh's premiere bluegrass band, the Mon River Ramblers.

Sara Madden, Design Manager - StormWorks
Joining the team as an intern in the summer of 2009, Sara is a Pittsburgh native and a resident of the watershed. She has an undergraduate degree in fine arts and is currently pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture degree at Chatham University. Her interests include: contemporary sculpture, garden design, urban ecology, alternative transportation, and environmental planning. In her free time, Sara enjoys traveling by bike through the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Alicia M. R. Donner, GreenLinks Coordinator
Alicia joined NMRWA in September 2011 as GreenLinks Coordinator.  Originally a native of Toledo, OH, she completed her undergraduate studies in environmental science at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.  Alicia moved to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2010 as a participant in PULSE - the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience, where her placement was at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, serving as TreeVitalize Program Assistant.  Having lived in three unique urban environments, Alicia is fascinated by the intersection of the human and natural environment.  In her free time, Alicia enjoys volunteering, knitting and discussing pop culture.  

Judi Jungling, Office Manager
Judi comes to NMRWA with 38 years of office experience including key skills in data management and customer service. With gardening and nature as two of her greatest passions, working for Nine Mile Run is a satisfying experience for her. Judi's excellent organizational skills keep the day-to-day operation of the organization running smoothly.

 
Paul Yanulavich, StormWorks Program Assistant
Paul recently received his Horticulture diploma from Bidwell Training Center.  He has worked as a Plant ID/Diagnostic Specialist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. He has a special interest in and affinity for taxonomy, which informs his work with NMRWA installing rain gardens and rain barrels.  Paul has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, both from Goddard College. He enjoys writing, baking and gardening.

Maeve Rafferty, GreenLinks Program Assistant
Maeve is one of eight interns working in the green sector in Pittsburgh under The Northern Ireland Sustainable Leadership Program.   After a summer tending seedlings for Tree Pittsburgh, she joined Nine Mile Run in October 2011, just in time for the fall plantings.  She holds an undergraduate degree from University College Dublin in Environmental Biology and spent 10 years working in the nature conservation sector in Northern Ireland.  Since coming to Pittsburgh, she’s branched out into horticulture, but remains a faithful devotee of native plants.  In her free time, Maeve plays in a samba band, reads copiously, writes sporadically and explores Pittsburgh’s bike trails.

Kristina Nikiforova, StormWorks Intern
Kristina joined StormWorks in November 2011. She is currently pursuing a Master of International Development degree at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on planning and environmental sustainability. A recent Pittsburgh transplant, she has an undergraduate degree in international relations from the State University of New York at Geneseo and spent the past year working on urban revitalization and education issues as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Rochester, NY. In her free time, Kristina enjoys cooking, biking, and painting.