Staff & Board
Staff
Kelley Tucker - Executive Director
Kelley has worked for nearly 30 years in the national, international, and local non-profit conservation sectors moving science and technical knowledge into public discussions and implementing innovative, locally-driven, on-the-ground solutions that protect freshwater and wildlife, sustain ecological diversity, and provide local communities with tools for economic and climate resilience. She served as Vice-President of Conservation for the International Crane Foundation working with staff in 22 countries to conserve cranes and their freshwater habitats. Earlier, at the American Bird Conservancy, she was director of the Pesticides and Birds Campaign and effectively advocated for pesticide regulations more protective of birds. Kelley holds degrees in economics and political science from Rice University, and pursued her doctoral work at the University of Chicago. Kelley leads AsRA's strong team of scientists and conservation professionals as they monitor the health of regional waters, identify threats, work with the community to find solutions, and monitor those solutions for success. She lives in Upper Jay with her husband three fine cats, a trusty dog, and two wonderful horses.
Madison Stroud - Operations Director
Madison joined the Ausable River Association (AsRA) in 2022 as operations director. She is excited to bring her passion for the Adirondacks, animals, and communications together in her work at AsRA. She has lived within the Ausable watershed since 2007 and maintains a deep connection to the East Branch Ausable River, its tributaries, and the plants and animals who rely on them. Prior to joining AsRA, she worked for local nonprofit organizations, serving as the shelter director at Tri-Lakes Humane Society and the program manager & volunteer coordinator at North Country SPCA. She holds a BA in English from Skidmore College and an MST from SUNY Plattsburgh. In her free time, Madison enjoys walking in the woods with her dogs, hiking, foraging, painting, and learning more about the flora, fauna, and ecology in the Adirondacks. madison@ausableriver.org
Carrianne Pershyn - Biodiversity Research Manager
Carrianne has worked in many capacities for the Ausable River Association since 2014. In late 2018, she became a full-time research associate for the organization, supporting our Biodiverse Habitats program and monitoring brook trout and other native organisms that rely on Ausable streams. She holds an M.S. in Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY and a B.S. in Ecology from Plattsburgh State University. Her masters thesis research focused on Brook Trout habitat use, recruitment, and population genetics in high elevation, groundwater-fed tributaries of the headwaters of the Ausable River. She is formally trained in natural history and ecology of freshwater habitats, with a variety of past research experience on terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. Her 2018-2019 field projects with AsRA include expanding and maintaining a network of temperature loggers across the watershed, designing and implementing eDNA field and lab studies to map the spatial distribution of brook trout and other salmonids, and planning future research projects that focus on Brook Trout ecology and conservation in the Adirondacks. She has worked in Adirondack conservation and lived in the Park for more than a decade, and when not working, can be found adventuring on Adirondack waterways and in wild forests. cpershyn@ausableriver.org
Phil Snyder – Water Quality Research Manager
Phil joined the Ausable River Association (AsRA) in 2023 following the planned merger with the Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation (ALSC). Phil had worked for the ALSC for over 23 years as a Chemist, Laboratory Manager, Field Researcher, and most recently as Program Director, studying the long-term effects of acid deposition on the Adirondack ecosystem. During his tenure at the ALSC, Phil participated in the collection, analysis, and quality control of over thirty thousand samples as a part of the Adirondack Long-Term Monitoring Program. Some of Phil’s recent studies involved looking at chemical metrics to determine the success of brook trout reintroduction and spawning in acid-impacted lakes in a recovery environment. In addition to his work with lakes and streams, Phil has also been involved in the Whiteface Cloud Monitoring Program, participating in site operation and design, as well as overseeing the analysis of cloud water samples. He holds an associate’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Technology from Paul Smiths’s College, and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Chemistry from SUNY Plattsburgh where he is also pursuing a Master's degree in Natural Resources and Ecology. In his free time, Phil can still be found in, on, and around the waters of the Adirondacks, hiking, paddling and fishing with his wife and two daughters. phil@ausableriver.org
Gary Henry – Stream Restoration Manager
Gary has worked in the Earth and environmental sciences for over two decades. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology and is a licensed professional geologist in both New York and Texas. He first studied fluvial geomorphology in graduate school and worked on several geomorphic assessments of rapidly urbanizing streams throughout central and north-central Texas from 2002-2009. After graduate school, he held a full-time position managing complex environmental remediation projects as a project hydrogeologist at an environmental engineering firm for 5 years in Dallas, Texas. In 2009, Gary joined the faculty at SUNY-Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh where he developed two environmental degree programs and taught courses in environmental science/technology/engineering and geology. During his tenure at Clinton, he received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Since joining AsRA in 2020, Gary has led geomorphic surveys for culvert and bridge replacement and river restoration design and provided day-to-day oversight on two large stream restoration projects on the East Branch Ausable River in Keene and Upper Jay during summer 2021. His current projects at AsRA include development of a regional geomorphic data set of rivers and streams in the Ausable watershed, overseeing the implementation of an upcoming stream restoration project in Upper Jay, identifying and prioritizing restoration efforts on the East Branch Ausable River, and helping to develop design plans for existing priority projects. In his free time, Gary enjoys making music, gardening, and spending time with family. gary@ausableriver.org
Liz Metzger - Research Associate
Liz has visited, and briefly lived, in the Adirondacks at various times throughout her life and returned in 2021 as the River Steward. She is excited to be staying with the Ausable River Association as a Research Associate. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Juniata College in Central Pennsylvania. During her time there, her focus was on fisheries and aquatics. Liz continued on this path and spent a summer as a stream barrier technician with the Adirondack Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. She then spent a field season as a fisheries technician with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. As much as she enjoyed her time in the west, she is happy to be back in the east working and exploring within the Adirondack Park again. In her free time, Liz enjoys paddling, crocheting, hiking, and spending time with her pup, Otis. liz@ausableriver.org
Carolyn Koestner - GIS & Science Communications Fellow
Carolyn joined the Ausable River Association (AsRA) in 2022 and serves as the GIS & Science Communications Fellow in partnership with the Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG). Her fellowship focuses on communicating the threats facing water resources in the Ausable and Lake Champlain Basins and the work by AsRA and LCSG to address these challenges. She is excited to be a part of the AsRA team and continue working to protect the Adirondack Park and its surrounding landscapes. A life-long New Yorker, Carolyn fell in love with the Adirondacks on weekend trips while living in the Capital Region and moved up here full time in 2019. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from Skidmore College and has worked in a variety of roles that combine her passions for conservation and GIS. These roles include serving as a River Steward for the Housatonic Valley Association and most recently as a Strategic Conservation Planner with the Lake Placid Land Conservancy. Carolyn spends her time outside of work exploring the Adirondacks and beyond via hiking, canoeing, camping, and backpacking, making maps of her most recent adventure, and serving on Saranac Lake's Climate Smart Community task force. carolyn@ausableriver.org
Consultants
Christine Motter - Finance Manager
Christine moved to the Adirondacks from the Hudson Valley in 2019. Soon thereafter, she helped her partner Zack start up the Ice Jam Inn in Upper Jay, NY. She joined the Ausable River Association in 2021, and is responsible for bookkeeping and financial management. Christine has a bachelor's in business management from Central Connecticut State University and has worked in business and nonprofit administration for over 8 years. When not elevating the Ausable River Association's administrative functions, she spends her free time painting and hanging out with her dog. christine@ausableriver.org
Board of Directors
Wally Walters - Chair
Wally is recently retired from over 35 years in public service in a wide array of executive level leadership and strategic responsibilities including: chief of staff of national security executives promoting interagency reform, strategist and senior strategic communicator for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Army District Engineer (Hawaii/Pacific and subsequently Arkansas/Missouri). He also served as the U.S. Defense Attaché to Bosnia negotiating major international agreement and director of testing for new military equipment. He holds a B.Sc. from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, a M.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University, an M.Phil. from Columbia University, and M.Sc. degrees in military studies and strategy from the Marine Corps University and the U.S. Army College.
Liz Clarke - Vice Chair
For almost 40 years Liz has worked with communities, parks, and conservation organizations across America. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 with a master of regional planning degree, she joined the firm of Wallace McHarg Roberts and Todd (now WRT). In 2013, Liz left WRT, where she was a principal, and began a new consulting practice. Over the years, Liz has focused on four areas of professional practice: planning for national parks, land conservation and open space planning, community comprehensive planning, and environmental compliance. Liz has been involved in many community volunteer activities – serving on the boards of the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF), the Skating Club of Lake Placid, and the Lake Placid Land Conservancy (formerly the North Elba Land Conservancy).
Charlie Cowan - Treasurer
Prior starting Long Run Wealth Advisors LLC in Lake Placid, Charlie had been employed as an advisor and manger with Kidder, Peabody & Co., Paine Webber, A.G. Edwards and Janney Montgomery Scott. He has been in the investment business for 38 years. Charlie received an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah with a BS in Speech Communication before going on to earn an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He served as treasurer for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and is still on the board. He has been a long-term board member for the Lake Placid Outing Club.
Audrey Hyson - Secretary
Audrey has been a resident of Lake Placid and Keene Valley for 28 years. In this time, she has been involved with many non-profit organizations working to protect the wilderness of the Adirondack Park. These include the Adirondack Mountain Club, Adirondack Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Land Trust, Northern New York Audubon Society and the Adirondack Loon Center. Audrey was a founding member of the North Elba Land Conservancy, now the Lake Placid Land Trust. Audrey has an undergraduate degree in Botany and pursued a master’s degree in biology. She has worked in the field of natural history interpretation and continue to pursue her personal interest in natural history, botany, & ornithology as recreational pursuits.
John Braico
John is a retired board-certified pediatrician who maintained an active clinical practice in Glens Falls, NY from 1978 – 2012. An active angler and lover of rivers, John has been active with several nonprofit organizations. Most notably, he has served active member of Trout Unlimited at the national, state, and chapter level advocating for natural stream restoration approaches, river restoration, and the protection of native species, especially brook trout. He founded the Adirondack Chapter of TU in 1985. John has training and experience with fluvial geomorphology, river analysis, field studies, and restoration work. He has completed all 4 levels of training in fluvial geomorphology, assessment, and design with David Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology.
Christian Brammer
Christian is a founding member of Silverton Advisory LLC, a consultancy serving financial institutions and specializing in credit risk analysis and work out for a number of clients in New York and in Europe. Prior to co-founding Silverton, Christian spent several years designing and building a home for his family on the Ausable River between Keene and Upper Jay. During this time, he also worked for a hedge fund and taught courses and lectures on capital markets at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. Previously, Christian spent nearly 20 years in the financial markets working for investment banking firms in New York, London, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Dublin.
Ken Brownell
Ken retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Northeast Region located in Hadley, Massachusetts December 31, 2015. A licensed professional engineer in the states of Washington and Maine, Ken joined USFWS in 2002 working as a fish passage engineer producing detailed conceptual designs for Alaska Steeppass, Denil and nature-like fishways, and assuming the position of Regional Dam Safety Officer. In 2007 when the Engineering Division was eliminated Ken was transferred to the Fisheries Division where he assisted USFWS hatcheries with project planning, design, construction and maintenance of systems used for fish rearing such as air-cooled chillers, and water/wastewater treatment plants.
Richard Conney
Rick and his wife live in Ausable Acres with their two Labrador retrievers. He’s an avid fly fisherman, paddler both canoes and kayaks, hiker, cyclist and general outdoors enthusiast. Rick has served on the Pere Marquette Watershed Council board of directors in Michigan including serving as president. Additional board memberships included several community-based organizations: Lake County Community Foundation, Ferris State University Hospitality Management Program, Local Rotary Club. He is a member of the Ausable Valley Rotary Club, ADK Mountain Club, American Canoe Association, and Vermont Paddlers Club.
John Schuler
John is a long-standing professional in the hospitality industry with a career in the private club field. John has managed clubs ranging from yacht clubs along our coastal waters to country clubs where he worked with golf course superintendents to achieve Audubon Sanctuary status at Woodway Country Club in Dairen, Connecticut. He and his family have been acquainted with the Adirondacks for many years with his daughter participating in horseback riding in Lake Placid. In 2014, John joined the AMR – Ausable Club as their General Manager and has since purchased their home and settled in Keene with his family.
