MyRWA STAFF
Executive Director
EkOngKar Singh Khalsa enjoys more than twenty five years professional experience in environmental protection and restoration, low impact and Brownfields development as well as broad understanding of the public policy issues associated with these arenas.
Throughout his career, Mr. Khalsa has navigated a wide variety of environmental, design, planning and engineering challenges in pursuit of an intelligent approach to land use and environmental restoration.
Mr. Khalsa’s background includes extensive training and experience in environmental science and due diligence including: wetlands delineation and regulation, stormwater management system design and installation, soil and groundwater preservation and restoration as well as hazardous waste investigation, management and remediation. He has broad experience and background in land use planning, zoning and land use regulations and with commercial site planning and development, residential subdivision design and construction, and professional land surveying and engineering.
Prior to his work as Executive Director, as Director of Development for the Hallmark Companies, Mr. Khalsa was responsible to oversee and manage the multi-disciplinary project teams responsible for a variety of major real estate development projects.
His education includes a BA from the University of Oregon and post graduate work in environmental studies, land use planning, and real estate development at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Northeastern University, Boston University and the University of Alaska.
Mystic Monitoring Network Director
Patrick Herron a PhD in Plant Ecology from the University of Connecticut, joined MyRWA in June 2009 as the full-time Water Quality Monitoring Director. He recently completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Rowland Institute at Harvard University and Marine Biological Laboratories at Woods Hole. He has performed research in Costa Rica, Utah and Connecticut and published research in a variety of areas including invasive species, nutrient cycling, and microbial biosensors. Patrick has broad training in ecology and microbiology and will seek to foster the interest of the scientific research community in water quality issues in the Mystic River watershed.
Outreach Coordinator
Beth (Meserve) MacBlane began working at MyRWA in June 2009, where she is eager to grow the membership base and develop innovative and fun outreach events and programs. She received her B.A. in environmental studies and anthropology at Tufts University, where she volunteered with MA Community Water Watch as the education coordinator. Her professional experience comprises various educational and community organizing endeavors including four years of work with the National Park Service as an interpretive park ranger. More recently, Beth earned her M.S. in environmental studies with a concentration in environmental education at Antioch University New England. Beth is passionate about sustainability, enjoys outdoor activities, and hopes to create a more involved and healthier watershed.
Watershed Scientist
Katrina Sukola joined MyRWA in March 2011. She has a background in environmental and aquatic chemistry (B.Sc. University of Waterloo, M.Sc. University of Manitoba). Katrina performed research and field studies in the Experimental Lakes Area in Northern Ontario, marshes in Manitoba, lakes throughout Massachusetts and the EPA’s National Coastal Assessment of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. She spent a summer at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida in the Center for Ecotoxicology’s Chemical Fate and Effects Program and the Coastal Ecology Program, researching harmful algal blooms in marine environments and aquatic species such as bivalves. Her training and experience includes investigating water quality and contaminants such as metals and sulfide in both water and sediment, conservation projects such as stream and coastal habitat surveys, invasive plant removal, and wetland construction and restoration to enhance fish habitat. In her spare time, Katrina acts as the vice-chair of the Surfrider Foundation Massachusetts Chapter, protecting our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education. She looks forward to continuing her work of improving water quality here in the Mystic River watershed and beyond.
Office Manager
Kimberly Provo is a resident of Woburn and has lived in the Mystic River Watershed most of her life. She has an Accounting degree from Newbury College. She is currently the Office Manager and has been with MyRWA since 2006. She has had varied professional experiences including an assistant Montessori Elementary teacher at the Stoneybrook Montessori School in North Chelmsford as well as a Human Resource Representative for UPS in Chelmsford MA for 6 years. Kim is also a member of Woburn Residential Environmental Network (WREN). She enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.