Contact Clearwater:
724 Wolcott Ave
Beacon, NY 12508
724 Wolcott Ave
Beacon, NY 12508
Executive Director
Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director
jeff@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7121
Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director
jeff@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7121
Administration
Contact the Administration department for all issues related to the purchasing of merchandise, accounts payable, and general information.
Amy Bonder, Office Manager
larson@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7100
Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director
roger@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7123
Heidi Thorn, Administrative Assistant
thorn@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7101
Clearwater Festival
Steve Lurie, Festival Director
steve@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7153
Will Solomon, Assistant Festival Director
will@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7158
Captains
Contact the Captains for all information related to the Sloop’s functioning, as well as for information on being employed as a crewmember or apprentice.
Captain Nick Rogers
captain@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7103
Captain Beth Deal
beth@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7163
Development
Contact the Development department for all information regarding supporting Clearwater’s mission through sponsorships, planned giving, memberships, and corporate partnerships.
Heidi Kitlas, Development Director
heidi@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7118
Ann Mellor, Development Associate
ann@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7119
Eileen Newman, Grants and Major Gifts Coordinator
eileen@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7160
Linda Richards, Events Coordinator/Power of Song
linda@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7105
Suzanne H. Smith, Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator
sponsors@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7161
Julie Vanderlee, Development/Volunteer Assistant
devint@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7102
Communications
Julia Church, Communications Manager
julia@clearwater.org845-265-8080 x7112
Julia Church, Communications Manager
julia@clearwater.org845-265-8080 x7112
Education
Contact the Education department for all information regarding our educational programs, volunteering on the sloops as an educator, and booking sails on the Clearwater or Mystic Whaler.
Dave Conover, Education Director
dave@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7104
Maija Niemistö, Director of Shipboard Programs
maija@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7115
Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Program Director
eli@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7106
Catherine Stankowski, Sail Program Manager
sail@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7107
Environmental Action
Contact our Environmental Action department for all information regarding Clearwater’s environmental advocacy, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance and environmental issues affecting the Hudson River, Hudson Valley, and New York State.
Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director
mannajo@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7113
Green Cities Initiative
Contact the Green Cities department for assistance in creating sustainable Hudson Valley communities, including education, training, organizing, and planning assistance related to watershed management, green infrastructure, and environmental justice.
Ryan Palmer, Green Cities Cities Initiative Director
ryan@clearwater.org 845-265-8080 x7114
Paul Hesse
Green Cities Project Coordinator
paul@clearwater.org
845 750-7578
Karla Raimundi, Environmental Justice Associate
karla@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7159
Alphabetical List
Amy Bonder, Office Manager
larson@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7100
Julia Church, Communications Manager
julia@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7112
Dave Conover, Education Director
dave@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7104
Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director
roger@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7123
Captain Beth Deal
beth@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7163
Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director
mannajo@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7113
Paul Hesse
Green Cities Project Coordinator
paul@clearwater.org
845 750-7578
Heidi Kitlas, Development Director
heidi@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7118
Steve Lurie, Festival Director
steve@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7153
Ann Mellor, Development Associate
ann@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7119
Eileen Newman, Grants and Major Gifts Coordinator
eileen@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7160
Maija Niemistö, Director of Shipboard Programs
maija@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7115
maija@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7115
Ryan Palmer, Green Cities Initiative Director
ryan@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7114
Karla Raimundi, Environmental Justice Associate
karla@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7159
Linda Richards, Events Coordinator/Power of Song
linda@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7105
Captain Nick Rogers
captain@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7103
Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director
jeff@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7121
Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Program Director
eli@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7106
Suzanne H. Smith, Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator
sponsors@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7161
Will Solomon, Assistant Festival Director
will@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7158
Catherine Stankowski, Sail Program Manager
sailcoord@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7107
Heidi Thorn, Administrative Assistant
thorn@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7101
Julie Vanderlee, Development/Volunteer Assistant
devint@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7102
Executive Director
Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director845-265-8080 x7121
Jeff Rumpf took the helm as the executive director of Clearwater in 2007 and has evolved the organization in multiple ways, including relocating the its offices to Beacon, NY, and establishing an endowment, effectively positioning Hudson River Sloop Clearwater as a leading Hudson Valley non-profit, working to create a new generation of environmental leaders while preserving and protecting the Hudson River.Growing up in Nyack, NY, Jeff looked to Pete Seeger, as a mentor and inspiration. In his role at Clearwater, Jeff continues to work closely with Mr. Seeger on issues of social and environmental justice. In 2009 Clearwater celebrated Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday on a grand scale with The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders, a benefit concert held at Madison Square Garden. Under Jeff’s leadership, the concert was a monumental success, raising essential funds to benefit Clearwater’s educational and youth empowerment programs.With over 20 years of experience in the outdoor education and youth development fields, Jeff has served as Executive Director for several award-winning initiatives, including the development of the Community YMCA branch in Somers, NY and founding YMCA Camp Combe in Putnam Valley, NY. Jeff also ran “Little Heroes” Camp programs for the children of 9/11 that included an organic farm and adventure camp that was featured on the Learning Channel. In 2010-11, Clearwater worked with the Obama Administration to provide a national youth green leadership and environmental education model as part of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Clearwater was selected for its strong connection to youth and work to build and strengthen green initiatives for a green economy, creating a more inclusive and diverse environmental movement.Jeff serves on Our Hudson Tomorrow task force and as a board member for the Hudson River Estuary. Recently, he served as a leader in the Hudson River’s 2009 Quadricentennial Celebration.He received his BS degree in environmental science from S.U.N.Y. Purchase, and his MS.ED degree in environmental education from the University of Northern Illinois. Jeff, his wife Laurie and their three boys, Walker, Wilder, and Wyatt love the Hudson Valley and are passionate about the Clearwater mission and its wonderful people!
Administration
Amy Bonder, Office Manager845-265-8080 x7100
Amy spent her childhood on both coasts – living in the lush green state of Washington and the suburbs of northern NJ. Amy found Clearwater in the fall of 1996 after finishing college (and putting in many ski days) in Burlington, VT. After 2 years as Clearwater’s Development Assistant, she moved into the position of Office Manager and has found her home-away-from-home in the main office. There you can find her holding together all operational aspects of the organization including accounting, human resources, systems management and attempting to keep the kitchen clean. When not in the office, Amy loves skiing, camping, hiking the AT and spending time with her husband Scott and lil ones; Noah and Paige.
Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director845-265-8080 x7123
Roger came to Clearwater in September of 2007 after spending most of his career in the corporate and educational worlds of employment. He is very happy to be aboard the sloop after swimming the Hudson the last two summers. He is also happy to include both worlds of accounting and music into one great job, and looks forward to keeping the mission of Clearwater going strong for the next generation of environmentalists.
Heidi Thorn, Administrative Assistant845-265-8080 x7101
A native of Beacon, Heidi left to see the world and returned many years ago to plant roots with her partner. She is thrilled with all the positive changes in the community including the relocation of the Clearwater offices to the foot of beautiful Mt. Beacon. In addition to being a paralegal, she has a degree in Exercise Science & Wellness. Heidi came to Clearwater in August 2010 bringing a diverse background in the private sector including administrative support to an engineering firm, a hospital wellness center, a law office, a marketing company and an appraisal service. She is excited about supporting the environmental mission and her true passion – the great outdoors. She can usually be spotted walking her yellow lab Belle around Beacon.
Captains
Nick Rogers, Captain
845-265-8080 x7103
Captain Nick Rogers returned to Clearwater as relief Captain in October of 2007 and full Captain in January of 2008. During his previous stints on Clearwater, he worked as 2nd Mate during the 2005 season, and as Engineer & Bosun before that. Nick received 2 degrees from the University of Rochester in physics and applied mathematics. He has experience working with youth as an Environmental Educator and Trail Crew Leader with the Student Conservation Association and as an Educator with a YMCA camp in New England.
Beth Deal, Captain
845-265-8080 x7163
Captain Beth Deal joined Clearwater in May 2012. She has worked on tallships for eight years. Her first “boat job” was on the Mystic Whaler during the Clearwater season. Since then she has sailed on the east coast, Great Lakes, and west coast. Beth received a BA in Engineering Sciences from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.
Development
Heidi Kitlas, Development Director845-265-8080 x7118
Heidi received her B.S. degree from Boston University where she studied Communications and Economics. She grew up in northern New Jersey and has always loved the outdoors. She lived in Boston and San Francisco before moving to NYC where she most recently worked for The Trust for Public Land. For over six years she raised funds to support land conservation efforts throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. With a particular focus on NYC, she worked on two successful fundraising campaigns for a citywide community park/playground initiative serving under-resourced neighborhoods.Heidi’s dream of living along the Hudson River became a reality when she and her husband moved to Beacon in 2009. Heidi enjoys running, hiking, gardening, and the peace that living pocketed between the mountains and the river provides.Excited to continue her work with environmental organizations, Heidi joined Clearwater in the spring of 2010 as part of the development team. She will help build and steward the fundraising efforts for the organization’s education and environmental actions programs, restoration of the sloop, support of the endowment, and planned giving. Please contact Heidi if you would like to learn more about supporting Clearwater’s efforts to inspire, educate, and activate the next generation of environmental leaders.
Ann Mellor, Development Associate845-265-8080 x7119
Ann Mellor started working at Clearwater as Development Assistant / Membership Associate in April 2009. Previously, Ann served as Membership Associate / Administrative Assistant at the Hastings Center in Garrison, NY for 7 years. She is married and lives in Beacon, NY with her husband Michael Mellor. They came to the Hudson Valley in 1984 from Rochester, NY. Ann and her husband raised their two wonderful daughters in Beacon; one daughter, Mary Joe, is married and serves in the U.S. Navy, and the other daughter, Christine, served in the Air Force and is now married to an Airmen and lives in Virginia. In her free time, Ann loves to cook, read, travel, listen to music and watch movies.
Eileen Newman, Grants and Major Gifts Coordinator845-265-8080 x7160
Eileen graduated from Binghamton University with a B.A. in Political Science. She grew up in the Hudson Valley and spent most of her childhood in trees, bushes and the ocean. She joined Clearwater in April 2009, and two-years later, she’s here still, making friends and connecting new people to Clearwater, in the hopes that it brings them as much joy and inspiration as it has her. When not connecting folks, Eileen can usually be found completing vast amounts of research, writing grants to cover the extensive cost of getting kids involved with their environment, and giving her honest opinion on a vast variety of topics (whether asked for it or not).In her spare time, Eileen loves playing rugby, cooking, analyzing a good article on sound development practices in Africa, and traveling around the world to meet passionate, pragmatic and purpose-filled people. Eileen would be happy to chat with you about what you can do to help Clearwater activate the next generation- every hand counts!
Linda Richards, Events Coordinator/Power of Song845-265-8080 x7105
Linda Richards – rarely seen without a guitar in her hand or a song coming out of her mouth – has been involved with Clearwater in one way or another since the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Yes, it’s true. First a Sloop Singer, then rising through the ranks from contract educator to Education Director, she cast off 3 years ago to return to public school (having been a classroom teacher for almost a decade), only to realize that The Power of Song is her best gift to her students and Clearwater is the best school. So, she’s back. And she’s singing!
Suzanne H. Smith, Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator845-265-8080 x7161
Suzanne’s first sail on Clearwater was in 1977 and she has been an avid fan ever since! She graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a degree in Mass Communications and began her career in public relations coordinating press conferences for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In 1993 she joined Biederman, Kelly & Shaffer Advertising ito work on the Cadillac Dealer Marketing Association. As a Vice President, Management Supervisor, she developed multi-layered advertising and marketing programs that blended traditional media advertising with sporting events, automotive shows, celebrity appearances and endorsements. In 1999, Suzanne was recruited by General Motors R*Works as Promotions Director, to handle the integrated marketing efforts for Chevrolet and Cadillac for 14 states in the northeast corridor. Suzanne left GM in 2002 to be a stay at home Mom.Suzanne re-entered the work in 2009 as a part-time marketing relationship manager at The Institute for Nonprofit Excellence handling Purina’s Rally to Rescue Program. The Rally to Rescue program is a grass roots effort that focuses on supporting 500 small and medium sized pet rescue nonprofits across the country that may be overlooked by potential donors and adopters due to their more limited fundraising and marketing capabilities.Suzanne has served on the Board of the Croton Harmon Education Foundation, and is also an active member of Cub Scout Pack 28 as a Webelos Den Leader. Suzanne, her husband two sons reside in Croton on Hudson. The Smith family enjoys canoeing and kayaking on the Croton River and hiking in the Hudson Valley.
Julie Vanderlee, Development/Volunteer Assistant845-265-8080 x7102
Julie Vanderlee is a Hudson Valley native and wilderness enthusiast. She graduated from Purchase College in 2012, with her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and Sociology. While at Purchase, Julie spent a semester studying in Costa Rica, worked as Coordinator of the Purchase Garden project, and headed several student activist groups. In addition to local activism, Julie has worked with groups fighting strip-mining in Appalachia and fracking in the Marcellus Shale. Deeply connected to movements for local and sustainable food, she has worked at numerous farms and markets around the Hudson Valley. In 2012, she managed a nonprofit organic farm in Chester, NY. Julie currently resides with her partner in the Black Dirt Region of Chester, NY where she enjoys hiking, yoga, birding, organic gardening, and music-making.
Communications
Julia Church, Communications Manager845-265-8080 x7112
Julia joined Clearwater in the summer of 2010, bringing 15 years of non-profit experience that includes four years as Communications Director with National Maritime Historical Society and 11 years with Green Hill Center for NC Art . She has served on community festival organizing committees, granting committees, and as a consultant for curatorial projects. Julia received her BFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has a certificate in web development from Guilford College. In 2005, Julia and her husband moved to the Hudson Valley from Toronto, Ontario. They enjoy getting outside, paddling, primitive camping and hiking, and are delighted to call the Hudson River Valley home.
Environmental Action
Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director845-265-8080 x7113
Manna Jo Greene, Clearwater’s Environmental Action Director since 2000, was formerly the Recycling Coordinator/Educator for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency for more than 10 years and a registered Critical Care Nurse for 22 years. She holds an AAS in Nursing, a BA in biology (pre-med) from SUNY/New Paltz, and completed course work toward a Masters in Environmental Sciences at Bard College. A lifelong environmental professional and community activist, Manna avidly supports collaborative land use planning and problem solving. Working to promote sustainable agriculture and green building and landscaping practices, she teaches communities how to integrate environmental preservation, economic prosperity (based on quality of life indicators), and social equity using effective communication. Manna also serves as Councilwoman on the Rosendale Town Board.
Green Cities Initiative
Ryan Palmer, Green Cities Initiative Director845-265-8080 x7114
Ryan Palmer is a Beacon native who first joined the Clearwater team in 2004 as an Environmental Associate, where he spent 3 years developing our early watershed protection initiatives as the original coordinator of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance. He holds BS in Environmental Science and Wildlife Biology from the University of Rhode Island and has training in Land Use Law, Stream Monitoring, Biodiversity Assessment, Watershed Management, and Energy Efficiency. Ryan returned to the Clearwater team in 2011 as our first Green Cities Project Coordinator, leading our watershed protection, green infrastructure, and environmental justice projects in Poughkeepsie, and providing strategic planning and capacity building support for our regional Green Cities Initiative. In 2013, Ryan transitioned to Director of the Green Cities Initiative, continuing to provide a key leadership role for the organization.
Paul Hesse, Green Cities Project Coordinator845 750-7578
Paul Hesse, originally from the Midwest, has lived in the Hudson Valley since 2002. Paul first started working with Clearwater as a volunteer in June 2012 on a watershed-wide assessment of the Fall Kill Creek, observing residential behaviors that lead to water quality impairment and looking for restoration opportunities. He is finishing his master’s degree in urban planning from Hunter College in New York City in May 2013 with a focus on environmental planning and sustainability. As a capstone project for his planning program, Paul is currently collaborating with the New York City-based environmental non-profit TreesNY on a plan to improve access to the East River Esplanade for residents in East Harlem and to improve water quality in the Harlem and East Rivers through green infrastructure stormwater attenuation. In addition to managing projects for the Green Cities Initiative , Paul works for the City of Poughkeepsie on a NYS Dept. of Health-funded initiative to spread awareness about the hazards of lead exposure in primary-aged children, and for Clark Patterson Lee Design Professionals as a planning consultant to the city on both micro-level and macro-level planning projects. And finally, when he finds free time, Paul enjoys traveling, hiking in the Gunks, and spending time with his wife.
Karla Raimundi, Esq., Environmental Justice Associate845-265-8080 x7159
Karla was born and raised in Puerto Rico where she completed a Juris Doctor at the State University. In 2006, already a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Karla and her husband moved to New York. Once in New York she decided to go back to school to pursue a career in the environmental field. As a postgraduate student of the prestigious Environmental Law LLM program at Pace University Law School she fell in love with everything environmental. It is after having completed two masters in law at Pace that she realized that she wanted to work helping people change the way in which they relate to their environment and inspire them to take upon themselves the leadership necessary to bring about the environmental change we so much desire and are in need of. It is this commitment that so enthusiastically brings her to Clearwater.Karla has always loved the outdoors. In Puerto Rico it was the beaches, biking in El Morro and occasional hikes in El Yunque Rainforest. In the states it is all about skiing during winter (if there is snow in May within driving distance you will see her there too) and hiking, rollerblading, biking and thinking about skiing during the rest of the year.
Education
Dave Conover, Education Director845-265-8080 x7104
Dave Conover first joined Clearwater in 1991 as an onboard educator and has worked off and on for the organization in various roles, including Navigator editor, grant officer and even storyteller at the Clearwater Festival. He received a BS in forest biology from SUNY ESF and an MS in environmental studies with a teaching certification from Antioch University New England. Dave has experience working on American shad research in the Connecticut River, water treatment for the NYC DEP, and environmental education at the Ashokan Center. He has also traveled to Russia and Syria as part of citizen exchange programs and visited Greenland as part of a climate change awareness project. Dave is currently an adjuct instructor for Marist College, teaching environmental issues. Dave returned to Clearwater in 2007 as education director after serving as a high school teacher for the Dutchess Academy of Environmental Studies.
Maija Niemistö, Director of Shipboard Programs845-265-8080 x7115
Maija was born to a family of musicians in the heartland, far from the sea. Minnesota was her first hailing port. School, university and adventures took her to Finland, Wisconsin and Lebanon. She followed the smell of sweet salt air and ran away to see the sea aboard her 28-foot sloop. Clearwater appeared on the horizon and she jumped at the chance to combine her interests in music, sailing, teaching, water ecology, environmental advocacy and pumping the bilge.
Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Director845-265-8080 x7106
Eli was born at a very young age to a female mother in the fair state of Indiana. Schooled and corn-fed he departed for the big city only to fall in with the wrong crowd. They hung out by the dock, tying knots and climbing things using unseemly or archaic language. They would yell at kids things like “haul away” and “avast you land lubbering scuds”. Permanently fixed to their salty spirit by shared spider crabs, speaking sea robins and estuarine adventures, his fate was sealed. He roamed from the brackish in Baltimore to the salty mists of Maine. To his eternal benefit, the ravages of age (and love) brought forth a beacon from the shore. He navigated a course to the tideline for a wife and babe. Eli still has the brackish water in his veins though, and still bellows to the children a gravelly “ahoy”.
Catherine Stankowski, Sail Program Manager845-265-8080 x7107
Catherine Stankowski, Clearwater’s Sail Program Manager, is from Canada. Since settling in the United States in 2003, she has fallen in love with the Hudson Valley and has taken to extolling its beauty and virtues to anyone who’ll listen. Catherine’s professional background is in volunteer and program coordination, and she has worked in paid and voluntary capacities with organizations dedicated to strengthening communities and improving the quality of life for all people, including Housing Works in NYC and Best Buddies- Vrais Copains Canada in Toronto. When she’s not busy being an office maven, Catherine enjoys reading poetry aloud to her daughter, who has yet to show any sign of appreciating it.
