Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Staff + Crew
For general inquiries, email office@clearwater.org or call 845-265-8080. Reach our office by mail at 724 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508.
Executive
David Toman
Executive Director
he/him
exec@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7104
David comes to Clearwater with over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, most recently as a Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Business Functions & Human Resources at the Mohonk Preserve. Toman’s non-profit career began in the public accounting world; his love of nature guided him to the Delaware Nature Society where he held the position of Associate Director of Business & Finance for 12 years.
In his spare time, David enjoys paddling on local waterways, nature hikes with his Karelian Bear Dog, and listening to great music with his family, where they reside in New Paltz, NY.
Administration
Contact the Administration department about accounts payable or general information.
Erin Macchiaroli
Director of Operations
she/her
erin@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7100
Erin joined Clearwater in March of 2014 and manages the day-to-day operations, human resources, administration and facilities at the Beacon office. Originally from Queens, NY, Erin is a 1990s transplant to the Hudson Valley. From 2000-2005, Erin served in the US Air Force as a Command Post Operations Controller; stationed in Delaware, South Korea, Oman and England during her enlistment.
Following her service, Erin obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from SUNY New Paltz, and a Master’s Degree in Writing from the National University of Ireland, Galway, where she spent the next 5 years managing the office of veterinary business and soaking in the splendor of Ireland. Erin returned to the Hudson Valley in 2013 and endlessly enjoys our beautiful river with her family, and is proud to contribute to Clearwater’s mission and community.
Anne Crowley
Administrative Associate
she/her
anne@clearwater.org
Anne grew up in the Hudson Valley, sailing and ice boating on the Hudson. She remembers clearly the year everyone was warned not to swim in the Hudson River or eat its fish. She is thrilled to now be working with the Clearwater Team and is so appreciative of all the hard work they have done and continue to do to make the river and the Hudson Valley a better and cleaner place.
When not at the Clearwater office, Anne is a full-time student at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson NY, studying Written and Studio Arts.
Gigi Rapetti
Administrative Assistant
she/her
gigi@clearwater.org
Gigi Rapetti worked in administrative support in advertising and marketing before joining Clearwater as a volunteer. She also volunteered in Manhattan as an Urban Park Ranger in Inwood Hill Park planting trees, putting out forest fires with dirt, weeding invasive plant species, and introducing kids to the tidal basin.
Growing up along the in Croton and Hudson Rivers, Gigi was able to attend several Clearwater revivals. The most was memorable was as teenager, she volunteered to help out on site and was recruited to be a litter-picker. Having been raised by avid recyclers and activists, but having never seen it done on a grand scale as it was at Croton Point Park, she was impressed. Afterwards, the volunteers were very fortunate to go back to Pete and Toshi’s house, where they encouraged everyone to take the fight to Albany to continue to let our state senators and representatives know that more
action was needed to save our environment. During college, Gigi returned to Albany to demonstrate against SUNY tuition hikes and was active with NY Public Interest Research Group. More recently, she helped create organic gardens with Groundwork Hudson Valley in Yonkers. It has been a pleasure to return to Clearwater in time to help celebrate the anniversary of founder Pete Seeger’s 100th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the
launching of the sloop, including creating some special celebratory merchandise. She looks forward to helping Clearwater move towards a future of improved environmental justice for all.
Education
Contact the Education Department for all information regarding our educational programs, volunteering aboard or booking sails on the Clearwater.
Emily Marcet
Director of Education
She/Her
emily@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7115
Emily’s introduction to environmental education began with an experiential semester during her tenure at Penn State University. A simple 2 credit course acting as a residential counselor for week-long excursions for elementary students was the catalyst for a 15-year trajectory through conservation nonprofits and natural history museums.
After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management, Emily spent three years in the Adirondacks leading backcountry hiking, climbing, and paddling adventures for English immersion students in the High Peaks Wilderness. She worked in Ketchikan, Alaska as the Program Coordinator for the Ketchikan Indian Community’s Tribal salmon hatchery and eagle center, serving Native and public school students and community organizations with environmental programming. She managed the Wildlife Education Center in Cornwall, NY for six years before opening her own consulting firm to provide conservation organizations with services to develop interpretive plans and programming.
Emily owes her reverence and love for the Hudson River and Valley, in part, to her colleagues at Clearwater, their deep knowledge, considerable dedication, and unending passion. She’s proud to be a member of this organization that protects the Hudson River and its tributaries.
Eli Schloss
Tideline Program Director
he/him
eli@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7106
Eli grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He spent his childhood sailing small boats on the lakes and reservoirs there. In 1994, after graduating from New York University with a BA in Art History, he began working in shipboard education. He crewed on Soundwaters, and HMS Bounty, was the first mate on the Lettie G. Howard, and spent time on various boats in Baltimore Harbor as part of Living Classrooms Foundation. With Living Classrooms, he ran the Customized Job Training department. He has worked at Clearwater since 2005. When not on the river, he enjoys cooking, soccer and hiking with his family and dogs.
Joao De La Cruz
Sloop Scheduling Coordinator
he/him
sched@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7107
From the Bronx to the Hudson Valley, then to Miami, and back to the Hudson Valley – Joao is excited to join the Clearwater team as the Sloop Scheduling Coordinator. His role involves helping craft Clearwater’s sail program schedule, aiming to accommodate numerous program requests and engage with various Hudson River communities. After graduating from Bard College with a focus on Electronic Music and Environment and Urban Studies, his appreciation for the Hudson Valley and his pre-existing love for the outdoors prompted his return. Now residing in Kingston, he dedicates his time outside of work to producing electronic music in his bedroom and enjoys hiking and capturing photos of the stars during the dead of night.
Jacob Dyck
Onboard Program Coordinator
Any Pronouns
Jacob@Clearwater.org
Jacob Dyck is excited and energized to be rejoining Clearwater as an Onboard Program Coordinator for a second full season. He sprouted in South-Eastern Minnesota, a landscape informed by industrial corn farming and one of the country’s other great river valleys, the Mississippi. His love of the natural world began on the bluffs of his Grandparent’s farm above that Mother-River; it has been deepened and shaped by the lakes and woods of the northern part of his state, especially Gichi-Gami (Superior). A recent graduate of Carleton College with a degree in English, Jacob has been at various times a diner waiter, a camp counselor (with an emphasis on sailing), and an outdoor preschool teacher. He is gladdened to return again to our beloved Clearwater community. In his spare time, Jacob loves to read and write, cook and bake, learn—perhaps too much—about whatever is obsessing him in the moment, hike, and spend as much time as possible amongst plants, animals, and land.
Ren Zollinger
Onboard Program Coordinator
Any pronouns
ren@clearwater.org
Ren grew up in the Hudson Valley and is thrilled to be back in the area after spending time in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and the Capital Region. First coming aboard the Clearwater as a volunteer in 2024, Ren is excited to reconnect with and return to the sloop. Ren has several years of experience in environmental and outdoor education at summer camps and state parks, connecting people to nature and teaching about science and conservation. During spare time, Ren enjoys reading and exploring the outdoors by paddling, hiking, and searching for various types of critters.
Clearwater Captains, Crew, and Sloop Operations
Contact us for information about all things Clearwater – restoration, crew jobs, and our sloop.
Rory Kane
Captain
he/him
captain@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7114
Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Captain Rory Kane’s first sailing experience was as a volunteer aboard Clearwater in 2012. Since then, in addition to serving in nearly every position on the Sloop, he has vast experience on Tall Ships up and down the East and West Coasts, but always returned to the Hudson Valley because of the Clearwater Community. Having acquired his Captain’s License in 2019, and a decade of experience, Rory rejoined Clearwater as Captain in 2022.
Liam Henrie
Captain
he/him
liam@clearwater.org
Born and raised in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York, Liam stepped onboard the Clearwater as a weekly volunteer for the first time in the summer of 2015. In between finishing his undergraduate, traveling, and working a few other odd jobs, Liam has come and gone from the organization, logging about 5 years since his first week in various positions both sailing and performing maintenance. He has sailed and traveled all over the world, but there’s no place quite like the Hudson nor any vessel quite like the fine and splendid Sloop. He is excited to return once more, now as co-captain.
When he is not sailing, Liam is rock climbing, dancing, and trying with mixed success to teach himself about 7 different languages.
Caitlin Zinsley
Administrative Sloop Liaison
she/her
caitlin@clearwater.org
Caitlin grew up in the Hudson Valley and first came onboard the sloop as a high school volunteer in 2008. She immediately fell in love and returned the next two summers as an apprentice, later as a deckhand, and finally as onboard education coordinator, visiting often in between. Caitlin is happy to be able to support the sloop in an administrative capacity, which also gives her more excuses to visit the sloop and participate in an occasional tideline program. Caitlin lives in Kingston, where she settled undoubtedly because of her time with Clearwater, with her husband and baby. She gardens, takes walks on the river with her family, and makes cakes.
Development + Marketing
Contact the Development and Marketing department for all information regarding supporting Clearwater’s mission through sponsorships, planned giving, memberships, corporate partnerships, or purchasing of merchandise.
Meg Mayo
Director of Development & Marketing
she/her
meg@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7118
Meg Mayo joined Clearwater in July 2020 and is responsible for Clearwater’s donor relations and fundraising initiatives, as well as marketing and communications activities. Prior to Clearwater, Meg was Director of Tourism for Visit Nyack, a not-for-profit destination marketing organization she co-founded to support the independent businesses of Rockland County’s river villages. Prior to that, Meg worked in New York’s book publishing industry as a sales and marketing manager, specializing in sales to non-traditional booksellers. Meg has spent her life near water, from the Lake Michigan lakefront in Milwaukee, to the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and the majestic Hudson River in New York. She currently lives with her son and twin daughters in Nyack, New York, where she enjoys cooking, reading, watching the sun and moon rise over the river, hiking Rockland County’s many trails, and exploring the bookstores, communities, and history of the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Mariabella Rivera-Todaro
Events + Sponsorship Coordinator
They/Them
mariabella@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7108
Originally from Brooklyn and based in New Paltz, Mariabella joined Clearwater in October 2024, bringing a unique blend of fundraising and event planning experience. They are the founder and organizer of the New Paltz Free Food Fridge, and their nonprofit Millions Of Butterflies, combatting food insecurity and building community through volunteerism, fundraising, and art. Mariabella has experience collaborating with musicians and fundraising through the New Paltz D.I.Y music scene, and brings their knowledge of local musicians, artists, and the world around them, Mariabella hopes to grow the Clearwater community and bridge the gap between the folks who have been here since the beginning and those who have no idea who Pete Seeger is.
Jacob Benoist
Raised in the Hudson Valley, Jacob joined Clearwater at the start of 2025. A recent graduate, he holds a B.A. in Individualized Studies with a focus on environmental science, policy, and business from NYU, along with associate degrees in business administration and biology. An avid environmentalist, Jacob is thrilled to begin his professional journey with an organization as well-regarded and action-oriented as Clearwater!
Beyond the river, Jacob enjoys spending time in nature – whether hiking local trails or on unending road trips. He is also passionate about sustainability, always reading something new on how humans and climate interact!
Environmental Action + Communications
Contact us for questions about our advocacy efforts or with media inquiries.
Jen Benson
Director of Advocacy & Communications
she/her
jen@clearwater.org
845-265-8080 x7113
Jen Benson is an experienced organizer with nearly a decade of experience working at the nexus of community engagement and river and watershed advocacy in the Hudson Valley. She joined Clearwater in July of 2023 as the Director of Environmental Action.
Prior to Clearwater, Jen worked at the Hudson River Watershed Alliance where her work encompassed building technical assistance to watershed groups, and supported watershed characterization processes. Jen also spent seven years at Riverkeeper managing the Riverkeeper Sweep and advocacy campaigns activating communities around threats to drinking water, the Hudson River, and its tributaries.
She is a May 2022 graduate of Bard College with a Masters of Science in Environmental Policy and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from SUNY Geneseo. Jen lives in Kingston where she spends her free time hiking, running, and exploring the Hudson Valley.