Justinn Overton. Executive Director. Justinn oversees day-to-day operations and management and ensures Coosa Riverkeeper has the resources needed to fight for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Coosa River. Read her full bio.
Frank Chitwood. Riverkeeper. Frank oversees the Riverkeeper Patrol Program and actively patrols the river documenting pollution. He monitors water quality, responds to complaints, advocates for the river, and much more. Read his full bio.
Karli Riley. Program Manager. Karli is responsible for the successful implementation of the popular Swim Guide program, Fish Guide program, and education and outreach initiatives. Read her full bio.
Board of Directors. The Coosa Riverkeeper Board of Directors manages the long-term vision of Coosa Riverkeeper, enables our staff and volunteers to work towards that vision, and acts as stewards of our organization in the community. Meet our Directors.
Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is a group of important community members and leaders in their respective fields that provide support and assistance to Coosa Riverkeeper when needed. Meet our Advisory Council.
Spring 2019 Interns & Service Learning
Allison Beaty, Economic Development Intern. Allison is a junior at the University of Alabama from Tallahassee, FL. She is studying Environmental Administration through New College with a minor in Political Science. In her free time, she loves going on outdoor adventures and cheering on the Crimson Tide.
ABOUT HER ROLE: Allison’s role will focus on implementing new practices to promote economic development on the Coosa through our existing programs.
Leslie Urrutia, Fish Guide Intern. Leslie is a senior at UAB majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health Science, and minors in Psychology and Spanish. She is currently working on a Spanish for Specific Purposes Certificate which will allow her to better help and serve the Spanish community.
ABOUT HER ROLE: Leslie will be helping us translate the bulk in our Fish Guide Program to Spanish.
Abby Swain, Citizen Science Initiative Intern, Abby is a Junior Urban Environmental Studies major, Biology minor at Birmingham Southern College. Abby spends her free time swimming on BSC’s Swim Team & pledging for Kappa Delta. She has an unhealthy obsession with house plants and loves to spend her free time relaxing and friends. She plans to go to graduate school for Conservation Biology.
ABOUT HER ROLE: Abby will be helping us implement our Citizen Science Initiative.
Ryder Andrews, BSC Service Learning Intern, Ryder is a senior Urban Environmental Studies Major at Birmingham Southern. Ryder spent the spring of 2018 interning for the Freshwater Land Trust & the summer of 2018 interning as OUR Lead Swim Guide Intern! He wants to use his vast experience to ensure our fishing holes & hunting grounds stay pristine for generations to come! Ryder is also the STAR kicker for the Football team at Birmingham Southern.
ABOUT HIS ROLE: Ryder will be relying on his own expertise & experience to develop his own initiative on how to better engage recreational fishermen to our programs.
Emma Parrish, Marketing Intern, Emma is a junior public health major at Samford University. Emma has a passion for clean water initiatives and hopes to work for a clean water non-profit prior to graduation.
ABOUT HER ROLE: Emma will be working to educate our members about our programs through social media & developing new relationships, specifically with local business.