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Steve Raabe Kate Fritz Ann Garvey Kathleen Litchfield |
Juliet Page Kincey Potter J. Paul Rickett Michael Wagener |
WSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
ChairSteve Raabe is president of OpinionWorks, a full-service market research firm based in Annapolis, Maryland. Steve Raabe founded OpinionWorks in 2001 to provide mission-driven clients with critical insights into consumer behavior and public attitudes based on scientifically-sound survey research. He has built an active survey research firm specializing in helping for-profit, non-profit, and public sector clients reach and engage their customers, stakeholders, and the public on important issues. His expertise is understanding the cues to individual and consumer behavior through probative interviewing and representative sampling.Mr. Raabe attended American University in Washington, D.C., earning a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and graduating cum laude in 1986. He is a past member of the City of Annapolis, Maryland Conservancy Board and has founded a park and heads the tree-planting initiative in the West Annapolis neighborhood. He is an active community volunteer, having served on the Board of the Lighthouse Shelter, a homelessness prevention organization located in Annapolis, and for various other local projects. Steve and his wife are active historic preservationists, having restored an 1812 Federal-style house and operated it as a bed and breakfast for five years.
Vice Chair
Kate Fritz works for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George's County as an environmental planner. Prior to joining The Commission in 2007, Kate worked as an environmental scientist for Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc., located in Annapolis. She became interested in ecological restoration during her tenure at ESA, and has been working professionally and academically in the field since. Kate is a Qualified Professional Forester in the State of Maryland, and became a LEED Green Associate in 2010. Kate has her master’s degree in Environmental Management from University of Maryland University College and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She plans on starting an Executive Masters in Leadership in Sustainability from Virginia Tech in January 2011. Kate lives on the Broad Creek of the South River, where she spends her free time as a Master Watershed Steward helping to restore the river where she enjoys kayaking and boating.
Ann is proud to join the Board of Watershed Stewards Academy as they begin their new year in 2013. In addition to her enthusiasm about being part of the watershed restoration, Ann brings an extensive background in sales to aid in our fundraising efforts. Ann's work ethic and can-do attitude are directly responsible for her successful twenty-plus year sales career in the hospitality industry where she has worked with meeting planners to place their meetings and conventions. With a marketing degree from Virginia Tech, she began her sales career in hotels and then moved to selling city destinations for several convention bureaus around the country.
Since returning to Maryland in 2006 after spending time in the New York City area, Ann has been active on the Board of her homeowners association as well as local non profits within her industry. Her appreciation for her access to the Magothy watershed has made her realize that our future generations will only get to enjoy the legacy we leave for them. She is eager to become an active participant in our protection, restoration and conservation efforts, and is excited about the fundraising knowledge she brings to the Board.
Marketing Chair
Kathleen is one of the Washington area's leading landscape experts, with 35 years in the industry. She holds a BS in Horticulture from the University of Maryland and many other industry-related educational certifications. Her insightful advice on landscape design, construction, storm water and drainage solutions and practice has been published and quoted in numerous regional and national magazines. As a Master Watershed Steward of the Chesapeake Bay, Kathleen is acutely aware of sustainable landscape design and practices and the need for the reduction of storm water run-off. She has developed and taught accredited college courses in Horticulture and Landscape Construction and continues to teach college level Landscape Design and Construction Courses. She has lectured for numerous Garden Clubs, the National Association of Remodeler’s Industry, Landscape Contractors Association, the Smithsonian Education Series, George Washington University Landscape design program, Home and Design Magazines “Live” event and the Washington Design Center. She developed and continues to teach the CEU course ‘Landscape Design, Construction and Cost’ to members of the American Association of Interior Designers ASID, Washington and Maryland Chapters and is listed as a national speaker for both organizations.
Secretary
Juliet has over 26 years of research experience conducting and directing theoretical, experimental and system studies in environmental and acoustics research. She has conducted numerous studies in commercial airport and military airbase aircraft operational modeling for current and future air transportation systems. She has over four years’ experience as a Master Watershed Steward, conducting community outreach and engaging Middle and High School students. She has been involved with the design, planning and implementation of residential and commercial property and headwater restoration projects minimizing the effects of stormwater runoff via a blend of best practices and novel solutions.
Development Chair
Kincey Potter served as Chairman of the Board of the South River Federation for six years in the period when the Federation moved from an all volunteer organization to a staff of three with a budget of approximately $400,000. Kincey is also co-founder of the Anne Arundel Chapter of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters which began in early 2010. She is a retired Vice President of AMS, a billion dollar information technology and business consulting firm based in Fairfax, Virginia. In her 20-year career at AMS she managed large, complex projects that leveraged information technology to achieve strategic business results. She and her husband, Bruce, live on Church Creek off the South River and have constructed two major raingardens to capture runoff from their driveway and parking area.
Treasurer
paulr@esi-dc.com
As principal and co-founder of Educational Services Inc. (ESI), Mr. Rickett holds nearly 35 years of experience with the fiscal and regulatory aspects of administering Federal grants and contracts, nonprofit programs, and small business initiatives. He has extensive knowledge and experience with technical assistance, training, materials development, long-distance learning, conferences, meetings, and events from small work group meetings to large-scale conferences and events with thousands of participants.
Mr. Rickett has developed the corporate accounting system in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Office Management and Budget (OMB) and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Competent in grant, contracts and master contract IDIQ administration, Mr. Rickett’s expertise and daily obligations encompass the planning, staffing, implementation, and evaluation of work that takes place under master contracts. He retains overall grant and contract responsibility for quality control and quality assurance and acts as primary point of contact for resolution of any challenges that may arise. He serves, and has served, in a senior role in numerous initiatives, including the Head Start Child Development Institute and the New Directors, Disaster Response, NIH Fellowship programs and New Education Managers Conference for Head Start. Mr. Rickett has also served a senior role in developing training materials for the Adoption and Safe Families Act for the Children’s Bureau.
In addition to his superior service in the Federal grant, finance, and contract administration arena, Mr. Rickett owns a BA in Accounting and is CPA certified. He is also a member of several professional business organizations, including the National Contract Management Association and the American Society of Association Executives.
mikedebwagener@comcast.net
Michael Wagener grew up navigating the rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. His fondnesses of the water lead him to a nine month sabbatical in the Bahamas living on a sailboat after graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan with a Degree in Psychology in 1979. He has enjoyed many years of competitive sailboat racing and water skiing.
Michael has been an active and passionate volunteer for many years. His love of soccer, from early on, has fueled involvement in working with many non-profit organizations. He has served as a grant chairman for Soccer 94 distributing $1 million dollars to assist the development of youth soccer in this region. He has helped form soccer leagues for underserved immigrant populations in the Baltimore and Washington area, and helped integrate locale health department services within these activities.
His professional career began in 1983 with USF&G Insurance. He is currently Vice President at Insurance Management Associates in Annapolis, MD. Michael is currently serving as the HOA President and has been for the past ten plus years in Glen Isle Estates, where he resides with his wife, Deborah. He and Deborah are graduates of the WSA, class 3.
