Staff

 Lisa Shipek, Executive Director

Lisa Shipek is passionate about strengthening the connection between people and their environment. Lisa has expertise in leading and organizing community workshops; developing and organizing training programs for professionals and youth; mobilizing community volunteers to implement a wide variety of environmental projects; and collaborating with a diverse range of partners including city government, non-profits, schools, businesses, and community organizations. Lisa has a BS in Environmental Science and a MSc in Latin American Studies.  As Executive Director of WMG, Lisa focuses on developing programs that build community knowledge and skills, foster environmental stewardship, and enhance natural resources.  

 Matthew Bertrand, Co-op Coordinator

As a native Tucsonan, Matthew brings decades of experience living in and exploring the Sonoran Desert to his work with WMG.  After a year spent living in Ecuador, one of the world's most biodiverse regions, on his return to Tucson Matthew became passionate about working to protect Sonoran Desert biodiversity by restoring and enhancing Tucson's urban desert environment.  He envisions lining Tucson's streets with native shade trees and building urban habitat across the city on the backyard level, in the process minimizing consumption of scarce groundwater while replenishing the aquifer through increased stormwater infiltration.  Matthew volunteered for WMG for 1.5 years as an AmeriCorps member to develop WMG's Co-op, and has been leading Co-op workshops since September 2009.  With a BA in Literature from Arizona State University, Matthew enjoys learning about and sharing stories of desert ecology and how people experience it.  In his spare time, he enjoys strumming his guitar, and tending to his garden and chickens.

 Jared Buono, Senior Hydrology Scientist

Jared is a co-founder of Watershed Management Group and holds a MSc in Watershed Management and a PhD in Natural Resource Management. He has conducted ecohydrology research for the US Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service and has implemented community-based conservation programs in the US Peace Corps. He has also managed projects funded by the US Agency for International Development. Jared is currently working on international program development and establishing WMG's office in India.

Allen Denomy, Co-op Instructor

Allen passionately celebrates southern Arizona’s environment through his landscape design work and interests. A University of Arizona graduate from the School of Fine Arts and WMG certified in advanced water harvesting techniques Allen incorporates alternative materials and water harvesting practices into his landscape design work. His designs converge high-end aesthetic qualities with environmentally conscience landscapes. Allen is also a proficient graphic designer, CAD drafter, and a professional artist. Allen provides workshop instruction and design services for WMG.

Lindsay Ignatowski, Outreach and Administrative Assistant

Lindsay graduated from the University of Illinois with a Master's degree in Journalism in 2009. Previously, she studied Spanish and Linguistics at the University of Kansas, and studied abroad in Costa Rica. Her longtime interest in weather led her to explore the issues of climate and climate change, which in turn led to her interest in environmental issues and sustainability. She volunteered with the non-profit group Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful during the summer of 2008, and later created a website detailing the effects of climate change for Illinois, www.ilchangegauge.com. As an intern with WMG, Lindsay helps design and edit educational and marketing materials, as well as translate web content and other materials into Spanish.

Nick Irvine, Workshop Instructor

Nick has always been an advocate for ecosystem health and is passionate about bringing about a more water conscious Phoenix. A graduate of the WMG's Water Harvesting Certification program, he is now working to bring Tucson's successful water programs and workshops to the Valley of the Sun where it is much needed. He holds a degree in Biology and Education and teaches Environmental Science in Phoenix.  When not working, Nick can be found deep in a canyon or on the side of a cliff, rock climbing all over the Southwest.

James MacAdam, Green Streets and Certification Project Manager

Since earning a degree in Environmental Studies from Prescott College in 2001, James has pursued a diverse career as a naturalist, plant biologist, yoga instructor, freelance writer and sustainability advocate.  The common thread throughout it all has been his love for people and nature, and a desire to bring the two together.  James is certified in Permaculture Design, and is a LEED-Accredited Professional.  His work with WMG currently centers on a pilot project in a Tucson neighborhood to teach and empower residents to improve water quality in their own streets, yards and local washes.

Lincoln Perino, Co-op Instructor

 As a second generation Tucsonan Lincoln has gained a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural desert landscape.  I have developed a sense for the potential that lies in the desert ecosystem and how fruitful it can be with proper management.  Lincoln has a BS in Environmental Sciences with a focus on Sustainable Land and Water Studies and is currently working as a Water Harvesting Technician for Technicians for Sustainability.  Outside of work he enjoys playing soccer, hiking, camping and just being active in general.  Lincoln hopes to one day see Tucson become a green oasis without overburdening our delicate groundwater systems.

Catlow Shipek, Senior Program Manager

Catlow Shipek is a founding member of WMG. Catlow and fellow co-founders based the philosophy of WMG on the watershed model using water as a link to bring stakeholders together. He received a MSc in Watershed Management from the University of Arizona. Past work at the Southwest Watershed Research Center with the USDA Agricultural Research Service has given him a depth of experience in soil erosion and sedimentation processes on southwestern rangelands.

Sowmya Somnath, Engineer/Sanitation Specialist

Sowmya is a registered Professional Engineer with nine years of structural engineering experience working on diverse projects in the US. In 2008 she was an Indicorps fellow in Karnataka working on community empowerment through rural sanitation infrastructure development and hygiene education. She is also a  professional mentor for Engineers without Borders on a multi-year water filtration project in Mafi Zongo, Ghana. Sowmya is currently working on international program development and establishing WMG's office in India.

INTERN PROFILES

Josh Colwell, Intern

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania Josh has always exhibited a strong interest in plants, water and their connections to people. Josh has a degree in Horticulture Technology and is certified in permaculture design. He continues to build on his experience to work towards meaningful change to strengthen the ecosystems we live in. Since recently moving to Tucson, Josh has been assisting WMG on numerous projects including green infrastructure design and implementation, maintaining water harvesting demonstration sites, and organizing a community street painting event.

Christine Donley, Conserve to Enhance Intern

Christine is currently in her undergraduate studies at The University of Arizona. She is studying English and Geography and hopes to continue her schooling and ultimately become a teacher or professor. It was in her geography and general education courses that she became interested in water scarcity issues.  Christine first experienced advocacy and non-profit work with Arizona PIRG, a student directed social advocacy organization, as they tried to establish funding at the University of Arizona.  While working with WMG she plans to continue her experience with grassroots organizing to assist primarily with community outreach through the Conserve to Enhance program. 

Rhiwena Slack, Co-op Intern

Growing up in  the countryside of Wales, UK, Rhiwena developed a strong interest in nature and sustainability. She gained a BS in environmental toxicology at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. In 1998 she found her way to Tucson and began working as a research assistant for the Center for Biological Diversity. Coming from a land of plentiful water, she was shocked that human action could have turned the Santa Cruz,  from a free flowing, life giving oasis, to a dry bed in a short period of time. Rhiwena took the basic drylands permaculture design course. This showed her that by working with nature it is possible to live a life of abundance and restore ecosystems. Wishing to pursue this optimistic path, Rhiwena returned to her studies at the Centre for Altenative technology in Wales. She is currently working on her thesis for a  MSc Architecture: energy and environmental studies. Outside of this and her work at WMG, Rhiwena teaches and practises yoga, takes her dog on long walks and gets about by bike.