BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

 

OFFICERS

 

Michael R. Sullivan, President

Mike is a retired engineer and founder of RMSI, an engineering solutions company.  His passion for conservation and the Westport Community are reflected in the multiple volunteer roles he has played on town boards, including the Westport Conservation Commission, the Climate Resiliency Committee, Energy Committee, and ADA Transition Committee among others. He lives on the Westport River, has a keen interest in its salt marshes, and is often found on the river monitoring water quality and tidal changes.

 

Joop Nagtegaal, Vice President

Born in the Netherlands, Joop moved to Rhode Island in 1987 where he was Vice President of Abaqus, now SIMULIA which provides finite element simulation for structural analysis. Since retiring in 2008 he has devoted his time and talents to a number of nonprofits including the Paul Cuffee Charter School, the President’s Leadership Council of Save the Bay and the Land Protection Committee of the Westport Land Conservation Trust. Joop chairs the Governance Committee and is a member of the Science and Advocacy committees.

 

Gigi Priebe, Vice President, Development

Although a full time Connecticut resident, Gigi and her husband spend more time in Westport, appreciating its natural beauty and relative peace. In the spirit of giving back, Gigi joined the board in 2022. As the founder of a children’s museum, she brings experience in early childhood education, fundraising, and organizational development. She sits on the Strategic Planning Committee and chairs the Development Committee.

 

Harold (Coop) Cooper, Secretary

Following a thirty-year career in marketing, Coop and his wife retired to the east branch of the Westport River where they reside most of the year. Since joining the board in 2020, Coop lends his communications and marketing know-how to WRWA, helping the organization to continually grow and improve its messaging strategies. Coop serves on the Advocacy and Development Committees.

 

Sean Mullaney, Treasurer

It is no wonder that Sean devotes himself to serving WRWA and the broader watershed community because he grew up summering in Westport and owns a home here. As the founder and Principal of Trust Analytics Group, Sean brings expertise in fiduciary and investment matters to the organization which was especially critical during COVID-19 when the organization’s ability to operate were severely hampered. An avid fisherman, Sean cares deeply about the natural environment and the wellbeing of the watershed, the river, and the ocean. Sean is both Treasurer, chair of the Finance Committee and he sits on the Governance Committee.

 

 

BOARD MEMBERS

 

Wendy Nicholas Dorsey

With a career in historic preservation and nonprofit management, Wendy is uniquely qualified to serve WRWA and its Advocacy Committee, among others. She has directed the regional office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and knows how to navigate state and local politics. Wendy is a trustee of Preserve RI and has served on multiple boards including the MA Community Preservation Coalition and the Waterfront Historic Area League in New Bedford. Preservation and protection of our natural environment run deep in Wendy’s veins. Wendy chairs the Advocacy Committee and sits on the Strategic Planning Task Force , as well as the Governance and Development Committees.

 

Carol Ann Hayes

Carol Ann graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Sociology and from C.W. Post Long Island University with a MS in Accounting. She was a CPA with Price Waterhouse Coopers for 10 years. Carol Ann currently serves as the treasurer of the Neighbourhood Association of the Back Bay and the Beacon HIll Seminars.  Carol Ann has spent most weekends and the summer in her Westport home since 1987. She has been a member of WRWA since 1990’s and has been on the Finance Committee since 2000 and Treasurer for many years till she stepped down in 2023.

 

 

Joanne Leary

Joanne has had a home in Westport for over 30 years and is a full-time resident, now retired from a career in private and public real estate investment markets. Lending her expertise in finance, Joanne has chaired the Fall River Women’s Union Finance Committee where she oversaw its $2 million + endowment and grant distributions. She has been a member of WRWA’s Finance/Investment Committee since 2017 and joined the board in 2022.

 

Mark Luttmann

With a degree in biology, it’s no surprise that Mark is passionate about barrier beaches, estuaries, and watershed ecology. Recently retired and living in Westport full time, Mark now has time to indulge his love of swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, shell fishing and crabbing on the Westport River. He is a natural on both Science and Advocacy Committees.

 

Tom Merchant

Tom brings expertise in Ocean Engineering and his community-minded spirit to WRWA. While working for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI and fulfilling his role as Dad to his children, Tom has found time to serve on the Board of the Westport Education Foundation and has organized and instructed an after school marine robotics program at Westport Elementary School. He serves on the Westport Conservation Commission and WRWA’s Science Committee. 

 

Nancy Mobley

Nancy has been coming to Westport since 1958 and is now a year-round resident. With a lifelong career in Human Resources and founder of an HR consulting business, Nancy offers valuable insight and support to WRWA as it continues to grow. She is passionate about the South Coast environment and serves multiple organizations besides WRWA including The Trustees of Reservations, Mass Audubon, Buzzards Bay Coalition, and the Westport Land Conservation Trust. She chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the Governance and Development Committees.

 

Paul Mooney

As a retired business leader, Paul brings expertise in business management and finance. He is a community minded volunteer who has served multiple non-profits including The Non-Violence Institute, Save the Bay Rhode Island, Slater Mill and Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, RI and currently volunteers at the Westport Food Pantry. He sits on the Finance and Advocacy committees.

 

Bill Sherden

Bill has an MBA from Stanford University and a BS from Georgia Institute of Technology. He divides his time between homes in Boston and Westport where he has lived since graduating from college in 1974.  He was an adjunct professor at Brandeis University for twelve years and a consultant to major organizations for more than twenty.  Bill has been involved in the program committees for several non-profit organizations, including the Nichols House Museum and the Massachusetts Historical Society. Currently, he is the president of Beacon Hill Seminars, an adult learning program offering over forty courses a year.

 

Kenneth Short

Born in Wales and raised in England, Ken is a full time resident of Westport where he and his family live close to the river. His love of the Westport River fuels his efforts on the board where his expertise in software and technical marketing enhances his role on the Development Committee. Ken has served on various non-profit boards including Sojourner House and the Barrington RI Land Trust. 

 

Don Swift

Don brings three decades of experience in investment management as well as a community-minded spirit to WRWA. He has extensive non-profit experience volunteering his time and talents to educational, cultural, healthcare, and environmental organizations. Don’s an avid outdoorsman who’s committed to helping protect the Westport River environs for generations to come. He sits on the Strategic Planning Committee as well as Finance and Development Committees.

 

Cindy Wilson

Nature education and volunteerism are hallmarks of Cindy’s commitment to community. Employing her background in elementary education, Cindy has taught and served with multiple school, community, and church organizations over the years. Since moving to Westport in 2016, she’s engaged herself with local schools, helped organize Clean Our Westport events, and is currently the Director of Operations at the Westport Food Pantry. Cindy serves on the Education and Development Committees.