Charting the Course: Expanding Access, Education, & River Health
Join us for an inspiring evening at OARS’ Annual Meeting, where we’ll dive into the future of our 3 rivers. Our team will share the latest on our River RATs paddles and 86 Miles Club—exciting ways to get more people out on the water—and the growth of our Water Wise Workshops, bringing hands-on science to even more young learners. Plus, hear from Kim Kastens, Chair of the Green Acton Water Committee, as she sheds light on the severe impacts of road salt on our rivers and streams.
Help us shape the future of our 3 rivers. Join us for an evening of action and insight.
The evening will begin with a short business meeting and BoD elections.
Light refreshments will be served.
Board of Directors Nominee Details
For Election
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Paul Anderson Paul is a retired environmental consultant with over 30 years of experience in ecological and human health risk assessment. He has developed water quality monitoring programs, set environmental criteria, and served on water reuse expert panels with the National Water Research Institute. Paul is a member of the Berlin Economic Development Commission and has served on the town’s Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. He holds a BS in Biology from Boston University and an MS and PhD in Evolutionary Ecology from Harvard University. In his spare time, Paul enjoys fly fishing, hiking, woodworking, and gardening.
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Julia Flanary Julia brings over a decade of experience in environmental policy, water resources planning, and regulatory compliance. She currently serves as the Environmental Compliance & Data Manager for the Town of Maynard, where she oversees drinking water regulations, infrastructure, and public outreach. Her background includes environmental planning roles in both the public and private sectors, with a focus on watershed and wetland protection. Julia holds a Master’s in Environmental Policy & Planning from Tufts University and a BS in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. She lives in Maynard with her husband and young son, and enjoys paddling the Assabet River and exploring the rich natural and cultural history of the SuAsCo watershed. |
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Carolyn Gouchoe Carolyn is a retired Biotechnology Manager who most recently developed and implemented comprehensive training courses tailored to application scientists. In addition, she also created the college internship programs at Agilent Technologies. Carolyn received her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Boston University. She was a manager of entry-level sales and marketing professionals in the biotechnology industry for many years. Earlier in her career, she was an undergraduate biology professor. Currently, she is a nesting and habitat monitor for Mass Audubon’s Brewster Woods Sanctuary and Drumlin Farms. Carolyn’s other interests include conservation biology and science education. |
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Linda Hansen Linda looks forward to bringing her education, experience, and policy background to the OARS Board of Directors. Growing up along the Mississippi River in Iowa, she earned her Master’s in Chemical Oceanography from the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, where her thesis focused on trace metal concentrations in the North Pacific Ocean. Linda’s career spans academia, industry, and government, including roles as a lab manager at Yale University and 15 years as an environmental consultant leading site characterization projects for Superfund sites. After 9–11, she transitioned to conservation administration, serving nine years in Maynard and now in her eighth year in Wayland. Linda is excited to complete the full circle with a non-profit organization. |
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Carol Lurie Carol is a lifelong paddler and hiker with a passion for preserving natural resources. With extensive experience leading environmental and sustainability planning projects, she has managed complex, multidisciplinary environmental permitting for major infrastructure projects, primarily airports. Her expertise includes environmental planning, permitting, and strategic planning, along with leading stakeholder outreach for complex projects. Carol holds a Master’s in City Planning from MIT and a BS in Town and Regional Planning from WITS (South Africa). Now working on-call, she looks forward to giving back to the community through OARS. |
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Griffin Tighe Griffin Tighe is currently the Chief of Staff to State Representative Kate Hogan, who represents the Third Middlesex towns of Bolton, Hudson, Maynard, and Stow and serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Prior to his work in government and politics, Griffin worked for Fidelity Investments as a legal compliance associate. Griffin graduated from Syracuse University in 2018 with a dual degree in Policy and Political Science and is currently pursuing a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. Griffin is from Franklin, Massachusetts, and currently lives in Quincy with his fiancee and their family of plants.
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Patrick Van Der Voorn Pat is Vice President and Chief Environmental Counsel of The Mosaic Company, a diversified agricultural nutrients company. In that role, he advises Mosaic on wide-ranging environmental issues affecting the company throughout North America. He is an avid outdoors person who fishes local waters, including the Assabet and Sudbury rivers. He also bikes and skis and has earned membership in the White Mountain Four Thousand Footer Club. He and his family live in Sudbury with their two dogs. |
