STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JON BALANOFF
Jon joined AWWA in May of 2019. He received a B.S. in Environmental Conservation from the University of New Hampshire in 2012, and comes to AWWA with experience in water resource management from both the public and private sector. Jon spent several years doing environmental consulting and another year as a program coordinator for the NHDES Coastal Program. He brings his knowledge of wetland ecology and hydrology to this new position.
YCC PROGRAM COORDINATOR
JAMES SHIMANSKY
James started as a member of the YCC crew back in 2017. He spent three years in that position before being promoted to Crew Leader in 2020 and Program Coordinator in 2021. Growing up, James spent his summers on Balch Pond where his love of the lakes began to take root. James is currently studying Forestry at the University of Maine in Orono and brings his experience and enthusiasm to his newfound leadership role with the organization.
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
KELLEY ALEXANDER
Born and raised in Alaska, Kelley fell in love with the NH lakes region during a visit in 2003. From her home on Pine River Pond, she is active in her community, from Ice Out to Loon Watch. She also lends her eye for natural beauty, assisting with the yearly photography contest, fund raising for the lake association. With her degree in mathematics, she brings a numbers perspective to her role with AWWA.
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT, LOVELL LAKE
DICK DESROCHES
Dick’s history with Lovell Lake and the Wakefield-Acton region stretches back to the early 1950’s when he celebrated his 8th birthday while on vacation at the Lake. His family purchased the family summer home on Lovell in 1951 and Dick has spent the most enjoyable part of each year on the Lake ever since.
Dick is a graduate environmental engineer having spent the majority of his 45-year career working in the utility industry in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In addition to various trade and professional organizations, Dick has served in leadership positions with many non-profit organizations, including education, housing, economic development and mental health support.
After retiring Dick and his wife Judi relocated year round to their home on Lovell Lake. At the Lake, Dick has been involved for many years as a member of the Lovell Lake Association executive committee as the coordinator of the Weed Watch and Water Quality Monitoring programs. Dick is member the Wakefield Planning Board and the Gafney Library Board of Trustees.
VICE PRESIDENT, PINE RIVER POND
DOUG STEWART
Doug’s grandparents bought a camp on Pine River Pond in the 1940’s, he has been enjoying all Wakefield has to offer since the late 1960’s. He and his wife purchased a summer camp on the same lake when they first married and moved permanently to Wakefield in 2004. They now have two daughters who also do their part protecting our lakes. Both are involved in NH’s Lake Host Program and their oldest has worked for AWWA’s Youth Conservation Corp for a number of summers.
Doug’s work experience includes IT development and cyber security in the financial, consulting, and insurance industries.
In addition to AWWA, Doug also serves on the Pine River Pond Association board and the Town of Wakefield’s Planning Board.
TREASURER, BELLEAU LAKE
KERRY VACHON
Kerry is passionate about the local environment and enjoys the outdoors. His family history and time spent in the Wakefield area date back to the 1960’s. He serves on the Boards for the Belleau Lake Property Owners Association and the Belleau Lake Dam Association. Previous experience includes roles in finance, marketing, sales, and executive management in Fortune 100 companies, with an educational background including a B.S. from Montclair State University with concentrations in Finance and Biology, and an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall University.
DIRECTOR, GREAT EAST LAKE
CHARLES CRESPI
Charles started volunteering as a Loon Watcher on Great East Lake about a decade ago and his involvement in preserving and protecting our local lakes grew from there. He is a former Treasure and current President of GELIA. Charles has also served as Treasurer and Chairman of two scientific societies focused on new pharmaceutical discovery and development. Charles has an SB in Chemistry and a PhD in Toxicology from MIT.
DIRECTOR, GREAT EAST LAKE
LINDA SCHIER
Retired Executive Director Linda Schier is one of the founding members of AWWA. A former President of the Great East Lake Improvement Association, Linda became the President of AWWA in 2005. As the project load grew Linda accepted the position as part-time Executive Director. Linda holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Environmental Education from UNH and is a volunteer with the UNH Marine Docent Program.
DIRECTOR, GREAT EAST LAKE
RICH SIGEL
Rich’s family bought a camp on Great East Lake (Wakefield) in the 1940s, and Rich has been going there his whole life.
He is a current GELIA Board member.
A resident of Manchester, NH, Rich works in government and public affairs consulting with McLane Middleton GPS. Prior to that, he worked for NH Governors Shaheen and Lynch.
Rich has a BA from Tufts and JD from George Washington University.
DIRECTOR, HORN POND
JULIE CALLUM
Julie first learned of AWWA as a new homeowner on Horn Pond in 2011 and became a YCC project host and had several BMP’s installed on her property. She quickly became involved in her lake association and has served as co-president since 2014 and now president.
Her love of science and nature led her to attend many local workshops and become trained as an Invasive Plant Patroller. Julie is a retired dentist and enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and plays as much pickle ball, as possible, as well as volunteers for local non-profit agencies.
DIRECTOR, PROVINCE LAKE
LORIE DUNN
Lorie first visited Province Lake in 1980 and thought ‘Wow, what a most perfect lake’. She and her husband vacationed there every summer after and eventually purchased a property in 1997.
She has been active with the Province Lake Association since 2014, first as a board member, then as VP & Membership Director. She served as President from 2019 to 2022. During her time on the PLA Board, they have been executing the 2014 Watershed Plan through support from AWWA, NH DES, NH Lakes, local towns and citizens. She has participated in a number of activities including beach cleanup, weed watch, Ice in-Ice out and cyano reporting. She is presently serving as a board director with Green Mountain Conservation Group. Lorie’s specific interests are in lake water quality, particularly mitigation of erosion and nutrients, cyanobacteria and invasive species. She is looking forward to contributing to AWWA’s mission and growing program.
Prior to retirement, she worked as a geologist and project manager for several multinational oil companies. Lorie has Geology BA from Colgate University and Geology MS from URI.
Directors Emeritus
Jeanne Achille – Wilson Lake
Glenn Wilde – Wilson Lake
Pat Theisen – Great East Lake
Chuck Hodsdon – Great East Lake
Jon Samuelson – Province Lake