Our Board

Laureen joined the WRWC board in October 2013 and leverages her extensive corporate financial services experience to support the organization’s sustainability and mission.  Laureen is a retired Fidelity VP, past small business owner, and an active WRWC event volunteer. Before stepping into the Board President role in 2020, Laureen served as Vice President Secretary, and Development Committee Chair. ×

Dave Birkins is the Chief Operating Officer of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, a role he has been in since joining the Bank in February 2017. Previously, much of Dave’s career has been in community banking serving as chief financial and chief operating officer roles for several regional banks. In addition to serving as the Treasurer of the WRWC, as a longtime New Englander and outdoor enthusiast, Dave is particularly interested in the environmental and economic renewal efforts of the WRWC. Dave joined the WRWC board in April 2021. ×

John is Deputy Director of Grow Smart RI, a statewide nonprofit founded in 1998 that provides policy research, development and advocacy to advance urban revitalization and sustainable economic and community development.  John’s policy work is focused on the synergies of land use, economic development and public transportation as well as incentives that drive private investment to achieve public goals. A resident of North Smithfield, he served for several years on the North Smithfield Planning Board and Ordinance Review Committee, chaired the town’s Redevelopment Agency and was elected Town Council President in 2012. John joined the WRWC board in 2018. ×

Eric is founder and principal of Studio MEJA, an Olneyville based architecture firm committed to transforming broken buildings into meaningful places. He also leads Wide Plank, LLC, a real estate redevelopment and management group that repositions buildings to meet changing community and market needs. When he’s not working on making cities better places, or leading teams that create beauty out of brokenness, he can be often be found hiking in the White Mountains or trail running in Roger Williams Park. He lives with his wife, Melanie, and two young children in the Edgewood section of Cranston, Rhode Island. Eric joined the WRWC board in 2020. ×

Ashlie is originally from the Twin Cities in Minnesota but considers Rhode Island home now. She runs sales and partnerships for CIC Providence, a cornerstone in the City's effort to support community building and economic development. With a focus on access, inclusivity, and collaboration, Ashlie values the power of network and place. She spent 7 prior years working in higher education, most recently at RISD. Ashlie believes in the power of art and design in community building efforts and feels is an essential tool for progress. Ashlie joined the WRWC board in 2020. ×

Steve is an award-winning, independent creative director and writer with extensive experience in developing marketing campaigns for some of the world’s best-known brands.  He is expert at creating high-level strategies and translating them into marketing tactics that get actionable results. Most recently, Steve has worked with climate scientists at NOAA and NASA in Washington D.C., to devise awareness campaigns that deal with the implications of climate change and how it affects all of us.

He has created television and print campaigns for Timberland, Cannondale, Stihl, Ocean Spray, Fidelity, FootJoy, and the Boston Globe, among others. Previously, Steve served as an Executive Creative Director at Arnold Worldwide and as a VP at Mullen Advertising, both in Boston.

Steve joined the WRWC board in 2017. ×

Jen is an attorney in the Providence office of Locke Lord LLP, where she practices corporate law, focusing on advising private equity clients on mergers and acquisitions. Jen spends much of her free time working on home improvement projects on her century-old home in Providence. In the warm months, she can often be found biking on Rhode Island’s beautiful bike paths. After graduating from her undergraduate program at the University of Vermont, Jen completed a self-supported cross-country bicycle tour with her husband and hopes to find the time to embark on another adventure-filled bicycle tour. Jen joined the WRWC board in 2020. ×

Jennifer Recinos was born and raised in Providence, RI often switching between the Olneyville and Federal Hill neighborhoods and spent much of her childhood playing in Donigian Park. Jenn started her involvement with WRWC in 2010, 2011 when she served as a River Ranger. In 2013 was awarded the Eli Segal Citizen Leader Fellowship for her involvement in public service. In 2014 she earned her B.A. in International Studies as well as Film + Interactive Media Studies from Brandeis University. She has spent the past 6 years working in College Access and Arts Education at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Jenn joined the WRWC board in 2020. In her free time she can be found biking around town. She currently resides in Olneyville a short walk away from the Woony path. ×

Christopher Riely is a forester and watershed manager for Providence Water, the public utility from which most Rhode Islanders get their drinking water. He is also Board President of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council and a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program. Christopher lives on the West Side of Providence only a short distance from the Woonasquatucket River. Christopher holds a BA from Tufts University, a Masters in Forestry from Yale, and an MBA from URI, and he joined the WRWC board in 2015. ×

After 25 plus years working in the nonprofit sector in Providence, Tina now works as the Community Engagement Specialist in the Providence Police Department’s Community Relations Bureau. After serving as the Director of Community Initiatives at ONE Neighborhood Builders in Olneyville, Tina found herself passionate about “All Things Olneyville”, and now serves on the board of three Olneyville service organizations, including WRWC.

She credits WRWC with educating her around environmental issues and the importance of green space. Tina is an Olneyville resident and enjoys walking her dog Flex daily at Riverside Park.

Tina received a B.A. in History from Rhode Island College and a M.S. in Nonprofit Organizational Management from Springfield College. Tina joined the WRWC board as an at large member in 2018. ×

Zane was born and raised in Providence, RI and continues to live just a short distance from the Woonasquatucket River.   They have worked with the WRWC since 2010 starting as a Junior River Ranger, then as a Senior River Ranger, and now contributes through their board membership. Zane is active in the community through the music and arts scene. They can be found drumming with the Providence based band, What Cheer? Brigade. Zane has a BS in Environmental Natural Resource Economics from URI, joined the WRWC board in 2016 and was the Board Secretary from 2018-2020. They are now an At Large member. ×

Doug retired from the commercial insurance industry as a safety and loss control consultant. He actively volunteers for various local environmental/conservation organizations, including: Audubon Society of RI; Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy; URI Watershed Watch Program; and the Johnston Historical Society.

Doug joined the WRWC board as an at large member in 2016. ×