Watershed Management Group Staff
Lisa Shipek is a founding member of Watershed Management Group and has served as the Executive Director since 2006. Lisa directs fundraising, strategic development, financial planning, community engagement, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion activities for WMG. She co-directs the River Run Network program and manages the development of the Living Lab & Learning Center. Her specialized skills include developing experiential education programs; building community coalitions; and adapting technical information for public consumption. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.A. in Latin American Studies. Lisa gives back to the community through serving on advisory boards, which has included: Tucson’s Environmental Services Advisory Committee, Tucson’s Transit Task Force, Tucson Conserve to Enhance, and the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative. Lisa was honored to be invited to join Women at the Top in 2020, a Tucson-based business networking group. She fills her free time with playing ultimate frisbee and dancing and enjoys gardening, bike touring, and camping with her husband Catlow.
Growing up in the border towns of ambos Nogales, Joselyn has always had a strong sense of community and a passion for helping others. She moved to Tucson in 2020 to pursue a career in language interpretation with the goal of minimizing the impact language barriers have on Spanish speaking communities across Southern Arizona. After working in the court system and seeing a lack of social justice in our bureaucracies, Joselyn saw her efforts making more of an impact in grassroots organizing and nonprofit work. Most recently, she worked as Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator at BICAS, gaining experience in community outreach and program coordination. Joselyn’s work reflects an understanding that sustainability is synonymous with education, liberation, and community. Her commitment to sustainability shows through her car free lifestyle, using various modes of transportation such as biking, walking, and taking public transit to get around. For fun, you’ll find Joselyn leading and organizing bike rides such as the Tuesday Night Bike Ride, upcycling thrifted clothes, or just hanging out with friends.
Charlie graduated from Dickinson College in 2012 with a B.S. in Physics and has worked in environmental education and non-profit communications. He ventured from Pennsylvania to Tucson in early 2016 and has become enchanted by the Sonoran Desert and Tucson community. Charlie is passionate about using community education to help drive sustainable decision-making on an individual basis and in city decision-making. In his role at WMG he designs and installs community green infrasturcture projects and oversees WMG's Phoenix Valley based programs. When he isn't talking about water harvesting Charlie likes playing soccer, cooking, and dancing with his two left feet.
Melanie Cooley arrived in Tucson from the Midwest over 30 years ago and fell immediately in love with the Sonoran Desert. Their passions are desert-friendly gardening, habitat restoration, water harvesting, critters, and dance. When not at WMG, she can most likely be found with hands in dirt, tending plants, tracing the path of water across her yard, dancing, or hanging out with her three dogs, five chickens, and desert tortoise named Mr. T. Melanie has an MFA in Poetry from the University of Michigan and is a certified 5Rhythms (movement/dance meditation) teacher. She is deeply interested in the connections between the body of earth and human bodies. She speaks English, basic French and Spanish--and just enough Arabic to have a conversation with a four-year-old.
Becky fell in love with the landscapes and organisms of the western United States when she studied Natural History and Ecology at Prescott College in Arizona. After attaining her bachelors degree, Becky worked as a wildlife technician on a bear nutritional study in Yellowstone National Park, a trophic cascade study in Waterton Lakes Park, and a bison management study in Montana. She then began teaching wildlife science programs to high school students in the Yellowstone area, which grew into a love of teaching and place-based outdoor education. Becky returned to the southwest and worked for a conservation corps building trail and working on invasive species projects. Becky does her best to balance indoor and outdoor work and to include the use of both her brain and her body. This balance has led her to work as an outdoor educator with Outward Bound, a Wilderness Ranger in the southern Rockies, and in the classroom with the High Mountain Institute and the Alzar School. Having lived in an arid environment for over 15 years, she is inspired by and passionate about water and its use. From the Colorado River to the tops of the San Francisco Peaks, to the Santa Fe Mountains, to the Rio Grande, Becky has adventured, studied, and worked within watersheds of the southwest. She spent time at the United World College in New Mexico with her hands in the dirt at the school farm and her intellect advancing the school’s sustainability goals. Her love for wild places began young, and has continued to grow the more time she spends outdoors near water. She has found no better teacher.
Valerisa (Val) Gaddy, PhD., is originally from the Navajo Nation and is of the Navajo (Diné) people. Gaddy has a passion for water quality and uses her research interests to advocate for Tribal water resources in Arizona. Prior to her current position, Gaddy was a post-doctorate research associate at the University of Arizona – Water Resources Research Center. Gaddy received her PhD and MS in Environmental Science with an emphasis in microbiology and her BS from New Mexico State University in microbiology. Gaddy’s research and extension interests include developing and validating methods to assess microbial water quality and communicating modern water quality and produce safety methods to growers. Most recently, Gaddy’s program Irrigation Resources Reaching Indigenous Growers and Tribal Entities, IRRIGaTE was a winner of 2022 MIT Solve Finals. She is a senior fellow of Columbia University – Mailman School of Public Health from 2022-2023. When Gaddy is not working, she enjoys family time with her son and husband which includes, hiking, bouldering, and playing with Legos.
Todd, born and raised in the Midwest, is passionate about the position that Watershed Management holds in the Tucson community. A graduate of Western Michigan University, where he played football and earned captain his Senior year. Todd came to Arizona following a career with YMCA where he married (Rebecca) his wife of 19 years, and has three daughters (Josephine, Abigail, and Vivian). Todd operated the iconic historic Hotel Congress and Maynards Market and Kitchen for 20 years before pursuing his passion for conservation, sustainability, and community development. Todd believes in teamwork, integrity, loyalty, hard work, and commitment. Garnering numerous awards such as Small Business Leader of the Year (2008), Small Business Growth of the Year (2010), Best Place to Work (2016), and Trip Advisor Green Leaf Gold Level Designation for Hotel Congress (2016). Todd has been very active in the community serving on multiple boards such as Women’s Foundation of So. Arizona, Tucson City of Gastronomy, AZPM, Downtown Tucson Partnership, and YMCA of Southern AZ. Founder and director of Agave Heritage Festival, his passion for improving Southern Arizona is only matched by his devotion to his family. Todd enjoys reading, driving in the mountains of Patagonia, Arizona, dining at local independent restaurants with Rebecca, and watching his daughters participate in sports.
Maya was born and raised in Catalina, Arizona and recently graduated from Northern Arizona University with a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She is passionate about helping Tucson become a more sustainable and resilient community, while prioritizing environmental justice. Her time at NAU allowed her to visit places such as Lake Powell, and the drained end of the Colorado River in Mexico. These experiences motivated Maya to help protect and conserve Arizona's water. After spending the past three and a half years in Flagstaff, Maya enjoys connecting with the desert environment she grew up in by trail running, cycling, and hiking. When she's not outdoors, Maya can be found hanging out with her three cats, embroidering, or drumming. Her favorite Sonoran Desert critter is a horny toad.
Sky is a southwest native who loves our region's diverse biology, culture, and landscapes. He has worked primarily as a nonprofit administrator, naturalist/biologist, IT specialist, and website developer for organizations including Sky Island Alliance, The University of Arizona, SWCA Biological Consultants, National Park Service, among others. Sky is dedicated to protecting the region’s biodiversity through conservation action and lifestyle choices. In his free time, Sky enjoys exploring remote and wild parts of Arizona, Sonora, and the greater Southwest, attempting photography, studying birds and plants, and growing native plants in his yard.
Lauren has a B.S. in Watershed Hydrology and Management from the University of Arizona. As a Tucson native, Lauren has a passion for the environment and the community in this area and wants to continue spreading this excitement for nature, water and people through her work with the River Run Network. Lauren enjoys hiking, drinking coffee, and reading in her spare time.
Joaquin specializes in building resilience in diverse communities by enhancing the connections between people, culture, and natural resources. Joaquin brings vast experience on the multicultural border region between the US and Mexico, where he has implemented community-based approaches to watershed management, river restoration, geo-tourism, conservation of native peoples, and best practices for the ranching community. His past work has been with the Sonoran Institute and as a consultant for National Geographic Society and other organizations. Joaquin is a graduate of the University of Arizona with MSc in Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics and a PhD in Renewable Natural Resources Studies with an emphasis on management, policy and economics of natural resources. A native of Sonora, Mexico and resident of Arizona, Joaquin is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Julie has over 30 years of experience teaching in experiential, place-based, embodied education both in the US and in Australia, where she lived for fifteen years. Julie made her way to Tucson in 2023, reconnecting to the Sonoran Desert near where she grew up (in San Bernardino, Ca), and the land of her father's family across the border in Sonora and Chihuahua. Early university studies in the sciences and work in a soils science lab evolved into a performing arts focus and Regalado was active in California in the modern dance world. Often working in non-formal settings, Julie brings a perspective encompassing a social-ecological and relational approach towards building more constructive relationships - human and more-than-human. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from UC Riverside, a MFA in Dance from Mills College, and a MEd in Social Ecology from Western Sydney University, where she also recently completed a M.Res researching how a place-based embodied awareness practice might foster ecological consciousness. In her free time, she explores her new town of Tucson on foot and scrambles over boulders in the Dragoon Mountains. She loves cooking, eating, reading, gardening and speaks passable French and Spanish.
Born and raised in the Colorado River Delta region, Luis always wondered why his native hometown of San Luis Río Colorado was named after a river that seldom flowed through there. As a result, Luis completed a B.S. degree in Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona in 2017. During his time at the university, Luis began to understand the complex relationship between rivers and their users, and decided to pursue a career that emphasizes community-centric, ecological approaches to educating the public about environmental issues of the Southwest and natural resource conservation. Luis is fluent in both Spanish and English, and you can find him reading, writing, cooking, or playing drums at home when he’s not digging through crates at record stores or looking for a good place to set up a hammock on top of a nearby mountain.
Catlow Shipek is a founding member of Watershed Management Group. He received a MSc in Watershed Management from the University of Arizona. Catlow has over 15 years of experience in applied watershed management, planning and policy specializing in urban applications like water harvesting, green infrastructure, stream restoration, and eco-sanitation. Catlow has worked on several successful local policy initiatives including Tucson's Green Streets Active Practice Guidelines, Tucson Water's residential rainwater rebate program, Tucson's residential greywater ordinance revision process, and through the Complete Streets Taskforce the adoption of Tucson's Complete Streets Policy. Catlow has served on the Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee for Tucson Water including Chair of the Conservation & Education subcommittee, Tucson's Complete Streets Coordinating Council, and on the University of Arizona's School of Natural Resource and the Environment's advisory board. Catlow enjoys growing and foraging for food, long mountain trail runs, and finding swimming holes.
Jim currently teaches geography and physics at Pima Community college. He has also studied geology, geophysics and hydrology. Growing up in Colorado, he got his start as a ranch hand chasing cattle, repairing irrigation ditches and building fence. In 2007, he initiated and coordinated a successful 10 year effort to remove Arundo or Giant Cane from the Sabino Creek watershed. He is excited to help manage and lead WMG’s effort to remove Arundo from Tanque Verde Creek, a part of WMG’s River Run Initiative. Jim finds working outdoors extremely satisfying and takes great pleasure in working with others to restore our unique southwestern riparian corridors by removing these invasive and non-native plants. Jim has traveled widely and enjoys swimming, hiking and reading.
Interns and Apprentices
Jenny grew up in Imperial, California, a region known for its rich agricultural community. Growing up in such a prominent agricultural environment instilled in her a deep appreciation for the land and the essential roles it plays in our food systems. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Food Safety at the University of Arizona because she wants to make a positive impact in people’s health and food security. Jenny is committed to incorporating sustainable environmental practices into her future career in the food industry. By prioritizing sustainability, she hopes to help companies not only meet regulatory standards, but also practice environmental responsibility, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. Jenny enjoys cooking, shopping, working out, journaling, and playing tennis.
Manuel is a Sustainable-Built Environments and Urban Planning student at the University of Arizona. As a Tucson native, Manuel has a great appreciation for the Sonoran Desert region. Manuel's career goals include bringing more density, transit-oriented development, and green stormwater infrastructure to Tucson to make it a more resilient city. Manuel likes going to the movies, hiking, and playing basketball in his free time.
I'm pursuing my Master's in Urban Planning, and Water, Society, and Policy. My work centers on climate adaptation and innovative water management strategies in cities. I believe in participatory planning to create sustainable, inclusive urban environments. Outside work, I'm an avid cyclist and artist (printmaker), which informs my creative approach to urban challenges. At home, my two dogs, Ocotillo and Cholla, reflect my love for arid landscapes. My interests in sustainability, community engagement, and art drives me to understand and work towards creating resilient, water-wise cities that serve both people and the environment.
Cody Calamaio is originally from Phoenix, but Tucson is her chosen home. Her career has been a journey across many different industries and she is now seeking to transition into non-profit development, which is why she is very excited to participate in the WMG Fundraising Apprenticeship program. Cody holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute. In her spare time she enjoys crafting, birdwatching, and community-focused activities. Her life is ruled by a tiny gremlin dog who is, unfortunately, not very outdoorsy.
My name is Nicandro Guereque (He/Him) and I’m a freshman at the University of Arizona currently pursuing a Major in Music Composition and a Minor in Film. I’m originally from Colorado but moved to Tucson in 2009. I’m an Intern helping with the Hydro-Local Soundscape concert project and outreach for the Flow365 watershed monitoring program. In High School, I attended a sustainability conference in Berlin where we looked at the city’s urban farms and co-ops to see the ways that Berlin was environmentally friendly. This trip made me realize the role I can play in my community regarding sustainability issues like water conservation. I believe that Music and Art are important for reaching out to people and bringing awareness to climate change and the loss of our natural resources. My goal with this internship is to learn more about the history of Tucson’s rivers and watersheds and have an active role in helping my community. I’m looking forward to my experience here at the Watershed Management group.
Paulina Lazcano is a first gen college student and junior majoring in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Spanish who is inspired by her childhood in Sonora, Mexico and the Sonoran desert. From a young age, she learned the importance of water storage and conservation when she would volunteer with organizations that focused on improving the lifestyle of those that needed such help in Nogales, Sonora. Those skills helped her develop skills for her education and for other projects such as designing a backyard with stormwater management techniques to address flooding issues. Paulina will be supporting Watershed Management Group, which helps connect people of all ages to nature and to foster care for water conservation and our environment here in Tucson.
Jessica was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. She is passionate about protecting our environment and animals for future generations and is excited to be a part of the River Run Network project. A love for our environment started at a very early age from environmental education at school, so she is a strong supporter of environmental education for others. In her free time she enjoys cooking, yoga, walks, and hanging out with her two dogs, Chuck and Bleu.
Nicole Parks is a Tucson native with a passion to serve their community with a focus in conservation. Nicole graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Environmental Studies in the spring of 2020. Since then, she has worked in a variety of roles that have shaped her perspective and focus within the world of conservation. Nicole seeks to build stronger connections within her community, engage people about the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert and push our beautiful city to manage our landscapes with the health of the environment and people in mind. When not thinking of the power of a sustainably built city, Nicole occupies her time with friends and family, cooking up fun things things in the kitchen, cuddling days away with her two orange cats, Dustee and Mustard, and building her pollinator/native plant garden at home.
Hello! I moved from Ohio to Tucson in 2017 and currently teach writing at the University of Arizona. While my professional background and heart is in writing instruction and writing center administration, I have become interested in sustainability and collective decision-making from spending time in self-organized, care-driven communities like Tucson Roller Derby and Tucson Food Share. After completing a summer 2024 season with Conservation Corps New Mexico along the Gila River, I wanted to help restore waterways closer to home by empowering people to take water-wise actions. I believe in curiosity, play, kindness, and our interconnectedness with all life. For fun, I like to write songs, cook vegan-ish meals, rock climb, and spend time with friends.
Isabela Santos (they/them) is a queer Chicane, native Tucsonan, and junior majoring in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Sustainable Built Environments. Their experiences as a member of the LGBTQ community navigating their wellbeing in both California and Maryland throughout their childhood have informed Isabela’s passions for giving back to their communities by working to close gaps in resources amongst POC (People of Color) communities. While volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Isabela has collaborated with Habitat Tucson’s marketing department as Public Relations Director of the UA Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter and will be continuing their involvement as Vice President. Through Earth Grant, Isabela will be supporting Watershed Management Group. In the future, Isabela plans to earn a graduate degree in urban planning and become a licensed landscape architect focusing on community education and access to green water infrastructure.
Henry is a junior at BASIS Tucson North. He has lived in Tucson since he was a few months old and has always cared deeply for the wild beauty of the Sonoran Desert. He is an avid hiker and spends many of his weekends out in the mountains. Henry participated in his first beaver survey in 2020 and has enjoyed volunteering with WMG in Arundo removals and trash pickups ever since. As River Restoration and Outreach Intern, he hopes to engage youth across Tucson with WMG’s various events.
Jasmine is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Indigenous Studies with a focus on Agriculture. She has gained practical experience from internships at the University of Arizona's Community School Garden and Tucson Clean and Beautiful, where she designed, installed, and maintained rainwater harvesting systems and native gardens. Jasmine enjoys hanging out with her family, friends, and pets in her free time. She also has a passion for skateboarding and singing.
Brenai is a junior at the University of Arizona, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Soil, Air, & Water. A native of Massachusetts, her journey into environmental stewardship began when she enlisted in the US Air Force straight out of high school. For 11 years, she served as a pest management specialist. Her time in the Air Force not only shaped her career goals but also led her to find a new sense of home and belonging in Arizona, where she has lived for six years collectively. With a solid foundation in conservation and a genuine passion for preserving our natural resources, Brenai is eager to contribute to this organization’s meaningful work. In her free time, Brenai finds joy exploring new cuisines as a foodie, attending live concerts and plays, and unearthing treasures while thrifting at local markets and boutiques.
My name is Abby Walshaw (she/her) and I am the Rainwater as AgWater Apprentice at Watershed Management Group. After growing up in Tucson, I attended Northeastern University in Boston, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Economics. While studying, I spent a semester in Cuba, where I learned about regenerative small-scale food production and the importance of community to well-being. Since moving back to Tucson, I have had the privilege to serve as a farm educator at Tucson Village Farm and have grown a bigger appreciation and dedication to small-scale, urban, regenerative agriculture to increase food security and sovereignty for the local community. I believe every person has a right to clean and accessible food and water, and I can’t wait to further that work with WMG.