John Peach, Executive Director and Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper
John was appointed to serve as executive director and Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper in August of 2018. John served on Save The River’s board from 2000-2018 in several key roles including as president from 2004-2007, on the executive committee, and most recently as treasurer leading the finance committee. He has been an active volunteer in Save The River’s Common Tern Monitoring program and shoal marking program and will continue his work in these programs while serving as executive director. Prior to his retirement several years ago, John worked as an international business consultant in fields including arts, oceanographic research, environmental, and pharmaceuticals. He and his wife Pat call Huckleberry Island near Ivy Lea home for a significant portion of the year.
Kendall Hathaway, Office Assistant
Kendall is a native of Dothan Alabama and recent graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While at Auburn, she worked in the agricultural department where she gained a greater appreciation for environmental conservation. She and her husband Ethan now live in Cape Vincent and spend as much time as possible on the River or in Chaumont Bay where his family has several cottages.
Margaret Hummel, Outreach Coordinator
Margaret joined the staff in late 2017. She grew up in Jamesville, New York but was lucky enough to spend all of her summers on the River at her family’s cottage on Grenell Island. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In 2007 she became a year round resident of Clayton, first working in the Thousand Islands School District before joining the staff at the Antique Boat Museum in 2011 where she served as the Director of Events and Marketing. Margaret and her husband, John Nuber, reside in Clayton where they enjoy as much time on the water as possible.
Patricia Shulenburg, Program Manager
Patricia earned her Interdisciplinary M.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior from the University at Buffalo focusing her graduate studies on Great Lakes ecology and stream restoration. She has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the WNY PRISM in invasive species management and education. Patricia most recently worked for the NYS Office of Parks as the GLRI Dunes and Wetlands Restoration Coordinator managing projects at Sandy Island Beach State Park. She also founded the region’s first volunteer monitoring and stewardship program for the federally endangered Great Lakes piping plover and is an executive member of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes Coalition. Her passion for the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes developed at an early age visiting her cottage in Henderson.
Bridget Wright, Development Director
While growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Bridget always looked forward to spending as much time as possible at her family’s home on Crow Island in The Thousand Islands. After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Illinois she worked as Development Director for Shared Marketing Services in Chicago. In 2006 Bridget realized her lifelong dream and relocated permanently to the River to be near family. She was thrilled to join the staff at Save the River in 2010.
Linda Wright, Bookkeeper
Linda first joined Save the River as our volunteer bookkeeper from 1999-2002, returning in 2005 as a part-time employee. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Math from the University of New Hampshire. Her accounting career has been in both non-profit and for-profit environments. Linda and her husband Eric live in Evans Mills where they raise sheep. She enjoys spending her free time quilting, gardening, and reading.