Suzanne Wade

TTW Project Coordinator, RRC Board Member, retired Natural Resources Educator with UWEX

During her nineteen years as a natural resources educator with UWEX she worked to bring people and our waters together. "We can't love something that we don't know, and if we don't love our waters, how can we expect to protect them. So I hope people will come out and enjoy this fabulous resource in our own backyard and get to know it a little better, and love it a little more."

Jojo O'Brien

TTW Logistical Coordinator

My background is in Biological Systems Engineering and Environmental Studies and passionate about the RRC mission and excited about TTW linking communities to their river. I spent two years working as a Health Project Manager on river tributaries in the Colombian jungle and am looking forward to working on the water again!

Caitlin Peterson

TTW Logistical Coordinator

She grew up spending as much time as possible in and alongside Wisconsin's lakes and rivers, and studied conservation biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is now finishing up her M.S. in Water Resources with the University of Wyoming and is so excited to spend part of the summer back in her home state working with the Rock River Coalition.

Eric Compas

Water array hacker; President, Current Data; Director, Pangea Studios/GIS Center; Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Geology, and Environmental Science

Did someone say there'd be bacon on this trip?

Jeff Smyczek

GIS Analyst/Paddler, UW-Whitewater Geography Najor

I have been primarily working on both the print and interactive maps for the Testing the Waters event and will also be paddling one of the water arrays during the extent of the trip. See you on the Water!

Tyler Tomaszewski

GIS Server Master, UW-Whitewater Environmental Science Major (2015)

I run Control Center Operations from UW-Whitewater, adding media to the dashboard and keeping the data stream flowing strong like the mighty Rock River. Fun Fact: I like to rock the party.

Porter Vande Voort

GIS Analyst/Social Media, UW-Whitewater Geography Major

The role he will be playing in this project is as the GIS/social media specialist. He has always had an interest in water quality issues, which is why he is excited to be a part of this project.

Bill Frisbee

TTW Team Paddler, Storm Water Engineer for the City of Beloit

I will be collecting additional samples to be tested for nutrients that the probes cannot monitor. Thinking and acting on a basin wide scale will only increase our local/individual efforts to protect and improve the quality of the Rock River and its tributaries.

Sandy Thorpe

TTW Paddler, retired speech pathologist

Her passions over the years have been road and mountain biking and canoe and kayaking. She is a certified Spin Instructor having some of the 1st spin classes at the Beloit YMCA and North Pointe Wellness Center. She is the founder of the BACK (Beloit Area Canoe and Kayak group) and also provided kayak instruction. You can find her outdoors skiing the Birkebeiner, biking, hiking and paddling. One of her favorite sayings about sea kayaking is that "it irons the wrinkles out of my soul."

Anna Courtier

TTW Science Outreach, UWW Science Outreach Coordinator

Anna earned her BS in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her PhD in Geophysics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She worked as a geology professor before moving to UW-Whitewater to lead the science outreach program. In addition to student and community outreach, Anna is interested in science education research, including the development and assessment of curriculum or pedagogy for both K-12 and undergraduate students.

Karl Brandstaetter

TTW Science Outreach, UW-Whitewater Integrated Science Business Major

I'm the current president of the UWW Water Council and a passionate about water, gardening, and all things outdoors.

Rachel Terracina

TTW Science Outreach, UW-Whitewater Biology Major

I am one of the Science Outreach Associates working to teach the public about the project and why it is so important to gather the data we are working to collect. Outside of being a Science Outreach Associate, I am also president of my sorority, Alpha Sigma, a passionate knitter, and a proud mom to a beautiful betta fish!