Suzi Wilkins Berl

Suzi Wilkins Berl serves as River Network's Board Chair. She is one of the nation's most experienced watershed protection leaders. From 1978-89 she headed a variety of grassroots organizations, including the Farmington River Watershed Association (CT), Connecticut Land Trust Service Bureau, and Long Island Sound Task Force. From 1989 - 1994, she was Director of Outreach and Education for American Rivers in Washington DC, where she worked with state and local conservationists across the country building coalitions, securing state river policy and undertaking statewide river assessments. From 1994 until 1998, she was Executive Director of the Mississippi River Basin Alliance, which united over 90 environmental justice organizations and traditional conservation groups. She helped set and directed river policy. She also provided training for and improved communications among MRBA's member organizations, and oversaw the Alliance's nationally recognized annual conference. From 1999 - 2005, she worked under contract with River Network, helping a wide range of state, regional and local river and watershed organizations, especially in the Southeastern United States. Subsequent to that time, she assisted several land trusts throughout the region under contract with Land Trust Alliance. Recently, she has retired from her consulting work to spend more time with her extensive family.