About Us

Janette Rosenbaum arrived in the Muddy Branch watershed in 2019, but has been working on sustainable gardening issues since 2011. She has a Master's degree in environmental studies, with a focus in communications, and works in the communications department of the Izaak Walton League. She can almost see the Muddy Branch from her office. Outside of the office, Janette watches birds, practices identifying plants, and creates yarn crafts. [Board member since 5/1/2020]

Guillermo Irahola, our Vice President and Technology Advisor, brings a deep passion for promoting public park use within the watershed. Born and raised in Bolivia, Guillermo's conservation journey started during childhood vacations exploring the natural wonders of South America. His career includes pivotal roles with the Bolivian Forest Action Planning Commission and collaborations with organizations like Conservation International. Currently, Guillermo serves as Chief Technology Officer at a federal government technology provider, complemented by a Project Management degree from Georgetown University.

Mary Hlavinka has been involved in picking up trash, working with the weed warriors, testing water quality and enjoying the beauty of the local streams and parks. She was awarded Volunteer of they Year in 2019.  Performing the role of Treasurer allows her to use her financial skills and provide valuable support to the Alliance. [Board member since 5/1/2019]

Pete Darmody grew up along the banks of the Northwest Branch (Stream Valley Park/Rachel Carson Park) in Silver Spring MD—hiked and played there extensively. He loves water in all forms! He has worked as summer and temporary intern at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton MD (MNCPPC park). Currently (since 1978) Project management (specifically CPM scheduling) for a construction program. He has lived in the Muddy Branch watershed/ Seneca Creek divide (Kentlands) since 1993. He majored in Ornamental Horticulture, minored in Geography with coursework: Meteorology, Soil Science, Landscape Architecture and received his BS from UMD College Park. His interests include gardening, running, railroad transportation, bicycling, moderate kayaking, history and hiking - especially streams and the Potomac. [Board member since 5/1/2016]

Julia Rasnake grew up wandering the Muddy Branch trails, and has worked and volunteered in outdoor and arts education in several countries. Julia is a psychotherapist with a masters in clinical social work, who focuses on trauma recovery in young adults and adolescents and offers nature-based/eco-therapy at her practice, Inner Wellbeing Therapy. Julia sees a strong link between our connection to nature and our mental health, and volunteers to promote community engagement and getting kids and families outside, and to support re-wilding and native ecosystems as a Maryland Master Naturalist. Julia loves making art, going on long runs, reading books, and long walks in the woods with her dog. [Board member since 5/1/2021]

Lauren Hubbard manages our Lands Green Waters Clean Initiative with a focus on community engagement around storm water management. She moved to the area from New York where she served as the Executive Director of the Long Island Explorium and served as a board member and chair of the Education and Outreach committee for the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. Lauren’s works in Maryland focuses on sustainable landscape design and program management, she works with several not-for-profits in the region to support sustainable landscaping and restoration efforts. Lauren holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and is a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and Master Gardener.

After a career in anthropology and in program evaluation in international development, Roger Rasnake has a growing interest in understanding the complex interactions of habitat and species in the Eastern forests. Living next to Muddy Branch Park and hiking through its woods almost daily, he feels that it is critical that we continue to educate our neighbors and advocate for our green spaces to foster a rich natural environment and preserve and enhance what we have. In 2021, he became a Maryland Master Naturalist and recently led the work to renew a park pollinator garden and to establish a new native plant sale for the fall. His hobbies include gardening with native plants and learning how these plants interact to create an environment for insects, birds and animal life. Other interests are hiking, “Nordic walking,” and cooking.

We are fortunate to work with Toni Bailey as a consultant for most of our Demonstration Projects. She is a graduate of the Landscape Design program at George Washington University and in 2008 completed a Master’s degree in Landscape Design at GW, with a concentration on sustainable landscape design.

For 20 years, John Stokke quietly picked up the Muddy Branch watershed in and around Malcolm King Park.  That included an average of 10,000 cans and bottles per year, and in one year over 17,000.  The multitudes of other trash items included diapers, furniture, bikes, clothing.  We formally accepted him as Honorary Board member in 2018.