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Executive Director of the Rivanna River Basin Commission implements day-to-day operations of the Commission and its projects as well as staff support to the Commission and its Committees.

The Executive Director of the Rivanna River Basin Commission is Leslie Middleton (email).

Leslie Middleton was hired by the Commission as transitional staff in January 2009 and as the Commission’s first Executive Director in April 2009. Leslie grew up in Massachusetts and spent a decade working at sea in commercial fisheries and oil production maritime support before returning to the University of Rhode Island to obtain a BS in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering in 1983. Leslie became a research engineer for the US Navy, developing systems specifically for the emerging field of remotely-operated vehicles (Port Hueneme, CA); facilitating the development and deployment of fiber optic cable systems (Arlington, VA); and developing shipboard solid and plastic waste handling and processing equipment for deployment on Navy ships (Annapolis, MD). Upon moving inland to the Rivanna watershed, Leslie founded the Rivanna Watershed Center, a community-based non-profit promoting watershed conservation and collaborative watershed education and protection. Prior to coming to the Rivanna River Basin Commission, Leslie was the Virginia Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in Richmond, coordinating multiple programs in Virginia. As the Commission's first Executive Director, Leslie is responsible for the strategic development of the organization and building partnerships within the basin, the Commonwealth, and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In her spare time, Leslie can be found (outside) volunteering for Rivanna Master Naturalists and StreamWatch, sailing with her husband on the Bay and its tidal tributaries, or (inside) writing about these experiences.

Program Development Coordinator of the Rivanna River Basin Commission works directly with the Executive Director to support the mission of the Commission including the development and maintenance of the Commission's administrative processes, management of volunteers and interns, and implementation and oversight of the Commission's grant programs.

The Program Development Coordinator of the Rivanna River Basin Commission is Jessica Lassetter (email).

Jessica Lassetter began working with the RRBC as the Program Development Coordinator in June 2011 after spending 10 years in the DC Metro area as an environmental consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this capacity, she managed and performed work in various program offices throughout the Agency including Office of Water, Sustainable Communities, Enforcement and Compliance, Resource Conservation and Recovery, and Environmental Justice. Jessica graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001 with a B.S. in Environmental Science, Aquatic Resources Concentration, Minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. She also completed her Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources with a focus in Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Tech’s Northern VA Center in 2008. Prior to moving to Charlottesville, Jessica was appointed to and served on the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission as the Vice-Chair and Urban Planning Member where she was involved with the development and implementation of Eco-City Alexandria. Jessica grew up swimming in and hiking along the James River near Richmond and is enjoying exploring her new home in the Rivanna watershed where she serves on the Charlottesville Earth Week Board of Directors. 

 

Other staff to the Commission
The Commission is served from time-to-time by consulting professionals and student interns.

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