NALMS 2024 Election Candidates
The 2024 election for officers and directors is underway. Voting in the annual election is an important way for NALMS members to provide input in the management of the Society. Our officers and directors are all volunteers who serve without pay.
All members may vote for President-Elect.
- The President-Elect serves for one year in that position after which they serve as President for one year and Past-President for one year.
Members may also vote for a director to represent their NALMS Region. Regional Directors are elected for a three-year term and may serve up to two consecutive terms.
Student members may also vote for a student director. Student Directors are elected for a one-year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms.
Julie Chambers, leads the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s Beneficial Use Monitoring Program (BUMP) Lake Monitoring section. She has 25 years of experience in statewide water quality management, from program design through data collection, management, reporting, and dissemination of information. Over the last 22 years her program has thrived and is responsible for conducting water quality studies, assessments, and bathymetric surveys on reservoirs across Oklahoma, as well as managing lake and wetland projects funded through federal grants and other contracts. Julie serves on the water quality steering committee for the EPA’s National Lake Assessment as well as on several state technical workgroups focused on the assessment of lakes and field protocol development. Julie has been an active member of The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) for 20 years serving on various committees and representing as past president since 2016.
“As someone who has served previously on the NALMS Board of Directors (BOD) and continues to hold leadership roles within NALMS, including the Ethics committee co-chair and NALMS 2025 Symposium Chair, I believe my past experience will continue to serve NALMS very well as the organization continues to evolve. I am interested in leading the BOD again as I bring a unique perspective and am committed to reinvigorating NALMS membership and committees while continuing to lead our advancement to a modern society with modern sensibilities. I am proud to have been the first to bring diversity training to the Board, training that was informative, well received, and began the rethinking of what has become the NALMS Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) program. I believe that the JEDI program set the stage for ensuring an environment and culture at NALMS that is welcoming and expansive. For myself, Justice means that there is equal access to opportunities, and everyone is treated fairly. Equity is recognizing the different needs and background of others and being supportive in order for everyone to achieve their goals. Diversity and inclusivity, while similar, are very different from one another; diversity is having a team whose make-up includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, all of which are critical to ensure success and builds a strong organization while inclusivity is taking this a step further by making sure that everyone is treated respectfully, included, and valued, more than just having a seat at the table. The members I worked with included those with various levels of experience and broad backgrounds, all working towards the common goal of promoting NALMS and supporting lake management efforts. This opportunity allowed me to learn and grow from those I served with, and I have incorporated this into my work in Oklahoma working with diverse staff and stakeholders including tribal partners, conservancy districts, and other environmental agencies to provide a clear path for the state’s reservoirs. I will continue to incorporate these experiences throughout my work with NALMS through my actions, setting an example for others to follow. I understand the importance and value of collaboration. Leaning into and leveraging the experience and differing perspectives that others bring is a pillar of what makes a Lakes Monitoring Program successful, and I look forward to bringing that to NALMS.”
Mark Rosenkranz is a Certified Lake Manager with a Master’s degree in Environmental Management who has been actively managing lakes in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. Initially serving as the staff Limnologist for Lake Oswego Corporation, in 2024 Mark left that position and started a consulting company to allow him to help others in the region. Mark has been active in NALMS since 2002 and has been the Region 10 Director since 2018. While on the Board he has co-chaired the JEDI Program and helped revise their Strategic Plan, Policy and Procedures Manual, and Operations Manual.
“I have had the pleasure of working with an excellent Board of Directors for the past six years and am excited for the opportunity to continue serving the organization at a time when finances are strong, and we have the resources to re-imagine how we fulfill our mission. With a goal of forging partnerships to exchange information about how to foster and manage the protection of lakes, we need to expand our reach to communities that may not have participated in the past. The 2025 symposium will be a unique opportunity to grow our membership by having the event in South Carolina. This is a region rich in cultural history, with many communities settled around inland and coastal waterbodies. Hearing about local research and cultural uses of the local lakes and rivers will be a highlight of the conference.
“With all my work I focus on listening first, allowing space for folks to communicate their thoughts without judgement or criticism. This is important in lake management where you may not be able to rely on data to tell the history. Some communities have been using lakes or ponds for many years, or even generations for recreation or subsistence fishing among other uses. Their experience watching the lake evolve in response to urbanization, impacts from boating or other recreational use, introduction of invasive species, or climate change is important information for resource managers. This is particularly important when discussing Tribal knowledge about resource management that has been passed down over thousands of years.
“I believe these stories should be available to a wider audience so will be advocating for their inclusion at NALMS’ symposia. For instance, the JEDI Program is already reaching out to the Gullah Geechee community in South Carolina hoping to include their experiences in our conference program. The goal is to have this an ongoing effort where we incorporate stories from the different regions where we hold events.
“For NALMS to remain successful we need to make sure we adhere to our JEDI goals. This means creating a safe space at our conferences so attendees are free to express their thoughts and ideas without criticism; having a program that honors the different methods of resource management–from cultural to physical; and welcoming folks from different backgrounds into the conversation and valuing their contributions. We want participants to stay involved and not be turned away by a bad experience.
“Finally, students are the next generation of lake managers and NALMS leaders. We need to make sure we continue to support student and early career members by considering ways to aid in their transition to professional work. This can be through networking, travel grants, publication assistance, for example. These are the folks who will continue the hard work of resource management at this critical time of climate warming, and their energy and ideas are going to be what helps save the lakes we love.
“Thank you for reading to the end. I look forward to serving NALMS for the next three years.”
Emily Mayer is a Research Scientist at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, specializing in phytoplankton identification, algal toxin analysis, and data management. With over a decade in lake management, she has conducted macrophyte mapping, water quality analysis, and project management. Emily holds a B.S. in Biology from Centenary University and an M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. A long-time NALMS member, she has helped run aquatic plant workshops and presented at NALMS conferences. She serves as Editor for NEAPMS (Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society) and as an aquatic technical advisor for several workgroups.
“As an experienced Aquatic Biologist, I have spent over a decade immersed in studying and managing aquatic ecosystems. My journey was sparked by the thought of becoming a biologist, which began with a year-long internship at a lake management firm in high school, which laid the foundation for my career. What excites me most about serving as Region 2 Director on the NALMS board is the chance to contribute my expertise to a society that has been vital to my professional development. I see this position as a chance to give back to the community that has supported me throughout my career. To me, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are the foundation of a fair and thriving professional environment. I am committed to ensuring that every voice within NALMS is heard and respected. I plan to advocate for practices that promote these values in all aspects of our work, and I am dedicated to growing our membership. I would like to give back by mentoring aspiring scientists in this industry, just as others guided and supported me.”
Sarah Burnet is a Limnologist at the Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Idaho, where she also earned her MS in 2016. She received a BS from Western Washington University. Her current work and studies are centered on the Columbia, Willamette, and Rogue River Basins, with a particular interest in the relationships between sediment particle size distribution, the internal phosphorus release, and the factors driving cyanobacteria blooms and toxin production. A dedicated member of NALMS since 2014, Sarah served as Student Director from 2016 to 2019, was Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee from 2019 to 2023, and contributed to implementing the NALMS Code of Conduct.
“If elected Region 10 Director, I plan to continue fostering engagement and interaction among students and early-career professionals within NALMS and its affiliates. During my tenure as Student Director and Ethics Co-Chair, I prioritized strengthening these connections, recognizing that safeguarding our lakes and reservoirs demands a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise. To me, Justice means ensuring fair treatment and access to opportunities for all members, particularly those from historically marginalized groups. Equity involves recognizing and addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals, ensuring that everyone has the necessary resources to succeed. Diversity is about embracing and valuing the wide range of perspectives, skills, and experiences that each member brings to the table. Inclusion is creating a welcoming environment where all voices are heard and respected. On the NALMS board, I plan to incorporate these principles by advocating for policies and practices that promote fairness, accessibility, and representation. My goal is to create a sense of belonging for all members while offering diverse opportunities for communication, programs, and networking.”
Mikala L’Hote is a current master’s student at Paul Smith’s College studying Natural Resource Conservation. In conjunction, she serves as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Adirondack Watershed Institute, where she has had the opportunity to work on a variety of lake assessment and management projects touching upon complex water related questions and concerns throughout the Adirondack Park. Her graduate research specifically addresses the impacts of road salt use on lakes within the Lake Champlain Basin, with the aim to provide the public and key stakeholders with information needed to understand and address the impacts of road salt application in the basin. Over the last year, Mikala has served as Student Director of NALMS, dedicating herself to representing and progressing the role of student membership within the society.
“Less than a year ago, my intent to run for Student Director stemmed from an aspiration to push the NALMS community to advocate for and encompass broader perspectives, believing that an engaged and representative student membership would be integral to driving such change. Today, I recognize that cultivating a space accessible to a membership of different voices, backgrounds, and experiences cannot exist solely through the lens of students. Instead, collaboration is essential to realizing this goal. In partnership with the JEDI Program, Education and Outreach Committee, and Student Programs, I have introduced new concepts and spearheaded projects advocating for the student perspective and rethinking what being a student member means within the context of these groups. Still, sustained collaboration is needed to assure membership is accessible and meaningful to all students. If afforded the appointment of a second term as Student Director, I will strive to see the projects I have started to fruition while sharing the aspirations and needs of student programs with other areas of the NALMS community.”
Jamie Would is a first-year PhD student at Queen’s University. She researches subarctic ecosystem responses to mining and climate change in central Yukon using information stored in lake sediments (paleolimnology). Working closely with multiple First Nation governments, she aims to provide adequate baseline and post-impact information so that they may use it to reclaim and restore the land. In addition to having co-led four field seasons in remote Yukon, she has additional coordinating experience through employment at her local Conservation Authority where she led a multi-year conservation project to improve the health of a managed wetland. This fostered her passion for public outreach as she gained experience in workshop design and community partnerships.
“With a strong background in paleolimnology, particularly in studying Canadian lakes, I bring a deep passion for understanding and preserving aquatic ecosystems. My experience in research, mentorship, and leadership roles has equipped me with the skills to contribute meaningfully to NALMS. I am committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the society by ensuring all voices are heard and valued. These principles are essential for fostering a collaborative environment where innovative solutions can thrive. I am eager to serve NALMS and contribute to its mission of protecting and managing lakes across North America.”
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