Who We Are

Tom is an aquatic ecologist representing the whitewater paddling community in connecting the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to protect and restore rivers. Over the past 25 years he has served in a leadership capacity in dozens of successful campaigns to restore instream flows to rivers impacted by hydropower and remove dams where environmental and social justice impacts outweigh benefits of hydropower. Tom serves as the National Co-Chair of the Hydropower Reform Coalition, where he leads policy efforts and provides strategic guidance on Coalition operations in collaboration with Kelly Catlett. Tom received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University before completing his graduate work in aquatic ecology at the University of Wisconsin where he received his PhD. He served as research coordinator and instructor for the river ecology group at the University of Washington before joining American Whitewater.

Kelly Catlett
National Co-Chair
Hydropower Reform Program Director, American Rivers

Kelly leads American Rivers’ work on reforming laws and policies around hydropower to improve the health of rivers nationwide. She has 20 years of experience working in both hydropower licensing and hydropower policy and has served as both staff and a Steering Committee member of the Hydropower Reform Coalition (HRC). Kelly enjoys providing advice and strategic guidance to HRC members and other activists working to protect rivers in their regions. Along with co-chair Thomas O’Keefe, she is responsible for leading the HRC’s policy work and providing strategic guidance on the coalition’s operation. Kelly served as the Associate Western States Director for the HRC from 2016 to 2021. Prior to working for the HRC, Kelly was the Government Relations Consultant to the California Hydropower Reform Coalition, and she spent nearly a decade as the Hydropower Reform Policy Advocate for Friends of the River where she is proud to have campaigned for Klamath dam removal alongside the Yurok and Karuk Tribes.

Stephen Pfeiffer
Northwest Chair
Wild Fish and Hydropower Manager, Idaho Rivers United

Stephen has been with IRU since 2019, focusing on fisheries and hydropower issues across the state, and primarily on our campaign to recover wild salmon and steelhead via dam removal on the Lower Snake. His degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability from Colorado State and experience with fieldwork on desert rivers were the foundations of his work in river conservation. Stephen grew up in the Wood River Valley and feels fortunate to continue to call Idaho home today. He enjoys skiing, trail running, hiking, and learning about the land and waters of the Intermountain West.

Theresa Lorejo-Simsiman
California Chair
California Stewardship Director, American Whitewater

Theresa has over a decade of river advocacy and licensing experience. She helped secure recreational flows, protected river access, and advocated for river protections on several rivers throughout central California and the Sierra Nevadas including the South Fork American River, Slab Creek, South Silver Creek, Mokelumne River, Cosumnes River, and San Joaquin River. As the Chair of the California Hydropower Reform Coalition, Theresa provides leadership and coordinates action on regional policy priorities.

Mark Zakutansky
Eastern Chair
Director of Conservation Policy Engagement, Appalachian Mountain Club

As AMC’s Director of Conservation Policy Engagement, Mark works to advance priority federal and state conservation issues, including land conservation funding, river and watershed protection, as well as access to public lands. Mark is an avid outdoor enthusiast, primarily as a whitewater paddler and telemark skier, based in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. As the Eastern Chair of the Hydropower Reform Coalition, Mark leads on regional hydropower policy issues in the eastern United States, in partnership with Coalition members, while also engaging in state policy issues and hydropower project licensing proceedings.

Jacob Bernal
Associate Director of Northwest Hydropower Reform
jacob@hydroreform.org

Jacob serves as the Associate Director of Northwest Hydropower Reform, leading community and science-based efforts across Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. He engages in hydropower relicensing projects and assists in coordination for the Hydropower Reform Coalition. Jacob fosters deep listening and collaboration to advance adaptable and sustainable river management throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Before joining, Jacob worked with NGOs and communities across the U.S. on conservation and water resource initiatives. His experience includes monitoring water quality in the Snake River Basin, supporting Tribal water projects in the Colorado River Basin, conducting research on collaboration and wildfire impacts in Pacific Northwest watersheds, and tracking conservation policy in the Idaho State Legislature. Jacob’s interest in river systems began as a child angling for catfish on the Snake River – his grandfather even gave him the childhood nickname “Catfish.”