Staff Profiles
Meet our wonderful staff! To meet our board of directors, visit our board page.
Karen
Schapiro
 Ms. Schapiro is an experienced environmental lawyer who began serving as the Executive Director of Milwaukee Riverkeeper in October 2009. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Midwest Environmental Advocates, a nonprofit environmental law firm. Earlier in her career Ms. Schapiro was a partner at the law firm DeWitt, Ross & Stevens sc. She also served as an attorney at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C. Ms. Schapiro is a recipient of two of the EPA’s highest awards: the Special Achievement Award for outstanding legal services and the Bronze Medal of Commendation Award.
Ms. Schapiro has taught environmental law at Marquette University Law School and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel. She has also written extensively on the subject, with articles appearing in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Lawyer, among other publications. In 2005, Ms. Schapiro was named a “Leader in the Law” by the Wisconsin Law Journal in recognition of her work with Milwaukee Riverkeeper to prevent the dumping of raw sewage into area rivers and Lake Michigan. She has also been included among lists of the Best Lawyers in America and Wisconsin Super Lawyers. Ms. Schapiro earned her B.A. from Oberlin College (religion) and J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Email Karen at karen_schapiro (dot) org (at) milwaukeeriverkeeper.org. |
Cheryl
Nenn
 B.S. Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.S. Resource Ecology and Management, University of Michigan
Before joining Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Cheryl consulted on environmental projects for the U.S. Forest Service and Wisconsin DOT wetland mitigation sites; provided forestry and wildlife management planning for private landowners for the Michigan DNR and Dept. of Agriculture; and helped manage forest restoration, reforestation, and erosion control projects for the City of New York, Department of Parks and Recreation. She also served as a forestry extension/environmental education Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, and as a Crisis Corps volunteer in Honduras, helping with community rebuilding and reforestation projects after Hurricane Mitch. As Riverkeeper, Cheryl identifies sources of pollution to Milwaukee’s rivers, actively patrols the rivers for issues of concern, and looks for collaborative solutions to these problems. Cheryl also manages our citizen-based water quality monitoring project, the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail, and various restoration and stormwater demonstration projects. Cheryl serves on the board of the Waterkeeper Alliance and Milwaukee River Basin Partnership, and on the Technical Advisory Committees for SEWRPC’s Regional Water Quality Management Plan and the Milwaukee River Estuary Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan.
Email: cheryl_nenn (at) milwaukeeriverkeeper (dot) org |
Paul
Schwarzkopf
 Paul Schwarzkopf hails from Sauk Prairie, WI, located right along the Wisconsin River. After high school he moved to Milwaukee and graduated from UWM in May 06’ with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Since that time he has worked a slew of part-time jobs while pursuing a career in media including: airport baggage handler, amateur paint scraper, sound technician roadie, and a Sobelman's waiter. He began with Milwaukee Riverkeeper as a Public Ally in September 2008 as the Outreach Assistant and has recently upgraded to become the honorable Outreach Coordinator. In his free time he plays drums with the local band Turpentine, writes poetry, and creates bizarre electronic noise in his attic, which will someday transform into music (and a rock star lifestyle). Email: pschwarzkopf (at) milwaukeeriverkeeper (dot) org, |
Joe
Rath
 Joe Rath comes to Milwaukee Riverkeeper after gaining significant experience working in the environmental science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) fields in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. He has held positions with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW- Madison and the Dakota County Environmental Management Department.
Originally from North Dakota, Joe moved to Minnesota where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geography from Minnesota State University. He located to Milwaukee to pursue a Master’s Degree in Geography and earn a second Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation and Environmental Science from UWM. In his spare time Joe enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors, especially canoe-camping and fishing on Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers. E-mail Joe at joe_rath@milwaukeeriverkeeper.org, or call him at 414-287-0207 x234 |
Hannah
Harris
 Hannah lives just down the street form the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa with her husband and two young sons. She has worked for non profits and state government where she’s managed federal grants, raised funds, produced newsletters and reports, and organized events. When Hannah isn't working with Milwaukee Riverkeeper as the Development Coordinator she stays home with her boys and volunteers at school and nature centers. |
Staff Consultants
Dale
Olen
 Dale Olen, Ph.D. was trained as an ecological psychologist in the early 1970s. After his studies, he founded and directed the Milwaukee Justice and Peace Center and then the Life Skills Center, where he worked as a clinical psychologist for 26 years. When he retired in 2001 he returned to his fist love—the environment, and especially water. He has served on the Boards of Milwaukee Riverkeeper and the Milwaukee Environmental Consortium. He is currently a member of the MRK’s River Advocacy Committee. His present focus is on transforming the aggressive relationship the human family has formed with Earth into a more cooperative and respectful one. |
