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Meet the Board

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APPLY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD

Josh Stutz

Executive Director

G. Jacob (Jake) Savage, III

President

Mary K. Martin

Past President

Josh Stutz

Executive Director

G. Jacob (Jake) Savage, III

President

Mary K. Martin

Past President

David C. Brooke

Vice President

MATT RIGBY

SECRETARY

G. Dean Brunson

Treasurer

Shawna Shade

Office Administrator

Madge Bemiss

Byron Chafin

Scott Dickens

David C. Broocke

Vice President

Matt Rigby

Secretary

G. Dean Brunson

Treasurer

Shawna Shade

Office Administrator

Madge Bemiss

Byron Chafin

Scott Dickens

Bill Draper

Karen Garner

Bill Draper

Karen Garner

patrick griffen

Patrick Griffin

Jean Linnell

Kendra Norrell

Mel Smith

Matt Perry

Matt Perry

Krista Weatherford

Janet Woodka

patrick griffen

patrick griffIn

Jean Linnell

Kendra Norrell

Lucia

Luccia O’Connell

Mel Smith

Matt Perry

Matt Perry

Krista Weatherford

Janet Woodka

Janet Woodka

Committees

FOJRP committees are open to all members and include:

Membership

Ensures there are sufficient members on the Board, plans for election of officers, coordinates the annual board retreat, and provides for or coordinates board education annually. A separate ad hoc Nominating Committee may be selected as needed. The Committee seeks members with knowledge of board development, strategic planning, and non-profit management.

Finance

Develops the annual budget and meets periodically to address financial issues. May overlap with fundraising committee to ensure that the fundraising goals are in harmony with the needs of the organization. Any changes to the budget are made only with the recommendation of this committee. The committee seeks members with bookkeeping experience, knowledge of financial software and experience with non-profit budgets.

Events

Plans and coordinates events with park staff, members and volunteers that promote awareness of Friends’ and the James River Park System, including tables at regional events and annual Friends events, such as the Winter Solstice on Belle Isle. The Committee supports the work of the fundraising committee and also coordinates the annual River Heroes event that honors those individuals who are strong advocates, supporters, and friends of the JRPS. The Committee seeks members who enjoy interacting with the public, who have organizational/planning skills and who have a talent for rallying people together.

Communications

Coordinates external communications with our Membership and the general public to promote FOJRP and its initiatives via our website, Constant Contact, our monthly e-Newsletter, and social media. The Committee is responsible for the Friends’ website content and development, coordinating and writing copy for our monthly e-newsletter, preparing promotional material for Friends events and projects, and keeping our members up to date via Constant Contact and social media. The Committee seeks members with strong writing, editing, graphic design, advertising and/or marketing skills as well as an interest in, and familiarity with, the goings on of the James River Park System. This Committee offers a unique opportunity to exercise your writing skills to the benefit or our membership and the Park!

Advocacy

Coordinate activities of the Board and membership for the purpose of promoting the James River Park System and influencing decisions made by local and state government and/or any other political, environmental or economic organizations. The Committee seeks members with a passion for the James River Park, connections to other environmental organizations and with an interest in state and local politics.

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ABOUT THE FRIENDS

What We Do
Board Members & Application
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About The Park Staff

Friends of the James River Park is a private, not-for-profit organization, and is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal EIN (tax ID) number 26-3587880.

Contact the Friends

Friends of the James River Park
P.O. Box 4453
Richmond, VA 23220
friends@jamesriverpark.org

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT

Josh Stutz

Executive Director, Friends of the James River Park System
When Josh and his family relocated to Richmond from Los Angeles in 2017, they quickly became fans of the James River Park System. A long-time director of nonprofits, we were excited to welcome him in July of 2021 as our first-ever Executive Director! The Stutz family can often be found pedaling the trails at Belle Isle and Pony Pasture, or hopping the rocks near the 42nd Street Tower.
EMAIL JOSH

G. Jacob (Jake) Savage, III

Vice President
Jake is an avid mountain biker and uses the JRPS 3-4 times a week, falling as much as he jumps rocks. The first time I did the “loop” (home in the Fan to Texas Beach entrance to Belle Isle to Buttermilk West to Dogwood Dell loop trail to Byrd Park to home) on a mountain bike, I was truly amazed at the solitude, the beauty, and the difficulty of the trails. This wonder of such nature in the City is what motivated me to learn more about and ultimately join the Friends of James River Park. Being involved in the Friends’ Group has been incredibly rewarding and I urge anyone who uses the Park to get involved in any of the many programs we support. Thanks also to the James River Park System’s staff for all the good work they do to keep the trails in great shape, building new trails, and protecting and growing the Park in the future with anticipated increased usage.

Mary K. Martin

President
As a life-long Richmond native, Mary Kay Martin has been a Park user since she was 5 years old. These days you can frequently find her whitewater kayaking on the James River, shaking off the stress of a busy criminal defense practice. Mary Kay and her husband, Scott, also like to wander around the James River Park with their dogs, Axl and Slash.

David C. Broocke

David uses the James River Park System to explore nature from the saddle of his mountain bike. He enjoys getting out on the James River to chase the occasional fish, and seems to discover something new in the Park with every visit.

Matt Rigby

Matt loves the outdoors; and, is in and around the park most days walking, biking, paddle-boarding, and enjoying the beauty of this green oasis running through our city. His professional background includes growing companies, investing, and consulting.

Shawna Shade

Office Administrator
Shawna is drawn to the James River Park System for its variety of adventure options. She and her dogs walk the trails, she bikes the woods, and she takes advantage of our boat landings to launch her kayak.

Madge Bemiss

An architect by trade, Madge is a key member of our Invasive Plant Task Force in addition to being a Board Member. The Task Force works with the incredible volunteers for the James River Park System to reduce the negative impact of invasive plants and restore native plant communities. You can usually find her somewhere in the Park wrestling with an invasive vine.

Byron Chafin

An avid snow-skier, Byron, along with wife Nancy and daughter Charlotte, spends frequent time in the Park, walking the trails of North Bank, exploring Pump House Park, and venturing to Pony Pasture. A mountain biker and kayaker, when he can get away from managing investment properties you can find him somewhere on the James River.

Scott Dickens

A self-professed “technology geek” and collector of guitars, Scott is an avid booster of all things “Richmond”. As someone who relies on a wheelchair, he’s a vocal advocate for our Master Plan and efforts to improve accessibility in the James River Park System.

Bill Draper

An avid photographer, Bill grew up near the Pony Pasture and spent his youth hopping rocks, fishing, swimming and canoeing on the James River. After retiring from over forty years in healthcare sales and marketing, he spends much of his time running trails, biking and kayaking on the James. Without exception, always having a camera or two to capture and share the sights of the river and James River Park.

Karen Garner

Karen is a recent transplant to Richmond, but has been an outspoken supporter of the outdoors since her youth. Raised by a Parks and Recreation director, Karen earned a B.S. from UNCGreensboro in Leisure Services and Tourism Management. After moves to follow her husband with the USAF, the family settled in Virginia and soon after Karen became a voice for Alzheimer’s families, speaking across the country to raise awareness and funds. She is currently the Maryland, DC and Virginia Advocacy Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association and Mom to a 21 year old daughter and 18 year old son.
patrick griffen

Patrick Griffin

Patrick has been a park lover and river enthusiast for over 20 years since he came to Richmond as VCU student in 2002. In that time he has been an avid whitewater kayaker, rafter, and park volunteer helping to expand needed infrastructure projects. As Owner & Operator of RVA Paddlesports he has worked to expand accessibility of the river to more people in hopes their experiences will foster good stewardship. Patrick is excited to be a part of the FOJRP team and help improve the park for everyone.

Jean Linnell

Jean grew up swimming and kayaking in the James. Although she enjoys the solitude she feels while hiking the trails, she thinks of the park system as a place of community and the focal point of the city. She currently serves as the Associate Director of the Pace Center at VCU.

Kendra Norrell

Kendra Norrell is a Program Officer at the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC). She works with people of color-led non-profits to support climate-resilient project design and implementation. At ISC, she also supports regional government collaboration and project management around energy efficiency and resident support. Before ISC, Kendra worked in education and engagement with Richmond’s Office of Sustainability, Virginia Commonwealth University, G.R.T.C., and Groundwork RVA. She has a B.S. from Haverford College and a M.U.R.P. from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mel Smith

Mel Smith Jr. serves as Director or Diversity and Inclusion at Genworth. As Genworth’s chief diversity officer, Mel leads and coordinates efforts to create and sustain a diverse, inclusive, equitable and welcoming environment for all Genworth colleagues including consultants, suppliers, and of customers. Mel’s goal is making diversity, equity & inclusion Genworth’s way of doing business. His vision is to advance Genworth’s culture of belonging where open hearts and minds combine to unleash the potential of the brilliant mix of people, in every corner of Genworth. From the time a job seeker clicks on our website to when an employee retires.
Matt Perry

Matt Perry

Matt has been the president and co-owner of Riverside Outfitters for the past 17 years. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in the Forest Hill Park neighborhood and spend as much time as possible in Richmond’s amazing urban forest and one of a kind river. 

Krista Weatherford

Krista Weatherford has been in environmental education for 18 years. In addition to her tenure as Maymont’s Director of Programming and Community Engagement, she taught environmental education, and managed several programs in Virginia State Parks and at Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education. In addition, Ms. Weatherford has animal care experience with non-releasable river otters, birds of prey, native reptiles, amphibians and mammals. She is a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Pocahontas Chapter. Ms. Weatherford is very passionate about wildlife and natural resources, and shares her passion through a variety of presentations, and digital stories. True to that passion she enjoys kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing as she strives to share her passion with everyone around her.

Janet Woodka

A fairly recent transplant to Richmond, Janet moved into the Old Manchester neighborhood in 2019 with her husband and two black labradors and immediately fell in love with the James River Park system. With a background in community rebuilding and career i environmental law, Janet is excited about the the future of the James River and the entire city of Richmond. Most days, Janet can be found hiking, running, biking, or meandering with her dogs through the park on an almost daily basis.

Lucia

LUCCIA O’CONNELL

Lucia grew up in Richmond and spent enough time living elsewhere to fully appreciate how special the James River Park system is. Lucia and her family live near and enjoy the park system, and especially enjoy showing off the park to out of town guests. In places, the park seems untouched by modern life, and it is easy to imagine oneself seeing the same view as inhabitants of this land a thousand years ago. What would it have looked like to them? The park is such a unique gift to this City. Lucia hopes to help preserve and protect it, and appreciates the efforts of the FOJR who have done so thus far.

Report an Issue Form

To report an emergency please call 911 immediately. Please use this form to report an issue in the Park such as maintenance or trail issues. Thank you.

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