Hahira, GA, March 2, 2023 — WWALS is pleased to announce the hiring of Veronica Oaker as Development Director, to help us with fundraising and community outreach. Veronica joined WWALS on March 1st, with a rich background in water advocacy. She has previously worked at Clean Water for North Carolina, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Executive Office of the Florida Governor, and the city of Tallahassee. She has degrees from the University of Florida and the Florida Coastal School of Law. Veronica lives in Madison, Florida. Plan on meeting Veronica at an upcoming outing or event. Or, she might even phone you up to chat.

Veronica Oakler with huge bald cypress

“I’m excited to come back home to the Suwannee River watershed where my family and I live, work, and play,” said Veronica Oakler. “I have admired the fantastic work that WWALS has accomplished over the past 10 years to raise awareness of water quality issues downstream of polluting sources, especially sewage, pipelines, and trash.”

Veronica Oakler

“Veronica has hit the ground running, and is already coming up with good ideas and contacts,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. “I am very pleased we found someone with her background and experience.”

Veronica added, “Having lived in North Florida for nearly two decades, I have a deep understanding of the region’s law, policy, ecology, and culture throughout the diverse residency of both Florida and Georgia.”

Here is the position summary WWALS posted, to which Veronica applied (follow the link for more detail): “The Development Director is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of all WWALS fundraising initiatives, including membership program, major gifts, grant writing, planned giving, special events, and capital campaigns. The Development Director works closely with the Executive Director and the Suwannee Riverkeeper in all development and fundraising endeavors.”

Veronica lives in Madison, Florida, with her husband, two children, and four dogs. She loves to hike and paddle, and looks forward to starting back on their small farm in the near future.

“With Veronica on board to handle fundraising, I am pleased to concentrate on advocacy,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “I’ve got some lists of contacts that she can work on right away.“

About WWALS: Founded in June 2012, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) advocates for conservation and stewardship of the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds in south Georgia and north Florida through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities. John S. Quarterman is the Suwannee Riverkeeper®, which is a staff position and a project of WWALS as the member of Waterkeeper® Alliance for the Suwannee River Basin.

Contact: Gretchen Quarterman, Executive Director
WWALS Watershed Coalition

wwalswatershed@gmail.com
850-290-2350,
https://wwals.net/
PO Box 88, Hahira, GA 31632

===