My View From the River

John Searby • December 22, 2022

December 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on all that we have accomplished as an organization this year. As a member of Catawba Riverkeeper, YOU have been a part of all of the incredible work that we have accomplished, and I hope you enjoy reading about it in this newsletter and in our expanded coverage on the website.

Our Vision 2025 Capacity Campaign has been a huge success thus far and we are planning on putting a bow on it on February 25, 2023 at our 25th Anniversary Gala. That night we will celebrate the work of Catawba Riverkeeper since our founding in 1997 and look forward to the next 25 years. All of the funds raised at the gala will go to growing our organization’s endowment, the funding that ensures that no matter what circumstances are thrown at us, we will always have the resources to employ a Riverkeeper and support that person with a team of scientists, educators, and advocates to do the work of advocating for clean water.

This event is the culmination of three years of effort by countless staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and partners to achieve the two primary goals of our founders: To have a full basin view of the challenges facing our river AND to be a consistent on-the-water presence to engage our communities in coming alongside us in this work. The Vision 2025 campaign has allowed us to do the following towards achieving those goals:

- Open our new headquarters and Boathouse in McAdenville

- Open a satellite office in the Northern Basin in Morganton, NC complete with a state certified lab

- Develop the Outdoor Classroom in Ft. Lawn, SC

- Purchase a Floating Classroom to be docked on Lake Norman in spring 2023

- Expand our education and engagement programs across the basin

- Expand our work to protect our important urban creeks and streams in Mecklenburg County.

For all of you who have participated in Vision 2025, we want to say a huge “thank you” for helping us accomplish so much over the past 3 years. If you haven’t had an opportunity to contribute financially yet to Vision 2025, I would encourage you to stop by The River Room in McAdenville, participate in one of our upcoming programs, or spend some time on our redesigned website learning about all of the work we are doing and let us know where you would like to direct your gift.

It is a beautiful view from the banks of the river today because I can see them from the front patio of our offices and I know that our team of nearly 7,000 members and growing is behind us to ensure clean and plentiful water for generations to come.

For the River,

John Searby

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Catawba Riverkeeper Welcomes Dr. Mo Drinkard as New Executive Director

December 17, 2025

Catawba Riverkeeper is pleased to announce that Dr. Mo Drinkard has been hired as their new Executive Director. A standout among over 100 applicants, Mo was offered the position by the Catawba Riverkeeper Board of Directors search committee on Thursday, November 20th, and she assumed her role as leader of the organization on Monday, December 1st, 2025. Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, who participated on the search committee, shared that “Mo’s education, experience, and passion are directly aligned with the organization’s mission and needs. We are excited for her perspective and leadership in continuing the critical work of protecting our waters.” Mo is a mission-driven non-profit leader, professor, and scholar with a passion for building strong organizations, nurturing future leaders, and tackling big challenges in conservation, equity, and education. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia (Kent State University, Brevard College, Miami University), community partnerships, and environmental science, she's worn many hats: executive director, grant writer, program architect, DEIB strategist, faculty and student mentor, and not often enough, field biologist in muddy boots. Mo's work lives at the intersection of applied research and social change. She specializes in transforming great ideas into funded, functional, and impactful programs, whether that’s designing experiential learning curricula, guiding strategic organizational turnarounds, or helping community-based groups access the resources they need to thrive. From leading national workforce development initiatives to restoring urban watersheds (Doan Brook Watershed Partnership) and mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists, Mo brings an entrepreneurial spirit and deep subject matter expertise in biology, ecology, sustainability, and inclusion. Mo believes that science is for everyone, and that real change happens when we build spaces where all voices can lead. “I am honored and excited to offer leadership for the next chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s work. I believe deeply in the mission and am fully invested in the health and future of this watershed. I look forward to getting to work supporting the waterways, communities, and people that make up this expansive and impactful basin,” Dr. Drinkard said. Catawba Riverkeeper, currently one of the ten largest riverkeeper organizations in the United States, boasts over 8,000 members across the 26 counties of North and South Carolina where the waters of the Catawba flow. As the fifth Executive Director of the organization, Mo will bring new and innovative ways to advance the work of her predecessors and the mission of the organization in this new chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s leadership. Mo will be supported by 11 full-time staff and 22 volunteer board members to preserve, protect, and restore the Catawba River so that it sustains plentiful, clean water for generations to come.