About Us

Guillermo Irahola, our President and Technology Advisor, brings a deep passion for promoting public park use within the watershed. Born and raised in Bolivia, Guillermo's conservation journey started during childhood vacations exploring the natural wonders of South America. His career includes pivotal roles with the Bolivian Forest Action Planning Commission and collaborations with organizations like Conservation International. Currently, Guillermo serves as VP Technology Officer at a federal government technology provider, complemented by a Project Management degree from Georgetown University. [Board member since 2022]

Mike Jones is an applied economist with over 20 years of experience leading teams and managing complex economic and environment projects in Moldova, Kenya, Jordan, Georgia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His work includes developing partnerships with senior public and private sector leaders in water resource management, clean energy, climate change, recycling, and biodiversity. Mike moved to Gaithersburg in 2023 with his wife, twins, and cat. An avid rock-climber and nature enthusiast, Mike quickly discovered the wonders of the Muddy Branch and visits almost every day. He was thrilled to find the Muddy Branch Alliance and the opportunity to help protect our local environment. Mike holds an M.A. in economics with Ph.D. coursework from Columbia University. [Board member since 2025]

Mary Hlavinka has been involved in picking up trash, working with the Weed Warriors, testing water quality and enjoying the beauty of the local streams and parks. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year in 2019. Performing the role of Treasurer allows her to use her financial skills and provide valuable support to the Alliance. [Board member since 5/1/2019]

Julia Rasnake grew up wandering the Muddy Branch trails, and has worked and volunteered in outdoor and arts education in several countries. Julia is a psychotherapist with a masters in clinical social work, who focuses on trauma recovery in young adults and adolescents and offers nature-based/eco-therapy at her practice, Inner Wellbeing Therapy. Julia sees a strong link between our connection to nature and our mental health, and volunteers to promote community engagement and getting kids and families outside, and to support re-wilding and native ecosystems as a Maryland Master Naturalist. Julia loves making art, going on long runs, reading books, and long walks in the woods with her dog. [Board member since 5/1/2021]

Emelin Ringuette first cultivated her love for nature on her family’s Kentucky horse farm. Growing up active with her local cooperative extension and 4-H club, she developed a deep appreciation for the environment. Emelin firmly believes that climate resilience begins at home, and she is dedicated to promoting biodiversity and implementing nature-based solutions within her community. Her passion for learning and organizing information led her to a career with an eCommerce service provider. In this role, she ensures her coworkers and clients have the necessary technology, security, and training to achieve their goals. Emelin resides in a planned community, only slightly larger than her family farm, where she shares her home with her husband, two sons, a plethora of pets, and the wildlife that seek shelter in her native garden. [Board member since 2024]

Janette Rosenbaum arrived in the Muddy Branch watershed in 2019, but has been working on sustainable gardening issues since 2011. She has a Master's degree in environmental studies, with a focus in communications. Outside of environmental advocacy work, Janette goes hiking, watches birds, and practices identifying plants. [Board member since 5/1/2020]

A founding director and past president of the Muddy Branch Alliance, Paul Hlavinka has now returned to the Alliance's leadership. He is a native of North Dakota and a long-time resident of Gaithersburg. Paul's priorities include picking up litter and monitoring for road salt pollution in waterways. [Board member since 2025]

Allison Jacobs is an MCPS middle school teacher and is very excited to join the board of the Muddy Branch Alliance. She walks through Malcolm King Park almost daily with her husband and dog and wants to help protect the park by leading invasive plant removal events. She has met tons of people who also enjoy the beauty of the park and helps to educate them on why it's important to remove invasive species so natives can flourish. She is a certified Montgomery County Weed Warrior, loves tending her own garden of native plants, and is an active member in her neighborhood promoting the removal of invasives from neighborhood landscaping and replacing them with natives. [Board member since 2024]

After a career in anthropology and in program evaluation in international development, Roger Rasnake has a growing interest in understanding the complex interactions of habitat and species in the Eastern forests. Living next to Muddy Branch Park and hiking through its woods almost daily, he feels that it is critical that we continue to educate our neighbors and advocate for our green spaces to foster a rich natural environment and preserve and enhance what we have. In 2021, he became a Maryland Master Naturalist and recently led the work to renew a park pollinator garden and to establish a new native plant sale for the fall. His hobbies include gardening with native plants and learning how these plants interact to create an environment for insects, birds and animal life. Other interests are hiking, “Nordic walking,” and cooking. [Board member since 2022]

James Hall has been a volunteer with the organization for a few years, and recently stepped up with an interest in taking leadership. His interests include his work with weed warrior projects, interacting with the public, and helping others experience the stream by leading walks along the trail. [Board member since 2025]

Ben Salb is a professional macro photographer and OM System (formerly Olympus) Ambassador who moved to Gaithersburg in the summer of 2022. An IT professional during the day, he can often be found wandering areas of the Muddy Branch Trail looking for insects and spiders as early as 3:30 a.m. Over the past couple years he's had a handful of images taken near Muddy Branch win or place in international photography competitions. He is considered an expert in living subject macro photography and focus bracketing/stacking, and is eager to share his knowledge and get people excited about our smaller fauna. [Board member since 2024]