Leadership Team
Board
Staff
Careers
Mark Shea
Chair
Bio coming soon
Abba Ahmed
Vice Chair
Abba A. Ahmed is a seasoned Water Resources Professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in water treatment and quality, water management, policy, and technical operations across international and U.S. contexts. Abba’s career spans roles in government, academia, utilities, and international development, with a focus on water quality, treatment, resource management, and policy implementation. Abba is a strategic, technically skilled leader with a proven ability to bridge policy, science, and operational demands in water resource management.
Lucy Harrington
Treasurer & Secretary
Lucy is a specialist in restoration and environmental regulations at GEI Consultants, Inc. (GEI). Lucy has over 20 years’ experience participating and leading large-scale restoration and permitting efforts throughout the Western U.S. while actively engaging with stakeholders to get pragmatic conservation on the ground. She is a proud Arkansas Basin resident, living, working, and playing with her husband and son in Monument, CO.
Al Tucker
Board Member
Al is a retired Data Communications Engineer with 32 years of experience in the field. His career is marked by a strong commitment to community service and leadership in various organizations dedicated to sustainable development and resource management.
Al’s extensive background includes serving on the Huerfano County Hospital District Board of Directors and representing Huerfano County on the Pike San Isabel Resource Advisory Committee, where he also served as Chair. He is the founder of the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, demonstrating his dedication to enhancing community resources and support.
Since 2012, Al has been an active member of the Arkansas Basin Roundtable, contributing his expertise to regional water management and sustainability efforts. He also serves as a board member for both the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum and the Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative, where he continues to play a crucial role in fostering collaborative solutions for water resource challenges.
Al’s blend of technical expertise and community leadership makes him a valuable asset to the organizations he serves, promoting long-term sustainability and community impact.
Amber Shanklin
Board Member
Amber is the founder and president of Red Curl Consulting, where she partners with mission-driven organizations to enhance sustainability and operational efficiency. She holds an MS in Ecology from Colorado State University and a BS in Biology and Wildlife from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
With a diverse background in conservation, Amber has worked with The Nature Conservancy, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Palmer Land Conservancy, and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute. She has managed nearly 140,000 acres of conserved land, discovered new populations of endangered species, restored critical habitats, and led large-scale restoration efforts across Colorado and Nevada.
Ariel Hacker
Board Member
Ariel is the district engineer for a utility district near Colorado Springs, where she manages district projects, programs, and developments. She serves as El Paso County Representative and Public Education Participation and Outreach (PEPO) Liaison on the Arkansas Basin Roundtable. She is excited to support projects across the basin, as well as her own passion for “water in the west” and river health.
Ariel was not born in a barn, but she got to one as fast as she could. She has a lifelong horse obsession and enjoys volunteering her time to animal rescue efforts. When she is not horsing around with her rescued Westphalian mare, she is spending time on one of too many creative projects. She also loves adventuring with her partner and his son, hiking, scuba, traveling, and cuddling with her kitty to a historical non-fiction.
Bob Hamel
Board Member
Bob Hamel is the Executive Director of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association and an active leader in the Arkansas River Basin. He serves as the Recreation Representative on the Arkansas Basin Roundtable, where he is Vice-Chair of Non-Consumptive Use and Chair of the Environmental/Recreation Committee.
Bob also serves as Chair of the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum Board and the Citizens Task Force for the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. Additionally, he is a Board Member of the Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Through his various roles, Bob contributes to fostering collaboration among stakeholders to support the diverse uses of the Arkansas River and its surrounding communities.
Greg Felt
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Jeffery DeHerrera
Board Member
Jeffrey DeHerrera was appointed to the ARWC Board of Directors in 2024. He dedicates much of his unpaid time to serving as an adult leader in 4-H and Scouting America. Over the past few years, he has chaperoned several 4-H camps and conferences and continues to do so. Additionally, he serves as a leader for various 4-H projects, including metalworking, shooting sports, small engines, and gardening. In Scouts, he assists in leading a Troop and acts as a merit badge counselor for Environmental Sciences, Soil and Water Conservation, Welding, Farm Mechanics, Automotive Mechanics, Cycling, Swimming, and more. His daughter is on track to become a 14-year-old Eagle Scout, having already started her Eagle project, and his son is also expected to achieve the rank at the same age.
Professionally, Jeffrey serves as the Deputy Director of Utilities for the Pueblo West Metropolitan District. In this role, he oversees the provision of water and wastewater services to approximately 34,000 people. He is actively involved in water rights, infrastructure, water and wastewater treatment, capital planning and construction, and general administration.
In addition to his roles on the ARWC Board and the Arkansas River Basin Roundtable, Jeffrey also serves on the Board of his credit union, the Pueblo Friends of the Library, and the Pueblo Library Board of Trustees.
Jeffrey firmly believes that not all who wander are lost.
Jeris Danielson
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Sarah Mudge
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Terry Scanga
Board Member
Ralph “Terry” L. Scanga, Jr., a lifelong resident of Chaffee County, Colorado, has served as General Manager of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District since 2001. Before this role, he was a District Board Director from 1988 and a member of the Upper Arkansas Water Activity Enterprise, helping to develop the region’s augmentation plan processes.
A graduate of Adams State University with degrees in Economics and French, Mr. Scanga is also Vice President of Scanga Meat Company and SMC Ranch, a family business established in 1952. He served as President of Scanga Meat Company from 1982 to 2019 and remains involved in its operations alongside his son, Ben.
Mr. Scanga served four years in the United States Coast Guard, including assignments on the Columbia River and in Seattle, Washington, before returning to Salida, Colorado.
His extensive community service includes over 10 years on the Chaffee County Fair Board, 15 years on the Upper Arkansas Soil Conservation District Board, and participation on various community and veteran boards.
As a rancher and business owner, Mr. Scanga has long been involved in water and irrigation, including serving as President of the New Salida Ditch Company. Through his leadership at the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, he has represented the district on the Arkansas Basin Roundtable since 2005 and the Inter-basin Compact Committee since 2016.
Mr. Scanga has led key projects, including wildfire recovery efforts and forest health initiatives to protect regional water resources. Under his leadership, the District has expanded water storage, implemented managed aquifer recharge projects, and developed integrated water management plans in collaboration with local municipalities.
A third-generation business owner with deep roots in the Upper Arkansas Basin, Mr. Scanga continues to dedicate himself to the region’s land, water, and community.