Leadership

Since November of 2021, Scott Salmon has been the Executive Director of Friends of the White River. Scott began volunteering with Friends in 2008 as a raft guide through the River School program, and has worked several downtown cleanups and many float trips since moving to Indianapolis in 2012.

He holds a M.P.A. from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a B.S. from Indiana State University. He spent nearly five years with the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, managing pollution-caused fish kill response and riparian restoration, conducting environmental risk assessments, and planning aquatic habitat projects such as low-head dam removals and streambank restoration.

Scott has held teaching, logistics, and leadership positions with numerous outdoor education organizations over his career, and maintains Wilderness First Responder and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications. He currently serves as a volunteer board member with the Indiana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and on the Indiana Conservation Alliance Steering Committee.

Born in Ogden, Utah, Eddie now resides in Carmel, Indiana where he has lived for the past 19 years. Eddie, 23, recently graduated from Grace College in Warsaw, Indiana where he received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and master’s degree in Non-Profit Management.  During his time at Grace he also played basketball, going to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in his final two years.  He is a lifelong fisherman, adventurer and outdoor enthusiast.  Since the time he could walk, all Eddie has ever wanted to do was be outside exploring all of the wonders nature has to offer.

Several years ago, Eddie vowed to make a difference.  He wanted to create a more inclusive and diverse space in the outdoor world.  With this in mind, he came up with Journey for a Cause.  Journey for a Cause was an initiative to raise awareness in diverse communities of the opportunities and benefits experienced with fishing and boating. Inspired by Eddie’s dream to promote diversity and inclusion within the boating, fishing and outdoor adventure community, he took a ten-day journey by boat that began in Evansville, Ind. on June 1, 2021.  His journey included visits at nine marinas and waterside venues, ending with a final stop at Navarre Beach, Fla. on June 10. During the voyage, Eddie promoted the mental health and physical health benefits of fishing and boating, and drove awareness of the accessibility of fishing and boating, and demonstrated that the outdoor community is welcoming to all, including those from minority and underserved communities.

Kay (she/they) is a cultural anthropologist born and based in Indianapolis, IN. She graduated from Purdue University with bachelors degrees in Anthropology and Public Health. While at Purdue, she worked in the Archives and Special Collections and was heavily involved in student organizations such as Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

Kay got into Environmental Justice work toward the end of college, and dove deeper after graduation, working in the Near Northwest/ Riverside communities as well as EJ and historical projects on the Southeast side, namely in the Norwood and Babe Denny neighborhoods. She has also served as a community outreach consultant for local entities such as the Indiana State Museum and Indy Parks. Connecting with history is her passion and purpose; she loves memories and the people, places, and things that hold them. This led her to start her environmental and historical consulting company, Mapping Purpose, LLC.

In her “spare” time, Kay enjoys quality time with family and friends, good music and books, and triathlon training.

Porter is a mix of 20+ different dog breeds, including German Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog, American Terrier, Beagle, and Basset Hound. He relocated to Indianapolis from his birthplace in Kokomo, IN in 2021.