Our Team
Judy Rodd
Judy Rodd is our Executive Director, and has run Friends of Blackwater since 2000. She has an M.S. in Recreation and Parks from West Virginia University, and has been working as an environmental educator and advocate since 1985. In addition to serving as our director, she handles much of the grants and fundraising.
Executive Director
Thomas Rodd
Thomas Rodd, a member of Friends of Blackwater’s Board of Directors, attended Berea College and Fairmont State University. He graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1982. His law practice included statewide litigation and advocacy on environmental and consumer protection, energy efficiency, and toxic torts. He was Senior Law Clerk to Justice Larry Starcher of the WV Supreme Court. Since his retirement in 2013 he has directed FOB’s climate education and West Virginia history programs.
Co-Executive Director
Chelsea Ice-Toothman
Chelsea is the Digital Outreach Director at Friends of Blackwater. With an undergraduate degree in Interior Design from Fairmont State University and a Master’s in Digital Marketing from West Virginia University, she’s thrilled to bring her passion for creativity and communication to this incredible role. Growing up in the Fairmont, WV area, She’s always felt a deep connection to the region’s natural beauty and understands the importance of preserving it. Creativity has always been at the heart of her professional journey, driving her to seek out roles where she can blend artistic vision with meaningful impact.
Digital Outreach Director
John Brown
John Brown is Friends of Blackwater’s technical consultant. He has run his own computer business and has worked with non-profits across West Virginia. When not helping Friends of Blackwater, he teaches middle school science.
Technical Consultant
Loki Kern
A Policy Studies graduate from Chatham University, Loki will be heading Friends of Blackwater’s numerous grassroots campaigns.
In 2022 Loki was a VISTA volunteer, teaching music at a community center in Logan County and immersing himself in rural Appalachian living. In 2023, Loki was a Summer Intern for the West Virginia Democratic Party, learning crucial skills in electoral campaigns and community outreach. He hopes to carry over what he’s learned from his past experiences and build upon them while working at Friends of Blackwater.
Assistant Director
Jeremiah is a public history graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Public History. His work focuses on community-based historical research, preservation, and public education.
He previously served as an intern with the CSU San Bernardino Archives, contributing to local California history projects such as the San Bernardino Bicentennial and the United States Bicentennial and developing historical exhibits designed to engage and educate the public.
Jeremiah now leads historical research in Tucker County and the Blackwater region of West Virginia. He is passionate about preserving regional heritage, expanding access to local history, and connecting communities with both their longstanding traditions and evolving stories.
Jeremiah Szot
Heritage Researcher
Raised in Grant County, Naomi is a graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Arts: Ceramics and Museum Studies. She is joining Friends of Blackwater as an OSMRE AmeriCorps employee.
She is passionate about using her skills in art, history, conservation, and project management to leave a positive impact on the land and its vibrant communities. In 2025, she began working with the Kennedy Museum of Art in exhibition curation, and shortly after, she began work with the Southeast Ohio History Center as an archives intern. Both of these will inspire her work in heritage preservation in Tucker County.
Driven by a desire to preserve the natural world and its histories, she hopes to use her time with Friends of Blackwater to inspire others to connect with nature and community histories.