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Meet the Board
Jan Wilkins - President
Jan joined the Board of the HLWA after spending 30 years as a volunteer public servant in her native Colorado. She is the 2020 recipient of the John Litz Award for outstanding leadership in the Jefferson County Open Space Program. During her tenure she led efforts to preserve the historic Clear Creek Canyon just west of Denver. She was Campaign Chairman of “Save Open Space,” an initiative that gained 72% of the public’s support for the purchase of 20,000 additional acres of Open Space. She retired as the Vice-Chair of the Jeffco Open Space Advisory Committee in 2013. As a newcomer to Hayden Lake in 2017 she quickly recognized that weed infestations, shoreline erosion, poorly planned development, and competing recreational uses all put pressures on the watershed that will require continuing and active oversight.
Will Neal - Digital Communications / Vice President
Will is a longtime resident of North Idaho and is retired after 40 years in the timber industry. His career began in the woods above the St. Maries and St. Joe rivers; moved into mills in the surrounding area as a lumber grader and later a quality control supervisor; and ended as an optimization specialist for Idaho Forest Group. He brings an understanding of sustainable forestry practices to the table. Will and his wife Barb have resided on the Upper Hayden Lake Road since 2005. They have a passion for preservation of the land and water resources that make our inland northwest home a treasure unlike any other.
Barb Neal - Treasurer
Barb has been a resident of north Idaho since 1977 and has lived on Hayden Lake since 2005. As a lifelong volunteer, Barb feels privileged to sit on the board of the HLWA. As an organization, she feels HLWA must be a watchdog and insist on enforcement of current county, state and federal regulations, not only to maintain but improve water quality standards and to also protect against irresponsible development. Barb believes in education for property owners and projects that support the Hayden Lake Restoration Plan so that generations to come, may responsibly enjoy a healthy Hayden Lake. Barb was a district finance trainer during her 34 years at the USPS. She has been a board member since 2009 and treasurer since 2019.
Geoff Harvey - President emeritus
Geoff is a long time resident of the Inland Northwest. He was trained as a biologist and chemist. After a career in basic biological research, he turned these scientific skills to environmental consulting and work in water quality assessment and waste remediation. He has resided on Hayden Lake’s south shore for over twenty years. He is a founding member of the Hayden Lake Watershed Association Inc. and served a four year term as one of the first directors of the Hayden Lake watershed Improvement District. In retirement he has authored four books, one of these on Hayden Lake.
Gil Rossner - Board Member
Gil and his wife Rita have lived for 20 years on Hayden Lake at the Sportsman Park area. Living on the north arm of the lake, they are concerned about invasive weeds and the conditions that foster them. Gil retired in 2017 from a career in sales. This has given him time to “give back” to the community with activities like board membership on the HLWAI. Gil and Rita enjoy spending time on the lake. They are often one of the last diehard families to winterize their boat! Gil is an avid waterfowler, putting him on various North Idaho lakes and rivers during the fall and winter months as well.
Shawn Hathaway - Board Member
In 1967, Shawn’s parents purchased a summer cabin on Mokins Bay and thus began a lifelong love for Hayden Lake. After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Biology, he has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 30 years. Hobbies outside of work include hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and rafting. Shawn and his wife Jill currently live on Honeysuckle Bay near the park. This is Shawn’s first board membership and he is honored to be chosen to help preserve and protect Hayden Lake and it’s watershed.
Leda Kobziar - Board Member
Leda is the newest member of the Hayden Lake Watershed Association Board.
She is an Associate Professor at the University of Idaho, for more click here.
Todd Walker - Board Member
Todd Walker has been an active volunteer and advocate for Hayden Lake for many years. He currently is contracted by the Hayden Lake Water Improvement District to be the Lake Manager. He is best reached by phone - (208) 771-0525 - please leave a message along with your phone number and he will return your call. Todd appreciates all of us being the ‘eyes on the lake’, as he puts it. Contact Todd first with your concerns and, if needed, he can escalate any issues to the proper agency. Todd deals with all lake issues, other than boating infractions. He also deals with the entire watershed including code enforcement concerns such as site disturbance, septic tank infractions and storm-water control. Bottom line, if you see something say something and let Todd know.