Directors & Staff

Tom Guay

Program Officer

Since 2011, Tom Guay has served in various capacities with the Severn River Association as a Board Member, Communications Director, Program Officer, and SRA’s first Executive Director.
Tom’s been instrumental in creating SRA’s on-the-river science and education programs that enhance our understanding of the health of our watershed. He started by recruiting and training kayakers to join SRA’s famous “SAV Navy” to survey our underwater grasses. He then helped create our river-wide water quality monitoring program that now involves nearly 80 volunteers to staff our weekly river tours. He created our Floating Classroom that provides hands-on environmental educational experiences for underserved students, and he leads our scientific oyster restoration research efforts on the Severn River. As Communication’s Director, Tom was instrumental in promoting our John Wright Speaker Series, hosting the gatherings for five years and giving presentations about underwater grasses, water quality monitoring and oyster reef research on the Severn River. Tom has also helped develop our burgeoning stormwater and shoreline restoration businesses.

Before joining SRA, Tom spent 25 years as a Capitol Hill correspondent, walking the halls of Congress and EPA, covering environmental policy, legislation and regulations and editing and publishing environmental compliance advisory newsletters.

When not patrolling the Severn River on our scientific research vessel, Sea Girl, Tom is a member of the world-renowned Eastport Oyster Boys who entertain multitudes with stories and songs about life on the Chesapeake and the Maritime Republic of Eastport. Tom and his wife, Karen, live in the watershed, enjoy boating excursions and sunsets over the Severn, as well as the stories their son, Brendan, shares about life as a soccer coach.