Our Staff

  • Audra Wood

    Executive Director
    Audra Wood joined Fresh Water Friends (FWF) as Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2019. After running the operations of FWF as part of our Executive Committee, she became Executive Director in January 2024. Audra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Florida State University, with a minor in Business Administration, and has worked in paleontology, hydrology, and environmental remediation. In her free time, Audra enjoys reading, writing, and gardening. She and her husband Jeff make their home in Burnt Hills, New York with their 4 energetic sons.

  • Vickie Mellody

    Office Manager
    Vickie Mellody has worked in both for-profit and nonprofit administration for more than 27 years and joined Fresh Water Friends as Executive Assistant and Office Manager in October 2022. Vickie has been married to her best friend Pat for more than 47 years, and they have 3 grown children and 10 grandchildren. She and her husband live south of Buffalo, New York. Vickie enjoys long walks on the beach, boating, traveling and watching sunsets.

  • Kelly Mayne

    Bookkeeper
    Kelly Mayne joined Fresh Water Friends as bookkeeper in August 2023.  Prior to FWF, she had 6 years of non-profit bookkeeping experience. Kelly has a degree in Interdisciplinary Engineering and Management from Clarkson University, and currently lives in Galway, New York with her husband, 3 children, and 4 cats. In her spare time, she also has a passion for low-tox living, sourdough baking, and crochet.

Board of Directors

  • Dylan Hall

    Chairman

    Dylan is a seasoned leader with over a decade of experience in driving social sector innovation. Holding a Master's degree in social welfare and certifications in design-thinking for social innovation, he brings a wealth of expertise. His background spans clinical social work, community development, public health, pastoral ministry, coaching, and consulting. Dylan has founded organizations, mentored startups and nonprofits, and is passionate about supporting redemptive entrepreneurs. Based in Upstate, NY, he lives with his wife and two children. Dylan is committed to empowering leaders and organizations to create meaningful societal impact.

  • Robert Gilham

    Secretary

    Robert joined the Board of Fresh Water Friends in 2019 to lend a hand with marketing and strategy. He developed a passion for helping those in need after working with a national non-profit as a college intern. He has over 25 years of experience in marketing, analytics, and master data management, having worked in a variety of industries and multinational companies. He resides in the Buffalo, NY area with his wife and 2 children, and loves to spend time with his 3rd child and her family, who live nearby. Rob also enjoys sports, games, and great science fiction.

  • Joe Kanouff

    Treasurer

    Joe Kanouff lives in NW Houston and became a Fresh Water Friends board member in 2022.  He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and is a senior level supply chain management professional primarily working in the power generation industry.  He also has a quality certification (Six Sigma Black Belt) awarded by Texas Tech University.  In Joe’s free time he serves his church (CyLife) as a deacon and on their missions team, leads a small group with his wife, disciples other men, and volunteers in his community.  Joe and his wife Christine have three daughters and they RV’ing and exploring the state of Texas.

  • Jonathan Vogan

    Jon’s experiences with the vital health benefits and societal benefits of easily accessible clean fresh water in Sierra Leone/Africa (1987) and El Salvador/Central America (2014-2024) have given him a desire to help provide clean water to communities in need. 

  • Jennie MacDonald

    Jennie MacDonald began her association with Fresh Water Friends as a regular monthly donor, having learned about the organization through the Executive Director. The idea of changing the lives of impoverished people through something as vital as readily available clean water was something she could get excited about. She joined the Board in 2024. Jennie’s work career includes being an Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper to several not-for-profits. She currently works at a pre-school after receiving a degree in Early Childhood Education. Hobbies include gardening, reading, bike riding and numerous hand crafts, including knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She and her husband have four sons and six grandchildren whom they enjoy spending lots of quality time with.