The New River Chapter of Trout Unlimited is an all-volunteer conservation nonprofit working to care for and recover rivers and streams and the trout that call them home. Working with TU staff and community partners, we bring people together to make our trout and salmon fisheries stronger, our water cleaner and our communities healthier. Join us and be a champion for your rivers and streams.
If you have the interest and time to make a deeper commitment to our local conservation and education work, we’d welcome you on the board or one of our many committees. To get started, connect with a NRTU board member at one of our gatherings or coming events, or contact us to learn more.
PRESIDENT
Michael Genthner
Riner, Virginia
Mike has been a TU Life Member since 1995. He has been an avid fisherman since the age of five, when he learned to bait a snelled hook with a dough-ball and dangle it from a locally-cut piece of cane, into the murky depths of the lake beside his Nana’s home in Winter Park, Florida. These days, he fishes mostly for trout because — as Robert Traver observed — “… I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful…”. Mike is a graduate of Virginia Tech (B.S. 1985, M.S. 1990) and has worked as a soil scientist and technical writer. These days, he is “offfically” retired but is working with the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES) on a couple of research projects. He lives in Floyd County, Virginia with his lovely wife Mary, their lovable mutt Rerun, and their “boss-cat” Minnie.
VICE PRESIDENT
Adam Lawson
SECRETARY
Olivia LaVal
Blacksburg, VA
Olivia supports the chapter as the Webmaster and Secretary, keeping Chapter members up to date on the latest news and events. Born and raised in Missouri, she moved to Blacksburg three years ago when the mountains called and she answered. A mediocre fisherwoman, Olivia’s passion is for conservation of the land, water, and all the flora and fauna that rely on it. She loves to hike and camp with her husband and two dogs in their van.
TREASURER
Kevin Seavey
Kevin started fly fishing in 2014 while living in southwest Vermont. There he learned various techniques for trout fishing on the Walloomsac River and also learned how to fly fish for smallmouth bass in local ponds. Kevin relocated to the New River Valley area in 2019 and currently enjoys trout fishing in different rivers around Virginia and smallmouth bass fishing in the New River. Kevin has two young sons that accompany him on outdoor adventures throughout the region and country.
BOARD MEMBER
Wesley Gwaltney
Wesley is a lifelong angler and conservationist, and professor at VT. They love tossing tiny dry flies to rising trout, and teaching kids about bugs and river health. Wesley leads the Trout in the Classroom initiative.
BOARD MEMBER – Former President
Zachary Smith
Pearisburg, VA
Zach has lived and fished in southwestern VA most of his life. Fishing and outdoors have been his passion since he was little. He started fly fishing five years ago and started fly tying over a year ago. He loves being outdoors and fishing is just one of many outdoor activities he loves. For him, being in nature is a way to get out and relax at the end of the day. Zach currently works as an Attorney because he has to pay for all his hobbies including being an avid fisherman.