Laura Bonnell joined Chagrin River Watershed Partners in November of 2018. She led the development and launch of the Northeast Ohio Master Rain Gardener program and continues to lead its implementation and instruction. Laura also manages several Ohio EPA Section 319(h) and Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program stream and wetland restoration projects for CRWP’s member communities and partners, which includes grant writing, project management, complex multi-stakeholder engagement and coordination, and habitat assessments. She is a Level 2 Qualified Data Collector (QDC) for use of the Qualitative Habitat Field Evaluation Index (QHEI). Before joining CRWP, she spent 8 years working for the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC doing scientific research, grant writing, and international program expansion and development. Laura has a graduate degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Laura grew up in Cleveland, and now resides in Eastlake with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and two cats. Before starting her family, Laura enjoyed traveling around the world, but now enjoys spending her summers at the beach and winters crocheting by the fire. She is a Board Member of the Port Authority of Eastlake Ohio.