About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Meet The Team
Michael Manning
Mike Manning is the current chair of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk. He began leading Harborwalk tours within his home neighborhood of South Boston in June of 2015. In September of that same year, he accepted the role as chair—a position he has held ever since. Mike's background is in engineering with a concentration on energy and transportation. When not at work, he can be found giving tours along multiple stretches of the Harborwalk or at the Collings Foundation located just to the west of Boston in the communities of Hudson and Stow. Mike is also an advisor to the USS Constitution Museum in the Charlestown Navy Yard and an original member of The Pursuit of History and its signature event: History Camp.
Laurie Zapalac
Laurie Zapalac is the founding principal of Zapalac Advisors, a consulting practice dedicated to research, planning, and program support for community and economic development. She partners with clients across sectors to craft innovative, place-based strategies that foster resilience, regeneration, and long-term value. Beyond her professional work, Laurie has led tours for the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk since 2016, sharing her enthusiasm for the waterfront’s history and culture. An avid explorer of coastal communities, she loves paddling through salt marshes, scouting the best surf-casting spots, and trekking with friends to neighborhood bakeries.
Martha Sheridan
Martha has led walks in the North End and in Charlestown Navy Yard in conjunction with a recent art installation. Martha's background as an elementary school teacher leads her to enjoy any teaching opportunities especially when they include sharing knowledge in fun interactive ways. She also helps by advertising upcoming walks and events for the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk.
Mark Weber
My professional career was as a primary care pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist. I enjoyed helping young people develop healthy habits, integrating psychological and physical health. After retiring, I looked for opportunities to volunteer with a local environmental and historical organization. I began by working with penguins at the New England Aquarium. Then since I enjoy history, nature, walking and photography, I joined the Friends of the Harborwalk. It has been a good fit. Learning about and experiencing all 43 miles of the Harborwalk maintains my interest, as does the friendship and professionalism of our volunteers.
Sarah Ritch
Sarah joined the Friends in 2014, initially helping to map out 20+ walking routes along the Harbor and later organizing tours of the industrial and less populated segments. In 2016, she led a tour of the soon-to--be-developed East Boston waterfront, and later, Port Norfolk, Charlestown's Mystic Coast, and Belle Isle Marsh. In collaboration with The American City Coalition and Piers Park Sailing she co-hosted Roxbury kids for a day of kayaking on Fort Point Channel and in 2018, co-led a kayaking tour of the Lower Mystic with MyRWA and Paddle Boston. She’s an avid kayaker and has camped on several Harbor Islands through Courageous Sailing. She takes the ferry or water taxi when possible, enjoying any opportunity to be on the water. She splits her time between her architectural practice and civic engagement. She sits on the Planning Board in Chelsea where she advocates for public access to the waterfront and water transportation.
Meg Farrer
Meg was hired in 2024 to assist FBHW with marketing and admin duties. She created the first FBHW newsletter in addition to the new FBHW website. Outside of FBHW, she currently works at Allen Engineering & Associates part time creating client proposals. For the remainder of her time, she does freelance work for many companies including Classic Communications, an event and PR company for which she has been a part of for 30 years. She also serves as event director for both the Charles River Watershed Association’s Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race and for AltWheels Fleet Day, the largest meeting of corporate and municipal Fleet Managers on the East Coast. She also assists with other non-profit work.
Full Team
Erik Bankey
Al Cousson
Jan Engelman
Meg Farrer
Paul Federico
William Fitzner
Brian Graves
Ann Hesenius
Scot Krueger
Steve Landrigan
Heather Langill
Mike Manning
Linda Orel
Jackie Parascandola
Sarah Ritch
Martha Sheridan
Liz Nelson Weaver
Mark Weber
Laurie Zapalac