Katie Robertson Shaddix became an integral part of the Cahaba River Society team in 2015. After seven years of dedicated service as our Communications and Marketing Director, Katie embarked on an exciting new chapter in her career.

Throughout her tenure at CRS, Katie played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the vital importance of protecting and preserving the Cahaba River. Her innovative marketing strategies, compelling storytelling, and highly effective communication efforts enabled us to connect deeply with our community, inspire volunteers, and secure critical support for our mission.

Katie’s impact extended beyond her official role; she forged meaningful relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, and community members alike. Her dedication to our cause shone through in every project she undertook, and her enthusiasm was contagious.

During her time with CRS, Katie adeptly managed the organization’s web and print communications, handled administrative logistics, assisted with financial management, maintained our membership database, and played a crucial role in event planning and public outreach. Notably, she also served as the Co-Chair of the Cahaba River Society’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. In this capacity, she worked to ensure that every facet of our work remained grounded in the conviction that every person, regardless of circumstances or identity, deserved access to clean water and nature as a birthright.

A proud Alabama native, Katie has spent her entire life in close proximity to Alabama’s waterways. She learned to swim in rivers before she could even walk beside them. Growing up in the Cahaba watershed, she embraced canoeing and kayaking in rivers across the southeast from the young age of 9.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Arts in English Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Her deep passion extends to helping people, animals, and the environment. Katie previously served as the Development and Communications Coordinator for the Alabama Rivers Alliance and as the Director of Marketing for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. She remains an active volunteer for numerous environmental and animal-related nonprofits.

At home, she resides on Ruffner Mountain in Birmingham with her husband, daughter, and a diverse menagerie of pets and foster animals. In her spare moments, she revels in the beauty of nature and seeks solace on the water whenever possible.