Director, Midwest Region
CurrentIn 2016, my colleagues and I formed TNC's Midwest Region to amplify our efforts to create a world where nature and people thrive together. We focused on protecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. We sponsored a North America Regenerative Agriculture Program and fostered partnerships to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. We initiated efforts to restore buffalo on Indigenous lands across North America.Over my 30+ years with TNC, I have been most inspired by bringing together… Show more In 2016, my colleagues and I formed TNC's Midwest Region to amplify our efforts to create a world where nature and people thrive together. We focused on protecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. We sponsored a North America Regenerative Agriculture Program and fostered partnerships to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. We initiated efforts to restore buffalo on Indigenous lands across North America.Over my 30+ years with TNC, I have been most inspired by bringing together diverse groups of people to identify creative yet practical solutions that benefit both people and nature. I grew up in the Midwest, playing in the muddy Mississippi as well as working on farms and in small agribusinesses. I developed a deep reverence for the natural world as well as a profound respect for farmers, riverboat pilots and other people who work our lands and waters for the benefit of us all. To enable bold thinking and deepen collaboration across the Midwest region, we have doubled overall fundraising, and increased financial support fivefold for critical global programs. We have also been deeply committed to developing a culture that is inclusive, diverse and equitable for all staff and trustees as well as partners.I have worked on freshwater systems around the world yet find myself still inspired to paddle “my rivers” in the nearby Ozarks or Northwoods. I have always kept one foot in the Mississippi River, helping found America's Watershed Initiative in 2009, and bringing together 400+ organizations to build a shared vision and spur collective action for the people and wildlife who depend on this vital freshwater system.On a personal level, I am a longtime advocate for my daughter with special needs and deeply committed to the value that stems from increasing the diversity of voices in our work. I enjoy hiking, biking and canoeing with family and friends. I recently hiked around Mount Blanc in Europe and participated in RAGBRAI, biking 534 miles across Iowa. Show less
