Research Report 2011

Research Report: Local Environment 2011

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Minnesota is known as “the land of 10,000 lakes.” However, of the lakes that have been tested, 30 percent are polluted.

Local Environment Experts

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O	Brian Adams Senior Vice President Bremer Bank See Bio Brian Adams is Senior Vice President at Bremer Bank, a privately-held, $7.8 billion regional financial services company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Adams sits on the Board of Directors of Dovetail Partners, a nonprofit organization that provides authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions, including consumption choices, land use, and policy alternatives. Adams has a background in forestry and his environmental interests include energy conservation and alternative fuel sources.

F	Jocelyn Ancheta Senior Program Officer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation See Bio Jocelyn Ancheta is a Senior Program Officer at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, which works to address significant influences on health that are beyond the traditional reach of the health care system. At the Foundation, she manages Healthy Together: Creating Community with New Americans, a grantmaking initiative addressing the intersection of three important determinants of health: social connectedness, social adjustment and immigrant integration. She was a consultant with Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrant and Refugees, producing Immigrant and Refugee Funding Trends in Minnesota. Jocelyn was a program officer at The McKnight Foundation, Children and Families for almost 11 years. She worked at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as a safety program coordinator monitoring grants in community-based traffic safety programs and emergency medical services. Other nonprofit positions included community worker with Catholic Charities; legal advocate with the Domestic Abuse Project and project manager for Metro Deaf Senior Citizens. She earned a masters or arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Her undergraduate work was also from the University of Minnesota, College of Education/Park and Recreation Administration. She emigrated from the Philippine to Minnesota with her family in 1966.

N	Don Arnosti Policy Director National Audubon Society See Bio Don rejoined Audubon Minnesota as Policy Director in 2010, a decade after he left Audubon to take his family to Argentina for a sabbatical year. His career in conservation spans 25 years in Minnesota, including 10 years previously as Executive Director of Audubon Minnesota (1990-2000). During his previous decade with Audubon he led our effort to pass Minnesota's Wetland Conservation Act, worked to establish sustainable forestry practices in Minnesota, and organized the team which developed our Mississippi River Flyway Campaign. He has worked for a number of environmental organizations as grass roots organizer, lobbyist, and policy and program director focusing on bird, wildlife and habitat conservation, agriculture, forestry, clean water and renewable energy policies, as well as sustainable development. Don has a degree in Botany, Phi Beta Kappa, from Lawrence University, with additional course work in forestry at the Institute for Paper Chemistry. He lives with his family in Saint Paul, enjoying canoeing, camping, hiking and international travel.

O	Maggie Arzdorf-Schubbe President Afton Consultants, Inc See Bio Margaret Arzdorf-Schubbe is the President of Afton Consultants, Inc, which provides strategic leadership to foundations and nonprofit corporations. Afton Consultants works in concert with family, private and corporate foundation clients to achieve their vision and goals through programmatic funding initiatives, analysis, planning, and program management. Arzdorf-Schubbe is an entrepreneur with unique knowedge of a wide range of effective foundations and nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Native American communities. As the senior program officer for a family foundation in St. Paul MN, Arzdorf-Schubbe helps the Board clarify goals and identify ways to measure impact. The Bush and McKnight Foundations are other primary clients.

N	Paul Austin Executive Director Conservation Minnesota See Bio Paul Austin is the Executive Director of Conservation Minnesota, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to turn our shared conservation values into state priorities and provide MInnesota residents with the information they need to make decisions for their families, communities, and futures. Austin's previous experience includes serving as a Small-Town Mayor, Marketing Executive, Campaign Manager and Clinton Administration Appointee. Austin earned a degree in Economics and Government from Connecticut College.

N	Tracy Babler Development and Communications Director Alliance for Metropolitan Stability See Bio Tracy Nordquist Babler is the Director of Development and Communications at the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, a coalition of grassroots organizations that advances racial, economic and environmental justice in growth and development patterns in the Twin Cities region. Nordquist joined the Alliance in March 2007. She spent the previous five years raising money for other local nonprofit organizations. Before joining the Alliance she was the development director at the Resource Center of the Americas. She has also served as director of development and communications at the Minnesota Environmental Initiative. She also served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Environmental Fund. Tracy holds a master of public policy degree with a focus in public and nonprofit leadership from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

N	Peter Bachman Former Executive Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy See Bio Peter Bachman recently retired from his position as Executive Director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Some of his notable achievements include: leading the effort to create the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, helping establish an effort to cut pollution by half over five years at Flint Hills Resources refinery and to monitor that progress, negotiating the nation's first phosphorus trading permit with Rahr Malting, winning stronger water-quality protections in rules governing feed lots, and helping negotiate an agreement to restore wetlands and stream channels that reduce flooding in the Red River Valley. Bachman continues to serve on the Board of Directors of many environmental organizations.

N	John Bailey Senior Researcher Institute for Local Self-Reliance See Bio John Bailey has conducted research at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance since 1992, concentrating on energy policy in Minnesota. He is the author of reports across a range of topics including local road financing in Minneapolis, wind energy taxation, ecological tax reform and climate change policy. Among many state legislative initiatives, in 2005, he spearheaded the legislative effort that led to a new state law directing the MN Dept. of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission to set up an e-Filing system to enhance public participation in energy related regulatory proceedings and to save taxpayer money.

N	Lisa Bellanger Dean Multicultural Indigenous Academy See Bio Lisa Bellanger is the Dean of Multicultural Indigenous Academy, an urban charter high school program that emphasizes a cultural heritage foundation and offers an innovative alternative to the traditional high school experience. Bellanger is also on the Board of Directors of Women of Nations.

N	Marian Bender Executive Director Minnesota Waters See Bio Marian Bender is the Executive Director of Minnesota Waters, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote responsible stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, local and state policymakers, and other partners in the protection and restoration of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. As Executive Director, Bender is in charge of ensuring that Minnesota Waters is a sustainable and effective organization by directing programming, supporting an engaged, effective staff; managing finances; overseeing fundraising; building partnerships; and working to meet the needs of its members.

R	Amanda Bilek Energy Policy Specialist Great Plains Institute See Bio Amanda Bilek joined the Great Plains Institute in 2008 and is an Energy Policy Specialist for the Bioenergy and Transportation program. Amanda is currently providing staffing assistance for the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) Low Carbon Fuel Standard advisory group and a program initiative focused on scaling up biogas development across the region. Previous work at the Institute included providing staffing assistance for the MGA Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform, Bioeconomy and Transportation working group. Prior to joining GPI, Amanda worked for six years with the Minnesota Project in the energy program. Her work focused on state and federal energy policy development and research of anaerobic digestion technologies and agriculture based energy systems. Amanda graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2001 with degrees in political science and environmental studies. Amanda grew up on a farm in Wadena County and currently lives in Roseville.

R	Robert Blair Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota See Bio Robert Blair is an Associate Professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. His fields of interest include the ecology of human-dominated landscapes, birds as indicators of ecological integrity, conservation of native species, and environmental education. His research interests in conservation biology focus on how land use affects bird and butterfly communities. Blair is a Project Director for Minnesota Master Naturalist. He formerly served on the boards of the Minnesota Naturalist Association and NatureBridge.

O	Paul Bockenstedt Senior Ecologist/Associate Bonestroo, Inc. See Bio An ecologist, Bockenstedt joined Bonestroo in 1997 and has more than 25 years of natural resource management experience advising public and private clients across the Upper Midwest.

N	George Boody Executive Director Land Stewardship Project See Bio George Boody is the Executive Director of the Land Stewardship Project, a Minnesota-based nonprofit membership organization that works for environmental stewardship, social justice, support for family farmers, and healthful food. In addition to management and leadership responsibilities, George has directed two interdisciplinary projects utilizing collaborative teams of researchers, nonprofits and farmers. The Monitoring Project measured the impacts of farms transitioning to rotational grazing. The Multiple Benefits of Agriculture initiative used modeling, and economic and social analyses to estimate the potential outcomes in watersheds from diversifying agriculture. During the past 30 years he has worked with farmers, government leaders, other professionals and citizens. He served as a certifier and on the board of the Organic Growers and Buyers Association in the 1970s and more recently on the Food Alliance Board of Directors. George received a Master’s degree in Horticulture and Human Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota. He has co-authored several publications, papers and book chapters.

N	Gary Botzek Executive Director Minnesota Conservation Federation See Bio Gary Botzek is the executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation, a hunting and angling organization begun in 1936. He has served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, the Minnesota League of Conservation Voters, the Ramsey County Parks Board, and the Metropolitan Parks and Open Spaces Commission. Botzek is a former chairman of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and special assistant to a governor. Botzek served as a legislative assistant to a congressman in Washington, as well as working for the Minnesota Senate Research Office where he provided policy investigative research and legislative committee staffing. Botzek received a BA from St. Cloud State University and an MA from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

N	Ken Bradley Director Environment Minnesota See Bio Ken Bradley is the Program Director for Environment Minnesota, working to preserve and protect our air, water and open spaces. Prior to joining Environment Minnesota, he was State Director for Clean Water Action, overseeing the organization's programmatic and political work. He spent six years working as Senior Policy Associate for Fresh Energy, a non-profit working toward a clean, efficient and fair energy system. Bradley has fifteen years of government and community affairs experience, working with state, local, and federal government staff and elected leaders.

O	Jeffrey Broberg Vice President McGhie & Betts Environmental Services, Inc See Bio Jeff Broberg of Elba Township, is a Licensed Professional Geologist and Vice President of McGhie & Betts Environmental Services, Inc., a Rochester-based environmental consulting firm. Jeff formerly practiced as a petroleum geologist in South Louisiana for 9 years before returning to Minnesota in 1986 to own a farm and breed and raise thoroughbred racehorses in the Whitewater Watershed. Joining McGhie & Betts in 1990 Jeff's professional consulting practice is focused on geological and environmental assessment, permitting and regulatory affairs including geologic hazards, wetlands, soil and groundwater contamination, asbestos and mold. He currently serves on the Winona County Planning Commission, is the President of the Minnesota Trout Association, and has served on Whitewater Watershed Project citizen Advisory Committee, the DNR Budget Oversight and the Trout and Salmon Stamp Oversight Committees and is active in natural resource and conservation efforts in the bluff lands and ag-lands of SE Minnesota. Broberg will serve a term which ends January 6, 2014. Appointed by the House of Representatives.

O	Benjamin Brown Partner Dorsey & Whitney LLP See Bio Mr. Brown is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. He practices in the area of energy and environmental law; he is the Energy co-Chair and Regulatory Affairs Chair. He represents clients in litigation, administrative actions, enforcement proceedings and complex negotiations relating to environmental review, major facility permitting, water quality, hazardous and solid waste, and soil and groundwater cleanup. In recent cases, he has represented a major utility in contested case proceedings relating to state approvals required for the continued operation of nuclear power plants. He has also represented a seed producer in litigation and administrative matters relating to the environmental review for the deregulation of genetically engineered organisms. Mr. Brown is a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Before attending law school, Mr. Brown was Legislative Aide for energy policy to U.S. Senator Gary Hart. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Brown has served as a Director and as Board Chair (2008-2010) of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, an organization that promotes partnerships involving government, business and environmental advocacy groups to address challenging environmental issues.

N	LeAnn Buck Executive Director Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts See Bio LeAnn Buck is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, a nonprofit organization which exists to provide leadership and a common voice for Minnesota’s soil and water conservation districts.

N	Travis Bunch Director of Public Policy Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce See Bio Travis Bunch is the Director of Public Policy at the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. He formerly served as a budget analyst for the Governor of Colorado's Office of State Planning and Budgeting, a research consultant for Integrated Substance Abuse Programs at the University of California, and a visiting research fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. Bunch earned a Master of Public Policy at Pepperdine University.

O	Eleanor Burkett Extension Educator University of Minnesota Extension See Bio Eleanor Burkett is responsible for shoreland education planning and program development, implementation and evaluation. She is also actively engaged in ongoing research in soil erosion control methods and aquatic invasive species. Other areas of work include co-editing the From Shore to Shore newsletter. Eleanor worked in the landscape and garden industry for over nine years, prior to joining Extension's Shoreland Education Team. She also worked as a naturalist for the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Eleanor has an AAS in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota Crookston, as BS in Agriculture Extension from North Dakota State University, and a MS in Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

O	Kim Carlson Founder EarthSmart See Bio Often credited for tirelessly working to preserve our planet long before global warming hit the mainstream radar, Kim Carlson is an eco-savvy entrepreneur, green business author and eco-chic lifestyle expert. She is the founder of five successful companies that use earth-friendliness as their driving force. Carlson’s book, Green Your Work: Boost Your Bottom Line While Reducing Your Eco-Footprint - about the many advantages of being an environmentally responsible business - will be released in January 2009. Her latest venture is the development of the EarthSmart Product Standard, a retail product certification program devised in collaboration with the country’s leading scientists, academics and environmentalists that will prove to be the most innovative environmental screening process to date. Kim practices what she preaches. (Except she doesn’t really preach, she enthuses.) For over twenty years, she has been a high-profile, socially responsible business leader, eco-preneur and activist called upon to consult for corporations, universities, governments and consumer groups. She has worked with politicians and policy makers as Chair of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, a member of the Governors Roundtable for Sustainability and as a Public Policy Forum Fellow at the Humphrey Institute of the University of Minnesota. Kim was a pioneer in the green housing movement in the early 90s, which subsequently has become a major national phenomenon. She is also the founder of five companies that use earth-friendliness as their driving force and serves as a board member for 6 non-profit environmental organizations. Kim’s EarthSmart Consumer Test – designed for consumers to discover how green their lifestyle is – has become a buzzed-about benchmark of green living. As the “EarthSmart Expert” on NBC, the host of the national radio program, Livin’ The Green Life and the regular guest writer for The Minneapolis Star Tribune Newspaper’s Saturday Home Section, Kim educates the public on the pleasures of a planet-friendly lifestyle, discussing topics ranging from stylish organic entertaining to nontoxic gardening and eco-golf. Kim has been featured in Self, Health, Shape, Natural Health, Cooking Light, Bride & Groom, Experience Life, and Midwest Home.

R	Stephan Carlson Professor and Extension Educator University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources See Bio Stephan Carlson is a Professor and Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources. He teaches interpretation, environmental education, and ethics courses in natural resources and education. His research involves nonformation educational settings, such as nature centers, zoos, aquariums, and visitor centers, to measure impacts of visitors' learning. He works with the state 4-H program as a specialist in natural resources/environmental education and develops outreach programs for youth.

O	Michael Cashin Environmental Policy Manager Minnesota Power (ALLETE) See Bio Mike Cashin has over thirty years of experience working in the electric utility industry. Over that period, Mike has had the opportunity to work on optimization of power plant process systems, project management, environmental compliance program supervision and environmental and energy policy development. In his current role as Minnesota Power’s Senior Environmental Policy Advisor, Mike has represented Minnesota Power as a senior technical resource in matters of state and national environmental policy development. Mike received a Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology and is a Registered Professional Engineer. Mike has had technical papers published in Power Magazine related to power plant system performance and has made multiple conference presentations on environmental policy issues at national and local conferences.

N	Samantha Chadwick Preservation Advocate Environment Minnesota See Bio Sam is a Minnesota native and grew up enjoying the great Minnesota outdoors. She was an active soccer player growing up and continues to do a lot of cross-country skiing, birding, camping and canoeing. She especially enjoys competing in the Midwest’s great citizen cross country ski races, like the Vasaloppet and the Birkebeiner. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2006 with a degree in biology. She has done conservation work and botany field research across the state and also worked as an outdoor gear specialist and ski coach. Sam started with the organization as a field canvasser, has since directed the Minnesota canvass outreach offices. Though she now focuses primarily on water and open space preservation issues, Sam previously advocated for clean energy and climate policy with Environment Minnesota.

N	Stephen Chaplin Senior Conservation Scientist The Nature Conservancy See Bio Steve is a Senior Conservation Scientist in the Minnesota Chapter of The Nature Conservancy working on prairie landscape conservation. For most of his 20 years with the Conservancy, he was Midwest Director of Science with responsibilities for preserve selection and design, ecoregional planning, conservation data systems, and state Heritage Program development. Prior to working for the Conservancy, Chaplin was a Biological Sciences faculty member at the University of Missouri – Columbia. He received an AB from Stanford Universityand a PhD from Cornell University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In addition to his science interests, Chaplin has been a conservation lobbyist at the Minnesota State Legislature for the past six sessions working primarily on conservation budget and invasive species issues. He is also currently serving on the Board of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and Midwest Invasive Species Network.

O	Christopher Childs Speaker and Campaigner Emeritus Greenpeace See Bio Christopher Childs is the author of The Spirit’s Terrain: Creativity, Activism, and Transformation, published by Beacon Press in 1998 with a Foreword by the Dalai Lama. Childs has the unique informal title of Speaker and Campaigner Emeritus for the U.S. branch of Greenpeace, for whom he served as National Speaker and activist between 1987-96; he was one of the earlier speakers crisscrossing the country warning of the risks of climate change. He has since served as Conservation Chair for the Sierra Club’s North Star Chapter, as Chair of the chapter's Clean Air and Renewable Energy Committee, and as an elected member of its Executive Committee. A boardmember and Advocacy Committee Chair of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, he helps formulate policy, and works to shape and promote legislation, for both MRES and the Sierra Club. In 2004, Childs created the Sierra Club's "Walk for Wind," which promoted wind power across Minnesota. With his wife, well-known Minnesota activist and Green Party figure Elizabeth Dickinson, he lives on the West Side of St. Paul in a 1911 house that gets its electricity from a 3-kilowatt solar system; their home has twice been on both the Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour and the American Solar Energy Society's national Solar Tour. Childs was named Lecturer of the Year by the National Association for Campus Activities in 1991 – selected from among finalists who included Maya Angelou – while serving with Greenpeace. He also served the organization as an activist for clean, alternative energy and clean industrial production – and, in the process of demonstrating (peacefully) for those causes, garnered arrests in four states and in the District of Columbia, at the gates of the Bush (41) White House. In recent years, he was named Volunteer of the Year for 2004 by Sierra's North Star Chapter – partly for his work on the "Walk for Wind" – and is the recipient of two additional chapter awards for leadership.

O	Peter Ciborowski Research Scientist Minnesota Pollution Control Agency See Bio Peter Ciborowski is the state Pollution Control Agency’s expert on global warming and climate change. He has been with the Agency since 1993; prior to that he was a Fellow at the University of Minnesota ’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He has a BA from the State University of New York at Albany and an MA in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute.

N	Whitney Clark Executive Director Friends of the Mississippi River See Bio For the past 22 years Whitney has worked to improve Minnesota’s environment as a staff member for several local environmental organizations including Citizens for a Better Environment and the Clean Water Action Alliance. During his ten-year tenure as executive director, Whitney has led FMR’s growth from a start-up group with one staff member to a leading conservation organization with a staff of fourteen. He has extensive experience in environmental policy, lobbying, advocacy and education campaigns, partnership building around environmental issues and grassroots fundraising. He is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, where he studied history. He is married and lives in Saint Paul with his wife Sarah and their two daughters.

O	Sarah Clark Lead Consultant MMC Associates See Bio Sarah Clark is a Lead Consultant for MMC Associates, a Minnesota-based firm that works in the environmental field, the arts, healthcare and community development. Sarah specializes in writing, communications and outreach, helping clients educate and engage citizens in protecting their environment. An experienced grant writer, Sarah has written successful proposals to a broad range of grant programs, leveraging millions of dollars for projects that include the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and trail system and Osceola Medical Center. She holds a B.A. from Macalester College and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota.

N	Jane Cleave President Duluth Audubon Society See Bio Jane Cleave is the President of the Duluth Audubon Society, which strives to promote education, conservation and research focused on birds and to preserve and enhance the ecological diversity of the greater Duluth area.

O	Terry Coss Environmental Director Xcel Energy See Bio Terry Coss is the Environmental Director for Xcel Energy, a utility supplier of electric power and natural gas service in Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Coss sits on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative.

F	Dick Crockett Executive Director Edina Community Foundation See Bio Dick Crockett began his career in the nonprofit sector with his work as in-house legal counsel at North Dakota State University in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He continued his work as a higher education attorney with a law firm in Syracuse during the 1990’s, and finally with Gray Plant Mooty in Minneapolis from 1999 through 2003. Dick has enjoyed participating in many community nonprofit organizations and foundations in North Dakota, New York, and Minnesota through board leadership positions, as legal counsel and as a volunteer consultant on organizational development and strategic planning issues. This included service on the Board of Governors and as Chair of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, as well as Board service with the North Dakota State University Development Foundation, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry Foundation, and the Gray Plant Mooty Foundation. This experience in the nonprofit and foundation world culminated in a career transition in March 2003 to a new position as the Executive Director of the Edina Community Foundation and the challenge of working with the Foundation’s Board of Directors to enhance its positive impact in the Edina community. Dick also serves as a coach in the University of St. Thomas Institute for Executive Director Leadership and as a member of the Westminster Counseling Center Board of Directors.Dick is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and Stanford Law School, and he has completed a Harvard University Institute in Educational Leadership and the University of St. Thomas Institute in Executive Director Leadership. He lives in Edina’s Killarney Shores neighborhood with his wife Suzie, and their family includes two married sons and their wives, and four grandchildren.

N	Lisa Daniels Executive Director Windustry See Bio Lisa M. Daniels, Executive Director and founder of Windustry, has been providing wind energy information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, elected officials, rural utilities and other interested groups since 1995. Currently, Lisa leads Windustry in contracts with the US Dept of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory and as an active partner on the Wind Powering America initiative. Nationally, Lisa serves on the American Wind Energy Association Community Wind Work Group Steering Committee, and the National Wind Coordinating Committee's Steering Committee. Lisa is also a founding member and on the Board of Directors for Women of Wind Energy (WoWE). She was recognized in 2004 by the US Dept of Energy Wind Powering America program, with the Chicago Regional Office Wind Advocacy Award for regional leadership, creativity, and commitment to wind energy development, and honored again in 2005 for her work with Wind Powering America’s Agriculture Outreach Team. Lisa received a B.S. in Business Management from Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. She loves to canoe and kayak, and enjoys horseback riding and Nordic skiing with her family.

N	Betsy Daub Policy Director Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness See Bio Betsy has extensive experience in conservation policy, including six years at Audubon Minnesota, where she served as Forest Program Director, Acting State Director, and Senior Director for Conservation Programs. Her work at Audubon included substantial efforts regarding management of the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Most recently, Daub taught science in St. Paul schools. As Policy Director, Betsy brings strong experience in science and stakeholder collaboration to the organization and will help fulfill the Friends mission to protect, preserve and restore the wilderness character of the BWCAW and the entire Quetico-Superior Ecosystem.

N	Joe Deden Founder and Executive Director Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center See Bio Joe Deden is the Executive Director of Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, a private, non-profit residential environmental learning center located in Lanesboro, Minnesota whose mission is to foster environmental awareness, and promote respect and personal responsibility. Deden earned a Master of Human Resource Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Forest Resources Development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

N	Timothy DenHerder-Thomas National Program Coordinator Grand Aspirations See Bio Timothy DenHerder-Thomas is a youth climate leader involved in community development solutions to the climate and energy crises in the Twin Cities and in the national youth climate movement. He sits on the Steering Committee of the Energy Action Coalition, a coalition of 50 youth-led environmental and social justice groups working together to build the youth clean energy and climate movement. He is the Co-Founder and National Coordinator of Grand Aspirations. Timothy has been involved in building Cooperative Energy Futures, a community-based energy efficiency cooperative, planning the World Energy Community Action Network (WeCAN) and hosting the 2008 Summer of Solutions. He is a 2008 Brower Youth Awardee and 2007 Goldman Sachs Global Leader.

O	Kathryn Draeger Statewide Director, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships University of Minnesota See Bio Kathryn Draeger is currently the Statewide Director for the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (UM Regional Partnerships). This citizen-driven program connects communities to their land-grant University to advance sustainable agriculture, natural resources, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism. Kathy Draeger comes to this position having founded and run two successful environmentally based businesses; Environmental Ground, Inc. and Sustainability International Inc., the latter of which was bought out by an engineering firm. Kathy holds a doctorate in water resources with her Ph.D. dissertation focusing on local watershed management in Minnesota. Her Masters degree is in Soil Science. She is the recipient of a Bush Leadership Fellowship and was a MacArthur Scholar at the University of Minnesota. She served as an Environmental Protection Commissioner in Iowa and was appointed to the Governor’s Roundtable for Sustainable Development in Minnesota. Last year Kathy and her husband Mike and their three children (Alma 8, Jens and Lake 4) moved from St. Paul to live and farm 320 acres in rural Big Stone County. Kathy chronicles of their adventures in rural resettlement can be found on line by googling Big Stone County.

O	Matt Drewitz Hydrologist Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) See Bio Matt Drewitz is a hydrologist for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Previously, he worked at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

N	Chris Duffrin Executive Director Neighborhood Energy Connection See Bio Chris Duffrin is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC), a 25-year-old Saint Paul-based nonprofit organization that provides energy conservation information, services and programs to residents and communities across Minnesota. Prior to joining the NEC, he was the Assistant Director of the Energy CENTS Coalition, where he managed a low-income residential energy efficiency program and served as an advocate at the Public Utilities Commission.

N	Tom Duffus Director, Upper Midwest The Conservation Fund See Bio Tom Duffus is Upper Midwest Director for the Conservation Fund, which forges partnerships to protect America’s legacy of land and water resources. Duffus is the former program director of The Nature Conservancy’s Northeast Minnesota Office and has worked in land conservation for over 23 years in Wyoming, Canada and the Adirondacks. He has worked extensively with forestland owners including timber investors, families and natural resource agencies, and is an experienced conservation easement practitioner. With The Conservation Fund his focus is to promote a market-driven approach to forestland conservation in the upper Great Lakes and upper Mississippi River watersheds.

O	Paul Durkee Senior Consultant Antea USA See Bio A Senior Consultant to public and private sectors for more than 25 years, Paul delivers international projects for multi-national clients in the areas of due diligence and compliance. Paul offers clients unique expertise in community relations initiatives and regulatory negotiation with agencies and responsible third parties. He has successfully managed environmental, health and safety compliance audits for specialty chemical and manufacturing clients throughout the world. Since 2008, Paul has served as Global Network Manager for the Inogen Environmental Alliance where he uses his proven relationship building skills to expand geographic network development and implement service delivery model improvements. Most recently, Paul is leading content development efforts for a global regulatory project that will provide database subscribers with access to EHS laws and regulations for over 60 countries. Paul is the Board Chair for the Minnesota Environmental Initiative.

N	Julia Earl Executive Director Preventing Harm Minnesota See Bio Julia Earl is the Executive Director of Preventing Harm Minnesota, a children’s environmental health organization. Preventing Harm works to improve children’s environmental health by reducing their exposure to toxins in the food they eat, air they breathe, water they drink and products they use. Julia’s career has included: children’s environmental education; adult non-formal education internationally (Peace Corps, Save the Children, CARE); preventive public health education; sustainable development; and campaign organizing. Julia has an M.S. in Environmental Advocacy from the University of Michigan, a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin.

N	Fritz Ebinger Policy Analyst Windustry See Bio Fritz Ebinger coordinates the development of legislative and regulatory initiatives and provides legal analysis for wind energy lease agreements and land owner associations. Prior to joining Windustry, he served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Joseph Chase in Olmsted County and conducted land use research for the Drake Agricultural Law Center. He also served in the Peace Corps in Panama ('01-'03) as an agro-forestry volunteer promoting sustainable agricultural systems. Fritz received his juris doctor, cum laude, from Drake Law School and graduated with a bachelor of arts, cum laude, from St. John's University. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and is member of the Hennepin County and Minnesota State Bar Associations.

N	Jim Egge President Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis See Bio Jim Egge is the President of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, which currently counts approximately 2,500 members.

R	Alan Ek Professor and Head, Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota See Bio Alan R. Ek is Professor and Head, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota in forestry and a doctorate from Oregon State University in forest measurements. He joined the faculty at Minnesota in 1977, after service with the Canada Department of Fisheries and Forestry and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alan is the author of numerous research and technical papers on forest growth modeling, inventory design, resource analysis, and planning. He served on the Society of American Foresters (SAF) Forest Science and Technology Board, including a term as chair; and as Minnesota SAF State Policy Chair. He was elected a Fellow of the SAF in 1993. From 1990-1994 he served as the Study Group Coordinator for the Generic Environmental Impact Study of Timber Harvesting and Forest Management in Minnesota. In 1997, he worked in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar. In the late 1990s he served on the USDA Forestry Research Advisory Council, including two years as chair. He has also served several terms as Research Chair for the National Association of University Forest Resource Programs. In the past year he served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on the Competitiveness of Minnesota’s Primary Forest Products Industry. He is also a member of the Minnesota Forest Resources Council.

N	Gael Entrikin Leader Water Matters See Bio Gael Entrikin facilitates a local consortium called ”Water Matters,” a program in the South Zumbro Watershed that promotes understanding of the ecosystem and the importance of sustainable water quality and quantity.

F	Becky Erdahl Executive Director Carolyn Foundation See Bio Becky Erdahl is the Executive Director of the Carolyn Foundation, which provides grants to environmental programs that promote renewable energy to reduce global warming pollution. Erdahl previously served as a Principal at Philanthropy Consultancy, and as the Vice President of Community Relations at The Pillsbury Company.

N	Jim Erkel Attorney & Director, Land Use & Transportation Program Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy See Bio Jim joined MCEA as its Forest Project Director in January 1998 and became its Land Use & Transportation Program Director in January 2001. He came to MCEA from the Minnesota Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Prior to TNC, Jim worked for about 10 years as a senior environmental and litigation counsel for a corporation engaged in natural resources management. At MCEA, he works on issues of growth management, particularly with the environmental effects of Minnesota's settlement patterns and the interaction between land use and transportation. He has served on the boards of the Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Land Trust and 1,000 Friends of Minnesota. Jim earned a J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles.

N	Ethan Fawley Transportation Policy Director Fresh Energy See Bio Ethan joined Fresh Energy in September 2008. As Transportation Policy Director, Ethan performs research, writing, outreach, and advocacy to advance transportation and land-use policy. He coordinates the work of the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition to promote safer roads that support more walking, biking, transit use, and access for people with disabilities. Ethan is a member of the Minnesota Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation Forum and the Minnesota Department of Transportation Complete Streets External Advisory Committee. In his personal life, Ethan is the Board President of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and is the co-chair of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter’s Land Use and Transportation Committee. Before joining Fresh Energy, Ethan served as a neighborhood planning consultant for three St. Paul neighborhoods, facilitating community processes and drafting neighborhood-level plans. Ethan strongly believes you should love your work, so he's chosen to combine his passion for non-automobile transportation and desire to help the environment in his efforts here at Fresh Energy. He sees his car dying years ago as one of the best things that could have ever happened to him. Ethan holds a BA in Geography, with a minor in Urban Studies from the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the U of M's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute.

N	Kathryn Fernholz Executive Director Dovetail Partners See Bio Kathryn has worked on development and forest management issues in a variety of roles. With a consulting firm, Kathryn was a member of the environmental services department where her work included natural resource inventories, comprehensive planning, environmental impact assessments and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While working for the Community Forestry Resource Center, Kathryn developed and managed a group certification project for family forests and worked to increase local capacity to provide forest management and marketing services that are compatible with certification standards. Kathryn has been a leader within the forestry community in the Upper Midwest through her service as Chair of the Minnesota Society of American Foresters and her appointment to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council. Kathryn is a member of the Advisory Board for the Blandin Foundation's Vital Forests/Vital Communities Initiative, the Minnesota DNR's Stewardship Committee, and the Forests for the Future Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, the Forest Guild, and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Alumni Society. Kathryn has a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Minnesota, College of Natural Resources and also studied at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota and Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska.

N	Jim Fitzpatrick Executive Director Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center (CNC) See Bio Jim Fitzpatrick is the Executive Director of the Carpenter Nature Center, a non-profit nature preserve and environmental education facility whose mission is to foster appreciation and inspire stewardship of the natural world through quality environmental education, conservation practices, and outdoor experiences for visitors of all ages and capabilities.

N	Bob Fitzwilliam Deputy Director Fresh Energy See Bio Bob Fitzwilliam joined Fresh Energy in April 2004. As deputy director, Bob serves as the director of operations including oversight of program planning and evaluation, development, finance, personnel, technology, and marketing / communications. For over a decade Bob held management positions in several social service non-profits serving rural communities. Previous to joining Fresh Energy, Bob worked for the legal publishing and seminars company PESI and later helped that company found and grow a new business, KRM Information Services, Inc., a national web conferencing services firm located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He believes that Fresh Energy offers him a unique opportunity to pursue both a lifelong personal commitment to the conservation of our natural resources and his professional interest in creating high performing not-for-profit organizations. Bob lives in rural Wisconsin and once raised sheep (in Kentucky and in Wisconsin). His avocations include reading, gardening, hiking, fishing, and camping. Bob earned his BA in Philosophy from Macalester College.

N	Jenna Fletcher Program Manager The Trust for Public Land See Bio Jenna Fletcher leads Embrace Open Space, an initiative that fosters conservation and stewardship of natural areas and parks in the 11-county Twin Cities area. Embrace Open Space promotes sustainable land use and increased protection of sensitive natural areas by elevating the awareness of economic and other benefits of parks and natural areas. Specifically, the initiative works to encourage cities, townships and counties to work towards a greener vision. Fletcher has also worked for the State of Minnesota as a policy analyst on forestry issues, and researched urban smart growth practices for ICF Consulting, a national environmental public policy consulting firm. She was a fellow in the Donella Meadows Leadership Fellows Program at Sustainability Institute, where she received training in systems thinking, reflective conversation, and visioning. Fletcher has a Masters in Conservation Biology and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.

O	Richard Fowler Board Member Minnesota Waters See Bio Richard Fowler is a board member of the water stewardship organization Minnesota Waters. Formerly an environmental manager at industry leader Andersen Windows, Dick took responsibility for turning a large chemical emitter into a model of natural resource stewardship. Not satisfied with just one career protecting water resources, Dick joined the board of Minnesota Environmental Initiative. There, he helped organize a unique dispute resolution process that tapped stakeholders from business, agriculture, government, and environmental groups, creating a new, collaborative model for sustainable development. An avid boater, Dick has spent considerable time on the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. A seasoned mediator, Dick prefers ports to storms - he knows the best time to foster sustainable development is before you're taking water over the side. Dick earned a BS from the University of Minnesota School of Forest Products (now the School of Bio-Based Products).

R	Tracy Fredin Director, Center for Global Environmental Education Hamline University See Bio Tracy Fredin is Director of Hamline University's Center for Global Environmental Education and Assistant Professor for its Continuing Studies Department.

N	Barbara Freese Senior Policy Analyst/Advocate for the Climate and Energy Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Union of Concerned Scientists See Bio Barbara Freese is a senior policy analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, an organization for which she has authored reports on the costs of burning coal and work with to oppose the construction of new coal plants and push for limits on greenhouse gases. She is the author of Coal: A Human History, which was selected by the New York Times as a Notable Book for 2003. From 1986 until 1999, she served as assistant attorney general for the state of Minnesota and focused on implementing air quality laws.

N	Sarah Gainey Environmental Education Coordinator Saint John's Arboretum See Bio Sarah Gainey is the Environmental Education Coordinator for Saint John's Arboretum

F	Katie Galloway Earth Fund Manager Aveda Earth and Community Care See Bio Katie Galloway currently serves as the Earth Fund Manager for Aveda Corporation, based in Minneapolis, MN. She joined Aveda’s Environmental Sustainability department in 2006 to assist with the administration of Aveda’s Corporate Giving program and other community involvement and social responsibility initiatives. Prior to joining Aveda, Katie worked for St. Paul-based Friends of the Mississippi River focusing on outreach programs related to water quality protection and habitat restoration. Katie is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies and is currently pursuing a Graduate Degree in Natural Science and Environmental Education.

F	Joan Gardner-Goodno Executive Director Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation See Bio Joan Gardner-Goodno is Executive Director of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, whose mission is to enhance educational opportunities in Cook County and to significantly improve the quality of life in the North Shore communities of Cook, Lake and southern St. Louis County through competitive grant making. Gardner-Goodno has more than 24 years of nonprofit experience including grants management, nonprofit administration, federal grants program monitoring and evaluation, community collaboration and program development. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

R	David Garshelis Research Scientist Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio My research during the past decade has and continues to involve bears and sea otters, although my interests are not limited to these species. I am broadly interested in developing methods for monitoring population status (size, trends, limiting factors), implementing such monitoring programs, and utilizing results to develop management or conservation strategies. As a research biologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, I have been able to directly apply the population monitoring approaches for black bears that were developed through my research, and then utilize the results to effect appropriate management strategies. My most recent completed studies outside Minnesota involved an assessment of the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters, which included recommendations for population monitoring in the event of another spill, and a project investigating factors limiting sloth bears in Nepal, which produced a conservation action plan. I am particularly interested in continuing similar investigations of other species of bears, as well as other little-known carnivores.

N	Darrell Gerber Program Coordinator Clean Water Action See Bio Darrell was raised among the high-desert sagebrush of a northwest Colorado cattle ranch. He studied Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University, North Carolina State University and Georgia Institute of Technology. He attended the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota to study Energy Policy in 2005 and 2006. He joined Clean Water Action in May of 2007 as Program Coordinator focusing on Energy and Water issues. His work primarily concentrates on Global Warming, the Great Lakes and the Clean Water Restoration Act. He is a resident of the Kingfield Neighborhood in Minneapolis where he lives with his spouse Ashley.

N	Ellen Gibson Manager of Environmental Projects Minnesota Environmental Initiative See Bio Ellen Gibson has been a project manager at the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) since 2007. MEI is a partnership-based nonprofit that fosters collaboration between public- and private-sector stakeholders to solve environmental problems. In her current role at MEI, Ellen facilitates the development of broadly supported policy recommendations on a range of issues affecting Minnesota’s environment. In addition, Ellen is responsible for convening dialogue events that bring together business leaders and policy makers to collectively learn about and respond to environmental challenges. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French from Grinnell College and has spent time living and working abroad in France and in Senegal.

N	Nancy Gibson Co-Founder The International Wolf Center See Bio Nancy Gibson, St. Louis Park, is co-founder of The International Wolf Center in Ely and winner of the Willard Munger award for Environmental Stewardship, Conservationist of the Year by the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, a Notable Women recognition by the First Lady and two Emmys for PBS. She authored a book on wolves, was part of the team that reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park and Idaho and travels extensively to do wolf work especially in the Arctic regions. She chaired the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for 14 years and helped lead the constitutional campaign to re-dedicate those lottery funds for 25 more years. Gibson will serve a term which ends January 2, 2012. Appointed by the Governor.

F	Cheryl Glaeser Program Officer Southwest Initiative Foundation See Bio As a Program Officer at the Southwest Initiative Foundation, Cheryl Glaeser provides leadership in the in the planning, development, and implementation of the Foundation’s renewable energy initiatives including the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) and the Rural Energy Development Initiative (REDI). Cheryl has helped SWIF build an extensive network of partnerships to move the Foundation’s goal of advancing renewable energy development forward including academic, private sector, government, and non-profit stakeholders. Prior to her work with the Foundation, Cheryl was the Training and Marketing Director for BusinessWare Solutions. Cheryl is currently a steering committee member for both Southwest and West Central CERTs.

N	Mark Gorman Senior Policy Analyst Northeast-Midwest Institute See Bio Mark Gorman is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute, focusing on Water and Watershed issues. For four years prior to joining the Institute in 2009, Gorman directed the Northwest Office of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), based in Meadville. While there, Gorman worked with numerous partners from the private sector, government, communities and individuals in the upper Allegheny River and Great Lakes basins to promote sustainable use of built and natural landscapes, particularly by focusing on links between the environment, the economy and quality of life. Before working for the PEC, Gorman served over 22 years with the Northwest Region of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). There, he helped to launch PADEP's new Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program statewide and directed that Program in PADEP's Northwest Region. He was co-leader of the pilot PADEP regional watershed team effort (focused on the internationally-renowned French Creek watershed), and later co-chaired PADEP's Lake Erie, French Creek and Oil Creek watershed team. Mr. Gorman is a trained mediator and facilitator, and served in that capacity for seven years on the PADEP's statewide Alternative Dispute Resolution team. He worked in the water quality program of the Allegheny County Health Department in Pittsburgh for the next two years before joining PADEP. He also served a three-year term as a member of the Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program) Advisory Council (2006 to 2008), and a two-year term on Pennsylvania's Water Resources Planning Committee for the Lake Erie basis (2007-2008). Mr. Gorman is an active supporter of many local, statewide and national civic and conservation organizations. He holds a B.S. in Biology from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, an M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the University of South Florida, and an M.S. in Freshwater System's Ecology from Kent State University in Ohio.

N	Sean Gosiewski Executive Director Alliance for Sustainability See Bio Sean is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Sustainability, which supports projects that are ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane. For over 25 years, Sean has supported leaders in neighborhoods, congregations, schools and local government to make their communities more sustainable. He formerly worked as Resources Coordinator for the Lyndale Neighborhood Association.

O	Peter Gove Founder Friends of the Mississippi River See Bio Peter Gove, was the lead founder of FMR in 1993 and served as the first FMR board chair. He was the first chairman of the Mississippi River Commission appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to develop a comprehensive general management plan for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). He also served as Governor Wendell R. Anderson’s environmental assistant, Executive Director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and a founding member of the Environmental Quality Board. He also served on Senator Anderson’s U.S. Senate staff as Legislative Director and as Chief of the Office of Legislation for the U.S. National Park Service. After his public sector career, Peter was an executive for two Minnesota high technology companies — St. Jude Medical, Inc. and Control Data Corporation — before retiring in 2005. He is a member of the board of directors of the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, Saint Croix River Association (current Vice Chair) and the Trust for Public Land Minnesota Advisory board. He also serves on two private company boards. He and his wife, Mary, live in Saint Paul and have two children and two grandchildren.

O	Joe Grabowski CEO Wenck Associates, Inc. See Bio Joe Grabowski is the CEO of Wenck Associates Inc, a professional services organization that has been providing engineering and environmental services to a wide range of clients since 1985. Grabowski has been with the company for 23 years.

O	Collie Graddick Agricultural Consultant Minnesota Department of Agriculture See Bio Collie Graddick is an Agricultural Consultant with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture working in the Seed, Noxious Weed and Pesticide Regulatory Units. The Pesticide program involves educating homeowners on pest management issues, proper pesticide use and on reducing the amount of pesticides used as well as reducing human exposures to pesticides. He was worked for the department for 12 years. Prior to that Collie was an extension educator working in the areas of commercial vegetables, small grains and youth development. He grew up on a 200-acre sustainable farm near Columbus, Georgia producing vegetables, beef and pork. Collie received a B.S. degree in Agronomy from Fort Valley State University, Georgia and an M.S. from Tuskegee University, Alabama in Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production. Collie serves on the EJAM Board of Directors.

O	Mike Gregerson Consultant Great Plains Institute See Bio Mike Gregerson is a consultant at the Great Plains Institute, a nonprofit organization that brings together key public and private leaders from across the northern plains to accelerate the transition to a renewable and low-carbon energy system by mid-century. Previously, Gregerson was a Vice President of Customer Care at Xcel Energy.

N	Dorian Grilley Executive Director Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota See Bio Dorian Grilley is the Executive Director of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide leadership and a unified voice for bicycle education, advocacy and efforts to make Minnesota more bicycle friendly so that more people will ride bicycles more often. Dorian has worked with non-profits as a volunteer or staff for almost thirty years including many years with the Minnesota Coalition of Bicyclists, BikeMN's predecessor. He was the Executive Director Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 1996 to 2008. He currently serves on the board of the Friends of Washington County and Mississippi River Trail, Inc. He worked for the Minnesota DNR from 1979 to 1996. Dorian commuted 25-30 miles round trip daily for 25 years and raced for more than a decade. He and his family live in Mahtomedi near White Bear Lake.

R	Ralph Gutiérrez Professor and Gordon Gullion Chair in Forest Wildlife, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota See Bio Ralph J. Gutierrez is a Professor and Chair in the University of Minnesota's Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. His research interests are in game bird ecology and the evolution of galliforms; endangered species with particular emphasis on the spotted owl; and habitat relationships of wildlife with an emphasis on sustainable wildlife management strategies for forest dwelling species. In addition, he maintains strong interest in sustainable hunting strategies. Most of his work has a strong applied focus. Guitierrez served on the national board of The Nature Conservancy and on the board of Tall Timbers Research Station.

O	Mike Hansel Vice President Barr Engineering Co. See Bio Mike Hansel is Vice President at Barr Engineering and has more than 35 years of experience in environmental regulation and management. His areas of expertise include permitting major industrial sources in air, water and hazardous waste, negotiating complex settlements in air, water, waste management and remediation, industry and non-profit organizations. His combined regulatory, industry and consulting experience provides a balanced perspective on regulatory issues and environmental management.

N	Mike Harley Executive Director Minnesota Environmental Initiative See Bio Mike Harley has been the executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative for the past 13 years. His role in the organization focuses on strategic planning, creation and implementation of new projects, personnel management and development, board development, financial management, media and public relations, and fundraising. Under Harley’s leadership, MEI has emerged as a leader in Minnesota’s environmental community, receiving recognition both locally and nationally for its innovative and successful approach to solving environmental problems.

F	Don Hickman Senior Program Manager Initiative Foundation See Bio Don administers the Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership program, supports efforts in the areas of renewable energy and green jobs and reviews and supports other planning and preservation initiatives, including grants, training, and convening around trails, parks, open space, community planning and natural resource management. Prior to joining the Initiative Foundation, Don spent ten years as an environmental consultant in Minnesota and Utah. His former positions include Massachusetts Audubon Society scientist and lobbyist, New England Rural Community Assistance Program community organizer, National Park Service biologist, and Gunnison County (Colorado) water quality laboratory director. Education- BS in Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota. MS in Biology (Water Chemistry), Western Colorado State University. Water Ecology (pursuant to Ph.D.), Utah State University. He is the past president of the Crow Wing Lakes & Rivers Alliance, and former secretary and conservation advocate for Crow Wing County Parks Department’s Citizen Advisory Commission.

O	Steve Hirsch Director, The Division of Ecological Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Steve Hirsch directs the Division of Ecological Resources at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

N	Steve Hobbs Executive Director Belwin Conservancy See Bio Steve Hobbs is the Executive Director of the Belwin Conservancy, a nonprofit organization working to protect the St. Croix Valley through land conservation, scientifically–based ecological restoration and by building connections between people and the natural world. Hobbs is also a board member of the St. Croix River Association.

O	Andy Holdsworth Science Policy Coordinator Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Andy Holdsworth, PhD, is Science Policy Coordinator in DNR’s Office of Management and Budget Services. Andrew Holdsworth works to advance conservation planning, performance measurement, and integrated resource management. He received a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota. His research expertise is in forest ecology, invasive species, fire ecology, and sustainable forest management. In addition to agency and academic work, he has worked in the non-profit sector as a science coordinator for landscape-scale conservation planning efforts in the southwestern U.S. and as a visiting researcher for an Amazon research institute.

N	Matt Holland Senior Field Coordinator Pheasants Forever, Inc. See Bio Matt Holland is the Senior Field Coordinator for Pheasants Forever, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

O	Angie Hong Water Resource Education Specialist Washington Conservation District See Bio Angie Hong is a water resource educator for the Washington Conservation District. She serves on the steering committees of WaterShed Partners and Blue Thumb, two coalitions of public and non-profit groups working on water issues. Hong previously worked at the Bell Museum of Natural History and as a naturalist for the Harriet Alexander Nature Center.

O	John Hottinger Partner Hottinger & Gillette, LLC See Bio John Hottinger is an Executive Board member of the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter and a principal in North American Environmental LLC, a for-profit organization consulting on innovative approaches to cleaning water, low-energy housing and other environmental projects. Hottinger formerly served as a member and majority leader of the Minnesota Senate, representing the old District 24 prior to the 2002 redistricting, and the current District 23 thereafter. Currently, Hottinger lives and practices law in Mankato, Minnesota.

O	Anne Hunt Environmental Policy Director City of Saint Paul See Bio Anne Hunt, Environmental Policy Director for Mayor Chris Coleman, is the 2010 recipient of the ICLEI Local Government Staff Sustainability Leadership Award for important achievements in sustainability and the environment. Some of Hunt’s notable successes with the City include securing a Solar America Cities grant, establishing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building standards for the City, developing an energy conservation revolving loan fund, and cooperating with the City of Minneapolis on green manufacturing and green job creation. Anne also hired the first Energy and Water Resource coordinators, instituted monthly staff training seminars on environmental topics, and re-created the interdepartmental sustainability working group.

R	Paul Jackson Associate Professor and Chair, Environmental Studies Dept. St. Olaf College See Bio Paul Jackson is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Environmental Studies Department at St. Olaf College. Paul spent many of his formative years embedded in the rural farming community of Pine Island, MN, where, when coming of age, he was sent to work on his uncles’ dairy farms as well as learn the construction trade from his grandfather. Experiences on the farms as well as time spent in Vermont, Alaska, and Wyoming cemented his love of the natural world. Growing up in the Lutheran tradition with interests in science and music he chose to attend St. Olaf College where he received a B.A. in Chemistry in 1992. He went on to work with an interdisciplinary separations science team at the University of Minnesota and received a Ph.D. in Analytical/Organic Chemistry in 1997. After obtaining his Ph.D., Paul became a Camille and Henry Dreyfuss Postdoctoral Fellow with the Chemistry Department at St. Olaf College from 1997-99. He was later appointed Assistant Professor at St. Olaf and is now an Associate Professor. At St. Olaf Professor Jackson teaches general, analytical, and environmental chemistry, an integrated biology/chemistry introductory science course and introductory courses in environmental studies. He directs independent undergraduate research related to chemical profiling of freshwater habitats, determination of pharmaceutical related substances in wastewaters, incorporating green chemistry into the undergraduate science curriculum and sustainable living in contemporary society. Currently Paul serves as a member of the college’s Sustainability Task Force, the Faculty Environmental Concerns committee and is the advisor to the Environmental Science in Australia off- campus study program. In partnership with the Cannon River Watershed and Bridgewater Township he hosts weekly meetings of local citizens interested in the current and future well-being of the Rice and Heath Creek Watersheds. He was a member of the Regents Hall of Natural Science Design Team and the Green Building Team, the building recently received a Platinum LEED rating from the United States Green Building Council.

N	Craig Johnson Intergovernmental Relations Representative League of Minnesota Cities See Bio Craig Johnson is an intergovernmental relations representative at the League of Minnesota Cities, where he advocates on behalf of Minnesota city interests with state and federal agencies and state and federal elected officials. He focuses on land use, environmental, and energy issues. Previously, Johnson managed environmental policy for Governor Jesse Ventura and worked as a legislative coordinator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

N	Mark Johnson Executive Director Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) See Bio Mark Johnson is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for tomorrow’s wildlife and hunters today. Johnson has worked at MDHA since 1999.

R	Matt Kane Director of Policy & Research Growth and Justice See Bio Matt has worked on public policy issues for more than 20 years, exploring challenges and proposals relevant to the federal, state and local levels. His research, articles and books cover a range of topics, including economic development, economic and demographic trends, transportation, urban revitalization, work force issues and federal grant programs, including education and health initiatives. Prior to joining Growth and Justice in 2007, Matt worked for the Washington-based Northeast-Midwest Institute, providing information to Congress and state officials on subjects important to Midwestern and Northeastern states. He also has worked for the National League of Cities and a national association of economic development centers. Matt taught classes at the University of Michigan. And he has testified before Congress on several occasions. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota through the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

O	George Kinney Environmental Chemist Landmark Environmental, LLC See Bio George Kinney is an environmental chemist, CHMM at Landmark Environmental, LLC. He volunteers as a board member of RENew Northfield, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing renewable energy in the Northfield, MN area. Kinney is also a member of the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission, an advisory commission to the City Council working to present environmental and energy issues to the Council. Kinney formerly served as the Environmental Supervisor for Dakota County and as a Visiting Instructor in Environmental Studies at St. Olaf College.

O	Larry Kramka Director, Division of Lands and Minerals Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Larry Kramka directs the Division of Lands and Minerals at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, managing the state's mineral resources for the benefit of all Minnesotans. He previously served as Assistant Commissioner for Operations at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and as DNR's regional hydrologist for northwestern Minnesota, managing all aspects of DNR Waters Division regional operations for 23 counties. Before that, he worked as a DNR hydrologist in St. Cloud, Marshall, New Ulm and Mankato. Kramka earned a bachelor of science degree in natural resources and environmental studies from the University of Minnesota in 1990. He has served as a Stearns County water patrol officer and as a part-time Mankato public safety patrol officer.

O	Thomas Kroll Forester Order of Saint Benedict See Bio Thomas Kroll is a forester serving as the Land Manager and Arboretum Director for the 2,700 acres of Saint John’s Abbey and University in central Minnesota. Prior to that he worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for over 20 years, focusing on private land stewardship. Kroll serves on the MN Forest Stewardship Committee and the MN Forestry Assn Governmental Relations committee. He has served on teams for The Nature Conservancy, the Forest Stewardship Council, the Avon Hills Initiative and his church. He also works occasionally as an information officer with wildfire overhead teams.

O	Tom Landwehr Commissioner Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Tom Landwehr is Commissioner of Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources. Landwehr brings both an insider’s knowledge and an outsider’s perspective to the agency. He has served as a City Council Member and as an Instructor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Natural Resources. He also served for seventeen years at DNR both as a scientist and as a Wildlife Manager. With a Master’s Degree in Business, Landwehr understands that conservation and resource management must be properly balanced to promote economic prosperity and support jobs. Landwehr is widely respected by people in the conservation, recreation and business communities. He brings to the agency a reputation as someone with creative and innovative solutions to many of Minnesota’s top natural resource issues. Landwehr began his career at DNR in the early 1980’s as a research biologist, and quickly moved on to greater responsibility as Wildlife Manager for over 5 years and as the Wetland Wildlife Program Leader for nearly ten. After leaving DNR in 1999 he was State Conservation Director for Ducks Unlimited in Minnesota and Iowa until 2003 and most recently has served as Assistant State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. He has also served on the Shoreview City Council where he served from 1995 to 2002. He has been an active member of his community for many years, serving on multiple boards and commissions. He has an MS in Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management. Landwehr lives in Shoreview with his wife Patty and 2 children, He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, camping and boating.

N	Nancy Lange Program Director Izaak Walton League of America-Midwest Office See Bio Nancy Lange is a Program Director at the Izaak Walton League of America-Midwest Office. Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America protects America's outdoors through education, community-based conservation and promoting outdoor recreation.

R	Rodney Larkins Associate Director, Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment University of Minnesota See Bio Rod Larkins serves as associate director of the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, a signature program of the Institute on the Environment. His primary responsibilities include stakeholder outreach and engagement, partnership development and strategic planning. Larkins joined the U of M following a long and successful career with 3M, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in research management—with a focus on establishing new businesses. During his career at 3M, Larkins was awarded two U.S. patents and earned numerous individual and team recognition awards. He finished his tenure as operations manager of government R&D contracts. In this role, he managed the opportunity development, proposal, administrative and compliance functions associated with 3M’s participation in federal- and state-funded contracts. He helped establish and execute government-funded programs related to fuel cells, composite electrical conductors, batteries, solar films, renewable fuels, high-temperature super conductors, and energy assessment and savings, among other areas. As an external advisory board member, he worked closely with IREE and the U of M. Larkins graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1966 with Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and microbiology.

R	Derek Larson Chair, Environmental Studies Department and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University See Bio At the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Dr. Derek Larson serves as the Environmental Studies Department Chair and an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and History. He began teaching at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in 1998. His academic and research interests include US environmental history, public lands, history of the Pacific Northwest, environmental thought, and popular culture/consumer behavior.

N	Kris Larson Executive Director Minnesota Land Trust See Bio Kris Larson began serving as Executive Director on October 1, 2009. Prior to this he worked for the Minnesota Land Trust in several capacities including interim Executive Director, Director of Conservation Programs, Conservation Planning Director and Regional Conservation Director for the northern region. Kris has also served as the Executive Director for the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, where he oversaw all the organization’s operations and services for more than sixty land trusts and government open space programs. Kris also gained valuable experience in land conservation while at the Brandywine Conservancy in Pennsylvania prior to coming to Minnesota in 1998. He has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the School of Environmental Design, University of Georgia.

O	Kevin Lines Conservation Easement Program Coordinator Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources See Bio Kevin Lines works as the conservation easement section manager for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. In this role, he has the responsibility to restore, manage and enforce more than 5,000 easements totaling 193,000 acres. Lines has worked for BWSR since 2000 and started his career with the DNR in 1975 where he held several positions including area wildlife supervisor, farmland wildlife program leader and lake designation coordinator. His many accomplishments include the monumental task of enrolling 100,000 acres into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the Minnesota River valley.

O	Judy Lissick Chief Operations Officer and Partner Naturally Wallace Consulting See Bio Judy Lissick is a seasoned senior operations professional with broad experience in all aspects of business management. She currently plays a vital role as a founding partner and the Chief Operations Officer of Naturally Wallace Consulting. Judy has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her expertise includes enterprise information technology, customer service organization, strategic planning and managing and executing Division P&L responsibilities. During the past 10 years Judy has served as a partner and the Chief Operations Officer at North American Wetland Engineering and EcoCheck. At both firms her focus was on the design and operations of natural systems for wastewater treatment. In this capacity, Judy led the growth of both companies to the point of acquisition by Jacques Whitford/Stantec. Prior to that, Judy held pivotal leadership roles at Securian, ReliaStar, and ING.

N	Jennifer Lynch Operations Director Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) See Bio Jennifer Lynch is the Operations Director at the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP), a coalition of more than 80 Minnesota environmental and conservation organizations working together to protect and preserve Minnesota's precious natural environment. Lynch has worked at MEP since 2001 and is charged with running the business aspects of MEP as well as ensuring that all programs are integrated and working together as a whole. Lynch received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Environmental Studies Minor from St. Cloud State University.

O	Maria Manka Account Manager Tunheim Partners See Bio Maria Surma Manka is an account manager with Tunheim Partners, a strategic communications company. Since joining the firm in 2007, Maria has specialized in helping clients in the energy and environment space with public relations, social media engagement, coalition building and public affairs advocacy. Prior to joining Tunheim Partners, Maria worked for Fresh Energy, a nonprofit energy policy organization. She is an energy blogger and podcast contributor to Earth and Industry, a past contributor to the blog network formerly known as Green Options, and ran her own blog, Maria Energia, for several years. This year, she was named one of “16 women you must follow on Twitter for green business.” Maria graduated summa cum laude from Hamline University with bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish. She appears as a riveted audience member in the film “An Inconvenient Truth.

R	Christie Manning Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Psychology Macalester College See Bio Christie Manning is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Psychology at Macalester College. Her research explores the cognitive and other psychological factors that influence environmentally-sustainable behavior. She conducts framing studies, presenting people with varying environmental messages. Her studies find that different frames evoke significantly different emotional and attitudinal responses to issues such as global warming.

O	Steve Marquardt Environmental Engineer U.S. Environmental Protection Agency See Bio Steve Marquardt has worked as an Environmental Engineer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the past 15 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

N	Mark Martell Director of Bird Conservation Audubon Minnesota See Bio

O	Joseph Maternowski Chair, Environmental Law Practice Group and Shareholder Moss & Barnett See Bio Joseph G. Maternowski chairs the Environmental Law Practice Group at Moss & Barnett, A Professional Association, advising clients on environmental matters that arise in business and real estate transactions, litigation related to contaminated property and the defense of enforcement actions brought by state and federal environmental agencies. Demonstrating his knowledge of environmental and business law, Mr. Maternowski recently assisted a Fortune 500 company in conducting site investigations and cleanups at manufacturing sites and in evaluating ongoing environmental compliance at operations across the country. While Mr. Maternowski and his team have broad knowledge in environmental law, he uses the many resources of Moss & Barnett's 70-plus attorneys by appropriately involving business lawyers, real estate lawyers and experienced litigators who have unique and required expertise. AMr. Maternowski is equally active in the community, serving as a mentor to law students, Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association's Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section, and as Chair of the Board of Directors of Eco Education, a non-profit group that conducts educational programs in Twin Cities schools.

N	Diana McKeown Metro CERT Director Eureka Recycling See Bio Diana McKeown is the Metro CERT Director at Eureka Recycling. Prior to joining the CERTs team, Diana worked for over 14 years at Clean Water Action where she gained experience with media work, grassroots organizing, campaign planning, lobbying, and fundraising. Diana has experience building strategic campaigns and coalitions. Diana holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Minnesota.

O	Chris Meehan Principal Wenck Associates, Inc. See Bio Chris Meehan is a principal at Wenck Associates, an engineering consultancy that provide industries and local, state, and federal agencies a full spectrum of services related to infrastructure, water, air, land, waste, and industrial processes. Meehan received an M.B.A. at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Managment and a Master of Civil Engineering the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

N	Linda Meschke President Rural Advantage See Bio Linda Meschke is the President and Founder of Rural Advantage, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the connections between agriculture, the environment and rural communities in order to improve ecological health, economic viability and rural vitality. Major initiatives of Rural Advantage include the establishment and marketing of 3rd crops on the Midwestern landscape, including perennials for local bioenergy; the Madelia Model; establishment of multifunctional landscapes; and the development of an ecological services payment package for farmers. Meschke's prior experience includes serving as a member of the Fairmont Chamber, the Executive Director of BERBI, and a partner on her family farm.

F	Ed Miller Environment Program Director Joyce Foundation See Bio Edmund Miller is a 20 year veteran of protecting the environment at Great Lakes area and currently serves as the environment program director at the Joyce Foundation. In this role, Miller determines Joyce’s environment program’s direction and priorities as well as actively engages with organizations committed to developing clean energy and clean water policies in the Great Lakes region. Prior to joining the Joyce Foundation, Miller served as the director of the Legacy Fund at the Henry Crown & Company which funds projects to reduce global warming pollution in the Midwest and strengthen conservation and sustainable development in North and Central America. His other positions included program director at Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation which funds energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural areas conservation projects, and program officer at the C.S. Mott Foundation in Michigan which supports environmental programs around the Great Lakes. Miller earned a BA in Philosophy and an MA in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics from Stanford University.

R	Christina Mills Staff Scientist and Policy Analyst The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research See Bio Christina Mills, Staff Scientist and Policy Analyst, received her B.A. in Biology from St. Olaf College and her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law. She coordinates IEER's Minnesota work and has worked on energy issues since 2008. She is also a member of the Women of Wind Energy National Mentoring Committee. Prior to joining IEER, Christina worked with Windustry promoting policies to support community-based wind projects.

O	Cathy Moeger Sustainability Manager Minnesota Pollution Control Agency See Bio Cathy Moeger is the Sustainability Manager at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). In this role, she develops strategic direction and implements and measures results of a comprehensive sustainability plan focused on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and she has led the way to help other state agencies accomplish similar results. Moeger previously served as Director of the Prevention and Assistance Division and the Chief Financial Officer at MPCA. She received her B.S. in Natural Resources and Public Affairs Management from Michigan State University.

N	Patrick Moore Executive Director Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) See Bio Patrick Moore is the Executive Director of CURE, a nonprofit organization that works to restore, celebrate and protect the Upper Minnesota River Watershed. Dr. Moore is a co-founder and former director of Greenpeace and nine-year president of Greenpeace Canada. He has been an international environmental leader for more than 30 years. A longtime environment advisor to the British Columbian government, he focuses on sustainability and consensus building, with emphasis on forestry, geothermal heating, and climate change. His book Green Spirit: Trees are the Answer (2000) provides new insight into how forests work and how they can help solve many of our environmental problems.

O	Erika Mork Fundraising and Development Manager Three Rivers Park District See Bio Erika Mork serves as Fundraising and Development Manager at the Three Rivers Park District. She is a grant reviewer at the WCA Foundation, and a board member at the Permaculture Research Insitute - Cold Climate.

N	Steve Morse Executive Director Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) See Bio Steve Morse is the Executive Director of Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP). Prior to joining MEP in 2006, Steve served as a Senior Fellow in the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota. While there he developed and ran the Green Lands, Blue Waters initiative, a Mississippi basin wide, multi-scale, cross-disciplinary initiative to address the long term ecological impacts of agricultural practices in the basin. Steve is a former Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a former State Senator. He served in the DNR from 1999 to 2003. Steve was first elected to the State Senate in 1986, where he represented the Winona area. For most of his twelve years in the Senate, he served as Chair of the Senate Environment and Agriculture Budget Division. Prior to his legislative work, Steve managed his family’s apple orchard.

F	Ann Mulholland Vice President, Grants and Programs The Saint Paul Foundation See Bio Ann Mulholland is the vice president of grants and program for Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation. In this role, Ann serves as the chief strategist and manager for the grantmaking and community initiative work for Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation. She also helps support two private client foundations, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation. Ann joins the Foundations after five years as the Deputy Mayor of the City of Saint Paul. As a key member of the leadership team of Saint Paul, she held chief operating responsibility for 13 departments, 3,000 employees and a $600-million dollar annual budget. Immediately before serving as Deputy Mayor of the City of Saint Paul, Ann worked in a marketing leadership role for The Nature Conservancy. Prior to that position, she led Great Northern Communication, a marketing and communications business that she owned. She also has many years of professional experience in public affairs consulting and political campaign work. Ann received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. She lives with her husband, Steve Cerkvenik, in the Selby-Dale neighborhood of Saint Paul where they are raising their four daughters who attend Saint Paul Public Schools.

N	Carl Nelson Program and Policy Manager Center for Energy and Environment See Bio Carl Nelson is the Program and Policy Manager for the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). He has nearly 15 years experience in sustainable energy development, and is currently coordinating CEE’s Community Energy Services program, a comprehensive residential energy efficiency program that puts participants on a conveyor belt to energy savings, each step building on the last, saving more energy through progressively larger steps, including reinforcement of no-cost good energy habits, installation of low cost materials, and major retrofits. Mr. Nelson also works to promote CEE’s policy agenda, focusing on maintaining Minnesota’s strong energy efficiency policies. He received his M.S. in Technology, Energy and the Environment from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Energy Manager by the Association of Energy Engineers.

N	Joan Nephew Executive Director Freshwater Society See Bio Joan Nephew is Executive Director of the Freshwater Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring people to value, conserve and protect all water resources. Prior to joining the Society, Nephew was President of the Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA), executive director of the Environmental Resource Council, and executive vice president of the Minnesota Institute of Public Health. In these roles, Nephew managed Environmental Health Programs, worked with industry and government, and oversaw environmental health and safety policy for schools and other institutions.

R	Raymond Newman Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota See Bio Raymond Newman is a professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. HIs research interests focus on applied and basic aquatic ecology with an emphasis on trophic relations, littoral zones, and streams. Newman is the Director of Graduate Studies in Water Resources Science and a Project Director for Introduced Species & Genotypes IGERT.

O	Duane Ninneman Renewable Energy Consultant Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) See Bio Duane Ninneman is a Renewable Energy Consultant for CURE, a nonprofit organization that works to restore, celebrate and protect the Upper Minnesota River Watershed. Ninneman is also the founder of Sage Research and Consulting (SRC). He specializes in clean energy development and facilitating community partnerships. Ninneman advocates for an energy agenda that supports rural communities, often advising state legislators and national leaders.

N	Michael Noble CEO/Executive Director Fresh Energy See Bio Michael Noble has been the Executive Director of Fresh Energy since 1995. Michael concentrates on building constituencies and developing policies for a new energy system. He has nearly thirty years of professional expertise in energy, and has been a key strategist for major public policy innovations in energy, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy development, global warming solutions, and strategies to reduce reliance on foreign oil in Minnesota and the Midwestern region. Michael has served as the CEO of three different not-for-profit energy organizations since 1979 and one for-profit energy services company. Passion for progress is what drew Michael into Fresh Energy; he wanted to work full time on changing the rules of the game, so that cleaner and smarter energy choices could flourish. Michael loves to show off his carpentry skills and "green building" ideas in the restoration of his 1910 Craftsman home in St. Paul's Mac-Groveland neighborhood. Michael graduated from Carleton College cum laude with a BA in History.Currently, he is the chair of the Clean Energy Working Group and serves on the Steering Committee of RE-AMP. In addition, Michael serves on the board of directors of Conservation Minnesota Voter Center, Wind on the Wires, and the Will Steger Foundation.

N	Rolf Nordstrom Executive Director Great Plains Institute See Bio Rolf Nordstrom is Executive Director of the Great Plains Institute. Before taking over as Executive Director in 2007, Rolf helped manage the Institute’s Powering the Plains program, whose diverse stakeholders developed a 50-year Energy Transition Roadmap for the region:www.poweringtheplains.org. This Roadmap has since informed the development of an ambitious set of energy and climate accords signed by Midwestern Governors and the Premier of Manitoba in November 2007: www.midwesterngovernors.org. Rolf has written or helped craft new laws on resource efficient land use, high performance buildings, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and sustainable development broadly. Before coming to the Institute in 2003, Rolf served for a decade with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) and Office of Strategic and Long-range Planning. For seven of those years he served as Assistant Director of then Governor Arne Carlson’s Sustainable Development Initiative, working to harmonize the state’s economic and environmental policies. Mr. Nordstrom has an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Carleton College and a Masters Degree in International Environmental Policy from Tufts University. He has 24 years of experience in sustainable development policy, and in facilitating and managing diverse, high-level groups toward a common purpose. His has held positions with: The United States Congress, World Wildlife Fund (International), in Brussels, Belgium, National Wildlife Federation's Corporate Conservation Council (Washington, DC), Global Environment Program at NYU's Stern School of Business in New York. Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long-range Planning. Rolf has authored and edited many publications on energy, transportation and sustainable development and speaks to a wide range of audiences. He is an alumnus of the Wilder Foundation’s James P. Shannon Leadership Institute and has served as president of the Izaak Walton League of America (Minnesota Division), and Union Park Community Council in the St. Paul neighborhood where he and his wife Kathy live with their two sons, Erik, 13, Eli, 10 and their dog Ginger. Rolf’s current volunteer activities include serving as a sustainable development mentor and judge for the world’s largest clean tech business competition, CleanTech Open.

N	Carol Nulsen Development Consultant EarthSense Alliance See Bio Carol Nulsen is a development consultant for Regional Environmental Learning Centers, a program of the EarthSense Alliance. She is also the President of the Beim Foundation, which provides grants for sustainable building design in Minnesota.

O	Pat Nunnally Coordinator, River Life Partnership University of Minnesota See Bio As the coordinator for the Institute on the Environment’s River Life program, Pat Nunnally works to establish lasting relationships among the University of Minnesota and groups working on river sustainability. In the past two decades, Nunnally has developed a unique practice as a consulting historian, communications manager and interpretive planner, with a focus on rivers, trails and scenic byways. He has organized events and conferences with a Mississippi River connection, and has presented his work at numerous academic and professional meetings. He’s also worked with public agencies and private firms on many planning projects for culturally sensitive sites. Nunnally’s writings have appeared in a variety of forms, including the ongoing blog River Talk. His latest published piece is a short reflection on the importance of diverse stories in shaping an inclusive future for the Mississippi River. The City, the River, the Bridge, an edited collection of essays examining the consequences and aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse, will appear in January 2011. Since 1999, Nunnally has served on the U of M faculty, teaching classes in landscape planning and urban studies. He holds graduate degrees in English, American studies and landscape architecture from Vanderbilt University, the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota.

R	LeRoy Paddock Associate Dean & Director of Environmental Law Programs The George Washington University Law School See Bio Dean Paddock is associate dean for environmental law studies. He is a member of the ABA Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Council. Prior to coming to GW Law, he was the director of Environmental Legal Studies at Pace University Law School from 2002 to 2007. Dean Paddock has served as a senior consultant for the National Academy of Public Administration on several projects since 1999. He also was a visiting scholar at the Environmental Law Institute between 1999 and 2002, focusing on clean air act, state-federal relationship, and enforcement issues. From 1978 until 1999, Dean Paddock was an assistant attorney general with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office where he served as director of environmental policy for 13 years, as manager of the Office’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Division and a member of its executive committee. He has served on numerous national panels including the Aspen Institute’s Series on Environment in the 21st Century, and the American National Standard Institute’s ISO 14000 Environmental Management Systems Council. Dean Paddock graduated from the University of Iowa Law School with high honors and served as a law clerk to Judge Donald Lay of the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. His recent publications include Keeping Pace with Nanotechnology: A Proposal for a New Approach to Environmental Accountability and Public Involvement, 21 Pace Environmental Law review 243 (2004) and Green Governance: Building the Competencies Necessary for Effective Environmental Management, 38 ELR 10609 (September 2008).

N	Joan Pasiuk Bicycling and Walking Program Director Transit for Liveable Communities See Bio Joan joined Transit for Livable Communities in spring 2007 after a history of volunteer involvement, including serving as an early TLC board member. She moved into a staff position with the Bike Walk Twin Cities initiative after serving as co-chair of the Bike/Walk Advisory Committee (BWAC). She has program development and program management experience in various organizations and sectors, including the U of M School of Public Health, Outward Bound, Golle and Holmes (financial industry training), and several state agencies. Joan has an M.A. from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the board of Mississippi Market, a natural food co-op in St. Paul. Joan is a published author and squeezes in some current work on essays and poems. She is a lifelong sustainable transportation champion.

N	Lissa Pawlisch Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Director University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships See Bio Melissa Pawlisch is the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) coordinator for the University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships program. Melissa has spent over 10 years working on energy-related issues. Prior to coming to the University she spent several years working as an environmental consultant with a focus on environmental investigations at large scale power plant facilities. In 2002 she began work with community organizations looking for alternatives to centralized power production. For the past five years Melissa has staffed five of the greater Minnesota CERTs and worked to stimulate clean energy project development by connecting team members with the resources and technical assistance they need to implement community energy projects. She has a Masters degree in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy.

O	Donald Pereira Senior Fish Biologist Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio My research efforts are divided between Minnesota's large walleye lakes and other water bodies, including smaller lakes as well as large rivers. On the large walleye lakes, I am studying recruitment mechanisms of percid fishes, primarily walleye and yellow perch. I am assisting with the development of management regimes to control harvest. My large lake research also entails a variety of modeling methodologies, including simulation and operational models to evaluate management strategies. I maintain an interest in climate effects on fish dynamics, and I plan to continue my earlier work on freshwater drum dynamics by estimating growth and recruitment chronologies for this species (i.e., biochronology) from a variety of sites and at several spatial scales. I am also developing new interests in watershed management and restoration. One of my current research projects involves development of an index of biotic integrity for lakes, and will use the stateÍs extensive fish community database. Future research may involve development of spatially explicit models to assist watershed management programs; these models may be used heuristically to compare metropolitan area as needed to protect water quality.

R	Jim Perry H.T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Water Quality and Environmental Management University of Minnesota See Bio Jim Perry is HT Morse Distinguished University Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota. He is a recognized scholar and teacher who has published more than 100 peer reviewed papers, won several teaching awards and is an elected member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He served for six years as Head of the Department and in 2006 served a short stint as Interim Associate Vice President and Dean of International Programs. He earlier served three years as Director of Graduate Studies in Water Resource Science (WRS) and is a member of the WRS Executive Committee. He has also served in other administrative positions at the University as well as held appointments at other institutions. Dr. Perry currently teaches Water Quality: Management of a Natural Resource. For several years, he also taught Water Quality: The International Dimension, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Ecosystem Management in Central and Eastern Europe. Jim and his students pursue two major themes in their work: the science–policy linkage in natural resource management, and applied ecology at the landscape scale (i.e., the quantitative science that influences policy and management decisions). This work has a strong international component, with current or recent work in Borneo, Brazil, Ukraine, Israel, and Cameroon among others. In the science–policy linkage efforts, Dr. Perry addresses natural resource policy and decision making in environmental management. The focus of this work is on optimal use of scientific information to develop and implement the most sustainable policies and management strategies. In the applied ecology component, he addresses ways in which ecosystems are distributed in landscapes and how communities and ecosystems respond to various landscape-scale stressors. Often, finer-scale questions are addressed in the context of integrated watershed management. Dr. Perry has more than 40 years experience in water quality and environmental management and has authored more than 135 technical and lay publications on water quality, water resources management, aquatic ecology, higher education and international development. In his most recent research, he has developed a global model to judge risks to World Heritage Sites due to climate change. His most recent IISD projects are in the areas of eLearning and capacity development for Ecosystem Management.

N	Mark Peters Executive Director Lutheran Coalition For Public Policy in Minnesota See Bio Mark has been the Executive Director for the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota (LCPPM) since 1995. LCPPM represents and relates to nearly 1200 congregations and 800,000 Lutherans in Minnesota and has a well-established environmental program. Mark's advocacy and education efforts at LCPPM have focused on the passage of mercury reduction, renewable energy, local control, children's environmental health (biomonitoring and health tracking - often referred to as tracking toxins) and Global Warming. A significant part of this work has been to establish and provide faith-based resources to congregation creation care teams in faith communities. Mark also manages his family farm in Wisconsin that has recently been awarded the Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Award for Richland County, Wisconsin for conservation practices and is a lifelong hunter and fisherman.

N	Mark Peterson Executive Director, Minnesota National Audubon Society See Bio Mark was appointed Executive Director of Audubon Minnesota in April 2005. His career in conservation spans more than 25 years. Mark holds degrees in environmental education (B.S.) and environmental journalism (M.S.) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned a Ph.D. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University. Mark’s dissertation focused on protecting habitat for whooping cranes and other migratory species along the Platte River. Mark combines this academic foundation with extensive experience in the non-profit sector, most recently as a Director with the National Parks Conservation Association. Before that, Mark served as Executive Director of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College working to advance the legacy of Minnesota’s foremost conservationist. There he led advocacy efforts in the Lake Superior bioregion and founded the Apostle Island School, Minnesota LoonWatch and the Timber Wolf Alliance, programs that continue today. Mark lives with his family near White Bear Lake enjoying sailing, kayaking, skiing and camping.

N	Lee Pfannmuller State Planning Coordinator Audubon Minnesota See Bio Before joining Audubon Minnesota as its new State Planning Coordinator in July of 2010, Lee had recently retired from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources where she served as Director of the Division of Ecological Resources since 1992. She was responsible for directing and supervising a $12 million budget, 130 full-time employees, and over 20 different resource programs designed to manage Minnesota's rare resources, native plant communities, lakes and rivers, and invasive species. Prior to this she worked for the Nongame Wildlife Program, the Natural Heritage Program, the Scientific and Natural Areas Program and the Division of Minerals. With a M.S. degree in Ecology and Behavioral Biology from the U of MN, Lee has extensive technical expertise in the fields of forest bird management, endangered species policy and biodiversity conservation. During her career with the Department she managed numerous new conservation initiatives including: • Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative, a 12 year research effort designed to protect Minnesota’s forest songbird populations; • Minnesota’s Statewide Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive assessment of Minnesota’s species of greatest conservation need; • Establishment of Minnesota’s first official list of endangered species; • Development of the animal survey component of the Minnesota County Biological Survey; and • Establishment of Minnesota’s Landowner Incentive Program, a federally funded program to provide financial assistance to private landowners to protect state listed plants and animals. Lee has received numerous awards for her accomplishments including the Minnesota Nature Conservancy Government Relations Award for personal commitment to protecting Minnesota’s biodiversity, an EPA award recognizing her efforts for ecosystem and species preservation, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chuck Yeager Award for work to support the conservation of neotropical forest songbirds.

O	Sharon Pfeifer Natural Resources Manager Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Sharon Pfeifer is Natural Resources Manager at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

N	Cordelia Pierson Executive Director Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation See Bio Cordelia Pierson is currently the Executive Director of the Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation, which serves as a champion of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and seeks to help create a vibrant riverfront with a healthy ecosystem, exceptional riverfront parks, world-class history, culture and design, and a vital, livable community. During her ten years with the Trust for Public Land, she has helped raise public funds for land conservation, both at the state legislature and through local ballot measures, and has helped shape the DNR’s Metro Greenways Program and the public-private partnership Metro Conservation Corridor project. In conservation vision, she helps lead the Embrace Open Space collaborative; supports state, regional and local conservation planning and partnerships; and provides training on raising funds for conservation. Cordelia brings experience in land use and environmental legal issues acquired as a law clerk for a judge, a Minneapolis law firm, and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in geology and geophysics, and graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School

O	Andy Polzin Vice President Barr Engineering Company See Bio Andy Polzin is a Vice-President and Senior Environmental Consultant at Barr Engineering. He formerly worked as an environmental consultant at Montgomery Watson and an environmental project manager at Tellus Consultants. Polzin previously served on the steering committee of the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative, a program of the Great Plains Institute.

O	Tim Pratt Recycling Coordinator City of Roseville See Bio Tim Pratt is the Recycling Coordinator and Communications Specialist for the City of Roseville, MN. He oversees Roseville's municipal solid waste and recycling programs. and coordinates Zero Waste events Pratt is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Recycling Association of Minnesota.

O	Gayle Prest Sustainability Director City of Minneapolis See Bio Gayle Prest is the Sustainability Manager for the City of Minneapolis. He previously served as the Manager of Environmental Initiatives for Dakota County.

N	Kevin Proescholdt Program Director, Midwest Wilderness and Public Lands Izaak Walton League of America See Bio Kevin Proescholdt directs the Wilderness and Public Lands Program in St. Paul for the Izaak Walton League of America. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Wilderness Watch.

O	Amy Rager Associate Extension Professor/Extension Educator University of Minnesota See Bio Amy Rager is an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota. She formerly served as State Program Director for Minnesota Master Naturalist and as a Parks Worker at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

O	Michael Reed Solid & Hazardous Waste Compliance Ramsey County See Bio Michael Reed is a member of the Ramsey County Solid & Hazardous Waste Compliance program. He has 18 years of public and private sector experience in environmental management, regulatory affairs, C&D recycling, pre-demolition inspections, permit review, project management, public involvement, strategy and policy development, legislative advocacy, technical assistance and public speaking. Reed sits on the Board of Directors of the Solid Waste Association of North America- Minnesota Chapter and the Recycling Association of Minnesota.

N	Tom Reed Program & Operations Manager Honor the Earth See Bio Before joining Honor the Earth, Tom Reed worked for Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota as a Field Canvass Manager where he honed his organizing and fundraising skills and built his knowledge of environmental issues. Before that, Tom received his B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (2004) in Organizational Communication and Spanish. His passion for environmental justice was learned at an early age from activist parents (Lilias Jones Jarding and Christopher Reed) who taught him the importance of actively working to make the world a better place for future generations. His hobbies include the performing arts, biking, and exploring the outdoors.

O	Nathan Reinbold Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Technician Kandiyohi County See Bio Nathan Reinbold has over 10 years of experience working with governmental agencies, businesses and the public on innovative environmental, cost-saving projects and programs to better the environment and the lives of the public. He is currently a Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Technician at Kandiyohi County. Previously, he worked as an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Recycling Specialist for Hennepin County Environmental Services, as an Environmental Education Outreach Coordinator at Fond du Lac Reservation, and as an Environmental Program Coordinator at Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. Reinbold earned a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

O	Dan Reinke Partner Environmental Resources Management See Bio As a partner at Environmental Resources Management, Dan Reinke leads the global EHS auditing practice with over 500 auditors worldwide performing thousands of audits annually. These auditing services are designed to help ERM's clients excel in significantly improving their EHS performance. Dan brings over 25 years' EHS and process engineering experience to support client efforts to reduce their EHS impacts, risks and costs. He has worked with clients in a wide variety of sectors from explosives manufacturing and oil & gas to food processing and consumer products. He is co-author of The Handbook of Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing and over 30 technical papers.

R	Carol Reschke Scientist, Natural Resources Research Institute University of Minnesota Duluth See Bio Carol Reschke is a scientist at the Natural Resources Research Institute of the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her specialty is plant community ecology. Her professional interests include vegetation and habitat classification, Lake Superior rocky shoreline vegetation, Great Lakes regional vegetation, alvar vegetation and hydrology, fen vegetation, natural area surveys, vegetation management, and restoration of native plant communities. Her most recent projects have focused on restoration of wetland and forest vegetation, forest regeneration responses to different logging practices, and aquatic vegetation of Minnesota lakes. Prior to working at NRRI, she had over 20 years experience conducting vegetation surveys, mapping vegetation, describing and classifying ecological communities, and identifying significant natural areas for conservation.

O	Kevin Reuther Legal Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) See Bio Kevin Reuther is a staff attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, a non-profit with the mission to use law, science and research to protect and preserve Minnesota´s environment. His previous experience included 8 years as an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, where he practiced poverty law in a variety of substantative areas including housing, education, government benefits and consumer. Reuther also worked as a Hennepin County public defender for a year and clerked for the Honorable Harriet Lansing, Minnesota Court of Appeals. He received his JD, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1996.

O	Mike Robertson Consultant, Environmental Policy Minnesota Chamber of Commerce See Bio Mike Robertson is an attorney and government relations consultant. He is the environmental policy consultant to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and other clients. He has been a key player in environmental policy development in Minnesota for more than 30 years. He worked for the Minnesota State Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, was the first director of the Legislative Commission on Waste Management, spent nine years with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as its assistant and deputy commissioner, and served as Director of the Minnesota Office of Waste Management.

O	Mark Rust Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance See Bio Mark Rust works on Data & Performance Management for Integrated Solid Waste at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Sustainability division.

N	Lola Schoenrich Program Director, Electricity Programs Great Plains Initiative See Bio Lola Schoenrich is the Program Director for electricity programs at the Great Plains Institute. Lola has 28 years of experience in energy policy and community energy initiatives. She also has extensive background in bringing diverse groups of people together to craft energy policy and implement projects in networks, coalitions, and working teams. Previous to joining the Great Plains Institute, she was the Energy Program Director at the Minnesota Project, where she started the Midwest Ag Energy Network and helped to launch many other state and regional energy initiatives. In the course of her 20 years at the Minnesota Project, Lola also worked on numerous other projects, including community sustainability, and waste management, recycling, household hazardous waste management and waste reduction. Previous to her work with the Minnesota Project, she was the Executive Director of the Self-Reliance Center (now the Sustainable Resources Center) running community-based energy efficiency and conservation programs in Minneapolis neighborhoods. Lola has a BA in biology from Hampshire College.

O	Jesse Schomberg Program Leader, Coastal Communities and Land Use Extension Educator University of Minnesota Sea Grant See Bio As an extension educator for Minnesota Sea Grant, Jesse Schomberg's work focuses on stream ecology, urban runoff, connections between the landscape and water quality, hydrologic simulation modeling, and geographic information systems. Schomberg addressed the Binational Forum at the EPA's Mid-Continent Lab in Duluth on January 29, 2010, summarizing the climate change mitigation efforts of an interfaith network working collaboratively in the region. He worked with the National Weather Service in spearheading the 2009 Great Lakes Rip Current Workshop in Duluth, and created a You Tube video and outreach materials about rip currents now available on this website. Schomberg is currently chairing a local workgroup to address rip current safety in the Twin Ports. In a project funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Schomberg worked with local neighborhoods in reducing stormwater runoff and teaching residents what they can do about it. Throughout the summer of 2009, he collaborated with the City of Duluth and UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute on the project. Schomberg received an M.S. in Biology from Idaho State University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

N	Eric Schroeder Deputy Director Great Plains Institute See Bio Eric Schroeder has overseen internal affairs of the Great Plains Institute since 2004. As deputy director, Eric works closely with the executive director and board of directors to ensure the staff, external contractors and various systems operate efficiently. Prior to joining the Great Plains Institute, he managed operations at a small marketing fulfillment firm, worked at an international investment bank in the City of London and taught agricultural economics in a village in Tanzania, East Africa during his 2½ years in the Peace Corps. He holds an applied agricultural economics degree from the University of Minnesota-Saint Paul.

O	Ann Seha Of Counsel Dorsey & Whitney LLP See Bio As an attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Ann Seha represents a variety of clients in the areas of environmental law and public utility regulation. Her environmental practice areas include environmental review, permitting and compliance advice, administrative permit appeals, and enforcement actions. She also represents clients in general rate cases and other regulatory proceedings involving public utilities. Select areas of concentration include climate change law, the Clean Air Act, state air quality regulation, and energy and public utility regulation. Prior to joining the firm, Seha served as Assistant Commissioner for Air Policy with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Director of Energy Policy at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and as an Assistant Minnesota Attorney General. While with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Seha served in, and later managed, various divisions focused on either public utility or environmental regulation. Seha was the lead attorney who advised the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on implementation of the landmark 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

N	Doug Shoemaker Vice-Chair, Board of Directors Minnesota Renewable Energy Society See Bio Doug Shoemaker is a recent retiree of NSP/Excel. He is an active MRES Board Member, fundraising, publicizing, and helping host the Minnesota Solar Tour and the Solar Boat Regatta. Outside of MRES, Doug's current volunteer projects include a solar thermal application and wind project with area schools, a solar roof initiative partnership, and a feasibility project for a photovoltaic installation. In 2009, Solar Today magazine, the publication of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), recognized Doug for the many renewable energy and community projects in which he’s been involved, from his key role at MRES as well as with over 20 other renewable energy related committees and task forces.

O	Shelley Shreffler Assistant Director Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources See Bio Shelley Shreffler is Assistant Director of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, which makes funding recommendations to the legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Previously she was Director of Environmental Projects at Minnesota Environmental Initiative.

O	Bill Sierks Manager, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency State of Minnesota See Bio Bill Sierks is a Manager of Clean Energy Programs at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and coordinates with the Minnesota Office of Energy Security. He served as a member of Minnesota's Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG), working to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce Minnesota's greenhouse gas emissions. Sierks is also a member of the City of Edina's Energy and Environment Commission.

N	Kris Sigford Water Quality Program Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy See Bio Kris is a senior policy advocate with over 25 years of experience working on state and federal natural resource issues. She has lobbied major pieces of legislation; led several administrative rulemaking reform efforts; directed program audits of state environmental programs; and has coordinated the efforts of environmental groups and grassroots activists in a number of policy campaigns. At MCEA, Kris directs a comprehensive program aimed at improving water quality through full implementation of the federal Clean Water Act. Prior to joining MCEA, she was development manager for the Freedom From Hunger Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, and a lobbyist for the Sierra Club Northstar (Minnesota) Chapter. Kris lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Ray Borens, and flatcoated retriever, Finn. She earned her B.A. in English and Music, graduating magna cum laude from Boston University.

O	Lisa Simer Founder and President Bukwus Consulting LLC See Bio Lisa Simer has an MA from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN) and BA from Carleton College (Northfield, MN). She has extensive experience as both a grant maker and a nonprofit leader working with social, economic, and environmental justice organizations. She also has worked as an independent organizational development consultant, providing services to diverse nonprofit organizations. She describes herself as "a connector—bringing together resources and people from different disciplines to build collaboration and partnership". Her non-profit experience includes leading organizations serving homeless, incarcerated, and at risk youth; seniors; battered women; multi-ethnic; and low-income communities in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 2009, she founded Bukwus Consulting, LLC, which provides customized services for philanthropic and nonprofit organizations to help them to build organizational capacity, strengthen collaborations, and measure impact of their work. In addition to her Minnesota based clientele she has also worked on projects in the Greater Seattle area, and in British Columbia, Canada. From 2005-2009, she served as Program Officer with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota, where she developed, launched and managed the foundation's flagship grantmaking program Growing Up Healthy: Kids and Communities. This initiative, which seeded projects in 16 Minnesota communities, supports new cross-sectoral partnerships to improve the health of children (age 0-5) through a focus on social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Prior to Blue Cross, she also worked as a Program Officer with The Minneapolis Foundation, where she managed rural and environmental grant portfolios and special grantmaking projects. She is member of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Action Lab College of Consultants and served on the national Health and Environment Funders Network Steering Committee, and the Community Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota's National Children’s Health Study grant. She is also a long time board member and current co-chair of the Ann Bancroft Foundation.

O	Luke Skinner Supervisor, Invasive Species Program Minnesota Department of Natural Resources See Bio Luke Skinner is the Invasive Species Program Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The goals of the Invasive Species Program are to prevent introductions of new invasive species into Minnesota, prevent the spread of invasive species within Minnesota, and reduce the impacts caused by invasive species to Minnesota's ecology, society, and economy. Skinner is responsible for supervising the overall program, policy and direction, and legislative issues.

R	Faye Sleeper Co-Director, Water Resources Center University of Minnesota See Bio Faye Sleeper manages the WRC research related to social aspects of water management, and the outreach and extension activities, including the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. She serves as the State Water Quality Coordinator of the USDA Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service. Sleeper represents the University of Minnesota extension on the Board of Soil and Water Resources and serves on the Civic Engagement work group of the Clean Water Council. Sleeper has an M.A. in Geography from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in Sociology and History from Grinnell College. She previously work on wastewater treatment issues, nonpoint source programs and lead the developing impaired waters program at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

R	Tim Smith Director and Associate Professor UMN Institute on the Environment - Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise See Bio Tim Smith is a resident fellow and director of the NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise at the Institute on the Environment. He is also an associate professor of corporate environmental management and bioproducts and biosystems engineering at the University of Minnesota. Smith’s research focuses on the organizational adoption of energy efficiency, renewable energy and other environmental performance-enhancing technologies, as well as the effectiveness of complex “green” messaging, including life-cycle assessment information and the development of sustainable product standards. His early research won the international doctoral dissertation competition through Penn State’s Institute for the Study of Business Markets, among other awards and honors. In 2006, he was named an AT&T industrial ecology fellow. He has served on the extended faculty in marketing and logistics management at the Carlson School of Management, and also on the faculty within INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. A Minnesota transplant in 1999, Smith has yet to fully embrace winter, but enjoys all the Twin Cities have to offer with his wife, Ann, and three children—Ellie, Michael and Ida. He spends his free time bicycling, playing soccer and cooking.

O	Curtis Sparks President Sparks Environmental Consulting See Bio Curtis Sparks is the President of Sparks Environmental Consulting. He previously served as a manager at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Sparks has experience in government, non-profit, and engineering consulting.

N	Scott Sparlin Executive Director Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River See Bio Scott became the Friends' first Watershed Initiative Coordinator in July 2002. Scott is the Executive Director of Citizens for a Clean Minnesota River and has a long history of advocating sound water quality management policies throughout the Minnesota River basin. Scott brings a wealth of experience in fundraising, community organizing, public education and outreach, and policy development to the position. Scott also dedicates his time to a host of other activities, including managing his tree farm, writing and recording music, and serving as a fishing and tour guide in the Minnesota Valley. Scott works primarily in the High Island Creek, Le Sueur Creek, and Rush River subwatersheds of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed.

F	Jim Steenerson Senior Program Officer - Grants Northwest Minnesota Foundation See Bio Jim Steenerson is a Senior Program Officer for Grants at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

F	Jane Stevenson President St. Croix Valley Foundation See Bio Jane Hetland Stevenson has been named president of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. Stevenson brings a long and distinguished national career in community building and foundation leadership, most recently as vice president for Philanthropic Services at a Phoenix-based consulting firm. Earlier in her career, she served as an associate director of The Aspen Institute in Washington D.C., and as executive director of the Arizona Community Action Association. Leadership of the Hudson-based St. Croix Valley Community Foundation brings her back to a region she has served before: from 1989 through 1994, she was an associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota; from 1979 to 1989, she worked for the State of Minnesota: first as a senior planning officer in the Minnesota State Planning Agency, and then as executive director of the Governor’s Rural Development Council.

O	John Stine Deputy Commissioner Minnesota Pollution Control Agency See Bio John Stine is the Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and has more than 30 years experience in state government. He specializes in designing and implementing effective regulatory approaches to protect public health, the environment and community vitality. Stine previously served as Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health, and as a Board Member at the MN Public Facilities Authority and the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources.

N	Scott Strand Executive Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy See Bio Scott Strand is the executive director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA). Before coming to MCEA, Scott was with the Minnesota Attorney General’s office for 17 years as an assistant AG and as deputy counsel, and then spent ten years in private practice, most of those years with the Robins, Kaplan firm in Minneapolis. He is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of California School of Law at Berkeley (Boalt). Scott was born and raised on a farm in Norman County, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Ada High School.

N	Sheldon Strom President Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) See Bio Sheldon Strom is President of the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), a nonprofit organization that promotes the responsible use of natural and economic resources. Under Sheldon’s leadership, CEE’s programs have served more than 60,000 homes and businesses with energy efficiency programs and completed over 100 research projects. Sheldon has also been actively involved in the development of utility policies and has a keen grasp of state regulatory procedures. He played a major role in the comprehensive energy and global warming legislation that was in Minnesota in 2007. Sheldon is a lifelong resident of south Minneapolis and has a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

N	Michael T'Kach Manager of Energy Efficiency EnerChange See Bio Michael T'Kach is the Energy Manager at EnerChange, a non-profit service organization created to help organizations save money by implementing best practices in energy conservation to their everyday workplace and work routines. After 10 years experience with Toshiba and Mitsubishi in California and Japan expanding his technology horizons, Michael returned to the Twin Cities and earned a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Administration. He has held a number of positions in the not-for-profit sector including stints at The Walker Art Center and Volunteers of America. Michael worked directly with Mr. Weed during a critical time in the organization’s development helping prepare the proposal to fund NICE/EnerChange. T'Kach sits on the Board of Directors of the East Isles Neighborhood Association and the Midtown Greenway Coalition.

O	Paul Taylor Principal Masters Alliance See Bio Paul is a principal in the Masters Alliance. Prior to joining Masters Alliance, Paul had more than 30 years of successful management experience in diverse corporate environments ranging from emerging growth situations to a Fortune 500 company. He has held important responsibilities in sales, marketing, general management and information systems. He founded and remains the principal of PSS Enterprises, a management consulting firm. As an advisor to senior management, he specializes in business development, project management, long-range planning and strategic assessment. Paul's strengths include identifying significant opportunities, building and maintaining relationships, and aligning resources with business needs. His experience with International Multifoods (Fortune 500) included managing the company's largest domestic operating division and directing the turnaround of corporate and business unit computer systems. His success as both a line and staff officer equipped him well for work and consultation with a number of emerging companies. The owner of a multiple unit fast food deli business stated, "Paul greatly helped improve communications with minority shareholders which helped create the proper environment for our expansion." An electronic multimedia publisher credited Taylor: "Our successful business plan development and new business partnership opportunities would not have been possible without Paul's insight, hard work, and creativity." Taylor's awards include the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's Volunteer of the Year and Alumni of Notable Achievement from the College of Liberal Arts. Always active in community service, Paul has held leadership positions with a number of Twin City nonprofit organizations. Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota.

N	Linda Taylor Clean Energy Program Director Fresh Energy See Bio Linda joined Fresh Energy as the Clean Energy Director in October 2008 to advance clean energy policy and regulation, and influence the public discourse on energy issues in Minnesota and the Midwest. She has worked in energy as an attorney and analyst for the Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department, as the Deputy Commissioner for Energy at the Minnesota Commerce Department, and as a consultant in energy and environmental law and policy. She believes the future is bright with the potential for energy to lead the way to a restructured economy, a healthier natural environment, a more stable and livable worldwide climate, and a more equitable delivery of energy services and sharing of energy burdens. Outside of her work on energy, Linda sings with the Well-Intentioned Harmonists, weaves, bikes, and travels. She holds a JD from the University of MN Law School and a LL.M. in Natural Resources and Environmental Law from NW School of Law, Lewis & Clark College as a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow. Linda is currently an election judge and a bicycle traffic monitor.

N	Dan Turner Program Analyst Windustry See Bio Dan Turner is an experienced renewable energy consultant who has worked with Wind Utility Consulting providing preliminary and full feasibility studies for a variety of organizations considering distributed wind energy usually involving one or more utility-scale wind turbines. He has a wide range of skills and expertise including complex problem solving, strategic planning, small project planning and management, financial modeling in the wind industry, grant writing, technical report development, research, teaching, presentation and public-speaking.

N	Dave Van Hattum Policy and Advocacy Program Manager Transit for Livable Communities See Bio Dave joined Transit for Livable Communities in January 2006, and manages policy development, lobbying efforts, and coalition work for the organization. Dave’s expertise in crafting and promoting transportation policy and commuting options is well-regarded by decision-makers and advocates across the state. Dave manages the Transit Partners coalition, which successfully advocated for a dedicated stream of funding for a region-wide transit system. He has also authored several reports calling for improved regional governance on transportation issues, expanded commuter options, and improved congestion management strategies. He co-founded the HourCar carsharing program, which was honored by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative in 2006. Dave was honored with Metro Transit’s Individual Achievement Award at the 2006 Commuter Choice Awards and is a regular presenter at University of Minnesota classes and the Center for Transportation Studies Annual Research Conference. He served as a Research Fellow in Transportation Policy at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a master’s degree in public policy. Still, he is probably most proud of his strong forehand and drop volley in tennis. Favorite Quote: “If you want to understand democracy, spend less time in the library with Plato, and more time on buses with people.” ~Simon Strunsky

N	Kari Volkmann-Carlsen Advancement Director Voyageurs National Park Association See Bio Kari Volkmann-Carlsen is the Advancement Director for the Voyageurs National Park Association, whose mission is to protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.

O	Joey Vossen Sustainable Development Westwood Professional Services, Inc. See Bio Joey Vossen is a land use attorney who aids in the negotiation process between cities and property owners, institutions and other organizations to provide cost-effective solutions to differences that arise in development and land use matters. She has expanded Westwood's urban planning and redevelopment services, particularly focusing on sustainable development, and she assists Westwood's clients with integrating distributed energy (small wind and solar) into their commercial and residential projects. Vossen routinely writes and lectures on land use opportunities in sustainable development in Minnesota.

F	Joanne Walz Program Officer The Minneapolis Foundation See Bio Joanne Walz is a Program Officer at the Minneapolis Foundation.

O	Lark Weller Water Quality Coordinator National Park Service See Bio Lark Weller is a Water Quality Coordinator at the National Park Service-Mississippi National River & Recreation Area. In this role, he coordinates extensively with other governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the public. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Green Institute.

O	John Wells Strategic Planning Director Minnesota Environmental Quality Board See Bio John has 35 years experience in translating science into policy and action through strategic partnerships and planning. He currently leads the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board’s strategic planning program, co-chairing the federal – state study of the Minnesota River with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, representing nonfederal interests in the project, and heading the Integrated Community Assistance project, which is charged with designing a sustained function across agency borders for the integration of assistance offered by state agencies to communities. John initiated the first state analysis of how Minnesota’s water supplies match up against demand at the county scale, also heading a team that examined the policy implications. He directed the Governor’s Round Table on Sustainable Development, which identified steps the people of Minnesota should take to achieve a sustainable Minnesota, and designed and secured passage of Minnesota legislation protecting ground water, establishing local water planning, establishing the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and abolishing state boards. John co-chairs the national Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable, a forum dedicated to sustainable management of the nation’s water resources, serves as vice chair of the American Water Resources Association’s Policy Technical Committee, and represents AWRA on the National Water Census stakeholder advisory committee. He served on the board of the International Sustainability Indicators Network from 2001 to 2005, the U.S. General Accountability Office’s expert advisory committee on environmental indicators in 2004, and the National Science Foundation’s water policy advisory committee in 1982. John received Renew America’s National Environmental Achievement Award in 1990 for the category of ground water protection, and the Friends of the United Nations Environment Programme FUNEP 500 Environmental Achievement Award, also in 1990. He was honored by the University of North Carolina School of Public Health with its Environmental Sciences Achievement Award. John received his M.S.P.H. from the UNC School of Public Health and his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

N	Deanna White Minnesota State Director Clean Water Action See Bio Deanna White is the Minnesota State Director of Clean Water Action. She brings with her an extensive background in political and community organizing. Most recently, she ran the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that, she spent eight years with the Sierra Club beginning as a community organizer in Las Vegas, serving as National Deputy Political Director in Washington DC and returning to South Dakota as a Senior Regional Representative. She began her career as a campaign organizer with the South Dakota Democratic Party in 1992.

N	Allison Wolf Legislative Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy See Bio Allison Wolf joined MCEA as Legislative Director in October 2005. She served as Senate Counsel from 1983 to 1994 and has also worked for The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Justice Foundation, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate. A native of Northfield, Minnesota, Allison lives in Minneapolis with her two children, Claire and Eliot, and her husband, Jerry Wilhelm. She is a graduate of Carleton College and obtained a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

O	Steve Woods Assistant Director Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources See Bio Steve Woods is Assistant Director at the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, where he has worked since 1999. Previously, Woods was a Senior Engineer at Montgomery Watson Harza, where he specialized in Water Resources Engineering and Watershed Management. He also worked as a research analyst in the Division of Waters at MN Department of Natural Resources. Woods earned a Master of Public Administration at Hamline University and a Bachelor of Agricultural and Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

N	Annie Young Environmental Justice Organizer Harrison Neighborhood Association See Bio Annie Young is an environmental justice organizer in the Harrison Neighborhood of Minneapolis, focusing on environmental justice issues and health disparities facing communities of color. She is currently serving her fifth term as an at-large Commissioner for the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board. Young has been a professional community organizer for over 35 years with an emphasis on the environment and environmental justice issues. She was awarded the "Mother of Environmental Justice Award" from the Women's Environmental Institute in October 2008.

O	David Zumeta Executive Director Minnesota Forest Resources Council See Bio Dave Zumeta is Executive Director of the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, a position he has held since 2001. He previously spent 20 years with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in various managerial, supervisory, and senior staff capacities, including 13 years as Forest Planning Supervisor. Earlier in his career he worked as a Forest Planner for the State of Indiana, a Research Planner for the U.S. Forest Service in California, and a Wildlife Ecologist for a private consulting firm in Pennsylvania. Dave earned a PhD in Forest Policy from the University of Minnesota in 1995, an M.S. in Forestry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1977, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Haverford College in Pennsylvania in 1973.