Staff
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Thomas Nelson
Executive Director
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Tom joined our staff in 2004. In January, 2015, he took over as executive director when longtime director Brian Price retired. Until then, Tom served as our Director of Farm programs. His focus was conserving farmland, in addition to working to protect other important landscapes. He understands that farmland preservation is an extraordinary tool for […]
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Kathy Birney
Finance Director
Kathy is a certified public accountant who brings a wealth of experience as a former finance director and chief financial officer in the corporate world, as well as having been board treasurer of two nonprofit organizations. She is currently volunteering in the Leland School’s mentoring program. Kathy has deep roots in the area. Her mother […]
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Yarrow Brown
Conservation Easement Program Manager
Yarrow is a native of Menominee, MI in the Upper Peninsula and joined our staff in July 2008 as a land protection specialist. She started managing the Conservation Easement Program in 2012 and also manages the water quality monitoring program and helps with watershed planning. She worked previously in the Black Hills of Wyoming, where she managed a conservation […]
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Molly Crimmins
Administrative Coordinator
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Molly lives in Leland with her husband, Bret, and their three children and their dog. Molly and her family moved from Chicago to the area in 2004 and for many years prior to that spent almost every vacation and holiday coming to Leelanau. Her husband, Bret, owns and runs the Blue Moon Ice Cream shop in Cedar. Molly […]
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Meg Delor
Development Director
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Meg joined our team this year. A native Michigander, she has relocated from Nevada where she previously held the post of Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. She has over 25 years of development experience and has worked for several organizations in the Detroit area, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Wayne State […]
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Emily Douglas
Land Steward
Emily Douglas joined the Stewardship staff in April, 2015 as the Land Steward. She monitors the Conservancy’s fee-owned lands and works closely with the Natural Areas and Preserves Manager to write and update management plans, prioritize invasive species projects, and initiate restoration projects. Previously she worked for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to help launch […]
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Gayle Egeler
Membership Coordinator
Gayle, a Leelanau County native, has been a part of our staff since 1990.
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Carolyn Faught
Senior Writer and Donor Loyalty Officer
Carolyn joined our staff in 2002 and served as Communications Director through 2017. She lives in Omena with her husband, Dave and has two grown sons. In addition to working three days a week at the Conservancy, she also owns and runs Omena Cut Flowers, a U-Pick flower farm. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Carolyn […]
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Kim Hayes
Land Protection Specialist
Kim was born and raised in Michigan, growing up on Grand Traverse County’s Old Mission Peninsula. Her parents introduced her to Leelanau County on regular weekend outings. Subsequently, she and her family and friends spent lots of time exploring Leelanau’s natural areas where she gained an appreciation for the rural way of living, small towns, […]
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Matt Heiman
Director of Land Programs
Matt joined our staff in 2001 as a Land Protection Specialist. He has a passion for fishing that drives his desire to protect Leelanau’s most critical habitat and ecologically sensitive areas. His educational and professional experience in aquatic ecology helps him convey to landowners the value of their land from more than just a financial […]
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Chase Heise
Land Steward
Chase is a Michigan native and a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife, concentrating in Conservation Biology. He has worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources division of Parks and Recreation in Presque Isle, MI while attending school. Chase has had a deep respect for the outdoors since […]
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Becky Hill
Natural Areas & Preserves Manager
Becky fell in love with the beauty of Northern Michigan as a teenager spending her summers canoeing the AuSable River at summer camp. Inspired by nature and her passion for the outdoors, Becky began on a path to study Environmental Science and a career in conservation. Becky has extensive experience addressing invasive species, and planning […]
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Sara Michael
Charitable Giving Manager
Sara joined the Conservancy in 2010 and has helped with some of the Conservancy’s biggest fundraising efforts including the $21 million Leelanau Forever Campaign and the creation of the Swanson Preserve, Clay Cliffs Natural Area and Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. Sara grew up in Traverse City and developed her love of Leelanau County by fishing […]
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Leslee Spraggins
Planned Giving Officer
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Leslee joined the Leelanau Conservancy in January 2013 as Leadership Giving Officer, helping support all aspects of the Conservancy’s work. Leslee and her husband John recently moved to the Northport area after falling in love with the “land, water and scenic character” of the Leelanau Peninsula. She is ecstatic that she can work with staff, […]
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Claire Wood
Communications Manager
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Claire joined our staff in January 2017. As the Communications Manager, she helps to tell the Conservancy’s story and manages the Conservancy’s website, social media, and publications. Claire also watches over our volunteer program and is responsible for planning events and engagement initiatives like Earth Week. Claire has eight years of experience working in communications […]
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Shelly Stusick
Huron Pines AmeriCorps Member
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
One of our AmeriCorps members last summer, Shelly is incredibly excited to be serving a second, longer term with us this year. Originally from Grand Rapids, Shelly recently returned from a six week road trip throughout the Southwestern and Western United States, visiting as many National Parks and Monuments as possible and camping in unbelievable […]
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Connor Kotte
Huron Pines AmeriCorps Member
231-256-9665 / [email protected]
Growing up in the Chicago suburb Oak Park, IL, Connor always felt that his urban environment clashed with an intrinsic pull toward nature and that eventually his path would lead him away from the city. He earned degrees in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and continued his search […]