Board Members:
Thom Maher, PresidentVice President, Human Resources for BRC Rubber & Plastics in Churubusco. Active in several groups, Thom is Vice President and a board member of Northeast Indiana Pheasants Forever. At LRWP, Thom chairs the Executive and Stewardship Committees.
Betsy Huguenard, Vice PresidentSubstitute school teacher and longtime nature lover who serves on the Executive, Finance, Fundraising, Stewardship, and Land Acquisition Committees.
Barry Ellis, TreasurerRetired senior accountant at a local CPA firm and a Certified Financial Planner. Barry chairs the Finance Committee.
Judy Nelsen, SecretaryRetired professor and Indiana Master Naturalist. Judy chairs the Fundraising Committee and serves on the Executive and Finance Committees.
Dwight EricssonRetired Director of the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University, is active with Historic Forks of the Wabash in Huntington. At LRWP Dwight serves on the Fundraising Committee.
Ron JamesPast Executive Director, Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission, and a lawyer in private practice. An original founder and longtime supporter of LRWP, Ron rejoined the board in January, 2009. Ron assists with legal matters.
Cathy KelkerRetired nurse and Indiana Master Naturalist. She chairs LRWP's Education Committee.
George ManningPast manager of the Native Seed Nursery, Heartland Restoration Services, Fort Wayne, and a graduate student at Taylor University, Upland. George serves on the Preserves Stewardship and Land Use Research Committees.
John SchuttVisiting Professor of Biology at IPFW in Fort Wayne. John chairs the Land Use and Research Committee and serves on the Stewardship Committee.
Karen SurguineRetired from Delaware Investments/Lincoln National Corp. where she was a Vice President. She currently works part-time as a commercial mortgage banker and is an Indiana Master Naturalist. Karen serves on the Fundraising Committee.
Tom RussellPartner at Barske, Perkins, Puglise, & Russell Financial Planning Firm. At LRWP Tom serves on the Fundraising Committee.
Dennis WhiteProperty Manager, Salamonie Reservoir. Dennis chairs the Land Acquisition Committee and serves on the Fundraising and Land Use and Research Committees.
Renee WrightRetired from Lincoln Re, where she was an Assistant Vice President of corporate communications. She currently works part-time as a freelance communications consultant. Renee serves on the Fundraising Committee.
Staff:
Betsy Yankowiak, Executive DirectorIPFW graduate in Environmental Geology, experienced naturalist, former co-property manager of the Fort Wayne Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and committed to local environmental issues.
Rachel Rossiter Smith, Community Relations CoordinatorIPFW Graduate, Formerly employed as a naturalist at Metea County Park.
Don Cunningham, Eagle Marsh Property Steward (seasonal)IPFW graduate in Biology, Indiana Master Naturalist, previously on maintenance staff at Fox Island County Park. Don enjoys hiking, backpacking, and running.
Steven Dally, Computer Network and Security Engineer (work-study student)Student of the Computer Networking Systems and Information Systems Security programs at ITT Technical Institute, and nature devotee.
Jessica Mansell, Graphic Designer (work-study student)Studying Visual Communication at ITT Technical Institute. Jessica is also a nature enthusiast.
Travis Paul, Web Developer (former work-study student)Nature enthusiast who is studying Software Applications and Programming at ITT Technical Institute.
General Advisory Board:
LRWP’s General Advisory Board consists of business and community leaders who have agreed to be available to our regular board and staff for advice in such areas as financial management, strategic planning, landowner relations, history of the Little River valley, and community outreach. GAB members include:
John BrooksExecutive Vice President, Brooks Construction Company, Fort Wayne
Tom CastaldiAllen County Historian and Vice President of Communications (Retired), Essex Group, Fort Wayne
John C. ClarkFirst Vice President, Raymond James & Associates, Fort Wayne
Joe DorkoChief Executive Officer, Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne
Michelle GrayVice President, Director of Marketing, Tower Bank, Fort Wayne
Jay O. JorgensenPresident, J & J Properties, Fort Wayne
Mark A. King, M.D.Brooklyn Medical Associates, Fort Wayne
Kevin KnightPresident, Knight Mechanical Testing, Fort Wayne
David B. LupkePresident, Lupke Rice Insurance and Financial Services, Fort Wayne
Pamela Martin-DiazMember-at-Large, Fort Wayne Community Schools, and Branch Manager, Allen County Public Library-Shawnee Branch, Fort Wayne
Rick PhillipsPresident, Phillips Financial
Maria ParraBoard Member, Wayne Township, and Parra Company, Fort Wayne
Ian RollandChief Executive Officer (Retired), Lincoln National Corporation, Fort Wayne
John ShoaffCity Councilman At-Large and Architect, Fort Wayne
Robert TernetOwner, Ternet Farms, New Haven
Dani TippmannMember, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami Nation of Indiana, Columbia City
Science Advisory Board:
LRWP’s Science Advisory Board is a panel of distinguished regional scientists willing to help with advice in their areas of expertise.
John BaconeDirector of Division of Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Wendy BarrottDirector of Energy and Environmental Services, City of Fort Wayne
Angie BrownWatershed Specialist, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Ken BrunswickEast Central Regional Ecologist, Division of Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Eric P. EllingsonCPG, PWS, President, Earth Source Inc./Heartland Restoration Services
Tony FlemingProfessional Hydrologist
Dr. Solomon IsiorhoProfessor and Chair, Department of Geosciences, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne
Ellen JacquartDirector of Stewardship, Indiana Chapter, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Bruce KingsburyProfessor and Chair, Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne
Sherman LiechtyDistrict Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dr. Paul E. RothrockProfessor of Biology and Environmental Science, Taylor University
Nate SimonsExecutive Director, Blue Heron Ministries, Inc.
Tim SkiverWetlands Specialist, Earth Source, Fort Wayne, and Fort Wayne firefighter.
Kevin TungesvickRestoration Ecologist, Spence Restoration Nursery