"When we see land as a
community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and
respect."
Aldo Leopold
(1886 - 1948) American Forester
Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Staff
Tim Jacobson, Executive Director
tjacobson [at] MississippiValleyConservancy.org
Tim left his position as president of the firm O’Flaherty Heim Egan, Ltd., to become Executive Director of Mississippi Valley Conservancy because of his strong belief in the importance of MVC’s work and the effectiveness of the organization. He had been a volunteer for MVC for eight years and had served on the board of directors. Tim, a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, grew up working on dairy farms and studying nature on his family’s wooded property. At Marquette University Law School, he founded the Environmental Law Society and served as its first president. He spent 14 years as a lawyer where his practice included environmental law and complex farm litigation. He is admitted to practice before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court. He was recognized by Milwaukee Magazine and Law & Politics as a “Super Lawyer” in 2005. Tim serves on the board of directors for Gathering Waters Conservancy, a statewide organization, and also serves on the DNR’s Stewardship Advisory Council and Stewardship Access Citizens Advisory Council.
Tim’s recreational interests include rock climbing, scuba diving,
blacksmithing, piloting airplanes, playing disc golf with his daughter,
camping, hunting, karate and playing guitar.
George Howe, Conservation Director:
George’s varied experience includes workingas a biologyteacher,managing a nature preserve, chairing a volunteer land trust chapter, and performing research as a biologist. He has earned the following academic degrees/certifications: M.E.P.D. in Science Education, M.S. in Biology, and B.S. in Environmental Science. He not only works in land conservation, but also practices it in his personal life: he and his family donated a conservation easement to a land trust on a beautiful bluff and prairie they own. George enjoys doing prairie restoration on his family’s land, watching the peregrine falcons that nest there, andrecreating in the outdoors.
Kathy Frise, Advancement Director
Abbie Meyer, Conservation Specialist
Abbie arrived at MVC from southwest Iowa where she served as Private Lands Conservationist, working primarily with landowners interested in restoring their land. She holds a B.S. in Biology from
Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Abbie's diverse background in land management and conservation comes from working for a variety of agencies and organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Iowa DNR, Mills & West Pottawattamie Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the Ecological Institute of the Carpathaian Mountains and Wright & Pottawattamie County Conservation Boards. Abbie enjoys gardening, camping and hiking around with her exuberant dog Ralphie.
Marghie Rich, Executive Assistant
Before joing MVC, Marghie studied accounting in La Crosse and environmental studies at Central Michigan University, and is currently
pursuing her degree in Graphic Design. She previously worked in customer service and water quality testing. She is as adept with computers as she
is working with people. Marghie enjoys being outdoors,
gardening and taking her dogs for long walks.
Jessica Bolwahn, Restoration Biologist
Jessica earned her B.S. in Biology (Environmental emphasis) at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and is currently working on a Masters of Biology there as well. She came to MVC from Effigy Mounds National Monument where she worked in the Natural Resource department. While there, she conducted vegetation monitoring surveys, battled invasive plant species and was involved in prescribed fire. She has a strong interest in preserving and restoring the ecological integrity of our area through on the ground projects and community education efforts. On her own time, she is a member of the Coulee Region chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, enjoys gardening, spending
(more) time
outdoors and nature photography.
Jesse Tucker, Videographer
Jesse Tucker has been with Mississippi Valley Conservancy for over a year, starting out as a video intern in May of 2007 and moving up to a nearly-full time
staff member this spring. A recent graduate of UW-
La Crosse with a degree in Broadcast and Digital Communications, Jesse hopes to pursue a career in video production for non-profit organizations. Jesse is a lifetime lover of the outdoors
and is very much enjoying the opportunity MVC has given him to pursue both
his love of video and his love of the natural beauty that encompasses the
upper
Mississippi River valley.
Mississippi Valley
Conservancy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mississippi Valley Conservancy is very honored and privileged to
have
the following people on our Board of Directors:
Board Officers
Ralph Heath - President
George Kerckhove - Vice President
Paul Jacobson, CPA- Treasurer
Mike Ripp - Secretary
Board Members
Gretchen Benjamin
Kristi Cadwell
Pat Caffrey
Jim Czajkowski
Jay Fernholz
Don Frank
Jim Gallagher
Phil Gelatt (Emeritus)
Nancy Gerrard
Jason Gilman
Barb Hammes
Dale Hein
Ed Hill
Maureen Kinney
Chuck Lee
Paul Patros
Steve Prosser
Jonathan Rigden
Mike Ripp
Dave Skoloda
Craig Thompson (Emeritus)
Pat Wilson
Volunteers Needed:
Communication Committee
Newsletters, slide presentations, Web site, educational tours, promotions
Development Committee
Fundraising, grant writing, event planning and donations
Land Protection & Stewardship Committee
Oversee projects including but not limited to land acquisition and land
management
Workdays:
Seed collection, brush removal, sign posting, etc.
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If you are interested in any volunteer activity, please contact Marghie at mrich@mississippivalleyconservancy.org for more information.
Send email to webmaster with questions or comments.