Glen is the founding Executive Director of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. In this position he oversees the Conservancy’s efforts to protect scenic, natural and farm lands in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee Counties. Since the Conservancy’s founding in 1991 by Rotary Charities, nearly 47,000 acres of land and over 150 miles of shoreline along the region’s scenic rivers, lakes and streams have been forever protected. Glen is a member of the Land Trust Alliance’s Leadership Council as well as a founding board member of Michigan’s Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy. He holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. Glen lives in an historic farmhouse on the Old Mission Peninsula with his wife, Becky, and their sons, William, Martin and Leonard where he enjoys hobbies including playing the piano, barn restoration, studying American history and growing Riesling grapes.

Growing up downstate, Katie’s love of the outdoors was enriched by living on Lake Sherwood and camping throughout the United States National Parks system with her family every summer. Katie attended Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and has a true passion for inspiring and connecting people. Before joining the Conservancy team, Katie worked in local government as the Administration Manager for Grand Traverse County and as the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Traverse City. Katie also served as the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair for the Leadership Committee and is a Leadership Grand Traverse graduate. Katie is thrilled to be working alongside an amazing team of staff, board members, and volunteers who value nature not only for its own sake but for the quality of life it provides people.

Birgit has been with GTRLC since 1992 and oversees the financial and business operations management of the organization. Born and raised in Germany, Birgit moved to Traverse City in 1990 and later earned a B.S. in Accounting from Ferris State University. She has two grown children, Shawn and Serena, and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and aspires to be a world-traveler.

Raised and educated in Puerto Rico, Marguerite relocated to Michigan in 1977 and built a career in education that nurtured her love of land and water, and encouraged her passion for adult learners and their development. Completing a four-decade career at Northwestern Michigan College, Marguerite has now embraced the opportunity to leverage her experience and curiosity in the development of the People and Culture portfolio of the GTRLC.

Marguerite has degrees in agricultural sciences and watershed management from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, and Michigan State University. She serves on a diverse group of advisory boards and maintains her lifelong interest as a literary and technical translator. She and her husband Drew Craven live west of Traverse City with a menagerie of dogs, guinea fowl, an orange cat, and a love of adventure.

Marissa grew up in Traverse City working summers at local farms and sharing her love of the region with residents and tourists alike. She moved to Colorado after high school where she earned her B.A. in Strategic Communication from the University of Denver, with a minor in Environmental Science. She studied abroad in Italy, spending four months studying various topics like photography, recreational use in national parks and the slow food movement. Marissa is proud to have been part of the Conservancy team since 2013.

David Foote spent his early years in the woods and dunes of Hazelhurst, a small community on the shore of Lake Michigan founded by several important leaders of the early conservation movement. His entire career has been in land conservation and land management. Early on he was the supervisor of a large municipal beach in southwestern Michigan, an intern with both the U.S. EPA and the Escambia County Parks Department, and a park ranger with the Florida Park Service. He then worked as a natural resource specialist with the Land Preservation team in Broward County (the greater Fort Lauderdale area) who were building a $200 million bond-funded program to acquire conservation land and parks. Most recently David has worked for the South Florida Water Management District where his duties included wetland restoration, building and sustaining partnerships, writing management plans, public outreach, regional planning, and legislative work. He earned a B.S. from the University of West Florida in Environmental Studies/Natural Resource Policy, and a M.S. from Florida State University in Executive Management of Non-Profit and Public Organizations. In 2014 he earned a Juris Doctor from the Florida International University College of Law and became a member of the Florida Bar. In his free time, David enjoys sailing, swimming, painting, and spending time with his wife and three children, Talula, Petra, and Trey.

Chris grew up in Traverse City spending much of his youth camping, biking, and exploring the natural wonders of our region. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife with a Water Sciences concentration. Previous to joining GTRLC as a full time staff member, he served as a Huron Pines AmeriCorps member and later a Land Specialist. He has also held positions with the Invasive Species Network and the Grand Traverse Conservation District.

Growing up in Petoskey, Jennifer’s appreciation for our freshwater paradise started early and deepened after living for a time in the Arizona desert. Jennifer has a passion for connecting people to each other and to the environment in support of protecting and caring for our natural resources. Before joining the Conservancy team, Jennifer was the project manager for the Boardman River Dams Study. She previously served on the board of the Grand Traverse Conservation District and as a member of the Lower Boardman Leadership Team. Jennifer lives with Evan, a writer, with whom she enjoys cooking and growing things and restoring their 100+ year-old home.

Born in Wisconsin, Chris first moved to Traverse City when he was four years old. He received a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan, and has worked as a Research Assistant in limnology for the University of Michigan and with threatened/endangered salmon and trout stocks for the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest. Chris moved back to Traverse City to join the Regional Land Conservancy in April 1999. After seven years as the Conservancy’s Director of Stewardship, Chris spent time as a Land Protection Specialist, and, as of 2018, serves as Land Protection Director. Chris enjoys a multitude of outdoor pursuits in his spare time, and lives in Interlochen with his wife Ali and sons Riley and Owen (when they are home from college).

Katie has held the Great Lakes close to her heart from a young age. Growing up in West Michigan, she fell in love with Lake Michigan's shoreline while visiting family in Saugatuck and the Old Mission Peninsula. As a young adult, frequent backpacking and paddling trips to northern Michigan kindled her love for the outdoors and eventually lured her to the area. She earned a degree in Psychology from Aquinas College, where she decided to dedicate her career to making a positive impact. After graduating, she sourced donations from local food producers for Feeding America West Michigan and spent several seasons working on a small family farm. Before joining the Regional Land Conservancy in 2021, Katie worked with watershed restoration group, Conservation Resource Alliance.

In addition to preserving northern Michigan's spectacular wild spaces, Katie cares about protecting the region's freshwater resources and supporting sustainable food systems. She currently lives in Benzie County with her boyfriend, their beloved cat and dog, and their flock of chickens. She enjoys mountain biking, running, kayaking, snowboarding, gardening, and hanging out with her pets.

Karry's childhood spent on a lake outside of Detroit fostered a deep appreciation for nature, marked by extensive exploration and a passion for collecting insects and small animals. In 1996, Karry and her husband Chris relocated to Traverse City, where she secured a position at a local manufacturing company, eventually rising through the ranks to become the Business Manager. Leveraging her experience, love of dogs, and entrepreneurial spirit, Karry founded the D.O.G. Bakery & Marketplace in downtown Traverse City, which she successfully grew over 13 years. After selling the bakery, Karry worked for Munson Healthcare in the Corporate Finance department, before joining the Business Operations team at GTRLC, where she could combine her business experience with her passion for preserving the beauty of nature and its inhabitants.

Angie joined the Conservancy in 2009. In her current role on the stewardship team, she collaborates on biological inventories and restoration projects on GTRLC protected lands, including coordinating the native plant greenhouse. In addition to her role at GTRLC, she is currently the secretary of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Society. Angie is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and enjoys exploring and photographing the natural wonders of the Grand Traverse region.

Growing up in the Traverse City area, Allie has always had a deep appreciation for nature and the beauty of our northern Michigan region. Before joining the Conservancy’s business operations team in 2023, she worked for 12 years in varying capacities with children. Allie’s passion for education began with outdoor activity and camp instruction in New Zealand and continued with teaching in Montessori schools in Colorado and Traverse City. She is thrilled to raise her family in this area and to be a part of an organization that helps preserve and protect our vibrant region.

Erica grew up in southeast Michigan and spent her summers up at her family cottage on Crystal Lake, where she grew to cherish the incomparable natural beauty of the region. She went on to earn her B.S. in environmental science from the University of Michigan, specializing in conservation biology. After graduating she served in several AmeriCorps positions across the country, including building trails on 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado, and teaching environmental science topics to third graders in New Hampshire public schools. After serving for a year with GTRLC through Huron Pines AmeriCorps, Erica was delighted to stay on permanently as a Volunteer Coordinator. She can be found at all times of the year hiking, running, or biking any of the area’s gorgeous trails with her pup Levi.

Erin grew up in Ohio and studied biology and environmental science at Miami University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master's in Environmental Science. Before joining the Conservancy, Erin served as a Huron Pines AmeriCorps Member at Little Forks Conservancy in Midland, Michigan. Erin is thrilled to be at another land conservancy in Michigan and looks forward to exploring Traverse City.

Originally from the Lake City area of northern Michigan, Nick has been an enthusiastic observer of the region's wildlife, forests and ecosystems since growing up here. Prior to taking the position as manager for Misty Acres farm, Nick worked at small-scale farms in Michigan and served in AmeriCorps with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa. Nick attended Michigan State University where he studied livestock industries through the Institute of Agricultural Technology. After school, he worked on grass-based cattle and sheep grazing operations in the West and Midwest. During his free time, Nick enjoys visiting family, exploring the outdoors, and playing guitar. Nick is excited to combine the management of livestock and natural resource conservation at Misty Acres Farm.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Travis spent all of his time outdoors. From getting lost exploring the local forests, swimming in Torch Lake at his grandparent’s cottage, or on family trips to national parks, he quickly developed a true love and respect for nature. And from a young age, he knew he wanted to work in the outdoors. He went on to pursue a B.S. in Conservation Biology at Lake Superior State University in the Upper Peninsula, where he solidified his love and appreciation of land conservation.

Before joining GTRLC, Travis worked as a wildlife assistant for the DNR and a climbing arborist. When not working, you can find him backpacking, rock climbing, fly fishing, or planning his next national park to visit or mountain to summit. No matter where he is, he is usually with one of his cameras capturing gorgeous landscapes.

Samantha grew up in southeast Michigan. She received her B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University. During that time she was a seasonal inter for the Grand Traverse Watershed Center, and completed a senior thesis on Common Raven feeding behavior. On her free days she spends her time on her SUP board exploring the many lakes of Northern Michigan.

Constanza moved to Traverse City in 1994 after finishing graduate studies in science education at Michigan State University, leaving behind the idea of returning to her native Colombia. The beauty of the Grand Traverse region and the sense of community built around its natural resources made this place ideal for raising a family and pursuing her professional life.

As a science educator, Constanza has served K-12 and higher education institutions in the US and abroad, including Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS), Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), Michigan State University (MSU), Harvard University, and La Salle University (Bogotá, Colombia). Her career has focused on engaging a broad range of audiences, from school-age youngsters to professionals learning about natural resources and committing their careers to conservation. She played a key role in establishing the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute and creating a Freshwater Studies program at Northwestern Michigan College. Her work leading teams of student interns to support community water monitoring programs in Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Grand Traverse region has been one of her most rewarding experiences.

In addition to her current appointment with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Constanza serves on the Inland Seas Board of Directors and The Greenspire School Board of Education. She enjoys cooking, weaving, hiking, kayaking, and dancing.

Constanza received a degree in Biology from Los Andes University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teacher Education, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University.

Inspired by the beauty of the pristine places the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has helped to protect and the sanctuary those places provide, Barb is passionate about the work of preservation and land protection. Barb has worked in business development and sales for IBM and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. She loves being in the woods with her husband, Bob, and their dog hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and finds joy in gardening, cooking , reading and music.

As a native of southwest Michigan, Claire always displayed a passion for all things environmental. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University, began working as a GIS Specialist in Ludington, MI, and later transferred to Pittsburgh, PA. Claire was quickly drawn back to Michigan to be near family and the unmatched beauty of the region. Upon arriving in Traverse City in 2014, she served as a Research Technician for the MSU Horticultural Research Station, Planning & Zoning Coordinator for Peninsula Township, and is now thrilled to find a home at GTRLC as the Land Protection Assistant. Claire enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Robert, and their dog, Bear.

Brooklynne, a Traverse City native, grew up with an immense appreciation for nature and all things outdoors. As a child, she spent most of her summers on the Pine River with her parents, who were both very involved with conservation, learning how to fly fish and spending time at the family cabin. As she got older, she loved spending her time camping, hiking and at the beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. After moving to southern California for several years, and meeting her husband, Rands, her appreciation for Michigan and what it has to offer only grew, and in 2019 she returned to TC. You can most likely find her occupying her free time doing most anything outside with friends, Rands, and their dog, Lola. Brooklynne is also a hairstylist of 23 years, has a diverse work background otherwise and is very excited to have joined the team at GTRLC.

Steve is a native of Northern Michigan who grew up on High Lake in Traverse City. His time in the area cultivated his passion for wildlife and biology and ultimately influenced his educational path later in life. After attaining both a B.S. and M.S. in Biology/Zoology at Portland State University, Steve returned to the Traverse City area to be near family and to re-immerse himself into Northern Michigan living. Steve worked for the GTRLC as a seasonal employee for two years before joining full-time in early 2009. A diverse work background, including bicycle mechanic, electrophysiology/neural development research technician, biological science technician for USFWS, and carpenter/remodeler has provided Steve a wide range of skills which serve him well in the world of Land Stewardship.

Charlie grew up on the water in southwest Michigan where fishing and boating were daily activities. His love of the outdoors led to him pursuing his B.A. in outdoor education and environmental studies from Prescott College in Arizona. Charlie then attended law school at WMU Cooley Law School, and obtained a masters in environmental and natural resources law from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. Charlie lives in Traverse City, and after work you will find him fly fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter. He has previous work experience with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, and the Grand Traverse Conservation District.

Will grew up in Traverse City, where he developed his sense of place in the woods, the countryside, and the waters of northern Michigan. After earning a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University, the call of adventure and wilderness led him to several seasons of backcountry trail building in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Will then apprenticed on an organic dairy and vegetable farm in upstate New York. Upon returning home to Michigan, he continued farming, working with vegetables and managing a goat dairy for several years in Leelanau County. Prior to joining the GTRLC team, Will was the Produce Buyer for Cherry Capital Foods, a Michigan food distributor focused on direct partnerships with small-scale farmers. He lives with his wife and two kids, just outside of Traverse City, in a stand of tall sugar maples, where they revel in the early springtime tradition of making maple syrup.

A native of Northern Michigan, Mike grew up in Suttons Bay, spending his time outside hiking, sailing and riding bikes. He graduated from Michigan Technological University with B.S degrees in Applied Ecology and Wildlife Management. Mike joined the Conservancy team in 2006, and works with conservation easement owners throughout GTRLC’s service area. Mike, his wife Daniele and their three children can be found hiking, cycling, or spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Growing up in Pontiac, Michigan, Kathy enjoyed weekends and vacations at their family cabin in Grayling where she credits her parents for instilling her with a deep passion for the outdoors at a young age. In her teenage years Kathy’s family relocated to Grayling where she attended High School. After graduation Kathy worked in Petoskey for a time then moved to Traverse City where she worked for 13 years at a local non-profit.

Kathy enjoys photography, woodworking, fishing, hiking, kayaking and playing hockey. She also enjoys spending time with her family and has a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews. Kathy and her Yorki-poo, Maggie Mae, belong to the Teacup Dogs Agility Association (TDAA) and participate in local as well as national agility trials.

Kathy is excited to be part of the GTRLC team and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organization whose mission she passionately believes in.

A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Kate joined the Conservancy staff in 2002. She brings to her position a deep love of the region and appreciation for the wonderful people who make up our community. Kate’s interest in land stewardship and preservation was ignited while studying in Krakow, Poland, where she observed first-hand the positive influence that good community planning can have on the quality of life for future generations.
Before joining the Regional Land Conservancy, Kate was the Visitor Center Manager for the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Kate enjoys outdoor recreation of all kinds and all things creative: making art, playing and listening to music, dance, cooking and creative writing. She is also a member of the National Ski Patrol and serves as a first responder at Mount Holiday in Traverse City.

Fields grew up in Northern Michigan near the south end of Torch Lake. He received a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University and obtained a masters in Geographic Information Systems from Penn State University World Campus.

He has spent most of his conservation career working for various organizations in the Grand Traverse Bay Region which has included non-profits, conservation districts, and companies that provide eco-services. In between studying and working in conservation throughout the years in Michigan, Fields has volunteered abroad and has worked as a trail steward in Brazil, an environmental education coordinator in Curaçao, and a farm hand in New Zealand.

When he’s not working Fields enjoys a variety of sports and outdoor activities such as hockey, golf, hunting, fishing, and can also be found boating on one of the regions many beautiful lakes in the summertime. Fields currently lives in Williamsburg with his family and also enjoys sharing his love of nature with his wife, Ivy, and two young children Wren and Royal.

A Traverse City native, Nate grew up on the base of Old Mission Peninsula skiing, hiking and exploring “in his backyard,” (which is now Pelizzari Natural Area) and remembers when Pyatt Lake Nature Preserve became the Conservancy’s first protected property in 1991. These experiences as a youth and then living away from the area for many years galvanized his commitment to return to this special place and make it home. Nate brings an unwavering love of nature, design, words, and art to a team dedicated to keeping northwest Michigan amazing.

Nate holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Communication Arts from Aquinas College and a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Born and raised on the Old Mission Peninsula, Laura spent most of her time outdoors and developed a passion for the land. This lead her to pursue a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Science from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where she was a member of the Women's Volleyball team. She also attended the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal, Virginia.

During her college summers, she was a stewardship intern at GTRLC and has worked as a MAEAP technician at the Grand Traverse Conservation District prior to this.

She enjoys all outdoor activities and working on her family's vineyard on Old Mission with her husband, Peter, and dog, Odin.

Jenna grew up in the Maumee River watershed southwest of Toledo, Ohio. As a child, she lived on a small family farm next to her grandparents, where she learned valuable life skills such as gardening, canning and sewing. Her first Northwoods experiences occurred in northern Wisconsin, where she attended Northland College and majored in Biology. As an undergrad, Jenna collected and propagated native plant seeds as a student for the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. Upon graduation, she began working for the National Park Service, conducting vegetation surveys and inventories for several field seasons. Wanting to put down roots, she decided to pursue a Master’s in Education and went on to teach high school biology and ecology at Interlochen Arts Academy for nine years. She is glad to be firmly rooted in the Grand Traverse region and part of the GTRLC team. She enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, such as running, biking, canoeing and hunting, along with indoor crafts like knitting and sewing.

Growing up in a house with the rule that no one is allowed to be inside unless it is too cold, actively raining, or dark, Erin’s curiosity about nature started at an early age and only grew as her family traversed the country in the summers visiting as many national parks as possible. Jumping at the opportunity to relocate from the Flint area to Traverse City, she finished her senior year at Benzie Central and went on to study graphic design. Before joining the team at GTRLC, Erin worked as a graphic designer at Northwestern Michigan College and Cherry Republic. Having only fallen deeper in love with the area, most of her free time is now spent outdoors and exploring northern Michigan with her husband Alan, children Rowan and Fianna, and rowdy pup Ursa.

Raised on the northern shores of Lake Michigan, Cody from a young age developed a deep appreciation and understanding for the natural world. After attending Northern Michigan University in Michigan's upper Peninsula pursuing a degree in ecology, Cody went on to work for the University of Tennessee gathering research on grassland bird demographics and beef cattle production as well as for Oregon State University in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management studying Sage grouse in Oregon's Warner mountains. Recently Cody worked two seasonal field positions with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and is now thrilled at the opportunity to work as a land specialist with GTRLC. His interests in land management, ecological sustainability, and project management serve him well working for the conservancy. In his time off you can find him in the woods grouse hunting, fly fishing, mountain biking, and trail running with his German shorthaired pointer, Bella.

A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Connor has enjoyed the beauty of the Great Lakes region since birth. From an early age, his grandparents instilled in him a love of and respect for the outdoors, which has continued to this day. His childhood years were spent doing every outdoor activity he could, including camping, backpacking, swimming, sailing and fishing. After earning a B.A. in Psychology from Albion College, Connor traveled to New Zealand, where he spent six months living out of a van and hiking 8 of the country's famed Great Walks with his now-wife, Hannah. Now settled in Traverse City with Hannah, his young twins (Theo and Josie) and his dog (Wellington), Connor is excited to be a part of a team that gives back to and protects our community in such an important way.

Erin is thrilled to return to GTRLC at this exciting and important moment for conservation in our region. For two decades, Erin has enjoyed the privilege of helping nonprofit organizations thrive by connecting generous people with the missions and projects that reflect their deepest values.

After several years in New York City, Erin returned to her childhood home in northwest Michigan, where she was introduced to the world of philanthropy in both annual giving and major gift roles at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Eventually, she answered an opportunity to continue her career at the internationally-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts, spending six years working with the arts institution’s alumni and supporters. In 2014, Erin became executive director of Parallel 45 Theatre—a professional arts organization she co-founded—directing philanthropy and managing its general operations for the next seven years.

After a wonderful experience supporting the missions of some of our region’s most respected nonprofit organizations as a member of The Solvent Group fundraising consultants, Erin is thrilled to return to GTRLC as a senior charitable giving specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy. She loves reading fiction, tackling crossword puzzles, and spending as much time as possible outdoors. She lives in Traverse City with her husband, Ben, and their very good dog, Scooter.