Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Officers

President: Carolyn Miller
Carolyn has been on the board of WAM since 2019 and has spent her career working with plants.  She is currently the Plant Recorder for the WJ Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum at MSU and is involved with the Michigan Botanical Club, Red Cedar WildOnes and the Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

First Vice-President: Dave Putt
Dave has been on the board since 2020. He holds  B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Biological Sciences,  is a Conservation Steward for the Michigan Nature Association, board member of the Friends of the St. Clair River, former President of the Macomb County Master Gardener Association and a volunteer with the Lake St. Clair CISMA and the Clinton River Watershed Council.  He is a graduate of the MSUE Conservation Stewards Program and the Lake and Stream Leaders Institute, and a Master Composter and Master Rain Gardener.

Second Vice-President: Craig Elston
Craig has been a member of WAM for over 30 years and served on the board for almost 10 years. Craig is a naturalist for the city of Hudsonville and teaches the public about native plants and habitats. He is also an avid photographer of native plants.

Treasurer: Jane Giblin
Jane grew up on a farm in Ontario but is “well rooted” in Michigan. She has been a WAM member since 2009 and served on the WAM board since 2015. She is an Advanced Master Gardener and is involved in many organizations including WildOnes, Michigan Botanical Club, and the Rochester Garden Club.

Secretary: Jennifer Van Dusen
Jennifer has been on the board of WAM since 2017 and has been a member of WAM for many years. She is an Advanced Master Gardener, a member of the Little Traverse Bay Conservancy, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, and the Rochester Garden Club. She has a degree in Biological Sciences and an MBA from Oakland University.

Members At Large

Jim Brueck
Jim has been on the board of WAM since 2019 and is a certified Michigan Natural Shoreline Professional. He is a past president of the North Oakland Chapter of WildOnes, a Master Gardener, member of North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, Clinton River Watershed, and a Michigan Conservation Steward.

Jen Howell
Jen has worked for many years as a Stewardship Manager for Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and is now a Land Manger for the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens.  She has been a member of WAM since 2004 and was a WAM Grant recipeint in 2016.

Kirsten Lyons
Kirsten has been a WAM board member for the past year.  She has a Masters Degree in Natural Resources Stewardship – Ecological Restoration from Colorado State University, and a Masters Degree in Architecture with a concentration in Sustainability from Lawrence Technological University. She is also a Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline Professional, a Michigan Conservation Steward, and an Extension Master Gardener.   Kirsten is currently the Naturalist-Invasive Species Specialist at St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Linda Preiskorn
Linda is a retired teacher with a passion for native plants.  She is a member of the Washtenaw County Master Rain Gardeners and has just completed her Conservation Stewardship Certification.  Linda has been a member of WAM since 2018.

Melissa Zelenak
Melissa is currently the Executive Director of the Antrim Conservation District and prior to that she was the Outreach Manager for the Antrim Conservation District.  She is a long-time volunteer on many regional and statewide boards. She has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communications and a BS in Community Development.