2025-26 Chapter Board of Directors

 



President
Currently Mark is leading volunteer stewardship efforts at the Broughton Nature Preserve in Marietta, Ohio and the Friends of the Ohio River Islands at the Ohio River Islands Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Williamstown WV.  Prior to his move to SE Ohio, Mark was a steward at the Deer Grove Forest Preserve in Cool County, IL. He has led watershed groups, Land Trusts and restoration activities in various volunteer leadership roles over the past twenty years. Contact: mark.krivchenia@gmail.com

 

Vice President
Mary Damm holds a PhD in Biology from Indiana University for research comparing reconstructed and native prairies in the black-soil tallgrass prairie in Iowa for plant diversity and soil characteristics. She researched plant diversity in alpine grasslands for her MS degree at the University of Colorado. Mary currently owns Prairie Quest Farm, a 120-acre farm in the Driftless Region of Northeast Iowa, and manages the land for the production of cool-season pasture for grass-fed beef cattle as well as habitat for rare, breeding grassland birds (Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark). She researches plant diversity and productivity of the pasture-grassland as well as documents bird diversity and bird behavior in the pastures and woodlands of the farm. Mary has been a member of the SER Midwest-Great Lakes chapter since its inception and has attended all but one of the chapter’s annual meetings.
Contact: marydamm@gmail.com

 

Secretary
Peter C. Smiley Jr. (Rocky) is currently a Research Ecologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Columbus, Ohio. His research program involves obtaining scientific information to guide the restoration of agricultural headwater streams in the Midwestern United States. Rocky has authored/coauthored more than 40 peer review manuscripts, seven book chapters, and 45 technical articles. Additionally, he is the co-editor of the book “Ecological Restoration in the Midwest: Past, Present, and Future”. Rocky was the Co-Chairperson of the Organizing Committee that launched the SER MWGL Chapter in 2008 and has served on the Chapter Board of Directors since its inception as President, Newsletter Editor, At-Large Representative, Annual Meeting Chair, and Secretary. Additionally, he is a lifetime member of SER and serves on SER Global’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In 2011 he was awarded the John Rieger Award by SER for his contributions in establishing the SER MWGL Chapter. Rocky has a BA in Art and Biology from Hiram College, a MS in Biological Science from the University of Mississippi, and a PhD in Forest Resources from Mississippi State University.
Contact: smiley.54@osu.edu

Treasurer
Meg is a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in Fish and Wildlife Science and Conservation, specializing in Ecological Restoration. She has volunteered as a Land Steward with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve, gaining hands-on experience in land management and conservation. Meg currently serves as the Director of Education Ministry at Walcamp Outdoor Ministry and Retreat Center, where she develops curriculum and teaches 5th–8th grade private, public, and homeschool students. Her programs integrate restoration ecology, conservation, STEM, and outdoor adventure-based learning. Meg believes ecological restoration is the future of conservation and is passionate about inspiring middle and high school students through practical, hands-on restoration work. She leads these efforts across Walcamp’s 254-acre property in Northern Illinois.
Contact: meghansen74@gmail.com

State Representatives


State Representative (Illinois)
Tony Lazzara is an associate consultant and project manager at Davey Resource Group (DRG), with over five years of experience in ecology and botany. His passion for the outdoors has led him to develop expertise in plant identification, herbicide application, invasive species management, and advanced restoration techniques. With strong skills in team leadership and equipment operation, Tony’s deep understanding of Midwestern ecosystems positions him as a valuable asset in managing complex ecological initiatives and driving successful restoration projects.  

State Representative (Minnesota)
Before joining the Washington Conservation District (WCD) as a Landscape Restoration specialist, Elissa Thompson worked in the private sector designing, implementing, and enhancing natural spaces for over a decade. Her role now at the WCD (since 2022) is to provide technical expertise and support through design and implementation of Best Management Practices for the restoration of native landscapes and protection of water resources. She also acquires grant funds, develops educational programs, and facilitates community outreach.
Contact: EThompson@mnwcd.org
State Representative (Iowa)
Dr. Keith Summerville received his undergraduate degree in environmental science from Westminster College, PA in 1995.  Keith spent over a year working as a field ecologist for the Nature Conservancy, Michigan Chapter before attending Miami University (Ohio) to complete his Ph.D. Keith has since been on the faculty and involved in various administrative and leadership roles at Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) since 2002.  Keith is currently Levitt Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Director of the Jay N. Darling Institute for Rural Sustainability.  His teaching interests include restoration ecology, conservation biology, field zoology, and quantitative ecology.  His research focuses on developing sustainable management frameworks for forests and prairie systems in North America and western Rwanda.  He serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society and has been on the Board of the SER Midwest and Great Lakes Chapter since 2016.  He currently chairs the Board’s Development Committee.
Contact: keith.summerville@gmail.com
State Representative (Michigan)
Dr. Rod Chimner is a Professor of Wetland Ecology at Michigan Technological University and leads a comprehensive wetland restoration program. With over 30 years of experience in wetland ecology and restoration, he specializes in peatland ecosystems, including Sphagnum-dominated, forested, fen, tropical, and mountain peatlands worldwide. His expertise also extends to studying and restoring various other wetlands, such as vernal pools, marshes, riparian areas, wet meadows, and forested wetlands in the Great Lakes region. Dr. Chimner has authored over 80 publications and secured more than 75 research grants. His notable contributions include serving as a Co-Coordinating Author for the Regional Assessment for North America in the UNEP Global Peatlands Assessment, a Co-Author of the Terrestrial Wetlands chapter in the Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR2), and a Contributing Author for Inland Wetland Mineral Soils in the IPCC 2013 Supplement. He is also the Co-Author of Mountain Peatland Restoration: Assessment, Goals, and Approaches. For 20 years, Dr. Chimner has taught senior-level Wetland Ecology and Management and graduate-level Restoration Ecology courses at Michigan Tech.
Contact:

 
State Representative (Indiana)
Charles Martin is a Senior associate consultant for Davey Resource Group (DRG). Charles has over 20 years of experience in restoration projects both the public and private sectors, and around the Midwest region. His primary areas of interest include prescribed fire, wetland and prairie restoration. His past project work includes clients such as USACE, Indiana DNR, National Park Service and local municipalities. Charles has also worked extensively in the Calumet watershed in northwestern Indiana.
State Representative (Ohio)
Kevin Ptacek is a project manager for the ecological consulting services offered by Davey Resource Group’s Southern Ohio office. Kevin is experienced in creating site-specific integrated vegetation management (IVM) plans to ensure long-term control of invasive species and develops restoration planting plans primarily for stream and wetland restoration projects.
Contact: kevin.ptacek@metroparks.org
State Representative (Wisconsin)
Brad Herrick is the Ecologist and Research Program Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. He holds a BA in Biology from Luther College, MS in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and is currently a PhD student in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison. He has over 17 years of experience conducting and monitoring restoration projects. His favorite project has been collaborating with colleagues to maintain the biodiversity of the oldest restored prairie in the world, the Arboretum’s Curtis Prairie. Recently he has been studying the population dynamics and ecological impacts of a new group of non-native, invasive earthworms called “jumping worms”.
Contact: bradley.herrick@wisc.edu

At Large Representatives

At Large Representative
Chelsey Blanke is an ecologist in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota. She manages the University of Minnesota Extension’s Ecological Restoration Training Co-operative and several applied plant management and restoration projects. Chelsey is particularly interested in building bridges between research and management and increasing restoration resilience through practitioner-focused professional education. Her past work has focused on grassland restoration, invasive species, fisheries ecology, and other topics. She previously worked at the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and has an M.S. degree in Freshwater and Marine Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Contact: cblanke@umn.edu
At Large Representative
Martha Holzheuer is the owner of Nature Niche, a nature-focused gift and supply store in Midland, MI.  She spent ~15 years working as a landscape ecologist and environmental consultant, specializing in threatened and endangered species protection, native plant design, invasive species management, wildlife habitat enhancement, and ecological restoration.  Before that, she taught woody plants field labs while securing dual Masters Degrees in Terrestrial Ecology and Landscape Architecture at the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  She’s a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner, Professional Landscape Architect registered in Michigan, Certified Ecologist, and Certified Arborist. She loves botanizing and gardening with native plants, nature photography and art, helping people connect with nature, strategizing to protect rare species, gift giving, and making people happy.
Contact: naturenichemi@gmail.com

At Large Representative
Trevor Edmonson is Site Manager for The Nature Conservancy at the 8,000 acre Kankakee Sands Preserve In Indiana.  Before that he worked in the Chicago area for 7 years as Project Manager for The Wetlands Initiative.  He enjoys nature writing, macro photography, sheet lighting, and spending time with his wife and 2 kids.
Contact: trevor.edmonson@tnc.org.
At Large Representative
Most recently Fred Van Dyke has served as Executive Director of the Au Sable Institute from 2011-2020 (Michigan, USA), a private, faith-based organization in conservation and an international voice for the Christian community in conservation efforts. At Au Sable Fred developed conservation curricula for college students throughout North America, as well as research collaborations with government, industry, and Native American Tribal Nations. In academia, Fred served as Chair of the Department of Biology and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Wheaton College (Illinois). At state, national, and international levels, Fred has been a wildlife biologist in Montana, a consultant to the US National Park Service, and a contributor to the United Nations Development Programme in ecological restoration. With industry, Fred has been a consultant to energy companies on both forest and wildlife conservation. His writings in conservation research, conservation education, and environmental ethics have been published in numerous journals and books, and his textbook, Conservation Biology (Springer 2020), now in its third edition, is used globally by students in the study of conservation. Currently Fred serves as the Director of Achievement Consulting, providing counsel and services in leadership and professional development, construction of academic curricular, strategic planning, and research design and publication. He is also an Associate Consultant of Greenpesa, a sustainability “think & do” firm providing practical solutions to the most intricate environmental & human development challenges of our time – energy, water, and food production.

Student Representatives

Student Representative
Jackson Brady is a PhD candidate and research assistant in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Management (BBSEM) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, with a research emphasis on ecological restoration of boreal peatlands. He also holds a master’s degree in BBSEM from UMN, an undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering from Purdue University, an EIT certification in chemical engineering, and is a due paying student member of SER. Through his time at UMN he has been involved in student leadership positions such as a representative for CFANS college to the Council of Graduate Students, member of the Graduate Student Engagement Committee to promote connections and community among the Bioprocess and Bioproducts Engineering department. Most significantly, over the last year he has driven the development of the first SER Student Chapter at the UMN Twin Cities campus. This process included personally organizing the founding of the executive board, drafting of the chapter constitution, applying for and receiving grant funding through the MWGL Chapter, and growing student membership from 6 different undergraduate and graduate departments to over 20 members in 6 months. As the student representative for MWGL SER he continues to serve his fellow students and cultivate curiosity and passion for ecological restoration.
Contact: brady449@umn.edu

Student Representative
Megan Wenner is in the first semester of her Master’s degree at Loyola University Chicago. She is originally from Minneapolis, and attended Loyola as an undergraduate, where she received her Bachelor’s in Conservation and Restoration Ecology. The opportunities Meg followed as an undergrad – on the leadership board of Loyola’s Restoration Club, through experiential coursework, and as an undergraduate researcher in a Great Lakes wetland ecology lab – solidified her commitment to and expanded her skillset in the field of ecological restoration. She plans to pursue a career that bridges practical land management with ecological research. To this end, She is working towards a Master’s in Environmental Science and Sustainability and conducting research in the lab she worked in as an undergrad. Megan’s thesis project aims to inform and improve wild rice population establishment efforts in Great Lakes wetlands facing high nutrient inputs and encroachment by invasive cattails.
Contact: mwenner@luc.edu
 

See Past Board of Directors (2008-2020)