"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:
Tim left his position as president of the 11-lawyer firm O’Flaherty Heim Egan, Ltd., to become Executive Director of MVC because of his strong belief in the importance of MVC’s work and the effectiveness of the organization. Tim has been a resident of the Coulee Region of southwestern Wisconsin since childhood. He grew up working on farms and spent 14 years as a lawyer where he focused on environmental law and other civil litigation. Tim has served on several boards of directors for local organizations. Tim loves hiking, camping, rock climbing and scuba diving.
James Falvey, CFRE, Advancement Director:
James served as Assistant Director and Acting Executive Director of the Mississippi River Basin Alliance before joining MVC. He also has experience in the corporate realm, local government, and environmental education. James is a Minnesota native, and his wife’s family hails from Buffalo County. James enjoys spending time with his young children, and hiking in the woods.
George Howe, Conservation Director:
George’s varied experience includes working as a biology teacher, 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, and recreating in the outdoors.
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 Carpathian Mountains and Wright & Pottawattamie County Conservation Boards. Abbie enjoys gardening, camping and hiking around with her exuberant dog Ralphie.
Marghie Rich,
Office Manager:
Before joining MVC, Marghie studied accounting in La Crosse and environmental law at Central Michigan University. She previously worked in customer service and data entry for water quality testing. She is as adept with computers as she is working with people. Marghie enjoys being outdoors, gardening and taking her Golden Retriever, Rheia, for walks.
Jessica Bolwahn, Restoration Biologist:
Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and is working on her master’s degree. She has gained valuable experience as an environmental restoration technician for a private contractor and has volunteered for The Prairie Enthusiasts and USGS UMESC. She has also worked as a research assistant at UW-L. Jessica was largely responsible for launching MVC’s successful efforts in the use of prescribed burns to restore prairie ecosystems.
Mississippi Valley
Conservancy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy is very honored and privileged to
have
the following people on their Board of Directors:
Board Officers
Ralph Heath - President
George Kerckhove - Vice President
Paul Jacobson - Treasurer
Mike Ripp - Secretary
Board Members
Gretchen Benjamin
Kristi Cadwell
Pat Caffrey
Jay Fernholz
Jim Gallagher
Phil Gelatt (Emeritus)
Jason Gilman
Paul Gleason
Barb Hammes
Dale Hein
Ed Hill
Maureen Kinney
Eileen Kirsch
Chuck Lee
Paul Patros
Steve Prosser
Mike Ripp
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, 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.