DISCOVERY CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Conservation Technician and Naturalist
I'm from Dekalb Illinois, my favorite part of working with plants is their incredible diversity and their amazing adaptations to live be able to live where they do. I have my degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in Wildlife ecology and I was a former staff member for Treehaven assisting in the plant ID course. I love to go fishing and swimming in my free time.
Job Titles:
- North Lakeland School Liaison Expand
- Superintendent of North Lakeland School District
A lifetime resident of the northwoods, Brent is the Superintendent of North Lakeland School District -- a school that prides itself on its extensive outdoor education program and high student achievment. Brent received his B.S.E. from UW-Whitewater in Broadfield Social Studies and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Marian University. Brent and his wife Amber have four active kids and love spending time together as a family.
As the North Lakeland School Liaison, Brent looks forward to providing an educational perspective to the Discovery Center Board while maintaining the strong relationship between both organizations. Brent has been a board member since 2012.
Dave Schultz and his wife Mary Beth are year-round residents on Rock Lake in Winchester. While raising their 2 children in southeastern Wisconsin summer weekends were enjoyed on Pewaukee Lake at the family compound fishing, swimming, sailing and skiing.
Dave earned his Finance, Investment and Banking degree from the University of Wisconsin and his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Dave recently retired from Ingersoll Rand (IR) where he led the company's international Treasury activities including cash management, investments, debt financing, subsidiary capitalization and foreign exchange. Prior to joining IR he held roles in the corporate HQs of various manufacturing companies where he managed banking relationships, insurance/risk management, pension and 401(k) plan investing, and health and benefit plan administration and procurement.
Dave enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Dave and Mary Beth volunteer at the Mercer Food bank monthly distribution and are members of the Turtle Lake Association and are "Clean Boats - Clean Waters" ambassadors.
The North Lakeland Discovery Center Board and Staff are delighted to announce the appointment of Don Anderson as our new Executive Director, effective June 17, 2024. Don currently serves as the Principal at Eagle River Elementary School, a role he has held since 2018, following a year as Assistant Principal. With a career dedicated to education, Don began as a special education teacher at Eagle River Elementary from 2005 to 2013. He then ventured into co-founding and teaching at SOAR Middle School in Land O'Lakes from 2013 to 2017. During his time at SOAR MS, a project-based learning institution with a strong focus on environmental education and conservation, Don and his colleagues led students on numerous expeditions throughout the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These adventures served as immersive experiences, allowing students to deeply understand and appreciate the remarkable ecosystems of our region. Both at Eagle River Elementary School and SOAR MS, Don and his team have been users of the NLDC's services.
Doug has volunteered at NLDC as a member of the Finance Committee, Steering Committee and Building Subcommittee since March 2022.
He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and received a BA, MBA and CPA from the University of Illinois where he met his wife Libby. After attending law school at UCLA, Doug worked as a corporate lawyer with O'Melveny & Myers and then joined SAIC, a research and technology services company, where he served as General Counsel for 18 years. He later served as general counsel of AeroVironment, a drone manufacturer.
Doug has vacationed at their 110-year old log home on an island in the Star Lake area for almost 30 years. After retiring in 2016, Doug began spending summers and falls in the Northwoods and winters and spring at their house in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. In 2020, they became full-time Northwoods residents. Doug is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, mountain climbing, river rafting and international travel.
Doug was a construction regular with Habitat for Humanity and a tutor with Casa d'Amistad in San Diego. He serves as a director of the Ballard, Irving White Birch Lake Association and he and Libby founded Save our Rustic Road, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Rustic Road 60.
Originally from the east, Eric has lived in Buzzard's Gap Virginia, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Fairfield, Connecticut and Colesville, New Jersey. He moved to Wisconsin to attend Carthage College in Kenosha where he met wife Mary. Mary and Eric have two daughters and three grandchildren. Eric received a master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Wisconsin and worked many years with disabled adults in the field of vocational rehabilitation, and more recently in student services at Gateway Technical College. Upon retirement Mary and Eric have made the north woods their permanent home where they enjoy the great outdoors, making maple syrup, biking, fishing, traveling and pursuing hobbies of stained glass and art welding. Eric served on the Kenosha County Multiple Sclerosis Society board, is past president of the Hiawatha Lake Association, and currently serves on the Manitowish Waters Presbyterian Church Session and the Winchester Lions. He has been a member of the NLDC board since 2014. JoAnn (Jody) Miller Expand Milwaukee Institute of Technology; University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. FedEx 24 years - retired; Flying Tiger Airline - 10 years; American President Lines - 10 years; Management: International sales, product development and operations. Volunteer - Secretary of Manitowish Waters Historical Society and Secretary of Manitowish Waters Lakes Association; Manitowish Waters Lioness Club.
Hannah received her B.S. from UW-Stevens Point in Wildlife Ecology and Management in 2019. She worked for the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department and Forestry Department performing a variety of ecological surveys and field work in Iron County. Her education and experience is rooted in Wisconsin, and she enjoys any outdoor activity: hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, disc golfing, snowshoeing, you name it! She joined the NLDC team in 2022, and hopes to help expand educational programs, outreach, and opportunities for the northwoods community. Contact Hannah at hannah@discoverycenter.net for questions about residential education programming.
Job Titles:
- Woods & Water Program Director
Jamie received her B.S. in Biology and Natural Resource Sciences from Northland College in Ashland and spent two college summers 'salamanderin' in the Appalachian Mountains. Then developed her skills at positions with the Illinois Natural History Survey and working as a Restoration Ecologist & Operations Manager in Milwaukee. Jamie came to the Discovery Center in 2022 and looks forward expanding the Water Program's reach to property owners and business to increase shoreline restoration efforts and protection of native plant communities here in the Northwoods.
Jenna Richardson grew up in the Ohio River Valley where she spent her childhood walking creek beds in search of salamanders and crayfish. She was often found in the woods with leaves in her hair. In 2013 she received her BS in Science in Communication and Anthropology and then began traveling the contiguous United States. During that time, she spent 2 winters working as a Naturalist Guide/Ski Instructor based out of the Snow Lodge Ski Shop. It was in that position that she found fulfillment in sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world. In 2019 she found her way back to the Midwest and worked as a Naturalist Guide at Gunflint Lodge and Outfitters outside of the Boundary Waters. There Jenna facilitated programming for people of all ages, but she found she most enjoyed working with children. Jenna began working at the Discovery Center as a Seasonal Naturalist in May of 2023 facilitating many on-site programs including the Eco Series for children and Discover the Discovery Center Series. Her hope is to increase our children's program offerings, and to continue to inspire people, of all ages, to make meaningful connections to the natural world around them.
Job Titles:
- Education Director / Naturalist
Licia joined the Discovery Center team in spring 2007 as a seasonal Environmental Educator. In December 2007 she was appointed permanent staff. Licia graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Geography. In addition to teaching, Licia is the coordinator for the Center's outreach programs.
Lori and her husband Scott are year round residents of Manitowish Waters since 2021 when Lori retired from active medical practice. They bought their home on Rest Lake in 2011 and were excited to find the trails of the NLDC across the street. They have enjoyed hiking, snowshoeing, and volunteering in various programs.
Lori attended UW - Milwaukee and received a BS in medical science, then attended the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she met her husband Scott, a retired emergency physician. She completed her residency in pediatrics at UM- Ann Arbor and practiced in Alaska where Scott was stationed with the Air Force, then in Pennsylvania, before moving to Wausau where they raised their 2 children and lived for 27 years .
Lori is passionate about children's health issues, and served on the Marathon County Board of Health for 25 years, along with the Early Childhood Coalition planning committee, Healthy Marathon County alliance, and United Way projects that impact children. She continues to teach some classes at the Medical College of Wisconsin central campus.
She and her husband enjoy all outdoor activities, adventure travel, and Lori is an avid gardener, serving as the co-leader of the NDLC garden club.
Job Titles:
- Facilities and Volunteer Coordinator
Megan joined the discovery center in May of 2022 and moved to the Northwoods from Madison, WI. She was a middle school teacher for 14 years in Janesville, WI and completed her Masters of Curriculum and Education during that time. She worked for several years at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in the Community Relations department. While there, she had the opportunity to work with volunteers and help produce community events, organize tours, as well as facilitate student programs. After moving to this beautiful area, Megan is excited to share this great facility with the many visitors and nature lovers of the Northwoods community.
Nicholas worked as an Enterprise Administrator for a multi-site manufacturing/construction company based in Oshkosh. He oversaw their migration to a unified fiber optic network, guided the company through security compliance certification needed to obtain government contracts, and installed the complete IT infrastructure into a new location's shell building.
Richard has been a member of the NLDC Board since 2019 and was elected Vice-Chair in 2020
Richard grew up between the Chicago suburbs and London, England. He received his undergraduate degree in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and his law degree
from the University of Illinois, where he met his wife Carol. Carol and Richard have three sons.
He spent 35 years working as an attorney for a major energy company in Houston, Texas--- but vacationed principally in the North Woods. Richard and Carol retired in 2017 and now live between a home in Presque Isle and a home in central Texas. Richard and Carol love canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing, land conservancy and "almost anything outdoors." They particularly enjoy the Boundary Waters.
Richard was Scout leader for 20 years and did a variety of other volunteer work. He served 20 years on the Board of the Intellectual Property Owners' Association, serving as its President for a term and was active in other national and local Intellectual Property organizations. He is delighted to no longer be practicing law.
Job Titles:
- Capital Campaign Coordinator Expand
Rolf was one of the founding members of the North Lakeland Discovery Center in 1996, and was the first full-time Executive Director from 1997 to 2003. He has served several terms on the Board of Directors, including holding several officer positions, and is an active volunteer. Currently, he is managing the Discovery Center's $6 million capital campaign to finally provide the tools to more effectively pursue our mission, with a year-around Welcoming and Learning facility, with classrooms, an expanded Nature Nook, meeting space and efficient office space; an endowment for permanent operational support, and a overall campus plan to enhance its natural beauty.
Ryan grew up in Boulder Junction, and has spent the last six summers building docks and decks in the Northwoods. He enjoys the outdoors as much or more than any man up here, and is an avid musky and walleye fisherman, and tournament angler. Ryan took the job here because he loves being part of a great place for kids to expand their outdoor experiences and education.
Steve grew up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and earned BS and MS degrees from UW-La Crosse. He spent most of his working career as a manufacturing real estate appraiser for the WI Department of Revenue in the Madison area.
During those early years Steve developed his love of lakes as a serious muskie fisherman, serving as national president of Muskies, Inc. from 1995-1997, and on the BOD of the Madison Fishing Expo Show from 1988-2008. He completed a 28 year Army Reserve career in 2008.
After retirement in 2008, and a move to the northwoods, Steve has served as a Rock Lake representative on the Turtle Chain BOD and on the Town of Winchester Lakes Committee since 2010. He has been on the Vilas County Lakes & Rivers Association BOD since 2011, serving as president from 2015-2019.
Steve is a graduate of the UW Extension/Lakes Lake Leader program in 2012, and was elected as a Town of Winchester Supervisor for two terms from 2015-1019. He and his wife Kay have lived on Rock Lake in Winchester since 2009, and have been NLDC members and supporters since 2011.
Winchester Lions Club; Winchester Town Lakes Committee member; Turtle Lakes Chain Association board member; Church board member; WateReuse Association Symposium chair.