Marian Bender, Executive Director
St. Cloud, MN
P: 320-257-6630
Email MarianB@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Under the guidance of our Board of Directors, I am in charge of ensuring that Minnesota Waters is a sustainable and effective organization by directing programming, supporting an engaged, effective staff; managing finances; overseeing fundraising; building partnerships; and working to meet the needs of our members.
“I love the gorgeous lakes and rivers that make our state unique. But with this much water, it’s going to take effort from every one who enjoys them to save them for future generations. I want to help make that happen.”
Molly Zins, Program Director
Pequot Lakes
C: 218-851-2980
Email MollyZ@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Directing organizational development trainings and Guidebook resources; managing summits and legislative forums; coordinating lake/river management plan trainings with the Initiative Foundation; providing policy advocacy guidance and tools for citizen groups; coordinating statewide AIS stakeholder meetings and open houses with the DNR
"Living in a time and place filled with so many blessings, I’m reminded of the great responsibility that comes with these gifts."
Courtney Kowalczak, Program Director
Duluth, MN
P: 218-343-2180
Email CourtneyK@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Organizing and conducting workshops that train volunteers how to be at the forefront of water resources issues. Workshops include stream & lake water quality sampling, designing a water quality monitoring plan for lakes or rivers, and data interpretation of water quality data. Provide support to citizens that are concerned about the health of their local lake or river.
"The song of the river ends not at her banks but in the hearts of those who have loved her." Buffalo Joe
Erica LeMoine, Program Coordinator
Duluth, MN
P: 218-269-5682
Email EricaL@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Coordinating workshops for macroinvertebrate monitoring, chemical and physical monitoring, and data assessment. Workshop manual creation. Builds networks of citizen monitors. Interagency liaison. Researches and writes program related articles including newsletters and reports. Grant administration for Conservation Partnership. Professional and informal presentations. Assisting with monitoring certification program development. Grant research and writing. Lakes and Rivers Conference coordination.
“When you put your hand in the flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come.” Leonardo da Vinci
Jennifer Schaefer, Membership Coordinator
St. Cloud, MN
P: 320-257-6630
Email Jennifers@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Keeping our membership program operating efficiently and accurately by maintaining membership records, processing membership renewals, and sending gift acknowledgements. Serving the needs of our 3,000+ members by responding to member and general public requests for information via phone, regular mail, and email, sending information when requested. Special projects including publication design, website maintenance, social networking, targeted marketing campaigns, and event management.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. “ Albert Einstein
Alex Gehrig, Program Coordinator
St. Paul, MN
P: 218-251-1462
Email AlexG@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Providing support for citizens and organizing educational events in the Metro region, facilitating growth of lake/stream groups for the Watershed Association Initiative through the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, empowering new and existing groups to develop and implement management and action plans on issues threatening the health of lakes, streams and watersheds.
“We're all downstream.” Ecologist's Motto
Carrie Maurer-Ackerman, Program Coordinator
Pine River, MN
P: 218-587-2980
Email carrieA@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Organizing and conducting water quality monitoring workshops that train volunteers on Water Quality Sampling, Data Assessment and Interpretation, and Designing Water Quality Monitoring Plans. Coordinating, developing and updating various Minnesota Waters communications tools such as the MN Waters quarterly newsletter, the monthly e-newsletter The Confluence and the Minnesota Waters website.
"Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it." Henry David Thoreau
Chris LeDuc, Development Director
St. Cloud, MN
P: 320-257-6630
Email Chrisl@minnesotawaters.org
Responsibilities: Works to ensure that Minnesota Waters remains top-of-mind for
individuals,businesses, and corporate foundations who are inspired to provide financial
support for the work we do on behalf of healthy waters in our state.
