Executive Committee

Chair: Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

• Gerald Miller (MACD President, Kent CD)
• Steve Law (MACD Vice‑President, Jackson CD)
• Nancy Szikszay (MACD Secretary/Treasurer, Genesee CD)
• Art Pelon (Past President, Ionia CD)
• Rivka Hodgkinson (MACD Executive Director, Ottawa CD)

Makes recommendations to the State Council on general operations and policies and serves as the principal liaison between the Association and its employees.

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Financial Committee

Chair: Nancy Szikszay, Secretary/Treasurer, Genesee CD

• Gerald Miller (MACD President, Kent CD)
• Steve Law (MACD Vice‑President, Jackson CD)
• Dawn Moses (Kalkaska CD, Region 3 Chair)
• Steve Schaub (Lapeer CD, Region 9 Chair)
• Rivka Hodgkinson (MACD Executive Director, Ottawa CD)
• Accountant – ZZZ Business Services

Oversees financial activities, reviews financial statements, and makes recommendations to the State Council on budgets and other financial matters while assisting with long‑range financial planning.

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Legislative Committee

Co‑Chairs: Rivka Hodgkinson (MACD Executive Director, Ottawa CD) and Steve Law (Vice‑President, Jackson CD)

• Gerald Miller (MACD President, Kent CD)
• Nancy Szikszay (Secretary/Treasurer, Genesee CD)
• Art Pelon (Past President, Ionia CD)
• Melissa Higbee (NCDEA and Shiawassee CD)
• Angela Warren (Genesee CD)
• Mike McCarthy (Chippewa Luce Mackinac CD)
• Susan Bristol (Wayne CD)
• Aron Buechler (Bay CD)

Monitors legislation, reviews introduced bills to determine MACD’s position based on policy, and leads MACD’s legislative advocacy including strategy and activities supporting Michigan Conservation Districts and base funding.

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Governance Committee

Chair: Steve Law, MACD Vice President and Jackson CD

• Art Pelon (Past President and Ionia CD)
• Rivka Hodgkinson (MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD)
• Shannon Brines, Washtenaw CD and Region 10 Chair

Assists the Council in its responsibilities related to MACD By‑Laws, resolutions and operations.

Quarterly or as deemed necessary.

Event Planning Committee

Chair: Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

• Steve Law, Vice President and Jackson CD
• Katie Droscha, SWCS liaison and Kent CD staff
• Melissa Eldridge, President CDEM and District Manager, Ionia CD
• Angela Warren, District Manager, Genesee CD
• John Cohoon, Genesee CD
• Melissa Harris, MACD staff
• Christy Roman, Ben Schram, Rachael Guth, Josh Appleby, Shelby Burlew, John Switzer, Kelly Parker, Joe Kepinski, Joe Smith, Emily Hollingsworth MDARD
• Albert Jones, Lana Valentine, NRCS
• Amber Butterfield, MACD Grants Administrator
• Ashley Reitter, Schoolcraft CD staff
• Dawn Hergott, Arenac CD
• Kelly Parker, MDARD
• Emily Hollingsworth, MDARD
• Gary Boersen, Clinton CD
• Joe Kelpinski, MDARD
• Brook Baumann, CDEM
• Renee Penny, CDEM
• Alec Smith, CDEM
• Joe Smith, MDARD
• Katie Grzesiak, MI DNR
• Jenn Ricker-Feak, Iron-Baraga CD
• Jerry Miller, MACD President and Kent CD Chair

Enhances the capacity to deliver exceptional natural resource programs by providing quality training opportunities to Michigan’s Conservation Districts, including planning for the annual Fall Conference and General Assembly.

First Wednesday of each month at 1 pm, unless otherwise scheduled.

Development Committee

Chair: Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

• Ned Hughes, Region 4 Chair and Newaygo CD
• Nancy Szikszay, MACD Secretary/Treasurer and Genesee CD
• Melissa Eldridge, CDEM and Ionia CD
• Shannon Brines, Region 10 Chair and Washtenaw CD
• Amber Butterfield, MACD Grants Administrator
• Clay McIlrath, Clare CD
• Jerry Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

Build MACD capacity and support for districts by developing diversified funding streams, including identifying grant funding, developing non-grant funding streams, building sponsorship materials, and determining additional revenue opportunities. Determine membership benefits.

T‑shirts and product creation: Rachel Cuschieri‑Murray chair.

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Human Resources Committee

Co‑Chairs: Nancy Szikszay (MACD Secretary/Treasurer, Genesee CD)

• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD
• Koffi Kpachavi and Thomas Wertz, Grand Traverse CD
• Angela Warren, Genesee CD
• Summer Roberts, CDEM

To oversee MACD HR activities and the HR Assistance Program. The policy template subcommittee works with HR consultants to develop a package of HR policy templates for members.

Twice a year or as deemed necessary.

Policy Committee

Chair: Dawn Moses, Region 3 Chair and Kalkaska CD

• Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD
• Lee Andre, Lenawee CD
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD
• Aron Buechler, Region 6 Vice‑Chair and Bay CD
• Carol Hart, Board Secretary/Treasurer, Kalkaska CD
• Paul Schroeder, Board Chair, Muskegon CD

To provide annual review and recommend revisions and updates to MACD Policy Manual.

Quarterly or as deemed necessary.

Conservation Education Committee

Chair: Carol Higgins, Region 8 Chair and St. Joseph CD

• Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD
• Kurt Lehmann, Dickinson CD
• Ned Hughes, Newaygo CD
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD
• Melissa Eldridge, President CDEM and District Manager, Ionia CD
• Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair, Lapeer CD
• Angela Warren, Genesee CD
• Rachel Straughen, Grand Traverse CD
• Sue Nyce, Missaukee CD
• Kathryn Borowicz, Manistee CD
• Patty McNinch, Tuscola CD
• Erin Horton, Missaukee CD
• Jim McArdle, Region 5 Chair, Iosco CD
• Katie Laur, Lapeer CD
• Erin Sloan‑Turner, Kent CD
• Taylor Franklin, Genesee CD
• Aspen Schupbach, Grand Traverse CD
• Amber Butterfield, MACD
• Emilly Hickmott, Van Buren CD (CDEM)
• Dawn Hergott, CDEM

Develops templates and curriculum for conservation educational programming throughout the state.

Market research: Rachel Straughen and Erin Horton.
Climate impact: Kurt Lehmann and Rivka Hodgkinson.

Third Thursday of the month at 10 am, subject to change based on availability.

Envirothon Committee

Chair: Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD

• Kyle Mead, Staff Member, Van Buren CD
• Andrea Wendt, Staff Member, Shiawassee CD
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD
• Amber Butterfield, MACD Grants Administrator
• Julie Conley, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Lewnawee CD
• Colten Franzen, District Manager, Jackson CD
• Kelly Goward, Outdoor Discovery Center

• Carol Higgins, Chair Region 8 and St. Joseph CD
• Lynn Bakker, Board Director, Leelanau CD
• Melissa Eldridge, President CDEM and District Manager, Ionia CD
• Patty McNinch, Staff, Tuscola CD
• Zach Bates, Staff, Gladwin CD
• Melissa Zelenak, District Manager, Antrim CD
• Lori Fitzgibbons, Retired District Manager, Jackson CD
• Christy Roman, Regional Coordinator, MDARD
• Nadene Berthiume, Regional Coordinator, MDARD
• Katie Laur, District Manager, Lapeer CD
• Matt Smith, Wildlife Biologist, Blue Water CD
• Kim Perpignon, Conservation Technician, Blue Water CD
• Carol Hart, Board Secretary/Treasurer, Kalkaska CD
• Julie Conley, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Lenawee CD
• John Schmitz, District Manager, Alpena‑Montmorency CD
• Alec Smith, CDEM

To develop, organize, and implement the Association’s annual youth competition at the regional and state level. Represent the Association to the National Association of Conservation Districts and National Conservation Foundation Envirothon program and competition.

• Marketing and DEI: Kyle Mead, Staff Member, Van Buren CD
• Rivka Hodgkinson, Executive Director MACD, Ottawa CD Board
• Melissa
• Andrea Wendt, Staff Member, Shiawassee CD
• Fundraising and sponsorship: focuses on securing financial support for Envirothon teams and events
• Team advisor relations: Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair, and Lapeer CD
• PR relations and test writing:
• Kelly Goward, Land & Water Director, Outdoor Discovery Center
• Lori Fitzgibbons, District Manager, Jackson CD
• Andrea Wendt, Staff Member, Shiawassee CD
• Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD
• Volunteer coordination and event support
• Events and scheduling:
• Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD
• Patty McNinch, Staff, Tuscola CD

Meets weekly or as deemed necessary.

Awards Committee

Chair: Carol Higgins, Region 8 Chair and St. Joseph County CD

• Becky Huttenga, Region 7 Chair and Ottawa CD
• Melissa Eldridge, CDEM President and Ionia CD
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD
• Patty McNinch, Staff, Tuscola CD
• Steve Schaub, Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD
• Jerry Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

To review nominations and recommend to the MACD Executive Committee annual award recipients

Meets annually and as deemed necessary by the MACD Executive Committee.

MiFarmLink Advisory Committee

Chair: Jill Dohner

• Becky Huttenga, Ottawa CD (Board)
• Koffi Kpachavi, Grand Traverse CD, District Manager
• Julius Buzzard, Growing Hope Urban Farm
• Kathy Sample, Argus Farm Stop
• Dr. Christie M. Poitra, Nighthaven Woods
• Amber Hokse, Realtor
• Simon Yevzelman, Cedar Field Farm
• Jamie Rye, West Michigan Planning Commission
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director
• Jennie Koebel, Michigan Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Board

To advise and provide recommendations for the MIFarmLink program to MACD.

Last Monday of every month at 1pm.