MACD Executive Committee

Chair: Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

Members: 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.

MACD 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 – Vacant

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 and Ottawa CD; Steve Law, Vice-President and 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

Assists the Council in its due-diligence 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, MDARD
• Albert Jones, 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

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

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

T-shirts and product creation: Rachel Cuschieri-Murray and Melanie Knapp, co-chairs.

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Human Resources Committee

Co-Chairs: Nancy Szikszay, MACD Secretary/Treasurer and Genesee CD; Jane Bishop, Region 2 Chair, CLM CD

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

Oversees 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

Provides annual review of the MACD Policy Manual and recommends revisions and updates.

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, Region 1 Chair, Dickinson CD
• Ned Hughes, Region 4 Chair, 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

• 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, 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

Develops, organizes, and implements MACD’s annual youth competition at the regional and state levels and represents the Association to the National Association of Conservation Districts and the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon program and competition.

• Marketing and DEI: Kyle Mead (Van Buren CD); Rivka Hodgkinson (Executive Director MACD, Ottawa CD Board); Melissa Eldridge; Andrea Wendt (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 (Shiawassee CD); Andrew Finkel (Development Coordinator, Dickinson 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) and 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

Reviews nominations and recommends to the MACD Executive Committee the annual award recipients.

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

MiFarmLink Advisory Committee

Chair: Jill Dohner

• Becky Huttenga, Ottawa County
• Koffi Kpachavi, Grand Traverse Conservation District
• Julius Buzzard, Growing Hope Urban Farm
• Kathy Sample, Argus Farm Stop
• Trilby MacDonald, Washtenaw County Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee
• Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director

Advises and provides recommendations for the MiFarmLink program to MACD, helping connect farmers, landowners, and partners and supporting farmland access and succession.