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MACD Committees

The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts operates through specialized committees to guide, support, and grow the capacity of Michigan’s Conservation Districts.

MACD Executive Committee

Chair: Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

Members

  • Steve Law, MACD Vice President, and Jackson CD

  • Nancy Szikszay, MACD Secretary/Treasurer and Genesee CD

  • Art Pelon, Past President and Ionia CD

  • Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director, and Ottawa CD

Charge

To make recommendations to the State Council concerning general operations and policies and to serve as the principal liaison between the Association and its employees.

Meetings 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

Members

  • Gerald Miller, MACD President, and Kent CD Chair

  • Nancy Szikszay, Secretary/Treasurer and Genesee CD

  • Art Pelon, Past President and 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

  • Mark Sweatman, Eaton CD

  • Mark Ludwig, Allegan CD

  • Taylor Shay, Delta CD

Charge To monitor legislation and review introduced bills to determine MACD’s position based on policy. Lead MACD's legislative advocacy, including developing and implementing advocacy strategy and participating in activities supporting Michigan Conservation Districts and base funding.

Meetings Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Event Planning Committee

Chair: Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

Members

  • Steve Law, Vice President and Jackson CD Chair

  • 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

  • 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

  • Gary Boersen, Clinton CD

  • Brook Baumann, CDEM

  • Renee Penny, CDEM

  • Alec Smith, CDEM

  • Katie Grzesiak, MI DNR

  • Jenn Ricker-Feak, Iron-Baraga CD

  • Jerry Miller, MACD President and Kent CD Chair

Charge

To enhance the capacity to deliver exceptional natural resource programs to the state citizens by delivering quality training opportunities to Michigan’s Conservation Districts. Includes planning for the annual Fall Conference and General Assembly.

Meetings

First Wednesday of each month at 1 pm.

Human Resources Committee

Chairs: Nancy Szikszay, MACD Secretary/Treasurer and Genesee CD

Members

  • Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

  • Koffi Kpachavi and Thomas Wertz, Grand Traverse CD

  • Angela Warren, Genesee CD

  • Summer Roberts, CDEM

Charge

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.

Meetings

Twice a year or as deemed necessary.

Envirothon Committee

Chair: Steve Schaub, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD

Executive Committee

  • 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, Lenawee CD

  • Colten Franzen, District Manager, Jackson CD

  • Kelly Goward, Outdoor Discovery Center

Members

  • 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

  • Carol Hart, Board Secretary/Treasurer, Kalkaska CD

  • John Schmitz, District Manager, Alpena-Montmorency CD

  • Alec Smith, CDEM

Charge

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.

Meetings Weekly or as deemed necessary.

Subcommittees:

  • Marketing and DEI: Kyle Mead, Rivka Hodgkinson, Andrea Wendt, Melissa Eldridge.

  • Team advisor relations: Steve Schaub.

  • PR relations and test writing: Kelly Goward, Lori Fitzgibbons, Andrea Wendt, Steve Schaub.

  • Events and scheduling: Steve Schaub, Patty McNinch.

Awards Committee

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

Members

  • 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, Region 9 Chair and Lapeer CD

  • Jerry Miller, MACD President and Kent CD

Meetings Annually and as deemed necessary.

MACD Financial Committee

Chair: Nancy Szikszay, Secretary/Treasurer, Genesee CD

Members

  • Gerald Miller, MACD President, and Kent CD

  • Steve Law, MACD Vice President, and Jackson CD

  • Susanna Schwager, Missaukee CD and Vice-Chair, Region 4

  • Dawn Moses, Kalkaska CD, Region 3 Chair

  • Steve Schaub, Lapeer CD, Region 9 Chair

  • Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

  • Susan Schwager, Region 4 Vice Chair and Missaukee CD

  • Accountant - ZZZ Business Services

Charge

To oversee financial activities, review financial statements, make recommendations to the State Council on budgets and other financial matters, and assist staff in long-range financial planning.

Meetings

Once per month or as deemed necessary.

Governance Committee

Chair: Steve Law, MACD Vice President and Jackson CD

Members

  • Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD Chair

  • Art Pelon, Past President and Ionia CD

  • Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

  • Shannon Brines, Washtenaw CD and Region 10 Chair

Charge Assists the Council to carry out its due diligence function related to MACD By-Laws, Resolutions and operations.

Meetings Quarterly or as deemed necessary.

Development Committee

Chair: Rivka Hodgkinson, MACD Executive Director and Ottawa CD

Members

  • Ned Hughes, Associate Director, 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

  • Gerald Miller, MACD President and Kent CD Chair

Charge

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.

Meetings

Monthly on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 1 pm.

Subcommittee

T-shirts and product creation (Rachel Cuschieri-Murray, chair).

Policy Committee

Chair: Dawn Moses, Region 3 Chair and Kalkaska CD

Members

  • 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

Charge

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

Meetings

Quarterly or as deemed necessary.

Conservation Education Committee

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

Members

  • Gerald Miller, MACD President, and Kent CD Chair
  • 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

Charge To develop templates and curriculum for Conservation educational programming throughout the state.

Subcommittees Market research (Rachel Straughen and Erin Horton).

Meetings Third Thursday of the month at 10 am

MIFarmLink Advisory Committee

Chair: Jill Dohner

Members

Chair: Jill Dohner

Members

  • 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

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

Meetings Last Monday of every month at 1 p

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