Staff & Affiliates | Missaukee CD

Meet Our Staff & Affiliates

Dani Hamilton - District Manager danielle.hamilton@macd.org

Dani has been with the Missaukee Conservation District since 2022, previously holding the Administrative Assistant position. She is very excited to continue her career as the District Manager. Dani has a passion for helping others and being involved in the community. She enjoys sharing her love of nature and promoting a healthy environment.

Erin Horton - Conservation Outreach Coordinator erin.horton@macd.org

Erin has served for over a decade in Los Angeles, Traverse City and Cadillac schools before helping to establish an after school program in Marion, MI. Her most recent degree, Education Specialist, came from CMU. Earlier, in California she earned a BS in Spanish and an MS in Multicultural Education. She is excited to serve her local community and promote healthy practices with our natural resources.

Lucas Santure - MAEAP/CTAP Technician lucas.santure@macd.org

Lucas grew up in Coldwater, Michigan and played 2 years of college baseball at Glen Oaks Community College. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University. Lucas previously worked as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in the Upper Peninsula and assisted in managing the fish and wildlife populations in the area. He is passionate about everything outdoors and is excited to help farmers implement environmentally friendly practices.

Ellie DeMarse - Land Stewardship Coordinator ellie.demarse@macd.org

Ellie grew up in Muskegon, MI and has a degree in Spanish and Ecology from Northern Michigan University. She has previously worked as a botanist and park ranger for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, Texas, and California. Ellie recently moved to Merritt, MI and is excited to help with local conservation efforts! In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.

Hannah Lopinski - Watershed Outreach Support Educator hannah.lopinski@macd.org

Hannah’s passion for conservation started early, when she began teaching traditional cane pole fishing for Girl Scouts. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Rangeland Biology and Watershed Management from the University of Wyoming, and is currently enrolled at Michigan State University to add to her knowledge of our natural resources. Most recently, Hannah worked for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Division at the Charlevoix, MI Fisheries Research Station. In her free time, she enjoys fishing and clearing trash from local bodies of water.

Ryleigh Cooper - CTAI Soil Conservationist ryleigh.cooper@macd.org

Originally from Muskegon, MI, Ryleigh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Aquinas College. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan State University. Ryleigh's passion lies with conservation and helping landowners achieve their goals. When she is not working, Ryleigh can be found hiking, snuggling with her dogs, or cooking up a new recipe she found!

Jeff Fewless - NRCS District Conservationist jeff.fewless@usda.gov

Jeff is a certified conservation planner able to assist local landowners alleviating resource concerns on the land. He's a graduate of Ferris State University and has taken coursework at Oregon State University online in crop and soil sciences.

Sierra Gross - NRCS Soil Conservationist sierra.gross@usda.gov

Sierra earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources Science and Management – Forest Resources from the University of Missouri. She began working for Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in October of 2021 and joined Michigan NRCS in February 2023. Sierra is able to provide landowners with both technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on the land.

Zach Peklo - NCCISMA Program Coordinator zach.peklo@macd.org

Zach has a passion for the outdoors, which led him to pursue a degree in Natural Resource Management from Grand Valley State University, During his college summers, Zach worked for Oakland Township Parks and Recreation, gaining experience in habitat restoration and invasive species control. After graduating in 2018, he joined the NCCISMA team.