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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.
Michael Ramsey - NCCISMA Public Engagement Specialist
michael.ramsey@macd.org
Michael takes a personal interest in people and enjoys delivering interesting and informative content to audiences of all ages. He supported television broadcast channels, businesses, and non-profit organizations, across Northern Michigan with 910 Media Group promotions before joining the NCCISMA team in 2024.
Emily Fredricks - NCCISMA Invasive Species Technician
Emily’s love for the relationships formed between people and the environment led her to the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at Grand Valley State University. After graduation, she gained experience working with terrestrial and aquatic invasive species while serving in an AmeriCorps program in New Hampshire. She participated in scuba diving for Variable Milfoil; operated a DASH boat; and led teams of volunteers in mechanical removal of terrestrial invasive species before joining the NCCISMA team in 2024.
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