2024 Festival Guides & Presenters

Steve Baker is a retired Veterinarian with a passion for most anything in nature. He has enjoyed birding for over 50 years, especially hawk watches. Botany is a more recent pleasure with orchids and ferns a special interest. Photography, kayaking, foraging wild foods, hiking,and rock hounding are other past times. 

Nick Alioto, is a PhD student in the department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the movement ecology of Red-tailed Hawks in the Straits of Mackinac. Nick will touch on how this project started and why he was initially interested in studying Red-tailed Hawks. He will also discuss what we have learned over the last several years tracking Red-tailed Hawks in the Straits region, including information on their breeding and wintering distributions and the migratory routes they use.

Sue Bakkila was a geography major in college with a focus on cultural geography. This discipline entails continual learning about a place — it’s geologic features, the weather, flora, fauna, and human history — and how everything intersects to better form our understanding of that place. This curiosity plays well with her kayak guiding business, Woods & Waters, here in Hessel. Beyond running Woods & Waters, Sue also does graphic design and photography. 

Fascinated by birds since the age of 7, Michael Carlson has led field workshops for birding festivals in Michigan and Canada, as well as bird tours in Ontario, Texas, and Arizona.  He is an expert in identifying bird sounds.  Michael lives downstate in Royal Oak, MI where he works as an environmental consultant providing avian surveys and regulatory compliance for industry.

 Joshua Cohen has worked for the past 24 years as an ecologist with Michigan Natural Features Inventory. His primary duties involve refining and revising the natural community classification through ecological inventory and sampling, literature research, and data analysis. He is responsible for classifying conservation targets and prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration; creating and delivering biodiversity and ecosystem management trainings; and designing and conducting vegetative sampling, ecological mapping and modeling, monitoring, and surveys for natural communities and rare species. Cohen is the lead author of A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan and a recent article in Diversity entitled “Assessing the Ecological Need for Prescribed Fire in Michigan Using GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis: Igniting Fire Gaps”. His presentation focuses on recent ecological surveys of Great Lakes islands.

Julie Crick, MSUE Natural Resources Educator – Bio coming soon.

Ken Drenth – Bio coming soon.

Dr. Dave Ewert has worked on many topics ranging from forest and prairie management to Great Lakes islands, and many bird conservation and research projects, including stopover sites in Les Cheneaux, and Kirtland’s Warblers on the Michigan breeding and Bahamas wintering grounds.  Many enjoyable hours have been spent with migrating birds in the Les Cheneaux area.  He has been fortunate to work with the American Bird Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and on the faculty of the University of Michigan Biological Station and Central Michigan University.

Anna Ellis is a new Forestry and Natural Resources Educator with Michigan State University Extension. She is located at the Upper Peninsula Extension and Research Center in Chatham, MI. In 2023 she earned a Master’s of Science degree in Forestry and Natural Resources from the University of Georgia, and in 2020 she graduated from Michigan Technological University with Bachelor’s degrees in Forestry and Applied Ecology.

In 2023, Dani Fegan joined the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Coastal Program as a biologist and the lead for the St. Marys River and Straits of Mackinac focus area. Dani’s work focuses on promoting conservation and restoration of coastal species and their habitats. Her professional interests include collaborative coastal wetland restoration, conservation planning, invasive species management, and wildlife monitoring. Prior to joining the USFWS Coastal Program team, Dani worked for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Sault Tribe) Wildlife Program as an assessment biologist six and a half years. Dani is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and is working toward a dual degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. Dani grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and is happy to call the St. Marys River home. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, spending time with her husband and dogs, and swimming in the big lakes.

Charles Fels, former Les Cheneaux Club President.

Historian, lawyer and Episcopal priest, Charles Fels and his wife Susan have spent the past ten years searching archives in Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan for pictures and letters that help recreate the life of Aldo Leopold at Les Cheneaux from 1890 to 1913. His portion of his talk with Dan Noyes includes many of these unpublished materials.

Dr. Garvon is a professor of biology at Lake Superior State University and the President of the Faculty Association.  He is the advisor for the LSSU Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and a former member of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens Advisory Council.

Aubrey Golden has been involved with caving and conservation since 1965. He is the immediate past president of the Michigan Karst Conservancy and the Michigan Nature Association.

In 1987 the Michigan Karst Conservancy purchased 480 acres of karst land located in Mackinac County. The property includes a limestone quarry and adjoining property. They named it the Fiborn Karst Preserve. It contains Michigan’s largest known cave and features an extensive karst drainage system with sinkholes, caves, and disappearing streams.

Bob Haack has degrees in forestry and entomology, and worked as an Entomologist for the US Forest Service for over 30 years. Bob recently conducted a survey of the caddisflies of Drummond Island and found 89 different species!

Bob and his wife Sheridan live in Lower Michigan and have a seasonal cabin on Drummond Island. Both were federal researchers during their careers. Sheridan was a hydrologist/microbiologist with the US Geological Survey. Both enjoy identifying and learning about the plants and animals of Drummond Island.

Rachel Hackett has worked at Michigan Natural Features Inventory since 2018. She uses her botanical skills to delineate and classify natural communities, document species habitat, combat invasive wetland plant species, and study plants of conservation or cultural interest. She also enjoys conducting science education, especially student-led inquiry. She earned her BS in Environmental Science at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After seven years of working in informal science education in Michigan, Costa Rica, and the Pacific Northwest, she returned to earn her MS and PhD from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. She devotes her free time to bicycling, board games, and roller derby

Tom was born & raised in Pickford, Michigan. As a young boy, he developed a love for the outdoors, which included hunting & fishing. He graduated from Michigan Technological Universtiy in Houghton. His career included many levels of industry such as operations and management. He owned his own business Harrison Custom Cabinetry in Philadelphia for 28 years. 

Tom’s hobbies include woodworking, carpentry, carving, painting, taxidermy, and other arts connected to the outdoors. After retirement, he moved from Pennsylvania back to Pickford to reconnect with his U.P. roots. Tom is a member of the Les Cheneaux Farmers and Artisan Market, serves on the Sault Area Arts Council board, and offers a variety of wood bird carving classes. 

Shaun Howard is a dedicated conservationist currently serving as the Project Manager for Preserve Infrastructure and Outreach at The Nature Conservancy (TNC). He has been making significant contributions to conservation efforts in Michigan. 

Shaun is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of conservation, restoration, TNC’s mission, and the crucial significance of protected areas within the context of history, community, and ecosystems.

With his expertise in project management and passion for conservation, Shaun plays a pivotal role in driving positive change and building a more sustainable future. His dedication to preserving the natural environment and engaging communities demonstrates his commitment to creating a world where nature and people thrive harmoniously.

Carol Hubbard’s love of art began at a very young age when the smell of a new box of crayons on the first day of school was an inspiration. Although my pass time often included drawing, it was my high school Art teacher who was my protégé. Here class was the first time I was introduced to element of painting, architectural design and composition. Her encouragement and specific critiques, ultimately improved my paintings and added an important understanding and knowledge I would need as I continued my art. 

My love of art continued into my freshman year of college when I had to commit to my major and course of study. My final decisions was Elementary Education, due tot he wide range of opportunities it offered. 

Summers were spent at my grandparent’s cottage, on an island in the Les Cheneaux Islands. Woods and water became my playground. The summer days fostered my love of nature. It has been woven through many of my paintings. My nature journals contain many sketches I have made over the years when finding “treasures” along wooded nature trails and stony beaches. 

I have taken classes though the BBAC, School Craft College as well as several other workshops in Oakland County and Mackinac County. I have experimented with various mediums and enjoy the challenges of each. My love of detail has always been part of who I am and is woven through my work. 

I look forward to learning more about the mediums I am using and the opportunity for the next inspiration, appearing when you least expect it.

Kunal Singh is a mining engineer and team lead for the Great Lakes quarries for Carmeuse, located in Roger City, Michigan. He received his BS in Mining Engineering from Indian School of Mines and MS from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. His career had been in Hard Rock Drilling for Atlas Copco, underground and surface underground coal mining for Peabody and Prairie State Generated Co., and Surface Limestone for Carmeuse. 

Sierra LaRose is an herbalist born and raised in Michigan with a passion for the local flora and a wide range of healing practices. Sierra teaches with a deep respect and appreciation for the intricacies and subtle beauty of Michigan’s ecosystems and has a relationship based approach to herbalism. She has been studying plants and their healing properties since she was a young girl and has learned from many traditions and teachers around the globe, embracing many perspectives and teachings. In addition to being a community educator, Sierra is founder and owner of Bear Earth Herbals, Wish U Well Herb Farm and the Kingsley Folk School. 

Amy Lipson joined Little Traverse Conservancy in April 2021 in the new position of Conservation Specialist. She moved to Alanson from Ann Arbor, where she attended the University of Michigan and met her husband, Joe. She studied plant biology there and realized she wanted to pursue a career in conservation while working for the university arboretum. After graduating, she worked for Ann Arbor’s Parks and Recreation Department at Natural Area Preservation, first as a Conservation Worker, then as a Conservation Crew Leader. She and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors with their dog Mica.

Mike McCarthy joined the Conservation District in the summer of 2013 as the District’s MAEAP Technician. Mike served in that role until 2017 and now serves as the Executive Director. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree from Lake Superior State University in Conservation Leadership and a master’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Parks and Resource Management. Mike has held previous positions with Michigan State University Extension, Montcalm Conservation District, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Lake Superior State University. In his free time Mike and his wife Karen enjoy traveling, visiting with friends and family, and spending time outdoors (biking, camping, hiking, kayaking, and skiing).

Marquita Mullen is the Special Projects Technician for Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District. Marquita earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainablity  from Northern Michigan University in 2016. Marquita also completed 200 h “Be the Love” Yoga Training in 2020, which has lent way to her involvement in mindfulness practices and meditation. Being able to combine her love for nature and yoga has been a lifelong dream for Marquita and something she looks forward to sharing with everyone at Aldo Leopold Festival. 

Scott Myers has been visiting the U.P. for over 60 years. He has been coming to the Les Cheneaux area since 1985. He became a permanent resident of Cedarville in 2015. Scott graduated from Michigan Technological University where he majored in Metallurgical Engineering. During most of his career he worked in aerospace in a variety of disciplines including materials science, thermography, eddy current inspection, radiography, and ultrasonics. While he does not have formal training as a biologist or a naturalist, he has a keen interest in the local ecology. Everything he know about bats, their habits, behavior, and biology is gleaned from reading technical materials published by leading experts and researchers. Scott believes it is important that we preserve what we can of the features that make the area one of the most pristine environments on earth.

Elliot Nelson is an Extension Educator with Michigan Sea Grant and MSU Extension. Elliot works with coastal communities and businesses in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to apply science-based knowledge to address Great Lakes, Lake Superior, northern Lake Michigan, and northern Lake Huron issues.

Elliot’s focus areas include K-12 Great Lakes and aquaculture education, tourism development around birding and water, and aquaculture consumer and producer programs.

Elliot lives in Pickford, Michigan with his wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs. In his (limited) free time he enjoys birding, kayaking, biking and eating good food.

Dan Noyes, Emmy Award-winning journalist.

Wil Reding retired in 2018 from teaching Environmental Studies at Western Michigan University and Biology at Kalamazoo Valley Community College His company “Rent A Rambling Naturalist” has provided interpretive naturalist programs around the world since 1988. He believes his interest in the natural comes from his growing up on a farm in southeast lower Michigan. He follows the statement of John Muir, “I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature!” 

Sarah Reding retired from a 28-year career with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, where she led the Conservation Stewardship and Outreach education programs. She is trained as an Interpretive naturalist, Environmental educator, and guide. Sarah has been a birdwatcher most of her life, getting her inspiration for birds on a high school trip to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Sarah leads kayak and hiking trips for Woods and Waters in the Les Cheneaux islands. She loves to share the natural world with all ages. In 2022, Sarah became the new Hawk Naturalist for Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch.

Rob Routledge is a Professor in the Natural Environment & Outdoor Studies Department at Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He has explored the Eastern Upper Peninsula extensively with a special interest in ferns, lichens, sedges, and site-specific rarities. He has a B.Sc. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management (Lake Superior State University, `95), M.Sc in Wildlife Biology (Laurentian University, `00), B.Ed. (Nipissing University, `09), and currently teaches a wide range of courses from wildlife and terrestrial ecosystem surveys to ecosystem classification and wetland conservation. He has extensive knowledge and skills across the fields of plant and wildlife biology and ecology, forestry, and ecological monitoring. His continual learning philosophy reflects his strong appreciation and passion for education. 

Talus Rutgers is from Kalamazoo, MI, where he is currently working towards a degree in Biology from Western Michigan University. His passion in butterflies was lit by his grandma, a lepidopterologist for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, as well as things like birding and plants. He currently works as a field technician for an environmental consulting firm.

Chace Scholten is a native of Holland, Michigan, where he began birding around the age of 14. Since then, he has travelled widely to see the world’s amazing bird diversity. He currently works as a biologist in the environmental consulting field.

Derek Shiels is the Stewardship Director at Little Traverse Conservancy.  A native of Rockford, Michigan, Derek spent his childhood exploring a large parcel of wild land right near his home, prompting an early desire for a career in the outdoors. Derek spent a semester in Wyoming with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), holds a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Grand Valley State University, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Taylor University, and a Master’s in Biology from Central Michigan University with an emphasis in Plant Systematics. He spent two years in Missouri working for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a cave biology technician monitoring endangered gray bats and crawling, canoeing, and rappelling into caves to document other cave life. Before coming to Little Traverse Conservancy, he worked with the Leelanau Conservancy’s Invasive Species Team. 

Melissa (Martinie) Simon serves as a Manager of Mine Engineering for Carmeuse.  She leads a team of mine engineers who provide technical support to Limestone and Dolomite quarries.

As the EUP STEM Region director, Kevin St. Onge works to improve STEM education in Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac Counties.  The EUP STEM Region connects K-12 education, higher education, business/industry leaders, government agencies, and non-profits to engage in collaborative efforts in support of the four MiSTEM Pillars.

Kevin had experience as an environmental scientist in the private sector prior to becoming a science teacher in the EUP.  He then began working at the EUPISD as the EUP Math and Science Center director prior to the formation of the EUP STEM Region.  Working with an amazing group of regional educators while collaborating with statewide partners has provided an outstanding learning experience.  The current partnership with the MiSTEM Network and regional partners through the EUP STEM Advisory Council has provided the opportunity to connect education and our regional workforce. 

His role oversees the preservation and protection of Aldo Leopold’s historic Shack, a National Historic Landmark and the conservation ambition and impact achieved on surrounding lands through the 4,000-acre Leopold-Pines Conservation Area.   

Regionally, Steve coordinates a public-private partnership called My Wisconsin Woods. Through continuous improvement of outreach methods, My Wisconsin Woods inspires land care among woodland owners. For this project and others, Steve authored regionalized handbooks titled My Healthy Woods, written specifically for inexperienced landowners. These award-winning handbooks have reached over 40,000 landowners collectively owning 6 million acres in Arkansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Steve holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a M.S. in Ecology from Ohio State University.

Kathy Thomas is a local artist living in the Les Cheneaux Islands, Cedarville with her husband and three children. She works in a small art studio that is also her laundry/mud room. Among the chaos of kids and animals, magical things happen!

She desires to create thought-provoking artwork that inspires others to see beyond shapes and brush strokes. She is a member of the Les Cheneaux Arts Council and the St. Ignace Area Creative Arts Council. Working with these organizations she participates in community events that promote the Arts. During the summer she teaches various art classes and has a strong desire to encourage the artist in everyone.

Tom Walker grew up in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, spending hours wandering in the woods around DeTour Village. The North Country Trail Association provided a way for him to share his love for the outdoors with others, via a pathway that gives access to interesting things that can be found in the outdoors.

Chris Willan is a geologist with Carmeuse Lime and Stone, based in Pittsburgh, PA with over 20 years of petroleum exploration and mining experience. He is responsible for four limestone quarries in northern Michigan and has been in this role for four years. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Earth Science from Penn State and a Master’s Degree in Geology from Indiana University with a focus on carbonate sedimentology and stratigraphy. Chris started his career in international oil and gas exploration mapping the distribution and quality of limestone reservoirs in Texas, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Prior to joining Carmeuse, Chris led a team of geologists working on shale gas development and exploration in the Appalachian Basin.

Brad Von Blon grew up in Ohio but quickly escaped to neighboring states with more exciting flora. He earned an Associates Degree in Wildlife Management at Hocking College before transferring to West Virginia University for a Bachelor’s in Wildlife & Fisheries Resources. Much of his time has been spent anywhere outdoors from the arid ridge tops of the Appalachians down to the humid muskegs of Michigan, usually looking for rare plants. He’s worked mainly as a naturalist, but also has experience as a bobcat necropsy technician, and as a tech at West Virginia’s largest herbarium. He fell in love with the North Woods after spending a season in the UP at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and this will be his fifth season with the Little Traverse Conservancy.