2025 Festival Guides & Presenters

Susan Affholter is a retired public health consultant who, at times, worked on environmental health.  She is the immediate past president of the Northern Michigan Master Gardener Association, and is also a master naturalist.  She wanted to offer her presentation on the Leopold documentary Green Fire because she started attending the Festival, and, unbelievably, did not know anything about the singular conservationist, philosopher, and visionary, Aldo Leopold.  The Festival has done much to enlighten her!

Rusty AIkens: Sault Tribe member and fisheries Enhancement Coordinator for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. I have been in my current position since 2017 and have worked in the Tribe’s natural resources department since 2010. I graduated from Lake Superior State University with a bachelors degree in fisheries and wildlife management in 2016. Began raising whitefish in 2018.

Bio coming soon. 

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. 

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. 

Ken Drenth – Bio coming soon.

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.

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.

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

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.

Jason Kronemeyer co-leads the EUPConnect Collaborative, which has the mission of ensuring 1Gbps connectivity to every 911 address in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. With over two decades of experience, Jason has been a key leader in delivering innovative technology solutions to enhance education across the region. As a researcher and data scientist, Jason focuses on digital infrastructure policy and planning, driving advancements that support connectivity and technological growth. Jason was recently highlighted in the Broadband Champions series by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society for his significant contributions to broadband expansion.

Recycling has been a lifelong interest for me, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2022 that an old air conditioner in the back of my car sparked an idea that grew into the creation of Reina Recycling, a nonprofit electronics recycling center. That air conditioner was a monster, at least sixty pounds, and when I took it to the scrap yard, they told me I needed to have it drained and tagged before they could take it. They suggested who would do that for me, and for a $40 fee, I was able to have it safely recycled and free up that space in the back of my car again. It occurred to me, though, that not everyone could or would pay that fee, and hard-to-dispose-of stuff would end up in places it shouldn’t be, like in the forests and lakes. That’s when the idea took hold of me to provide a convenient place to bring old electronics and appliances for recycling, and the fascinating journey of learning, networking, and planning began. With the help of Northern Transitions, my husband, Chuck, and I opened the current collection center in the spring of 2023, and we’ve been organizing, expanding, making mistakes and learning from them, and meeting a lot of great people along the way. Our goal for the future is to focus more on repair and resale and to create recycling and STEAM education programs. It’s an ongoing adventure, and I wouldn’t miss a minute of it! Even though this project has sometimes been overwhelming, my background as a small business owner has helped to prepare me for the voyage. My family and I opened The Doggie Bed & Breakfast in 2002 to provide dog boarding services in the area. Education has always been an important part of my life, also, and I’ve worked here and there as an English, Spanish, and ESL tutor, as well as providing volunteer Spanish-to-English translation services for the crowdfunding microloan nonprofit, Kiva.org.Bio coming soon.

Lillian LaCross is the Outreach Specialist for Three Shores CISMA. She has been working the the CISMA for three years, becoming Outreach Specialist In 2024 after she graduated from Lake Superior State University in Parks and Recreation. You can catch Lilli all throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula aiding Three Shores’ strike Team as well as making appearances at events.

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.

Marquita Mullen is the Special Projects Technician for Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District. Marquita earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability 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. 

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.

Bio coming soon.

Wayne Pope – As a college photography instructor, I help students reach their career goals. My teaching slogan is, “Keeping Your Interests At Heart.” As a business owner of Pope Photo Tours, I provide quality photo safaris that are safe, afforable and fun. As a photo workshop presenter, I provide easy-to-understand, visually-oriented lectures and one-to-one instruction to students in the field.

I have self-published two books: “Birds of Michigan” and “My Favorite Facebook Photos”. I was trained as a Chinese-Mandarin interpreter in the U.S. Army and have a minor degree in Chinese Language from MSU. As a photojournalist, I write and photograph articles for The Lansing State Journal, Michigan-Out-Of-Doors, Michigan Living and Michigan Audubon Society magazines. I am a poet and have been published in Washington Square Review.

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. 

Jill Sklenar has degrees in Chemistry, Math, and Communications with experiences in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, teaching and non-profit board advisement. Her first experience with ticks was 25 years ago while living in Connecticut when evening tick checks of her 4 children were routine. Unfortunately, 3 of her 4 children, along with herself, have battled tick born illness. Jill is the founder and leader of a mid-Michigan Lyme support group. She is a board member of the Michigan Lyme Disease Association and Alec’s Place, a national group committed to educating physicians and patients about vector borne illnesses.

Linda Smith is the Director of Partnerships for Michigan Audubon. She builds relationships with local conservation organizations, small businesses, and municipalities to protect birds and bird habitat in Michigan. Linda is leading Michigan Audubon’s launch of the Bird City Michigan program, which is paving the way for a future where birds and people thrive in harmony.

Kevin St. Onge – As the EUP STEM Region director, Kevin 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. Contact for: EUP STEM RegionEUP STEM Advisory CouncilSTEM Integrated Learning TeamsMiSTEM NetworkNext Generation Science ExemplarCereal City ScienceFoundations of MathEUP Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Pi Day, and Trig Star

Bio coming soon.

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.

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.

Steven Wade Veatch is a geologist, educator, and writer known for his work in paleontology, mineralogy, and the history of geology, particularly in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. With a lifelong passion for earth sciences, Veatch has contributed extensively to research on fossils, rocks, and minerals, as well as the rich mining history of Colorado. He has authored numerous scientific papers, articles, and educational materials, blending his expertise in geology with a deep appreciation for storytelling. A dedicated educator, Veatch has taught geology and paleontology courses, inspiring students and professionals alike. His work often bridges the gap between scientific research and public engagement, making complex geological topics accessible to a wider audience.