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Our mission
is to reduce the impact of invasive plant species in the Midwest |
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Early Detection & Rapid Response
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MIPN Board of Directors Federal Government: Carmin Chapin, U.S. National Park Service (Wisconsin)
Liaison,
Great Lakes Exotic Plant Management Team,
National Park Service Carmen Chapin is the coordinator of the National Park Service Great Lakes Exotic Plant Management Team. She facilitates exotic plant control in 8 National Parks in the western Great Lakes. In addition to assisting parks with on the ground effort, Carmen is active in many partnership activities related to invasive species and natural resource management, including serving as chair for the Midwest Natural Resources Group Great Lakes Terrestrial Invasive Species Committee. She has a MS and PhD in ecosystem science and has previously worked for USDA-ARS in the area of biocontrol.
Chris Pierce, USDA APHIS-PPQ (Missouri)
Pest Survey Specialist for Missouri & Iowa Christopher Pierce received his B.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1994. He received both his M.S. in Horticulture (1999) and Ph.D. in Entomology (2003) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 2004 through 2007 he served as Indiana’s Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) State Survey Coordinator. He was responsible for coordinating invasive species (insects, mollusks, nematodes, pathogens and plants) surveys in the state of Indiana, as well as education and outreach programs. At that time he created and developed Indiana's "Most Unwanted" Invasive Plant Pest List Website. While he was in Indiana, he was a member of the Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group (IPSAWG). Currently, he serves as the Pest Survey Specialist for Missouri and Iowa for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). His responsibilities include coordinating and collaborating with multi-discipline, multi-agency programs to facilitate invasive species surveys and outreach in Missouri and Iowa. He is currently serving on both Missouri and Iowa’s CAPS State Survey Committees.
Jan Schultz, U.S. Forest Service (Wisconsin)
Botany, Non-native Invasive Species Program Manager Jan is currently the Botany and Non-native Invasive Species Program Leader for the Eastern Region of the U.S. Forest Service which is composed of approximately 20 states and 15 national forests. Jan represents the Eastern Region of the US Forest Service on the TISC (Terrestrial Invasive Species Committee) of the Midwest Natural Resources Group and also represents the Eastern Region of the USFS as the RISIT (Regional Invasive Species Issue Team) for the national RISIT. Prior to this position, she spent seventeen years on the Hiawatha National Forest in the upper peninsula of Michigan working as Forest Plant Ecologist, Non-native Invasive Species Coordinator, Research Natural Area Coordinator and Plant Program Manager for propagation of native plants for restoration purposes. She has received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Ecology. ..................................................................................................................................................... State Government: Janet Clark, Center for Invasive Plant Management (Montana)
Assistant Director for Policy & Publications Janet Clark has worked on invasive plant projects for 20 years in various capacities, often coordinating multi-stakeholder projects in the West and nationally. She has managed grants programs that support research and community-led weed management areas, organized and facilitated symposia and meetings, and developed working partnerships with government agencies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations. In addition, she has served as a co-editor of the multi-author books “Biology and Management of Noxious Rangeland Weeds” (Oregon State University Press, 1999), “Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States” (Oregon State University Press, 2004), and “Invasive Plants of Range and Wildlands and Their Environmental, Economic, and Societal Impacts” (Weed Science Society of America, 2005), and helped launch a new peer-reviewed journal, “Invasive Plant Science and Management,” in 2008. As a member of state, regional, and national committees, Janet is particularly interested in effective communication, organizational dynamics, and public policy. In 2006 she was appointed by Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee of the National Invasive Species Council. In 2008 Janet stepped back from the directorship of CIPM (a position held since 2000) to focus on special projects and publications related to emerging issues in invasive species. Janet holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Montana State University.
Kelly Kearns, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin)
Plant Conservation Program Manager Kelly Kearns has a B.S. in Horticulture from Purdue University and an M.S. in Restoration Ecology from the Landscape Architecture Department of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She has worked at the Bureau of Endangered Resources, WI Department of Natural Resources since 1984, and as the Plant Conservation Program Manager since 1990. She is responsible for the conservation of native plants, for coordinating the state wild ginseng program and for coordinating DNR activities regarding ecologically invasive terrestrial plants. These responsibilities include education and outreach, grants management, policy and rule revisions, working with partners and researchers, sharing control information, and supervising the Wisconsin early detection project for invasive plants. She works extensively with the Wisconsin DNR Invasive Species Team, Forest Invasives Leadership Team, Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species, Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin, and MIPN.
Jody Shimp, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Illinois) - Treasurer
Regional Administrator,
Division of Natural Heritage Jody has been working in Illinois natural areas for the past nineteen years as a volunteer, researcher, ecologist, and administrator. He completed his M. S. in Plant Ecology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1996. He has experience working for county, State, and federal land managing agencies and the control of invasive species to improve natural area quality has always been his area of interest. Currently, working as an administrator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources's Division of Natural Heritage, he isresponsible for the administration, management, and implementation of programs for non-game wildlife, threatened and endangered species, and natural areas for a 28 county region in southern Illinois. Jody is very interested in the challenges of invasive species management and has spent much of the past few years working on large-scale control projects in Illinois. He is currently serving on the Board of the Natural Areas Association (NAA) and am chairing NAA's Management and Technology Development Committee, as well as also serving on the Board of the Illinois Invasive Plant Council. ..................................................................................................................................................... Industry: Trish Beckjord, Conservation Design Forum (Illinois) Associate, Landscape Architecture & Planning
Brian Corr, Ball Horticultural Company (Illinois)
New Crops Development Manager,
Ball Horticultural Company Brian Corr is director of new crop development for the Ball Horticultural Company, headquartered in West Chicago, Illinois. Ball is an international company developing, producing and distributing ornamental plants. Brian’s responsibilities include evaluating plant species for ornamental use including estimation of the risk of a plant introduction becoming invasive after introduction. Brian has been active in the invasive species issue for many years having spoken to numerous national and international audiences on the importance of the ornamental horticulture industry acting responsibly in the introduction of new plants, while emphasizing the importance of new plant introductions to the industry. Brian earned his BS and MS degrees at the University of Illinois and his PhD in Plant Physiology/Horticulture at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining Ball he was on the faculty of the University of Tennessee.
Bob Fitch, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (Minnesota)
Executive Director,
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association Bob Fitch has been executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association since 1996. He is immediate past president of the Nursery & Landscape Association Executives of North America and a past president of the Minnesota Grown Promotion Group. Bob is a member of the ANLA Invasive Plants Committee and recently served on a task force charged with examining and re-writing Minnesota’s terrestrial noxious weed regulations. As MNLA executive director, he has helped the organization take environmentally proactive positions on invasive plant regulations and education. In addition, he has daily interaction with the growers, garden centers, and landscape professionals whose livelihood is affected by these environmental initiatives and regulations. Bob has been in association management for almost 17 years and, prior to that, was a newspaper editor and reporter. He holds a B.A. from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Bob Masters, Dow AgroSciences (Indiana) Rangeland Scientist,
Global Product Development Leader, Rangeland, Pastures, and Industrial
Vegetation Management Bob Masters received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology at Texas A&M University in 1978, a M.S. in Rangeland Science at Texas A&M University in 1981, and a Ph.D. in Rangeland and Wildlife Management at Texas Tech University in 1985. From 1985 to 2001, he was a Rangeland Scientist with the USDA- Agricultural Research Service at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He was responsible for developing integrated invasive plant management strategies designed to restore grassland quality and health in the Central Great Plains. From 2001 to present he has been employed by Dow AgroSciences. He is now stationed in Indianapolis, Indiana and serves as the Global Product Development Leader for the Rangeland, Pasture, and Industrial Vegetation Management business. He currently is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska and Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University. ..................................................................................................................................................... Non-profit Organizations: Heather Bacher, Central Indiana Land Trust (Indiana)
Executive Director,
Central Indiana Land Trust Heather Bacher has been the Executive Director of the Central Indiana Land Trust since 2003. As the Executive Director of the Land Trust, Heather provides leadership and support to the Board of Directors and is responsible for administering and implementing all programs, policies, and goals of the Land Trust. She oversees the day-to-day activities of the organization and the management of the staff, office and properties. She is active in the community and serves on the Johnson County Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee, the Steering Committee of the Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance and as a board member of the Upper White River Watershed Alliance. Heather has worked in conservation for 14 years in both the government and nonprofit sectors. At the international Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, she worked to promote the conservation of birds in the Gulf Coast region in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Heather has also worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and The Nature Conservancy in both Texas and Indiana. She has a master’s degree in environmental resource management and cultural ecology from The University of Texas at Austin.
Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network (Michigan) - Vice President
Executive Director,
The Stewardship Network Lisa Brush has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network's since its inception more than seven years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over seven years as she has built and coordinated the Stewardship Network she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program. Prior to her work with the Network, Lisa worked with the Huron River Watershed Council on drinking water protection, land use planning, and communication programs. She developed and helped implement the HRWC's award-winning mass media education campaign and the award-winning Community Guide to Drinking Water Protection. She has a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a B.A. (Science in Society) from Wesleyan University. When she's not working Lisa loves playing with her six-year old daughter and four-year old son and looking for that spare moment when she can help out on a prescribed burn, make a quilt, sneak in a run, or even rarer these days catch a game of ultimate Frisbee.
Steve Chaplin, The Nature Conservancy (Minnesota)
Senior Conservation Scientist, Central U.S. Region Steve Chaplin is a Senior Conservation Scientist in the Central U.S. Region of The Nature Conservancy. For most of his 20 years with the Conservancy, he was Midwest Director of Science with responsibilities for preserve selection and design, ecoregional planning, conservation data systems, and state Heritage Program development. Prior to working for the Conservancy, Steve was a Biological Sciences faculty member at the University of Missouri – Columbia. He received an AB from Stanford University and a PhD from Cornell University in insect ecology. In addition to his science interests, Steve has been a conservation lobbyist at the Minnesota State Legislature for the past six sessions working primarily on conservation budget and bonding and invasive species issues. He is also currently serving on the Board and is Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. ..................................................................................................................................................... Research: Roger Becker, University of Minnesota
Professor, Extension & Research Roger Becker has a B.S. in Agronomy, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Iowa State University. He has been with Iowa State University as an Extension Associate, Monsanto in Product Development, and is currently a Professor at the University of Minnesota in an Extension and Research capacity. He works to develop weed management strategies in annual and perennial systems in disturbed and undisturbed habitats. Current projects include management of purple loosestrife in wetlands, Canada thistle in native prairies, common buckthorn and garlic mustard in woodlands, commercial processing sweet corn and peas, biological control of weeds, and the environmental impacts of herbicide and non-herbicide weed management systems.
Zach Lowe, Purdue University (Indiana) Habitat Specialist, Research and Extension Zach Lowe is a Habitat Specialist with Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension Service and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. His research focus is ecosystem restoration and integrated vegetation management. He works closely with the right-of-way industry, wildlife managers, and forestry managers, and has experience in restoration with native grasses and forest regeneration. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Ph.D. in restoration ecology from Purdue University.
Mark Renz, University of Wisconsin (Wisconsin) - President
Assistant Professor,
Department of Agronomy Mark Renz received both his B.S. (Botany) and Ph.D. (Plant Biology/weed science) from the University of California, Davis. He has held several positions in research and extension, but currently is an extension weed scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently his program conducts extension and research in the management of weeds in perennial cropping systems and natural areas. Specific areas of interest include 1. The
biology, ecology and management of perennial weeds ..................................................................................................................................................... Land Managers/Other: Rachel Gagnon, Ontario Invasive Plant Council (Ontario)
Coordinator, Ontario Invasive Plant Council Rachel Gagnon is currently the coordinator with the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) a new nonprofit organization made up of various agencies and organizations across the province working together to effectively fight against the growing threat of invasive plants. Her past experience includes 3 years with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Emerald Ash Borer control program, GIS tech with the city of Peterborough's flood reduction plan and most recently Terrestrial Invasive Outreach Liaison with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Rachel is a graduate of the Forestry Technician program at Sault College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Fleming College's Geographic Information Systems cartographic specialist program as well as a certification in green building through the sustainable building design and construction program. Rachel has a passion for the environment and a keen interest in invasive plants and invasive plant control.
Jennifer Hillmer (Ohio) E-mail: jennifer.hillmer@suddenlink.net Jennifer is a founding member and officer of the Ohio Invasive Plants Council. She recently was the Land Steward for The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, and has also worked as a land steward and a volunteer coordinator for The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Chapter, and as a Natural Heritage data specialist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. Jennifer is particularly active in invasive plant management using volunteers and seasonal staff. Her interest in invasive plants includes early detection and response, mapping and tracing removal efforts, and post-removal habitat restoration.
Debbie Maurer, Lake County Forest Preserve District (Illinois)
Restoration Ecologist & Invasive
Species Coordinator Debbie Maurer has a M.S in Botany with an emphasis on plant ecology and restoration from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Conservation Biology degree (B.S.) from University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She has been with the Lake County Forest Preserve District in Illinois for nearly 5 years. She is both a Restoration Ecologist for the District and the Invasive Species Coordinator. She provides countywide awareness and communication involving invasive plants to District staff, volunteers and the general public. Debbie develops and implements habitat restoration projects, oversees invasive plant control programs, coordinates the development of the District's Ecological Database. Debbie is Co-PI on the New Invaders Watch Program, an early detection program to limit the spread of new exotic invasive plants species in NE Illinois and NW Indiana. She is currently working with others to establish a CWMA in Lake and McHenry counties to improve invasive species management on public and private lands. ..................................................................................................................................................... MIPN Staff: Coordinator:
For general information, contact info (at) mipn.org .....................................................................................................................................................
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For more information, contact MIPN via e-mail: Info at MIPN.org
