ASWM Staff and Board Members

	ASWM STAFF

	Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. (ASWM). Jeanne has been with ASWM since 1999 and Executive Director since 2001. From 1995 to 1999 she was a Resource Conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wetlands and Watersheds Division where she was national program leader for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. She worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division (1988-1995) moving from the staff level to Section Chief and Acting Branch Chief. As an environmental planner at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (1985-1988) responsibilities included the Green Bay Remedial Action Plan and the 208 Watershed Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin. She has a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Environmental Science, both from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Jeanne is a 2007 winner of the National Wetlands Award for Education and Outreach. During her spare time she competes in ultra runs, teaches digital photography, and does volunteer work with the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center. She lives in an 1860 farmhouse in Windham, ME with her husband Larry and their ‘rescued’ animal companions Tux, and Massey.


	Jon Kusler, Associate Director, Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. [Resume] [ASWM Meetings] Jon is a lawyer, writer, and educator with more than 35 years of experience with wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas. In addition to a law degree, he holds a M.S. in Water Resources Management and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Land and Water Management from the University of Wisconsin. He has served on the staff of the University of Wisconsin and Massachusetts. He served as a consultant to the U.S. Water Resources Council and other federal agencies for many years. He was an Institute Fellow with the Environmental Law Institute from 1976-1978. He helped found the Association of State Wetland Managers in 1983 and served as its Executive Director from 1990 to 2001. He received EPA's National Wetland Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, the Gilbert White award in floodplain management in 1979, and the Society of Wetland Scientist’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He has authored many books and reports concerning wetlands, floodplains and such as Our National Wetland Heritage: A Protection Guide, Regulating Sensitive Lands, and Wetland Creation and Restoration: The Status of the Science (co-editor with Mary Kentula). He lives in an old farmhouse in Berne, New York with his wife Pat, two children (when they are home), many cats, and two lizards.



	Leah Stetson, ASWM Staff Leah Stetson joined the Association as a writer-editor in fall 2006. She edits the monthly e-newsletter, Wetland Breaking News, writes feature articles for the membership newsletter, Wetland News, and develops content for ASWM’s latest webpages, such as “How to Design a Wetlands Education and Regulatory Workshop” and “Wetlands & Climate Change.” A published poet, writing teacher and conservationist, Leah graduated from College of the Atlantic with a master’s degree in human ecology. She has over 10 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, where she wore several different hats—including a Smokey the Bear “Stetson” at Acadia National Park. She likes to hike, swim and dance when she’s not writing about salt marshes, bogs and fens. Leah is also a member of the adjunct faculty at Southern Maine Community College. She lives in the lakes region with her rescue gundog, Sophie-Bea, and two funny cats.

	Steve Palmer, Project Bookkeeper Steve has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maine. His early work experience was in sales and marketing. Steve's later business experience was in manufacturing supervision and management. Steve "re-tooled" and has become a specialist for bookkeeping and tax preparations. He has worked for ASWM for four years. A flexible schedule has allowed Steve to donate some of his time to charity nonprofits. Steve is quick to point out that a nonprofit must manage resources the same as a for-profit in order to reach mission goals. Steve participates professionally in skill builder courses. The latest training he attended was provided by the Maine Association of Nonprofits on the new Form 990 requirements. Steve and his wife, Dottie live on a five-acre woodlot, one mile from Sebago Lake. They enjoy living in Maine with their Springer Spaniel, Jennie.

	Laura Burchill, ASWM Staff Laura is the office manager in the Windham office and has been with the association since 2004. She is responsible for maintaining the membership information; assists with the many tasks involved in preparing for conferences and workshops; handles publication orders; as well as general office duties. She has 25+ years experience in graphic design and also works part-time for Parent & Family, a local publication. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband David, two teenagers, Chris and Stefanie and dog, Jack.

Sharon Weaver, ASWM Staff

Sharon is the Publications Specialist and Webmaster for the Association in the Berne, New York office , where she has worked for the past 19+ years. Along with general office tasks, she works on the layout and design of Association publications, reports, and brochures. She helps coordinate ASWM workshops and symposia. She manages the ASWM website , which includes daily updates and prepares and designs new webpages. When she is not entertaining company, she enjoys some alone time with her husband, Ken, and grown children Karla and Pieter. She adores her three dogs and three cats, who complete the family nest.

	ASWM BOARD MEMBERS

	David Davis, Chairman Dave is the Director of the Office of Wetlands & Water Protection at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. In this position, he is responsible for Virginia’s independent nontidal wetland regulatory program and non-regulatory wetland programs. He is also the lead technical expert for VDEQ on wetland science issues, drafts regulations and guidance on State wetland policy, serves as a liaison with federal agencies regarding 404/401 issues, and manages several federally-funded wetland grants. Dave represents DEQ on several state and federal interagency wetland committees, taskforces, and work groups – state-wide, nationally and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining DEQ in 2001, Mr. Davis was a partner in a wetland consulting firm in Richmond. In 2000, he was nominated by then-Lieutenant Governor John Hager to serve on DEQ's Technical Advisory Committee to draft regulations implementing new State wetland laws. In 2002, he was appointed to the Virginia Board of Certified Soil Scientists and Wetland Professionals by then-Governor Mark Warner, and was re-appointed to the Board in 2006 by Governor Tim Kaine. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Music minor) from The College of William & Mary and a Master of Environmental Studies degree in Environmental Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist and a Virginia Certified Professional Wetland Delineator. His professional affiliations include the Society of Wetland Scientists and the Association of State Wetland Managers. In his spare time, Dave plays bass trombone with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, bass trombone and tuba with the European Wind Ensemble of Richmond, freelances on both tenor and bass trombone; he is active with The College of William & Mary's mentoring and career counseling programs and is an alumni advisor for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. A native of Chincoteague Island, Virginia, Dave has resided in Richmond since 1990, is married, and has a precocious daughter who is in the “but why, Daddy” stage.

	Alan Quackenbush, Vice Chairman Originally from central New York, Alan had an early affinity for wetlands that were prevalent on the farm where he grew up. This interest was strengthened when he took a summer course at Colgate University in bog ecology during his high school years. He received a B.A. from the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. After a two-year Peace Corps enlistment in Benin (West Africa), he worked in a number of social service positions. He changed course, decided to focus on his earlier interests, and earned a M.S. in botany from the University of Vermont. While still enrolled in graduate school, he started his career with the Vermont DEC Water Quality Division. He has since worked in the Lakes and Ponds Section; the Biomonitoring and Aquatic Studies Section; and the Wetlands Management Section, where he has been for the last 13 years. He assumed his duties as supervisor of the Vermont Wetlands Program in May 2005 following the retirement of his predecessor, Carl Pagel, who had been the State Wetlands Coordinator for thirty years. Alan serves as a member-at-large on the board of the Association of State Wetland Managers; is a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists; is on EPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment Workgroup and New England Wetland Workgroup for monitoring and assessment. He has presented at numerous workshops and symposia including research and special studies on wetlands. He lives in the Green Mountains, just a few miles from work, with his wife Audrey and his dog Sadie.

	Cherie Hagen, Secretary/Treasurer Cherie is the Wetland Team Leader and Policy Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), where she collaborates with more than 17 partner organizations on the development and implementation of Reversing the Loss - A Strategy to Protect, Restore and Explore Wisconsin Wetlands http://dnr.wi.gov/wetlands/strategy.html. She has worked for WDNR since 1995. She holds degrees in Biological Sciences, Aquatic Ecology and Secondary Education.


	MEMBERS AT LARGE

	Collis Adams, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) Collis has served has the administrator of the Wetlands Bureau at DES for the past eight years. As the administrator, he oversees all activities relative to the New Hampshire Dredge and Fill Law (NH RSA 482-A) and the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (NH RSA 483-B). Prior to filling that role he spent ten years with the DES Alteration of Terrain Program reviewing and permitting plans for large scale developments. His greatest accomplishment as administrator of the wetlands bureau was the implementation of an in-lieu fee program for wetland mitigation and then expanding that program to include streams, rivers, and their riparian habitats. Before coming to DES, Collis spent four years in private engineering consulting owning and operating his own consulting firm and prior to that, a five year stint with the New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1980 Collis graduated with a BSCE degree from the University of Massachusetts with an emphasis on environmental engineering; they did not have an environmental engineering degree “back in the day”. Prior to UMass, Collis spent four years studying architecture at The Ohio State University and he remains an avid Buckeye fan to this day! Collis lives in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He has two children, one of each, and is particularly proud that he has instilled in them his same sense of volunteerism and a love for the outdoors. Collis particularly enjoys spending time along the varied coastlines of New England. He is seldom seen without his dog and best friend Zoë at his side and he still gets a kick out of the fact that Zoë is voice trained to avoid vernal pools while hiking in the woods … no small feat for a yellow lab. Collis also serves on his local conservation commission, planning board, and Board of Directors for Goffstown Little League. He is a state certified umpire for high school baseball, his other true calling in life.

	Peg Bostwick, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Peg is an Environmental Quality Specialist in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in Lansing. Since 1989, she has served as the Section 404 Coordinator for Michigan's state-assumed 404 Program and is currently the Chief of the Wetlands, Lakes and Streams Unit. This group provides technical support for wetland permit staff and also works in non-regulatory areas including wetland mapping, monitoring and assessment, outreach and education, and watershed planning. Her primary responsibilities are to ensure that state actions under Michigan's 404 Program are consistent with federal law, to provide technical assistance to staff in interpretation of federal regulations, and to serve as a liaison with federal agencies regarding 404 issues. She has also been particularly interested in working with Michigan's research institutions to encourage the development of improved wetland assessment methods. Peg joined the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1979 after completing a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife and additional graduate work in limnology at Michigan State University. As a limnologist in the Inland Lake Management Program, she participated in statewide lake water quality surveys, reviewed dredge and fill permit applications for projects impacting inland lakes, and worked extensively with the federal Clean Lakes Program. Peg has been an active member of the Association of State Wetland Managers for a number of years and previously served as the Board Chair. She is also a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists. When not at work, Peg and her family raise Jacob sheep on a small farm in Clinton County, Michigan.

	Richard Gitar, Fond du Lac Reservation - Office of Water Protection Rick is a Water Regulatory Specialist for the Fond du Lac Reservation - Office of Water Protection (located in Northeastern Minnesota). Rick began working as a Wetland Specialist for the reservation in 1998, developing a Wetland Protection and Conservation Plan, as well as up-dating their National Wetland Inventory dataset on GIS. Since then, his duties have increased to include the development of a wetland regulatory program, developing a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Tribal Water Quality Certification program (based on EPA approved Tribal Water Quality Standards), and oversight of the CWA Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) on the reservation. Rick has been a member of the Association of State Wetland Managers since 2001. He also serves as a Board Member and Habitat Committee Chairman of the St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA), which conducts and/or coordinates numerous restoration projects in the lower St. Louis River area (communities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin). He has also served on numerous local, state and national workgroups and committees in the areas of wetlands, invasive plant species, and storm water management. Rick was a recipient of a 2009 National Wetlands Award from the Environmental Law Institute. Rick completed a B.S. in Biology and Journalism (double major) from the University of Wisconsin - Superior (UWS) in 1992. While working as an instructor for UWS (1993-1997), Rick worked on a M.S. in Environmental Biology at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. At the same time, he also operated his own environmental consulting company, which specialized in rare plant surveys and wetland mitigation monitoring. In his spare time, Rick enjoys camping, fishing, canoeing, trail building (for the Superior Hiking Trail system), bicycle touring, or just spending time at home with his wife, two children, two dogs, two cats and one bird in Duluth, Minnesota.

Maryann McGraw, New Mexico Environment Department

Maryann is the Wetlands Program Coordinator and the Wetlands and Department of Transportation Team Leader with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau. Maryann has managed projects funded by CWA Section 319(h) since 1998. Maryann also manages projects funded by CWA Section 104(b)(3) and the newly created New Mexico Wetlands Program since 2003.

Previously, Maryann worked for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) as an Environmental Specialist beginning in 1993 where she provided input for natural resources protection as a part of transportation project design, wrote NEPA documents and was in charge of developing mitigation plans and projects for wetland impacts. Presently, she serves as the NMED liaison to the DOT.

Maryann is a current board member of the ASWM. She brings to the board the perspective and challenges of a newly formed and growing wetlands program. She has previously taught landscape ecology and restoration classes at Santa Fe Community College including Wetlands, Riparian Restoration, Dryland Restoration, Bioremediation, and Natural History of Arid Lands. Maryann holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas. Maryann paints en plein air in pastel, concentrating on New Mexico's scenic vistas and how time and seasonal changes affect those places.

Janet Morlan, Oregon Department of State Lands

Janet is the Wetlands Program Manager at the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL). DSL implements the state’s Removal-Fill Law and the 1989 Wetlands Conservation Act. Janet joined DSL in 1989 as the Wetlands Inventory Specialist and became the Wetlands Team Leader/Program Manager in 1997. Janet’s primary responsibilities include development of state wetlands policy and programs, coordinating state interests with federal programs, rulemaking, working with cities engaged in state-mandated wetlands planning, and providing wetland-related education and training. Janet has managed many EPA grant-funded projects, including development of HGM guidebooks and other wetland assessment methods and regional status and trends studies. She also provides technical assistance to staff, other agencies and the private sector on wetland determination and jurisdictional issues.

She enjoys providing wetland delineation training, and has been an active participant in development of the Arid West and Western Mountains, Valleys and Coasts regional supplements to the 1987 Corps Wetlands Delineation Manual. Janet received a B.A. degree in geography (with minors in wildlife management and journalism) from Humboldt State University and obtained her M.S. degree in resource geography from Oregon State University. Her thesis research was on salt marsh restoration at the Salmon River estuary, Oregon. Janet has been an active member of ASWM for many years. She’s also active with the Society of Wetland Scientists, including as past president of the PNW chapter, and she is currently Chair of the Professional Wetland Scientist Certification Program’s Ethics Committee. For fun, Janet enjoys exercise, gardening, and competing in canine musical freestyle with her Belgian Tervuren, Kobe.

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