Glen Chown
Executive Director
Glen is the founding Executive Director of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. He oversees the Regional Conservancy’s efforts to protect scenic, natural and farm lands in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee Counties. Since the Regional Conservancy’s founding in 1991, more than 30,000 acres of land and over 75 miles of shoreline along the region’s scenic rivers, lakes and streams have been forever protected. Glen is a member of the Land Trust Alliance’s Leadership Council and a founding board member of Michigan’s Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy. Glen holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. He lives on the Old Mission Peninsula with his wife, Becky, and their sons, Martin, William and Leonard.

Megan Olds
Associate Director
After spending childhood vacations near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Megan always knew she wanted to live in northern Michigan. In 1999, her dream came true when she moved to Traverse City and accepted a job at the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. For the next eight years, Megan created and directed programs that protected scenic road corridors, expanded non-motorized transportation options, researched affordable housing solutions, and offered tools to local units of government to achieve balanced growth and development that protects significant natural resources. Megan joined the Regional Land Conservancy in 2007 as the Director of Communications. In early 2008 she assumed the direction of the fundraising, communications, and volunteer programs. She became the Conservancy’s first Associate Director in September 2008. Megan has undergraduate degrees from Miami University (Ohio) in both Geography and Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus on local food systems. She also earned an M.A. in Organizational Management. Megan lives in Traverse City's Old Town neighborhood with her husband, Andy, and daughter, Eleanor.

Matt McDonough
Director of Land Protection
Born and raised in southwestern Michigan, Matt joined the Conservancy in 2000. After working exclusively on conservation easement and land acquisition projects for 8 years, Matt now directs the land protection department. He continues to work on some land projects, but focuses much of his time on developing new programs for land conservation and innovative finance strategies. He holds a B.S. from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. His past experience includes water rights and fisheries work in Montana, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts; aquaculture work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon, Africa; and, land conservation work in southwestern Michigan. Matt lives in Traverse City with his wife Ann, and their children Sam and Abby. In his spare time he enjoys spending time outside with his kids, mountain biking, cycling, hunting and reading.

Xiomara Cordoba-Lepczyk
Land Protection Specialist
Xio joined the Regional Land Conservancy staff in the winter of 2003. Xio (pronounced CEE-o) is a native Colombian. She came to the U.S. to pursue a graduate degree at MSU. Xio says that since she grew up in a crowded city with minimal open space, she has a great appreciation for the Regional Conservancy's work. She says, "I love the summers here, it's just like paradise!" Xio earned an M.S. in Geography at MSU, where her research focused on Lake Michigan Dunes.

Brad Gerlach
Land Protection Specialist
Growing up spending his summers on the Chain of Lakes, Brad always planned to, eventually, live full-time in Northern Michigan. And after several years away, during which he earned a B.A. from Wake Forest University and a M.A. from the University of Toledo, both in history, his plans finally came to fruition. As with many who try to make a living in our area, Brad has a varied employment background, but has concentrated his work mainly in social services and education. He feels especially fortunate to live adjacent to Antrim County's incredible Grass River Natural Area, one of his favorite places in the world. Even better, Brad has three children, Annika, Soren, and Linnea who love to play outdoors as much he does.

Chris Sullivan
Land Protection Specialist
Born in Wisconsin, Chris first moved to Traverse City when he was four years old. He received a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan, and has worked as a Research Assistant in limnology for the University of Michigan and with threatened/endangered salmon and trout stocks for the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, before joining the Regional Land Conservancy in April 1999. After seven years as the Conservancy's Director of Stewardship, Chris now focuses on land protection efforts in Benzie and Manistee Counties. Chris lives in Traverse City with his wife, Ali, and sons Riley and Owen.

Todd Vigland
Land Protection Specialist
A native of Benzie County, Todd grew up sailing Crystal Lake and hiking Lake Michigan dunes. Todd completed a bachelor's degree at Michigan State University in Landscape Architecture which included a semester of study in Europe and later returned to MSU for a masters program in Urban and Regional Planning. In the early 90's, Todd began his career at GTRLC doing seasonal stewardship work for three years. He then headed to Maryland, where he spent four years preserving farmland and critical Chesapeake Bay shoreline at the Eastern Shore Land Conserancy. Thankfully, he returned to GTRLC in 2002 and now focuses primarily on preserving the best of the Chain of Lakes and Jordan River watersheds. Todd resides in Traverse City with his wife Susan where both can often be found on a trail or in a boat.

Sarah Naperala
Director of Stewardship and Human Resources Manager
Sarah earned her B. S. in Biology from Michigan Technological University. Her work experience has included coordination of various programs and projects, including research with the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. After many years of visiting her in-laws in beautiful northern Lower Michigan, Sarah and her family decided to make their visits permanent and move to Traverse City in October 2005. Sarah loves to hike with her children, Kyle and Amelia, and her husband, Troy, an Environmental Engineer. As Director of Stewardship, Sarah is working with staff, volunteers, and land owners to steward nature preserves and conservation agreements in perpetuity.  Sarah also has the role of Human Resources Manager and focuses her work on organizational training, team strengthening, and employee professional development. Not only is she passionate about stewarding protected properties, she has an affinity for stewarding the professional growth of Conservancy employees.

Abby Gartland
Natural Land Steward
Abby joined the Stewardship Staff in 2001 following the completion of her B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University. She spends much of her personal and work time tromping in the woods learning about and enjoying the unique flora and fauna of NW Lower Michigan. Although Abby envisions Michigan as her home base she hopes to travel extensively, double her life list (at least!) and experience as much of the natural world as she can. With the support of the Stewardship Team, Abby is responsible for much of the biological work at GTRLC's nature preserves including completing baseline inventories of the flora and fauna on site; she also manages the invasive species program.

Mike Okma
Conservation Easement Steward
Mike has a B.S. in Applied Ecology and a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Michigan Technological University. His work experience includes time as a volunteer general park ranger on North Manitou Island. Before joining the Regional Land Conservancy as a full-time employee, Mike worked part-time for the organization, writing environmental reports and working with the field crew. Now Mike works with conservation easement owners throughout GTRLC’s service area. Mike and his wife Daniele are grateful to be able to live and play in the Traverse City area, where they both grew up.

Tray Posavatz
Land Use Steward
Tray was born and raised in western Pennsylvania, but soon after graduating high school, he moved west to California and eventually ended up in Oregon. Tray graduated from Oregon State with a B.S. in Biology with two areas of focus: Plan Biology and Microbiology. He spent 10 years as contractor with the forest service as a field biologist throughout the Cascade and Rocky Mountains before moving to the Traverse City area in 2002. He now lives on three wooded acres in Kalkaska County with his wife, Nan, and two sons, Niko and Keenan. Tray's work focuses on property management including developing trails and overseeing hunting permissions.

Vic Lane
Stewardship Specialist
Vic earned a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, which he has put to use in a variety of arenas. Before joining the Regional Land Conservancy, Vic worked as a Stewardship Specialist for the Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs and, prior to that, as a Wildlife Assistant for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at their Traverse City Field Office. He has also held various short-term positions that included tracking radio-collared moose in the Upper Peninsula and conducting biological surveys. Vic's duties at the Regional Conservancy include managing the organization's sustainable forestry program at Arcadia Dunes, coordinating farmland stewardship activities, and assisting with other conservation easement and nature preserve stewardship. A Frankfort native, Vic is very excited to be part of a team working to protect the natural places he enjoyed as a child.  Vic lives with his wife, Erin, and daughter, Robin on a small farm in Leelanau County.

Jennifer Jay
Director of Communications and Outreach
Growing up in Petoskey, Jennifer's appreciation for our freshwater paradise began early and was deepened after living for a time in the Arizona desert. Jennifer has lived in Traverse City since 1987. She has a passion for connecting people to each other and to their environment in support of stewarding our natural resources. Jennifer worked for 10 years at The Pathfinder School and was the Project Coordinator for the Boardman River Dams study for two years before joining the Regional Land Conservancy, viewing her role as an excellent merge of her passions and skills. She serves as a board member for the Grand Traverse Conservation District and is the proud mom of Zara, an Environmental Studies major at Portland State University. Jennifer lives with Evan, a writer, in the Old Town neighborhood where they enjoy organic gardening and restoring their 100 year-old home.

Rolf von Walthausen
Volunteer Program Coordinator
A native of southeast Michigan, Rolf spent many weekends and summers during his formative years "up north" vowing one day to return home to northern Michigan. He and his wife Mari enjoy rock hunting, quiet places and just being out-of-doors. Rolf’s most recent work has focused on expanding the volunteer program and creating sustainable models to help protect and steward our Preserves. Rolf enjoys applying his passion for land preservation and interest in sustainable community to helping connect people to the land in meaningful ways. To share your gift of time and talent please contact Rolf at 922-1268 or email him.

Erik Davidek
Communications Specialist
Erik grew up in the shadows of Flint’s automotive factories. He escaped to live in locations as varied as Wyoming and Iceland, and has done everything from teach high school history to test drive cars for Car and Driver magazine. His diverse background has given him a unique perspective on the natural beauty of the region, and he is proud to call Traverse City and the GTRLC home. Erik likes to do just about anything outdoors, especially whitewater kayaking, hiking, and playing with his two kids, Isabella and Leo.

Erin Anderson
Charitable Giving Specialist
Having grown up just south of Elk Rapids, surrounded by cherry orchards, Erin enjoyed the dynamic and exciting contrast of a six-year stint in New York City where she attended college and later worked in marketing for the publisher Penguin Putnam, Inc., before returning to her native northern Michigan a few years ago. Erin holds a B.A. in Literature and Middle Eastern History from Sarah Lawrence College and a diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy, where she majored in Creative Writing. Upon moving back to Michigan, she sought meaningful work that aimed to preserve what called her home in the first place and she's very happy to have found it! Erin works to help those who wish to financially support the Regional Land Conservancy's mission match their specific charitable giving goals with the right program or project. When she's not at work, Erin loves to write fiction, read, and watch a wide variety of theatre and film. She also enjoys numerous outdoor activities, and is learning to rock climb and fly fish.

Kate Pearson
Charitable Giving Specialist
A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Kate brings to her position a deep love of the region and appreciation for the wonderful people who make up our community. Kate's interest in land stewardship was ignited while studying in Krakow, Poland, where she observed first-hand the positive influence that good community planning can have on the quality of life of future generations. Kate earned a B.S. in Community Development from Central Michigan University. Before joining the Regional Land Conservancy, she was the Visitor Center Manager for the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Kate enjoys outdoor recreation of all kinds, making art, reading, and creative writing. Kate, her husband Steve Cruzen, and her daughter Sophie (one of the Conservancy’s youngest donors), enjoy life together on Spider Lake.

Carrie Rollenhagen
Executive Assistant
Born and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Carrie earned a B.S. in Office Administration from Northern Michigan University. She eventually settled below the bridge, when in 2001 her family relocated to Traverse City after having spent several years in New England, and then midwestern Michigan. Soon after, Carrie joined the Regional Land Conservancy staff as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, and has been hard at work keeping everyone in the office organized ever since. When not whipping the staff into shape, she enjoys several pastimes: mainly canoeing, sewing, and tap dancing. Carrie lives near Lake Dubonnet with her husband, Mark, an electrical engineer at Traverse City Light and Power. They are the parents of two children: Brian now serving in the U.S. Army, and Emily, a student at Western Michigan University.

Birgit Yetter
Director of Finance & Administration
Birgit has been with GTRLC since 1992 and oversees the financial and administrative management of the organization. Born and raised in Germany, Birgit moved to Traverse City in 1990 and later earned a B.S. in Accounting from Ferris State University. She has two grown children, Shawn and Serena, and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and aspires to be a world-traveler.

Pam Hooker
Office Assistant
After ten years as office manager for a small engineering firm in Traverse City, Pam joined the Regional Land Conservancy in 2005 where she manages our front desk with ease and good humor. Except for six years spent in Grand Rapids after marrying her husband, Mike, Pam has spent her adult life in the TC area. They have no children but dearly love their English Setter, Bandit. Pam enjoys country dancing, reading good novels, and anything to do with history – especially ancient history.

Barbara Waite
Office Manager
Born and raised in Virginia, Barbara traded the Blue Ridge Mountains for the lakes and dunes of northern Michigan in 2003. She describes herself as a southern girl who came north and found a home. Barbara is responsible for HR functions such as employee benefits administration and payroll, as well as other office administrative functions and donation entry.. She is the mother of two grown children, Kyle and Leanna, and hopes to wait at least a few more years before welcoming any grandchildren. Barbara lives in Kalkaska County with her husband Lew, a Michigan native.

Eric Pearson
Information Systems Coordinator
Eric grew up in Traverse City but moved downstate after college. After fifteen years in the TV industry and twenty in his own software business, he and his wife Mary returned to TC to live happily ever after. Volunteer work with local non-profits evolved into a second career in 2006 when he joined the Regional Land Conservancy's staff. Eric and Mary like to spend time renovating their home on the Peninsula, walking in the woods, and visiting friends in the area. While driving around northern Michigan they like to say "we live here", and Eric is proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to preserving the area's natural beauty.

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