NLI Board of Trustees and Affiliations

“Perhaps nobody before us had seen the need or been able to set aside natural areas. And those that follow will no longer have the chance. They will only be able to care for what we leave them.” ~ George B. Fell

President

Paul Baits
Electrical Engineer Manager, Sundstrand /UTAS (retired)

Paul's Bio

Paul is a lifelong resident of Rockford. Although the home he has always lived in is inside Rockford’s city limits, it is located on a four acre lot that includes a two acre prairie. Quietly sitting in that prairie, gazing at the birds and sky, and just thinking was a summer joy. As a youth, Paul’s family was friends with Owen Gromme (renowned wildlife painter from Baraboo, WI). Mr. Gromme and his daughter helped the entire family learn to rehabilitate orphaned and injured birds. Family vacations were, typically, road trips to national parks. Paul’s parents and siblings are long-time supporters of many environmental organizations, particularly the Nature Conservancy, which later motivated family members to become committed supporters of the Natural Land Institute. When retirement from the engineering career and the end of another significant volunteer commitment ended, the transition to NLI was a natural fit. He is on NLI’s Land Conservation, Finance, and Science committees. Paul knows that it is imperative that we protect unblemished natural areas and the creatures that depend on those areas for their survival.

Vice-President

Judy Barnard

Judy's Bio

Judy’s love of nature began at an early age through trips to northern Wisconsin, since her Grandfather and Mom loved to fish. While they spent their days on the lake, she and her sister spent it in the woods – exploring every nook and cranny. In sixth grade, her class spent a few days at Camp Lorado Taft exploring the land around Blackhawk Statue. Old roots run deep.

She has been fortunate to hold four uniquely different jobs in her work life, retiring as Deputy County Administrator in 2004. Highlights of her county work included coordinating the county’s Balanced Growth Initiative and the Green Communities Environmental Vision. Once retired, she consulted for two years with the county Economic Development office and then went on to create MarketWorks, a small business specializing in print marketing, photography and event planning.

In 2016 she was elected to a second term as a Forest Preserves of Winnebago County Commissioner, and she also serves as an Associate Director of the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Judy previously served on the NLI board and is a past President. She has continued to be very involved with NLI by serving on several committees, coordinating silent auctions, and chairing the biennial Party on the Prairie fundraiser. Judy feels that the work of NLI is extremely important to the sustainability of the region.

Vice-President

Mark Luthin
Retired, Environmental Science Educator

Mark's Bio

My love of nature goes back to my childhood. We were constantly outside and often we explored nearby natural areas and parks looking for turtles, snakes, cool insects, etc. As a Boy Scout, we camped and hiked frequently. My Eagle Scout project involved working on the early stages of a prairie restoration at Highland College in Freeport. Keith Blackmore, former NLI Board member, was one of my teachers at HCC, and inspired me to become a teacher. I taught a variety of subjects, but primarily Biology and Environmental Science for 32 years in the Belvidere school district (Belvidere HS and Belvidere North). During my last 23 years, I taught a class called Advanced Topics, created by a coworker and I, that exposed students to a variety of ecosystems via field trips and projects by taking students to natural areas. Coming from a family of birders, conservationists, and prairie stewards, involvement in NLI seems preordained. I was a “sometimes” member of NIL’s Science Advisory committee when my schedule permitted. After I retired, I found myself needing to get out of the house. Kim Johnsen convinced me to help with some educational, programming, and stewardship activities that NLI sponsors, and to join the Education Committee. I am proud to be part of the NLI team that creates, protects, and restores our natural areas.

Secretary

Jon Duerr
Executive Director, Kane County Forest Preserve (retired)

Jon's Bio

Jon is a native of and currently lives in St. Charles, Illinois. He describes himself as a botanist and has held a life-long interest in horticulture that was inherited from his family. During his high school years he was introduced to the Morton Arboretum and had a mentor who took him to visit natural areas in the area where he grew up. This was in the 1950s, prior to the wave of habitat restoration and ecology and before the first Earth Day. He attended Koch College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and received his Master’s degree from NIU in 1967. Jon was the original staff biologist at Waubonsee Community College and set up the biology program there where he taught for five years. After this he bought a greenhouse and garden center in Oswego and ran it for 16 years. Jon was hired as a landscape designer and planner for Kane County Forest Preserve District and eventually became the Director. He retired from there 2004. In later years Jon developed an interest in birding and has gone on several worldwide birding expeditions. Through his birding interests he met Dan Williams (NLI Trustee) several years ago.

Treasurer

Jay Evans
President and Chief Investment Officer, Investors Management Group (retired)

Jay's Bio

Jay and his wife, Jane, are passionate about conservation and environmental issues and being involved with Natural Land Institute is a good outlet for him. Jane is very much an activist, which has rubbed off on Jay. They have both been NLI supporters for many years. One of Jay’s goals is to ensure this organization is around for a long time. This is why he has been an advocate of NLI’s Endowment Fund. NLI is one of the few strong long-term organizations in our area and Jay is proud to be a part of his land trust.

Trustee

Robert Clark
Professor of Mathematics, Rock Valley College (retired)

Rob's Bio

Rob grew up in northeast Ohio in close proximity to several of the 18 preserves in the 23,000-acre Cleveland Metroparks System. Some of his earliest memories involve playing with friends in forests and creeks. His father introduced him to camping and nature photography, which remain passions to this day. When he moved to northern Illinois in the 90s for a teaching position at Rock Valley College, he was introduced to the Natural Land Institute.

The spring of 2002 was Rob’s first formal connection to NLI when he signed on to help establish a bluebird nest box trail at Nygren Wetland Preserve. To this day he still helps maintain and monitor that trail. Over the years, Rob has also participated in various volunteer work days, restoration projects, prescribed burns, planting and seed harvesting projects. His wife Cassie and daughter Emma have occasionally joined him in some of those activities. The natural world is very important to the entire family.

Rob feels that volunteering with NLI for two decades has kept him close to nature. He doesn’t hesitate to tell people that helping protect natural areas in northern Illinois gives him an immense sense of pride. He is honored to take that service to the next level and serve as a member of NLI’s board of trustees.

Trustee

John R. Cook, III
Landscape Architect and Designer, John R. Cook Associates

John's Bio

John is a landscape architect who has worked with the private and public sectors for decades and brings a scope of knowledge and understanding about how a natural environment can be enjoyable and encourage healing of the mind and body.

Trustee

Adam Guarino
Broker, Dickerson & Nieman Realtors

Adam's Bio

Adam has been a Broker with Dickerson & Nieman Realtors for 11 years and is a 4 year member of their President’s Club which is an award to the top tier of sales agents for the company. He was born and raised in Rockford, graduating Guilford High School in 2001. He attended the University of Wyoming achieving his Bachelor’s in Advertising and Marketing. Throughout the years he has been a member of Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the United Sportsmen’s Youth Foundation whose mission is “Teaching Kids about Conservation”. He grew up a hunter and is a conservationist and steward of his land for his children, son Mason (4) and daughter Ellie (18 months). He is familiar with land values and contracts and willing to volunteer for projects and causes he believes in. Adam has a passion for the outdoors and land in general and wants to leave something for his children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Trustee

Bill Hoff

Bill's Bio

Bill served for three years on the Campaign Committee for the Gordon G. Eggers Fund, an Endowment for the Nygren Wetland Preserve, prior to joining the NLI board in June 2019. Now, in addition to serving on the board, Bill is a member of the Land Conservation and Resource Development Committees.

Trustee

Ricardo Montoya Picazo

Ricardo's Bio

Ricardo was raised in Central Illinois and in 2015 he moved to Rockford for work. Currently, he works as the Chief of Staff for State Representative Dave Vella, Illinois 68th District. He serves in multiple Rockford community boards and advocates on issues that affect our communities of color. Outside his social and political work, Ricardo loves fishing, hiking, and wildlife.

Trustee

Jenn Nowicki

Jenn's Bio

Jenn Nowicki developed an early interest in the outdoors that blossomed in college. She often climbed a willow tree where she could gain perspective and appreciate nature in the Chicago suburb where she grew up. At the College of DuPage (COD), she built on those experiences in over fifty field-study courses such as Edible Trees, Boundary Waters Winter Camping, and Dunes Ecology. She interned in an aviary and a prairie restoration. After leaving COD, Jenn finished a Bachelor of Science at UW-Stevens Point in biology/natural resources. Later, she earned a Masters of Education in Outdoor Education from Northern Illinois University.

Influential jobs surrounding college included Field Studies Manager supporting adventure courses, milking cows at a dairy farm and assistant to the farmer and baker on an organic farm in Michigan. These experiences guided her as the Outdoor Recreation Supervisor for Oakdale Nature Preserve Park in Freeport for 10 years. At Oakdale, she directed the outdoor education program, life long learning classes, special events and restoration of 130 acres.

Outdoor pursuits continue to be important. She sits on the board of a Stephenson County land trust, the Jane Addamsland Park Foundation as well as NLI. She gets away in a canoe, hammock or bike as often as she can with her husband Alan and children, Anna (22), Emma (22) and Charlie (8).

Trustee

Ashley Sarver
Urban Planner, Gary W. Anderson Architects

Ashley's Bio

Ashley is an urban planner with Gary W. Anderson Architects where she works to revitalize downtowns, redevelop historic buildings, and build community. She is also involved with many community initiatives including Transform Rockford, I Bike Rockford, IGNITE Young Professionals, and is also on the board for Jeremiah Development. She grew up in a small town near Rockford so is familiar with both rural and urban contexts for the built and natural environment. In her free time you could expect her to be biking or hiking with her husband, Jason, and dog, Kevin.

Trustee

Charlie Sturm
Co-Owner, Lindstrom Travel

Charlie's Bio

Charlie was introduced to the Natural Land Institute by board member Jim Pemble in January of 2005 with his first visit to Nygren Wetland. It was to see the progress of the Raccoon Creek restoration to its original meandering stream. Soon after he began volunteering to maintain the row of Iron Weed at the Nygren Wetland nursery. The next year he joined the NLI Board and began his 6 year term assisting with Party on the Prairie and Wine at the Wetland. After taking a few years off he is back on the board and is Chairman of the Marketing & Membership Committee. His love for nature came from growing up in Rockford on Aldeen Park…90 acres of woods, streams and fields. As his mother always says, “Aldeen Park was an excellent babysitter for Charlie”.

Trustee

Daniel L. Swift, M.D.
Physician, Rockford Urological Associates (retired)

Dan's Bio

Dan Swift lives in Rockford and is married to Susan L. Swift and has four children and nine grandchildren. He is a retired physician who practiced Urology and is co-founder of Rockford Urological Associates. Dan attended Depauw University and Emory University School of Medicine. He says, “I have always enjoyed an interest in nature and the natural world since my earliest memories. I have always supported a number of nature conservation organizations and now that I am retired I would like to take a more active role. I believe my thinking and goals coincide nicely with the Natural Land Institute. For approximately seven years I have owned and managed a 35 acre farm in southern Wisconsin with the intent of converting it into a natural preserve. I now know and understand the significant difficulties involved in trying to do this. Preserving and restoring natural land is an extremely important task and I look forward to contributing to the Natural Land Institute. At the same time I look forward to learning more and educating myself about the land and species of Northern Illinois.

Trustee

Nancy Williamson
Retired, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Nancy's Bio

Nancy Williamson retired June 2018 after serving 19 years with Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a Regional Watershed Coordinator and was “Green Cities” Campaign Manager for the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, and Conservation 2000 grant administrator for twelve years, working with private sector Ecosystem Partnerships in Northern Illinois. She served for seven years as co-chair of the Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Team, and founded the Sustainable Watershed Action Team, which worked with private grant funding to advance green infrastructure planning, watershed planning, and resource-sensitive development with multiple local jurisdictions across northern Illinois.

Nancy served for five years on the board and as President of the McHenry County Conservation District, and 15 years on the McHenry County Conservation Foundation and on two referendum committees, ultimately bringing $141.5 million in open space funding to McHenry County, IL.

Nancy was a recipient of the 2010 United States Department of Interior “Partners in Conservation” Award for her work with Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure and received the award again in 2012 for her role in helping establish Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. She currently serves as Board treasurer for Friends of Hackmatack NWR. She is an accomplished graphic artist/illustrator and helps many not-for-profits with free or cost effective graphic design, including interpretive signage at NLI’s Nygren Wetland Preserve.

Trustee

Robert Young
President, Midwest Packaging and Container

Rob's Bio

Rob Young was born and raised in the country at Everbold Farm in Kirkland, Illinois and has had a curiosity and passion for the natural world from a young age. An avid outdoor adventurer, Rob has sought out natural beauty in places such as New Zealand, California, Utah, Arizona, Georgia and Virginia, but when he is home you can find him hiking along a Northern Illinois trail. Professionally, Rob is the owner and President of Midwest Packaging and Container, a tennis teaching pro at Forest City Tennis Center, and the assistant editor of FutureSox.com. Rob is a 2015-2016 alumni of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Leadership Rockford Program, a member of Next Rockford, and Vice President of the Rockford Young Professionals Meetup group.