STATE COUNCIL & STAFF

The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) works to strengthen Michigan’s Conservation Districts through leadership, information, and representation at the State level.  

MACD is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, created in 1941 by Michigan Conservation Districts to be the statewide voice for Conservation Districts and to support their important work as local providers of natural resource management services.

We do this through legislative advocacy, public outreach, education, grant support and business programs to provide Michigan Conservation Districts with the skills and tools to better serve their communities. 


STATE COUNCIL

The MACD State Council, the governing board of the Association, has overall responsibility for the organization. Made up of member-elected officers and regional representatives, the State Council provides fiscal oversight and planning to assure that the Association provides members with quality programs and services to its members.

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:   Gerald "Jerry" Miller, Ph.D.  /  Kent Conservation District

Gerald “Jerry” Miller is Director of the Kent County Conservation District and currently serves as KCCD’s Board Chair. Jerry joined MACD in 2014 and served as Region 7 Vice-Chair. In 2015, he was elected Vice-President of MACD, re-elected in 2017, and was elected President of MACD in 2019 for a 2-year term.

Jerry is a native of Virginia and grew up on a crop and livestock farm in the Shenandoah Valley, graduating with a degree in agronomy from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in soil science from Iowa State University (ISU). During his academic career, he conducted applied research and served as a professor and Extension specialist for soil, water and watershed management and soil survey and land use at ISU. Jerry also spent his professional career working in soil and water management, and has more than 35 years of experience working with soil and water conservation districts. He still is very active, as well, as an emeritus professor of agronomy at ISU.  //  Email:  [email protected]

Vice President:   Steve Law  /  Jackson Conservation District

Steve Law held many positions of increasing responsibility over 32 years with the Soil Conservation Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service in Michigan.  He worked at each location to raise the capacity and recognition for the Conservation Districts he served as a Soil Conservationist and District Conservationist (Bay, Hillsdale, Missaukee, Ingham, Clinton), RC&D Coordinator (Grand Rapids) and Acting Area Conservationist (Grand Rapids, Flint, Marquette).  He began serving as a volunteer for MACD after retirement in 2014 providing Director training around the State and was elected to the Jacckson County Conservation District in 2020.  Steve has a BS in Crop and Soil Science, is part owner and Vice President of an agriculture related business (SWRT Solutions Inc.) and assists with farming a 1,200 acre cash crop farm in Jackson and Ingham counties. //  Email: [email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer:   Nancy Szikszay  /  Genesee Conservation District

Nancy Szikszay started her Conservation District life about 20 years ago, when she was appointed to the Genesee Conservation District Board of Directors. A year later she was elected to represent Region 9 on MACD's State Council. She has served as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer in Genesee. It is Nancy's sincere hope to have had as much positive influence on our conservation districts as these experiences have had on her.  //  Email:  [email protected]

  Past President:   Art Pelon  /  Ionia Conservation District

STATE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Region 1 Chair:
Vice Chair:
Secretary / Treasurer:

Kurt Lehmann / Dickinson Conservation District
Randy Gentz,  Marquette CD
Bernie Huetter, Marquette CD

Region 2 Chair: 
Vice Chair:

Jane Bishop  /  Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District
Vacant

Region 3 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Dawn Moses  /  Kalkaska Conservation District
Vacant

Region 4 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Ned Hughes, Newaygo Conservation District
Susanna Schwager, Missaukeee CD

Region 5 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Vacant
Vacant

Region 6 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Kevin Craig  /  Gratiot Conservation District
Aron Buechler, Bay CD

Region 7 Chair:
Vice Chair:
Secretary/Treasurer:

E. Paul Schroeder / Muskegon CD  
Rivka Hodgkinson, Ottawa CD
Gary Boersen, Clinton CD

Region 8 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Brandy Wise-Tenter  /  Berrien Conservation District
Vacant

Region 9 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Steve Schaub  /  Lapeer Conservation District 
Vacant

Region 10 Chair:
Vice Chair:

Steve Law  /  Jackson Conservation District
Clark Humrich, Livingston Conservation District


MACD STAFF

 

Interim Executive Director: Rivka Hodgkinson
//  Email: [email protected]
      Cell Phone: 517-331-4391

Director of Government Relations: Dan Moilanen
Dan has been with the Association since 2019, when he was first elected to the Genesee Conservation District Board of Directors. As a Legislative Staffer at the time, Dan joined MACD's Legislative Workgroup to help the Association deliver on our collective legislative goals. In 2021, Dan took on the role of Executive Director and hit the ground running. In 2024, Dan took a leave of absence from Executive Director and shifted to a part-time role as Director of Government Relations for MACD. Dan brings to the table a wealth of legislative experience, an extensive professional network, a diverse skillset, technological knowledge, and first-hand experience as a CD Director. Prior to his work in the legislature, Dan was the owner and operator of Flint's first food truck business, Vehicle City Tacos, where he successfully engaged in place-making and social entrepreneurial efforts. In addition to his work in conservation, Dan has a passion for music. He serves on the Flint Institute of Music Board of Trustees and plays in his own band in his spare time.
 
 //  Email: [email protected]
      Cell Phone: 517-331-1335

  Member Services Assistant: Taylor Pack
Taylor joined the Association team in 2021 as Member Services Assistant. She handles front-line requests from members for items such as new email macd.org addresses, document retrieval, scheduling for the Executive Director, and other critical business support tasks. Taylor splits her time with Genesee CD, where she helps manage the urban forestry program in the City of Flint. In 2021, She graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor's in Geography. Enjoys spending time outside and traveling.

 //  Email: [email protected]
      Cell Phone: 517-331-4391

  Western Lake Erie Basin Project Manager: Melissa Harris
Melissa joined the Association team in 2023 as the Western Lake Erie Basin Project Manager. MACD has an on-going project in Monroe, Lenawee, and Washtenaw Conservation Districts focused on farmer-led conservation programming funded by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation. Melissa earned her M.S. in Ecosystem Science and Management through the University of Michigan, and her B.S. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability through Michigan State University. Prior to joining the MACD team, Melissa worked within the public-health non-profit sector for the Michigan Medicine-Adolescent Health Initiative.

 //  Email: [email protected]
      Cell Phone: 517-896-1399

 

Bookkeeper: Waynette Ginter
Waynette has been with the Association since 2014 providing part-time bookkeeping and accounting services. Prior to joining MACD's team, she served as Operations Manager at Ingham Conservation District. Waynette handles invoicing for conferences and other billing or payment issues.
//  Email: [email protected]
     Phone: 517-927-5746

  MACD Webstore Manager: Michael Ethridge
Michael has been with the Association since 2023 and brings with him a wealth of retail and tech experience. Michael spent several years in the retail customer service sector in addition to his time as a Quality Assurance tester in the gaming industry. Michael fulfills and ships orders from the MACD webstore and provides additional assistance with inventory management, product development and more.  
//  Email: [email protected]