BELWIN STAFF

Lynette Anderson

Interpretive Naturalist/Restoration Specialist
lynette.anderson@belwin.org
I am involved with both programming and land management at Belwin. I enjoy creating walks and talks that showcase the great work we are doing to restore native habitat for all the critters and plants. I also get to be involved with the work that creates the habitat, which I love! Each day holds something different for me. Some days I am working with my body on the land, some days I am doing reconnaissance for a program, some days I am working with volunteers, and some days, nights or evenings I get to lead a group to some amazing phenological event happening on Belwin property. I feel blessed to be able to work here.

Jeanette Beger

Development Coordinator
jeanette.beger@belwin.org
(651) 502-8174
I was born and raised in the Saint Croix Valley where I spent my childhood chasing turtles and crayfish on the river, watching bluebirds nesting and orioles feasting in my backyard, looking at mosquito larvae under my microscope, and playing on various VAA ball teams. I am proud to be back in the valley supporting the land I hold so dearly through my work at Belwin. While I most recently worked in the outdoor industry, I previously spent more than 15 years in Public Radio and Higher Education development, specializing in fundraising communications.

Katie Bloome

Executive Director
katie.bloome@belwin.org
651-435-0848
I love connections — the human connections we form when we find something in common, and the ecological interconnectedness we see in nature. My role at Belwin spans both, and my favorite days are when I give tours, take donors on buggy rides, or walk our trails with supporters. I have a background in nonprofit leadership, environmental education, and fundraising, most recently coming from Minnesota Public Radio. My love for prairie and savanna started while studying biology at Grinnell College, in Iowa, and I am so happy to be once again surrounded by these rare and beautiful ecosystems. I find my greatest enjoyment exploring the outdoors and canoeing with my husband and two kids.

Hannah Brithón

Program Coordinator, Anishinabe Academy partnership
hannah.brithon@belwin.org
651-478-9075
I am excited to be a part of Belwin’s newest program – a collaboration with Anishinabe Academy – and to begin weaving dreams and visions into concrete realities for youth, families and teachers to enjoy in all seasons! Growing up, I was lucky enough to share my backyard with a conservancy in south central Wisconsin, skip rocks along the North Shore, and hike among the tall pines, prairies and woodlands of the Midwest. My love of adventure, nature, languages, art, and lifelong learning has allowed me to call many parts of the world ‘home’, including my most recent experience living with and learning from an Indigenous community in the mountains of central Mexico. I am humbled to apply my background in community-based education, program development and youth programming to this unique and innovative project, and cannot wait to see what the seeds we plant today will bring forth for generations to come.

Cooper Crose

Natural Resources Director
cooper.crose@belwin.org
651-319-3136
I studied Environmental Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth and then bounced around the country working various wildlife jobs for a few years. Since coming back to Minnesota, I have been working with savanna and prairie restorations and its related wildlife, which is where I really made the connection between healthy habitats and healthy wildlife. I am excited to be at Belwin as a Land Assistant where I can combine my two areas of knowledge.

Carey Davenport

Communications Specialist
carey.davenport@belwin.org
651-802-8169
I’m an award-winning graphic designer and illustrator with a passion for coffee, music, and caring for animals. Having lived in New England and the Pacific Northwest, I now call the Midwest home. I love exploring the region’s trails, lakes, rivers, and the beautiful St. Croix Valley. Outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing are my favorite ways to connect with nature. My life has been profoundly enriched by access to natural spaces, and I am thrilled to be part of Belwin. The oak savannas and prairie trails are truly enchanting, and I’m excited about our work to preserve and connect people with this remarkable land.

Angie Eckel

Development and Communications Director
angie.eckel@belwin.org
651-435-0687
I love getting to know and learn from Belwin’s supporters. I grew up on a farm in Iowa, where I acquired a deep and lasting love for the land. Now that I’m at Belwin, one of my favorite things is learning more about Minnesota’s native plant communities. I came to Belwin most recently from Minnesota Public Radio, but also have years of experience performing as a classical singer and managing arts organizations on the West Coast. I find Belwin’s beauty endlessly inspiring and take particular joy in exploring it with my husband and our two little boys.

Alissa Gold

Administrative Manager
alissa.gold@belwin.org
651-435-1828
Growing up in a small town in Minnesota with access to wild spaces, woods, and waters cultivated a deep appreciation and love for the land. Years of paddling, foraging, camping, and hiking has reinforced how imperative our connection to nature is to living well and healthily. My background is in administration and finance, tile making, fabrication, film and theater production, and disability advocacy. I love bringing my skills to Belwin as an Executive Assistant, knowing the work I do in my role supports the restoration and preservation of wild spaces for the public and the future.  I am grateful to be a part of the Belwin team. 

Amanda Hanlon

Program and Volunteer Coordinator
amanda.hanlon@belwin.org
(651) 435-0690
I am a St. Croix River Valley resident and am so proud to be a part of Belwin—an organization that is helping to restore and conserve rare ecosystems, right in our backyard. Outside of Belwin, I am a visual artist working in oil paint and printmaking. I love all programing offered at Belwin, but am especially inspired by the programs that blend arts, nature, and community. I love that I’m able to work alongside a passionate group of staff and volunteers who contribute their time and talents in service of the health of the land, the success of our programs, and the connection to our community.

Susan Haugh

Program & Partnership Director
susan.haugh@belwin.org
(651) 425-1147
I am a creator and activist, composer and collaborator. Weaving these passions together, I’ve supported the LGBTQIA+ community through two performance-based organizations, Dreams of Hope and Renaissance City Choir, both in Pittsburgh. I moved to Minnesota for love and was blown away by Belwin’s beauty and dedication to the land. At Belwin, I bring my passion for the arts, culture, and working with others together with my love of nature to support the health of the planet for generations to come.

Emily Hayne

Office Coordinator
emily.hayne@belwin.org
(651) 802-9250
I have a background in environmental education and social science research. I have worked throughout the Midwest teaching K-12 learners in forest, prairie, and wetland systems. My research focuses on nature journaling as a process of fostering relationships between people, nature, and place and how those relationships impact wellbeing. Growing up in Minnesota, I enjoyed learning about the local wildlife and deepening my appreciation for plants and animals. My favorite hobbies are nature walks, canoeing and kayaking, and game nights with family and friends. I am grateful to be working at Belwin Conservancy to help promote engagement with the natural world.

Haley Kutzler

Land Use Manager
haley.kutzler@belwin.org
651-238-1700
I was fortunate enough to grow up in the country playing in the woods, working on the family tree farm, and hunting and fishing in my free time. Living in that atmosphere inspired me to do what I can for the environment. I received a bachelor’s degree in Field Biology from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and worked multiple seasonal jobs, including out west for the USFWS on remote refuges, for the WI DNR with the wildlife and fisheries department, and, most recently, I did contract restoration work. Working at Belwin gives me new insight into everything I did before on a different level. I love being outside and never knowing what’s around the corner. Being able to continue what I enjoy doing and making a difference is why Belwin is the perfect next chapter for me.

Anna Mathews

Natural Resources Technician
anna.mathews@belwin.org
651-391-1377
I grew up camping from the Northwoods of Minnesota to the mountains of Colorado, which instilled a great appreciation for nature in me at a young age — to such an extent that I decided to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Forestry with a focus on ecosystem restoration and management. My biggest takeaway from my education is the importance of reciprocity: we take care of the land, the land will take care of us. I take this value with me in my work at Belwin, where I spend most days outdoors working on the restoration and long-term management of our mosaic of different habitats. I am grateful to be a part of the Belwin team as we continue to help protect this truly special land. Outside of Belwin, I enjoy volunteering at a local animal shelter and spending time with my friends, family, and pets.

Eric Palmen

Facilities Manager
eric.palmen@belwin.org
651-324-1337
I love working at Belwin because of the variety of jobs I get to do, the beautiful landscape I am surrounded by each day, and our wonderful, creative staff. I feel like I am doing some good for the planet.

Kevin Smokyday

Elder, Anishinabe Academy Partnership
kevin.smokyday@belwin.org
651-392-5012
Aniin Bozhoo! Hello, my name is Kevin Smokyday. I am from Kinistin First Nation Treaty 4 territory Saskatchewan, Canada. I currently live in Shakopee with my wife of 16 years, Diane. I am a first speaker of Saulteaux, plain’s Ojibwe. I am also a residential school survivor. I have been a Grandfather and teacher to many students in the Minneapolis inner city schools. I have found that by teaching language and culture I am truly following my ancestors’ teachings. I have been given the opportunity to do the same working with Belwin and the many partners. I look forward to exciting new adventures. Chi miigwech.

Board of Directors

Hailey Alexander
Director of People & Culture
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Jerry Allan
Artist, Architect, Professor
Criteria Architects

Kris Hansen
Environmental Chemist & Consultant
Savanna Science

David Hartwell, President

Gabrielle Horner
Biologist
Previously U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy

Douglas Johnson, Vice President 
Principal
Oliver Real Estate Services

Jill Koosmann, Treasurer
CEO and President
HRK Group Inc.

Jessica Manivasager, Secretary
Shareholder
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Sovatha Oum
Youth Program Manger
Friends of the Mississippi River

Irene Qualters
Associate Laboratory Director for Simulation and Computation
Los Alamos National Laboratory

John Satorius
Retired, Previously Counsel/President & Board Chair
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Adam Winer
Head of Content Strategy, Insights & Analytics
Spotify