BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joan Patterson, President
- Served as Director of Grassroots Outreach at the National Wildlife Refuge Association for 6 years
- Former board member of Friends of Tualatin River NWR, Friends of the Potomac River Refuges and Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp
- Worked in IT and team-building facilitation

Cheryl Hart, Secretary/Vice President
- National Wildlife Refuge Association Board member and Chair of Friends Committee
- Friends of Tualatin River NWR President for five years and Bookstore committee
- USFWS Friends Mentor Since 2014

Jim Stone, Treasurer
- National Wildlife Refuge Association Board Member
- Friends of Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Board Member for 15 years, serving as president for 10 years.

Linda Kilgore, Director at large
- Translates uses and best practices of technology and guides small NGOs in adopting and modernizing digital tools.
- NTEN Certified Nonprofit Technology Professional
- Google Workspace Administrator
- Retired, Senior IT Operations and Policy Analyst, State of Oregon
- Past board member of Friends of Tualatin River NWR

Aimee Arent, Director at large
- Executive Director of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
- Background in Visitor Services through USFWS Visitor Services and Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Former board member of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Association
- BS Environmental Science from Bowling Green State University and Certificate of Nonprofit Management from University of Illinois – Chicago

Sue Wilder, Director at large
- Master and Doctorate degrees in Botany from Louisiana State University
- Research Ecologist for US Geological Survey and retired Regional Ecologistfor US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Board member for the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges
- Volunteer for Mississippi Coast Audubon, Crosby Arboretum, and the Gulf Coast Phenology Trail
- Enjoys working on her golf game, sewing and enjoying time with her 5 grandsons

Ken Kupchak, Director at large
- Practicing law for 50 years
- President of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert a legal firm
- Board member of the Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR
- He and his wife Patty have been involved with protecting the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands for over 50 years
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Sue Hix, Newsletter Editor
- Friends of Sherburne NWR Board Member for 15 years, serving as president and vice president
- USFWS Friends Mentor
- A 30-year career in banking, managed the training function for one of Minnesota’s largest banks
- Consultant work focused on training, communications, and project coordination

Barbara Volkle
- President of Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp
- Founding President of Friends of Assabet River NWR; served for 10 years
- USFWS Friends Mentor since 2014

Joe McCauley
- Retired USFWS served as regional chief, Division of Realty, Northeast Region
- Chesapeake Fellow for the Chesapeake Conservancy
- Director of Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends

Mark Musaus
- Serves as Regional Representative for the NWRA
- Retired CFO for the National Wildlife Refuge Association
- Retired Deputy Regional Director for the Southeast Region of USFWS
- Served as Chief of the Division of Visitor Services and Communications for the NWRS