Leadership

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

photo of Joan looking contemplative

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
photo of Cheryl outdoors with greenery in background

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
photo of Jim outdoors with trees and snowy hills in the background

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.
photo of Linda snowshoeing with her yellow labrador, Jackson

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 smiling with butterflies perched on her

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 smiling brightly

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 with his wife Patty

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

photo of Sue with greenery in the background

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
photo of Barbara outdoors with green grass in background

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

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
photo of Mark Musaus

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