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

  • National Wildlife Refuge Association Board Member
  • Friends of Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Board Member for 15 years, serving as president for 10 years.
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