Great River Greening

GREAT RIVER GREENING STAFF

Wiley Buck, Restoration Ecologist
wbuck@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x15
(M.S., Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota)
Wiley is one of Greening’s professional ecologists and project managers, overseeing restoration activities across some of the organization’s hallmark projects. He also manages Greening’s participation within the Metro Conservation Corridors Partnership, a cooperative effort for protection and acquisition in priority areas of the Greater Twin Cities Metro Area. Prior to coming to Greening, Wiley gained his restoration expertise through his experience with McHenry County Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, and Chicago Wilderness in Illinois, and Minnesota DNR’s Scientific and Natural Areas Program (SNA). As Resource Management Supervisor with SNA, he developed and implemented SNA management policy, supervised crew and staff, and helped build budgets and funding priorities.

Tory Christensen, Landscape Ecologist
tchristensen@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500x12
(M.L.A., University of Minnesota)
Tory is an ecologist and project manager at Great River Greening and is primarily responsible for technical expertise in GIS mapping, surveying, and the installation, reconstruction and restoration of both terrestrial and aquatic projects. Tory gained a great deal of his GIS experience while working at the Water Resources Center GIS Laboratory with large scale GIS based land and water conservation projects focused in the Minnesota River Basin. Since that time he has over 10 years experience in the ecological restoration field providing his expertise for installation projects at Minnesota Native Landscapes, Prairie Restorations, The Kestrel Design Group and currently Great River Greening.

Debra Gagner, Office Manager
dgagner@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x10
(B.S. Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Debra supports Greening in human resources, accounting, database management, IT, and general office management. Before joining Greening Debra was with the Wedge Co-op, for 13 years as they grew from 25 to 250 employees, her last 10 years there as Human Resources Manager.

Amy Jenkins, Director of Communications
ajenkins@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x23
(B.A., Fine Arts, University of Minnesota)
Amy is responsible for Great River Greening's marketing and communications. She has over seven years professional experience in marketing and development for non-profits, working at People Serving People as the Director of Marketing and Development and The Duluth Art Institute as the Development and Operations Manager. As an artist, she utilizes her creativity to enhance her professional work. She has a specific interest in photography. As a child, she spent her time playing on the banks of the Crow River and developed an appreciation for natural resources.

Deborah Karasov, Executive Director
dkarasov@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x14
(M.L.A., Landscape Architecture, Harvard University; Ph.D., Geography, University of Minnesota)
Deborah is senior officer for Greening, with oversight for all program and fundraising activities. Previously, as assistant director for external relations, she helped with all project development, external relations, and legislative work. Deborah was a professor and director of the Landscape Studies Center, an outreach arm of the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota. Previously, at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, she completed several research publications related to environmental impact assessment.

Josh Kriz, Volunteer Manager
jkriz@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x11
(B.L.A., Landscape Architecture and Environmental Studies Iowa State University)
Josh coordinates Greening’s volunteer programs, youth programs, and community volunteer events. Pior to Greening, Josh spent two years with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission as an AmeriCorps VISTA. During that time, he developed two community gardens, established a nonprofit organization, and planned various volunteer events on National Days of Service.

Rob Nygaard, Development Director
rnygaard@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x18
(B.S.B., Marketing, University of Minnesota)
Rob is responsible for Great River Greening’s fundraising operations, including individual appeals, corporate partnerships, and foundation support. He also oversees donor data management and stewardship efforts. Before joining Greening, Rob spent 5 years at the Guthrie Theater as a Development Associate. During that time, he co-founded The Strange Capers theater company and served as its Managing Director. Rob is an avid paddler and fisherman and is learning to sail.

Wayne Ostlie, Director of Conservation Programs
wostlie@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x19
(M.A., Biology (Botany), University of Kansas; B.A., Biology, Luther College)
Wayne directs new initiatives, projects, and partnerships for Great River Greening, and works to build the organization both geographically and programmatically. Prior to coming to Great River Greening, Wayne worked in a variety of capacities with The Nature Conservancy over the past 20 years. As Science Director of the Conservancy’s Iowa program, Wayne managed the chapter’s preserve portfolio, along with staff and an extensive volunteer network. Later, as Science Director for the Conservancy’s Great Plains Program and then through various roles within its core Science program, Wayne led and managed an array of programs and high-level projects in furtherance of the Conservancy’s regional and global objectives.

Todd Rexine, Operations Manager/Design Ecologist
trexine@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x28
(M.L.A., University of Minnesota)
Todd is Greening's Conservation Programs Operations Manager, and is responsible for providing ecologically sensitive and sustainable landscape design services on a variety of Great River Greening projects. While at Great River Greening, he has designed and installed environmentally sensitive landscapes of varying degrees and sizes. Projects have include river and stream bank stabilization, shoreline restoration, urban stormwater retrofits, rain gardens, and site specific best management practices. Todd is currently supervising the trails and interpretive plan for the Pilot Knob project (Mendota Heights) and many of the best management practices (BMPs) implemented to improve water quality within the St. Croix River. As the Operations Manager, Todd is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the conservation staff and field crew. Prior to his work with Great River Greening, he was in the design-build field and brings significant installation, computer and budget experience to the projects he is on.

William Smith, Director of Finance and Administration
wsmith@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x17
(B.S.B.A., Accounting, University of Minnesota)
Bill is responsible for Great River Greening's financial and administrative operations, including budget planning, financial management, accounting and reporting; government grant and contract management, human resources and information technology. Before joining Greening, Bill served as CFO and COO for several companies including AppTec Laboratory Services, ViroMed Laboratories and Pace Laboratories. Bill also has non-profit experience as a Board member and auditor.

Tim Youngquist, Field Coordinator
tyoungquist@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x20
(M.S., Community & Regional Planning, Iowa State University)
Tim is responsible for the direct supervision of the field crew at Greening. His primary work with the crew involves performing ecological restoration tasks including exotic species removal and the installation of native plants. Tim gained his restoration experience through work with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in Des Moines and with an Americorps team in the San Bernardino National Forest in California. These past work experiences coupled with a childhood spent largely outdoors on a farm in rural Iowa have shown him the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations. While not at Greening Tim enjoys camping, reading, travel and working on his family's century farm.