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 and general office management. Before joining Greening Debra was with the Wedge Co-op in Minneapolis, MN for over 13 years and served the last 10 years as Human Resources Manager.

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.

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.

Myles Radtke, Development Assistant
mradtke@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x18
(B.A., Political Science/International Relations, Carleton College)
Myles manages Greening’s donor database, fundraising files and calendar as well as provides support in implementing fundraising strategies and writing and developing grant proposals. Prior to joining Great River Greening, Myles served as a Development VISTA for Admission Possible where he wrote numerous grant proposals, provided donor stewardship for corporate and foundation supporters and assisted in database management.

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.

Mark Turbak, Community Engagement Manager
mturbak@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x11
(M.B.A., Hamline University)
Mark coordinates Greening’s volunteer programs, youth programs, and community volunteer events. Mark started his nonprofit career coordinating community Health and Safety trainings with the American Red Cross. He went on to work with the Red Cross in Disaster Services and Financial Development. Prior to Greening, Mark coordinated volunteers for Catholic Charities Family Services Division. Throughout his nonprofit career, Mark has demonstrated a strong commitment to transforming at-risk youth’s lives through mentorship, personal empowerment, and developing leadership skills. Mark has managed all aspects of youth programming including program development and facilitation and school and community group outreach and recruitment.

Michael Varien, Field Coordinator
mvarien@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x20
For over five years Michael has been the lead Restoration Tech of Greening’s Field Crew. Now as Field Coordinator, he manages is the primary individual coordinating the implementation of projects. He grew up in the St. Croix River Valley and has come to know the local ecosystem well. For several years Michael lived in a tipi while growing his own prairie and becoming intimately familiar with restoration processes.

Robert Viking, Development and Marketing Director
rviking@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x23
(B.A., Communications, University of Minnesota)
Bob is responsible for Great River Greening's development and marketing operations including new business and donor development, relationship building and maintenance, name recognition/brand awareness development, and stakeholder and media communications. Before joining Greening, Bob was CEO of the Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation and prior to that a marketing consultant to the Los Angeles Times and Robinsons*May Department Store Company.

Greg Wenz, CPA (inactive), Business Director
gwenz@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x17
(B.B.A., Accounting, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Greg is responsible for Great River Greening's business operations, including budget planning, financial management, accounting and reporting; government grant and contract management, human resources and information technology. Before joining Greening, Greg was a business consulting manager and prior to that an auditor for Arthur Andersen, LLP, in Minneapolis, MN.