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 responsible for project development and management particularly for multi-year restoration projects such as Metro Conservation Corridors, a cooperative effort for protection and acquisition in priority areas of the metro, and Bucks and Buckthorn, a youth hunter and ecological education project. He served as Greening's conservation director in 2004 and 2005. Wiley gained his restoration expertise through his experience with McHenry County Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Chicago Wilderness, and the 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.

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 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.

Justin Kutzer, Development Assistant
jkutzer@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x18
(B.S., Business Administration, North Dakota State University)
Justin assists Greening’s Development and Marketing efforts. Before joining the Greening team, Justin worked several summers at Trollwood Performing Arts School in Fargo, ND with their development and special events departments. While in college he was as a coordinator for numerous service-learning and social justice programs. Justin also led the finance committee on the board of directors for the People Escaping Poverty Project in Moorhead, MN.

Tara Newhouse, Project Assistant
tkrebs@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x13
(B.A., Rangeland Ecology, conc. Restoration, Colorado State University)
Tara assists the Conservation Director with tracking project development, maintaining the project database, and continuing follow-up maintenance on projects. She started as a field crew member at Great River Greening. Her previous work experience includes: The Institute of Ecosystem Studies, a Long Term Ecological Research Site in Baltimore City studying nutrient loading on a watershed level. Irvine Nature Center, teaching ecology lessons to high school aged children, and then facilitating their teaching the snippet to 3rd graders. Also, working as the Rangeland Management specialist SCEP student writing annual operating plans, implementing riparian monitoring systems, and doing GPS/GIS work for the USDA Forest Service in Colville, WA.

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, Ecological Designer
trexine@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x28
(M.L.A, University of Minnesota)
Todd provides landscape ecological and design services on a variety of Greening project. He has significant installation, computer and budget experience from his years in the private design-build field. He also has a B.F.A. in Studio Art and has worked as an assistant for American Bronze Castings, in addition to continuing in his own sculpture.

Mark Turbak, Volunteer Program & Event Manager
mturbak@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x11
(B.A., Anthropology, University of Minnesota)
Mark coordinates Greening’s volunteer programs and 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 Volunteer Resources, Disaster Services, and finally Financial Development where he worked as an Individual Giving Associate. Prior to to Greening, Mark coordinated volunteers for Catholic Charities Family Services Division. He currently attends Hamline University where he hopes to gain a Masters in Nonprofit Management.

Michael Varien, Field Coordinator
mvarien@greatrivergreening.org  651-665-9500 x20
For nearly 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.

Joe Walton, Conservation Ecologist
jwalton@greatrivergreening.org 651-665-9500 x16
(M.S. Urban Forestry, forthcoming)
Joe has worked as the head of the Urban Ecology division for S&S Specialists and Kunde Co., Inc. for the past five years, expanding the division to include major ecological restoration as well as traditional urban forestry. He has designed, installed, maintained, and monitored native plant community restoration projects, stormwater best management practices (BMPs), invasive species control, and erosion control/bioengineering projects in various locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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.