Board
Mary Haslam - President
Ryan Weiss - Vice President
Kyle Fahrner - Treasurer
Terri Datz-Siegel - Secretary
Susan Erhardt
Katie Horning
Dolores Porte
Nick Wyant
Paddy Hobohm
Katie Bell Pearce
Randy Kursinsky
Staff
989-835-4886 ext 102
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Elan Lipschitz
Executive Director Elan Lipschitz is the Executive Director at Little Forks Conservancy. Elan joined the Conservancy in 2000 as the Land Protection Specialist and has been an integral part of Little Forks' land conservation program and the growth of the Conservancy. Elan became our Director of Land Conservation with a leadership role in determining our direction for protecting land in the Conservancy’s service area. Elan’s passion for conservation started in his early years growing up in the Kansas City area spending time outdoors. In 1999, Elan came to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to work in Hiawatha National Forest helping with mapping some of Michigan’s most wild land. In June 2021, Elan became the Conservancy’s Executive Director. When Elan isn’t out on the Little Forks’ preserves, he can be found enjoying the many aspects of our local community with his family including out on the Chippewa River, mountain biking at City Forest, watching the Great Lakes Loons, or enjoying one of our many coffee shops. |
989-835-4886 ext 103
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Shelby Gentle
Land Conservation Specialist Growing up on her family’s small farm in Midland, Shelby developed a love of nature at a young age. Shelby became the Conservancy’s Land Conservation Specialist in October 2021. As the Land Conservation Specialist, she is involved in their Land’s Program and works with landowners to protect and preserve their properties. Shelby served as Little Forks’ Huron Pines AmeriCorps member in 2020. During that time, she learned a lot about the Conservancy and developed a deep appreciation for the work that they do. Shelby has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saginaw Valley State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, hiking, kayaking, photography, and playing with her animals. |
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Benjamin VanDyke
Preserve and Volunteer Steward Benjamin grew up in west Michigan, where he attended Cornerstone University and majored in Environmental Biology. Benjamin worked for the Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska and Emmet Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) before coming to Midland, where he worked as a Technical Assistant for the Midland Conservation District and became familiar with the Midland area. Benjamin attended Central Michigan University where he recently earned his M.S in Biology with a Conservation Concentration; during his program he studied the effects of habitat management on the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover. When not working, Benjamin enjoys hiking, birding and exploring new places with his wife Natalie. . |
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989-835-4886 ext 104
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989-835-4886 ext 105
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Lily Kelsey
Conservation Outreach Coordinator Lily Kelsey is a Flint native who graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. Her experiences growing up in Flint and in Genesee County Parks helped to form her love for nature. This passion for the environment led her to Little Forks' as the Huron Pines AmeriCorps member in 2023. Following her year of service, Lily became the Conservation Outreach Coordinator in January 2024. Some of Lily’s favorite things include her cats Wasabi and Cricket, reading, hiking, beachcombing and identifying plants. |
989-835-4886 ext 103
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Nicole Bennett
Seasonal Land Steward Nicole was born and raised in Saginaw and graduated in 2024 from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. In her previous role, she worked in Alpena as a Coastal Restoration Technician with Huron Pines. Outside of work, she loves watching movies, birdwatching, and going to farmers’ markets. |
