National Wildlife Federation

Dr. Roger Payne is best known for his discovery (with Scott McVay) that humpback whales sing songs, and for his theory that the sounds of fin and blue whales can be heard across oceans. He has studied the behavior of whales since 1967 and is founder and President of the Ocean Alliance. His BA degree is from Harvard University, and his Ph.D. from Cornell.

Eric directs the strategy, expansion, and daily operations of ResourceConnect, the nonprofit community's direct line into innovative management solutions and resources. Eric comes to NEW with over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a focus on environmental policy, community development and the arts. He has worked with small start-ups, as well as mature international organizations such as The Nature Conservancy where he managed climate change policy and conservation projects in Latin America. As a communications analyst for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., Eric launched a high-volume national hotline and automated information clearing house for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Eric joins NEW after three years as Program Manager with the Great Lakes Office of National Wildlife Federation where he developed new initiatives to protect the Lake Superior watershed.

David Conrad is a water-resource specialist for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Mr. Conrad was the lead author of a groundbreaking 1998 report entitled "Higher Ground" which clearly explained for the first time how federal insurance dollars are being wasted by repeatedly repairing homes and infrastructure in flood-prone areas (while subsequently destroying precious riparian habitat).

David Mizejewski is presently with National Wildlife Federation, where he teaches the American public how to help wildlife and connect with nature in their own neighborhoods and beyond. David is also a national media personality. He is the host and co-producer of Backyard Habitat on Animal Planet, a television series airing since 2005 that shows people how to transform their yards and gardens into thriving habitats for birds and other local wildlife. David has also made numerous other television appearances, including on ABC's Good Morning America; NBC's Weekend Today Show and iVillage Live; HGTV's Gardening by the Yard and Curb Appeal; Fox's Mike and Juliet Show; CNN's Headline News. He is a regular guest on The Martha Stewart Show. David has been interviewed and profiled in many local and national publications, including Entertainment Weekly, Out, Sunset, Organic Gardening and National Wildlife magazines as well as U.S.A Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, and countless local newspapers. He also does numerous radio appearances annually and has been featured on NPR's Marketplace and All Things Considered, Martha Stewart Sirius Radio and dozens of major market radio stations in programming running the gamut from morning commute shows to evening news to weekend talk formats. Prior to working for National Wildlife Federation and hosting shows on Animal Planet, David worked as a naturalist at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Georgia and Long Branch Nature Center in Virginia and directed an urban forestry grant program for the National Tree Trust in Washington, DC. He holds a degree in Political Science with a co-major in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dolly Cummings is Camp Bayou's Manager and Nature Center Education Director. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook and has taken several professional development courses ranging from Project Learning Tree, Wild, and Wet to graduate courses which include facilitating GLOBE protocols and activities. She is a member of the League of Environmental Educators of Florida (LEEF), Florida Native Plant Society and is a habitat ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation. She has more than 15 years experience working with children in non-formal environmental education settings.

Felice Stadler is the national policy coordinator for National Wildlife Federation's Clean the Rain Campaign. The goal of this national campaign is to advance policies to eliminate mercury releases into the environment. Before coming to NWF, Felice spent three and a half years as policy diretor for Clean Air Network. She has been working on air toxics and other clean air issues for eight years. Before joining the Network in January 1997, she managed the Kansas small business technical assistance program, helping businesses comply with the Clean Air Act. Prior to that, she worked on a number of air quality issues in Missoula, Montana and served as chair and member of the Citizen Air Quality Advisory Board for three years. Currently, she's a member of the Washington, DC, Council of Government's Air Quality Public Advisory Committee and a board member of the Mercury Policy Project; and sits on the Sierra Club's national air committee and the Administrative Committee for the Working Group on Community Right to Know. As a board member of the Mercury Policy Project, Felice has been building a broad-based grassroots coalition calling for national strategies to curb mercury pollution. Felice holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and a Bachelor of Arts from the New School for Social Research in New York.

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James Schroeder moved from Boston to Seattle on a quest to catch the girl and recover endangered salmon definitely an odd combination. He works as a senior environmental policy specialist for the National Wildlife Federation where he develops and manages salmon conservation programs in Washington and Oregon. He is also the author of "Here's the Thing...," an environmental blog hosted by the Seattle PI newspaper. James currently resides in Ravenna with his wife, Sue, two daughters, and a german shepherd mutt named Zeke.

John Zelazny is the Executive Director, and currently sole staff member, of Montana Trout. He has a B.S. in Biology (1980) from Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Texas), and a M.S. in Environmental Studies (1987) from the University of Montana (Missoula, Montana). Mr. Zelazny has over 10 years of experience in professional environmental advocacy with organizations including the National Wildlife Federation, Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Washington Trout, and the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance. John is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of Montana Trout, the organization he created and founded in 2000.

Mr. Tokarz currently serves as Chairman and Portfolio Manager of the Fund and as Manager of The Tokarz Group Advisers LLC ("TTGA"), the investment adviser to the Fund (the "Adviser"). Mr. Tokarz also is Chairman of The Tokarz Group, a private merchant bank, since 2002. Prior to this, Mr. Tokarz was a senior General Partner and Administrative Partner at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity firm specializing in management buyouts. He also currently serves on the corporate boards of Conseco, Inc., Walter Industries, Inc. (Chairman of the board), Mueller Water Products, Inc., IDEX Corporation, Stonewater Control Systems, Lomonosov, Athleta, Inc. and Apertio Ltd. Mr. Tokarz is an active member of the endowment committee and Board of Trustees of YMCA in Westchester County. He is also a member of the Board of the Warwick Business School in England. He is Chairman elect and is a member of the Board of the University of Illinois Foundation, and serves on its executive committee, investment policy committee and is Chairman of the budget and finance committee; he is also a member of the Venture Capital Subcommittee and serves as a member of the Board of Managers for Illinois Ventures, LLC. Mr. Tokarz also serves as the Chairman of the Illinois Emerging Technology Fund LLC. Mr. Tokarz serves as a director for the following portfolio companies of the Fund: Baltic Motors Corporation, Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Ohio Medical Corporation, Timberland Machines & Irrigation, Inc., Harmony Pharmacy & Health Centers, Inc., and previously served on the Board of Vestal Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. from April 2004 until July 2005.

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Sheri Ann Richerson has over 20 years experience in newspaper, magazine and creative writing. She is also experienced in editing and speaking. She writes on a regular basis for Garden Solutions Magazine and is the Home Sweet Home Editor for Aromatherapy Thymes Magazine. She has written for various Llewellyn publications in the past in addition to doing a considerable amount of national and international magazine and Internet writing. She has also been an editor for The Courier. She is the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Region III Representative, a longtime member of both the Garden Writers Association of America and of the American Horticultural Society. She was the vice-president of the Grant County Evening Gardening Club for two years. She was also the president of the Garden Club of Marion for a year, a previous member of Creative Hands, American Orchid Society, Tropical Flowering Tree Society, Pacific Bulb Society, International Bulb Society, Southeastern Palm Society, Sino-Himalayan Plant Association as well as a Purdue University Silver Level Master Gardener. She was also a Horticulture Gardening Institute Instructor. Sheri is a lifetime member of the International Thespian Society. In addition she was a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors. Her farm, Exotic Gardening Farms, is a certified wildlife habitat. She is a Global Warming Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation. Her favorite pastimes are riding her motorcycle, visiting arboretums, traveling, reading, writing, horseback riding, designing and improving websites, and especially-- working in her huge garden. Sheri specializes in herb gardening and tropical, rare and unusual plants.

Sybil has her J.D. and is certified in environmental law from Lewis and Clark Law School. She received her Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in May 2005. She's worked for over eight years in various environmental nonprofits such as the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and most recently as the Conservation Director for the Audubon Society of Portland. Her experience includes work on many projects involving the desert, ocean, and forests of OR and WA. She has testified and lobbied in both the US Congress and the OR State Legislature. Email her at sybil@olcv.org sybil@olcv.org

Clark Bullard of Urbana, Illinois, is an engineer and long-time environmental activist. He has served as a professor, consultant, member and Chair of the Central Midwest Low-Level Radioactive Waste Interstate Commission, directed the US Dept. of Energy's Office of Conservation and Renewables Policy, and served as policy analyst for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. He currently serves on the board of directors of the National Wildlife Federation and the Committee on the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. Bullard brings to the board not only his professional expertise but also well-honed skills in organizing to achieve environmental goals.

Rodger knows the land and the people of West Virginia well. A A He is a native West Virginian and has degrees from West Virginia University in Forestry and Outdoor Recreation.A He has a strong interest in a healthy environment, and is a member of the National Wildlife Federation and the Nation Ruffed Grouse Society. Rodger has been a full time agent since 1990. Buyers and sellers know that he will devote all of the benefits of his marketing and sales experience to working with them.A He has been successful in selling timberland, farms, residences and commercial properties. A As a professional, Rodger provides a written marketing plan for clients and customers to help them feel comfortable with the process of buying and selling property. In addition to membership in The National Association of REALTORS, The West Virginia Association of REALTORS and the Upshur County Weston-Buckhannon Board of REALTORS, he also holds the GRI (Graduate REALTOR Institute) designation, which is obtained by attending an intensive series of classes covering subjects in contract law, professional standards, sales, marketing and finance.A

Thea Levkovitz has joined the foundation as Program Associate for the Alaska/British Columbia program, effective September 18. Thea comes from the Washington Association of Churches where she was Director of the Partnership for Religion and the Environment. Thea spent seven years at the northwest office of The Wilderness Society as Outreach Coordinator. Prior to moving to Washington state, Thea lived and worked in Alaska's Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta as a botanist for the Chugach National Forest, organizer for National Wildlife Federation and Program Director for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council. In addition, Thea has served on the Board of Directors of the National Wildlife Federation, Washington Wildlife Federation and, with Inside Passages, is co-founder of NW Environmental Activist Retreats. As Program Associates, Liz and Thea will assist with all aspects of Wilburforce Foundation's grantmaking in their respective regions. Both will be based in our Seattle, WA office.

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Don Richardson joined the Moonridge Animal Park as curator in December 1993, following 13 years at the Los Angeles Zoo. While serving as a senior keeper at the L.A. Zoo, he was responsible for South American primates, worldwide hoof stock, and the zoo's entire North American animal collection. His professional background includes 23 years of zoo keeping management. At Moonridge Animal Park, Mr. Richardson has initiated numerous improvements and programs. Music in the Zoo, an evening of animal talks and strolling musicians; and Flashlight Tours, narrated visits with the a parks nocturnal inhabitants, are among the activities that Richardson has introduced for the enjoyment and education of park visitors. He has added several new animals during his tenure, including fishers a rare type of weasel that is rapidly disappearing from its natural home in the alpine forests of the Sierra Nevada. Two snow leopards and three grizzly bears are also among the many notable inhabitants who make their home at Moonridge Animal Park. Under Mr. Richardson's direction, facilities at Moonridge Animal Park have undergone major renovation and landscaping improvements to benefit animals and humans alike. He has established an on-site medical to aid in animal care and rehabilitation, along with an Education Center to provide a richer learning experience for park visitors. For the past 28 years, Mr. Richardson has been active in emergency veterinary care. He is licensed by the State of California as an animal health technician, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology (animal ecology) from California State University, Los Angeles. His chief undergraduate study was taxonomy and systemics. Mr. Richardson is a member of the American Zoo Association, the American Association of Zoo Keepers, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and has served on the New World Primate Taxon Advisory Group.

Tom Butler is the founder and director of the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building. He is an avid saltwater marsh angler and enjoys hunting, boat building and gardening. He is on the board of directors of the Bayou Chapter of the CCA and is a member of the National Wildlife Federation, Restore Or Retreat, and the Lafourche Heritage Society. His conservation interests include wetland restoration and the maritime heritage of South Louisiana.