We're Newaygo County Residents, Just Like You!
How can you help our Newaygo County Environment?
1. Sign up for E-news! Stay informed – buzz@nc-ec.org
2. Join a Team! We seek members, advisors and volunteers for our focus areas:
-Become a Young Environmental Ally; or help support our Michigan Green Schools.
-3R –Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Spread the word through outreach & education.
-LOBO – Love Our Beautiful Outdoors: Connect with our hiking, biking and waterways enthusiasts.
-Healthy Habitats: Learn or teach about invasive species, native landscapes, and restoration opportunities.
3. Get involved with Environmental Advocacy – Conservation Camp; restoration; healthy air, water and soil; mitigating climate change: Help NCEC keep the public informed of community efforts and legislative directions through the works of our regional Environmental Organization Advocates.
4. Bring your skills and knowledge to NCEC:
-You can help us by doing research or outreach phone calls from your home.
-Love to write? Contribute to our Enews, blog, and local media with article submissions.
-Become an Advisory Council Member in one of our Focus or Advocacy areas to help guide our work.
-Strengthen NCEC as a Board Member to assure the sustainability of our Environment and our organization.
5. Donate! NCEC is a small but mighty 501c3 non-profit organization! We depend on your tax deductible donations to continue our work, and to help us grow with our Newaygo County Environment needs.
NCEC's Environmental Focuses
Youth & Young Adult Environmental Allies
NCEC is the County Coordinator for our participating Michigan Green Schools. We endeavor to have a young adult “council” who will lead the Now Generation in environmental awareness and activities.
LOBO: Love Our Beautiful Outdoors
We urge our community members and visitors to learn firsthand about the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, nature sanctuaries, forests, and waterways in Newaygo County. We publicize and promote places, events, and opportunities to get people of all ages and abilities out into the Beautiful outdoors. To know our natural environment is to love it - and to love it is to protect it.
3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
NCEC has representation on the Board of Public Works and supports the right recycling efforts of our county. We assist with community education and seek grants to help support the Recycling Program in Newaygo County.
Healthy Habitats on Private and Public Lands: Waters, Forests, Meadows and native eco-systems
Habitat protection and restoration are key to supporting Michigan’s native plants, animals, amphibians, and insects; many of which are endangered. We encourage native landscapes and gardens; support sustainable farming practices; and seek volunteers to help in the restoration of our unique and sensitive eco-systems.
Meet Our Team
Linda Shively
Board Chair
Linda Shively joined NCEC because of her grandchildren and her future great-grandchildren.
She was born in Fremont, and in 1953, her parents bought a home on Fremont Lake. Her childhood was filled with memories of Monarch butterflies, tadpoles, frogs, turtles and milkweed-lined the ditches. Fast forward 50 years when Linda and her husband bought her parent’s home.
The difference in the environment was dramatic. The Monarch butterflies, milkweed, and other important environmental aspects of her childhood home were gone or diminished. Linda wants her grandchildren and others to live and experience a healthy, biodiverse environment like she did. She became interested in native plants and their benefits, especially for lakes. Her native milkweed plants have attracted Monarchs for the first time in years. She is researching what types of native plants with their deep, absorbent roots can help her lake shoreline.
In her journey, Linda was introduced to the NCEC organization. Their mission turned out to be a perfect match. She’s excited about the passion and enthusiasm she sees in the board members and their different work groups.
Linda is retired and worked in non-profit leadership for over 30 years. She served on a number of non-profit boards throughout her career. She holds a master’s degree from Western Michigan University. Linda is married to her husband, Clair, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Sally Wagoner
Vice Chair, Secretary, and Grant Writer
Sally Wagoner (RN, BSN) was born amidst several hundred acres of what is now Forest Preserves in rural Illinois. Growing up among elder trees, native plants, and abundance of birds and insects, Sally developed a personal relationship with our natural world at a very early age.
A retired nurse by profession, she spent much of her career as a visiting nurse, a community health worker in the Chicago Native American community, and as a tobacco/nicotine addiction counselor in Michigan through Spectrum Gerber Hospital. In and outside of the workplace she promotes health through prevention, holistic self-care and social responsibility.
Joining NCEC’s parent organization (3R Education) in 2018, Sally created “CEWAC” – Citizens Environmental Watch and Action Coalition, facilitating monthly presentations related to environmental sustainability and co-coordinating the 2019 Newaygo County Environmental Forum.
Ms. Wagoner is a Board Member of Tara’s Meadow Education & Retreat Center, and is a coordinator for its Beaver Island Sustainability Initiative. Sally also supports Indigenous community rights and Indigenous Environmental Practices through grant writing support. Sally moved to Newaygo County in 2013 to live among its forests and waters, and has made a commitment to protecting, preserving and restoring their natural ecosystems and other-than-human inhabitants.
Jason DeKuiper
Treasurer
Jason is a partner at the White Insurance Agency with offices in Fremont, Grant and Rockford. He is a graduate of Fremont High School and Calvin College.
He is active in a number of many non-profit organizations in the area serving on the Board of Directors of the Newaygo County Council for the Arts, Fremont Christian School, and serves on the council for 2nd Christian Reformed Church in Fremont. He is the Chair of the Professional Advisors Board for the Fremont Area Community Foundation and sits on the board of the United Way of the Lakeshore – Newaygo County. He is a past President of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jason is married to his wife, Stephanie, and they have three children. In his free time, Jason enjoys boating, golfing, and coaching his kids in various sports. He has been a part of 3R Education and NCEC since 2016. Jason serves on this board to enhance the health and beauty of Newaygo County by promoting activities that protect our environment.
Susie Hall
Board Member, MI Green School Coordinator, 3-R Team Leader
Bald Eagles, Red Headed Woodpeckers and the Dragon bike trail brought Susie Hall to Newaygo County. Susie’s husband is involved with the trail and they saw eagles and Red Heads the first time they saw their new house. It was a perfect match!
Susie grew up in Ohio on a small lake and enjoyed canoeing and sailing with her family. Her love of the outdoors came from her mom, a former Camp Fire girl. Susie’s mom taught her to respect and honor nature. She always had all of her kids outside exploring and noticing the world around them. Her mom and dad also taught her about birding and now she and her husband are avid birders. Susie saw the negative changes to the environment as she lived in the country in Ohio and has always worked to protect and restore our natural world.
Susie taught Special Education for 30 years and retired from Caledonia Community Schools in 2021. She continues to love working with kids and will share her experience with the Michigan Green Schools project and NCEC’s 3R team.
James Dunn
Board Member
James “Jim” Dunn (Professor Emeritus) is a native Michiganian with 47 years of ecological and entomological field experience working within forests, prairies, and streams. He graduated with a BS in Forestry from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Kentucky. He has worked as a research entomologist with the USDA Forest Service and 30 years as a biology professor at the Universities of Northern Iowa and Grand Valley State, in which he taught various entomological and ecological classes and has expertise in plant-animal interactions and insect conservation. He has published over 30 research articles in entomological and ecological journals. Since retiring from GVSU, he has been active volunteering with several conservation organizations in which he has helped with various conservation projects, from rare insect surveys, removal of invasive woody plants, trail building, and installing trail signs at the three MNA Newaygo Prairie Preserves. He currently resides in Northern Newaygo County.
Rod Kroll
Board Member
Rod is a naturalist who was born and raised in Newaygo County. He has lived in this area for most of his adult life and cherishes his close connections to the unique natural habitats found here. He has a B.S. degree in chemistry and a career in the food and environmental services industries. His concern for the natural environment led him to become the principal owner/operator of a small-scale drop-off collection and processing facility for the household recyclables of Newaygo County residents. His other work relating to the environment includes a stint as a fisheries crew technician for the U. S. Forest Service and volunteering for that agency doing endangered species monitoring and habitat restoration. His current volunteering is principally with the Newaygo Conservation District’s Kropscott Farm Environmental Center and, of course, the NCEC. Rod hopes to add a scientific perspective to the NCEC Board membership, especially concerning its Healthy Habitats initiative. Rod and his wife Helen have two sons, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Sarah Pregitzer & Randy Butters
Board Members
Sarah Pregitzer is a true champion of environmental education, dedicating 34 years of her life to inspiring and educating others about the importance of environmental stewardship. Her passion for the sciences and commitment to teaching have impacted countless students and community members.
Sarah graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and her expertise and knowledge have been instrumental in shaping the minds of future environmental leaders. Her work with organizations such as West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship and Project Groundswell exemplifies her dedication to positively impacting Newaygo County’s environment.
Randy Butters, a seasoned professional, has dedicated over thirty-three years to human services. His recent retirement from the Michigan Department of Human Services marked the end of a successful career. Randy’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Bemidji State University and an MSW from Grand Valley State University, providing him with a solid foundation for his future contributions to environmental causes.
Both Randy and Sarah have a longstanding interest and commitment to environmental causes. In 2008, they completed the MSU Extension Services’ Master Naturalist program. Together, with support from the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, the Stewardship Network’s West Michigan Conservation Collaborative, and the Fremont Area Community Foundation, they founded the Newaygo County Invasive Plant Project (NIPP). They are Sanctuary Stewards for Michigan Nature Association and North Country Trail Adopters. They have earned numerous awards for their environmental work in West Michigan. They are currently involved in MSU’s Conservation Stewards Certification program in Newaygo County.
Marie Wilson
Board Member
Marie grew up in south-eastern Michigan. She cultivated her love for the great outdoors through camping, skiing, sailing, and spending lots of time in northern Wisconsin with her family.
She graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Packaging Engineering and completed a masters degree in Industrial Operations Management at Lawrence Technological University. Marie spent more than 25 years working for Ford Motor Company, splitting the time between packaging engineering (reusable auto parts containers) and vehicle emissions regulatory work.
She has been an avid volunteer for the environment since 1999, organizing and leading work groups on river clean ups, and wetland invasive species remediation.
Marie lives in Bitely, Michigan with her husband and golden doodle puppy. She has dedicated her free time in retirement to making a positive impact on the environment.
After completing the Conservation Stewards Course, Marie is focusing on helping to improve the McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve Trail (owned by the Land Conservancy of West MI) and helping with prairie habitat restoration in lower Newaygo County with the Michigan Nature Association.
Rowan Kosnik
Healthy Habitat Program Coordinator
Rowan is our new Healthy Habitats Program Coordinator. In this role, they help organize NCEC’s Habitat Restoration Team and the Clean Boats, Clean Waters initiative, while also supporting community events and environmental education efforts. Their work focuses on protecting native ecosystems and empowering others to help restore balance to the natural world.
Born and raised in Michigan, Rowan moved to Newaygo County in 2021 in pursuit of a quieter, more connected way of living. They now reside rustically, drawn to the rhythms of seasonal change and the clarity that comes with simplicity and fewer possessions.
Rowan holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Grand Valley State University, where they also studied Biology, Natural Resource Management, Art History, Geography, and Global Development. A fascination with human-environment relationships shaped their academic path—from the seasonality of the human gut microbiome to the far-reaching impacts of ecological disasters, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These experiences cultivated a lifelong commitment to biodiversity, sustainability, and community-based solutions.
Outside of work, Rowan enjoys spending time with their wide-reaching family—natal, adopted, and found—across four countries and two continents. They find joy in shared meals, long hikes, bushcraft projects, and quiet mornings in the woods. When not outdoors, Rowan often turns to books, writing, or photography as ways to stay grounded and informed.
If you want to be apart of the Healthy Habitat Team, contact Rowan at rowan.k@nc-ec.org.