Sandi J. Helgerson, Executive Director
Sandi J. Helgerson has a long history of working with non-profit organizations
in human service and conservation fields. Sandi joined JDCF in the summer
of 2008.
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Helgerson has worked for organizations such as United Way, the University
of Iowa, the Girl Scouts, the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District
and most recently St. Mark Community Center in Dubuque, IA. Her main areas
of focus have been in health promotion, program development, and fundraising
activities.
Helgerson, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, has enjoyed and taken advantage of
all the rich resources that are available in the Tri-State area. Currently,
she resides on a 120-acre farm just south of the Dubuque airport. Her husband
has worked for John Deere Dubuque Works for over 30 years. They have a six
year old son who enjoys a number of outdoor activities with the family,
including horseback riding.
Jeff Horn, Land Steward Specialist
Jeff Horn joined JDCF in September 2009. His responsibilities include implementing land management plans and maintaining sites for public access. He also coordinates projects with volunteers.
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Jeff has several years of experience in the conservation field and education in natural resources. Jeff comes to JDCF from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, where he was part of the Natural Heritage Residency program.
He completed his Master of Science from the University of Illinois in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in 2009. Before going back to graduate school, he worked with several different agencies, including the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, and the Nature Conservancy.
Jeff enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, baseball, and spending time with his family.
Deb Kelly, Communications Coordinator
Deb Kelly joined JDCF in early 2008 following many years with the Equestrian
Land Conservation Resource as the Director of Equestrian Partnership.
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At JDCF Deb's primary responsibilities include
assisting staff with the production of all printed and electronic communications
such as newsletters, press releases, informational brochures, and specialized
reports. Various other administrative duties accompany the part time position
as well.
When not in the office, Deb teaches riding lessons as well as exercises
a variety of horses for local clients. She lives at home with her husband
Mike, three cats, three basset hounds, and six pasture ornaments. She also
has two horses that earn their keep in the world of eventing.
Chris Kirkpatrick, Natural Resources Coordinator
Chris Kirkpatrick has worked for the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation
in cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension since 2003.
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Chris’s responsibilities include landowner outreach, land protection, and stewardship
services program. During his career with the Foundation, he has helped to expand the Land
Stewardship Registry Program, a voluntary recognition program to develop
relationships with landowners. This program began with six landowners
with 1500 acres and has grown to nearly 40 landowners with 6,000 acres.
Chris has also expanded the land protection program from eight conservation
easements on 345 acres to 16 easements protecting 2155 acres. Chris was
an integral part of the acquisition of the land owned by the Foundation.
He helped the Foundation to increase properties owned from two, totaling
77 acres, to five properties, totaling 273 acres.
Chris also provides technical services for hire to landowners for habitat
inventories, land management plans, and GPS mapping.
Christie Trifone, Director of Development
Christie Trifone joined the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation in 2007.
She came to the Foundation with a flavored background and experience base.
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Christie has worked for many agencies/organizations including IA-DNR (parks
& fisheries), Army Corp of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), Soil & Water Conservation District in MN, National Mississippi
River Museum & Aquarium and the Long Term Resource Monitoring Station
located on the Mississippi River in Bellevue, IA.
Christie’s primary duties at the Foundation include developing,
implementing, and continually monitor a plan for educating, communicating
with, and recognizing potential donors, current donors, and the community
at large.
She educates and assists the general membership and Board of Directors
in developing relationships with donors in order to build endowment funds
and promote and raise operational funds. Additionally, Christie works to increase the assets of the Foundation
by conducting special events, securing business partnerships, and acquiring
in-kind gifts that meet a need of the Foundation.
In her spare time, Christie enjoys spending time with her family and loves
to hike, bike, and camp, fish, garden, and bake goodies!
Dan Wenny, Community Educator
In 2009 Dan Wenny became Community Educator in a position that reports to
both JDCF and the Planetary Studies Foundation.
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Profile
Dan Wenny, an avian ecologist, previously worked for ten years with the
Illinois Natural History Survey, based at the former Savanna Army Depot.
During that time he developed research projects and biological monitoring
programs, led many field trips, and worked extensively with volunteers.
After an enjoyable undergraduate degree at Earlham College, Richmond,
Indiana, and a surprisingly quick and efficient M.A. from the University
of Missouri-Columbia, he worked several years to earn a Ph.D. from the
University of Florida. He conducted his thesis research in the cloud forests
of Costa Rica.
Dan was raised in the suburbs of northern Delaware and the wilds of New
Hampshire. Dan lives in Galena with his family and enjoys music, bird
watching, soccer, disc sports, camping, and word games.
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