Lukas Bolton

Stewardship Technician

stewcrew@swmlc.org

269-324-1600

Lukas brings a lifelong connection to the landscapes of southwest Michigan to his work with the conservancy. Growing up foraging for morel mushrooms and picking wild berries fostered an early respect for the natural world that continues to shape his approach to land stewardship.

His dedication to conservation drives his hands-on field work, where he focuses on removing introduced species and supporting the health of the ecosystems the conservancy protects. Lukas graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College with a degree in Sustainable Horticulture, where he developed a strong interest in native wildflowers that grew into a focus on collecting and processing wild seed to support resilient, locally adapted plant communities.

He values the intentional lifestyle that comes with gardening and finds a sense of calm and clarity through working the soil. When he isn’t stewarding the land, Lukas can often be found foraging, cooking, biking, collecting seed, or talking a little trash over a game of euchre. He approaches his work with an optimistic outlook and confidence in the future of southwest Michigan’s landscapes.

Abbie Bristol

Stewardship Specialist

abristol@swmlc.org

269-306-1654

Although Abbie grew up in different states all around the country, she has always called Michigan home. Her time studying Biology at Western Michigan University sparked her passion for Michigan’s flora and natural communities. By the end of college, her mission was to be a positive force for biodiversity. She began her career as an invasive species specialist in Southwest Michigan, learning the nuances of finding and managing invasive species. She pulls from this knowledge, her passion for Michigan’s flora, and local community knowledge to write stewardship plans for SWMLC preserves. Abbie lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and cat, and spends her time learning more about the natural world through a good book or a hike in the woods.

Dave Brown

Stewardship and Fire Manager

dbrown@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 303

Dave has a diverse skill set which he brings to all aspects of his work at SWMLC. With a degree in parks and recreation management and a background in outdoor education, construction, facilities management, and prescribed fire, he enjoys providing an ecologically healthy habitat for the wildlife and people who inhabit our preserves. Usually you can find Dave working with the SWMLC Stewardship Crew brush hogging prairies, clearing trails, or working back the edification of our fire suppressed habitats of southwest Michigan. When he isn’t stewarding the landscape he’s riding one of his bikes, playing hockey, or snowboarding. 

Emily Brown

Land Protection Specialist

ebrown@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 301

Emily grew up in rural Allegan County and was drawn back to West Michigan after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a focus of conservation from the University of Michigan. Emily previously worked at the Allegan Conservation District where she helped farmers and landowners increase their soil health. Emily lives in Otsego now, where she enjoys gardening, hiking with her dog, Zora, and spending time outside and on the water as much as possible.

Erin Decker

Database and Administrative Coordinator

edecker@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 308

Positive camping experiences as a kid naturally evolved into Erin earning a bachelor’s degree in Environmental & Sustainability Studies and Organization Communication (with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership) from Western Michigan University. She learned a lot about nonprofit management during an internship at Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, then put her knowledge and experience to good use as Executive Director for Open Roads, a Kalamazoo non-profit that helps youth learn practical life skills through bicycles. Erin is also a fantastic photographer and has already improved SWMLC’s look with her gorgeous images! In her spare time, she likes hiking with her kiddo and husband, lounging in her hammock, and reading.

Alice Dykstra

Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator

alice@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 313

Alice grew up far away from Southwest Michigan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While studying environmental science at Temple University, she had the opportunity to do research on the rare Regal Fritillary butterfly. Learning about the butterfly and its complex relationship with its host plant sparked a love of ecology for Alice. In 2019, she moved to Michigan to begin her PhD at the Kellogg Biological Station. Bike rides through bucolic Barry County, berry picking in South Haven, and camping trips along Lake Michigan’s dunes quickly cemented a love of SW Michigan for Alice. While in graduate school, she developed a passion for inspiring people towards conservation action through outreach. She looks forward to facilitating connections between SWMLC’s many supporters and special places in her role.  In her free time, Alice loves spending time with her husband and son, all things fiber arts, and a handful of outdoor hobbies.

Collin Klute

Stewardship Coordinator

cklute@swmlc.org

269-324-1600

Collin’s journey into the world of conservation began right here in his backyard as a high school student at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, where he first fell in love with the field through their Conservation Biology course. This early spark led him to the green mountains of Vermont, where he deepened his expertise and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology.

Today, Collin brings that academic foundation and a lifelong passion for ecological restoration to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Known for his infectious positive energy and an enthusiastic approach to learning, he finds his greatest reward in helping others discover their own unique connection to the natural world.

When he steps away from the preserves, Collin embraces a slower pace. He is an avid tea drinker and enjoys the quiet art of aquascaping his home aquariums. Of course, he can’t stay away from the outdoors for long—you’ll often spot him taking a peaceful walk through one of the many SWMLC preserves he works so hard to protect.

Mitch Lettow

Conservation and Stewardship Director

lettow@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 305

Mitch grew up on Pickerel Lake in Scotts, Michigan, where his time spent in the backyard and the water, with encouragement from his family, nurtured his fascination in nature. This fascination matured into a pursuit of a career in the field of ecology where he worked in both research and restoration for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Michigan Wildflower Farm, Michigan State University, and the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.  At MSU Mitch received his B.S. in 2009 and his M.S. in 2013 in Environmental Biology/Zoology and Entomology, respectively. Being interested in diverse aspects of the natural world, like ornithology and botany, the emerging field of Restoration Ecology was an appealing way to roll all of these interests into one.  This allowed Mitch to get his hands dirty while making a satisfying and tangible difference for the natural communities he had come to love that face an increasing amount of environmental degradation.  He was thrilled to come back to SWMLC’s Stewardship Program in July 2013.  Mitch looks forward to restoring natural processes and biodiversity on the Conservancy’s many preserves, as well as learning from and working with many volunteers and community members who are critical to long-term stewardship and conservation. Mitch lives in Kalamazoo, where he can be found doing anything that gets him into the out-of-doors.

Kaleigh Winkler

Land Protection Director

kdwinkler@swmlc.org

269-324-1600, Ext. 311

Kaleigh grew up in northern Indiana as part of an outdoorsy family. The daughter of an environmental scientist, it’s not surprising that she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hanover College, a private liberal arts college in southern Indiana. After graduating from college, Kaleigh conducted mist-net bat surveys for an environmental consulting company – then later surveyed breeding birds for Purdue University. She also worked for the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection where she managed Superfund cleanup and brownfield remediation projects that required outreach and working alongside landowners. Kaleigh enjoys running, backpacking, and kayaking and likes to spend down time hanging out with her husband and their teenage golden-lab mix, Quinn.