Resource Feb 10, 2025

Midwest Regional Advisory Council

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As part of NPCA’s effort to expand and diversify our volunteer base across the Midwest, our Midwest Team relaunched our Midwest Regional Advisory Council (MRAC) to provide diverse expertise and new perspectives in support of our regional staff.

Our council works to strategize and implement initiatives that not only protect but also celebrate our more than 50 Midwest national parks. With a membership that includes business leaders, political experts, communications specialists, philanthropists, and conservationists, the MRAC is committed to fostering a deeper connection between our communities and the natural world. Its focus encompasses a broad spectrum of activities and projects aimed at influencing national and regional policies, enhancing community engagement and connection, and securing the future of our national parks through sustainable development practices. Together, we’re dedicated to ensuring that our nation’s natural and cultural treasures are preserved for generations to come.

John Anfinson Minnesota Dr. John O. Anfinson has been researching, writing and speaking about the upper Mississippi River for over 30 years. He spent the first half of his federal career with the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as a historian and cultural resources program manager. He joined the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, in 2000, where he served as Superintendent from 2014-2020.
Cheryl Appeldorn Minnesota Cheryl Appeldorn is an independent policy analyst for conservation nonprofit organizations. She has worked for a variety of clients including The Trust for Public Land, Conservation Minnesota, and the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Her work focuses on state and federal budget issues affecting natural resource agencies. In 2006-08, she worked for the Minnesota Campaign for Conservation, which provided research and analysis in support of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land & Legacy Constitutional Amendment.
Nicole Barker Indiana Nicole has served as Director of Capital Investment and Implementation for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), operator of the South Shore Line Railroad, since 2016. She currently also serves as Project Manager for NICTD’s $650 million Double Track Northwest Indiana Project, which spans over 26 miles of NICTD’s territory. Nicole also serves as Public Information Officer and leads Marketing efforts for NICTD.
Maddy Bradley Iowa Maddy started working with Eide • Walton in 2020 as a Legislative Associate. Maddy is a registered lobbyist for the firm’s clients. Maddy is a native of Johnston, Iowa. She graduated With Distinction from the University of Iowa where she received Bachelor of Science degrees in both Environmental Science and Public Health.
Forrest Flint Minnesota Forrest Flint is Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for Delta Dental of Minnesota and resides in Edina Minnesota. His management background includes service as the Director of Children, Youth and Family Services and the Division of Health Services for the State of South Dakota; and, serving as the Vice President of Business Development for American Dental Partners, Inc.
Donté Gibbs, MSSA, CNM Ohio Donté Gibbs, a native of East Cleveland, is the VP of Community Partnerships at The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park where he works across departments, implementing community initiatives, building partnerships, and developing internal and external engagement strategies; including partnering with Bedrock to develop Skylight Park in Tower City. Gibbs aided in launching Rhythm on the River concert series, welcoming over 22,000 visitors to CVNP over the past 3 years.
Peter Gove Minnesota Peter Gove is a long-time member of NPCA’s Regional Council and past chair. In 2014, he was awarded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award by NPCA for his commitment to the protection of national parks. He was the lead founder of the Friends of the Mississippi River in 1993 and served as the first FMR board chair.
David Hackett Illinois David Hackett is a Partner with Baker & McKenzie, LLP in Chicago. At Baker, he has served on the Firm’s Global Management Committee, as well as North American Managing Partner and Chicago Office Managing Partner. His practice concentrates on the representation of multinationals in U.S. and international compliance, CSR and environmental matters.
Norrel Hemphill, Esq. Michigan Detroiter – by way of Flint, MI – Norrel Hemphill, Esq. is an environmental and civil rights attorney serving as the Legal and Public Policy Manager at We the People of Detroit. Attorney Hemphill advocates for water rights, water justice, and environmental justice at every level of government – local, state, federal, and international.
Jenny Manville Michigan Born in the Fox River Valley of Illinois, Jenny completed undergraduate studies in International Relations and a graduate degree in Public Administration/Environmental Policy from Northern Illinois University. Jenny served 33 years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, initially working on solid waste issues, and then for 28 years as a Tribal Liaison for the tribal nations in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Laura Merriam Minnesota Laura Merriam is President of Pike Island Group, a consulting firm specializing in communications management, writing and strategic market positioning for business, public and nonprofit organizations. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the French American Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter, was the Director of Investor Relations for St. Jude Medical, and served as Vice President of Tunheim Santrizos and Head of Investor Relations for Cray Research, Inc.
Neil Mortine Ohio Neil Mortine is chairman and CEO of Fahlgren Mortine, an award-winning integrated communications company. Fahlgren Mortine helps brands engage in ways that are precise and meaningful through work that dares to make a difference and remaining accountable for getting measurable results.
Kathy Schneider Michigan Kathy retired from a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Park Service. She was named the first superintendent of Pullman National Monument (now Pullman National Historical Park) in November 2016, hired to set up initial operations, hire the first staff, and manage the $35 million project for the first National Park Service Visitor Center.
Cheryl A. Schreier South Dakota Cheryl Schreier retired as Superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial after nearly 40 years of service with the National Park Service (NPS) in May 2019. Prior to her tenure at Mount Rushmore, she also served as superintendent of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, and completed a detail as acting superintendent at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
David Walter Minnesota Dave joined Heartland in 2003 as its Vice President of Operations. Dave’s primary responsibilities include overseeing property management operations for Heartland’s portfolio of market and affordable properties. His focus areas include establishing Heartland as one of the leading apartment operators in the country and building strategic partnerships.
H. William Walter Minnesota Bill Walter is President of Heartland Realty Investors, Inc., founding the business in 1971. Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in civil engineering and received an M.B.A. from the University Of Minnesota Carlson School Of Business. Bill learned the business not only from holding an executive role with Shelter Corporation of America but from experience as an officer in the U.S. Navy, and serving as a construction project supervisor in Vietnam.
Michelle Wang Illinois Michelle Wang is a Finance Manager at GE HealthCare, which is headquartered in Chicago and is a leading provider of medical technologies and services and their mission is to make healthcare better for the future wellbeing of everyone on the planet.

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