Board ofDirectors
Tom Jerow
President
EXPERIENCE: Tom Jerow served as board treasurer until December 2019. He is a member of the Water Resources and Environmental Rules Work Groups and the Public Trust and Wetlands Work Group. Tom retired from the WDNR in 2013 after 34 years mostly in the water program. He was the Northern Regional Water Leader when he retired.
EDUCATION: Tom graduated in 1979 from the UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Soil Science. His graduate level work was in hydrogeology.
PERSONAL: In his retirement Tom is an avid volunteer at his local food pantry where he manages a large community garden. He has also been an active supporter of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. He lives in Rhinelander with his husband Steven.
James W. Perry
Vice President
EXPERIENCE: Jim Perry spent 18 years in administration at UW-Fox Valley, while still teaching an undergraduate botany course. He served as the public face of his campus, interacting with government officials, lobbying for higher education and serving as a fund raiser for his campus. He was Professor of Biological Sciences. Retiring in 2011, he is Campus Executive Officer and Dean Emeritus. Previously he was Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology, Wildlife and Fisheries at Frostburg State University in Maryland.
EDUCATION: B.S. – Zoology and Secondary Education, M.S. – Botany and Zoology, Ph.D. Botany and Plant Pathology, all from UW-Madison.
PERSONAL: Jim is a lifelong outdoors person, hunter, and conservationist. Reading A Sand County Almanac as an undergraduate shaped his outlook on the natural world, and he credits Aldo Leopold for serving as his ethical compass. As a WGF board member, he hopes to foster greater public understanding of the value of science-based decision-making, and enlist sporting organizations to support the work of WGF. He is past President of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and serves on the board of Lake Superior’s Big Top Chautauqua. Jim lives in rural Winnebago County with his spouse Joy (also a WGF member), and their German Shorthaired Pointer, Sharpshooter’s Doppler Effect, but spends as much time as possible at their Iron County cabin.
Bob Gurda
Treasurer
EXPERIENCE: Bob Gurda retired from the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office at UW-Madison, where he wrote/edited a quarterly newsletter, coordinated a variety of initiatives across public agencies, presented workshops, monitored advances in technology, served on interagency and interstate workgroups and task forces, and responded to a wide variety of inquiries from professionals, landowners, map seekers, and students. He was heavily involved in establishing the Wisconsin Land Information Association. As a cartographer, one of his particular interests is in effective communication of complex information, especially of the physical landscape. His earlier experience was varied, including as a naturalist, nature photographer, tax auditor, and piano technician.
EDUCATION: B.S. in Zoology, M.S. Cartography, UW-Madison
PERSONAL: As a generalist student of the natural world, Bob’s interests are diverse. Outside of science, he enjoys urban vegetable gardening, fly fishing, playing trumpet in a big band, and spending time at a cottage near Rhinelander. He has served on the Board and as Treasurer of Dimensions in Sound and the Studio Orchestra, Inc, a non-profit organization. Bob lives in Madison with his wife Betty Craig.
Don Behm
EXPERIENCE: Don Behm is retired from a four-decade career in Journalism, including 36 years at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Don was a charter member of The Society of Environmental Journalists. His reporting on pollution of waterways in Wisconsin earned a national Thomas L. Stokes Award from the Washington Journalism Center in 1989 for “best daily newspaper reporting on protection of the environment.” In 1991, the Southeast Area Association of Land Conservation Committees recognized Don for “increasing public awareness of water quality issues in southeastern Wisconsin.” He has received numerous local, state, and regional awards for enterprise and investigative reporting.
EDUCATION: While studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the wake of the first few Earth Days and Watergate, Don was introduced to the work of botanists, limnologists, soil scientists, and wildlife researchers from Wisconsin. Their legacy, and the instruction of scientists he met on the job, guided much of his reporting on the environment.
PERSONAL: A Wisconsin native, Don grew up along the Fox River in Omro where he became familiar with water quality problems caused by stormwater runoff from farms, livestock in streams, and factory and municipal wastes. Don and his brothers and sisters donated a conservation easement on a family property in Vilas County to the Northwoods Land Trust. Don now spends just enough time at that property, and on waterways and hiking trails across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Michael Cain
EXPERIENCE: Michael Cain is co-chair of the Public Trust and Wetlands Work Group. Michael was the lead attorney for the WDNR wetland and surface water regulatory program for 34 years, retiring in 2009. He was involved in drafting and developing laws and regulations protecting Wisconsin’s waters under the Public Trust Doctrine. He was the lead attorney for enforcement and litigation of these programs, and successfully led the WDNR through hundreds of permit and enforcement cases. Michael has been involved in education and outreach to the public, Wisconsin's attorneys and consultants, and at law schools and universities. He has received numerous awards including the WDNR Brogan Award for Outstanding Environmental Achievement in 1995, the Wisconsin Wetlands Associations Wetland Protection Award in 2009, and the National Wetland Award from the Environmental Law Institute and EPA in 2010.
EDUCATION: B.S. in Biology from UW-Stevens Point in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from UW-Madison in 1976.
PERSONAL: Michael continues to work on issues relating to Wisconsin's water policies and its evolving land/water ethic. In retirement he has been active with environmental NGOs, advising them on legal issues. He lives in Madison with his wife Anita Sprenger.
Terry Daulton
EXPERIENCE: Terry Daulton is a consulting biologist and environmental educator. During her over 35 year career in natural resources she has worked for both agencies and non-profits including the National Park Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Bureau of Integrated Science Services, US Geological Survey, North Lakeland Discovery Center, and Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. She continues to work with UW – Madison Center for Limnology on projects which bring artists and scientists together to develop public information and exhibitions on topics such as climate change and limnology.
EDUCATION: Terry received her B.S. in Environmental Studies from Northland College and a M.S. in Environmental Education from University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
PERSONAL: Terry has been involved in Wisconsin’s Green Fire from its inception. She is an artist as well as scientist/educator and her paintings reflect her deep ties to the Wisconsin landscape. In addition to her work with WGF, Terry volunteers her time with her local lake association and LoonWatch Advisory Council, Terry strives to live simply (in keeping with her world view) on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, near Mercer, WI with her husband Jeff Wilson.
Susan Hedman
EXPERIENCE: Susan Hedman has devoted her professional career to environmental protection – at the state, federal and international level. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to lead US EPA’s Great Lakes Regional Office and was head of the US delegation that negotiated the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. She served as Environmental Counsel to the Illinois Attorney General and as head of the UN legal team that handled environmental claims from the first Gulf War. Susan also has held numerous academic appointments and has extensive experience representing Great Lakes citizen groups in state and federal litigation.
EDUCATION: Susan has a Ph.D. from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, a M.A. from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, and a J.D. from the Law School at the University of Wisconsin.
PERSONAL: Susan lives in Bayfield, where she serves on the Plan Commission and Architectural Review Board. She enjoys kayaking and wandering along the shore of Lake Superior.
Emily Lee
Bob Martini
EXPERIENCE: Bob Martini is a member of the Water Resources and Environmental Rules Work Group. Bob served for 32 years with WDNR as Statewide River Protection Coordinator leading efforts to clean up the Wisconsin River and prevent acid rain damage in northern Wisconsin. He was also involved in groundwater quality and quantity work in the Central Sands, as well as dam removal and licensing for public benefit. Bob has received recognition for his efforts including WDNR’s Career Achievement Award, the Brogan Award, and North American River Management Society.
EDUCATION: Bob earned his B.S. in Zoology from UW-Milwaukee, and did his graduate work in microbiology. He is a former Licensed Sanitarian and Registered Microbiologist with the American Registry of Microbiologists.
PERSONAL: Bob provided leadership for various organizations including the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association and has served as member of the Oneida County Board.
Bryan Pierce
EXPERIENCE: Bryan Pierce comes to Wisconsin's Green Fire after 18 years working with all aspects of non-profit management as the founder, first president, and first executive director of the Northwoods Land Trust. Prior to that he was a tenured faculty serving as the Vilas County UW-Extension Resource Agent (for 9 years plus 2 years in Oneida County). He worked on many lake issues including shoreland zoning, served as coordinator for the county’s recycling grants and hazardous waste collections, worked on county and town comprehensive land use planning and outdoor recreation planning, was the department head for the county advertising department, and also worked on economic and community development issues. Prior to UW-Extension, Bryan worked in environmental education at Trees For Tomorrow Natural Resource Education Center, Starrs Cave Nature Center in Burlington, IA, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Upham Woods Education Center and Central Wisconsin Environmental Station.
EDUCATION: Bryan has a B.S. in Zoology from UW-Madison and a M.S. in Natural Resource Management/Environmental Education Emphasis from UW-Stevens Point.
PERSONAL: Bryan and his wife, Gail Gilson-Pierce, have lived in the Eagle River area for over 30 years. Their home is adjacent to the Blackjack Springs Wilderness Area where they walk or snowshoe daily with their Brittany Cricket. Gail is a full-time artist with her paintings and fabric art represented in galleries in Door County. She worked for Trees For Tomorrow for 17 years as a naturalist educator, assistant director and executive director, and was a partner in the Wooly Lady hand dyed wool fabric business. Bryan spends a lot of time exploring wild lakes, scenic rivers, trout streams and other wild places canoeing, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, camping, hunting and fishing. His goal is to make sure there will always be such places in the future.
Jodi Habush Sinykin
EXPERIENCE: Jodi Habush Sinykin is an environmental attorney, specializing in water and wildlife matters, retained as a water policy expert by Midwest Environmental Advocates since 2003, appointed to numerous state advisory committees, including the Groundwater Advisory Committee established under 2003 Wisconsin Act 310 and the Legislative Council’s Special Committee on the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. She collaborates with state and regional partners to watchdog the Great Lakes Compact’s implementation, testified on many occasions before legislative committees, is a frequent speaker on environmental matters, and author of policy reports and published law journals.
She has also worked as policy advisor and lobbyist with state humane societies and legislators to enact Wisconsin’s “Puppy Mill Bill” to regulate sub-standard breeding facilities. With coalition of scientific experts and plaintiffs, filed suit in opposition to Wisconsin’s 2012 wolf hunt relating to inadequately regulated use of free roaming dogs to hunt wolves; ongoing collaborations with wildlife biologists, advocates, state park activists, and conservationists to advance science-based wildlife policies in keeping with Public Trust principles. Beginning in 2014, she began work with UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, teaching graduate level water law and environmental justice classes and serving as a Center for Water Policy Water Fellow.
EDUCATION: University of Michigan, B.A. 1989; Harvard Law School, JD 1992
PERSONAL: An avid nature enthusiast, Jodi begins every day with a walk along Lake Michigan or the Milwaukee River in the happy company of her two dogs. Together with her husband Dan and four children, she enjoys family time spent playing Catan, eating delicious food (à la Dan), traveling to beautiful places, or simply hunkering down with a good book. Jodi is active in the Milwaukee community, and is a proud supporter of a number of local and state organizations as an involved board and committee member.
