Our Team
Staff
Chris Knopf, Executive Director
Chris has had a lifelong passion for environmental conservation, stemming from his childhood experiences of playing in lakes and streams and fishing. This interest led to a legal career where he practiced environmental law. His background in law combined with his love for the environment has shaped his career dedicated to preserving natural resources and advocating for conservation efforts. He has run the state office of a national, nonprofit land conservation organization and worked on Native American land conservation projects before becoming Executive Director of the Friends in 2017. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Chris is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Andrew McIlree, Development Director
The “singing wilderness” of Quetico-Superior country is Andrew’s spiritual home. As Development Director, he provides collaborative leadership in growing donor, stakeholder and community relationships. Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising, strategic communication and project management with nonprofits around the country, including health care, higher education, community-based public history, and social service organizations. Andrew holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and is a member Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International. He has been a contributing writer to various publications, including the Minnesota Star Tribune. Additionally, he has served as a source for The Atlantic on national service and social justice.
Bree Sikorski, Operations Director
Bree fell in love with the BWCAW leading trips for a Girl Scout camp and still can’t believe how lucky she is to live so close to this wilderness gem. She has worked in non-profit management and operations for over a decade, at YHA St. Briavels Castle in the UK, Glensheen Mansion in Duluth and, most recently, at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. Bree loves to be outdoors and enjoys running, cross country skiing, reading, cooking and camping.
Pete Marshall, Communications Director
Pete has canoed more than 9,000 miles through remote regions of Canada and put on plenty of miles in his “backyard” BWCAW. He has written for a number of publications and produced a documentary film for Twin Cites Public Television. Before coming to the Friends he worked at a marketing agency, and in another life flirted with a career in academia.
Alison Nyenhuis, Education Director
Alison heads up our No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters program, where she combines her passion for education with her lifelong love for the BWCA. In addition to teaching middle school, Alison has guided young people on trips with Wilderness Canoe Base, and worked in residential environmental education programs in the Seattle and New York City area. Her love of all things outside keeps her cross country skiing, hiking, paddling, and cooking outdoors whenever possible.
Max Kieley, Legal Director
As Friends’ Legal Director, Max brings 15 years of legal experience in private practice and public service, including over a decade at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office where he primarily worked in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division. He is proud to apply his legal expertise to fighting the good fight to protect the Boundary Waters for generations to come. Along with his hobbies of ice hockey and gardening, Max enjoys spending time with his wife Alex, his son Beau, their dog Willa and two cats Bunny and Mozart.
Steve Schultz, Government Relations Director
As Government Relations Director, Steve brings more than 25 years of experience working in politics including lobbying at the capitol, volunteering for campaigns, and organizing people and communities to protect our water. When not at the capitol, or plotting with coworkers on how to win on our campaigns, he is probably in his garden or at the lake enjoying the outdoors on his kayak or sitting on the beach. He also enjoys camping, hiking, running, biking, disc golfing and Minnesota Twins baseball and Green Bay Packers football.
David Meier, Sr. Marketing & Communications Manager
David loves to introduce new people to the Boundary Waters, most recently his two elementary aged boys. He has worked in nonprofit digital communications, TV production and technology for over 20 years. He enjoys the adventure of traveling internationally, but feels that the most special places are here close to home on the North Shore and BWCAW.
Karen Johnson, Grants Manager
Joining the Friends team in 2021, Karen combines her love of the outdoors with her almost 20 years of nonprofit experience. She helps support the Friends through corporate and foundation grants and partnerships. While originally from Illinois, she is a Minnesotan at heart and fell in love with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area soon after college. When not writing grants or connecting with foundations, you can find Karen reading in the sunshine, camping, hiking, biking, or skiing with her husband and two kids.
Romisha (Misha) Van Acker, Development Operations Manager
Misha is a rockhound, houseplant hobbyist and regular camper who believes that a life best lived is one dedicated to helping others. Her passion is to introduce more people to the Boundary Waters, and to spread serenity, gratitude and empowerment to those who could use a little more of it in their lives. Misha is excited to bring her 19 years of experience working with nonprofits to support the preservation of the Boundary Waters. During her free time she likes to spend time with her husband and two girls while embracing the beauty of the outdoors.
Izzie Smith, Twin Cities Education Manager
A life-long paddler and devotee of Type-2 fun, Izzie came to Friends after years of guiding for Wilderness Inquiry and working at Midwest Mountaineering. As the education coordinator, she believes everyone deserves access to green space, especially wilderness areas like the Boundary Waters. She loves empowering and connecting youth to the BWCA, and giving the future generation of wilderness lovers and protectors the tools they need to explore this special place.
Sam Reed, Ph.D., Climate and Conservation Manager
Drawing on a decade of experience as an ecologist, Sam drives Friends’ thought leadership on climate resilience for the Boundary Waters and northern Minnesota. He is currently spearheading a review of climate research in the Quetico-Superior ecosystem. This work is the foundation for a digital hub that supports public understanding of climate impacts, arms policy makers with climate-smart land management strategies, and inspires the next generation of ecologists in the region. Outside of work, Sam’s hobbies include fossil hunting, cooking, and listening to the Grateful Dead.
Mya Hummel, Creative Content & Social Media Manager
Mya brings diverse creative experience to the Friends as a graphic designer who has handled everything from content creation, photography, branding, product packaging and more. She holds a degree in Scientific Illustration from Iowa State University and is passionate about creating visual stories that inspire and educate. Mya got hooked on the Boundary Waters after a trip in college and returns annually with her family. She enjoys hiking, trying to remember the names of houseplants, petting her cat, sketching and reading fantasy novels.
Rachel Hedlund, Northern Education Coordinator
From the first time Rachel put a canoe on her shoulders, she knew she would spend the rest of her life connected to the outdoors. She spent five years guiding at Camp Menogyn and for the last ten years worked for the Voyageur Outward Bound School. Rachel has led 50-day canoe trips in the Arctic and has been a part of some rad, masochistic adventures, such as paddling from International Falls to Lake Superior in 99 hours and racing in the Yukon River Quest in 2016. She is based out of our office in Ely.
Jenny Gilles, Executive and Administrative Assistant
Having grown up exploring the woods with her siblings, Jenny love for the outdoors has led her to wild places throughout the US. Before coming to the Friends, Jenny worked in Arts Administration for several years, most recently with nonprofit arts advocacy agency Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. In her free time, Jenny loves exploring the Mississippi shoreline with her kids and dog, hiking, reading, and painting.
Maggie Morin, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Maggie first fell in love with the natural world at her family cabin on Madeline Island in Lake Superior. As a climate justice advocate, Maggie strives to create a safe space within the environmental movement by engaging new and old BWCA supporters. In her free time, you can find Maggie reading, running, eating at new Thai restaurants, nature journaling, and embroidering (but is most likely sleeping).
Jake Anderson, Major Gifts Officer
Jake joined the team at Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to protect and connect people with a place close to his heart. Prior to the Friends, Jake worked with individuals doing great things at Project for Pride in Living (PPL), Ragamala Dance Company, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and the Glimmerglass Festival. Jake loves wild ramps, chickadees, Star Wars, Euchre, trolling for lake trout, and spending time outside with his wife, two kids, and standard poodle.
Riley Smith, Community Coordinator
Since his earliest memories, Riley has been happiest outdoors. After jobs in Forestry, Environmental Ed, Guiding, Outfitting, and Gear Manufacturing, he joined Friends in 2024. In his free time, he enjoys photography, writing, dendrochronology, and wilderness adventures every month of the year. Along the way, he’s nearly completed a personal goal of utilizing every BWCAW entry point for trips.
Michaela Mathews, Development Coordinator
Michaela is a singer, a food and wine enthusiast, and a nature-lover who is thrilled to be part of an organization whose mission is to protect the precious BWCA. Prior to working at Friends, Michaela may have sold you a bottle of wine at your local Trader Joe’s. When she’s not at work, she is probably at choir rehearsal, walking around a lake, enjoying a good meal, or watching movies with her partner and two cats Bug and Bear.
Emma Singer, Twin Cities Education Program Coordinator
Having taught in nature centers, outdoor education programs, zoos, botanical gardens, and 7-12th grade science classrooms across the U.S, Emma brings years of diverse environmental education experience to Friends. Her teaching background includes high ropes, bringing penguins to kindergarteners, and high school genetics. Emma holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Hamline University. When not working, she enjoys reading, paddling, and walking her dog, preferably in the woods.
Marta Ditzler, Community Organizer
After managing two successful state legislative campaigns in Anchorage and working as an organizing fellow at The Alaska Center, Marta brings impressive grassroots organizing experience to the Friends. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from the College of Saint Benedict. Though raised in Eagle River, Alaska, Marta has deep Minnesota roots and grew up attending Laketrails Canoe Camp in Lake of the Woods.
Betsy Foy, Government Relations Associate
Though Betsy is a relatively novice paddler, she has always loved the outdoors and her canoe skills are developing as her love for the BWCA grows. Betsy’s commitment to protecting water began with the pipeline resistance movement during her time at Macalester College. After a few years spent working in scenic carpentry and as an EMT, she is thrilled to return to advocating for clean water. Outside of time at the Capitol and meetings with legislators, Betsy loves to line dance, swim in every available lake, and spend time with her wonderful housemates.
Case McCullough, Administrative Coordinator
Case’s first time in a canoe was paddling in the Turtle Mountain Provincial Park during high school. They remember the bright stars and the gentle quiet of the lakes. Case is an alumni of Northland College and Cal Poly Humboldt, where they studied sociology. After 6 years in California, they are excited to be embraced again by the fresh waters of the Midwest. Case loves to garden, snuggle their cat Nectar, stargaze, and read poetry.
Board of Directors
Tom Donaho, Chair
Partner, Baker Hostetler
Deborah Huskins, Vice Chair
Retired Area Director for Human Services and Public Health Department at Hennepin County
John Penshorn, Secretary
Retired Senior Vice-President, United Health Group
Adam Benson, Treasurer
CFA, Partner and Portfolio Manager Summit Creek Advisors
Niles Deneen
President and CEO of Deneen Pottery
Julie Hignell
Executive Director, Ely Community Resources
Jake Holdreith
Partner, Robins Kaplan
Leah Janus
Attorney, Fredrikson
Ryan Johnson
Attorney, Fredrikson
Joe Lofgren
Manager, Corporate & Individual, Planned Giving at North Memorial Health
Bryan Mechell
Partner, Robins Kaplan
Carolyn Sakstrup
Chief Growth & Generosity Officer
Kelly Schuller
CEO, SitelogIQ
Sean Sherman
CEO / Founder, Owamni / The Sioux Chef / NATIFS.org
Alan Thometz
Founder, KACET LLC
Emily Vikre
Co-Owner and CEO, Vikre Distillery
Lee Vue
Digital Content and Marketing Manager, Seiche
Laura Wildenborg
Fintech Innovation Manager, Sunrise Banks
John Willoughby
Vice President for Business Partnerships & Negotiation and Merchandise Analytics at Target
Pete Fleming
Honorary Board Member
Richard Flint
Honorary Board Member