chairperson

Jarod Reibel, Edward Lowe Foundation

Jarod is the Conservation Stewardship Land Manager at the Edward Lowe Foundation, where he uses prescription burning as one of their main land management tools for the property's restored prairies and wetlands. He holds a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management, and a master's degree in Biology, both obtained from Grand Valley State University. He also works with GVSU to host their fire trainings at the Edward Lowe Foundation twice a year.

Vice chairperson

Ben Savoie, Barry Conservation District Forester

Ben Savoie earned a B.S. in Forestry from Michigan State University, specializing in Resource Management. He has spent many years in community organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Hastings Food Forest, and Michigan Tree Farm. Ben has worked for the Barry Conservation District since 2016 as their District Forester, servicing Barry, Allegan, and Ottawa counties. He is passionate about community involvement in ecological restoration and improving public knowledge on conservation management.

Treasurer and administrator

Stephanie Diep

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Stephanie graduated in 2017 with a liberal arts bachelors degree focused on geography and writing. She has worked in a variety of environmental sectors both in the office and in the field. She obtained FFT2 status in 2021 and is actively involved with the KNC prescribed fire crew. Currently, she works as the Kalamazoo Nature Center Ecological Services Conservation Analyst and serves as the MPFC Administrator and Treasurer.

Secretary

Michele Richards, Michigan Department of Military Affairs

Michele has been a part of the fire council since its inception in 1999, and has been instrumental in its continued existence ever since. She works at Fort Custer Training Center as a natural resources specialist for the Michigan Army National Guard. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Earth Science and Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University (earned in 1998), and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (earned in 2017). Natural resources management at Fort Custer includes prescribed fire, invasive plant management, ecological restoration, endangered species management, avian studies, and the occasional foray into wetland ecology.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Includes officers, committee chairpersons and any others who choose to participate.

To join the Steering Committee fill out the form to join the council on our JOIN page and attend the quarterly meetings, and join a subcommittee if you can.