Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. - Staff

Jeanne Christie, Executive Director

Jeanne has been with ASWM since 1999 and Executive Director since 2001. From 1995 to 1999 she was a Resource Conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,Wetlands and Watersheds Division where she was national program leader for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. She worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division (1988-1995) moving from the staff level to Section Chief and Acting Branch Chief. As an environmental planner at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (1985-1988) responsibilities included the Green Bay Remedial Action Plan and the 208 Watershed Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin. She has a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Environmental Science, both from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Jeanne is a 2007 winner of the National Wetlands Award for Education and Outreach. During her spare time she competes in ultra runs, teaches digital photography, and does volunteer work with the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center. She lives in an 1860 farmhouse in Windham, ME with her husband Larry and their ‘rescued’ animal companions Tux, and Massey.

Jon Kusler, Associate Director

Jon is a lawyer, writer, and educator with more than 35 years of experience with wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas. In addition to a law degree, he holds a M.S. in Water Resources Management and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Land and Water Management from the University of Wisconsin. He has served on the staff of the University of Wisconsin and Massachusetts. He served as a consultant to the U.S. Water Resources Council and other federal agencies for many years. He was an Institute Fellow with the Environmental Law Institute from 1976-1978. He helped found the Association of State Wetland Managers in 1983 and served as its Executive Director from 1990 to 2001. He received EPA's National Wetland Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, the Gilbert White award in floodplain management in 1979, and the Society of Wetland Scientist’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He has authored many books and reports concerning wetlands, floodplains and such as Our National Wetland Heritage: A Protection Guide, Regulating Sensitive Lands, and Wetland Creation and Restoration: The Status of the Science (co-editor with Mary Kentula). He lives in an old farmhouse in Berne, New York with his wife Pat, two children (when they are home), many cats, and two lizards.

Peg Bostwick, Senior Staff Policy Analyst

Peg is Senior Staff Policy Analyst in our new Great Lakes office in Michigan. Peg will work on projects to build states’ capacity to protect and conserve wetlands. Peg recently retired from the State of Michigan – Department of Natural Resources and Environment, following over 30 years working with wetlands and other aquatic resources. Prior to her retirement, she was the Chief of the Wetland Lakes and Streams Unit in the Water Resources Division. Peg joined the (then) DNR in 1979 after completing a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife and additional graduate work in limnology at Michigan State University. As a limnologist in the Inland Lake Management Program, she participated in statewide lake water quality surveys, reviewed dredge and fill permit applications for projects impacting inland lakes, and worked extensively with the federal Clean Lakes Program.

Beginning in 1989, she became coordinator for Michigan’s state-assumed federal Section 404 wetland/dredge and fill permit program. She has served as a liaison with federal agencies regarding 404 issues, and provided technical assistance to department staff and to the public regarding state and federal wetland regulations. Peg has also been particularly interested in working with Michigan’s research institutions to encourage the development of improved wetland assessment methods.

Peg has been an active member of the Association of State Wetland Managers for many years, and has served as a board member and Chair of the Association. She is also a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists, the Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society, and the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. Peg lives with her family on a 40 acre farm near St. Johns, Michigan, where they raise Jacob sheep – an old heritage wool breed.

Leah Stetson, Writer/Editor

Leah Stetson is ASWM's resident human ecologist. She joined the Association as a writer-editor in fall 2006. Leah edits the monthly e-newsletter, Wetland Breaking News, writes feature articles for the membership newsletter, Wetland News, and develops content for ASWM’s website and blog. A published poet, writing teacher and conservationist, Leah holds both master’s and bachelor's degrees in human ecology from College of the Atlantic, with a strong background in ecology and conservation-related sciences, environmental law & policy.  She has over ten years of experience in natural resources planning and conservation, and 15+ years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, where she has worn several different hats—including a Smokey the Bear “Stetson” at Acadia National Park. Leah won a special achievement award for orchestrating an educational-outreach program with the National Park Service in 2003. Prior to that, she served as a Lands Protection Assistant at Maine Coast Heritage Trust, mapped streams and wetlands for a USGS watershed study and led a campaign for Friends of Acadia. She likes to hike, swim and dance when she’s not writing about salt marshes, bogs and fens. Leah is also a member of the adjunct faculty at Southern Maine Community College and a member of the Lakes Region Writers Guild. In recent years Leah has volunteered with vernal pool monitoring and local conservation groups. She lives in the lakes region of southern Maine with her rescue gundog, Sophie-Bea, and two funny cats. Find her wetland poetry and "Strange Wetlands" posts at www.aswm.org/wordpress

Steve Palmer, Project Bookkeeper

Steve has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maine. His early work experience was in sales and marketing. Steve's later business experience was in manufacturing supervision and management. Steve "re-tooled" and has become a specialist for bookkeeping and tax preparations. He has worked for ASWM for four years. A flexible schedule has allowed Steve to donate some of his time to charity nonprofits. Steve is quick to point out that a nonprofit must manage resources the same as a for-profit in order to reach mission goals. Steve participates professionally in skill builder courses. The latest training he attended was provided by the Maine Association of Nonprofits on the new Form 990 requirements. Steve and his wife, Dottie live on a five-acre woodlot, one mile from Sebago Lake. They enjoy living in Maine with their Springer Spaniel, Jennie.

Laura Burchill, Program Assistant

Laura is the office manager in the Windham office and has been with the association since 2004. She is responsible for maintaining the membership information; assists with the many tasks involved in preparing for conferences and workshops; handles publication orders; as well as general office duties. She has 25+ years experience in graphic design and also works part-time for Parent & Family, a local publication. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband David, two teenagers, Chris and Stefanie and dog, Jack.

Sharon Weaver, Webmaster

Sharon is the Publications Specialist and Webmaster for the Association in the Berne, New York office , where she has worked for the past 20+ years. Along with general office tasks, she works on the layout and design of Association publications, reports, and brochures. She helps coordinate ASWM workshops and symposia. She manages the ASWM website, which includes daily updates and prepares and designs new webpages. When she is not entertaining company, she enjoys some alone time with her husband, Ken, and grown children Karla and Pieter.  She adores her two dogs and cat, who complete the family nest.