Welcome New Staff and Board Members!
Rory Thibault, Land Protection Specialist
Growing up along the Lake Michigan Shoreline, Rory considers himself privileged to call these critical and rare ecosystems his proverbial backyard. This youthful engagement with nature nearby grew into a penchant for the design and provision of space. Rory holds a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. First gaining private-sector experience in St. Louis, he worked on multi-year, multi-agency framework plans for the city-whole and designed within historic public spaces. Most recently in the public sector, he served as the Community Development Director of his hometown, managing the review and coordination of all proposed development.
Jen Howell, Board Member
Dedicated to protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, Jen brings over two decades of hands-on experience in land stewardship and habitat preservation while serving as the Stewardship Manager of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (Hastings, MI) and the Preserve Manager of Calvin University’s Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens (Grand Rapids, MI). While restoring imperiled natural areas is her passion, Jen is currently focusing her energy on promoting social justice issues as the Office on Violence Against Women Grant Project Director for Calvin University. Jen is passionate about protecting natural areas from development and appreciates the hands-on land management work LCWM commits to actively care for the properties they steward.
Ben Oliver, Board Member
Ben’s career has centered on community transformation and social and economic impact, starting off in education as an English Language/Family Literacy Teacher, then as a Program Officer at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. He left these roles to get involved with two startups before landing more recently as Loan Operations Manager at Grow, a Community Development Financial Institution that elevates West Michigan’s systemically excluded entrepreneurs with funding and resources to grow their business. Ben first learned about LCWM through the acquisition of The Highlands, restoring 121 acres of a former golf club into a natural landscape right in the city. “To preserve land in an urban environment for the benefit of everyone to enjoy for generations is such a powerful action, especially for people who have difficulties accessing nature,” Ben said. Nature has always been a place of respite and healing for Ben, so he has naturally sought ways to “give back.”
Tim Stoepker, Board Member
After over 40 years working as an attorney, Tim retired on August 31, 2023. For the last half of his career, Tim worked as a Real Estate Development attorney at Dickinson Wright, PLLC in Detroit and Grand Rapids. His areas of practice included zoning and development, wetlands, and natural features. Throughout his career, he appeared before townships, villages, cities, and counties throughout Michigan and appeared in all courts including the United States Supreme Court. His projects included large utility scale renewable energy, industrial, residential, retail, commercial, child foster care, adult rehab centers, pre-release centers, medical buildings, offices, and conservation easements. Tim greatly appreciates the preservation of outdoor lands and understands the value to society. He hopes to remain a part of such preservation as fulfilled through LCWM.
Farewell to these board members!
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan staff would like to sincerely thank our departing board members for their years of service. Myron Erickson, Bill Lawrence, Tom Roe, and John Scholtz completed their terms this June. We are immensely grateful to each of them for the diverse ways they employed their depth of professional experience in support of keeping nature nearby, protected, and healthy for generations to come, and we thank them for their continued support and service. Gifts in their honor can be made at naturenearby.org/donate.