Conservation Director

Member of FMR staff since: May 1998

Duties: Coordinates the Land Conservation Program. Works with public and private landowners and partnering conservation organizations to protect, restore & enhance ecologically important natural areas. Grants manager.

Education: Doctorate in Public Administration, Hamline University; M.A. Public Administration, Hamline University; B.S. Outdoor Education, Northland College

Professional experience: Prior to joining FMR, Tom worked in the Office of Planning at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and at Carpenter Nature Center, where he served as Senior Naturalist and Volunteer Coordinator.

Family: Married, three children (and the entire family enjoys the outdoors, with preferences ranging from canoeing to camping and birding).

Quote: “The Mississippi River? Where’s that?”

FMR accomplishments most proud of:

• Assisting landowners achieve the protection goals that they had for their property.
• Helping to establish the Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area and the Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area.

Hobbies: Bird watching, cooking, canoeing, camping, good music

Favorite author: Jim Harrison

Favorite musicians: Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz

Favorite location on the river: The overlook at the Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area. It is spectacularly spectacular. River Oaks Park in Cottage Grove is no slouch either.

Favorite bakery: Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop

Last big vacation: Vancouver Island, British Columbia