Staff

Len Price, Executive Director
Len provides overall leadership and strategic direction, and conducts outreach to potential project partners, stakeholders and the public. He is a former high school social science teacher (34 years) and state legislator (20 years), and served on the board of the Minnesota Conservation Corps (now Conservation Corps Minnesota) during its transition from a state agency to nonprofit. Len joined the organization as executive director in 2005. He currently serves on the boards of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Corps Network, a national association of service and conservation corps.

Cindy Green, Development Director

Cindy directs communications and fundraising activities since joining the Conservation Corps in 2007. She has more than 25 years experience in communications and fundraising, including past positions as a community newspaper publisher, public television development director and producer, writer/researcher for state legislators, and ag research center communications director and grant program manager. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications/journalism and American studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Roni McKenna, Finance Manager

Roni is responsible for preparing and managing the organizational budget, and preparing monthly financial statements for the board of directors and end-of-the year financial reports for government agencies, funders and stakeholders. She has been with the Conservation Corps since 2006 and, previously served as an Ecolab accounting assistant and Opal Home Services supervisor for adults with disabilities. Roni received a bachelor’s degree in business management and communications from Concordia University in St. Paul and an associate’s degree in accounting and business management from Rasmussen Business College.

Charissa Brudnak, Human Resources Coordinator

As the Conservation Corps’ part-time Human Resources generalist since 2008, Charissa manages employee policies, pay and benefits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and master’s degrees in human resources and industrial relations and Russian area studies from the University of Minnesota. She also volunteers at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center’s mammal nursery.

Yee Moua, Finance and Administrative Coordinator

Yee assists with payroll, accounting, board of directors’ communications and other administrative duties. Previously, he held positions at Wells Fargo as a document manager and at UV Color Inc. as a data management technician. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and business administration from Concordia University in St. Paul.

Emily Groshens, Development and Communications Associate

Emily assists with fundraising, managing the Conservation Corps web site, and designing public, media and alumni communications. She previously served as web editor for DataCard Group and as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Metropolitan State University where she coordinated the “English as a second language” volunteer tutor program. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Creighton University.  After graduation, she taught English in rural China for a year. 

James Adkinson, Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator 

James leads outreach and recruitment efforts for AmeriCorps members in all Conservation Corps programs. James previously served as a Minnesota Conservation Corps AmeriCorps VISTA and has held other AmeriCorps outreach and volunteer management positions at Northwest Service Academy in Portland, AmeriCorps Cape Cod and Harwich Conservation Trust in Massachusetts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Millikin University.

Eric Antonson, Youth Programs Manager

Eric manages staff and service projects for the residential Summer Youth Program and directed the launch of Youth Outdoors, an urban afterschool program for high school students. Eric has been involved in corps service for almost a decade, starting out as a Minnesota Conservation Corps crew leader then coordinator for the Summer Youth Program. Eric was also a team leader with the National Civilian Conservation Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in teaching life science from the University of Minnesota Duluth

John Stelzner, Youth Outdoors Coordinator

John manages Youth Outdoors crew leaders, youth participants, service projects and education. He has served with the Upward Bound program, Bell Museum of Natural History and Dodge Nature Center. John also completed two AmeriCorps terms with the Minnesota Conservation Corps in 2007 and 2008. He holds a bachelor’s in environmental studies with an emphasis on environmental education from the University of Minnesota.

Nina Eagin, Summer Youth Program Coordinator

Nina recently joined Conservation Corps Minnesota to oversee the Summer Youth Program. She is responsible for recruiting youth and staff, coordinating service projects and managing the program on site at St. Croix State Park. Nina previously served two terms in Conservation Corps Minnesota as a Summer Youth Program and Youth Outdoors crew leader. She is a former science and American Sign Language teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in education and American Sign Language professional interpreting from North Central University in Minneapolis

Tim Johnson-Grass, Operations Manager

Tim has overseen all AmeriCorps young adult programs and staff since 2005. A former Conservation Corps Minnesota crew member, Tim has been involved in conservation corps operations and management for more than 10 years, including five years with EarthCorps in Seattle. He holds a bachelor’s degree in conservation and outdoor recreation from Northern Michigan University. After graduation, he spent six months thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Lisa Cassioppi, Northeast District Manager - Grand Rapids, Minn.

Lisa directs AmeriCorps members’ training and service projects for crews in Grand Rapids, Eveleth, Tofte, Duluth and Moose Lake. She started serving in the Minnesota Conservation Corps when it was a program of the DNR, first as a crew leader then a forestry project coordinator. Lisa earned an associate of applied sciences degree in natural resources from Vermilion Community College and a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education from Northland College.

Shawn Conrad, Northeast District Assistant Manager - Grand Rapids

Shawn assists with planning northeast Minnesota service project such as wildlife surveys, forest inventories, wildfire suppression and habitat restoration. He joined the Conservation Corps in 2000, first as a crew leader then field assistant.  Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources.

Anna Lipenga, Northwest District Manager - Brainerd, Minn.

Anna directs AmeriCorps members’ training and service projects for crews in Brainerd, Bemidji, Fergus Falls and Park Rapids. Before joining Conservation Corps Minnesota in 2006, Anna served in the Montana Conservation Corps as a crew leader, in the Student Conservation Association as a LANDFIRE project leader, and in the Peace Corps in Malawi as a forestry extension agent. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Minnesota Morris.

Lauren Vilen, Northwest District Assistant Manager - Bemidji, Minn.

Lauren coordinates service projects and training for field crews in northwest Minnesota such as habitat restoration, wildfire suppression, and energy projects including installations of solar heat systems in low-income homes. She joined the Conservation Corps in 2006 as an AmeriCorps member and has served as a crew leader and field assistant. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in studio arts from Hamline University.  

Brian Miller, Central District Manager - St. Paul, Minn.

Brian, based in St. Paul, directs AmeriCorps members’ training and service projects for crews in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding area.  Brian joined the Conservation Corps as a crew member in 2001 and subsequently served as a crew leader, project coordinator, summer youth program staff and assistant district manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Olaf College.

Katie Brettingen, Central District Assistant Manager - St. Paul

Katie manages AmeriCorps members in the Home Energy Squad and coordinates service projects for field crews in the metro area. She joined the Conservation Corps in 2003 as an AmeriCorps member and has served as a crew leader and project coordinator. Previously, she worked for the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the Dodge Nature Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Hamline University.

Doug Ekstrom, Southern District Manager - Mankato, Minn.

Doug is based in Mankato, Minn. and directs AmeriCorps members’ training and service projects for crews in Rochester, Mankato, Windom and Marshall. Doug served in the Conservation Corps from 1990 to 1995, as an AmeriCorps member and crew leader. He worked for the Minnesota DNR and Ducks Unlimited before returning to the Corps in 2006. Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in resource management from Minnesota State University Mankato.

Dustin Looman, Southern District Assistant Manager - Rochester, Minn.

Dustin coordinates service projects in southern and west central Minnesota such as prairie and oak savanna restoration, wildlife surveys and improving recreation accesses. He is a certified Burn Boss and has years of experience conducting prescribed burns to restore native habitat. Dustin joined the Minnesota Conservation Corps in 2003 as an AmeriCorps member, then served as a crew leader. He holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation and tourism from Winona State University.