WHO
WE ARE
The Sugar River in the Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
We have a very dedicated paid staff and outstanding volunteer board members. Learn a little more about these fantastic people and what inspires them to care for the Upper Sugar River Watershed.
Jasmine Wyant
Jasmine was born in the Midwest and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Wisconsin with focuses in surface mine reclamation and restoration ecology respectively. Jasmine has worked extensively in conservation and education while in positions as a natural resource contractor, with natural resource conservation nonprofits like the Prairie Enthusiasts and Goldensands RC&D Inc, and as an instructor of animal biology at UW-Madison.
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Jasmine enjoys gardening with her 2 cats, playing ultimate frisbee, and any activity that gets her out amongst the fellow residents of the land and water like hiking, kayaking, camping, and nature photography.
Heather Hasenstein
Heather grew up in southeastern WI on a small family farm and was always outdoors. She went to college at UW-Stevens Point where she earned her BFA in photography, and then went on to Madison College to earn her Associates Degree in graphic design.
She has been the graphic designer for Upper Sugar for many years, as well as an avid fan of anything outdoors. She has been a membership coordinator for non-profits for 5 years and is excited to be using that experience now at Upper Sugar to promote and protect one of her favorite environments.
Her pastimes are creating art, hiking, and riding her horse in the beautiful Upper Sugar River watershed.
Grace Martin
Grace is from central Wisconsin and grew up playing in bodies of water such as the Wisconsin River, Lake Du Bay, Buffalo Lake (near Minocqua), and Lake Michigan. Grace graduated from UW-Madison in 2022, and has worked as a political fellow at 350 Wisconsin, software tester at Epic Systems, and farmer of organic vegetables at Troy Farm. Grace is also in school at Madison College to get their paralegal certification with the goal of having a better ability to work with the law that governs our shared natural treasures. They hope to bring a diverse skill set to the USRWA team!
Grace enjoys indoor activities such as reading, painting, crocheting, and playing Dungeons and Dragons, and outdoor activities such as skating (both ‘roller’ and ‘ice’), birding, gardening, swimming, and foraging for plants and fungi.
Robert Bohanan
Board President
Robert is a biologist, limnologist, ecologist, and naturalist. Robert holds a BS in Science, Science Education and History and an MS in Biology from East Tennessee State University. Robert also holds a Ph.D. in Zoology with emphasis on Ecology and Evolution from UW Madison. Robert’s professional career has included research, teaching and outreach to teachers, students and communities throughout Wisconsin. For the past 13 years, much of Robert’s research and outreach has focused on urban limnology in the USRW, especially in Verona area stormwater retention and detention ponds, as well as in Badger Mill Creek.
Kelley Maynard
Board Vice President
Kelly's bio is in progress. Please check back soon.
Kate Beardmore
Board Treasurer
Originally from Green Bay, Kate moved to Southern Wisconsin in 2017 after receiving her Master in Public Health from St. George’s University. Kate currently works a Students Services Coordinator for the Master of Public Health Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing primarily on the admissions process, and advising graduate and professional students. It was through her public health education that Kate became interested in environmental preservation, and the influence an individual can have as well as the influence of organizations and policy. As a lover of the outdoors, Kate enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing and birding. Kate hopes to apply her experience in volunteer recruitment and coordination to help the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association as well as learn more about grant writing.
Olivia Bernauer
Board Secretary
Olivia is a pollination biologist working at UW Madison. She grew up in Middleton and obtained her B.S. in Biology at UW Madison followed by a M.S. in Entomology from the University of Maryland, College Park where she worked with citizen scientists to study the floral preferences of bees and butterflies. Olivia then obtained her Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Western Sydney in Australia where her work focused on apple pollination and native pollinator biology. In September 2021 Olivia returned to Wisconsin to start her position at UW. When Olivia is not working, she loves to spend her time outside hiking, biking, fishing, and camping, and is particularly interested in learning more about the native plants and wildlife around her.
Scott Cramer
Board Member
Scott, his wife Joan and their two sons live in Verona and frequently paddle the Sugar River; he grew up in Grafton, Wisconsin and has lived in the Madison area since 2000. Scott graduated from Western Michigan University in 1991 and has worked in the environmental consulting field since graduation. Currently he is Vice President – Senior Environmental Manager at KL Engineering, Inc. in Madison. Scott and his family are ardent outdoor enthusiasts, enjoying the paddling, hiking, cycling, skiing and many other outdoor opportunities the area offers. He has volunteered for numerous environmental organizations and causes and also is a volunteer and coach in the Verona Area School District.
Jeff Kraemer
Board Member
Jeff's bio is in progress. Please check back soon.
David Laufenberg
Board Member
Dave grew up alongside the headwaters of the Sugar River near Pine Bluff, Wisconsin and attended university at UW - Madison. Following graduation, he headed west and began a decade-long affair with the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Dave guided students of all ages and backgrounds in the Park, studied the restoration of a high country pine tree, and completed graduate school at Montana State University in Bozeman. In late 2022 he returned home to be closer to family and work on the restoration of their farm lands. Dave began work as a Restoration Ecologist for Adaptive Restoration in November 2023.
William Roznik
Board Member
Bill's bio is in progress. Please check back soon.
Mindy Schreiner
Board Member
Mindy was born and raised in Monticello, Wisconsin and received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Edgewood College in Madison and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mindy currently works as a Students Services Coordinator for the Master of Public Health Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing primarily on recruiting and advising graduate and professional students. It was her passion for learning that developed her interest in environmental protection, the impact we have on our resources, and how these things affect our health and wellness. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and all it has to offer (after years of taking it for granted) with her two young daughters and seeing their fascination in these everyday wonders. Mindy is a self-proclaimed foodie that loves cooking, yoga, traveling, and music. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband Jesse, and their daughters Camdyn and Vada.