Notice: Slate of director nominees
During the business meeting portion of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Annual Meeting, Saturday, January 6, 2024, members of the organization will be asked to elect directors to the open seats on the board. The slate of nominees, as recommended by the Governance Committee and approved by the Board, is as follows:
Incumbents seeking an additional 2-year term:
Hans Hilbert, Jim Moe, Gary Sater, Pam Shannon, Deb Weitzel, and Ken Wiesner
New Candidates:
Chris Kehler, M.D.
Chris has lived in Middleton since 2017, moving from the Twin Cities with his wife, Janice, to live closer to their son and daughter. Since moving to Middleton their family has grown to include three grandchildren – the center of their universe.
In his professional career Chris was an Associate Professor of Medicine (Anesthesiology) at the University of Manitoba and University of Minnesota, retiring in 2013 after 32 years of practice. The opportunity to teach in the operating room and classroom was the most enjoyable and rewarding part of his job. After retirement, he shifted gears to a passion that Chris kept on the back burner while working and raising a family – music. When Chris is not chasing his grand kids around, he’s usually going over musical charts and practicing with his jazz band, The Subterranean Jazz Project.
Janice and Chris feel very fortunate to live less than a mile from the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and they take full advantage of all that it has to offer. They became aware of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy shortly after moving to Middleton, and have participated in a variety of volunteer activities over the past six years including seed collection, invasive species removal, water sampling, brush burning, propagation garden maintenance, path repair and even monarch butterfly tagging with their three-year-old grandson! Jan and Chris understand the need for people to help implement all of the functions of the Friends and are looking forward to the opportunity to serve on the Board.
Janice Kehler
Janice has lived in Middleton since 2017 after retiring from 30 years working as a physiotherapist in Canada and the US. She has also worked in academic settings and has been involved in basic science, clinical research, and quality improvement initiatives.
In 2006, Janice completed a Master’s Degree in Journalism, which ignited a passion for combining scientific evidence with individual stories. She has co-authored scientific articles, edited professional newsletters, and published essays in various media outlets. Recently, she completed a memoir on the history of the Olympic Games by way of her personal journey as an Olympic hopeful. Besides writing, Janice loves hiking, biking, downhill skiing, Tai Chi, and bringing her three grandchildren to Pheasant Branch Conservancy to watch the “bubbling Sands.”
Volunteering with the Friends has been the best part of her retirement, and Janice is grateful to have an opportunity to participate in building a sustainable and wondrous future for the Conservancy.
Paul Ludden
Paul Ludden was born and raised in Nebraska and moved to Wisconsin for his graduate work, during which time he met his wife Linda, a native of Monroe, WI. In addition to his lab work while a graduate student, Paul participated in field work in a project that established the rates of biological nitrogen fixation in a number of WI lakes.
Following his graduate work, he held faculty positions at UW Madison, UC Berkeley and SMU in Dallas. While at UW, he served as director of the graduate program in Biochemistry and, for a time, as Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. While at Berkeley, he served as Dean of the College of Natural Resources, overseeing several departments including the department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management. Several field stations in CNR focused on forestry, rangeland and agriculture. As Provost at SMU, he oversaw all academic programs of the University.
Paul has served on the scientific and advisory boards of a number of biotech companies and chaired the panel for the GRE exam in his area. Paul’s wife Linda, a nurse, is active in volunteer work. Upon Paul’s retirement from SMU in 2020, they returned to Wisconsin. Paul walks in Pheasant Branch Conservancy every day possible and enjoys photographing this treasure. He completed Master Naturalist training in the Summer of 2023 and has been an active member of the Education Committee.
Liz Stanley
Liz Stanley is graduate of Middleton High School and the University of Wisconsin- Madison working in Health Care Information Systems at UW Health. In this role she is a change advocate acting as a liaison between clinical operational stakeholders and administrative leaders leading development of the electronic medical record.
Liz grew up off Enchanted Valley Road on a small family hobby farm. She comes from a family passionate about nature and has spent many years alongside her father learning about conservation converting their land back to native prairie. In addition, they have a small beekeeping hobby operation and are passionate about supporting pollinators.
Liz is new to the North Lake neighborhood and the joy of living on the Conservancy but has a longstanding love and respect for the Conservancy. She is actively engaged in many facets of the community and dedicated to making a positive impact. As caretaker of a sibling with special needs she is particularly passionate about advocacy and inclusion. She has been actively involved in MyTeam Triumph, an organization that pairs able bodied athletes with non-able-bodied athletes, and as the former chapter president was able to demonstrate leadership and skills in fostering unity and inclusion. In addition, she has been involved in supporting the fight against Type 1 diabetes locally supporting fundraising and educational awareness initiatives sitting on the JDRF Gala Board and actively participating in the JDRF Bike Ride to Cure Diabetes. Liz has extensive experience in fundraising, networking and development of nonprofit organizations. She has supported the work of the Dane County Rape & Crisis Board, Riding on Insulin, and local animal rescue organizations. In her spare time, you will most likely find her alongside her partner outside chasing their two foster “fail” pups or active young son.