Ellen Kwiatkowski is a woman that wears many hats. She and her husband co-own a farm with a conservation easement; she is currently the Executive Director of the Bayfield Regional Conservancy and a board member at Gathering Waters. These different roles give her a unique perspective to bring to each organization/business.
In 2009, Ellen was hired as the Executive Director for the Bayfield Regional Conservancy. Ellen came to the land trust with a wealth of experience. Previously, she had worked in Panama as well as Delaware for the Nature Conservancy. After Ellen began at BRC, she completed numerous changes that helped to accredit the land trust as well as make it a more efficient, effective organization.
Her excellent ability to write grants and her dedication have both helped turn many conservation ideas into realities. Just to name a few of her many accomplishments: she has helped preserve land at Houghton Falls, the Marengo River and White River, Lake Superior Forest, Callahan Lake and the Frog Bay National Tribal Park. Ellen worked closely with the Red Cliff Tribe to protect this area of historical importance to the tribe. This is the nation’s very first public Tribal National Park.
“…protecting this much property does not just happen. It takes countless hours of building relationships with partners, educating the public, researching and writing grants, fundraising, and most importantly, having that initial vision of what could be. Ellen has done all these things and more.” –Shari Eggleson, Executive Director – Bayfield Regional Conservancy and Karin Kozie, BRC supporter
