Bill Nelson
Chairman
Growing up walking under oak savannas, through pine forests, and on frozen ponds, Bill developed an appreciation for the natural world that followed him into adulthood. Bill and his partner moved to Monona when they took jobs with the State of Wisconsin as staff attorneys at different agencies. Bill worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for several years before joining the Environmental & Energy Team at Godfrey & Kahn in its Madison office in January 2022. Bill and his partner have three children and their connection to nature has led them to seek similar experiences for their children, including ALNC’s Wonder Bugs.

Jessica Schwantes
Treasurer
A lifelong Dane County resident, growing up, Jessica went on annual family vacations which usually included a stop at a National Park. On these trips, she developed an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. Jessica has been a Certified Public Accountant for many years and is currently the Managing Director of the Madison office of Vrakas CPAs & Advisors. Jessica’s previous board work, including with the Madison Public Library Foundation, has focused on helping people (mostly children) open doors to new experiences.

Jenna Soyer
Board Secretary
Jenna holds Master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and Urban Planning and has a wide breadth of experience in natural resources, grant writing, and policy development and implementation. Jenna has been with the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources for about 10 years, currently as the Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Workforce Development and Policy Coordinator. In this role, Jenna serves as the lead for the Division’s Relevancy Action Plan, focusing on enhancing conservation and recreation through broader engagement with those who live in, recreate in, and visit Wisconsin. Jenna’s interests lie in rekindling our connection to nature and living in balance with the natural world (as we are part of it).

Shannon Dean, MD & MMM
A Wisconsin native, Shannon was born and raised in Kenosha and moved to Madison as an undergraduate, staying to complete medical school and a residency in pediatrics. As a clinician, Shannon is a pediatric hospitalist, caring for the acutely ill in an inpatient setting. In addition to Board Certification in Pediatrics, Shannon is Board Certified in Clinical Informatics. She previously served as the Chief Medical Information Officer at UW Health and transitioned to the same role at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis in 2021. She is a mother of three children and has been married for over 20 years.

Tomissa Freisleben
Tomissa Freisleben is a Monona resident and mother of two who is passionate about ecological preservation, education for all, and giving back to the community via networks and connections. She became interested in Aldo Leopold’s work when she was recommended to read “A Sand County Almanac” after a visit to the shack in Baraboo. She notes her drive to join the ALNC Board is “being able to give back to a place where I have found home amongst its paths, a place named in honor of a fantastic steward of land, and a place that reminds me of my early career would be great.”

Erica Lancaster
Erica grew up in Madison, with the exception of six years in Colorado’s Indian Peaks, and has always been passionate about protecting the environment, living sustainably in communion with the earth, and inspiring the next generation to experience the wonder of the natural world. Erica’s undergraduate research on the Effects of Wilderness Excursion on Overall Sense of Well-Being led to a Master of Arts in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Wilderness Therapy. She is currently the Clinical Director of FLYY – a Madison therapy nonprofit – where she continues to integrate the natural world into mental health services.

Amber McReynolds
As a child “roaming free” in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Amber has fond memories of running and playing in the woods, finding animals such as turtles and frogs, and breathing fresh air – all life-changing experiences. Amber has both undergraduate and Law degrees from UW-Madison and has served as a Judicial Intern to Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahmason and as a staff attorney for the Dane County Circuit Court. Now working as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Madison, in her freetime Amber actively seeks out opportunities to get outside with her family and to connect with nature.

Barb Schlaefer
Barb has dedicated much of her career to providing expertise and guidance to local businesses seeking quality employee benefits. She was the Owner and President of JC Rose Associates which recently became a part of Ansay & Associates. She is a certified Health Rosetta Advisor and hosts her own podcast, Pathfinder.

Trish Stevenson
Trish is the granddaughter of Aldo Leopold, her mother being Nina Leopold Bradley. Trish and her partner live in Black Earth where she is a metalsmith, jewelery-maker, and business owner.

Tripp Widder
As a native of Wisconsin, Tripp spent much of his early life outdoors— camping, biking, hiking, skiing and bird watching and developed a deep appreciation for the Wisconsin landscape. Tripp, now retired, was a Partner and Attorney at Law at Mohs, Widder & Paradise. He gives his time to several area non-profits in addition to ALNC, including the Madison Public Library Foundation, and the Madison Community Foundation. Now, as the grandfather of five, he proudly claims his status as a “Wonder Bugs Graduate“.