
Matt Watkeys | District Manager
Matt Watkeys started his new position as the new Alger Conservation District Manager on October 1st 2021. Matt has been the Alger and Marquette Conservation District Forester for nearly ten years, and many of you have already worked with him for technical assistance on tree health, timber management, and all things forest. He is a Michigan certified commercial pesticide applicator.
matt.watkeys@macd.org
Matt Watkeys started his new position as the new Alger Conservation District Manager on October 1st 2021. Matt has been the Alger and Marquette Conservation District Forester for nearly ten years, and many of you have already worked with him for technical assistance on tree health, timber management, and all things forest. He is a Michigan certified commercial pesticide applicator.
matt.watkeys@macd.org

Christy Foye | Conservation Program Coordinator
Christy assists in day-to-day office operations including database management, outreach and organizing local events. She also organizes field work and supervises seasonal field crews in invasive species management and other conservation projects. She has a B.S. in Biology/Ecology concentration from Northern Michigan University and a background in invasive plant management. She is a Michigan certified pesticide applicator.
christy.foye@macd.org
Christy assists in day-to-day office operations including database management, outreach and organizing local events. She also organizes field work and supervises seasonal field crews in invasive species management and other conservation projects. She has a B.S. in Biology/Ecology concentration from Northern Michigan University and a background in invasive plant management. She is a Michigan certified pesticide applicator.
christy.foye@macd.org

Alex Kolton | AmeriCorps VISTA Member
Serving as the new AmeriCorps VISTA member alongside the Alger County Conservation District, Alex brings 20 years of business administration to the district. Over the next year, he will be assisting Matt and Christy with on-site projects, grant applications, and outreach right here in our community.
alex.kolton@macd.org

Misa Cady | NRCS District Conservationist
Misa helps Alger and Marquette County landowners develop conservation plans, and she provides advice on the all phases of the Farm Bill’s recommended, voluntary conservation practices. As the District Conservationist she works with landowners through conservation planning and technical assistance designed to benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals that result in productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
misa.cady@usda.gov
Misa helps Alger and Marquette County landowners develop conservation plans, and she provides advice on the all phases of the Farm Bill’s recommended, voluntary conservation practices. As the District Conservationist she works with landowners through conservation planning and technical assistance designed to benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals that result in productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
misa.cady@usda.gov

Sara Kelso | District Forester
Born and raised in the UP, Sara grew up enjoying everything Michigan’s forests have to offer. She channeled that love of the woods through forestry degrees from both Michigan Tech and the University of Minnesota. Sara is excited to be serving the landowners of Alger and Marquette counties! Through the Forestry Assistance Program, she is offers free site visits to providing assistance and referrals to programs that include wildlife habitat, timber production, tree planting, and forest health. Contact Sara today!
sara.kelso@macd.org
(906) 251-3071
Born and raised in the UP, Sara grew up enjoying everything Michigan’s forests have to offer. She channeled that love of the woods through forestry degrees from both Michigan Tech and the University of Minnesota. Sara is excited to be serving the landowners of Alger and Marquette counties! Through the Forestry Assistance Program, she is offers free site visits to providing assistance and referrals to programs that include wildlife habitat, timber production, tree planting, and forest health. Contact Sara today!
sara.kelso@macd.org
(906) 251-3071

Amy Frye | NRCS Soil Conservationist
Amy joined the Marquette NRCS team as a Soil Conservationist in June of 2020. She has been involved with NRCS since 2018, having previously spent two consecutive summers as an intern in her home state of Wisconsin.
906-251-3069
amy.frye@usda.gov
Amy joined the Marquette NRCS team as a Soil Conservationist in June of 2020. She has been involved with NRCS since 2018, having previously spent two consecutive summers as an intern in her home state of Wisconsin.
906-251-3069
amy.frye@usda.gov

Landen Tetil | Produce Safety Technician
Landen is available for all UP produce growers for increasing on-farm produce safety. Education and technical assistance delivered through the Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment, On-Farm Readiness Reviews, Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings, and produce safety plan writing assistance. Landen works with produce growers to implement safe produce practices and coordinate local, state and federal agency resources to help reduce identified produce safety risks, and make progress toward compliance with state and federal regulations.
landen.mqtcondist@gmail.com
Landen is available for all UP produce growers for increasing on-farm produce safety. Education and technical assistance delivered through the Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment, On-Farm Readiness Reviews, Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings, and produce safety plan writing assistance. Landen works with produce growers to implement safe produce practices and coordinate local, state and federal agency resources to help reduce identified produce safety risks, and make progress toward compliance with state and federal regulations.
landen.mqtcondist@gmail.com
Elise Desjarlais | Lake to Lake CISMA Coordinator
Elise serves as coordinator of the Lake-to- Lake Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (L2L CISMA), a multi-agency and multi-community group working to provide protection of native habitats by reducing the threat of non-native and invasive plant species. Her main duties include writing grant applications, grant reporting, maintaining L2L CISMA internal documents, coordinating the steering committee, and organizing the field work. The L2L CISMA service area includes Alger, Marquette, Delta and Schoolcraft counties, and her program is available to any organization or individual within that area. l2lcisma@gmail.com (906)251-3068 |
Alger Conservation District Board of Directors:
John Highlen - Chairman of the Board
Rowan Bunce - Vice-Chairman of the Board
James DeDecker - Secretary
Hilary Ludecke - Treasurer
Hans Ericksen - Director at Large
Barb Isom - Associate Board Member
Charlie Todd - Associate Board Member