Our Staff

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0b200b00dvldtc.jpg"> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Driftless Land Stewardship LLC</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>    </B></FONT><B> |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Driftless Land Stewardship LLC"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ecological Services"><U>Ecological Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest News"><U>Latest News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grant Programs"><U>Grant Programs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <B>Our Staff</B>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Employment"><U>Employment</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Service Area"><U>Service Area</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" background="043bec00esnpes.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Our Staff</div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="2dfc0900.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Jesse Bennett</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Co-Owner / Ecologist</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>email:   </B></I><A HREF="mailto:jesse@driftlesslandstewardship.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jesse@driftlesslandstewardship.co"><U><I><B>jesse@driftlesslandstewardship.com</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>cell phone:  (608)778-2832</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Raised in Bagley, WI, Jesse spent his formative years experiencing life through the lens of the Driftless Area. The study of philosophy and sociology helped elucidate his place in the universe, and Driftless Land Stewardship LLC  was soon founded as an attempt to keep the global life support system functioning. He enjoys the study of natural communities, social philosophy,  food, wine, and funky music. He and Jaye are reluctant business owners living in Bagley, WI with three pampered cats (and 57 pampered goats).</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="34875b00.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="176" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Jaye Maxfield</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Co-Owner / Ecologist / Rx Fire Director</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>email:   </B></I><A HREF="mailto:jaye@driftlesslandstewardship.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jaye@driftlesslandstewardship.com"><U><I><B>jaye@driftlesslandstewardship.com</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>cell phone: (608)778-6848</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Jaye claims she is too busy to write a bio. Between the stress of running the business and thinking about goats, this is probably true. She grew up in Beloit, studied botany and field biology at UW-Platteville, and is the one who really keeps DLS running.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="34e86b20.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Michael Reising</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Machinery Operator / Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>email:  </B></I><A HREF="mailto:miker@driftlesslandstewardship.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:miker@driftlesslandstewardship.co"><U><I><B>miker</B></I></U></A><A HREF="mailto:miker@driftlesslandstewardship.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:miker@driftlesslandstewardship.co"><U><I><B>@driftlesslandstewardship.com</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>cell phone: (608) 778-9163</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Mike farmed in the Wauzeka area for most of his life.  He lived and worked in Tennessee and northern Wisconsin, but was always drawn back to the southwestern part of the state, where he can access streams and rivers for fishing and canoeing and the scenic terrain for riding his Harley.  From his days on the farm, Mike enjoys operating machinery, but also likes working with the "great people and ideas" he has found at DLS.  He lives just outside of Wauzeka with his friend Edna and three children.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U><IMG SRC="34778a00.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Rachael Mensching</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Rachael received her BS in Environmental Science from the University of Dubuque in 2006.  Rachael worked as a Greenspace Intern for the Galena Territory before moving to a full-time position at DLS, where she is beginning her career in conservation and natural areas maintenance.  Originally from Chicago, Rachael now lives with her husband and 2 cats in Patch Grove.</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Todd Norwood</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician / GIS guru</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Todd was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI, where he developed his interest in the outdoors while riding BMX bikes on local trails.  In addition to bicycling, he is also an avid canoeist, birder, nordic skier, and musician--all of which he shares with his German Shepherd/Husky.  Todd received a BS in Physical Geography and Biology from Northern Michigan University, and has completed some graduate work.  Todd also works at Eagle Valley Nature Preserve as a biologist/restoration technician.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="35b82eb0.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="235" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Jennifer Osterhaus</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Administrative Assistant</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Jen is a SW Wisconsin Native. Graduated from University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2007, with a BA in Geography & Social Science with an emphasis in History. Jen now lives outside Fennimore, WI, with her fiance & cat </B></I><I>(</I><I>Bailey</I><I>)</I><I><B>. She was raised in the outdoors and learned to appreciate the beauty that the Driftless Area possesses. Jen's hobbies include sports (volleyball & softball), canoeing, camping, backpacking, cooking, wine, & traveling. </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="344779e0.jpg" border=0 width="119" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B><U>Lucas Straw</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>An Iowa native, Luke currently lives with his wife Sara in Cedar Rapids on the weekends and in Marquette during the week. He came to DLS via the Ecology and Systematic's program at UNI and various temporary positions in the natural areas management field. Luke's hobbies include travel (he is especially partial to the voyage from Marquette to Cedar Rapids), backpacking, canoeing, camping, and hiking. More than a hobby, Luke enjoys burning things.  </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U><IMG SRC="34678a00.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Ben Wicker</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Ben Wicker joins us having just completed a summer position with the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust. Ben is a recent UW Stevens Point graduate with areas of study in Resource Management & Land Use Planning. Ben enjoys biking, canoeing, and reading fiction. Originally from New Berlin, WI, he now resides in Bagley, WI.</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="35d79e00.jpg" border=0 width="121" height="224" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Ben Robel</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Ben is working on -</B></I><I><B><U>THE</U></B></I><I><B>- </B></I><I><B>perfect "Bio."</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="34c86b30.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Bruce Wheelock</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Another Wisconsin native, Bruce lives in Muscoda, WI with his wife and child. He enjoys air brushing, canoeing, soccer, frisby golf & hockey. Bruce has traveled most of the lower U.S. & loves the Driftless Area. He is very excited about the opportunity that he has with DLS.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Cody Friederick</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Ecological Technician</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>As a resident of SW Wisconsin, Cody enjoys spending his time bowling, fishing, and paintballing. </B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Festus, Silsby, and Chauncy</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Indoor Wildlife Management</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Festus, Silsby, and Chauncy have inherent wildlife management abilities with a specialization in small mammals.  They conduct vital round-the-clock vigilance (when not sleeping, eating, relaxing, or complaining) while also providing important seat-warming duties.  They also frequently walk back and forth on computer keyboards, contributing greatly to the DLS mission.  Their favorite part of working at DLS is "getting free food and doing basically nothing."</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>