Growing up in rural Linn County, Kate spent her childhood exploring the woods and creek on her family's acreage. A Bachelor's degree in Biology from Luther College furthered her interest in ecological restoration and management. In 2019, she served as an AmeriCorps member with Bur Oak Land Trust while earning an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Prescott College. Kate is very grateful for the experience and training the Trust offered during her early career, so she is excited to serve on the organization's Board of Directors. Most recently, she gained small business experience while managing Heritage Land Stewards, another land stewardship business in Eastern Iowa. Her favorite part of the job is cultivating relationships with landowners while bringing more awareness to restoration efforts in Iowa. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband, dogs, and cat. 

An Iowa City native, Max enjoys being able to spend time outside and keep Iowa’s habitats clear of invasive species. He enjoys hiking and gardening with native flowers and vegetables in his free time. Max enjoys visiting his grandparents in Germany when he is traveling. Each spring, he grows native plants for the Iowa City Meadows Project, which he co-founded in 2022. His favorite native plant is bloodroot.