Meet the Staff
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Kim Baker
Interim Manager Kim has life-long ties to Northern Michigan. Like many, he vacationed here throughout the years with his family, and moved here permanently ten years ago. His grandfather worked for the Boyne City railroad in the 1920’s, and his father attended a one-room schoolhouse in Boyne. Kim spent his career with non-profit organizations, most recently at Manna Food Project as its executive director. He served on the board of the Circle of Arts in Charlevoix and is currently a board member of the Lake Charlevoix Association. Kim lives in Horton Bay, has degrees in history and theology, is father to two twenty-year-old sons, and is an avid sailor and downhill skier. |
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Natalie Walts
Office Manager Natalie joined Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in August of 2019 after relocating from southeast Michigan. As Office Manager, Natalie is responsible for ensuring that the office and building are running smoothly, and will provide support to the Watershed Council’s outreach and education programs. Prior to joining the Watershed Council, she was a middle school science teacher for 11 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University and a Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. She grew up in Plymouth, MI and spent many summers at her family cottage on Munro Lake. Natalie loves most outdoor activities including skiing, backpacking, kayaking and hiking. |
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Jennifer McKay
Policy Director Jennifer McKay joined Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in May of 2005. As chief policy and governmental affairs director, Jennifer leads the development, execution, and evaluation of the organization’s policy work to improve water resources protection and serves to ensure that priority positions and local, state, and national advocacy outcomes are effectively achieved. She has been appointed to the Great Lakes Commission and the Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She previously served on the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board, being appointed by former Governor Rick Snyder. She also serves on many boards and committees dedicated to preserving and protecting the Great Lakes and the state’s waters, including the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Governance Board, the Land Information Access Association Board of Directors, the Emmet County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and is currently the Chair for the Michigan Environmental Council Board of Directors. Before joining the Watershed Council, she worked for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan and the State of Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. She graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science. |
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Lauren Dey
Watershed Programs Director Lauren joined the Watershed Council in May 2021 and is responsible for writing watershed management plans, running watershed advisory committees, and dealing with invasive species. She grew up in Harbor Springs and developed a deep appreciation of everything Northern Michigan has to offer. She attended Lake Superior State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology. Lauren spent the past six years working for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in the water quality program and is excited to be able to continue to protect Northern Michigan’s waters for future generations. Lauren enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her husband and their two boys. They can be found in the woods, or on the water, in any season. |
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Noah Jansen
Restoration Manager Noah will be promoting and designing greenbelts and rain gardens and providing support on managing invasive species at the Watershed Council, among other tasks. He is joining us with experience as a conservationist with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, as well as a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Calvin College and a master’s degree in forest ecology from the University of Florida. His fave thing about the Watershed Council? “I would say that’s probably the collaborative nature of the job,” reported Jansen. “We work with a lot of different organizations, which is important for conservation and watershed protection.” |
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Eli Baker
Education Manager Eli joined the Watershed Council in 2016 after serving as a volunteer through the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program. Eli's primarily responsible for working on the Watershed Academy project, the Michigan Shoreland Stewards project, and other educational and outreach opportunities within our service area. Eli went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. He then interned at the AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies where he taught natural history as well as Michigan history. He grew up in Grand Haven, Michigan where he spent his summers working on his family’s blueberry farm. He loves fishing of any kind, but fly fishing in Northern Michigan’s waters is his favorite pastime. |
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Kevin Christman
Finance Director Kevin joined the Watershed Council in April of 2020 after retiring from a career spent in the public accounting field. He works part time in his role overseeing the financial activities of the Watershed Council. He attended Michigan State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Kevin has been a resident of Petoskey since 1982 and he and his wife Cindy have two daughters. He enjoys spending his free time downhill skiing, walking, and hiking in the woods. |
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Anna McGlashen
Local Policy Manager Anna returned as Local Policy Manager after working as a policy and advocacy intern at the Watershed Council in the Summer of ’22. As Local Policy Manager, Anna is focused on issues that potentially impact water quality within the 4 county service area. She previously worked for New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Conservation, Michigan’s Program in Biology, and Michigan’s Department of Radiation Oncology. She graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in Environmental Science (B.S) and Environmental Policy (M.S). Anna loves reading a good book, hanging out with her cats, and visiting local farmers markets. |
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Marcella Domka
Water Resources Manager Marcella joined the Watershed Council in May of 2023 as the Water Resources Manager. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with her parents and two sisters. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from the University of Dayton, as well as her Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife with a specialization in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from Michigan State University. She worked as an intern studying nutrient pollution, microplastics, and North American wildlife during her undergraduate career. She developed a passion for the natural world from a young age, and has a strong interest in aquatic sciences, protection of freshwater resources, and wildlife conservation. In her free time, you can find Marcella at an aquarium, playing tennis, tending to her houseplant collection, or playing with her 1-year old cat, Comet. |
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Kory Alaniz
Operations Specialist Kory joined the Watershed Council in September 2022 after a summer internship with our Mobile Boat Washing Program. As operations specialist, he assists with a variety of tasks including field work, facilities and vehicle maintenance, office administration support, podcasting, videography, and website development. Prior to the Watershed Council, Kory grew up fishing and studying most of the rivers and streams in western and northern Michigan. He volunteered through Trout Unlimited for stream restoration and monitoring and has also worked as a fishing guide teaching others how to enjoy and value our pristine waters. Through this, he has created a passion for connecting the community with nature and helping people understand how to preserve it. |
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Emily Johnson
Water Resources Specialist Emily joined the Watershed Council in December 2022. She grew up in Flushing, Michigan but spent a lot of time in northern Michigan as a child, especially on Burt Lake. Emily graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Society and a concentration in Geosciences. Following graduation, she interned and worked at Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs and fell in love with the conservation world. She decided to move from protecting Michigan’s lands to water and work with the Watershed Council! In her free time, you can find Emily outside in all seasons hiking, rock hunting, and stargazing. |
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Anna Watson
Water Resources Specialist Anna joined Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in January of 2023. She grew up in southwest Michigan and a love for water has grown in her from a young age. Anna graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2022, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, emphasizing in water resources. While in college, she completed a water programs fellowship at the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. Anna quickly fell in love with their work and is excited to be a part of similar work in northern Michigan at the Watershed Council. In her free time, she loves exploring new natural areas, rock hunting, reading, traveling, and visiting friends and family. |
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Calla Beers
Water Resources and Communications Specialist Calla joined the Watershed Council in January 2023. Her work with both communications and water quality monitoring includes creating material for our outreach programs and website, as well as contributing to various habitat and water quality surveys. She grew up in New Buffalo, MI and earned bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and Art and Design from University of Michigan in 2020. In addition to working at the Watershed Council, Calla enjoys spending her time painting, hiking, reading, embroidering, and kayaking. |
