Board Members
The Environmental Defenders Board of Directors are elected at the Annual Meeting in March of each year, and serve for a two year term. The Board currently meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm. Members are welcome.
Latino Outreach Liaison to the Board – Officers and Members of Hispanic Connections Woodstock
Bev Dow
President
Bev Dow
Bev became a board member of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County in 2019, following her retirement from McHenry County College. Her offer to act as secretary to the Board was received enthusiastically, and she continues in that role. She also serves on the Education Action Team. Bev has a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from University of Illinois at Chicago, and she was a Biology instructor at MCC for 17 years.
She is a member/investor in the Food Shed, a member of MCC’s Education to Empowerment, and an alumnus of Leadership Greater McHenry County. She and her husband own a small farm near Harvard and strive to live sustainably. They raise much of their own food, including fruits, vegetables, chickens, and eggs. The eggs came first. Bev’s hobbies include cooking, writing, photography, and blogging.
Kim Hankins
1st Vice President
Kimberly O. Hankins
Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability 2021
Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, B.A., Environmental Policy
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, M.S., Environmental Science
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, WI – doctoral student, Educational Sustainability
Nontraditional education has always been a thread throughout Kim’s career as an environmental professional. Each step in Kim’s journey has provided her with critical skills to understand the power of educating for change. Kim has always believed that her role is to open the door to something new or misunderstood. She equips others with the information they need to lead change and implement sustainable principles in the workplace and the classroom.
Kim’s career began at the US Environmental Protection Agency where she learned to analyze regulation, interpret and develop presentations based on controversial new legislation, and create partnerships across the country with industry and the federal government. After a move to northeastern Pennsylvania, she was hired as the Executive Director of a watershed association. This job provided key nonprofit experience, which is something she uses continuously to this day. She then moved to Ontario, where she continued her nonprofit work in partnership with the city of Toronto. Creating environmental change in an international setting with a completely different governing structure was an invaluable experience.
Kim’s time in Illinois has been the most impactful on her career. She started at McHenry County College as an adjunct instructor where she helped students make the connections to their everyday choices through simple environmental science immersive experiences. In 2012, the college wrote a sustainability strategic plan, one of the first of its kind for a community college. The plan identified three areas of action: green campus, green community, and green curriculum. Kim was hired as the first Sustainability Director at McHenry County College in April of 2013 and was tasked with implementing this plan. It was clear that this was not only her dream job, but the culmination of her career choices to date.
Kim was born and raised near Philadelphia, PA but has lived it the Midwest for the last twenty years and calls it home. Kim enjoys being outdoors and kayaking, swimming, and hiking with her husband, two sons and her dog and frequent zoom call guest, Georgia.
Carl Edstrom
Treasurer
Carl Edstrom
Carl Edstrom has been a resident of Crystal Lake for more than 30 years.
For 36 years, Carl was a market research consultant and executive, helping client companies understand the motivations behind people’s behavior, and the barriers to doing things they say they want to (or should) do. He is an avid bicyclist, and is an advocate for bicycling, electric vehicles, and other sustainable forms of transportation. He and his family have had geothermal and solar power systems installed on their home, and he advocates for broad-based adoption of green energy.
In addition to his work with the Environmental Defenders, Carl devotes significant time volunteering for Cycling Without Age of McHenry County and the McHenry County Conservation District.
Ashley Lange
Ashley Lange
A recent resident of McHenry county, Ashley became a Defenders member after moving to Lake in the Hills in 2018 and has since spent much of her free time on various Defenders endeavorssuch as the Waste Reduction Team, Recycling Team, Outreach and Young Advocates Team,
and volunteering at the Green Read. Ashley has been a lifelong environmental advocate. After joining Earth Club for something todo after school in the 6th grade, the impact of the club stuck. Now working in the manufacturing industry for the last 15 years at asmall, family-owned business, Ashley has been able to make sustainable changes in an atmosphere that is not traditionally seen as environmentally friendly. She loves sharing knowledge with people around her to help them make small, simple changes that reduce their impact on the planet. Her advocacy doesn’t end with the environment. Other areas Ashley spends her time on include military veteran
welfare, food insecurity, animal welfare, and homelessness. She also serves on the executive board of the Battle Betties NFP. Her number one goal in life is to leave the world better than she found it.
Zachary Dolezal
Zachary Dolesal
Zak Dolezal has been the chef and owner of Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen since 2008. Duke’s specializes in gourmet comfort foods and artisan sandwiches utilizing local and sustainable ingredients. Dolezal has brought his passion for environmentalism not only to the cuisine but into all facets of the business by making Duke’s become a 3 Star Green Certified Restaurant since 2015.
In an extremely wasteful industry Zak has implemented many steps to eliminate waste within the building including using 90% LED lighting, reducing water usage, eliminating single use plastics, growing food for the restaurant in their own garden, recycling, composting, and more.
Chef Zak is also a husband and father to three young children, Sawyer, Ruby, and Wendell whom he takes with him on farm visits to show them where good and responsible food comes from.
Rico Rotta
Rico Rotta
Rico was born in Chicago and grew up there. He graduated with a BA in literature from Northeastern Illinois University, where he met Bill Howenstine in the late 60s and moved to McHenry County in 1970. He lived with the Howenstine family from 1970 -1985 and learned many things about life and the world we live in from Alice and Bill and their children.
He got involved with the Defenders from the very beginning and worked at the first paper, glass, and aluminum can recycling drives. He built bulkheads, doors, and 8 foot wooden rakes for moving the cans. Rico worked as a union carpenter, foreman, and superintendent for 39 years. And has been married for 47 years with two daughters and one grandson.
Ken Santowski
Ken Santowski
My passions are helping others and saving the environment in my own little way. I have been a Styrofoam diverter since the early 90s. I came to the Defenders about a dozen or so years ago and helped start up the Styrofoam collection/recycling program as well as the electronics recycling drives. Televisions are a lot like Styrofoam; they just weigh #200 more. Recovering workaholic due to my four grandchildren wanting more GK time (Grandpa Ken). Pay it forward, turn the other cheek and never pass anything along you would not want passed onto you are the philosophies I live by.
Kim Compton
Kim Compton
Kim has nearly always been an environmentalist. After stints in the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and a private summer camp in Minnesota in her early twenties, she moved to McHenry County to work for the Conservation District. She has been here ever since. She joined the Defenders, the Land Conservancy, and has been a Food Shed Co-op owner since 2014. It has been in the last five years that Kim has gotten more involved with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.
She joined the Education committee and then became the chair of the Outreach Action Team about 4 or 5 years ago. She is now very excited to be able to serve on the Board of Directors. Kim’s hobbies include paddling, traveling with her husband Joe, photography and cuddling with her cats.
Elly Salazar
Elly Salazar
Elly is so excited and honored to be a board member with the Defenders! She has always loved all things nature. Ever since she put on her first “reduce, reuse, recycle” puppet show at 6 years old she has been invested in protecting the things she loves. Elly has a degree in environmental science with an emphasis in biological conservation from Drake University. She uses that degree every day at her job as a nature educator and school programs coordinator at a nature center in Rockford. Elly is a lifelong resident of McHenry County and recognizes the value of the community – both the passionate people and the wondrous green spaces! In fact, one of her favorite hobbies is birding in many of the many natural areas around the county. Elly also loves hiking, her cats, and singing in the McHenry County College Community Choir.
Kathy Slover
Kathy Slover
Kathy has a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University’s School for Public Service. Her career has focused on direction and management of programs for at-risk older adults and community outreach to marginalized and unhoused individuals. She has presented at the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Aging and the American Society on Aging Conference.
Kathy has lived in McHenry County since 2008 and enjoys its unique character. She joined the Defenders shortly after moving here. She is an active donor and volunteer for several local organizations, including The Land Conservancy, WPPC, the Food Shed Co-op, the Cary -Grove Food Pantry and Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoption.
She values native gardening, conservation and recycling, and lives by motto, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” She also is on a mission to visit all the U.S. National Parks (49 of 63 thus far) and to complete a half marathon this year. Kathy lives in unincorporated Algonquin with her partner, Michael, and a variety of pampered pets.
Staff
Erin Kennedy
Executive Director
Erin Kennedy
My name is Erin Kennedy, and I am so excited to have joined the Defenders as the new Executive Director. I first learned about The Defenders in 2017 visiting the Pioneer Tree Farm to purchase my Christmas Tree, which has become an annual tradition for me. I recently became a member of the Waste Reduction Action Team. I moved to Algonquin in 2020 with my partner of 18 years, David and my dog, Adeline. Some of my earliest memories as a kid were spending Saturday mornings with my Dad dropping off our newspapers and scrap metal to be recycled before curbside recycling was available. From an early age I was taught our natural resources have value and we need to do our part to protect and preserve them for future generations. I grew up in DuPage County, and have fallen in love with the dynamic landscapes McHenry County has to offer. Some of my favorite things to do are explore Illinois’ natural areas and visit new places in McHenry County. I also enjoy cooking and am an avid gardener. I went to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and graduated with a double major in Environmental Studies & Comparative Religion with a minor in Philosophy. Michigan is my second home, and will always hold a special place in my heart.
I have thirteen years of experience in the environmental non–profit world facilitating environmental programs and presentations as well as coordinating community recycling, composting and reuse events. I’m also accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Green Associate since 2012. I am passionate about helping my community and assisting residents to become better environmental stewards. I love finding or developing new programs to divert more materials from going to landfills through reuse, composting and recycling opportunities. I believe people want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment, they often just get overwhelmed or are in need of the right information. That’s where the Defenders play such an important role in our community. I look forward to working with, and meeting you in the future. I very much appreciate the opportunity to be a part of an organization with a history and reputation like the Defenders.
Grace Turcich
Manager of Communication & Membership
Grace Turcich
My name is Grace Turcich and I am thrilled to be part of the Defenders as the Manager of Communication & Membership. I am an alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and I earned my Masters of Graphic Design at the Florence Institute of Design International in Florence, Italy. During my studies, I have focused on climate design, or the intersectionality of creativity and sustainability. I have years of experience working with companies and organizations that are aligned with conservation and positive climate impacts, and now I am part of the Defenders team! As an Illinois native, I am eager to be part of the McHenry County community and excited to be part of climate solutions at a local level.
Outside of work, I enjoy birdwatching, baking sweet treats, and traveling around the world. I can also be found working in my backyard native garden or creating art in my home studio. I am so happy to be welcomed into the Defenders community, and I am looking forward to getting to know each of our members.
Pam Johnson
Co-Manager, Green Read and Green Spot Book Stores
Pamela Johnson
I have been involved with the Environmental Defenders’ bookstores for over 11 years, originally sorting and shelving donated books for The Green Spot, and later helping organize and working at the Big Fall Book Sales. In the fall of 2018, I was asked to open and manage The Green Read, a position I was thrilled to accept. A background in space planning and experience working at the McHenry Public Library District came in handy in getting the new endeavor off the ground, along with the help of countless wonderful volunteers!
I have been striving to expand the hours, increase revenue, and streamline and dovetail the operations of both stores. I am also working with other Action Teams to utilize the store to increase awareness of the Defenders and environmental issues.
Although my main focus within the Defenders has always been on books, I have also been a member of the Fundraising Action Team for many years and have volunteered at other events such as the county fair, garage sales, annual members’ auction, and baking cookies for sales at Pioneer Farm. I look forward to many more years working and volunteering with the Defenders.