board & Staff
Meet Our Board Members
Michael Stelzer, Chair
At-large, 2nd Term Expires December 2024
Michael’s background in business and branding began with ownership of a Design firm focusing on identity development
and package design for companies like 7-Up, Monsanto, Holiday Inn and Bass Pro Shops. After the sale of the firm, he became Creative Director for an Ad Agency where he worked with clients such as Tyson, Sara Lee, Simplot and other national brands. From here, he co-founded Marlin, an Ad Agency focused on food and beverage. This employee-owned company grew into 5 offices, 180 people and a client roster that included global brands such as Starbucks, Unilever, Heinz, Nestle and Frito-Lay.
A love of nature and the outdoors drew him to, and keeps him in, the Ozarks. Currently, Michael is in post-retirement as a full time Blacksmith/Sculptor working out of his dirt floor forge on his farm close to the Upper James River.
Aaron Robison, Vice Chair
At-Large, 1st Term Expires December 2023
Aaron was born and raised in Springfield and spent much of his time in the summers canoeing, fishing and relaxing in the rivers that we are blessed with in Missouri. When time came to choose a path in college, the idea of playing with water for a living seemed amazing, and what better place to learn a trade than Rolla MO just minutes from some of the best floating rivers in the state. Aaron received a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on environmental engineering and hydraulics.
A job in Kansas City allowed him to develop a unique skill set of designing water and wastewater treatment facilities around the country. While working in Kansas City he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Missouri Kansas City. Being in Kansas City also chanced a meeting with a beautiful young lady with ties to Springfield, she would later become his wife and mother of their 3 children. The Robison family came back to SMWO in 2016 and ended up settling down in a house on the James River.
Mr. Robison has devoted his career to helping to provide safe drinking water to communities across the US, through design and delivery of water treatment facilities. His profession also allows him to help protect our environment and drinking water sources through work on wastewater collection and treatment systems. He can’t wait to use career learned skills and homemade passion to help our environment and serve his hometown community.Vice
Bobbilynne Koepke, Secretary
City Appointee, 1st Term Expires 2022
Bobbilynne is a Principal Geologist with Environmental Works, where she has proudly worked for the past 10 years. A Lake of the Ozarks native, Bobbilynne grew up camping, hiking and fishing with her family. She graduated from Missouri State University (then SMSU) in 2003 with a focus on environmental journalism, working for KOLR-10 after graduation. Eventually she migrated south, getting her master’s degree in New Orleans while researching human impacts on erosion and deposition in the Mississippi River Delta. While in school, Bobbilynne began working for an environmental consulting firm, primarily in wetland permitting and restoration. Her favorite project was utilizing satellite infrared imagery to complete a land loss assessment for St. Bernard Parish after hurricanes Katrina & Rita.
Eventually Bobbilynne moved back to the Springfield area where she joined Environmental Works. Her projects focus on investigation, risk assessment, and cleanup of commercial properties, ranging from current gas stations to former landfills, with a goal of protecting groundwater for drinking and recreational uses. She also recently served as an Adjunct Instructor for a summer field geology camp at MSU. When not working, Bobbilynne spends as much time in the outdoors as possible, hiking and floating with her husband and son.
Michael Finch
CU Representative, 1st Term Expires December 2023
Michael Finch is retired from City Utilities of Springfield, MO after 34 years, the last ten years as their Chief Financial Officer. Over his career, Mike served in several roles including Financial Analyst, Director of IT Application Support, and Director of Financial Reporting and Forecasting. Over roughly two-thirds of his career, Mike was directly involved in the development of City Utilities’ Annual Operating Budget and five-year Operating Plan. City Utilities is a municipal utility, with annual revenues of roughly $500 million, that provides electric, natural gas, water, broadband/fiber, and transit services to Springfield and surrounding area.
Mike holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Drury College (now Drury University) in Springfield, MO. Undergraduate degrees include a BA in Accounting and Business Administration, with an emphasis in Economics, from Drury. In 2007, Mike was a member of Leadership Missouri and in 2011 he was a member of Leadership Springfield.
Jason Hainline
Greene County Appointee, 2nd term expires December 2022
Jason Hainline is a design associate with Dake Wells Architecture, a design-centered practice with an emphasis on progressive and sustainable design solutions. While attending Drury University, Jason began his career in the Design Development Department of Bass Pro Shops. Upon graduation, he remained on staff with dual roles: store designer and sustainable design coordinator, establishing a path towards sustainable development for the retail giant. Following, Jason moved to Boulder, Colorado and joined a nationally recognized environmentally sustainable architecture consulting firm, ENSAR Group, led by the late Greg Franta, FAIA, co-founder of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment. With a move back home to the Ozarks, Jason joined EMSI, an international green building consulting practice that established green building consulting in China. Jason’s experience in sustainable design includes site and landscape planning, energy efficient architectural design and analysis, daylighting, material selection, and LEED™ coordination. He has been active in a wide range of projects in the US and abroad that include facilities for each branch of the military, the National Park Service, private retail developments, low and high-rise offices, laboratories, educational buildings, restaurants, and private residences. Jason has worked in numerous countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Dubai, Poland, Czech Republic, India, Vietnam, as well as throughout China. Jason has coordinated and facilitated numerous sustainable design workshops for both public organizations and private companies. Formerly, he was a member of the LEED Faculty, a group of industry professionals hired by the USGBC to teach the various LEED workshops. He has spoken on the importance of low energy design and sustainability in the built environment at dozens of conferences, throughout the US and abroad.
Jason is very active in promoting sustainable design and development through professional organizations and education. Currently he is serving as a board member of the Springfield Component of the American Institute of Architects. In the fall of 2013, Jason was selected into the 2013 Class of LEED Fellows for his contributions to the green building movement.
Angela Blevins
At-Large, 2nd Term Expires December 2024
Angela Blevins grew up alongside the James River in rural Southwest Missouri. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood she floated the James River and many other local rivers with her family. She and her husband, Tom, have traveled all over the world. Through their travels she has fallen in love with the ocean and has grown to appreciate protecting all waterways big and small, salt and freshwater.
Growing up Angela shared her parents’ passion for building and joined her family’s construction company. After her parents’ retirement, Angela and her brother formed their own construction company and today she is co-owner of BP Builders. Throughout her 20 years in the construction industry she has held the belief that it’s possible for building and growth to go hand in hand with sustaining our natural resources. Expansion doesn’t have to mean destroying the natural environment.
Angela is a past president of the Junior League of Springfield. She has served on the Isabel’s House board, has been chair of the Better U Committee for the American Heart Association and is currently a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks.
In her spare time, Angela and Tom enjoy kayaking, hiking and learning all they can about other cultures. Angela is a self-proclaimed geo-nerd and loves learning everything she can about geology.
Meet the Watershed Staff
Mike Kromrey
Executive Director
Mike grew up in Ozarks and for most of his life has spent as much time on the water as possible—especially Ozark streams. His lifelong passion for nature developed into a vocation at the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks (WCO), which at its core, involves teaching people of all ages about nature and fostering stewardship of the earth and, ultimately, each other.
Mike joined the WCO as a staff member in May 2006 and has served as the Executive Director since 2012. He previously worked with the James River Basin Partnership, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Missouri State University (MSU) while earning his degree. At MSU, Mike earned a comprehensive biology degree with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and systematics, and a Master of Science in biology, focusing on aquatic ecosystems. Mike currently serves on a variety of local and state committees related to water and sustainability. He is passionate about the mission of the WCO and leaving a positive mark on our community.
Mike and his family live in the Rountree neighborhood and are proud Springfield residents. They enjoy time on the water, traveling, and working to make the community better.
Stacey Armstrong Smith
Projects Manager
Stacey joined the Watershed Committee staff in March 2007. Stacey earned her degrees from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Geography with minors in Cartographic Sciences and Community & Regional Planning and a Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences with an emphasis in Physical Geography. She is a graduate of Leadership Springfield Class 31 and was awarded a Group Study Exchange International Travel Grant to India by Rotary Foundation District 6080 in 2015. Stacey has served on the Springfield/Greene County Stormwater Management Task Force and Willard Source Water Protection Committee. During her career, Stacey has managed over 2 million dollars in grant funding to complete projects in the areas of wastewater, stormwater, source water protection, watershed planning, water quality monitoring and stream restoration. Stacey enjoys working with community partners to protect local drinking water supplies and connecting people to water information and resources.
Kelly Guenther
Director of Business Operations
Kelly joined the Watershed Committee in October of 2006. As Director of Business Operations, Kelly oversees various aspects of the business including financials and financial reports, payroll and taxes, HR, social media and email communication, organizing events, website work, and donor management. Kelly graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drury University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. She completed Drury University’s Certificate in Social Media, and Master’s level courses in Communication Ethics and Strategic Issues Management. She received a Certificate of Achievement for completing MSU’s GO LEAD ‘Nonprofit Leadership in the 21st Century’ workshop and completed MSU’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management. Kelly is currently enrolled at OTC to complete an Associates in Accounting and Business degree. Kelly is a southwest Missouri native who loves the outdoors and the Ozarks. She and her husband live in Springfield and have one son, two grandchildren and two cats.
Jeff Birchler
Watershed Center Director
Jeff joined the Watershed Committee in May of 2016. Jeff graduated from Missouri State University with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. He obtained his Masters from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in Educational Technology. As a public school teacher, Jeff strived to give students innovative firsthand experiences to foster a love of learning and a sense of environmental stewardship. He and his wife, Angela, are longtime residents of the Ozarks who enjoy their time outdoors pursuing a variety of interests.
Rodney Edwards
Senior Restoration Ecologist
Rodney grew up in central Missouri and discovered his love of the outdoors at an early age. While earning a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from Missouri State University he developed a deep affection for the clear running streams and the vegetative diversity of the “hills n’ hollers” of the Missouri Ozarks. Rodneys career path has allowed him to develop an interdisciplinary approach of gaining experience while working in both the public and private sectors of resource management. He has worked for the National Park Service within Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, served as lead technician on an invasive plant management team, worked as an ISA Certified Arborist for a utility contractor, performed as burn boss leading a team for conducting controlled burns, been on western fires as a wildland firefighter, implemented various strategies for native vegetation and wildlife management in rangeland settings for private properties, and acquired various construction skills while filling in the gaps as a carpenter.
As a member of the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks team, Rodney looks forward to expanding his profound desire of preservation, protection, and restoration of natural communities, providing a service for both public use opportunities and private landowners as well as advancing the critical message of habitat conservation and restoration. Rodney has called the Springfield area his home for nearly 20 years. With his free time, Rodney enjoys trying to fool a fish on one of the many waters of the Ozarks and pursuing quality bird habitat on public land with his trusty sidekick Tig.
Grant Denbow
WCC Local Projects Leader
Grant grew up in the Ozarks, spending much of his time outdoors, which spurred his passion for nature. This led him to attend Missouri State University, where he graduated in 2021 with a double major in Wildlife Conservation & Management/Natural Resources with an emphasis in Forestry. Grant joined the Watershed Conservation Corps after graduating and serves as the Local Field Lead. He enjoys the experience of being able to steward the many native habitat types we are host to.
He has always had a passion for the outdoors and he spends his free time roaming the Ozarks on adventures with his wife and their two dogs, hiking, fishing, or just hanging out in the backyard.
Matt Taylor
Fellows Lake Operations Director
Matt was born and raised in Springfield, MO, from an early age was fascinated with nature and the Ozarks amazing waterways. His parents encouraged his interest in the outdoors and took him to Fellows Lake from an early age. He learned to sail on Fellows around the age of 12 and has been a water lover since. He studied Mechanical engineering at University of Missouri at Rolla (Missouri S&T). After college he developed a business career in southern Louisiana working in the specialty coating and corrosion industries. He worked with many companies throughout the Gulf Coast region finding environmentally sustainable solutions for corrosion control and coatings. Matt never lost his passion for the myriad of outdoor activities our region has to offer. He returned to Missouri in 2016 and joined the Watershed Committee in 2021 to further the Watershed Committee’s mission as the Director of Operations for the Fellows Lake project. He has become a US Sailing certified instructor and continues to grow his skills in sailing and paddling. Matt is excited to share the joy of paddling, pedaling, and sailing through the programs he and his team are developing at the lake.
Christy Wilder
Watershed Natives Program Manger
Christy joined the Watershed Committee in January of 2021. Christy graduated from College of the Ozarks with a degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management with an emphasis in Horticulture. Along with an Associate’s Degree in Photography. Through her career Christy has worked for Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources and Missouri State Parks, Missouri Dept. of Conservations, worked in Utility Forestry, along with a handful of greenhouses. Christy has strived to get an array of experience throughout natural resources, but her passion has been in Horticulture and Plant ecology. Through college and working career Christy has been working on her own seed and plant collection. When not collecting plants Christy enjoys gardening, running, kayaking, and hiking. Originally from a rural town south of Saint Louis, Christy and her husband moved to the Springfield area in 2014. In 2019 they purchased acreage in Rogersville where they just finished building in early 2020. Christy looks forward to growing the Watershed Natives program and the partnership it offers to Springfield community and area schools.
Marra Holt
Communications Coordinator
Marra Holt joined the Watershed Committee in 2020 as a seasonal Restoration Specialist with the Watershed Conservation Corps, where she built trails and maintained prairie landscapes during the Summers while attending Missouri State University. In the fall of 2022, Marra joined in at the Watershed Center office, interning as Communications Coordinator. In this position she assists with social media, web design, graphic design, and more.
In 2023, after graduating with her Bachelors degree in Public Relations and minor in Sustainability, Marra became a full-time employee with Watershed, working to connect the community with Watershed through collaborative communicative initiatives. In her free time, Marra enjoys the outdoors with her pup, Willow. They love to do things like hike, kayak, camp, and garden.
Drue Lawrence
AmeriCorps Member
After graduating from Nixa in 2019, Drue furthered her education at Drury University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2023. Drue’s major focused on environmental biology and she minored in animal studies with a certificate in designing environmental solutions. Growing up in Clever, Missouri, Drue was always surrounded by nature and animals, and her experiences during college further solidified her passion for this field. During Drue’s time at Drury University, she had multiple opportunities to gain real world experience. She completed internships at both Wonders of Wildlife and the Dickerson Park Zoo during the summers, which helped strengthen her commitment to pursuing a career in the realm of environmental biology.
One significant milestone in Drue’s journey was her role as an Americorps Vista summer associate at Watershed, where she helped educate the local community about the importance of conservation and water quality. Following the completion of this service term, Drue decided to extend her commitment and become a full-time AmeriCorps Vista at Watershed for the next year. In Drue’s free time, she loves to be at the lake, throw javelin, and spend time with my friends and family.
Erica Cox
Education Strategist
Erica’s interest in the outdoors started early as she grew up in several national parks before moving to the Ozarks. She discovered her love of teaching while a student at Missouri Southern State University where she graduated with a degree in Biology Education. She obtained a Master degree in Natural and Applied Sciences, Biology and Chemistry, with an emphasis in Environmental Biology and Chemistry at Missouri State University.
After teaching middle and high school science for several years, she had the opportunity to be the state coordinator for the Water Education for Teachers program, housed at MSU. She enjoyed working with all of the partners for Project WET at the City of Springfield, Greene County and the WCO. She also traveled around Missouri, working with workshop facilitators from Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri State Parks, and enjoyed every opportunity to work in our parks and natural areas. She taught science education classes at MSU and worked with student teachers, as well. While at MSU, she returned to school and completed a Master degree in Educational Administration, and is certified to be a K-12 principal. She returned to classroom teaching in 2019 and currently teaches Chemistry at Bolivar High School. While she is excited to work with high school students again, she also welcomed the opportunity to return to work with WCO friends and colleagues and now works part-time, as an educator at the Watershed Center. Erica lives north of Springfield on 5 acres and feels like she’s back home to be working at WCO and with the kids of SW Missouri, educating all about the importance of our water resources.
Johnathan Foster
Site Steward
Johnathan was born in Bunker, Missouri, in the heart of Mark Twain National Forest. Growing up alongside the scenic banks of the Current River, his formative years were deeply intertwined with the great outdoors where he developed a passion for stewardship and conservation. After high school graduation, Johnathan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served four years as a cold weather mountain warfare instructor. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management from Missouri State University.
His passion for environmental conservation led him to take on an environmental stewardship role at the Watershed Committee. Here, Johnathan contributes to preserving and managing the delicate balance of our natural ecosystems. Now, as a parent, his world revolves around the delightful company of his two beloved daughters, Jade and Rowan. While his days are often filled with the excitement of fishing expeditions, the tranquility of forest hikes, and finding geological treasures, in the evenings you’ll find Johnathan cuddled up with his daughters watching Hannah Montana.