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.
Adam Barton
Watershed Conservation Corps Program Manager
Adam grew up in north Springfield only minutes away from the Watershed Committee. He experienced the beauty of the Ozarks growing up through numerous hiking, hunting, and fishing expeditions. Adam joined the Watershed Committee in April 2019 as a technician for the Watershed Conservation Corps program to assist with ongoing projects. Adam currently manages the 70-acre native prairie restoration project at Bass Pro Shops world headquarters in Springfield. He is entering his final year of study at Missouri State University where he majors in wildlife management and conservation, while minoring in forestry and geospatial science. Adam loves working at the Watershed Committee because he gets to spend time outside, improve native habitat, and educate others about modern-day conservation practices. In his spare time, you can find Adam with a fiddle in his arms playing tune after tune. He competes in numerous fiddle contests around the state and is honored to carry on the tradition of bluegrass music in the Ozarks. Adam and his wife Brooke are lifelong Springfield residents and love being part of the community.
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 began working for the WCC after graduating from Missouri State in May 2021. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation & Management as well as Natural Resources with an emphasis in forestry. Grant grew up in Thayer, Missouri and has always had a passion for the outdoors. He spends his free time roaming the Ozarks on adventures with his wife and two dogs. He loves to hunt, fish and simply enjoy being outdoors.
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 is in transition from working with the Watershed Conservation Corps (WCC) for two seasons as a Restoration Specialist to working as a Communications Coordinator with the Watershed Committee. In this position, she assists with PR & Communicative initiatives for our organization. Marra is a Senior at Missouri State University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Sustainability and has many years of communication-centric leadership experience matched with a passion for ecology.