IAS BOARD OVERVIEW
The purpose and objective of this Society is to engage in educational, scientific, investigative, literary, historical, philanthropic and charitable pursuits which protect and conserve our natural resources including water, air, soil, plants and wildlife, especially birds, and to stimulate in Indiana public appreciation of the values of such natural resources and the need for their conservation.
Indiana Audubon advances it’s mission through its Strategic Plan, which is updated periodically.
Meet our Flock
STAFF
Brad Bumgardner – Executive Director
Brad Bumgardner is the executive director for the Indiana Audubon Society and chairs the annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. He is the former head naturalist for the Department of Natural Resources at Indiana Dunes State Park and has a Bachelors in Science from Purdue University with emphasis on Ornithology and Environmental Education. Brad has been presented the Northwest Indiana’s top 20 under 40 business leaders award.
Sam Warren- Communications & Outreach Manager
Sam Warren is the Communications and Outreach Manager at Indiana Audubon. She helps connect people to Indiana’s birds and conservation, through programs and online resources. She was previously a 4-H coordinator in Iowa and loved leading nature related programming. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State in Wildlife Management and a Masters from UW-Madison in Agroecology.
Libby Keyes- MGBS Operations Manager
Libby Keyes is the Operations Manager for Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, and lives on-site. Libby oversees day to day operations, public outreach, conservation and stewardship activities on the preserve, as well as research initiatives. Libby has a Masters of Science in Environmental Biology from Governors State University, and has overseen both owl and whip-poor-will research projects with Indiana Audubon.
John Godwin- MGBS Resident Caretaker
John Godwin is the Resident Caretaker at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. John helps maintain the 700+ acre Bird Sanctuary and nature preserve and can be found on the sanctuary trails throughout the year, as well as assisting with IAS bird banding efforts on the property. The resident caretaker occupies the first residence when you enter Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary.
Carl and Amy Wilms- MGBS Technical Advisors
Carl and Amy are technical consultants with Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. For the past 16 years, they were resident co-managers at Mary Gray. Carl is a retired middle school science teacher (33 years), he has a MS in plant ecology and a PhD in science education; both with Miami University. Carl’s 30-year tenure at MGBS focused on maintenance issues and limiting the spread of invasive plants. Amy worked at Miami University (2001-2017), and earned Master Bander permits for songbirds, hummingbirds, and Northern Saw-whet owls. Her founding of the banding station at Mary Gray included establishing a Motus Station and coordinating events such as the Owl-night Out, the Hummingbird Migration Celebration, IAS’s Spring and Fall Festivals, Inland Bird Banding Association Conference, Bird Banding Workshops, and many other events. Amy and Carl continue to consult with banders in several states with transmitter training and Motus research.
Bethany Dennis- Bird Survey Technician
Bethany Dennis is a bird survey technician for Indiana Audubon. She is also a biological science technician at Indiana Dunes National Park coming from Pennsylvania, where she studied Biology and Wildlife & Fisheries Science at The Pennsylvania State University. She is a marsh bird survey technician for Audubon Great Lakes, a comprehensive bird surveyor for Indiana Audubon, and a volunteer owl bander for Project Owlnet northern saw-whet owl banding. In addition, she is a member of Feminist Bird Club Chicago and a volunteer interpretive ranger at the national park.
Officers of the Indiana Audubon Society
The Indiana Audubon Society is governed by a Board of Directors and meet a minimum of 3 times per year. Officers are members of the Society and include a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
In addition, there are nine (9) elected Directors.
The immediate Past President and the publications committee chair also serve as members of the Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President – Kristen Sweinhart, Osceola
Vice President – Mike Maxwell, Indianapolis
Secretary – Mary Fox, Indianapolis
Treasurer – Lemler Group, LLC
5th Executive Committee Member – Richard Garrett
PAST PRESIDENT
Amy Wilms, Rocky Face, GA
EDITORS
Indiana Audubon Quarterly – Austin Broadwater
Cardinal – Sam Warren
Website – Amy Wilms
Ends December 2022 (3)
Shari Schultz McCullough, Crawfordsville
Joni James, Martinsville
Richard Garrett, Greenfield
Ends December 2023 (3)
Joanne Guttman, Connersville
Tracey Setze, Bloomington
Alexandra Arnold, Indianapolis
Ends December 2024 (3)
Lina Rifai, Noblesville
Jeremy Ross, Petersburg
Cookie Ferguson, LaPorte
Board of Director Meetings
The Board of Directors hold three (3) meetings per year. Meeting are held:
January Meeting: January 8, 2022 – 9am – 3pm
Spring- April 30, 2022 – 1-3pm at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary
Fall- TBA
Committees
The standing committees include:
Awards: Karen Henman, Chair
Stewardship: Philip English, Chair
Nominating:
Membership: Shari McCollough, Chair
Field Trips: Brad Bumgardner
Publications: John Lindsey, Chair
Indiana Bird Records: Ryan Sanderson, Chair
Finance: Josh Hill, Chair
Publicity: John Lindsey, Chair
Sanctuary: Bill Cummings, Chair
Indiana Dunes Birding Festival: Brad Bumgardner
Indiana Bird Town: Cookie Ferguson, Chair
Standing Rules: Kristen Sweinhart, Chair
Ethics and Personnel: Joni James, Chair
Diversity and Inclusion (ad hoc): Kristen Sweinhart
These committees perform the duties as prescribed in the Standing Rules and those assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.
