Board of Directors

Joel Rivlin, president

Joel Rivlin, originally from the north of England, moved to Madison to study political science and research methodology at the UW in 2001. He now works as a partner at The Pivot Group, a consulting firm working with progressive candidates and organizations around the country including LCV, the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List. Joel works on a range of political and civic engagement projects and his specialty is using data and analytics to target communications in the most effective and efficient ways. He lives in Madison with his wife Ann and children Abby and Toby.

I’m a conservation voter because the environment affects all aspects of our lives, from playing outside with our families, to the economy, to health, to war and peace.

Liz Brodek, Vice presiDent

Liz is a Wisconsin native who grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan in Racine, where her passion for environmental protection was ignited at 17. Liz carried her drive for environmental stewardship to Beloit College, from which she graduated in 2008 with a B.A. in Sociology. She worked for a short time in Madison at an environmental law firm, then attended Marquette University Law School where her internships included summers spent with the ACLU, Legal Aid Society, and Midwest Environmental Advocates. Upon graduation in 2012, she worked in nonprofit criminal defense in Milwaukee.

I am a conservation voter because we have nothing if we don't have a healthy and sustainable environment. Our planet is where all aspects of life – home, work, family, recreation, and industry – take place. Proper stewardship and reverence of our most basic need for its resources are paramount for our future.

Colleen R. Dodge

Colleen R. Dodge, originally from Wisconsin, was adopted and grew up in Pennsylvania.

She attended and graduated with an associate of fine arts degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She went on to Graduate from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she received her bachelor of arts degree in art. She continues create artwork. She and her husband raised two children and now have three grandchildren. They live on the Menominee Reservation.

I am a conservation voter to protect our environment. As a First Nations native from the Menominee Tribe, I feel it is my responsibility to help save our homeland for our grandchildren – and for the next seven generations.

Ned Gatzke

Ned grew up on and in Lake Michigan and Sauk Creek in Port Washington, the son of a biology teacher and conservation activist of the time.

He continued his education at UW-Oshkosh receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology and natural science and later a master’s degree in outdoor teacher education from Northern Illinois University. After moving to Sparta, he found his way into county government, serving as solid waste manager and sanitation and zoning officer. In between the county positions, he provided services and consulting as a soil and site evaluator for Private Onsite Waste Treatment Systems (POWTS) before retiring in 2003. In addition to managing a prairie and woodland homestead, he and wife Carol have been exploring North America by foot, paddle, and bicycle and spending as much time as possible getting their three grandsons outside to explore the real world.

I’m a conservation voter because our natural resources – land, water and air – are essential to sustaining life on the planet. The quantity and quality of these resources are critical. These resources are part of the public trust and subject to public policy decisions made by elected representatives. The conservation values of these representatives matters if we are going to have positive conservation policy at all levels of government.

Roger larson, secretary/treasurer

Roger Larson retired in December 2008 as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Watershed Management after 32 years of state service at the Department of Natural Resources. During his career, he wrote discharge and stormwater permits, reviewed plans for wastewater treatment facilities, supervised scientists and engineers, and developed requirements for Wisconsin’s Clean Water Fund program and other nationally recognized initiatives. He is a licensed professional engineer and received a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife Helen enjoy fishing, boating, and kayaking at their vacation home in Vilas County.

I’m a conservation voter because real people, not corporations and special interest groups, should determine what is best for Wisconsin and its environment. I believe that as an active and engaged conservation voter I can work best to restore, preserve, and protect Wisconsin for all its citizens.

Reuben Sanon

Reuben grew up in Madison, Wisconsin where he now serves as Deputy Mayor for the City of Madison. He also serves as the Diversity Chair on the Wisconsin Chapter for the New Leaders Council Board of Directors. He loves nature and has a particular fondness for lakes over the ocean. He spends much of his time around Wisconsin's lakes enjoying the natural beauty. Sanon hope's to work alongside WCV in his goal of making Wisconsin's wonderful natural spaces more accessible to diverse audiences. 

My favorite place in Wisconsin is Pewit’s Nest in Baraboo. It feels like I’m discovering something great every time I go there and it's where my dog learned how to swim. 

I'm a conservation voter because I want people who traditionally haven’t been involved in conservation and sustainability the chance to become leaders in the field. Also because Wisconsin nature has been a backdrop to some of my happiest memories, particularly lakes, and I want others to be able to make memories in those magnificent free spaces. 

Bill Lynch

Bill Lynch is a retired attorney from Milwaukee, where he specialized in civil rights and discrimination cases. Bill serves on the Board of Midwest Environmental Advocates and the Board of Preserve Our Parks, a Milwaukee area parks and green space watchdog and advocacy group, and chairs the Lakefront Development Advisory Commission (LDAC), a Milwaukee city, county, and state commission that reviews all proposals for new development on public land along Milwaukee County’s Lake Michigan shoreline. Bill also chairs the Public Parks Alliance in Milwaukee.

I’m a conservation voter because protection, preservation, and enhancement of our environment does not just happen. It takes the efforts of citizen advocates and voters. Working together to influence public conservation policy and practice is essential for securing clean and healthy air, water, and land. Only if we also work to assure clean government will conservation succeed.

Allan Patek

Allan grew up on a farm near Francis Creek in Manitowoc County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. During his time in Eau Claire, he served on the county board. Working from Green Bay, Allan spent over 20 years working on health policy at one of the nation’s largest insurers. He is now the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund, which protects consumers when their insurer is insolvent. Allan lives in Madison with his wife Patty and sons Zebulon and Casimir. The family enjoys camping, canoeing, fishing, bicycling, and hiking.

I’m a conservation voter because we have been entrusted with responsibility to care for the natural world. Our water, air, and land resources are valuable and critical community assets. Each of us has a responsibility to act individually and as a community to protect our environment for future generations. We must expect our government leaders to support stewardship of our resources and the natural beauty.

Don and Mary Stirling

Don and Mary met in Denver where they shared a love of gardening, hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and a great concern for social justice. Colorado helped them see the crucial role that government plays in the distribution, quality, and conservation of water. It was water that brought them to greener and snowier Southwestern Wisconsin to homestead and raise their family. Don worked as a carpenter while Mary taught adults basic skills. Both are active in a restorative justice program they helped start, a program which Mary directed for its first 10 years.

They are blessed to be part of an active community in Crawford County where they have participated in a number of efforts to protect the environment and people of the Driftless Region. These include the initial organizing meetings of Organic Valley, stopping low level military jet flights over the area, recovering and rebuilding after the floods of 2007 and 2008, halting plans for a high capacity well, and opposing CAFOs and frac sand mining.

We are conservation voters because while we’ve always tried to express our environmental ethic in our personal life style, we finally realized that we cannot individually stop global warming. However, we have learned how much a committed community can accomplish together. The earth is at risk and efforts to save it for future generations require public input. Conservation needs to be front and center in public dialogue and policy. Together, our votes can make that happen.

Issis Macias

Issis Macias, originally from Southern California, moved to Madison in 2016 with her husband, a faculty member at UW-Madison. Shortly after, she joined Clean Lakes Alliance as the Watershed Engagement Manager. In her role, Issis managed all community engagement and educational programs and initiatives. She also worked with partners to raise public awareness, increase volunteerism, and empower individual action to benefit the lakes.

Prior to joining Clean Lakes Alliance, Issis was the Water Efficiency Programs Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities located in Southern California. With over nine years of experience in water resources management, she was responsible for implementing drought response public outreach campaigns and water conservation incentive programs.

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State, Long Beach and a Bachelor’s in Political Science with minors in Public Policy and Latin American Studies from UCLA. Issis is a painter that primarily works with acrylic and oil pastels on canvas to make abstract artwork. Issis finds inspiration in Mother Earth's colors, Indigenous art, water, music, and human connection.

I’m a conservation voter because access to clean water is a basic human right. We all need to advocate for the most vulnerable communities and ensure clean water is accessible for all today and for future generations.

Jim Feldman

Jim is a professor of Environmental Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he also serves as director of the Environmental Studies program. His research and teaching interests include American environmental history, national parks and wilderness, radioactive waste management, and sustainability. He also keeps busy parenting, cooking, hiking, and canoeing.

I'm a conservation voter because a clean and healthy environment is a basic necessity for a quality human life, and because environmental issues touch all aspects of our lives. We need a healthy environment to provide us with economic security and a just and equitable world. And because we owe that world to our children.

Claire Westlund

Claire is a fourth-year student studying at UW- Green Bay. She is a double major in philosophy and democracy and justice studies with an emphasis in legal studies. Growing up on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, environmental sustainability and preservation has always been an interest of hers. She is excited that the opportunity to work with Wisconsin Conservation Voters will allow her to expand on the knowledge of the environmental legislation that is being implemented here in Wisconsin in addition to spreading awareness of current sustainability and conservation efforts.

I am a conversation voter because the future quality of our environment is determined by those who take a stand in supporting current pro-conservation legislation. Being home to arguably the most beautiful national lakeshores and scenic trails, Wisconsin can be an example to promote conservation efforts for clean air and water protection. I believe it is our duty as Wisconsinites to ensure the protection of our beloved Great Lakes and to provide a healthy, prosperous environment for our neighbors and future generations.