Meet Our Staff
Licia
Education Director/Naturalist
Licia joined the Discovery Center team in spring 2007 as a seasonal Environmental Educator. In December 2007 she was appointed permanent staff. Licia graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Geography. In addition to teaching, Licia is the coordinator for the Center's outreach programs.
Contact Licia for questions on School Programs, Drop-in Activities, and Acoustic Bat Monitoring.
Ryan
Facilities Manager
Ryan grew up in Boulder Junction, and has spent the last six summers building docks and decks in the Northwoods. He enjoys the outdoors as much or more than any man up here, and is an avid musky and walleye fisherman, and tournament angler. Ryan took the job here because he loves being part of a great place for kids to expand their outdoor experiences and education.
Contact Ryan at ryan@discoverycenter.net for questions on Trails, Buildings, and Grounds Maintenance.
Lisa
Finance Manager
Lisa is originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago and relocated to the area in 2006. Her family has been part of the Northwood’s of Wisconsin since 1954. Her broad education and professional background include accounting, finance, and software project management. She is a recreational single-engine pilot, which allows her to have a birds-eye view of the extraordinary Northwoods. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to live in this beautiful land and to contribute her experience to the continued success of the NLDC.
Contact Lisa at lisa@discoverycenter.net for questions on accounts receivable/payable, and general bookkeeping questions.
Colette
Administrative Assistant
Colette joined the Discovery Center team in December 2020. Colette worked for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in Madison serving our most vulnerable citizens in assisted living and retired in 2017 after 38 years of public service.
She has been married for 30+ years and has two children. She and her husband, Dale, spent many years enjoying the resources and beauty of the Northwoods and made their permanent home here in 2017.
Colette enjoys fishing, gardening, reading, pontooning, and spending time with her family and friends. “I am inspired to work for an organization whose mission connects people to nature and to be part of a community that cares for our Northwoods environment.”
Contact Colette at colette@discoverycenter.net for questions on Program Registrations, General Information, and Donations.
Jamie
Water Program Director
Jamie received her B.S. in Biology and Natural Resource Sciences from Northland College in Ashland and spent two college summers 'salamanderin' in the Appalachian Mountains. Then developed her skills at positions with the Illinois Natural History Survey and working as a Restoration Ecologist & Operations Manager in Milwaukee. Jamie came to the Discovery Center in 2022 and looks forward expanding the Water Program’s reach to property owners and business to increase shoreline restoration efforts and protection of native plant communities here in the Northwoods.
Contact Jamie at jamie@discoverycenter.net for questions about the Water Program.
Sam
Marketing, Membership, & Development Coordinator
Sam received her B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. After graduation she moved into university services focusing on developing international education opportunities and partnerships at UW-Stout and California State University, Long Beach. After arriving at the discovery center in 2022 she hopes to elevate the organizational reach and bring nature based educational experiences to every corner of the community.
Contact Sam at sam@discoverycenter.net for questions about marketing or membership opportunities.
Hannah
Naturalist and Residential Programs Liaison
Hannah received her B.S. from UW-Stevens Point in Wildlife Ecology and Management in 2019 and has since lived in Mercer, working as a technician for Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department and Forestry Department performing a variety of ecological surveys. Her education and experience is rooted in Wisconsin, and she has strong ties to the area because she’s been coming to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage on vacation since she was a kid. She enjoys any outdoor activity: hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, disc golfing, snowshoeing, you name it! She joined the NLDC team in 2022, and hopes to help expand educational programs, outreach, and opportunities for the northwoods community.
Contact Hannah at hannah@discoverycenter.net for questions about residential education programming.
Megan
Facilities and Volunteer Coordinator
Seasonal Staff
Jenna
Seasonal Naturalist
Jenna Richardson grew up in the Ohio River Valley where she spent her childhood walking creek beds in search of salamanders and crayfish. She was often found in the woods with leaves in her hair. In 2013 she received her BS in Science in Communication and Anthropology and then began traveling the contiguous United States. During that time, she spent 2 winters working as a Naturalist Guide/Ski Instructor based out of the Snow Lodge Ski Shop. It was in that position that she found fulfillment in sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world. In 2019 she found her way back to the Midwest and worked as a Naturalist Guide at Gunflint Lodge and Outfitters outside of the Boundary Waters. There Jenna facilitated programming for people of all ages, but she found she most enjoyed working with children. Jenna began working at the Discovery Center as a Seasonal Naturalist in May of 2023 facilitating many on-site programs including the Eco Series for children and Discover the Discovery Center Series. Her hope is to increase our children’s program offerings, and to continue to inspire people, of all ages, to make meaningful connections to the natural world around them.
Richard Dollhopf
Lead Conservation Technician
I received my Masters Degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability with a concentration in GIS from Loyola University Chicago in 2023. I’m excited to be returning to NLDC as the Lead Conservation Technician. Last summer I was an intern and had a fulfilling time working hard on the lakes. My favorite activity was rearing the Neogalerucella beetles for the biocontrol of purple loosestrife. I’m looking forward to diving deep into the world of Wisconsin’s aquatic plants with our new team!
Alexis McDonald
Land Restoration Technician
Hi! My name is Alexis. I am from Walnutport Pennsylvania. This fall I will be a senior at Paul Smith's College where I am studying Environmental Science. Come the weekend, if I'm not on the rugby pitch, you can find me in the mountains hiking or paddle boarding across some lakes. I am excited to be working with the North Lakeland Discovery Center and cannot wait to get involved in their restoration efforts. I love restoration for its ability to not only mend past relationships with the Earth, but to also bring people together.
Zach Ryan
Lake Technician
My name is Zack Ryan, and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I am currently attending Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota working toward a B.A. in Environmental Biology with a minor in Zoology. Last summer I had an internship at Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Science Center where I acquired many different field skills such as small mammal trapping, water quality testing, tracked aquatic invertebrate abundances, tree stand surveys, as well as plant identification and invasive species removal. I enjoy this line of work because it keeps me active, forces me to be outside in nice (and not so nice) weather, and due to my experience from the Boy Scout program I have learned to respect and appreciate nature. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, canoeing, camping, playing my trombone, painting, and jewelry making.
Aiden Witthoff
Woods and Water Technician
I’m from Dekalb Illinois, my favorite part of working with plants is their incredible diversity and their amazing adaptations to live be able to live where they do. I have my degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in Wildlife ecology and I was a former staff member for Treehaven assisting in the plant ID course. I love to go fishing and swimming in my free time.
Rylee Alden
Woods and Water Technician
My name is Rylee Alden, and I'm a student at the University of Missouri. I'm a journalism major with a natural resource management minor, and I'm part of my university's forestry club. I've always had a passion for science and love being outdoors. I have experience working with a variety of natural resource organizations and gathering drone footage of plant and animal life. When I have some free time, I enjoy hiking, taking care of my aquariums and roasting coffee! I'm really excited to learn more about native plant species and get involved with the community this summer!
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Our Location
14006 Discovery Lane in Manitowish Waters, about one mile north of the intersection of Highway 51 and County W, across from Rest Lake Park.