Meet Our Staff
John Heusinkveld
Executive Director
John came to NLDC in September, 2017 having served as the Assistant Director at the UWSP Treehaven outdoor education center since 2001. He holds a Bachelors degree from The University of Iowa and a Masters from The University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. John enjoys camping, fishing and flyfishing, canoeing, hunting, skiing, cooking and most outdoor pursuits. He has a grown daughter who is a school teacher, and a yellow lab.
Contact John with questions on Charitable Contributions, Volunteer and Partnership Opportunities, Community Outreach, and Programs.
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.
Cliff
Buildings & Grounds Coordinator
Contact Cliff at cliff@discoverycenter.net for questions about trail, building and grounds maintenance.
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
Make a donation
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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.