Ted Anchor, Executive Director

Ted was named NWLT’s second Executive Director in July of 2019. For 11 years, he worked as the Northwest Indiana Program Director for the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where he managed all aspects of their flagship 8,400 Kankakee Sands Preserve.

For six years prior to working for TNC, he was the Outreach Specialist/Ecologist at the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he earned his Masters of Science in Land Resources & Ecosystem Management.

“I’ve been hunting, fishing and exploring the woods and waters around our family camp in the Chequamegon National Forest in Price County my whole life, and this role will afford me the opportunity to help conserve a region I care deeply about,” said Ted.

Kari Kirschbaum, Land Protection Director

Kari was hired in May of 2018, starting as the Land Protection Coordinator. She is responsible for stewardship of NWLT’s-owned conservation properties and the project management for new conservation easement and conservation land donations and purchases.

For 12 years Kari worked with the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist. During her time with the Forest Service, she worked in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota on the Allegheny, Wayne, Superior and Chippewa National Forests. She worked on a wide array of projects including forest, wetland and grassland restorations. With the Forest Service she develop a broad background in planning and management of natural resources, including monitoring and management for wildlife, rare plants, ecosystem diversity and public use through a variety of tools, including timber harvest and prescribed fire.

Kari grew up in Green Bay, WI. She attended UW-Madison, where she earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. She then attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a M.S. in Natural Resource Ecology & Management, studying the reproductive ecology of osprey in the Chesapeake Bay.

After graduate school she worked for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan, running the volunteer program and implementing management on a preserve in southeast Michigan. She then worked in eastern Kentucky as a private lands biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, where she helped private landowners develop conservation plans for their land and find funding to implement those plans. In 2006 she joined the U.S. Forest Service.

Kari lives in Eagle River, WI with her husband and two sons. She spends her free time with her family, skiing, camping, raising chickens and bees, remodeling, travelling, camping, hiking, and anything involving water, including a few annual Boundary Waters canoe trips.

Carrie Rasmussen, Philanthropy Director

Carrie joined the NWLT staff in May of 2018, starting as the Development Coordinator. She is responsible for grants and membership campaigns as well as organizing the donor development program. She manages the communications and publications associated with the newsletter, e-newsletter, website, advertisements and more.

Carrie grew up in Wausau, WI and graduated from the University of Wisconsin –Stevens Point in 2002 with a BS in Natural Resource Management – Land Use Planning.

She moved to Maine after graduating and worked for Loon Echo Land Trust for 12 years. She was the Administrative/Land Stewardship Coordinator for three years, then was promoted to Executive Director for nine years where she made significant advancements in protecting local landscapes, engaging community leaders and residents, and spearheading capital campaigns, fundraising events and membership drives.

Carrie resides in Boulder Junction, WI where she and her son Grayden and partner Matt enjoy cooking, hiking, bicycling, gardening, cross-country skiing and kayaking.

Frank Schroyer, Land Conservation Associate

Frank joined the NWLT staff as Land Conservation Associate in September of 2021 to support the stewardship and monitoring of conservation lands, as well as educational and outings programs.

Frank lived in several different areas of Wisconsin growing up, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin –Milwaukee in 2017 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.S. in Conservation and Environmental Sciences.

Prior to coming to NWLT, he worked most recently as a Watershed Technician for the Ottawa Conservation District in Michigan, and prior to that as Conservation Assistant for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Ecological Field Technician with Battelle’s National Ecological Observatory Network, and Natural Areas Technician for the Milwaukee County Parks System.

Frank now lives in Conover, where he will spend his free time enjoying his favorite activities, birding, fishing, and canoeing.

“I believe that by preserving land and implementing conservation in the Northwoods we can directly contribute to solving some of the major environmental problems we face today while simultaneously leaving behind a legacy for future generations,” said Frank.

Troy Walters, Outreach & Monitoring Coordinator

Troy Walters joined the NWLT staff in May of 2019 as the Outreach and Monitoring Coordinator. He oversees annual monitoring visits of each conservation easement property and coordinates NWLT’s public programs, events and speakers.

Troy grew up in West Bend, WI and credits his love of the outdoors to a 7^th grade teacher with a passion for the environment, especially birds.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin -Stevens Point in 1997 with a B.S. in Water Resources – Water Chemistry.

Troy taught environmental education for over 11 years, most of which occurred at Trees For Tomorrow – Natural Resources Specialty School from 2003 to 2014. While at Trees For Tomorrow, he not only taught students grades 4 – 12, but also coordinated Road Scholar which provides exceptional learning opportunities for adults in their 50’s and beyond.

Troy has led birding and canoeing trips for the Natural Resources Foundation, and conducted numerous surveys including owls, nightjars, waterfowl, breeding bird survey, Kirtland’s warbler, cranes, woodcock, and coordinated the acoustic bat monitoring project for the Eagle River area. He has also worked as an environmental lab analyst, lab tech at a wastewater treatment plant, and zookeeper.

In his free time, Troy enjoys cross country skiing, rollerskiing, canoeing, biking, and hiking with his dog Addie.