MEET THE Team
Our team includes a diverse range of writers, photographers, filmmakers, designers, technicians, researchers, educators and students.
Together, we bring the stories of our water to life.
Core Team
Michael Forsberg
Co-Founder & Director
Mike was born and raised in Nebraska and has been a professional photographer for 30 years. His books and films focus on wildlife and conservation stories in the Great Plains.
Michael Farrell
Co-Founder & Advisor
Michael is an artist, author, and 51-year veteran of public media, where he produced documentaries about the culture, history, and environment of the Great Plains.
Grant Reiner
Producer & Cinematographer
Grant is a filmmaker and photographer passionate about conservation storytelling; showcasing underappreciated landscapes and species.
Dakota Altman
Producer & Instructor | he/him
Dakota finds passion through photography as a means to bridge disciplines and cultivate meaningful relationships with the natural world.
Sidney Parks
Graphic Designer & Animator | she/her
Sidney is a graphic designer and animator, and loves being able to educate others through well-thought-out design, especially about the natural world.
Grace Carey
Outreach & Education Coordinator | she/her
Grace is passionate about connecting people with nature and is eternally curious about the outdoor world. She finds joy in watching others have their “lightbulb moment”.
Extended Team
Ben Eigbrett
Camera Engineer
BRODY BIBERDORF
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
Dave Showalter
Field Assistant
Hanna Weaver
Production Intern
Ethan Freese
Restoration Ecologist & Field Assistant
Jeff Dale
Camera Engineer
Kim Hachiya
Editor & Advisor | She/her
Mary Harner
Ecosystem Ecologist | She/her
Mirzo Mirzokarimov
Field Technician
Olivia Mackrill
Production Intern
Sophia Rojas
Production Intern
Ted Lagrange
Wetland Biologist
Trevor Johnson
Production Intern
Tyler Newlin
Social Media Intern
Victoria Schulte
Production Intern
Contributors
Aaron Lee
Production Intern
Alexandria Lundvall
Production Intern
Amy Morris
Production Intern
Andrew Wentz
Production Intern
Ariana Brocious
Producer
Ashley Oblander
Contributor
Ben Gottesman
Contributor
Benjamin Vogt
Contributor
Brian Seifferlein
Producer
Brooke Talbott
Production Assistant
Burk Knowlton
Contributor
Caden Connelly
Production Intern | he/him
Chloe Ludwig
Social Media Intern
Cristina Woodworth
Production Intern
Dana Fritz
Commissioned Storyteller
Dat Ha
Contributor
Dave Leatherman
Contributor
David Weber
Camera Technician
Elijah Riley
Production Intern
Ella Bishop-Heil
Contributor
Elsie Stormberg
Storytelling Intern
Emily Levine
Contributor
Emily Nelson
Production Intern
Emma Balunek
Graduate Student | She/her
Emma Brinley Buckley
Researcher & Scientist
Emma Krab
Storytelling Intern
Erin McCready
Production Intern
Evan Barrientos
Contributor
Favian Mendez Rodriguez
Production Intern
Gabriella Parsons
Production Intern
Grace Bullington
Production Intern
nia meyer
Production Intern
Isabella Gomez
Contributor
Grace Gaard
Contributor
Hannah Gavle
Social Media Intern
Heather Johnson
Contributor
Jackie Sojico
Contributor
Joe Arneson
Production Intern
Jonathan Nikkila
Contributor
Josh Nazarenus
Production Intern
Joshua Redwine
Contributor
Kaden Polt
Production Intern | He/Him
Kara Kielty-Connor
Production Intern
Kat Shiffler
Producer
Katelyn Nimic
Contributor
Katie Nieland
Contributor
Kery Harrelson
Field Assistant
Kimberly Tri
Contributor
Kylee Warren
Commissioned Storyteller
Lena Nelson
News & Events Intern
Maddie Schiltmeyer
Social Media Intern
Madeline Cass
Artist in Residence
Marissa Lindemann
Production Intern | She/Her
Mary Anne Andrei
Producer
Matt Hoobler
Contributor
Matt Waite
Web & Technology Advisor
Meg Rice
Social Media Intern
Melissa Amateis
Copy Editor
Merika Andrade
Storytelling Intern
Mia Everding
News & Events Intern
Michaela Daughtery
Social Media Intern
Mikaela Deptula
Production Intern
Morgan Spiehs
Producer
Nicole Pauley
Contributor
Peter Stegen
Producer & Cinematographer
Rachel Holt
Social Media Intern
Renee San Souci
Contributor
Sagan Smith
Storytelling Intern
Sarah Brey
Comissioned Storyteller
Sarah Sortum
Contributor
Sierra Harris
Producer
Simon Tye
Researcher
Sophia Balunek
Contributor
Steve Den
Contributor
Steven Speicher
Producer & Web Developer
Teagan Gaul
Production Intern
Tom Lynch
Contributor
Trinity Thompson
Web Design Intern
Valentina Catalano
Production Intern
Valerie Cuppens Bates
Education Producer
Yahya Shema
Production Intern
Zoe Mays
Production Intern
Support CONSERVATION STORYTELLING
Join us in cultivating community and conversation surrounding our most valuable resource: water.