2007/08 Board Member Bios

Dr. Eric Gustafson is currently the President of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, NE Mexico Chapter.  He also is President of Conservation Mexico, A.C. and a consultant on environmental issues.  He has a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., a Master in Business Administration (cum laude), Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM), Mexico and a Bachelor in Arts of Economics and Business, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

His work experience includes National Vice-President and CEO, Ducks Unlimited of Mexico and consulting to the North American Sustainable Development Group, Utah State University, College of Natural Resources, Express Anáhuac, S.A. (Transportation Group), Valores Industriales, S.A. (VISA Conglomerate), Universidad de Monterrey, Isodomics and “La Estrella” Bio-Park. (Back)

 

Mr. Carrol Henderson has been supervisor of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program since 1977. He has been involved in planning and restoring peregrine falcons, bald eagles, eastern bluebirds, river otters and trumpeter swans. Mr. Henderson is the author of Woodworking for Wildlife, Landscaping for Wildlife and Wild About Birds: the DNR Bird Feeding Guide. He is co-author of The Traveler’s Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota and Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality. Carrol and his wife Ethelle have led over 30 birding tours to Latin America since 1987. He has recently completed the Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica, published by the University of Texas Press in 2001. (Back)

 

Mr. Jim Mallman, President and founding Board member, has 28 years of experience in commodities trading and sales and marketing management. While serving as manager of commodities trading for the American Agco Company, Jim was responsible for American Agco’s Nature’s Seasons Wild Bird Seed division. It was in this position that Jim began working with state and federal agencies across the country to promote legislation that would secure permanent and stable funding for non-game wildlife.

In 1998 he made the decision to redirect his professional efforts towards wildlife conservation and accepted the position of Sales and Marketing Manager for Treessentials Company. Jim has been a strong supporter of Teaming With Wildlife, and now CARA. This proposed legislation has galvanized the largest coalition of government, businesses, and wildlife conservation groups ever. In 1996 Jim was awarded The President’s Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, for his work as a national spokesperson of this important issue. Jim was appointed President of Watchable Wildlife, Inc in September of 2001. He and his wife Sharon have two children and live on the St Croix River just north of Stillwater, Minnesota where Sharon works as the Asst. Director of the St Croix Watershed Research Station of the Science Museum of Minnesota. (Back)

 

Ms. Debra McDonald has over 20 years of engineering experience in the environmental engineering and solid waste industry, having worked as a Peace Corps and VOCA volunteer, an environmental consultant, and more recently as engineering manager for Waste Management, Inc. Work efforts have focused on landfill permitting and development, including siting, environmental review, design, permitting, construction, compliance and end use. Ms. McDonald has served as the project manager to effectively organize and communicate with local residents, regulators and project developers. She is an advocate of new technology including beneficial use of landfill gas, landfills as bioreactors, and alternative final covers.

As an environmental consultant and volunteer, Ms. McDonald has prepared permit application packages, including engineering reports and plan sheets, for submission to and approval by, state and local environmental agencies. In addition, she has developed contract documents, including project specifications and plan sheets for landfill cell construction and closure projects; and, has served as project manager to administer the contracts and coordinate the projects. She has developed solid waste management plans and environmental assessment worksheets, and completed environmental review activities for solid waste facilities, as well as a host of other related projects in the United States and developing countries. (Back)

 

Mr. David Peterson is the founder of Voyageur I.T., a web development, hosting and marketing service provider based in St. Paul, MN. Prior to Voyageur I.T. Peterson co-owned two other technology related businesses and holds a B.A. in Finance from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Peterson currently serves as Project Manager for most wildlife related web projects.

An avid outdoors person as well, Peterson is an active volunteer with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative where he dedicates several weekends each summer helping to manage the resources of Colorado's highest peaks. David's free time is spent with his wife and two children cycling, hiking and skiing the mountains surrounding his home in Conifer, Colorado. (Back)