Speakers

Dr. Brook Wilke earned a Ph.D. in Agroecology at the Kellogg Biological Station in 2010 and has served KBS in the role of Farm Manager (2013-2020) and Associate Director of the KBS Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Program (Present). Brook oversees agronomy and science activities for KBS LTAR and conducts research on agronomic innovations that enhance efficiency and sustainability of cropping systems. In addition to growing up on a family scale crop and livestock farm, Dr. Wilke has extensive experience in agricultural systems ranging from organic vegetables and local markets to pasture-based livestock and cropping systems, including educational activities related to these systems.

Daragh Deegan is the Water Quality Manager for the City of Elkhart. As part of his responsibilities, Daragh oversees a cooperative biological monitoring effort between the Cities of Elkhart and South Bend to monitor the health of local waterways by sampling fish and other organisms. Daragh led this program as an Aquatic Biologist from 2009 until 2023 but still oversees the program in addition to other duties. He holds a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Goshen College and a Masters Degree in Aquatic Biology from Purdue Fort Wayne.

Environmental Compliance Specialist KERAMIDA Inc.

A Certified Erosion, Sediment & Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI) and Geologist with over 15 years of experience in Environmental Inspections in construction & industry, Mr. Wilczynski holds a B.S. in Geology from Ball State University. As a consultant Mr. Wilczynski lead the eastern Indiana environmental inspection program for NIPSCO as the Environmental Compliance Specialist for the last year. Providing direct feedback to inspection field staff and functioning as a liaison between permitting, engineering, and construction field staff, as well as assisting with updating their Environmental Compliance documents to progress towards their goal of 100% compliance.

As a passionate outdoorsman and staunch supporter of the Clean Water Clean World initiative, Joe is dedicated to both enjoying nature and protecting it. He is the founder of two companies: Silt worm and ECS. Silt worm produces filter socks made from kiln-dried wood material that achieves over 99% reduction in sediment, distributed across the United States. ECS specializes in the installation, maintenance, and inspection of erosion and sediment control measures as outlined in Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for construction sites.

Krista Daniels is the Interpretive Naturalist Manager with the Elkhart County Parks and has been with the parks for 23 years. She became a Hoosier Riverwatch instructor in 2002 and enjoys guiding people to take action as a water quality monitors in their cities and towns through that program. Krista helps run the Indiana Master Naturalist program in Elkhart County, is a Certified Heritage Interpreter through the National Association of Interpretation and a Project WET & Project Wild instructor. One of her favorite programs to lead with any age is dipping for macroinvertebrates and teaching about what they can tell us about the health of the water. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Goshen College along with a minor in Environmental Studies. She lives in Goshen with her husband, two children, four cats and a dog.

Melissa has been interest in the field of agriculture most of her life. As a youth she furthered her interest through 4-H club and through participation in the Fairfield High School Chapter of the FFA. She excelled in all areas including soil judging and dairy judging as well as cattle showing. After graduating with honors from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy, she became a Certified Crop Consultant and went to work as the Agronomist for a local fertilizer dealer, staying with that company for 6 years. With the advent of children, she decided to start her own business out of her home so she could be home with them. So in 2005 she launched out on her own, thinking that the business would probably remain small and manageable for one person. By 2006 she began hiring temporary employees to help with Scouting, Soil Sampling, and minimal office work. In October of 2006 she realized she needed a full time person to help out in the office. Mandy is still a vital part of keeping the office going. As a Certified Crop Adviser in Indiana and Michigan and a NRCS TSP (Technical Service Provider), the demand for Melissa’s services began to grow. The quality and integrity of her work spread from Northern Indiana to Indianapolis. Today she struggles to stay within a two hour radius as the calls keep coming.

Steve Schweisberger is a native of Bremen where he was active in the Bremen FFA and a ten year 4-H member in Marshall County.  Steve was raised on, and is now a partner in, the family’s centennial farm north of Bremen.  The Schweisberger family farms approximately 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans. In the 70’s and early 80’s they had a small hog farrow-to-finish operation with 24 sows. After graduating from Bremen High School, Steve was a welder by trade for five years.  In 1987, Steve was hired as an Erosion Control Technician in a new DNR program called “T By 2000”. This involved working with farmers in Elkhart, St. Joseph and Marshall Counties, through the county SWCD to implement erosion control practices such as grass waterways, WASCOB’s, terraces, etc. During this time, counties were tasked by the state to designate “Highly Erodible” and “Wetland Areas” on farm sites.  In 1989, Steve joined the Elkhart County Surveyor’s Office as the Deputy Surveyor. His primary function is to evaluate and manage maintenance concerns on County Regulated Drains, as well as providing technical assistance on private drainage issues within Elkhart County.