Who is Nature Abounds

Staff

Melinda Hughes-Wert
President and Board Chair

Just prior to working for NWF, Melinda was the National Programs Director at the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI), another environmental international volunteer non-profit (EASI) that focused on involving seniors in improving the environment. While at EASI, Melinda also had the privilege of being part of the US delegation to the World Water Forum 2003 in Kyoto, Japan.

Melinda currently serves on the Advisory Committee for Conservation USA, a program of the Department of Interior and sister program to USA Freedom Corps and Take Pride in America. She is also a founding Board Member for Natural Biodiversity, a regional non-profit focused on the Greater Alleghenies.

James "Jim" Wert
Vice President of Operations 

Over the past 20+ years, Jim has obtained extensive experience in retail and restaurant management. In addition he spent 5 years working for a direct mail company learning the postal regulations and doing data programming and creating mailing documents for clients including large corporations.

Jim also worked on a fully functioning psychosocial rehabilitation program in western Massachusetts.  In addition, Jim has volunteered for several causes over many years, and has been an active advocate involved with Climate Change, Industrial Hemp, Wildlife Preservation Causes, and proper Land Use. Jim is a native of Winchester, MA.

Nature Abounds™ Board of Directors

Richard "Dick" Stephenson
Southeast Representative and Vice Chair

Mostly involved with higher education and consulting, Richard has a vast amount of experience in the following areas: environmental geology, coastal and fluvial geomorphic processes, soils, slope failure, physical geography, and hydrology; environmental planning and management, urban development, water resources and land use planning; flood frequency and magnitude analysis, hazard mitigation planning, and land capability classification; coastal area planning and management, wetlands designation, and parks, recreation and protected area design; and, maritime history and nautical archaeology. Administratively, he organized and initially directed the urban and regional planning program at East Carolina University, organized the Institute for Regional Development, as well as the Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources, serving as its first director. Dick also served as an Ambassador and coordinator of a Senior Environment Corps (SEC) in central Florida. If you represent a group that might be interested in the Nature Abounds™ Nature Force Network™, please contact Dick for more information at Richard@natureabounds.org.

Carl Undercofler
Mid-Atlantic Representative and Treasurer

Carl has been roaming and loving the great outdoors for the past 65 years, and is keenly interested in making this world a better place for future generations. Carl is a water quality monitor as well as past trainer of other water quality monitors, and a former Ambassador volunteer with the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI). Carl also volunteers countless hours for the Clearfield County Conservation District (CCCD) where he also holds the position of Associate Director. Additionally, he is a member of 7 watershed groups and a Board member of 2 of those groups.

Audrey Finlayson
Rockies Representative

Audrey is the program director for the North Central MT Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) based in Great Falls, Montana, engaging over 1200 older citizens in volunteer service. In her work, she has helped develop and expand the Noxious and Invasive Weed Program, Children's Environmental Health and local recycling program, and has also served on the Great Falls Police Community Foundation Board. Audrey is serving her 3rd term on City of Great Falls Neighborhood Council. In 2006 Audrey was selected as a National Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program. Previously, she also served two terms with AmeriCorps.


Norman "Norm" Anderson
Pacific Northwest

Norman is a commercial fisherman living a subsistence lifestyle near his hometown of Naknek, Alaska. He is an Aleut, and his tribal name is Nichalio. He was told by visiting Russians that his name is after the martyr Nicholas, who spent his life defending his homeland against foreign invaders. Similarly, he has done the same against corporations who want to explore for natural resources in the North Aleutian Basin as well as a mining company who wants to open a mine at the head waters of the largest lake in Alaska where millions of salmon return each year to spawn.

He has been active for many years to support a subsistence way of life. He has spoken in several forums, at universities, fundraisers and to politicians in Washington D.C. He's also organized meetings in the Bristol Bay region and invited industry representatives, politicians and environmentalists as well.

Sue Sturges
National Representative