I am honored to join the Friends of the Johnson Nature Center and serve the organization as president. For the past ten years I have resided here in Bloomfield Township with my husband and four children, all who attend Bloomfield Hills Schools. I am an active volunteer in our school community and currently continue to serve on the BH PTO Council executive board as past-president. I am a graduate of Wayne State University School of Social Work specializing in community, policy, and leadership and have most recently practiced as a Community Impact Coordinator for a senior independent living community with Preservation of Affordable Housing, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving affordable, equitable, and healthy homes.

My passions lie with nature, people, connections, and community and I hold firm belief in the restorative power of nature and its positive impact on our mental and physical health and wellness. I truly look forward to working with fellow nature and wildlife enthusiasts in our community as together we support our nature center in educating and promoting ecological sustainability, biodiversity, and conservation of our natural resources. It is my hope that all will find a sense of belonging and connection to nature at our center, and are called to care for our natural environment as we do each other.

Alan is the Director of the Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center, leading the expansion of the educational facility since 2016. His work is emphasized by building strategy and leading teams to connect youths, adults, and communities to food and agriculture through outdoor learning environments. His area of expertise is in farm-based education, outdoor education, and youth development.

Alan enjoys creating initiatives that bring meaning and authenticity to the educational experiences at the Nature Center along with creating opportunities to bring the community together.

Mike and his wife, Joann, have four children attending Bloomfield Hills Schools. Wistfully remembering the many trips to the Johnson Nature Center when the kids were younger, Mike jumped at the opportunity to support Friends. Mike hopes to advance the mission of Friends and welcome the community to the gem of the District. In his spare time, Mike practices law.

Info coming soon…

Angel was born and raised in Battle Creek, MI and learned the values of a Midwest upbringing. Angel met the love of her life in Kalamazoo and moved with him back to Detroit to finish her education. Angel received her BSW and MSW from Wayne State University, and is a trauma certified practitioner through Starr Commonwealth’s National Institute For Trauma And Loss In Children. Angel’s strongest connection to nature was when she lived on a Nature Reserve in West Berkshire, England with her newlywed husband. This experience helped her see a connection to nature and wellness. She brought this passion with her back to the states, and started a family.

As does for many people, becoming a parent opened her eyes to all the challenges and opportunities facing our youth. Angel combined her natural advocacy with newfound passion of parenthood and dived into helping her community. Her passion is prevention, connection, and helping to build resilient communities. Angel has served on several different nonprofit boards and committees with Avondale, Eton, Bloomfield Hills Schools. IA, and Gift of Giving. She has served on various committees at her children's schools throughout the years..

Angel currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Nonprofit Outreach Committee for Impact100 of Oakland County, Co-Chair of the Family Grant Review Committee for Impact100 Oakland County, Chair the Bloomfield Hills Schools Parent and Teacher Organization Council Health and Wellness Committee, and volunteers for Food Rescue US-Detroit and Make Food Not Waste nonprofits.

More info coming soon.

Dave is new to the board in 2022, has been a Friends member for many years and has been enjoying frequent walks in the JNC since moving to Bloomfield in 1994. Born in Detroit, a Ford retiree with an MBA from UM he has been supporting local, state and international land conservancies for decades.

Jen Heard is a Professional Organizer, Coach, Speaker, App Creator and all-around mompreneur. Jen grew up in Bloomfield Hills & attended Conant, BH and Andover (now BHHS). Her family has been regulars at the Nature Center for nearly 50 years, and replaced Liz Kobe when she relocated to Arizona in 2018.

Jen started Clean Sweep Consulting, Inc. in 2006 and loves professional organizing and coaching because she gets to work with busy, smart people and their families to set goals, prioritize, redesign, downsize, (sometimes relocate) and improve their lives. She is the founder of LOVEBIGGER.COM and her app is currently in development to help people downsize while equitably and sustainably distributing their little-used items to their highest and best use at the charity of their choice.

Info coming soon…

Howard was a trustee on the Bloomfield Hills School Board. A lover of nature for as long as he can remember, he has enjoyed birding ever since his father took him on early morning bird walks in New York when he was in elementary school.

He is an active member of the Michigan Association of School Boards, having earned the President’s Award of Recognition, MASB’s highest award. He served three year terms on their Government Relations and Resolutions & Bylaws Committees. Howard is a member of the Oakland County School Board Association’s Government Relations Committee and a past member of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He frequently lobbies in Lansing and Washington, D.C. for improving equitable educational outcomes and funding for Michigan’s public school children.

After retiring from being a finance manager in the automotive industry, Howard has volunteered his time assisting low and moderate income individuals and families with preparing their tax returns and helping seniors navigate their way through Medicare. He is also a lifetime member of Stagecrafters, a community theatre in Royal Oak, MI.

Board of Ed info HERE