Our Stories

2025 NCTA Staff Introductions

Kenny Wawsczyk, Regional Trail Coordinator

Kenny’s venture into “the trail world” began in 2007 when he packed up his backpack and went to work through an AmeriCorps program, spending the majority of the five months in the Emigrant Wilderness (Stanislaus National Forest, California). While it was the most mentally and physically difficult experience of his life thus far, he knew a career in the outdoors was for him. He also knew he had to go back to college and get that piece of paper in order to work for the Forest Service. He earned a degree in Natural Resource Management then worked in the Manistee National Forest, primarily as the Trails Crew Leader for seven seasons. He joined the NCTA staff in 2015 and is grateful to be based at home, which is only 20 minutes away from the NCTA Trail Town of White Cloud, where he grew up.

Regional Trail Coordinators (RTC) wear many hats and every day is different, but maintaining partnerships is a critical task. There are multiple partners across Michigan, including agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Those all have separate divisions with their own missions and goals, which we try to incorporate the North Country Trail into. But the partnership Kenny likes the best is with our volunteers. These are the people on the ground and behind the scenes, dedicating a part of their life to help develop, maintain, protect, and promote the trail. Getting out in the field with those volunteers to scout new routes or put on trainings is what he likes best. Building trail is still a passion of his, but he also knows a key component of being an RTC is spent behind a computer: planning, mapping, filling out permits and grants, and managing project details so volunteers can do the fun stuff they signed up for.

“There is not a person in Michigan connected to the trail, whether a volunteer or land management partner, who doesn’t sing Kenny’s praises. Since 2015, he’s increased our ability to work across Chapter and agency lines to maintain strong communication across the state. We’ve seen a significant increase in our ability to build strong partnerships, plan big projects, and find the funding to execute them. Kenny is also the first to step up to learn new skills and always does it with a smile. We couldn’t ask for a better team member to represent the NCTA in Michigan.” (Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director)

Every year has large projects planned across the nearly 1,200 miles of North Country Trail in Michigan and this year (2025) is no different. Kenny’s main focuses are three major bridge projects, route planning and trail protection strategies, and collaborating with many to keep the trail clear – particularly in the wake of an ice storm that devastated Northern Lower Michigan this March.

Matt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator

Trails have held significance for Matt long before he came to the NCTA in 2006. Not only did he spent three years working for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in North Carolina and three years for the University of Wisconsin Extension, but he met his wife atop Springer Mountain in 1998 while hiking the Appalachian Trail. (They finished their section hike of the entire trail in 2001 as a married couple.) Originally from a small town in northwestern Connecticut, he earned a M.S. in Outdoor Recreation from the University of Idaho. Matt is a Regional Trail Coordinator, representing the trail and Association in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin from his home office in Western Minnesota.

Matt’s main roles are supporting volunteers and NCTA land protection efforts, providing training to volunteers, and fostering agency partnerships. His favorite parts of the job are working with his amazing volunteers, spending time in some fabulous places along the North Country Trail – especially the prairies of North Dakota and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota – and working alongside his great colleagues at the NCTA.

“Matt’s commitment and enthusiasm for the North Country Trail are exceptional. He’s a highly skilled trail builder and dedicated advocate, bringing decades of invaluable experience to our team. Matt works tirelessly to foster meaningful connections between people and the trail, ensuring that everyone he meets understands the unique significance of the North Country Trail and can find themselves on the trail.” (Valerie Bader, Director of Trail Operations)

This year (2025), Matt is prioritizing key agency partner meetings in his three states and responding to agency projects that impact the North Country Trail. He is also helping develop the Association’s route planning strategy, coordinating a regional volunteer training slated for 2026, and supporting Chapter and Affiliate priority trail projects.

“Matt’s positive energy has made collaborating on trainings productive and fun. He takes everyone’s ideas into consideration, and then moves forward to make things happen. I’m grateful to work with Matt to help move volunteer training forward.” (Barbara Budd, Volunteer and Education Coordinator, Superior Hiking Trail Association)

Valerie Bader, Director of Trail Operations

Val became interested in trails through the youth corps world, through her work with the Student Conservation Association, Southwest Conservation Corps, and Gulf Coast Conservation Corps. This led to staff roles with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and eventually, us! Val represents the entire North Country National Scenic Trail predominantly from her home office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Val’s position with the NCTA is key in stewarding our agency partnerships. She collaborates with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and more than 160 other organizations on agreements, funding, projects, and policy. She manages five NCTA staff, overseeing map development; trail planning, design, construction, and maintenance; and Chapter and volunteer support. To further represent our trail, Val is a member of the Trail Leaders Council with the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS). She leads the NCTA Field Grants program, and is active on the NCTA Advocacy Committee.

“Val’s role is critical in maintaining those higher-level partnerships. It allows Regional Trail Coordinators like myself to focus on the grassroots level.” (Kenny Wawsczyk, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator)

A few things she’s concentrating on this year (2025) include the development of a robust volunteer training strategy, route planning for trail gaps with the National Park Service, and updating key handbooks and manuals. Importantly, Val is also staying in close contact with federal land managers to understand the impacts to the trail from funding and staffing cuts, and to create contingency plans.

“Val’s deep experience with National Scenic Trails and volunteers gives her a perspective that has been invaluable in keeping the NCTA aligned with our long-term vision. She has a remarkable ability to thoughtfully balance the flood of new ideas and perspectives that come her way, helping us stay focused on what’s best for the trail and our mission.” (Matt Rowbotham, NCTA GIS Program Manager)