Our Stories

NCTA Staff Introductions

Nancy Brozek, Director of Development and Communications

Meet Nancy. When she began leading the NCTA Development and Communications Team in 2019, she carried more than 20 years of diverse experience in nonprofits. Since then, she has been a superstar at planning, organizing, and directing all fundraising for the Association, including the planned giving program, and corporate and foundation relations.

“Nancy always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude! She is a strategic and creative professional that makes working fun.” (Cheryl Kreindler, NCTA Interim Executive Director)

“Nancy is excellent at seeing the full picture right from the start of a project or appeal. While she loves creating a good spreadsheet (or six!) for each one, I always have complete trust in her vision and that her plan is the best path forward. The respect and trust she gives this team is so critical and appreciated. Because she prioritizes maintaining an environment of open communication, the Association is often led to success.” (Kate Lemon, NCTA Marketing and Communications Manager)

Becky VanDyke, Data Entry Specialist

Meet Becky. She joined the NCTA team in November 2021. After more than a decade in the for-profit healthcare world, transitioning to the nonprofit environment was a noticeable change – in the very best way.

“It was clear from my first interview that this organization had a very different focus from what I was used to,” said Becky. “Within just a few weeks of being hired, I saw that NCTA truly lives its mission. I’ve never felt so appreciated and supported. I’m valued as a whole person – a mom and a wife balancing a full life – not just as a cog in the wheel behind a bottom line.”

As the primary staff member who processes incoming donor and membership gifts, as well as entering volunteer hours, she is continually inspired by the dedication, generosity, and heart the North Country Trail receives from volunteers, members, donors, communities, businesses, and partner organizations. It’s a powerful reminder that there are still so many who care deeply about preserving and protecting the natural beauty around us.

“Becky is such an important part of the NCTA team,” wrote Heather Ertle, NCTA Membership and CRM Systems Manager. “Her dependability and attention to detail ensure that contributions are handled accurately and donors are thoughtfully acknowledged. I also appreciate her problem-solving mindset; she doesn’t just identify issues, she comes to the table with practical solutions that prioritize both efficiency and the careful stewardship of our donors. Becky’s genuine care for her work and her team makes working alongside her enjoyable.”

Becky’s only “complaint” is that she doesn’t get to see her incredible coworkers in person as often as she’d like – but that’s simply part of working for the longest National Scenic Trail in the country.

Kate Lemon, Marketing and Communications Manager

Meet Kate. For the past 7+ years, she has managed a wide variety of communications for the NCTA, including the website, social media channels, marketing emails, and the North Star magazine. She is the main point of contact for media inquiries and branding information, and she helps provide IT and outreach support to Chapters.

Kate has a BA in journalism from Indiana University at Indianapolis, and has worked in the public sector ever since. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for a trail-building youth corps in Colorado, and worked for both the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Bureau of Land Management – all in outreach and communications roles. For four years, she aided research grant development efforts at Penn State University before joining the NCTA team and moving back to her home state of Michigan.

“There is a special quality required to capture the heart of a 5,000-mile journey, and Kate Lemon has it,” said Nancy Brozek, NCTA Director of Development and Communications. “To know Kate is to know her authentic self: someone who lives and breathes the trail. Her sense of humor and lighthearted energy are her trademark, and they’re the reason she’s gained so much respect in everything she does. She doesn’t just tell the story of the trail; she makes everyone want to be a part of it.”

In her free time, you can usually find Kate outside hiking, fishing, camping, or paddling with her husband, two young sons, and their old dog, Indy. If she’s not in her yard or woods, check the chicken coop.

This year, Kate is continuing strategic plan efforts to tell the Association’s ongoing story of trail protection. She is also striving to elevate both the trail and the work of the Association staff and volunteers through media and other partnerships.

Karen Raab, Finance and Operations Manager

Meet Karen. From the NCTA Headquarters in Lowell, Michigan, she manages financial reporting, the annual budget and audit, and human resources tasks. She helps with grant management, and is the main contact for Chapter financial needs and questions.

Karen has worked in accounting since her very first job, and she knew right away it was the field for her. Once she was introduced to the nonprofit world, “it was the perfect fit.”

“Karen has brought consistent month-to-month processing of NCTA financial transactions, timely reports, and is always responsive to my requests,” wrote Brad Slagle, NCTA Board of Directors Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair. “She has greatly smoothed the annual audit process.”

“I’ve worked with Karen while serving the NCTA as a Chapter leader, national board member, and accounting consultant,” said Mark VanHornweder. “She has always been responsive and reliable.”

Next year, she will continue to improve and streamline procedures and tasks, and be a wealth of knowledge for staff and volunteers alike.

Heather Ertle, Membership and CRM Systems Manager

Meet Heather. She manages the Association’s donor and member database, overseeing gift processing and membership transactions to ensure donor/member data is accurate, secure, and useful across the organization. She works with all staff and external partners to support fundraising, membership, volunteer, and [NCTA] Chapter work through strong data management and reporting.

Her background is in accounting; she earned a bachelor’s degree from Davenport University and worked various bookkeeping and accounting jobs before taking 12 years off to be a full-time mom to her four kids. She re-entered the workforce in 2018 with an interest in data management for nonprofits, and has been with the NCTA since September 2020. She started as a Data Entry Specialist before advancing to Membership and CRM Systems Manager. She’s drawn to nonprofit work because it allows her to put her skills toward causes that truly matter and create meaningful impact in our communities. Since spending time on the trails is so important to her own mental and physical wellbeing, Heather says it’s especially rewarding to support an organization dedicated to protecting and expanding the trail community.

“I’ve worked closely with Heather since joining the NCTA team in 2021, and we are truly fortunate to have her,” wrote Becky VanDyke, Data Entry Specialist. “Every staff member relies on her deep knowledge in one way or another. She approaches her work with exceptional care and always considers every angle of a project. She’s also the first to step in whenever someone needs support. She’s outstanding!”

When she’s not working, Heather enjoys trail running, reading, and playing games with her family. She also love to travel and always makes a point of seeking out a trail to explore in new areas.

Looking ahead to 2026, Heather is helping to implement the NCTA’s new project management software, which will allow staff to manage projects more efficiently and improve collaboration across departments. She is also continuing to seek new ways to best support the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Alison Sanchez, Administrative Assistant

Meet Alison. She’s the Administrative Assistant for the NCTA and the smiling face of our Trail Shop in Lowell, Michigan. In this role, Alison supports all staff with a wide variety of tasks. She also manages Trail Shop orders and front-end reception at Headquarters, and organizes volunteer awards and the Hike 100 Challenge program.

Alison has been in many administrative assistant and data entry roles throughout her career, but her heart has always been with the outdoors and nature. She was thrilled to join an internship with the NCTA in 2016 that eventually led to her current full-time role as Administrative Assistant.

“Alison’s love for the North Country Trail is evident,” said Andrea Ketchmark, NCTA Executive Director. “Whether it’s taking the time to talk to hikers that stop into the office or ensuring our Chapters have materials for events, Alison is always trying to help people connect to the NCT.”

“I call or stop by Lowell on a regular basis,” wrote Jane Norton, NCTA board member and volunteer leader. “There is never a time that Alison does not have a friendly and cordial voice or a huge smile on her face. As I leave, she makes sure I received what I needed. She is a super asset for the NCTA!”

In her free time Alison and her husband Josh enjoy day-hiking with field guides and identification apps. They also share a love for kayaking, container gardening on their porch, and spending time with their polydactyl black cat “child,” Reggie. Alison also plays traditional Celtic music on flute and pennywhistle with multiple bands in West and Southwest Michigan.

Over the last few years, Alison has been working to get all of the NCTA Chapters’ trailers and heavy equipment updated, logged, registered, and insured for the organization. This year, she is assisting with the update of various internal procedures.

Matt Rowbotham, GIS Program Manager

Meet Matt. He manages Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the NCTA from his home office in Traverse City, Michigan. His main role is keeping the North Country Trail accurately mapped and accessible to the public. He develops and maintains maps, provides spatial analysis for projects, and ensures trail information is current across the many platforms the NCTA participates in. He is also the Association’s primary contact for IT management and staff support.

Matt first connected with the NCTA in 2002 as a geography intern at Grand Valley State University, and joined the staff in 2004. Over more than two decades, he has helped grow the NCTA’s digital mapping capacity to a system that supports landowner outreach, volunteer projects, and trail planning.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, hiking, and fly fishing – most often on or near the North Country Trail.

“We are fortunate to have Matt’s cumulative knowledge and expertise,” wrote Joan Young, NCTA long-distance hiker and volunteer. “From my own observations, I can say that he is dedicated to the trail; this is more than just a job to him. I’ve used a lot of online maps over the years, and the NCTA’s is by far the best and easiest to use. I’m pretty sure that most people don’t know how much time it takes to maintain that map. I appreciate everything Matt does for the North Country Trail community.”

“Matt is a wealth of institutional memory and knowledge,” said Ken Hendrickson, NCNST Trail Manager, National Park Service. “He does amazing work at maintaining at enhancing the trail’s GIS, maps, etc., but behind that work is his invaluable ability to think things through and creatively solve problems. He does all that while being a genuinely kind and thoughtful person with a great sense of humor. I really respect the way Matt’s mind works and frequently rely on him as a sounding board and key problem solver as we work to improve trail operations.”

This year, Matt is working on major data updates in Adirondack Park, and the development of GIS layers that will guide project planning and priority setting as part of the Association’s strategic plan. He also continues to support staff and volunteers with the tech tools they need to be successful, including efforts to take our GPS data collection into the level of quality and accuracy.

Paul Gagnon, Director of Trail Protection

From his home in Vermont, Paul has been leading NCTA’s efforts to secure a permanent corridor for the entire North Country Trail since 2022. He also plays key roles in advocacy efforts, grants management, and partnership development.

Paul came to the NCTA with more than a decade of experience working for land trusts in the northeast United States, in both land stewardship and land protection roles. He holds an M.R.P. from the University of Massachusetts where he focused on greenway development, public access planning, and land use law. Paul is a lifelong hiker, naturalist, and avowed map geek. He has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, practices barefoot hiking, and maintains a hiking blog. While he lives in Vermont, he collaborates with our entire trail community.

“Paul has moved NCTA’s trail protection strategy forward very quickly,” wrote JT Horn, Senior Director National Trails Initiative at the Trust for Public Land. “He’s built a network of land trusts interested in helping with trail protection, recruited a new Trail Protection Committee, and offered helpful guidance on specific conservation projects. At Trust for Public Land, we are pleased to be working on trail protection projects in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. Over the next few years we expect to help protect or relocated more than 60 miles of the trail to a permanent home on conserved land.”

This year, Paul is meeting with NCTA Chapter volunteers to assist them in landowner outreach; providing trainings to volunteers and NCTA staff; conducting direct landowner outreach and negotiations; maintaining and building GIS and Landscape trail protection data; and conducting land research and partner outreach. He is also participating in route planning strategies, and working to advance dozens of trail protection and land acquisition projects.

Lauren Kennedy-Little, Regional Trail Coordinator

Lauren has been representing the North Country Trail across Pennsylvania and Ohio from her home office in Pittsburgh since 2023. She studied biology and graphic design at Washington and Jefferson College, but says she became interested in trails by accident.

“I have always held a deep appreciation for nature and love of adventuring outdoors,” she explained. “I applied to work for the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as summer youth crew leader, mentoring high schoolers on conservation project work in Pittsburgh parks. I loved the people and the reward of working with my hands, so I continued traveling the country working contract jobs so I could learn more about trail work from skilled professionals. In the off-season, I worked at a brewery and kept looking for ways to volunteer and get involved with young professionals enthusiastic about outdoor careers. I took an opportunity to serve on the NCTA Next Generation Coalition and it turned into a full time gig.”

When she’s not on the clock, Lauren enjoys kayaking, backpacking, gardening, yoga, and nature wandering – both solo and with her husband, Drew.

Lauren is passionate about trail design and loves teaching technical skills to people. As an NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator, she works closely with volunteer Chapters, public land partners, and trail affiliates. Together, they further the mission of protecting, promoting, building, and maintaining the North Country Trail – though her main focus is trail management and development. She also strives to build the NCTA’s presence with affinity groups and youth organizations, and to elevate the North Country Trail at the state level.

“Lauren has been a great asset to our Butler County Chapter in Pennsylvania,” said Jan Genaway, Chapter President. “She is a great communicator, checks in frequently, and is always offering assistance. Lauren has hosted a variety of workshops for our members, including one that promoted trail adoption. It was a great hit and we gained many adopters (volunteers) from that event. She has also assisted our Chapter with getting a portion of the trail off roads, helping with applications and permits, and is currently helping us explore more properties to help move more trail off-road.”

This year, she is prioritizing route planning, enhancing state-level partnerships, and developing volunteer training curriculum. Priorities that remain constant are volunteer support and fostering relationships.

Will Brazill, Regional Trail Coordinator

This spring, we welcomed Will into the NCTA family: He is the new Regional Trail Coordinator for New York and Vermont. He has worked previously with the National Park Service, Vanderbilt University, and Tennessee State Parks. He earned a degree in parks and recreation management from Pennsylvania Western University, and has a passion for land conservation and sustainable trail design. Will lives in Western New York with his wife Kristin.

Will is originally from New York, but also spent part of his childhood in Kansas City, Missouri. Shortly after high school, he moved back to Western New York to help his parents open a restaurant. He studied parks and recreation management at what is now Pennsylvania Western University. After spending the past six years in Tennessee, he and his wife moved home.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed the diversity of a northeastern forest until I was back in it,” Will explained. “One of my first hikes since returning was in early May, along a section of the North Country Trail called Poverty Hill. It’s near Ellicottville and borders a short-lived ski slope from the 1960s – now part of a Wildlife Management Area. After eight straight days of rain, portions of the trail were a muddy mess, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me. It was a perfect, 60° spring day, with ephemerals like red and white trillium and jack-in-the-pulpit blooming everywhere. The forest was alive with neotropical birds making their way north to their summer breeding grounds. It was everything I needed to feel home again. I might be biased but to me, there’s nothing like spring and summer in the Northeast.”

Will added he’s grateful for the opportunity to help manage trail projects and build relationships across this incredible region. Connecting with people and places has always been something he loves and cherishes. At his parents’ restaurant, every menu featured a quote by Irish poet William Butler Yeats: There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met. He said that line stuck with him, and captures the spirit he’s found in the trail community.

“Staffing this NCTA position was critical to completing the planning and construction of the North Country Trail in New York’s Adirondack Park because of the strict planning process required to create the trail in the rugged wilderness. I was excited to hear about Will – a highly qualified individual with great experience in environmental policy and trail construction. I look forward to working with him in the field this summer as we both explore new areas of the park that neither of us has visited before.” (Bob Rosati, NCTA Adirondacks volunteer)

This year, Will’s main priority is getting to know his people and places, and building relationships. He will also continue the trail’s progress into Vermont.

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)