Shawn Graff - Executive Director

Shawn came to OWLT in 2003 after serving as President of Graff & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in non-profit management, historic preservation and fundraising.  He has extensive experience in consulting local governments and non-profit organizations on fundraising, site planning, historic preservation and long-range planning. In addition to directing the Land Trust’s preservation programs, Shawn is responsible for all aspects of organizational development including fund development, membership, education and outreach, land stewardship and conservation.  Shawn holds a Masters of Art degree in Art History from UW-Milwaukee, where he focused much of his research on historic preservation and city planning.

Steve Henkel - Land Protection Specialist

Steve began his career with OWLT in the spring of 2008 by volunteering at stewardship work days and assisting with preserve acquisition projects, and was hired later that year.  Steve’s primary focus is working with landowners on conservation easement and land acquisition projects, and managing the easement stewardship program.   He earned a B.S. degree in Water Resources/Water Chemistry and a M.S. degree in Natural Resources from UW-Stevens Point.  Following graduation, Steve spent nearly 20 years in the environmental consulting field investigating and remediating soil and groundwater contamination.  He holds Professional Hydrologist and Professional Soil Scientist licenses in Wisconsin.

Garry Schalla - Associate Director of Development and Operations

Garry brings to the OWLT team a background of success in both for-profit and non-profit industries.  He has participated in numerous domestic and international philanthropic projects, most recently in the northern India region of Ladakh, where Garry helped develop and implement health and educational community programs for children and women. Prior to Garry’s non-profit career, he owned Schalla Jewelers, a retail jewelry store located for twenty-five years in Fox Point, WI.

“For me, after years of retail service my life has been refocused. Now my service is in support of those values I hold as important. From teaching sustainability to insuring the future of our most basic resources of land and water, I believe it is important to be working toward a better future.”

Mike Hoffer - Stewardship/Restoration Manager

Mike came to OWLT from North Carolina, where he was the managing editor and publisher of several local magazines. In this role, Mike provided a strong voice in local government and worked with multiple nonprofit groups. His public policy knowledge, engineering background and nonprofit experience serve him well in his role with OWLT.  Mike has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Elaine Gauthier - Accountant

Elaine brings a wide variety of accounting experiences to her position.  She has been working accounting jobs, in manufacturing, accounting firms, golf courses and in her own business for most of her adult life.  Elaine graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a B.B.A. degree in accounting.

My joys in life come from running my friends’ Standard Poodle in Agility and showing my Appaloosa in ranch horse shows.

As a side line I work at OWLT where the staff definitely works together as a TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More).

Janet Sivula – Office Manager

Janet brings strong administrative skills from her work coordinating blood drives with the American Red Cross, and from her career as a registered nurse in hospital, home health and hospice settings.  Janet possesses Associate Degree in Nursing from Moraine Park Technical College, and has been a Registered Nurse for over 20 years.