John Bacone at Fern
John Bacone at Fern Station
Since the Beginning: John Bacone Remains an Avid CILTI Member
Written By: Olivia O'Neal
Date Published: June 11, 2025
Olivia O'Neal
First in a series about CILTI’s early supporters, in honor of our 35th anniversary
John Bacone has been a supporter of CILTI since the beginning. He was involved in the first conversations of CILTI’s creation, after the idea was sparked by available land harboring a rare species of phlox. The area was too far from existing organizations like ACRES Land Trust, bringing to light the need for a land trust in central Indiana to preserve its important ecosystems.
“I was very interested and enthused about there being a Central Indiana Land Trust,” John said.
Since then, he has been ever present in the background of CILTI work and events. He watched past Indiana Governor Mike Pence cut the ribbon during the Public Dedication Ceremony for Meltzer Woods and attended the Public Dedication Ceremony for Burnett Woods to name a few.
“So that’s been fun working with CILTI over the years enough to guarantee that these special places will be protected forever,” he said.
His history of conservation has been a fruitful one. He served as Turkey Run State Park’s first full-time professional naturalist. In 1978 he joined the DNR and oversaw Indiana’s nature preserves increase from around 50 to 300. He held the title of Indiana’s DNR Division of Nature Preserves Director for just over four decades, retiring in 2019.
Parke County and the Sugar Creek area are home to many of his favorite hiking spots. Meltzer Woods however, with its massive and ancient old growth elements and trail through rich understory growth, remains one of his favorite CILTI nature preserves.
When asked about mentoring CILTI’s current president Cliff Chapman, John said, “That’s a nice word, I don’t know that I ever specifically realized that I was doing that.”
Long before Cliff became CILTI’s president, John was excited to see him broaden his knowledge and interest in ways like filling a new regional ecologist position in southeast Indiana to care for nature preserves.
“It’s been fun to be involved with him and see what he’s accomplished,” John said, “He did some innovative things.”
He recalls Cliff convincing a local union to build a bridge at Calli Nature Preserve in Jennings County. He also arranged selling pine trees at another preserve rather than burning them—a new practice for a nature preserve.
After joining the CILTI Board of Directors in 2019, John began to advise Cliff and our whole staff in a new capacity. He values the diversity of the board, contributing his own background in forest ecology while others represent academia, law and other areas of expertise.
Recently, he joined board members and staff on a hike at Fern Station. “It was a chance to see and enjoy the fruits of our labors,” he said.
After years of supporting CILTI, John continues to serve the board with no less eagerness or enthusiasm. Looking ahead, he’s excited about future projects.
“I just have a good feeling that there are going to be more great places that we are going to be involved in helping to protect,” he said.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
December 2, 2025
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