Leadership

Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As a child growing up in Indianapolis, Cliff sought out every patch of green in the city. “I used to ride my bike along Pleasant Run and spend hours in the creek–looking at interesting rocks, plants and animals.” As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff grew up to make his passion for nature his life’s work. He previously worked as an ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves and The Nature Conservancy in Olympia, WA. He is the former president of the Natural Areas Association and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance. With his deep educational and professional history in the conservation field, 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. When not with his young family or at CILTI, he enjoys hiking, birding and working on his golf game (with mixed results).
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
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2008 | Meltzer Woods | Nature Conservation |

Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Stacy brings her passion for land protection into her work at CILTI. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve felt a connection to nature, and a wish to protect it,” she says. “Now that I have my own children, making sure we protect and care for what’s left is even more important to me.” Before joining the Land Trust, she worked at Seattle’s Cascade Land Conservancy, managing their robust volunteer program. Currently she serves as treasurer of the board for Indiana Wildlife Federation, and she is on the board of Indiana Land Protection Alliance. At CILTI Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel your 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.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
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2011 | Blossom Hollow | Donations, Public Relations |
Staff

David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David grew up across the street from Lake of the Woods Champaign County Forest Preserve. He spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He came to Indiana to study at Franklin College and most recently worked at Global Ministries, where he developed his deep love for partnering with donors to accomplish transformative work towards a nonprofit’s mission. Now 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.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
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2022 | White River Bluffs | Membership Information, Donations |

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. An Indiana native, he lived in the outdoor recreation hotspot of Missoula, MT for several years while going to college. His interest in land trust work began with recent family trips to northern Michigan, where he enjoyed hikes led by Leelanau Conservancy. With his bachelor’s in international relations and diplomacy and a master’s degree in nonprofit management, Jamison brings to CILTI not only a love of nature, but an ability to create meaningful partnerships that advance crucial work. He learned teamwork young while playing hockey, and currently plays in a rooftop hockey league. He is known for riding his bicycle everywhere, and has not had to rely on a car for his daily commute for the past 10 years.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
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2019 | Blossom Hollow | Nature Preserve Management |

Shawndra Miller
Communications Manager
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired 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. She previously wrote for Farm Indiana, Acres USA, Edible Indy, and other media, focusing on sustainable agriculture and community resilience. An Indiana Master Naturalist, she serves as secretary of the board for Indiana Native Plant Society's central chapter. She considers her position at CILTI to be a dream job, allowing her to use her skills in service of a mission that’s dear to her heart. Outside of work she can often be found with her nose in a book and a cat on her lap, unless she’s at the yoga studio trying to twist herself into unusual shapes.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2018 | Mossy Point | Communications Inquiries |

Stephanie Paine Crossin
Land Protection Manager
Stephanie grew up spending part of each summer roaming the woods, beaches and sand dunes of Lake Michigan—an experience that gave her a lifelong love of the outdoors. Now she oversees all our land transactions, helping to safeguard Central Indiana’s remaining natural areas. She joined CILTI in 2019 after focusing on family and volunteer work for many years. Currently she serves on the Conservation committee of the Indianapolis Garden Club and is helping to establish Marion County’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. Most of her leisure pursuits are connected to the natural world in some way—whether hiking national parks on vacation or combating invasive honeysuckle at home. Her favorite stress-reliever is her daily run on a nature trail; however, she’s been known to stop midstride to look at interesting birds.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
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2019 | Meltzer Woods | Land Protection Projects |

Grace van Kan
White River Steward
Growing up primarily in Maryland, Grace van Kan roamed the woods, creeks and wetlands around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. From an early trout-raising project to a “gap year” spent restoring coral reefs in Thailand, her interest in aquatic conservation has only grown. Now she cares for several riverine nature preserves as CILTI’s White River Steward. After serving an AmeriCorps term with a land trust in the Sierra Nevadas, she knew she wanted to put her environmental studies degree to use in the conservation field. She enjoys seeing how her contributions improve an ecosystem for lasting impact, and her CILTI role represents exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. In her off hours she can often be found fixing broken things around the house (or disassembling unbroken things to see how they work), and when she needs a meditative moment, she builds things out of Legos.
Grace’s position is funded by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and she focuses on our White River Watershed properties.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2020 | Meltzer Woods | Land Stewardship |

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. That transformative experience made him decide to use his Purdue environmental biology degree in the field. He came to his stewardship role at CILTI after undertaking invasive species control and trail maintenance for Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs, MI. When not wrestling invasive plants in the field, he stays in fighting shape by kneading bread dough for fresh-baked loaves.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2019 | Blossom Hollow | Land Stewardship |

Traci Willis
Outreach Manager
Traci has always loved nature, channeling her passion into creating habitat for bees and butterflies (and taking stunning photographs of them). She coordinates our outreach efforts, building key partnerships with organizations. Part of her role involves matching dedicated volunteers with opportunities—whether that’s assisting our stewardship team in the field, serving on our board or working on special projects. She is also the face of CILTI at various outreach events. Leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and researching genealogical records to finally prove she’s royalty keep her busy in her off hours.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2016 | Meltzer Woods | Volunteer Opportunities, Events, Membership |
Board of Directors

Joe Hawkins
Board Chair
Joe Hawkins works as an attorney at Duke Realty with a practice focusing on industrial leasing, development and brownfield redevelopment in California. Joe began his interest in conservation after spending many days canoeing and sailing in the Great Lakes region and hiking trails all over Indiana and Virginia. Joe is avid cyclist, and he and his family enjoy adventures in Indiana’s natural areas by trail and waterway.

John Bacone
Secretary
John Bacone received his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University with a double major in Botany and Zoology and a Master of Science degree in Forest Ecology from the University of Illinois. He was the first full-time professional naturalist at Turkey Run State Park. He then served as Central Illinois Regional Ecologist on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. He retired in 2019 after 40 years as the Director of the Division of Nature Preserves with Indiana DNR.

Thomas Betley
Vice Chair of Programs
Tom Betley has worked at the IU School of Medicine for 20 years in Financial and Academic administration. He is currently the Associate Vice Chair for Budget and Finance at the Department of Medicine.

Curt DeVoe
Immediate Past Chair
Curt DeVoe, Senior Counsel at the law firm Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP, is a native of Indianapolis and has spent much of his life in and around the woods, streams and reservoirs of Central Indiana. Curt comes to conservation from that experience, his study of the writings of Henry David Thoreau in college, and his career as an environmental attorney. Along with his wife, Lynn, he looks for a "nature moment" each day that kindles appreciation of the natural world.

Priscilla Johnson
Vice Chair of Advancement
Priscilla Johnson is a lifelong Indianapolis resident and graduated with an AB from Earlham College and an MS from Butler University. She was taught to appreciate nature and being in the outdoors by her father, Dr. Russell Lamb and her brother, Randy Lamb. Starting her career as an educator in Washington Township and then Lawrence Township, Priscilla associated with the F.C, Tucker Company as a Realtor/Broker 33 years ago. She has been a lifetime member of The Presidents Club and was named one of the Top Ten F.C. Tucker Brokers in 2002. Priscilla has been on the CILTI board since 2014 and currently serves as Vice President of Advancement. She is pleased to help conserve the best places in central Indiana and to teach others how to appreciate the natural settings that surround us. She is a longstanding member of the Indianapolis Ski Club and enjoys skiing during the winter months.

Thomas Maurath
Treasurer
Tom Maurath is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Goelzer Investment Management with 36 years of experience. He received his B.A. at the University of Notre Dame (Cum Laude) and his M.B.A. at Indiana University. He resides in Indianapolis with his wife and is a member of Holy Spirit at Geist and Hawthorns Country Club. Tom enjoys golf, biking, racquetball and hiking.

Heather Bobich
Board Member
Heather Bobich works in environmental consulting and specializes in wetland, stream, and native habitat restoration. A wetland ecologist and landscape architect by education, she manages the Indiana office of Davey Resource Group and has a passion for landscaping with native plants. Heather lives in Carmel and enjoys exploring Indiana's parks and nature preserves with her family in her free time.

Ryan Fuhrmann
Board Member
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996 and a master’s degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002. He has taught finance at Butler University and served on the board of the Friends of Hamilton County Parks. He currently volunteers at the Eiteljorg Museum and with the Clark Hulings Foundation. 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.

Lori Kaplan
Board Member
Lori Kaplan retired in 2018 from her position as Executive Director of Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority. Formerly she served as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and as Chief Legal Counsel/Deputy Director for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. She was business development manager for JFNew (now known as Cardno). In addition to volunteering for CILTI both on the board and in the field, she also serves on the board of Indiana Parks Alliance and is a member of Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee.

Kevin McKelvey
Board Member
Kevin McKelvey is a place-based writer, poet, designer and social practice artist. His poetry book, Dream Wilderness Poems, was published in 2018, and another book, Indiana Nocturnes, written with Curtis Crisler, will soon be published. He is at work on a novel and regularly completes workshops, art installations, and placemaking projects around Indiana. At University of Indianapolis, he serves as Professor in the English Department and as director of the university's Masters of Art in Social Practice Art program. McKelvey grew up on the edge of a corn field near Lebanon, Indiana, and attended DePauw University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Kevin believes in land trusts because they protect land forever, and he helped found Long-Term Ecological Reflections with ACRES and NICHES in Indiana. Land trusts can protect pristine natural areas that remain, and they can help return land to its natural state.

Daniel Pulliam
Board Member
Daniel Pulliam is a partner at Faegre Drinker. He is a dad, basketball coach and journalist whose pursuits range from legal writing to blogging to investigative reporting.

Rima Shahid
Board Member
Rima Shahid is executive director of Women4Change. A native Hoosier of Pakistani descent, Rima previously served as executive director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana, and prior to that, she lived for more than a decade in the Middle East, where she worked as a trade development officer at the Pakistan Embassy in Bahrain. Rima speaks four languages: English, Spanish, Urdu, and Hindi. Along with her husband and three children, she enjoys exploring Central Indiana’s beautiful nature preserves and parks.

Stephen Simon
Board Member
Stephen H. Simon is the founder of Simon Equity Partners, LLC and has been a managing member since January 2007. From February 1997 to December 2006, he served as president and chief executive officer of Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc., a privately-held real estate and investment company. Stephen serves on the board of directors of the Pacers Basketball Corporation, Yes To, Inc. and Coalision, Inc. He is a director for the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and serves on the boards of two other nonprofits besides CILTI: Conscious Alliance and HeadCount.

Andrew Stokely
Board Member
Andrew Stokely is a partner at Barrett & Stokely where he focuses on the maintenance, renovation and construction of multi-family communities. From a young age, the outdoors and nature have been a priority. Andrew is always looking for an excuse to explore nature and get in to the woods. He enjoys hiking, camping, riding his dirt bike as well as creating and maintaining trails. Equally enjoyable is the special time in early June when he is able to witness Cliff Chapman calling in warblers and other song birds in Central Indiana. Andrew resides in Indianapolis with his wife and three children.

Mary Beth Tuohy
Board Member
Indianapolis native Mary Beth Tuohy spent nearly 20 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency at the national, regional and state level in various municipalities, leading multiple programs. Currently she is owner/president of At Home Preferred, a boutique home health care company serving seniors on the northside of Indianapolis. Her volunteer work encompasses stints on several boards, a highlight being her nine years with CICOA, including serving as board chair. Mary Beth enjoys time outdoors hiking, cycling and walking her dogs, as well as planning family vacations with her husband and two teen daughters.

Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring in 2017, Karen worked for Eli Lilly & Co. where she provided information systems quality assurance and computer systems validation for global manufacturing systems. Previously she was a configuration manager with Raytheon, Cummins, Gates Aerospace and Computer Sciences Corporation where she was awarded the Astronauts' Silver Snoopy Award for professional excellence. In retirement Karen volunteers for a number of environmental and equine pursuits including Indiana Master Naturalist Certification and Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center. Karen earned an undergraduate degree from Florida State University and an applied computer science certificate from Purdue University.

Dan Willis
Board Member
Dan Willis was born in Southeast Texas, near the Louisiana border, and his entire childhood was surrounded by the incredibly diverse natural world that exists there. Wild places shaped his worldview and gave him so much, and he sees serving the Central Indiana Land Trust mission as one way to repay that. He is an entrepreneur who has owned or run businesses in the restaurant, manufacturing, service, and technology industries. In 2006, he and his wife moved to Indianapolis. They plan to call it home for the rest of their lives.
Communications

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.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2012 | Oliver's Woods | Media Inquiries |

Shawndra Miller
Communications Manager
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired 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. She previously wrote for Farm Indiana, Acres USA, Edible Indy, and other media, focusing on sustainable agriculture and community resilience. An Indiana Master Naturalist, she serves as secretary of the board for Indiana Native Plant Society's central chapter. She considers her position at CILTI to be a dream job, allowing her to use her skills in service of a mission that’s dear to her heart. Outside of work she can often be found with her nose in a book and a cat on her lap, unless she’s at the yoga studio trying to twist herself into unusual shapes.
With CILTI Since | Favorite Property | Contact For |
---|---|---|
2018 | Mossy Point | Communications Inquiries |