FLOW Staff

Megan Kelto, Director of Public Engagement

Megan Kelto's mission as Director of Public Engagement is to tell the story of FLOW's important, innovative work and inspire people to take action in defense of the Great Lakes. Megan has worked and volunteered in mission-driven organizations for over fifteen years, and has deep experience in nonprofit communications, marketing, and digital content strategy. Read more.

What connected you to the Great Lakes: When I was a kid, my family had a boat and my grandparents lived on East Bay, so I grew up on the water. And many of the best moments of my life, like getting engaged, getting married, and camping trips, happened near the Great Lakes.

Favorite place in Michigan: The beach at Glen Haven is my happy place, and the journey is as magical as the destination. 

What's a fun fact about you: I am a dedicated player (and occasional host) of team trivia at a local brewery.

Stephanie Kimball, Operations Manager

Stephanie brings a wealth of nonprofit administration experience, having served at Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and The Father Fred Foundation. She also had the experience of living near the 2010 Enbridge oil spill in Marshall, near Kalamazoo, and has seen firsthand how these types of disasters impact communities and the environment. Read more.

What connected you to the Great Lakes:One of my favorite quotes is, “There is nothing sweeter, gentler, or softer than water. But water has the power to move mountains,” by Claire Bertschinger. I feel the same about the Great Lakes. I feel their spirit and their power when I am close to them. My favorite family vacation memories are of Ludington State Park, where I spent days exploring the dunes and beaches. I love everything about the Great Lakes- from the sound to the beautiful color to the feel of the breeze coming off the water.

Favorite place in Michigan: Any place with a view of the water is my happy place. My favorite places are the Maple Bay Natural Area, Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Walk of Art Sculpture Park in Elk Rapids, and the Detroit Waterfront. An especially favorite spot is the TART trail along 5 Mile Rd. when it opens to the bay. The view is breathtaking. I love to ride my bike along that section of the trail at sunset.

What's a fun fact about you: I am a huge fan of dance in any form and firmly believe that dance training should be accessible to all, regardless of social or economic status. I was co-founder and director of a dance team at Marshall Academy that focused on uniting the school's diverse students and serving at-risk students with a form of expression.

Carrie La Seur, Legal Director

As FLOW’s Legal Director, Carrie develops and implements legal and policy strategies to maximize protection of public trust resources and uses. A graduate of Yale Law School, Carrie recently relocated to northern Michigan from Montana, where she practiced civil litigation, specializing in environmental and climate issues. From 2006-2012 served as Executive Director of Plains Justice, a legal nonprofit she co-founded, litigating against new fossil fuel infrastructure.

What attracted you to FLOW?:A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing David and Jodi Archambault, brother and sister leaders of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. Dave and I visited the Sacred Stone encampment site along the Cannonball River, where the family kayaks in the summer, near the place where the pipeline runs under the Missouri River – water essential to the tribe’s history and future survival. We talked about the spiritual importance of water and being good ancestors. Talking to FLOW staff reminded me of that conversation. I thought, “They get it.”

Your favorite fact about the Great Lakes: I’m blown away that there are shipwrecks in the Great Lakes that have never been recovered, and century old wrecks still being found. It makes me want to abandon everything and join a salvage crew – but without the sketchy submersibles.

Kyle Plummer, Development Director

As FLOW Development Director, Kyle Plummer works to help FLOW build the capacity to achieve its mission, and connect with supporters.

Kyle and his family enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits, and have deep ties to northern Michigan. Kyle has an MBA in nonprofit management from Brandeis University, and is an experienced corporate, foundation, and major gift fundraiser, as well as a team leader. Read more.

What connected you to the Great Lakes: The mission of the organization, the passion that FLOW staff bring to their work, the reputation FLOW has in the community and with family members in the area, and the opportunity to have a meaningful and lasting impact on such a precious resource like the Great Lakes. I appreciate the opportunity to focus my work in environmental protection, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience.

Favorite place in Michigan: North Manitou Island is such a beautiful place to backpack and camp. I’m looking forward to spending more time camping, hiking, and kayaking in the Manitou islands.

What's a fun fact about you: I love bluegrass music and I play a bit of guitar and can do some amateur flatpicking. I love to camp, hike, and spend time on the water kayaking. I’m looking forward to getting some chickens and getting a small veggie garden started up once in Michigan.

Marshall Protetch, Public Engagement Manager

Public Engagement Manager Marshall Protetch works to expand, educate, and engage FLOW's audiences through digital content, events, presentations, and support of FLOW's fundraising campaigns.

Marshall is a journalist by trade who enjoys capturing the stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with the Great Lakes. He has worked nearly five years at three different newspapers across the Midwest, including the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Prior to joining FLOW, Marshall was a marketing specialist at SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers. He also served in the Peace Corps in Zambia, and will graduate in May 2024 with a Masters of Marketing degree.

What connects you to the Great Lakes: Water has always had a calming effect on me, and living near a river, pond, or a lake has always had a powerful and positive impact on my life in all ways — physical, emotional and mental. I didn’t grow up around the Great Lakes, but once I found them, I’ve always found my way back.

Favorite place in Michigan: While it’s one of Leelanau County’s best kept secrets, my favorite place in Michigan is Christmas Cove beach. My wife and I love the spot so much that we actually got married there in 2022.

What's a fun fact about you:Over the years, I’ve learned to play more than 6 different instruments, including playing trumpet for 8 years in a jazz band. Some of my favorite summer evenings are playing guitar in my backyard with my wife.

Skip Pruss, Senior Legal Advisor

Skip Pruss is an energy expert with decades of experience in both the public and private sector. He is a former cabinet member and director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth, as well as the former chief energy officer for the State of Michigan, under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, where he was responsible for designing and implementing Michigan’s clean energy economy diversification efforts. Earlier in his career, Skip served as Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Skip also is a co-founder of 5 Lakes Energy LLC, a clean energy technology consultancy.

Carolan Sonderegger, Policy Director

Policy Director Carolan Sonderegger leads our policy team in designing strategic policy interventions. Carolan works with coalition partners, stakeholders, and agency and elected officials to advance FLOW's mission to keep the Great Lakes healthy, public, and protected for all.

Carolan arrives at FLOW with a deep background in science and policy. With a degree in Biology from Grand Valley State University, Carolan previously served as an Aquatic Biologist and Environmental Coordinator for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; and was then promoted to Natural Resource Department Manager. Read more here.

What attracted you to FLOW? The most significant factor that attracted me to FLOW was its mission and vision. Access to clean and safe drinking water is an undeniable human right, and FLOW takes charge to ensure our lawmakers are held accountable for delivering on their promise to protect and preserve our waters. As the Policy Director, I will be able to give a voice to water and live up to my name, Giziibii Ogitchida’ikwe (River Chief Woman).

What connects you to the Great Lakes? As an Indigenous woman, water is part of my identity. The Great Lakes hold a special place in my heart as they serve as a connection to my ancestors and their legacy. This is the same water that flowed through their bodies and it is the same water that rained upon their heads, as it does mine. The water that I touch today will be the same water that future generations will touch. As long as we cherish and protect it, water will serve as a powerful link between our past and future, uniting us all in its precious embrace.

Favorite place in Michigan:My favorite place in this world is a little creek that runs on my parent's property deep in the woods. When I need to quiet the world around me, I go to this place where I can talk to my grandmother, listen to the water running across the rocks, and find peace within myself.