Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director
As an environmental lawyer with over 20 years of experience working on water, sanitation, energy, and environmental governance issues both nationally and internationally, Liz Kirkwood serves as the organization’s lead on numerous Great Lakes issues and education initiatives. Often testifying or speaking before public bodies, she has made frequent presentations to community organizations and professional audiences on Great Lakes issues from Line 5 to water justice and infrastructure financing to water privatization to climate change. Liz develops and oversees FLOW’s work on key Great Lakes environmental policies designed to promote healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and access to safe, clean, affordable water for all.
Prior to joining FLOW in 2012, Liz worked for USAID in Thailand as an environmental attorney to implement a regional environmental governance, water, and sanitation program in Southeast Asia. She also worked as an environmental litigator at Farella, Braun & Martel in San Francisco where she represented clients on natural resource and energy related matters. Liz graduated from Williams College with a degree in Environmental Studies and History, and received her J.D. and Environmental Certificate from Lewis & Clark Law School. Liz currently serves as a member of the International Joint Commission’s Water Quality Board.
Read more about Liz Kirkwood here: Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of FLOW, is Our Great Lakes Guardian, Traverse Magazine, August 2019.
Dave Dempsey, Senior Advisor
Dave Dempsey has 35 years’ experience in environmental policy. He served as environmental advisor to former Michigan Governor James Blanchard and as policy advisor on the staff of the International Joint Commission. He has also provided policy support to the Michigan Environmental Council and Clean Water Action. He has authored several books on the Great Lakes and water protection.
Diane Dupuis, Senior Advancement Advisor
Diane Dupuis works to connect FLOW with resources that can help fuel the work of safeguarding the Great Lakes for all. After earning a BA in French and English from Kalamazoo College, Diane embarked on a career in publishing that culminated in a position as Publisher of Visible Ink Press. Pivoting to the nonprofit sector, she spent ten years serving Interlochen Center for the Arts in communications and fund-development roles before fundraising for two land conservancies in Michigan, and for the Ann Arbor Art Center. Past volunteer affiliations and Board service include Pathfinder School, Parallel 45 Theatre, Michigan Writers, Washtenaw Literacy, and Michigan Audubon.
Read more about Diane Dupuis here: Make It Rain | Diane Dupuis Is Here to Help Us Fund the Fight of the Great Lakes’ Life by Ross Boissoneau | Nov. 16, 2019.
Megan Kelto, Director of Public Engagement
As Director of Public Engagement, Megan’s mission 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 over fifteen years of experience in marketing, communications, and leadership in nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Prior to joining FLOW in spring 2023, Megan served as Vice President of Crooked Tree Arts Center, leading its Traverse City location. Megan also spent nine years at Interlochen Center for the Arts as its Online Marketing & Content Manager.
She has served on the boards of the Michigan Legacy Art Park and Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and has volunteered at Old Town Playhouse, the Traverse City Film Festival, and Interlochen Public Radio. In 2018 she was appointed to a three-year term on the Traverse City Arts Commission.
A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Megan attended Central Michigan University and holds a degree in Political Science (Pre-Law) and Psychology. She has written for regional publications including the Traverse City Business News, Traverse City Record-Eagle, The Boardman Review, and the Traverse and Leelanau Ticker. Megan was named to the TCBN “40 under 40” list in 2011, 2012, and 2018.
Stephanie Kimball, Operations Manager
Stephanie Kimball has many years of experience in nonprofit administrative support, fundraising, and marketing. She also has many years of human services experience focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stephanie was part of the Marshall Albion Resilient Communities Project and was trained as a Racial Healing Facilitator by Starr Commonwealth. Stephanie has a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and Business Management from Central Michigan University.
Stephanie is an avid photographer and cycling enthusiast and loves to capture the excitement and energy of cycling events and races. She is a member of the Intrepid Cycling Company. She has served on the Cherry Capital Cycling Club and the Marshall Community Ballet Company boards and volunteered at TART Trails and Up North Pride.
Carrie La Seur, Legal Director
Carrie La Seur has practiced environmental, energy, and natural resources law for 20 years, starting as an Environmental Law Fellow at Chicago’s Environmental Law & Policy Center, then in 2006, founding Plains Justice, an organization that led successful fights against new coal-fired power plants, oil pipelines, mines, and coal railroads from Iowa to Montana. She served as an appointee to the Iowa Power Fund Board, investing tens of millions of dollars in clean energy, and the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, which strengthened Iowa’s water quality regulations during her tenure. At FLOW, she heads a litigation team of staff and pro bono volunteers dedicated to protecting Great Lakes waters for future generations.
Carrie is also a novelist, poet, journalist, and essayist, with an extensive bibliography available at carrielaseur.com. A Yale Law School alumna, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association. She earned her D.Phil.Oxon. in modern languages as a Rhodes Scholar at University College, Oxford, and an undergraduate degree in English and French, magna cum laude, from Bryn Mawr College, but her true home is in Montana, where her ancestors homesteaded in 1864. She’s learning to fiddle and takes requests.
Jim Olson, Founder & Senior Legal Advisor
Jim Olson has nearly 40 years of experience as an environmental, water, and public interest law advocate and champion, dedicated to protecting waters and ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin. He has developed a deep knowledge and understanding of public trust principles and law as they apply to the systemic threats facing the Great Lakes Basin. Jim currently contributes to FLOW’s legal and policy work, including policy analyses, law review articles, comments, reports, and other publications. He also speaks on behalf of the organization through presentations, lectures, and panel discussions. He has lectured at every major university in Michigan, authored dozens of articles on the public trust, and litigated many relevant cases.
Jim is a graduate of Michigan State College of Law (Detroit College of Law) and has an L.L.M. Degree in public lands, natural resources, and environmental law from the University of Michigan Law School. He received the Champion of Justice Award in 2010, one of the highest honors of the Michigan Bar Association, and was named a Michigan Lawyer of the Year in 1998 for his work on environmental and water citizen suit laws. Jim has lectured in Brazil, Canada, and the United States, and has authored numerous articles and essays and three books. He was featured in two eminent documentary films on water, “FLOW: For Love of Water” (2008) and “Blue Gold” (2008).
Read more about Jim Olson here: Traverse City Attorney is Defender of Global Water by Lissa Edwards | Traverse Magazine | Sept. 28, 2011.
Kyle Plummer, Development Director
As the Director of Development at FLOW, Kyle is on a mission to build meaningful relationships, linking FLOW’s vision with the passions and interests of advocates, supporters, and allies. With over a decade dedicated to mission-driven organizations, Kyle brings expertise in corporate and foundation fundraising, donor relations, and nonprofit strategy.
Before joining FLOW, Kyle had the privilege of leading fundraising efforts at Food Lifeline and The University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle, WA. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Geology from Denison University and an MBA from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Kyle has a deep love for music, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. When he’s not fundraising, you’ll find Kyle immersing himself in local farmers’ markets, playing music, or adventuring outdoors with his wife, Lauren, and their daughter, Quinn.
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 just earned his Masters of Marketing in May 2024.
Stanley “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
Carolan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Grand Valley State University in 2014, with a focus on freshwater. She began her career as an Aquatic Biologist for her tribe, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. During her tenure in this position, her primary focus was on ensuring water quality and pollution control. After five years as a biologist, she was promoted to Environmental Coordinator. In this role, she oversaw the tribe’s General Assistance Program, Clean Water Act (106 & 319), and CERCLA 128(a) grants. She was then promoted to the Natural Resources Department Manager position, where she spent nearly three years advocating for tribal hunting and fishing rights as well as overseeing programs related to Great Lakes Management, Inland Management, Environmental Services, Restoration, and Agriculture.
