Kathleen Mennillo, MBA: CEO

Kathleen Mennillo serves as Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Audubon, leading the statewide organization in advancing bird conservation, education, and research. She focuses on strategic growth, operational excellence, and financial stewardship to ensure the organization remains strong, sustainable, and positioned for long term impact.

Kathleen oversees implementation of Michigan Audubon’s 2024–2027 Strategic Plan and works closely with the Board of Directors, staff, chapters, and partners across the state. She launched Bird City Michigan, a signature initiative that empowers communities to advance local conservation while strengthening Michigan Audubon’s statewide reach. She also serves as Secretary of the Whitefish Point Joint Committee, helping guide stewardship of one of Michigan’s most important bird migration sites.

With a background in nonprofit leadership and revenue development, Kathleen brings a collaborative, business minded approach to mission driven work that benefits birds, nature, and people.

Lindsay Cain, MS: Director of Education

Lindsay brings extensive experience in environmental education, program development, and youth engagement to her role as Director of Education at Michigan Audubon. Since joining the organization, she has developed and expanded education and young birder programs that connect people with birds and nature. Prior to Michigan Audubon, Lindsay taught biology as an adjunct professor and worked as a student researcher. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Alma College and an M.S. in Natural Resource Sciences from the University of Michigan.

As Director of Education and a member of Michigan Audubon’s leadership team, Lindsay provides leadership for the organization’s education programs and initiatives, including Bird by Bird, Michigan Young Birders Camp, and educator engagement. She also contributes to broader organizational planning and strategy, helping ensure education remains closely aligned with Michigan Audubon’s mission and priorities. Through her work, Lindsay expands access to meaningful educational experiences that build knowledge, foster curiosity, and inspire the next generation of birders, conservationists, and environmental stewards.

Max Henschell, Ph.D.: Director of Research

Originally from Michigan, Max’s love for birds began with a Magnolia Warbler on Isle Royale. Since then, he has counted waterbirds at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, marshbirds at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and hawks at Brockway Mountain. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Applied Ecology from Michigan Technological University and his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Max has studied grassland and forest bird ecology in Wisconsin as well as worked with large datasets, including eBird, GBIF, and PRISM climate data, to predict changes in avian communities across the continental United States due to climate change. His research interests are in migration ecology, habitat use, and the effects of anthropogenic activity on bird communities. When he’s not at work, he spends as much time as possible outdoors with his young family, cooking, roasting coffee, and brewing beer.

Tricia L.B. Della, Staff Accountant

Tricia brings more than five years of accounting and bookkeeping experience, with a background in both nonprofit and private-sector organizations. She has experience supporting financial operations, reporting, and compliance, along with a strong foundation in accounting and business administration. Tricia holds degrees in Accounting, Community Services and Family Systems, and Business Administration.

In her role, Tricia supports Michigan Audubon’s financial operations. She helps maintain accurate financial records, supports strong internal financial processes, and works collaboratively across the organization to support its day-to-day operations and long-term goals.

In her free time, Tricia enjoys cooking, swimming, kayaking, golfing, gardening, and working on remodeling her home. She also enjoys spending time with her two puppies, Phoenix and Olivia.

Chad Machinski, MS: Conservation Manager

While Chad’s first love is botany, he doesn’t deny the intertwining nature of birds, plants, insects, and all other organisms we share the world with. His passion for the natural world began in his undergraduate time at the University of Michigan, taking several different forms along the way. His graduate studies at the University of Michigan allowed him to more closely examine the natural communities of Michigan and further understand the complex nature of ecosystems. His work as a Nichols Arboretum Caretaker while in school further enabled him to be directly involved in conservation work as he led workdays removing invasive plant species, performed trail maintenance, and guided tours. Chad can usually be found out in a park in a few ways: binoculars glued to his face, hunched over looking at plants, or flipping logs looking for snakes and salamanders.

Emily Rau: Executive Administrative Assistant & Constituent Services Coordinator

Emily holds a degree in Education from Michigan State University and is passionate about connecting people with the natural world. Her interest in birding began in her twenties after listening to a Mourning Dove outside her window. That small moment of curiosity led her to join a local birding group in her community, where her appreciation for birds and their habitats quickly grew.

Emily has experience in agrotourism from working on a flower farm, where she developed a deeper appreciation for the beauty and importance of the natural environment. With a background in education, Emily enjoys sharing the wonder of the outdoors and encouraging others to slow down, observe, and learn. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with friends, learning new things, going to concerts, and attending her book club.

Emily provides administrative support for key organizational efforts, including assisting the CEO with executive priorities, supporting important projects across the organization, and helping ensure strong constituent services for our members, donors, and partners.

Linda Smith: Director of Partnerships

Linda is a former Executive Director of the Novi Chamber of Commerce and comes to us directly from Vibe Credit Union, where she managed the corporate social responsibility program. She has substantial knowledge and experience working with organizations, small businesses, and municipalities.

Linda advances Michigan Audubon’s mission by creating tailored advertising packages, sponsorships, and volunteer opportunities for partners. She supports events, workshops, and sanctuary tours that attract local birders and participants from across the globe. She also assists individuals and estates in facilitating bequests dedicated to making Michigan a better place for birding and land preservation.

Linda also facilitates Michigan Audubon’s Bird City Michigan program that recognizes cities, villages, towns, counties, and campuses committed to creating healthier environments for birds and people.

Linda is a native Michigander. She spends her free time traveling, birding, hiking, and biking.

Kristy Taylor: Events & Outreach Manager

Kristy is a Michigan native and is thrilled to join the Michigan Audubon team. She is an MSU alumnus and worked as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Michigan State Bird Observatory for seven years. She also served on the board of Capital Area Audubon Society for six years and has volunteered in the past at Michigan Audubon events. Kristy loves to share the wonder of migratory birds with people of all ages and create community with like-minded nature lovers who are passionate and curious about birds!

In addition to birding, Kristy loves foraging, travelling, hiking and spending time with her family. She enjoys watercolor painting, crafts and learning new things. In her role at Michigan Audubon, Kristy is looking forward to bringing new engagement events to MA Sanctuaries, working with Chapters around the state and helping to grow MA programs and outreach opportunities into the future!

Galena Wortman: Marketing & Membership Manager

Galena’s love for birds began while volunteering at Chintimini Wildlife Center, where working with raptors like Ferdinand the Turkey Vulture and Bo the Barn Owl sparked her fascination with avian behavior and conservation. She quickly realized that sharing the wonder of birds with others was just as rewarding as studying them. That passion led her to receive a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences with a specialization in Communications from Oregon State University. Her experience spans lab and field work, wildlife education, translating scientific concepts for broad audiences, conservation communication, and social media engagement.

In her role, Galena leads efforts related to membership recruitment, retention, and member services while also advancing our broader marketing initiatives. She strengthens our brand development and implements strategic marketing efforts that support Michigan Audubon’s programs, partnerships, and statewide engagement.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Field Staff

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) is a program of Michigan Audubon located along the shore of Lake Superior in Paradise, Michigan. As a premier migration hotspot, WPBO is home to multiple seasons of avian research including:

• Spring Raptor Count | March 15–May 31
• Spring Waterbird Count | April 15–May 31
• Piping Plover Monitoring | May–August

• Fall Waterbird Count | August 15–November 15
• Fall Field Ornithologist | August 15–November 15

Sean McLaughlin: 2026 Raptor Counter

Sean is a hawk watcher from Pennsylvania who has enjoyed watching birds migrate for over 15 years. A lifelong birder and naturalist, Sean has counted raptors at Stone Mountain and Tussey Mountain hawk watches in PA, before moving to the shore of Lake Superior. He has led the count team for four seasons at Hawk Ridge and three at the West Skyline Hawk Count in Duluth, Minnesota, instilling a deep love for the Great Lakes. In Duluth, Sean also conducts morning flight counts of passerines and other migrants. Outside of the world of watching migration, Sean has studied American Goshawks in the mountains of Oregon, breeding birds in northern Minnesota, and instructed courses at Hog Island Audubon Camp. He is excited to return to eastern Lake Superior for a second spring at Whitefish Point, particularly for the epic Sharp-shinned Hawk and Common Loon flights.

Aaron Graham: 2026 Spring Waterbird Counter

Aaron is a migration monitor from West Virginia with a love for birds starting in his early elementary years. Calling the central Appalachian ridgelines home, he ventured throughout this region from a young age trying to better understand the local avifauna. This pursuit has taken him all over the United States as his focus has dialed into migration counts, with particular focus on morning flight and sea/lake watch counts. Being able to witness active migration all from a stationary point is what awes him, and better understanding these phenomena is what drives him. Aaron is looking forward to a season at Whitefish Point and wonders what all he will see migrating past the point from the waterbird count! When not birding, Aaron coaches college soccer, takes to the snow with freestyle and cross-country skiing, and can be found far afield searching out new butterflies, dragon and damselflies, and tiger beetles.

Morgan Ness: 2026 Piping Plover Monitor

Having studied Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Morgan developed a passion for protecting migratory birds and forest ecology. After spending time in Montana conducting avian monitoring, Morgan is excited to experience Michigan’s species during migration season and to take in the change in scenery. Whether she’s identifying leg bands or chatting with beachgoers about the importance of plover conservation, Morgan’s enthusiasm for the outdoors is contagious. She is thrilled to call the Michigan shoreline her office this summer and contribute to the recovery of such an iconic species. When she isn’t bird-watching, Morgan is often crocheting, hiking, or watching Bravo.

Jack McDonough: 2026 Fall Waterbird Counter

Jack grew up in Cape May, New Jersey, where he developed an early passion in life for anything migrating. At New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO), Jack worked for the Monarch Monitoring Project for six years and coordinated it for the last three. Jack was a migratory bird counter for two seasons for CMBO’s Springwatch project and was a swing counter for several fall counts such as CMBO’s Morning Flight, Avalon Seawatch, and Cape May Hawkwatch. Additionally for NJ Audubon, he preformed aerial imagery annotating for seabirds with USGS. Jack worked as a biologist for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife under the Endangered and NonGame Species Program for several years doing surveys and management work for state-listed species. Owning his own business in ecological consulting and biological monitoring, Jack has worked across Nevada and California in the past year. He spends most of his free time out in nature, studying behavioral ecology through the arts.

Oliver Kew: 2026 Fall Field Ornithologist

Oliver is a passionate naturalist from Petoskey, Michigan. He worked for Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch as a waterbird counter for seven seasons. Oliver graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Zoo & Aquarium Science. His previous roles include working as an Animal Husbandry Technician and Zookeeper Aide, where he helped maintain large collections of exotic birds and reptiles. Originally from Coventry, England, Oliver developed an immense appreciation for the natural world through his family of foresters. He loves exploring the shorelines of northern Michigan in pursuit of exciting and unexpected birding experiences and is honored to help convey the importance of Whitefish Point as a migration pathway. When he is not birdwatching, Oliver enjoys playing disc golf, looking for insects and plants, and spending time with his two cats.