2026 – 2027

Sara Thomas – President

Sara lives in Oceola Township, Howell. She received a B.A. degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Michigan State; has received the Conservation Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Green Tree Award from the Huron Valley Girt Scout Council, is a member of the Brighton Women’s Roll of Honor, and was nominated for the City of Brighton’s Volunteer of the Year for the Miller School program, “Environmental Awareness Month”. She is one of the founding members of the Livingston Land Conservancy when it was formed in the mid-1990s and has served as the land acquisition chair for many years, helping to secure the majority of the 768 acres currently under protection. She fondly remembers childhood days visiting her grandparents’ farm in Gregory, loves being outdoors honing her naturalist skills, and working on the restoration of her small prairie.

Rob Stanford – Vice President

Rob lives in Williamston. He received an A.A.S. in Architectural Technology from Lansing Community College, a B.S. in Geography and Economic Development from Northwest Missouri State University, and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University. He has been employed in both the private as well as public planning sectors, and has recently completed 20 years of employment as a Principal Planner with the Livingston County Planning Department. In the past, he has served on the Williamstown Township Planning Commission and the Michigan State Board of Professional Surveyors. He has one daughter who is a registered nurse and he enjoys spending time with his family and their three dogs, as well as outdoor camping and sailing.

Gary Edwards – Treasurer

Gary lives in Tyrone Township, Fenton. He obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at GMI (Kettering) and an M.B.A. in Operations Research at the University of Michigan. He retired in 2008 from GM as Director of Advanced Vehicle Development. Gary has taken the course work in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes as well as the Green Realtor course through the National Association of Realtors. He is a part-time realtor at Crystal Mountain Resort and also serves on two homeowners associations at the resort. In his spare time, Gary enjoys water and snow skiing, tennis and exploring nature.

Marcee Wardell – Secretary

Marcee lives in Genoa Township, Howell. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Writing from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Western Kentucky University. She has worked as a writer and digital marketer, with experience including technical writing, email marketing, and marketing operations, and is currently employed with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Marcee spends much of her free time reading, cooking and baking, visiting with friends and family, and working on her small hobby farm with her husband, John.

Abby Carrigan – Director

Abby lives in Tyrone Township and is a life-long resident of Livingston County. She holds a B.A. in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University, where she studied agricultural and environmental policy. She is currently working toward her M.A. in Land Use and Environmental Planning from the University of Michigan. Since 2024, Abby has worked with the Livingston County Planning Department, where she was able to express her love for rural preservation by writing the Livingston County, MI: 2025 Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, and Rural Environments Plan. Her work on this plan was recently awarded by both the Michigan Association of Planning and the American Planning Association. In her free time, Abby greatly enjoys listening to 1950s music, gardening, hiking, and doing crafts!

Shari Pollesch – Director

Shari lives in Hartland Township where she raised her daughters, and is a long term resident of Livingston County. She supported her parenting “habit” as a Livingston County attorney, which she has recently retired from. She has been active in social justice issues since 2000, when she co-founded Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton, an inclusive, diverse church committed to social justice. She also served on the Board of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and has supported the Conservancy behind the scenes for several years.

Molly Wozniak – Director

Molly lives in Davison Township, Genesee County and is the Invasive Species Coordinator for the Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston and Shiawassee counties Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (GiLLS CISMA). She received an M.S. in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University. In her spare time, she loves to cook, crochet, and go to Tigers games!