Katrina Shankland, Executive Director
Katrina brings deep public policy and environmental experience to Flow, including service in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2013 to 2025, representing a competitive district in Central Wisconsin. During her legislative tenure, she passed 225 bipartisan bills into law under Democratic and Republican governors. Her key issues included water quality, regenerative agriculture, and clean energy.
Katrina launched a program with Governor Evers to repair, replace, and remediate contaminated private wells, ensuring Wisconsin families and small businesses have clean drinking water. As Vice Chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality, Katrina championed the creation of a nitrogen optimization pilot program and a cover crop insurance rebate program that helps farmers reduce nutrient runoff. She advanced septic system replacement funding for low-income families, expanded the state’s farmland preservation program to ensure more acreage meets best conservation practices, and advocated for Wisconsin’s Freshwater Collaborative to invest in research and workforce development in the freshwater sector.
Most recently, Katrina served as the executive director of Rust Belt Rising, a nonprofit organization that supports civic leaders and candidates for public office across six Great Lakes states through training, research, and strategy. Katrina serves on the board of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, a sustainable agriculture nonprofit. She holds a Master of Science in Community and Organizational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is excited to explore the Traverse City area with her husband Jed and dogs Stitch and Lyra.
Dave Dempsey, Senior Policy 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. Dave has a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in environmental policy and law from Michigan State University. He has served as an adjunct instructor in environmental policy at both universities.
Diane Dupuis, Senior Advancement Advisor
Prior to joining Flow’s staff in 2019, Diane filled fund-development and communications roles at nonprofits throughout Michigan, including the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Legacy Land Conservancy, the Ann Arbor Art Center, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. With degrees in English and French from Kalamazoo College, Diane began her professional career as a writer, editor, and publisher with the Detroit-based Gale (now Cengage), where she co-founded and led Gale’s Visible Ink Press imprint. As a volunteer, Diane has served on the boards of Michigan Writers, Washtenaw Literacy, and Michigan Audubon. Now supporting Flow as Senior Advancement Advisor, Diane continues to help secure the human and financial resources needed to defend her lifelong love: Great Lakes water. A year-round beach denizen, Diane also enjoys sailing or paddling in the watershed, cooking, writing, laughing with her kids, and listening to her husband make music with multiple regional bands.
Megan Kelto, Director of Public Engagement
As Director of Public Engagement, Megan’s mission is to tell the story of Flow’s important work to defend and protect the Great Lakes. Megan has over fifteen years of experience in marketing, communications, and leadership in nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Megan graduated magna cum laude from Central Michigan University with a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law, and was named to the Traverse City Business News “40 under 40” list three times. She has served on the boards of the Michigan Legacy Art Park and Traverse City Philharmonic, as well as a term on the Traverse City Arts Commission. Megan enjoys downhill skiing, painting, bar trivia, and hanging out with her family.
Liz Kirkwood, Strategic Partnership Officer
Liz is an environmental lawyer and advocate with over 25 years of experience working on water, sanitation, energy, and environmental governance both nationally and internationally. As founding executive director, Liz led Flow for 15 years, crafting Great Lakes environmental policies designed to promote healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and access to safe, clean, affordable water for all. In October 2026, Liz transitioned to a newly created leadership role, strategic partnership officer. As strategic partnership officer, Liz works to deepen Flow’s collaborative relationships, build new coalitions, and advance policy goals to protect the Great Lakes.
Liz also serves as a member of the International Joint Commission’s Water Quality Board, and a trustee of the Americana Foundation. Her unwavering commitment to building strong and healthy communities is central to all of her work.
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 loves spending time with her family outside hiking, biking, running, traveling, cooking, practicing yoga, and being in, on, or near the water.
Kerry Maloney, Development Manager
As Development Manager, Kerry helps sustain programs and operations by strengthening grant-seeking success, advancing annual giving campaigns, planning events, and cultivating partnerships with businesses and community organizations. Kerry brings extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising and community engagement to her role as Flow’s Development Manager. A University of Michigan graduate, Kerry previously served as Director of Development at the City Opera House Heritage Association, Communications and Development Manager at the Chippewa Nature Center, and Director of Development at Habitat for Humanity–Grand Traverse Region. A lifelong Michigander, Kerry grew up spending summers on the shores of Lake Huron in Pt. Austin and in East Grand Traverse Bay, where the turquoise waters and sandy beaches deepened her commitment to protecting these irreplaceable freshwater treasures.
Ryan Nordby, Operations Manager
As Operations Manager, Ryan is responsible for keeping Flow flowing. After a decade of experience in the banking industry, Ryan aspired to pursue a career that would contribute positively to society, and Flow is the perfect fit.
Ryan’s upbringing in a military family exposed him to diverse cultures and environments, and when he settled in northern Michigan, he found his forever home. He and his wife cherish outdoor activities with their dog, Ellie, and actively engage in community service and volunteer opportunities. In his leisure time, Ryan coaches the Traverse City Roller Derby development team. He also enjoys intricate culinary projects, including lacto-fermentation and curing meats. Ryan enjoys a good board game and actively participates in the Magic: The Gathering community, appearing on the Worst Possible Commander show on YouTube.
Jim Olson, Senior Legal Advisor & Founder
Jim Olson has nearly 40 years of experience as an environmental, water, and public interest law advocate, dedicated to protecting the waters and ecosystems of the Great Lakes Basin. An expert in public trust law, he contributes to FLOW’s legal and policy work through reports, publications, law review articles, and presentations. Jim has lectured at major universities in Michigan and internationally, authored dozens of articles and three books, and was featured in the documentaries FLOW: For Love of Water and Blue Gold. He earned his J.D. from Michigan State College of Law and an LL.M. in public lands, natural resources, and environmental law from the University of Michigan Law School.
Kyle Plummer, Development Director
As Development Director, Kyle helps Flow Water Advocates build the capacity to achieve its mission and strengthen connections with supporters. He brings more than a decade of experience in corporate, foundation, and major gift fundraising, as well as nonprofit leadership. Before joining Flow, he worked with mission-driven nonprofits in Washington State to expand their impact through philanthropy and community engagement. Kyle earned his MBA in nonprofit management from Brandeis University and his undergraduate degree from Denison University. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Kyle and his family have deep roots in northern Michigan, where they spend much of their time outdoors. He enjoys gardening, kayaking on Michigan’s inland lakes, and camping in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Skip Pruss, Senior Policy Advisor
It is with a heavy heart that we note the passing of our beloved colleague, Skip Pruss, in September 2026. Learn more about his remarkable career and read remembrances: https://flowwateradvocates.org/skip/
Carolan Sonderegger, Policy Director
Carolan Sonderegger serves as Policy Director, bringing over a decade of experience in Great Lakes protection, environmental restoration, and tribal natural resource management. Before joining Flow, she was the Natural Resources Director for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, where she oversaw Great Lakes commercial fisheries and inland lakes programs, river restoration, agricultural sovereignty, and key federal environmental programs including CWA 106 and 319, CERCLA, and EPA GAP. Her work centers on safeguarding water quality through science-based policy, coalition building, and community-driven solutions. Carolan holds a degree in Biology with an emphasis in Aquatics from Grand Valley State University.