Our organizational leadership.
Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director
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. Her leadership as executive director of Flow Water Advocates since 2012 has provided a deep foundation and understanding of key Great Lakes environmental policies designed to promote healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and access to safe, clean, affordable water for all. 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.
Our legal team.
Kacey Cook, Staff Attorney
Growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior inspired Kacey to pursue a career advocating for the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them. As Flow’s Staff Attorney, she is grateful to have the opportunity to do just that. Kacey coordinates Flow’s efforts to decommission Line 5 through collaborative action and strategic legal …
… advocacy. Prior to her role with Flow, Kacey worked for nonprofits in Michigan and Indiana to advance conservation efforts, provide legal support to environmental organizations, and protect communities’ rights to clean air and water. Kacey is a graduate of Kalamazoo College and Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Outside of work, you can find her exploring new trails with her dog Keweenaw, reading historical fiction, or pickling whatever is in season.
Hope McLellan-Brandt, Environmental Law Fellow
As FLOW’s inaugural environmental law fellow, Hope supports Flow Water Advocates’ legal work to defend the Great Lakes. She graduated from Vermont Law School in 2024 with her Juris Doctorate and Master’s in Environmental Law and Policy. While in law school Hope gained extensive experience in international environmental law, traveling …
… to several UNFCCC meetings as a Technical Assistance Member of the Palauan delegation. Her commitment to fighting for the climate continued with an internship with CIEL and a post-grad position with Mercy for Animals. Recently, Hope has relocated to Traverse City, and is excited to work to help protect the waters in her home state and beyond. In her free time, you can find Hope spending time with her beloved dog, Bruce, painting, doing yoga, or traveling the Great Lakes State!
Chelsea Faber, Legal Assistant
Chelsea supports our legal team as a legal assistant. She is a graduate of Alma College, and has professional experience working in environmental assessment and remediation. Chelsea worked with local community groups to advocate for cleaner waterways through. She is a current law student through Vermont Law and Graduate School, expanding her capabilities to advocate for the water she …
… cares so deeply about. In her free time, she enjoys hiking by the Great Lakes, sewing, reading, meditating, and spending time with her family, friends, and cat, Mazel.
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.
Skip Pruss, Senior 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.
Our policy team.
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.
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.
Our development team.
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.
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.
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.
Our public engagement team.
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 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, Traverse City Philharmonic, as well as a term on the Traverse City Arts Commission. Megan enjoys downhill skiing, painting, and hanging out with her family.
Marshall Protetch, Public Engagement Manager
Marshall, Flow’s Public Engagement Manager, is a journalist by training who enjoys capturing the stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with the waters of the Great Lakes. He has worked nearly five years at three different newspapers across the Midwest, including the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Marshall is an alum of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Arts in …
Journalism and French, and in 2024, graduated with a Masters of Marketing degree from Southern New Hampshire University. From 2017 to 2019, Marshall served in the US Peace Corps in Zambia, as a community health volunteer, and taught about HIV and malaria prevention. He worked alongside other international NGOs to bring better water quality and sanitation to his village. Currently, Marshall is pursuing a Masters of Public Health from the University of Alabama. You can find Marshall and his wife playing guitar on their deck or performing with his improv troupe.
Our operations team.
Molly Whiting, Operations Manager
As Operations Manager, Molly supports Flow’s mission to protect and preserve the Great Lakes she grew up on and cares so deeply about. A Traverse City native, Molly developed a lifelong connection to the water that inspired her to pursue a career in marine science. Over the past five years, she has worked with nonprofit organizations in Florida and North Carolina focused on ocean conservation, coral restoration, and …
… environmental education. After recently returning to her hometown to be closer to family, Molly is thrilled to continue her work in conservation and contribute to Flow’s efforts to safeguard the Great Lakes. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and dogs and she loves to stay active spending her time outdoors whether that’s on the water, skiing, or practicing yoga!
Stephanie Kimball, Operations Advisor
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.