Andy Thomas
President and Stewardship Chair

Andy’s background: (resides near Mt. Vernon, Missouri)
 Andy grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, but spent much of his early summers enjoying the Ozarks "down on the farm" at his grandparents’. After obtaining his B.S. degree in Horticulture from the University of Missouri – Columbia, he worked for six years in California and Wisconsin for various agricultural biotech companies. He then joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Rwanda (Central Africa) as an agricultural volunteer. Andy then returned to school to pursue his M.S. degree in Crop Production and Physiology at Iowa State University. Upon graduation, he was itchin’ to return to Missouri, and accepted a position with the Center for Plant Conservation, based at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. There, he became intimately familiar with the day-to-day operation and management of a non-profit conservation organization. Then in 1996, Andy accepted his present position as Research Associate in Horticulture with the University of Missouri – Columbia, based at the 900-acre Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon. Finally settled at his new farm near Monett, Andy is at last able to fulfill his life-long dream of returning to the Ozarks and "doing something" to help preserve its rare beauty. Becoming intimately involved with ORLT was only natural.

Ted Heisel
Executive Director

Ted's role:
The Ozark Regional Land Trust is pleased to announce that Edward J. "Ted" Heisel is its full time Executive Director, beginning January 1, 2008.  Ted says, "I think ORLT is just at the beginning of what it can accomplish in terms of protecting the Ozarks' beautiful landscape and biological diversity.  I look forward to helping build on the solid foundation created by Gregg and other ORLT leaders."  ORLT board and staff are excited about Ted joining the team. 

Ted's background: (resides in St. Louis, MO)
Ted grew up in Labadie, Missouri, on a corn and soybean farm along the Missouri River.  He spent much of his youth hiking, hunting and fishing in the Ozark foothills of northern Franklin County.  He traces his strong feelings about land conservation to watching so much of his childhood stomping grounds being chewed up by bulldozers for golf courses and subdivisions.  More recently, he has taken up kayaking on many of Missouri's rivers and some day would like to float a few of Missouri's major rivers from headwaters to mouth.  Prior to joining ORLT, Ted was staff attorney at the Washington University Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic in St. Louis.  Ted graduated from Kansas State University in 1993, and from Harvard Law School in 1997.

John Cutler
Mapping and GIS Director

John's role:
In late 1999, John accepted the job of creating a GIS department for ORLT as a paid staff member.  The GIS department creates maps for planning, baseline inventory, scheduled monitoring activities, and watershed and urban green space planning using GPS and computer technology.

John's background: 
(resides near Mansfield, MO at Sweetwater Community Land Trust, one of ORLT's early protection projects)
John brings many important interests and skills to his role in ORLT. He holds a PhD in Geology/Paleontology from Columbia University in New York, and was a college professor for 8 years in this field. Following that, he founded and operated a typesetting and graphics arts business for 14 years. In 1985 he turned his 25-year interest in computer programming and custom software development into a full-time job.  Except for short intervals, John has lived in a rural setting all of his life. His concern for the environment dates back to his college days in the late 50s. John served for nine years on the ORLT Board of Directors . He is the principal founder, manager and secretary/treasurer of the 480-acre Sweetwater Community Land Trust where he lives and has his office.

Abigail's Background: (resides in St. Louis, Missouri)
Abigail was born and raised in St. Louis.  Her family settled in the area in the 1700s and were trappers on the Mississippi. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science/Spanish/Ecology from University of Arizona and a  master's degree in Environmental Management from Duke University.  Before returning to St. Louis she served as a solid waste consultant in Virginia and as the sole staff person with Lower Shore Land Trust for four years in Maryland.  She raised $5 million for protection of 9,000 acres through Rural Legacy, Maryland's land and conservation easement program.

Gary’s background: (resides in Columbia, Missouri)
Gary has more than 35 years of knowledge, experience and success in building organizational membership and giving programs. He holds both bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He worked as a public relations specialist for the University of Missouri and then spent 11 years as a professional development officer for MU.

Since 1981, Gary, principal of Freeman & Associates, has provided membership, fund raising, public relations and marketing counsel and services to conservation, fraternal and educational organizations. In addition to ORLT, he works with the membership programs of the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the Missouri Parks Association.