Sarna Salzman - Executive Director
Sarna builds synergy within the SEEDS network by keeping tabs on nearly everything, everyone, and every idea that goes in or comes out of the SEEDS office. She has an eclectic bundle of skills all related to building community stewardship and self-reliance. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Kalamazoo College in Michigan and an M.S. in Community Development from the University of California at Davis. Sarna's research focused on the interactions and relationships between people and the places they inhabit. In her spare time, she likes to cook spicy food and throw large hunks of clay.

Tara Ward - Project Manager / Great Lakes Bioneers
Tara joined the staff to primarily work as a Project Manager for Great Lakes Bioneers, but will dabble in other SEEDS programs. Her background is varied, with skills in organizational development, fundraising, organizing, and her passion, science and environmental education. Tara worked for eleven years at the non-profit Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, has done curriculum development for the past ten years, and is now oh-so-happy to be at SEEDS. She has a B.S. in Biology and Biophysical Environmental Studies from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, and an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan, with emphases in Environmental Education and Advocacy. Her hobbies are birdwatching, botanizing, and her wonderful children.

Maeve McBride, PhD - Project Manager / Engineer
Maeve has worked with a variety of organizations and engineering firms on floodplain restoration, geomorphic analysis, and engineered logjams. She has worked with the Academy of Natural Sciences on numerous stream rehabilitation, nonpoint source watershed modeling, watershed management planning, and urban stream assessment projects. She received a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington and University of Vermont respectively. Maeve's current work involves riparian restoration, rain gardens, and urban stormwater solutions. Her other interests include her son Phinneas, organic gardening and teaching yoga.

Barton Kirk - Project Manager / Researcher
Barton works on a variety of engineering projects with SEEDS. Most recently he has been researching life cycle analysis in the context of comparing stormwater and wastewater treatment options. He received a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Penn State University and M.S. in Integrated Ecology, Economics, and Design at the University of Vermont. Barton's other pursuits include competitive cycling, ecological architecture, and community restoration.

Bill Watson - Project Manager
Our newest addtion, Bill helps manage SEEDS Youth Corp Program that encompasses four counties, eight school districts and at least 10 middle and high schools in Kalkaska, Benzie, Leelanau and Manistee counties.

Mike Powers - Communications Specialist
Mike is community organizing for SEEDS' Re-localization and Ecological Footprinting programs.

Chris Bzdok - General Counsel
Chris is a principal with Olson, Bzdok & Howard, a law firm dedicated to serving community groups, local governments, and individuals with innovative legal strategies for protecting their environment, their communities, and their quality of life. He is a cum laude graduate of Wayne State University Law School and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law where he teaches Environmental and Land Use Law. In his bits of spare time he can be found rallying the locals to dance barefoot and yell in the streets.