Meet the Leaders of CWAC
Dean Hoegger, President & Executive Director
Dean has been on the board since 2008, first as Membership Chair-person, then as President beginning in 2010. He retired from 30 years of public school teaching and earned a paralegal degree in order to pursue his interest in environmental issues. Dean also serves as CWAC’s Executive Director and is working to make the organization a powerful force for protecting human health and the environment in northeast Wisconsin. He lives in Southern Door County with his wife, Julie, where they enjoy organic gardening, country living, and the waters of Green Bay.
Charlie Frisk, Vice President
I attended the inaugural meeting of C.W.A.C. which was held after the Greenpeace ship visited Green Bay. At that time our organization was called S.T.O.P., which I think stood for Stop Toxics Organizing Project. I have been on the board throughout many of the years since then. I am a teacher in biology and environmental science at Luxem- burg-Casco School District. I am also on the board of N.E.W. Audubon, the Brown County Conservation Alliance, and the Baird Creek Preservation Foundation.
John Hermanson, Treasurer
As a long time Board Member and treasurer, my life experiences include the following. Co-owner Life Tools Adventure Outfitters an outdoor speciality store promoting 'silent sports' in northeast Wisconsin. I have a degree in Regional Analysis from UWGB and a minor in Environmental Studies, UWSP. Currently I am pursing interests as a gardener and working part time as an intern at Brown County Extension, Plant Diagnostician. Our greatest challenge in these times is to learn to live in a place and to grace it.
Lauren Felder, Secretary
Lauren's passion for environmental advocacy began at a young age with prairie and woodland conservation in Southern Wisconsin and has only grown from there. While completing her undergraduate degree in environmental policy and planning and political science at UW-Green Bay, she had the opportunity to intern with CWAC in the spring of 2019. She is excited to continue working with the organization and building her passion for sustainability and conservation. She is currently a law student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, working toward a J.D. with a focus on environmental law and resource management. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and horseback riding.
David Verhagen, Board Member
Dave is a recently retired businessman who lives just south of De Pere. He and his wife Sher have been members of CWAC for several years. David’s career has included working in non-profit organizations before running an import business. The past 26 years, he operated a Hardware Hank store in Little Chute. David has also worked registering voters and chairs a committee working to engage students in voting across the region. His interests include bicycling, gardening, writing, travel and music, although seldom in that order.
John Gosling, Board Member
My history with the environment includes years of camping beginning in Boy Scouts, progressing with my family and enjoying all of what Wisconsin, our Nation, and the World has to offer. A movie of how the Great Lakes were formed is a fundamental reason I want to nurture our waters here in NE Wisconsin. Professionally speaking I am a licensed educator, teaching secondary Social Studies and German, and serving in School Guidance roles. I work actively with Betterhelp.com as an online Mental Health Therapist. I also devote time to ESTHER's Environmental Justice Task Forceand support Build Unity in Wisconsin to seek gains in Sustainability, Democracy, Justice, and Truth.
Debra Noel, Board Member
As a lifelong lover of nature and animals, I try to find ways to connect, protect and enjoy the diverse ecosystem with all its creatures and plant life. I retired from being a physical therapist assistant, running soil testing business for 22 years, being a radiochemical technician at a nuclear power plant, and a lab tech in an environmental lab. I feel the need to do my part to advocate for the precious resources and ecosystems in NE Wisconsin. Living and enjoying the outdoor opportunities in rural Kewaunee County with my husband, I enjoy visiting wildlife areas and parks, bicycling, horseback riding, hiking, camping, swimming and gardening-especially with native plants and prairie restoration.
Jane Benson, Board Member
Jane has been an independent web developer creating online presences for many kinds of businesses since 2008. She is a decades-long issues activist involved with League of Women Voters; Fair Maps Coalition; WI Grassroots Network; Citizen Action; and North Shore Fair Maps. Jane delved into PFAS forever chemicals, CAFOs, and farm nutrient runoff when she ran for state office.
Jane has a Bachelor of Arts in German with double minors in Biology and Chemistry; and holds technical college degrees, including E-Business Technology Specialist. For fun, she sings, takes photographs, hikes, and treasures her home in the country with her husband, Jeff.
Rick Adamski, Board Member
Rick Adamski is a farmer from Shawano County. All his farming career has been dedicated to understanding how farming can best emulate the workings of nature.
Rick is managing the grass-based beef herd on their 240-acre farm. He is married to Valerie Dantoin. Their son Andrew grows fresh vegetables on the farm with his partner Heather Toman and their business partner Scott Rosenberg. The family respects the long history of the Menominee people that occupied this land for countless generations. Rick and Valerie’s daughter, Genevieve, just recently started working for the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa as a wildlife specialist.
In 1980 Rick completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science from UW-Stevens Point. Since returning to the farm in the mid-80's he has dedicated much time to conservation efforts and activism. He has many connections around the state and the nation. He has served on many boards of directors, advisory councils, and various committees guiding the science, and policy of agricultural lands and conservation efforts.
