Meet the Leaders of CWAC

Dean Hoegger, President

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

Gracyn was raised in Northeast Wisconsin and has always enjoyed spending time outdoors, which has allowed her passion surrounding environmental sustainability, climate change, and other environmental issues to grow. While completing her undergraduate degree in Democracy and Justice Studies with an emphasis in Criminal Justice, and Political Science at UW-Green Bay, she had the opportunity to intern with CWAC in the summer of 2022. She returned to CWAC as the administrative assistant in late 2022 until spring 2024. She currently works in the legal field. She is excited to return and continue working with CWAC.

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.