About LLC

About LLC

Founded in 1991, the Conservancy began as a standing committee of Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy. The Livingston Land Conservancy is now a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization working to protect the natural heritage and rural character of the Greater Livingston County Area. In recent years, the fastest growing means of protecting land has been through the use of conservation easements, a legal agreement between a private landowner and a land trust that permanently limits the scope and type of development while leaving the land in private ownership. LLC funds their land protection activities through private donations, gifts from corporations and foundations, and memberships. Download a current version of our bylaws.

Meet our Board of Directors
Interested in becoming a board member? Email us at:
info@livingstonlandconservancy.org

Sara Thomas, President
Genoa Township
B.A. Michigan State University - Criminal Justice/Psychology
President – Livingston Land Conservancy – 2000 to present
Founding member – Livingston Land Conservancy – 1992
Conservation Chair & founding member – Sierra Club/Crossroads Group – 1991 to 1997
Recepient of:
National Conservation Medal – Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) –
2000
Green Tree Award – 1995 – Huron Valley Girl Scout Council
State Service Award – 1993 – Sierra Club/Mackinac Chapter
Nominated for David DeVries Outstanding Citizen Award – Brighton Area School
District – 1995 – for organizing Earth Awareness Month at Miller Early Childhood
Center
Sara has been involved with environmental issues for over 22 years and has received additional training/education on a wide variety of environmental topics.

Lori Cowan, Vice President
Unadilla Township
B. A. in Sociology - Eastern Michigan University
Graduate of Citizen Planner from MSU Extension. Lori is the Banquet Coordinator and Office Manager at The Earle Restaurant in Ann Arbor. She also serves as a trustee for Unadilla Township.

Treasurer - Pending

Roy Schwarz, PhD - Secretary
Marion Township
B.S. in Biology – Marietta College
M.S. in Biology – Fairleigh Dickinson University
PhD in Pharmacology – Ohio State University
Has worked extensively in the field of pharmaceutical research with Parke-Davis and then Pfizer. His research has been widely published. He currently serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy at U of M and also teaches Biology at Schoolcraft College. He enjoys photography, nature/wildlife, and sports.

Bill Cowan
Unadilla Township
Washtenaw Community College & Western Michigan University – studied music
Passionate about nature since childhood. As a camp counselor during his teen years, taught nature appreciation. Moved to Livingston County in 1991 because of its unspoiled landscape.

Bob Henshaw
Oceola Township
Attended Ferris State College – Associates Degree in General Printing, Certificate in Printing Management and Supervision. Has completed courses in Watershed Management & Citizen Planner and has attended workshops by the Michigan Townships Association. Bob has extensive employment experience in commercial printing. Currently is a trustee on the Oceola Township Board. Spends time attending to small scale farming, fishing, hunting, woodcarving and photography.

Kernie King
City of Howell
Attended Michigan State University
A.M.E. Lawrence Technological University - Mechanical Engineering
Kernie was born in Howell and has lived there his entire life. He has lived in the same house since 1937 which is two blocks from where he was born. Worked in the engineering departments of A. E. Parker & Sons, Excello Corp. and Fenton Machine Tool.
Retired from Toyoda Machinery, USA in Howell as a Proposal Engineer. Extensive naturalist background with MI Nature Association. Hobbies are photography, genealogy and exploring nature.

Patti Nicholson, AICP
Putnam Township
B.S. Landscape Design – South Dakota State University
AICP certification in planning
Planner for the City of Farmington Hills. Also sits on the Putnam Township Wetland Board of Review. Worked as Zoning Administrator in Moline, Illinois before moving to Livingston County. Completed Master Gardener designation through MSU Extension.



The Livingston Land Conservancy P.O. Box 236 Brighton, MI 48116-0236 (810) 229-3290 info@livingstonland conservancy.org		About LLC Founded in 1991, the Conservancy began as a standing committee of Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy. The Livingston Land Conservancy is now a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization working to protect the natural heritage and rural character of the Greater Livingston County Area. In recent years, the fastest growing means of protecting land has been through the use of conservation easements, a legal agreement between a private landowner and a land trust that permanently limits the scope and type of development while leaving the land in private ownership. LLC funds their land protection activities through private donations, gifts from corporations and foundations, and memberships. Download a current version of our bylaws. Meet our Board of Directors Interested in becoming a board member? Email us at: info@livingstonlandconservancy.org Sara Thomas, President Genoa Township B.A. Michigan State University - Criminal Justice/Psychology President – Livingston Land Conservancy – 2000 to present Founding member – Livingston Land Conservancy – 1992 Conservation Chair & founding member – Sierra Club/Crossroads Group – 1991 to 1997 Recepient of: National Conservation Medal – Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – 2000 Green Tree Award – 1995 – Huron Valley Girl Scout Council State Service Award – 1993 – Sierra Club/Mackinac Chapter Nominated for David DeVries Outstanding Citizen Award – Brighton Area School District – 1995 – for organizing Earth Awareness Month at Miller Early Childhood Center Sara has been involved with environmental issues for over 22 years and has received additional training/education on a wide variety of environmental topics. Lori Cowan, Vice President Unadilla Township B. A. in Sociology - Eastern Michigan University Graduate of Citizen Planner from MSU Extension. Lori is the Banquet Coordinator and Office Manager at The Earle Restaurant in Ann Arbor. She also serves as a trustee for Unadilla Township. Treasurer - Pending Roy Schwarz, PhD - Secretary Marion Township B.S. in Biology – Marietta College M.S. in Biology – Fairleigh Dickinson University PhD in Pharmacology – Ohio State University Has worked extensively in the field of pharmaceutical research with Parke-Davis and then Pfizer. His research has been widely published. He currently serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy at U of M and also teaches Biology at Schoolcraft College. He enjoys photography, nature/wildlife, and sports. Bill Cowan Unadilla Township Washtenaw Community College & Western Michigan University – studied music Passionate about nature since childhood. As a camp counselor during his teen years, taught nature appreciation. Moved to Livingston County in 1991 because of its unspoiled landscape. Bob Henshaw Oceola Township Attended Ferris State College – Associates Degree in General Printing, Certificate in Printing Management and Supervision. Has completed courses in Watershed Management & Citizen Planner and has attended workshops by the Michigan Townships Association. Bob has extensive employment experience in commercial printing. Currently is a trustee on the Oceola Township Board. Spends time attending to small scale farming, fishing, hunting, woodcarving and photography. Kernie King City of Howell Attended Michigan State University A.M.E. Lawrence Technological University - Mechanical Engineering Kernie was born in Howell and has lived there his entire life. He has lived in the same house since 1937 which is two blocks from where he was born. Worked in the engineering departments of A. E. Parker & Sons, Excello Corp. and Fenton Machine Tool. Retired from Toyoda Machinery, USA in Howell as a Proposal Engineer. Extensive naturalist background with MI Nature Association. Hobbies are photography, genealogy and exploring nature. Patti Nicholson, AICP Putnam Township B.S. Landscape Design – South Dakota State University AICP certification in planning Planner for the City of Farmington Hills. Also sits on the Putnam Township Wetland Board of Review. Worked as Zoning Administrator in Moline, Illinois before moving to Livingston County. Completed Master Gardener designation through MSU Extension.