AIS Advisory Committee Members

Amanda Weberg
Grand Marais
[email protected]
608-295-8694

Amanda Weberg loves working in the wonderful world of AIS prevention. Amanda earned her B.A. from UW-Superior in Biology, Chemistry, and German, ja. In college she conducted research on the Belize barrier coral reef and worked at the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI). She also worked at the Limnology Center in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado-Boulder and the Freshwater Mussel Conservation Center at Virginia Tech. Amanda has been the AIS specialist for Cook County SWCD since its beginning in 2015. She believes the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota is a beautiful and critical place to do AIS work. The waters in the Arrowhead are not yet impaired by human activity. It’s all our work to keep it that way.

Andrew Dickhart
Elk River
[email protected]

Andrew Dickhart is an aquatic ecologist and the AIS Program Coordinator for Carver County, where he leads, AIS monitoring, watercraft inspection, research, and outreach programs. He holds a degree in environmental science with a focus on aquatic ecology and invasive species management, complementing his extensive field experience with a strong academic foundation. A Minnesota native with a deep-rooted passion for conservation, he combines his expertise in invasive species management with firsthand experience as an angler, boater, hiker, and general adventurer. Andrew is actively engaged in the AIS community across the state and region, collaborating with agencies, researchers, and stakeholders to develop effective management strategies. With a background in lake and watershed management, grant writing, and long-term planning, he is committed to protecting Minnesota’s waterways through science-based, adaptive approaches.

Beto Garcia
Roseville
[email protected]
651-261-2072

Beto Garcia brings to the board a 30 year career in hydrogeology and environmental consulting at prominent local engineering companies. His professional qualifications include having been a licensed Professional Geologist, Monitoring Well Contractor, and lake services provider. He is a licensed Coast Guard captain, and an avid racing sailor, fisherman, and power boater with decades of experience on inland lakes and rivers across Minnesota including Lake Superior. Mr. Garcia is also a lakefront owner, a member of the Lake Owasso Lake Association, and active member of several yacht clubs. His educational background includes a BA in Geology from Macalester College, post-graduate coursework at Macalester and the UofM, and a year-long internship at the Minnesota DNR Division of Waters. Mr. Garcia is currently an IT Systems Engineer and BioBase Mapping Ambassador involved in mapping aquatic vegetation and assisting on work to update the Twin Cities Fishing Guide.

Carrie Ohly-Cusack
Ely
[email protected]
805-698-2578
218-365-7694

Carrie Ohly-Cusack spent the past ten years working on AIS prevention, beginning in 2015 as the Burntside Lake Association AIS Manager in Ely, MN. In 2020, she joined the AIS Boundary Waters Collaborative (ABC) as a Civic Organizer. The purpose of ABC is to develop the imagination, leadership, and infrastructure needed to organize sustainable partnerships between government and community with the capacity to address the complex public policy issue of aquatic invasive species in America’s premier water wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Our focus is to prevent the spread of AIS into the two main watersheds that flow into the BWCAW. In 2022, she joined the board of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates (MLRA). MLR advocates for clean water policies across the state of Minnesota.

Christine Maxwell
Bemidji
210-316-2772 (cell)
218-308-9321 (office)
[email protected]

Christine Maxwell is a Minnesota transplant but has fully embraced the “lake-life” attitude that living in Bemidji, Minnesota offers. As the CFO of Northland Fishing Tackle, Christine has developed a passion for fishing, becoming a year-round avid angler. Spending much of her free time on the water either fishing, kayaking, or enjoying the waters outside her Mille Lacs cabin has made Maxwell aware of the threats of aquatic invasive species as well as passionate about preserving Minnesota’s water resources. Christine holds master’s degrees in engineering management and accounting and brings 15+ years of leadership, financial acumen, and policy writing to the AIS Advisory Committee.

Jared Langer
Minneapolis
[email protected]

Jared Langer is a conservation professional pursuing a Master of Science degree in Conservation Science with a focus on Fisheries and Aquatic Biology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. As a Graduate Fellow at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), Jared is conducting research to improve understanding of boater patterns and peak visitation times at Minnesota boat launches to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Jared’s professional background includes roles such as Environmental Resource Specialist for Ramsey County and overseeing invasive species projects for PLM Lake and Land Management, where he focused on water quality monitoring, invasive species management, and habitat restoration. Jared also volunteers on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) to review and approve grant proposals supporting Minneapolis's urban habitat conservation. Jared combines his passion for protecting natural resources with hands-on fieldwork and collaboration to contribute to healthier freshwater ecosystems in Minnesota.

Liz Kaltenhauser
Waseca
[email protected]

Liz is a former marine biologist who moved home from Florida to be near her family and the nature she loves and grew up with. Her passion for environmental education has led her into a career working with several aquariums in education and animal care. She has since moved from these experiences to develop her nonprofit centered around environmental science, research, outreach, and education. She is an avid water enthusiast, enjoying scuba diving, kayaking, and has even participated in the sport of synchronized swimming. She continues loving to be outside with the hopes of owning a cabin one day where she can share her love with nature to those closest to her and to the communities that inspired her when she was young. Through this committee, she hopes to gain valuable knowledge to continue her work in her nonprofit and assist her communities.

M. Mahmood Tajbakhsh
St. Paul
[email protected]
612-239-4573

M. Mahmood Tajbakhsh is an avid fisherman, hunter and outdoor recreation advocate from St. Paul, Minnesota. He spent his childhood and early youth in St. Paul enjoying fishing, canoeing, and other aquatic outdoor activities within the city limits. He spent most of his early adult life working in the non-profit sector in Southern Mexico, promoting and implementing community led sport fisheries sustainable development and environmental education programs. He has recently moved back to St. Paul and is working in local government in addition to advocating for public access and diversity in the outdoors through multiple organizations and personal activities.

Nick Bluhm
Minneapolis
[email protected]
612 747-8970

Nick Bluhm is the Treasurer for the Association of Cass County Lakes (ACCL), a nonprofit organization of the lake associations in Cass County. ACCL has funded 100 Self-cleaning AIS Cleaning Signs with Tools, working with the SWCD of Cass County; 50 signs w/tools were installed at Federal, DNR and resort access locations in 2023 and the remainder will be installed in 2024. Each year, ACCL and Cass County jointly fund AIS Detector courses. Nick has worked as a DNR Watercraft Inspector at DNR public accesses and is an active AIS Detector. He is also a volunteer for the Three Rivers Park district and Dakota County parks.

Nick grew up in a rural farming area on the Minnesota River; he was an Eagle Scout and a BWCA Wilderness canoe guide. He has earned his certification as a Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver and Professional Divemaster. Nick has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University and a BS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University.

Patrick Selter
Apple Valley
[email protected]
952-232-9262

Since 1997, I have worked in the field of aquatic invasive species on both the prevention and management sides. As Vice President of Midwest Operations for PLM Lake and Land Management, I have resided in Minnesota since 2001 and have focused not only on current goals and outcomes, but also on research and development towards our future. Establishing partnerships and working side by side with research organizations who value scientifically proven, environmentally friendly, economical methods of effective and long-term solutions to the AIS challenges in our beautiful state is my goal. I aim to provide knowledge that helps customers make sound decisions, with an emphasis on ecological protection, and to oversee, participate, and ensure success in the work being done.

My partnerships include being a member of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, the Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society, and am a current advisory board member for the U of M’s Aquatic Invasive Species Research Centers (MAISRC). Outside of work, my family and I enjoy all the outdoor recreation and states natural resources that our state has to offer, as well as participating in hunting, year round fishing, and exploring state and national parks. Our natural resources are a priority for me, both personally and professionally.

Raining White
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Cass Lake
[email protected]

Boozhoo! Gimiiwan indiizinikaaz, Migizi indoodem. Chechabahning indoojibaa. My name is Raining White, I’ve worked for Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s Division of Resource Management for 7 years. I started as a seasonal Invasive Species Tech removing terrestrial invasive species around the Leech Lake Reservation. As my career and skill set grew so did my job duties. I’m now the Assistant Program Manager of the Plant Resources Department since 2022. I’ve worked on terrestrial and aquatic invasive species management including planning and implementing management actions across our 800,000+ acre jurisdiction. Our Department handles all things botany related including cultural and rare plant surveys, forest management plans, community engagement and all other things plant related. In my personal time I love to fish, hunt, and gather manoomin, listen to live music and comedy and explore new cuisines. I believe protecting our natural world means being an active participant in our environment and that our individual actions can lead to a better world for all.

Spencer McGrew
Fergus Falls
[email protected]
218-998-8113

Spencer McGrew up on Lake Fifteen near Rollag, MN fishing off the dock, endlessly trying to catch chipmunks with his brother using a cardboard box trap and spending the warm summer evenings reading the Conservation Volunteer. He studied history and geosciences at Minnesota State University Moorhead and received his M.A in Geography at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. His master’s thesis explored the economic impact of zebra mussels on lakeshore property values. Spencer is the Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist for Otter Tail County, where he’s led the county’s AIS Prevention Program since 2016. Spencer and his wife Michele and son Ashton (5) and cat, Otto, live in Fergus Falls. In his free time, he enjoys boating, reading history, and volunteering at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.

Stephanie Hadler
Alexandria
[email protected]

AIS Advisory Committee Ex-Officio Members

Amy McGovern
[email protected]

Amy McGovern is the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Midwest Region covering the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes. The Region's AIS Program consists of a comprehensive Risk Assessment Program, Great Lakes Early Detection Program, Asian Carp Program, Financial Assistance Program, and Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control Program. Amy brings expertise from an interdisciplinary perspective and enjoys collaborating with other federal and state agencies and in cooperation with tribes, private industry, academia and others to prevent the establishment and spread of aquatic invasive species. The Regional AIS Program is part of the Midwest regional Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nick Phelps
St. Paul
[email protected]
612-624-7450

Dr. Nick Phelps is the Director of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). MAISRC is a collaborative and innovative program that brings together researchers, managers and stakeholders to identify research priorities, conduct research and inform decision-making and management for AIS in the Great Lakes region. In addition, Nick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota. His research group focuses on emerging threats to the health and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems, which lie at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment. This has included discovery and diagnostic development for emerging pathogens, environmental suitability and network modeling to predict invasions, risk assessment to prioritize management efforts, provided workshops and evaluation of AIS-HACCP strategies for aquaculture producers, etc. Nick has earned a BS in Aquatic Biology, an MS in Aquaculture/Fisheries and a PhD in Veterinary Medicine.