Matthew Brantner is the Executive Director of WisCorps and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  He got his start in conservation corps programs as a Crew Leader and eventual Program Manager for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps in 2005. In 2009, after four years with the corps in Vermont, he worked to bring a conservation corps back to Wisconsin by founding WisCorps.

In addition to loving his role at WisCorps, Matthew is an avid outdoors person who loves camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and cycling.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters on their small farm where they garden and care for the land.

Kristy grew up in Southern WI but spent summers at her grandparents dairy farm in the Driftless Area. She developed a passion for the outdoors, land stewardship and conservation. She attended the UW Madison and moved Sparta. She has a farm and raises llamas and has been installing prairie strips along with woodland management for forest production and wildlife habitat. She enjoys hiking, often with her llamas, and has done sections of the Continental Divide Trail in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. She also enjoys hunting and foraging for mushrooms.

In her professional careers, she has been an entry level employee, management and a business owner for several years. This broad background has developed a skill set that will blend well with the mission of Wiscorps. She is happy to join this team and support Wisconsin Conservation Corps and The Nature Place.

Mary grew up in central Wisconsin and attended UW-La Crosse earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management. Her resume includes: Director of Parks & Recreation, Development Director for the Boy Scouts of America, and Major & Planned Giving Specialist for a medical foundation. These incredible professional experiences have shaped her career in philanthropy and enhanced her desire to build stronger communities. Joining WisCorps feels like coming home to Mary – a blend of environmental education, conservation, service and philanthropy. As the Director of Development, she is eager to use her skills to enhance the organization's current work and build toward future goals together. Outside of work, she spends time with her family and friends, and enjoys boating, golf, pickleball, listening to live music, and traveling.

Paige grew up hiking and camping with her family in Iowa. She graduated with her B.S. in Advertising from South Dakota State University. After college, she worked as a commercial Producer in Nashville, TN creating campaigns for various local and national brands. This experience equipped her with problem solving skills, budgeting experience and encapsulated her creativity.

​

For many years, she volunteered as a troop leader for Girl Scouts Troop 6000, which serves girls experiencing homelessness or transitional housing. She gained an invaluable appreciation for work done in the nonprofit sector, which sparked her to co-launch the Nashville Living Wage, as a way to highlight businesses who paid all employees a more just minimum wage.  

​

Outside of work, Paige is mostly found in the garden, kitchen, or  surrounded by trees. WisCorps is a place where both Paige's professional experience and passions are aligned.

Emily grew up camping with her family all over Wisconsin, which sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors. She moved to La Crosse in 2009 to attend UW-La Crosse and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Environmental Studies. After college, Emily did an SCA AmeriCorps Internship with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge. Then, Emily spent two summers working as a ranger for the U.S. National Park Service in Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Her love for the Driftless region brought her back to La Crosse. She loves exploring with her husband and kiddos, Colton, Will, and Charlotte. She enjoys hiking, camping, playing guitar, crafting, baking, and musicals.