OUR TEAM
Jo Swanson
Executive Director
Two Harbors, MN
Jo (she/her) has a background in nonprofit trail administration, most recently working for the Superior Hiking Trail Association where she loved meeting amazing volunteers and dedicated land-managing partners. She began her career accidentally, when she signed up to volunteer on a trail project and just kept coming back. She is a long-distance hiker, Wilderness area collector, and camps at least 52 nights per year. She is based out of Two Harbors and regularly explores the Superior National Forest. She hopes to meet you on a project soon!
Sandy Skrien
Board Chair
Duluth, MN
Sandy is the Program Manager for NEW Solutions ACES program. She has a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies from St. Cloud State. Sandy started her career on the Superior National Forest writing wilderness permits, worked as a wilderness ranger, trails crews and YCC crew leader. She spent 20 years on the Tongass National Forest, then returned to the Superior National Forest to be the Public Service Team Leader. She retired from the Forest Service in 2020 as the National Wilderness Program Manager after over 40 years. Sandy lives in Duluth, Minnesota with her husband, Wayne, and yellow labs, Cedar and Juniper.
Andy Jenks
Board Treasurer
Stillwater, MN
Andy serves on the Board of the Northwood Volunteer Connection and has over 40 years of experience in outdoor navigation. Andy teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at the University of Minnesota in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Position Systems (GPS). He serves as the President of the Banadad Trail Association, a major cross-country ski trail along the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, MN. Andy also serves on the Board of the John Francis Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on wilderness safety education and rescue. He is an avid wilderness paddler and kayaker with many wilderness trips in the US and Canada.
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Rory Anderson
Board Member
Lutsen, MN
Rory (she/her) grew up loving the outdoors, but a summer spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during college sparked her passion for helping others connect with nature. She holds a B.A. in Biology from St. Olaf College. Rory has worked with nonprofits across environmental education and state policy to make complex environmental issues easier to understand and engage with. She grew up roaming the prairies of western Minnesota and now calls the Northwoods home, where you’ll often find her identifying lichens on the trail or swimming in Lake Superior all year.
Amy Boyer
Board Member
Rochester, MN
Amy (she/her) is deeply committed to preserving Minnesota’s beautiful natural resources and loves exploring the diverse and breathtaking state and national parks across the United States. She is based out of Rochester, Minnesota working for a healthcare not-for-profit healthcare organization but finds enjoyment volunteering with the United Way, Channel One Food Bank and as a local election judge. Amy and her husband, Joe, cherish their time in the Superior National Forest and have a longstanding presence on Lake Vermillion.
Trent Homard
Board Member
Saint Paul, MN
Trent (he/him) has always had a passion for the outdoors. He studied Biology at the University
of North Dakota, earning a BS, and after college started out working in laboratories. He quickly
realized that he wasn’t cut out for lab work and started on a journey that led him to getting his
Master’s degrees in Non-Profit Management and Public Administration from Hamline. He
currently works for Neighbors, Inc. a human services non-profit in South St. Paul. Trent loves
hiking, camping and birding. He considers the North Shore and Superior National Forest one of
the most beautiful places on earth and loves any opportunity to go up there.