2023 Regional Award Winners
Terry Joyce
Cleveland Metroparks Recipient of the 2023 Meritorious Service Award Terry's interpretive career of over twenty-five years has led her through a historic farm, a zoo, and the Cleveland Metroparks system. Her work as a manager, supervisor, and CIT has offered insight and support to many interpreters, directly training over 500 individuals. Her dedication to NAI knows no bounds, and Terry showed immense leadership on the workshop committee for the 2022 NAI National Conference, as Zoo Wildlife Parks and Aquarium Section Secretary, Treasurer, and Director, as Advisory Council Elections Coordinator, National Board Member-at-Large, and National Secretary. Her love of SWOT analysis has helped shape NAI as we know it, and she is now the honored recipient of both the National and Regional versions of the NAI Meritorious Service Award. |
Siera Stuart
Zionsville Parks and Recreation Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding New Interpreter Award Siera Stuart joined the Zionsville Parks and Recreation department in the fall of 2021 as a Naturalist. Her immediate ability to connect with children, families, and teachers goes beyond the norm for one just entering this field, and shows the immense potential in creating exciting new programming. Her work with a local middle school's Wilderness Adventure Club tripled their attendance, and her use of social media and pop culture has reached new audiences. Siera's coworkers, manager, and community all point to her as a bright new star in our industry, willing to take up a challenge with an eagerness and ease not often seen in one fresh in the field, nor by many more experienced interpreters. |
Marcia "Skitz" Evrard
Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Senior/Retired Interpreter Award Marcia "Skitz" Evrard has a resume that covers interpretive sites across Indiana - too many sites to name have been touched by her interpretive hand. Even now in retirement, Skitz can be found working with Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Indiana State University. A true NAI faithful, Skitz has attended twelve NAI National Conferences, and near double as many Great Lakes Regional Interpreters' Workshops, including two where she sat on the planning committee. As a "seasoned" seasonal naturalist, Skitz has managed to keep in touch with many throughout her career, and the lasting impact of these relationships has made her an incredible asset and friend to this industry. Currently, she's also the proud "Chicken Tender" of Oomi, the Great Lakes Region's fundraising rubber chicken. Her generosity to our interpretive community is powerful and deeply important. |
Mike Broughton
Huron-Clinton Metroparks Recipient of the 2023 Master Frontline Interpreter Award Mike Broughton has been a member of NAI for over 30 years, and has played nearly as many characters in his time as an interpreter. Whether he has been dressed in historic attire or as Bigfoot, Mike's enthusiastic and genuine approach to interpretation has endeared him to a generation of Metroparks visitors and beyond. Mike is currently the Southern District Outreach Interpreter for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Southeast Michigan. In 2022 alone, his programming reached over 22,000 patrons. Between his staff training sessions, NAI workshop presentations, work on the Great Lakes Region Awards Committee, and more, you can catch Mike in his involvement many other professional organizations and networks - including the United Federation of Planets. Live long and prosper, Mike. |
Laurel Finney
Ontario Parks Recipient of the 2023 Master Interpretive Manager Award Laurel Finney has worked for Ontario Parks for over fifteen years in a variety of positions from summer student to frontline interpreter to interpretive specialist and, for the last 4 years, as Discovery Program Project Coordinator at the Ontario Parks main office. She is also a certified teacher and has worked for outdoor education centres and for Parks Canada. Laurel's leadership is felt in her direction of school programming, staff training, summer programming across all Class 2 parks (30-40 parks), and more. Whether she is coordinating training workshops or guiding the switch to virtual programming, Laurel brings her passion, level-headedness, and deep skills as a mentor with her. Said one co-worker, "In all, Laurel seems to make everything she touches 'better.'" |
Dorothy McLeer
University of Michigan Dearborn Recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Professional Award Dorothy McLeer has lent her interpretive skill to the University of Michigan’s Environmental Interpretive Center for 26 years. Her programming reaches over 10,000 students annually, running the spectrum from maple sugaring to pollinators to Rouge River Watershed, and her seasonal newsletter articles connect readers to an equally wide range of topics. As a mentor to innumerable students, Dorothy has trained generations as Certified Interpretive Guides, fully fledging many young interpreters into our field. She coordinates the Michigan State University-Extension Michigan Master Naturalist program's Rouge River region, and has given countless hours to environmental outreach programs across Detroit and beyond. She was recognized with the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Volunteer Appreciation Award in 2010, and the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance’s John Dingell Friend of the Refuge award in 2013. Dorothy has assisted our NAI Great Lakes Region as our Awards Chair, Student Involvement Chair, workshop presenter, and advocate amongst our fieldmates. Dorothy is recognized by her colleagues, mentees, and more as the consummate professional interpreter. |
2023 National Award Winners
Mary Rouse
Cleveland Metroparks Recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Interpretive Manager Award While Cleveland Metroparks currently holds the honor of Mary's employment, her career has impacted organizations throughout northeast Ohio. Her many interpretive roles, and especially those as a manager, have helped to shape an entire local interpretive ecosystem and the many staff who learned from her. Also recently lauded as a "Notable in Education" by Crain's Cleveland Business for her work, including promoting outdoor STEM classes, we are grateful to have such a strong leader for interpretation right here at home! |
Marcia "Skitz" Evrard
Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Senior Interpreter Award Marcia "Skitz" Evrard has a resume that covers interpretive sites across Indiana - too many sites to name have been touched by her interpretive hand. Even now in retirement, Skitz can be found working with Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Indiana State University. A true NAI faithful, Skitz has attended twelve NAI National Conferences, and near double as many Great Lakes Regional Interpreters' Workshops, including two where she sat on the planning committee. As a "seasoned" seasonal naturalist, Skitz has managed to keep in touch with many throughout her career, and the lasting impact of these relationships has made her an incredible asset and friend to this industry. Currently, she's also the proud "Chicken Tender" of Oomi, the Great Lakes Region's fundraising rubber chicken. Her generosity to our interpretive community is powerful and deeply important. |
Harold "Hal" Brown
Wood County Park District Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer Award Wood County Park District volunteer Hal is a regular at Great Lakes Region events, always willing to share a friendly smile as he continuously works to create a powerful interpretive skillset that sets him apart. Jim Witter said it best in an interview with BG Independent News: "Hal is an enduring source of inspiration to staff and volunteers alike. His dedication and positivity lift our spirits on the busiest of days and most trying of circumstances." |
Karin Hostetter
Interpret This Recipient of the 2023 Award of Distinction The ability to share experiences creates the soul of an interpreter. With over 40 years of experiences in interpretation so far, Karin has built a role for herself that involves helping others to polish this ability to share. Her company Interpret This connects sites with skillful interpretive writers, program developers, and trainers. Karin has also improved countless careers through her work as a Master Trainer through NAI, and her courses, including Coaching Interpreters, are powerful assets to this community. Karin is currently serving as our Training Services Chair, and is gearing up to create more training opportunities for the Great Lakes Region. |