Heart of the Lakes Welcomes New Board Members

December 13, 2010

By Heart of the Lakes

Heart of the Lakes is pleased to welcome three new members to our board of directors: Frank Aiello, Dan Cline, and Tim Ervin. Heart of the Lakes is a statewide organization that strengthens the collective efforts of land conservancies and organizations dedicated to the conservation of Michigan’s environmentally and economically significant lands. Heart of the Lakes looks forward to working with the new and existing board members as we enter a new year and continue to promote thoughtful land conservation policy in Michigan.

Frank Aiello, Asst. Professor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Professor Aiello's current research interest is effective land use and conservation techniques. He has provided hundreds of hours of pro bono legal service to land trusts in Michigan, assisting them with the acquisition of real property held for natural preservation. Professor Aiello also serves as the editor of the Michigan Model Conservation Easement, a project hosted by Heart of the Lakes. He involves Cooley students, as volunteers or research assistants, in his work whenever possible. Professor Aiello also encourages Cooley students to involve themselves in matters of environmental law and policy as a faculty advisor to the Cooley Auburn Hills Environmental Law Society.

Dan Cline, Cline Close Dyer PLC
Dan is an attorney practicing in the areas of non-profit organization, employment, and real estate law. He is a founding member of Cline Close Dyer PLC, a full-service law firm located in Midland, Michigan. Mr. Cline holds a B.A. in economics from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He has been in the private practice of law since 1981, and has worked with many non-profit organizations, both as legal counsel and as a volunteer board member. Dan just completed 10 ½ years of service on the board of The Little Forks Conservancy in Midland, Michigan.

Tim Ervin, Advisor, Manistee Community Foundation, and Manistee Alliance for Economic Success
Tim Ervin presently serves as a consultant to the Alliance for Economic Success, the economic development organization for Manistee County, as an advisor for the Manistee County Community Foundation where he serves on the Michigan Land Use Funders organization, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Crystal Mountain Resort. In addition to co-chairing the team seeking to “Connect Manistee County” with last mile broadband, he is involved with initiatives to create a county branding strategy. Ervin recently was engaged in the funding and start up of the West Bay Campus at Northwestern Michigan College and, while there, was involved in beginning the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute.

Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy Board of Directors

Heart of the Lakes expresses our sincere appreciation to our outgoing board members Susan Lackey of Legacy Land Conservancy and Jeremy Emmi of Michigan Nature Association, whose term will end December 31, 2010. Heart of the Lakes is also grateful for the leadership and dedication of Tom Bailey, who served as board President since he led the founding of the organization in 2004, and will continue to serve as a board member.

Glen Chown, President
Executive Director, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Erin Heskett, Vice President
Midwest Director, Land Trust Alliance

Jeremy Emmi, Secretary/Treasurer
Executive Director, Michigan Nature Association

Frank Aiello, Member
Asst. Professor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Tom Bailey, Member
Executive Director, Little Traverse Conservancy

Dan Cline, Member
Cline Close Dyer PLC

Tim Ervin, Member
Advisor, Manistee Community Foundation, and Manistee Alliance for Economic Success

Brian Price, Mem
Executive Director, Leelanau Conservancy

Helen Taylor, Member
State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan

Peter Ter Louw, Member
Executive Director, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

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