Environmental Project Manager, Olsson Eric is an environmental scientist who works with engineers, architects, and urban planners to ensure that development projects are built with minimal impact to the environment. Eric loves botany, teaching wilderness skills, and spending time in nature. He lives with his family in a cabin that he and his wife built with help from friends and family. His passions include native plants, wetlands, and facilitating a connection with nature in others.

Teacher & Environmental Educator Elizabeth grew up in the Ozarks and has always had an affinity for nature and the outdoors. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources and a trained Montessori teacher, she has a career in environmental education, and worked as a Teacher-Naturalist at ONSC for 8 years. She, her husband and their daughter live in a homestead that they built. She enjoys local music, cultural events, creating art, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, camping, and traveling.

Ken moved to NWA in 1969. He graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Construction Science and started a commercial construction company in 1973. Ken later sold his company to the Nabholz Company so he could focus his time on on real estate in NWA and on developing ONSC with his wife RuAnn. They have two sons who are both scientists and who both teach in higher education. Ken and RuAnn split their time now between Arkansas and Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Grants Manager, Central U.S., The Nature Conservancy Chandra manages a team of staff that focus on public funding for 19 states in the central U.S. She previously worked as Visitor Programs Manager for the Ten Sleep Preserve in Wyoming, Colorado Outward Bound Instructor, Community Organizer for the AR Public Policy Panel, and Education Director for ONSC. She is a CO native but has lived in AR for more than 20 years and loves to mountain bike, rock climb, snowboard, and raise two energetic boys.

Environmental Educator, Walnut Farm Montessori Adam has called the NWA Ozarks home for more than 30 years. A stay-at-home dad of two young children, he is also the Past President of the AR Audubon Society. Adam worked as a Teacher Naturalist at ONSC for 7 years and first came to the science center for a AEGIS camp in 1996. He still leads nature and birding walks as a summer camp counselor and volunteer. Adam enjoys birding, traveling, and is an avid triathlete. He lives in Bentonville.

Director, Technical Alignment, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) Christy is a conservation biologist and directs the development of a global, transparent, science-based measurement and reporting system for product sustainability. She loves hiking, canoeing the Buffalo, birding, playing with her rescue dog Roxie, and participating in cave biology projects with her husband. Her first job was as a Teacher Naturalist at ONSC, which led her to pursue her current career.

Owner, SubieGurus Auto Service Shop Justin is a long-time resident of NWA and attended ONSC as a 5th grader. He lives and works in Downtown Rogers. His passion for environmental education led him to run a summer program called Arkansas Youth Adventures, which took kids on rock climbing, canoeing, backpacking, and science trips in the Buffalo River area. If he is not at his shop or finding adventure with his wife and daughter, he is jogging or biking on one of the local trails.

Attorney, Regnier Startup Boutique Lucas is an attorney with twenty years of experience in advising startups, nonprofits and small businesses. Native to NWA, he practiced law in New Orleans before returning to Fayetteville after Hurricane Katrina. He is a passionate advocate for public education and for preservation of the region’s natural beauty. The father of four, his own children have experienced first-hand the joys of ONSC’s resources.

Volunteer, NWA Master Naturalists Tom is an Arkansas native and a graduate of UofA with a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. After a career in manufacturing, the last 18 years with Alcoa Corp, he and his wife Lisa retired and relocated to Madison County, AR. Tom is a NWA Master Naturalist and has volunteered at ONSC doing trail work and maintenance projects. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, travel and woodworking.

Stewardship Coordinator, AR Natural Heritage Commission Brian received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas in 1999. He previously worked for the Arkansas Military Department, Mississippi Military Department, and The Nature Conservancy of Mississippi. Brian has more than 20 years of experience working in conservation and natural resources management. Brian has served as an ex-officio member of the ONSC board for nearly 5 years.

Retired Educator Peggy is a retired academic administrator. She focused on the achievement and success of undergraduate students at UofA, and later at Bridgewater State University. Her interest and connection to ONSC began in 1989 when her husband, Dr. Kimberly G. Smith joined the inaugural board that founded ONSC and defined early programming. Two of her grandchildren have been among the thousands of people who have benefited from ONSC’s programming for school children.