Antrim County, MI – After an extensive search, Grass River Natural Area, Inc. is excited to announce that Jenn Wright has been named Executive Director. Jenn brings with her extensive experience in development, conservation stewardship, facilities management, human resources and education.

Jenn Wright comes to GRNA from the Kalamazoo Nature Center in Kalamazoo, MI where she has spent the last 17 years. Most recently, Jenn served as Chief Operating Officer where she managed the day-to-day operations of the center. Prior to her time at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Jenn spent four years at the Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, MI.

With a background in staff and business administration, including: strategic and operational planning, interpretive program development and delivery, grant writing and fundraising, project implementation, and cohesive team development, GRNA staff and board members are excited to welcome Jenn to Antrim County. Her skills and passion will prove advantageous to the future of Grass River Natural Area as we work to advance our mission: To manage the Grass River Natural Area, conserve and protect its watershed, and provide opportunities that increase knowledge, appreciation and community-wide stewardship of the natural environment.

Grass River Natural Area Vice Chair, Dan Cline remarked “We are delighted to have Jenn Wright join our team. Her extensive experience in nature education and nonprofit management will allow us to build upon the excellent programming that Haley Breniser and our professional staff have developed over the past four years.”

GRNA is a 1492-acre public natural area and environmental education center providing 7.5 miles of recreational trails, 100+ public programs, and various opportunities to get involved in hands-on conservation. It protects nearly 1500 acres of emergent wetland, river corridor, upland forest, and northern fen habitat and is located at 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire MI (just 7 miles south of the county seat of Bellaire).

For more information about Grass River Natural Area, please visit http://www.grassriver.org/.