Staff
Executive Director Rick Thom served as an officer in the U.S. Army and worked as a field biologist for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission prior to employment with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He retired from the Conservation Department in 2006 after 28 years of service, including natural history division chief and wildlife diversity chief. Rick has worked in Missouri and nationally to develop conservation programs and to secure funding for them. He was a charter organizer of the Natural Areas Association. Rick holds degrees in biology (Northern Illinois University), forestry (University of Illinois), and public administration (University of Missouri).
Communications Specialist Donna Richards oversees content of the Foundation's Web site and promotes Foundation programs to partner groups and the conservation community at large. She has been employed with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for the past 29 years and retired August 2011. She held seven different positions within the Department, all of which she worked to support various MDC staff throughout the state. She and her husband Kevin live about 20 miles south of Jefferson City. They have three children and two grandchildren. She enjoys hunting, fishing, landscaping with native wildflowers, working with youth and spending time with family.
Missouri Department of Conservation Support and Liaison Staff Serving the Foundation:
Fisheries Field Operations Chief Paul Calvert is the Conservation Department liaison with the Foundation on Stream Stewardship Trust Fund matters. Paul has a Master’s degree in biology from University of Central Missouri and has worked with the Department for almost 17 years in a variety of positions working with private landowners and the stream resources of Missouri. Currently, in addition to coordinating Stream Stewardship Trust Fund projects, Paul oversees the Missouri River Unit Fisheries staff.
Realty Services Technician Robyn Hilliard* provides advanced adminstrative support to the Missouri Department of Conservation's Realty Services staff, Realty Committee, and Director’s Office, in addition to staff of 
the Foundation. Robyn has pre-department experience as a word processing supervisor for an accounting firm. Prior t
o her current position, Robyn served the Department as an administrative staff assistant for Private Land Services Division and administrative assistant for the Director’s Office. She also provided previous, valued assistance to the Foundation, and is pictured here (at right) receiving an award in recognition of her service from former Foundation president Jan Phillips.
Financial Services Analyst Mindy Kremer* oversees daily revenue duties and serves as the primary contact for field staff making deposits. Mindy also reviews daily cash receipt reports, analyzes monthly cash receipts, and completes the sales tax return. For MCHF Mindy records revenues and expenditures, makes deposits, confirms final approval of invoices, monitors bank account balances, prepares cost estimates in response to inquiries for off-site mitigation, and serves as the contact for annual audit. Mindy has been employed with the MO Department of Conservation for a year and has pre-department experience in both bank and state auditing and accounting. Mindy graduated from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, MO with a BS in Finance, and she is currently working towards her MBA through William Woods. Mindy resides in Loose Creek with her husband Pat and their dog Alex. They enjoy spending free time together with friends and family.
Financial Services Analyst Lindsey Mullins* prepares the budget for the Missouri Department of Conservation, compiles a portion of the Department’s Annual Report, and completes the monthly revenue reconciliation. She supports the Conservation Employees Benefits Trust Fund by reconciling the monthly bank statements. For the MCHF, she reconciles the monthly data to the bank and investment statements and prepares the monthly financial statements. She has been employed by the MO Department of Conservation for a year and the State of MO for almost 5 years. Lindsey is a life time resident of Jefferson City. She graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, MO with a BA in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance and Entrepreneurship.
Accounting Technician Sherry Jacquin* is assisting Mindy Kremer part-time with financial services of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the MCHF. She also works with the Department's legislative liaison during the Missouri Legislative Session, assisting with coordation of comments for Fiscal Notes. Sherry is a mid-Missouri native and has a degree in Business Administration. She has worked previously as a Department Chairperson and post-secondary teacher, a financial investment representative and insurance agent, and has owned a small business. She enjoys spending time with her two children and their families, spoiling her two grandchildren and doing all types of needlework.
*The Foundation reimburses the Missouri Department of Conservation for administrative and financial services provided by Conservation Department staff.
