Staff

Ric Ahern is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Minnesota and Wisconsin with more than 25 years experience in international territorial hospitality development and most recently, residential development land assembly. Ric is a recreational bicyclist and an avid fly fisherman. He and his wife live on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River north of Welch.

Judy has been with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota since 1987. She first served as executive director from 1987 to 1992 before assuming her current position as the government and community relations director. A former legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger, Erickson has nearly 25 years of experience in the U.S. Senate and at the Minnesota Legislature. In addition to her extensive legislative experience, Erickson has expertise in building grassroots coalitions, writing and editing newsletters and speaking at local, state and national conferences. Erickson is the founder and principal of Conservation Strategies, Inc. and the owner of Pleasant Valley Orchard near Taylors Falls, Minnesota. A reporter for the Chisago County Press from 1992 to 1996, Erickson has also made appearances on TPT's Almanac at the Capitol.

Before coming to the Parks & Trails Council in 2005, Brett worked in communications for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). He has worked as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian and internationally in Jamaica and South Africa. Brett holds a bachelor of individualized studies degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Brett attributes his appreciation for parks to his father, a lifelong parks and recreation administrator who raised Brett in the world-class Minneapolis park system.

Beth Hynes has been a member of the Parks & Trails staff since 1999, Beth's previous experience includes work as the office manager for the Minnesota Division - Izaak Walton League and program manager for Legal Advice Clinics. She has extensive experience in developing and managing databases, and currently serves as a beta tester and on the Technical Advisory Committee for the nonprofit ebase.org. (The software "ebase" is a Filemaker Pro-based complete database developed by nonprofits for nonprofit community relationship management.) Beth is also an avid member of a voyageur historical re-enactors group, La Compagnie.

On staff since 2001, Joe has 15 years previous administrative and office experience in the nonprofit setting. He is currently responsible for Parks & Trails accounting, bookkeeping and various aspects of office administration. Joe often bikes 17 miles each way to work, and is a regular on the Habitat for Humanity 500 Bike Ride.

Erin McGonagle has worked in nonprofit development, marketing, and communications for 15 years. She recently returned home to "the best state in the union" from Los Angeles, where she was development and communications manager for the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley. Prior to that, she was a business and communications consultant in Chicago, working with clients in arts, public policy, assessment, and social justice. Erin has been a proud proselytizer of Minnesota state parks ever since she was seven and visited Afton State Park for the first time, where they served rattlesnake chili. She is also an award-winning fiction writer and playwright.

Membership Assistant

Peter Morgan has been a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, canoeing and hiking throughout Minnesota and beyond since a youngster. Before coming to the Parks and Trails Council Peter worked primarily in magazine publishing, including many years with the Hungry Mind/Ruminator Review. He later founded his own periodical, Borealis, a magazine of northern literature, art and culture. Peter holds a bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University and is finishing his Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing at Hamline University, where he also teaches writing. In the early mornings you can find Peter on the Mississippi River, coaching the competitive rowing program at the Minnesota Boat Club. Peter lives in St. Paul with his exuberant Labrador Wilson (pictured) and his adorable cat Annie.