Staff
Amanda Ruffini, CISMA Director
Amanda is a University of Denver Graduate with a Master's in Natural Resource Management. Prior to joining CISMA, she worked for Oakland County in the Natural Resource Department, working on maintaining high quality natural areas in OC Parks, invasive species management, and restoration projects. She has also previously interned with the South Australian Research and Development Institute to develop a GIS protocol for mapping aquatic vegetation in the coastal zone. She spends her free time foraging in Oakland county and volunteering as a steward for MNA. Now a part of LSC CISMA, she will be spending her time developing and coordinating invasive species management projects.
Hollie Coleman, CISMA Field Coordinator
Hollie is an Oakland University graduate with a B.S. in Biology. Prior to joining CISMA in 2021, she performed field work for the Ocean Mammal Institute researching the impact of noise pollution on humpback whale behavior. She spends her time with CISMA monitoring and managing invasive species, like the Red Swamp Crayfish, as well as, coordinating field work!
Ethan Teranes, CISMA Technician
Ethan is a Grand Valley State University Graduate with a B.S. in Natural Resource Management. After graduation, he worked on the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Stewardship Crew, carrying out a variety of invasive species management and habitat restoration projects. He also interned with the Ottawa conservation district, working to help identify issues with trout stream habitats in west Michigan. Since joining CISMA in 2022, Ethan continues his work with invasive species like Red Swamp Crayfish, Phragmites, and European Frogbit.
Meet our outreach partner, Friends of the St. Clair River!
Friends of the St. Clair River
Friends of the St. Clair River is Michigan's Thumbcoast environmental non-profit showing 40 miles of love to the St. Clair River and its watersheds since 2007. We are committed to inspiring citizen action through stewardship, monitoring and education to restore, protect and enhance the St. Clair River and its watersheds. We work closely with the Lake St. Clair CISMA and other partners to provide water and land stewardship, water quality monitoring, river cleanups, advocate for healthy water, lead research-based ecosystem management, and promote responsible water-based recreation.