The Watershed Foundation’s new board members attend a watershed tour pictured from left Aggie Sweeney, Mike McGuire, Joshua Thompson and Michael O’Connor. Not shown is Chris Plack. Photo provided by The Watershed Foundation.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The Watershed Foundation announced the appointment of five new members to its board of directors. This brings the number of board members to 16.

Lyn Crighton, executive director for TWF, said “I am ecstatic to engage these passionate and dedicated individuals in our leadership and partnership to advance our cause – taking action for healthy lakes. They will help represent TWF and connect us with people and businesses in their networks and communities.”

Meet The New Members

Aggie Sweeney, Warsaw, is the retired president and CEO of Campbell and Company, Chicago, where she consulted with more than 100 nonprofits on advancement and fundraising strategies as well as served as lead counsel on more than 30 successful capital campaigns. She also has a variety of other board experience, serving the Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation.

Joshua Thompson, Pierceton, works as inventory control supervisor at Zimmer Biomet and served through 2020 with Indiana National Guard. He hopes to use his skills in networking, communication, and logistics planning to further the TWF mission. He and his wife live at Big Barbee Lake and spend a lot of time in the water. They both want a place where they can enjoy the lakes safely and know the natural wildlife is taken care of for future generations to use and for wildlife to live and grow.

Chris Plack, Warsaw, is general manager of 24/7 Cars and helps with his wife’s company, Jamie Plack Photography. He is skilled in marketing, public speaking, graphic and web design, and social media advertising. He has served on other boards including Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and Oakwood Cemetery. After spending his childhood in Alaska, he gained a unique perspective and passion for protecting waterways he is excited to bring to the organization.

Mike McGuire, Warsaw, works in customer service management at Zimmer Biomet and brings his experience in project planning, fundraising and public speaking. He is also involved in other service groups, such as Center Lake Conservation Association, Kosciusko Kettleheads and Boy Scouts of America.

Michael O’Connor, Leesburg, was the owner of Innovative Components Inc. in Illinois. He has since retired but has served in every role in business during his working years. He holds a marketing degree from Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has other board experience on the Junior Achievement of Elkhart County and special needs student ambassador boards. He and his wife love living at Lake Tippecanoe and spend a lot of their time in the summer fishing, boating, and paddling.

The new members were able to participate in a watershed tour Saturday, Oct. 16. Brad Clayton, a TWF watershed conservationist, gave updates on the progress of three water quality projects.

Sweeney said, “I am excited to help The Watershed Foundation take action for healthy water and soils. I grew up on a Hoosier homestead farm and lived out west for several decades. After recently retiring, I settled with my husband in Warsaw where everyday we enjoy lakes, streams, wetlands, birds, and forest. Protecting and enhancing our environment is an investment in our community for generations to come. TWF’s impressive track record and potential for sustainable impact compel me to donate and get involved.”

About The Watershed Foundation

TWF was founded in 1997 to protect and improve water quality in the upper Tippecanoe River Watershed, spanning from Crooked Lake in Whitley County to the Warsaw and Winona Lake area. During the past 24 years, TWF has worked with farmers and lake residents to implement more than 200 water quality improvement projects. In the last five years alone, these efforts have prevented more than one billion pounds of weeds and algae from growing in area lakes and streams.

For more information, visit watershedfoundation.org.

Pictured is Winona Lake’s shoreline stabilization project consisting of native plantings and glacial stone. Photo provided by The Watershed Foundation.