Welcome, New Green Iowa Americorps Team!
On September 24th, 2020 the new team of Green Iowa Americorps members arrived at the WED office. We are excited to have each of the 5 new members joining us for an 11 month term at the Winneshiek Energy District. All are 2020 Luther grads so they know the layout of town and are ready to get to work!
At the beginning of the term, the team will be focused on providing energy efficiency upgrades through our Bright Box no-contact lightbulb delivery. In addition, they will be working on community and outdoor service projects, such as the Food Pantry, the Farmers Market, and the Butterfly Garden.
If you’d like to get a custom packed boxed of LEDs delivered to your door, email our new Logistics Coordinator, Mara Mergens, at gialogistics@energydistrict.org.
Meet the Team:
Maggie Anderson, Outreach Coordinator, graduated from Luther College in 2020 with a major in biology. She spent a summer researching ground beetle communities in Decorah and is thrilled to now be working with WED. In Maggie’s free time, she loves to play soccer, basketball, and card games.
Collin Kern, Education Coordinator, graduated from Luther in 2020 where he focused on political science and social work. He spent his last two summers working various jobs in Decorah and is excited to be back collaborating with the WED and the community. When not with WED, you may find Collin working or running on the trails in Decorah, or scoping out an opportunity to get on the Upper Iowa River.
Mara Mergens, Logistics Coordinator, is a 2020 graduate of Luther College with a degree in Environmental Studies with concentrations in Culture & Society and Women & Gender Studies. She is excited to spend her first summer in Decorah after studying here for the past four years. Mara has spent her college career working in recycling and compost and is excited to transition to the energy world. Mara enjoys showing off her amateur cooking skills on Instagram and searching for the best finds at the Depot and Goodwill.
Matt Staver, Audit Coordinator, graduated from Luther College in 2020 with a degree in environmental studies and a minor in biology. While at Luther he had to opportunity to do summer research on soils, and during the school year was the lab assistant for the school’s GIS class. In his free time you will usually find him listening to an audiobook, swimming, or running.
Martin Donovan, Audit Coordinator, graduated from Luther College in 2020, majoring in political science. During the previous two summers Martin worked with Luther and the City of Decorah to develop a long term sustainability plan for the town. He is excited to learn more about the benefits of local energy and working with the community. Martin enjoys running on the Decorah trails and playing soccer in his spare time.