Co-PI Sarah Mittlefehldt, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences at Northern Michigan University. Mittlefehldt was trained as environmental historian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and she is particularly interested in how the past can be used to help inform the future. She teaches courses in environmental sustainability, policy and regulation, and ethics. Mittlefehldt serves as Co-Chair of Northern Michigan University’s Sustainability Advisory Council and as a member of the City of Marquette’s Planning Commission.

Mittlefehldt is currently working on two NSF-funded projects. In addition to this CoPe initiative, she is working with colleagues at Michigan State University on a project that combines spatial analysis with approaches from science and technology studies (STS) and environmental history to examine how energy technologies powered by wood distributed socioecological benefits and burdens in the late twentieth century. She is author of Tangled Roots: The Appalachian Trail and American Environmental Politics (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2013) and several articles on the history of community-based conservation efforts, energy policy, and land-use decision-making.

Co-PI Scott Jordan PhD, is an Associate Professor teaching in the Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management degree program at Northern Michigan University. Jordan has extensive experience in the field of outdoor recreation where he has worked in the guiding industry, the aerial adventure industries, and higher education systems. This work has enabled him to serve the outdoor industry on a national level as President of the Board of Directors for the Wilderness Education Association and on the Executive Committee of the Professional Ropes Course Association. Through these associations, he participated in the development of an American national standard for zip line and challenge course construction and operations. Most recently, Jordan's research interests have turned to community planning in association with nature based tourism development in rural areas. In this regard, he desires to develop a sustainable model for nature based tourism and outdoor recreation for the United States.

Joe Rom is a founding Principal of Studio RAD.

Joe Rom, RA, AIA, NCARB, has extensive international experience in residential, commercial and cultural projects. As a Senior Associate at Studio Daniel Libeskind in New York City, Rom was involved in numerous projects that have moved from design to documentation to construction, managing the architectural teams, coordinating with consultants and giving presentations to clients. Some of these projects include the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, opened in 2008, and high-rise residential towers in Warsaw, Poland and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

At the Suk Design Group in New York, he worked on cultural and residential construction, including the renovation and expansion of the historic Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

He received his B.S. Architecture from the University of Michigan in 1997 and his Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan in 1999. Rom is a licensed architect.

Joy Cardillo is a founding Principal of Studio RAD.

Cardillo received her bachelors of Architecture in 2000 from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

As a Project Architect at Glen and Company in New York City, Cardillo worked with renowned chefs, restaurateurs and hoteliers to create high profile restaurants and hotels including Del Posto, Riingo, Washington Park and The Flatotel. Cardillo also gained experience working on a range of retail, office and residential projects with a focus on interior design and architecture from the initial design phase through project management.

At Studio Daniel Libeskind, Cardillo worked on cultural and high end residential projects. In 2007, Cardillo worked on location in Asia doing local design coordination for a Multi Media Building for the City University of Hong Kong.

As a Freelance Consultant Cardillo worked with Engineers and Restoration Contractors to restore and repair some of the great buildings of New York City including The New York Public Library, The Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum.

Cardillo also has experience working in the fashion industry in various capacities from design to pattern making to product development.

As an engaged member of the Marquette community, Cardillo serves on the Marquette City Planning Commission and is a member of Evolve Marquette, a creative industries group within the Chamber of Commerce.

Undergraduate-student assistant, Lynnae Branham, is a senior at Northern Michigan University studying Environmental Studies & Sustainability with two minors in Outdoor Recreation and Art & Design.

Lynnae is the founder and co-leader of the NMU Conservation Crew, a student led organization dedicated to preserving the local environment of Marquette through conservation efforts and educational programs. She is also is the project lead of Students Protecting Whetstone Brook, a student led research and service project aimed to enhance the streams health, and the student-intern serving on the City of Marquette's Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board.

CUPPAD regularly assists communities with the daunting task of finding sources of funding for projects that do not qualify for a government grant. In addition to regularly notifying local units of government about funding opportunities, CUPPAD maintains information on various foundations that may provide funds, promotional items for fund-raising activities, and technical assistance.

The Climate Adaptation Task Force (CATF) was formed to help prepare local leaders and the general public to think proactively about the effects of climate change and to develop strategies that will make the Upper Peninsula more resilient and effective when dealing with the consequences of climate change.

The Community Foundation of Marquette County is a nonprofit that addresses community opportunities, provides grant opportunities to local nonprofit organizations, builds endowment funds that benefit our community forever and help create personal legacies, provides scholarships to Marquette County area graduating seniors and individuals pursuing higher education.

Marquette County is a local, tourist, and travelers’ paradise. To better understand the dynamic relationships between ecosystem health, commerce, and development in the communities along Lake Superior's south shore, having county officials actively participating in this workshop series will strengthen local decision-makers and the public's understanding of sustainable, rural, coastal development for the Lake Super Region.

Marquette County is also in the process of updating its County Master Plan and plans to utilize the results of this workshop as part of the Master Plan update.

Innovate Marquette SmartZone facilitates the commercialization of tech and tech-enabled ideas that come from the inventors, innovators, and researchers of the Marquette community. We work with individuals, businesses, and members of Northern Michigan University to guide and support the development and continued success of their idea.

Founded by the region’s leading private sector businesses and universities, InvestUP’s mission is to drive business and job growth across the peninsula. We work to:

• Promote the Upper Peninsula externally for its outstanding business and lifestyle opportunities
• Attract and retain talent
• Advance and grow existing Upper Peninsula businesses
• Attract new businesses in key industries

The Lake Superior Community Partnership is the Marquette County region’s leading resource for economic development, providing a wide variety of affordable and effective development services. The LSCP helps our partners make the connections that matter – between businesses, organizations, leaders and legislators, and provides a powerful legislative voice for programs and policies that strengthen our regional economy.

The mission of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce is to enhance quality of life by supporting the business community in the Marquette Area. We believe in earning and maintaining a strong image and reputation among all our stakeholders; our members, our communities, our elected officials, and our partners. Our benefits and services will only be as good as our current and prospective members perceive them. For this reason, we will incorporate our values into messages and actions that we sincerely believe in. We will adhere to these values as a means to establish trust and a confidence in our community role.

Michigan's Conservation Districts are local units of State Government that utilize state, federal, and private sector resources to solve today's conservation problems. The guiding philosophy of Conservation Districts is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the LOCAL level, by LOCAL people. The District staff, guided by a publicly elected board of directors, provides technical assistance along with partner agencies to county residents.

The Marquette County Conservation District brings forestry assistance to residents of Marquette County; conservation implementation cost-share opportunities for private landowners; technical and educational assistance for water quality concerns; educational seminars; annual tree, shrub, and native plant sales; stream health monitoring; invasive plant management and much more!

Michigan State University (MSU) helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities and businesses. For more than 100 years, MSU Extension has helped grow Michigan’s economy by equipping Michigan residents with the information that they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities and empower our children to dream of a successful future.

Studio RAD was founded in 2014 by Joe Rom and Joy Cardillo.

Studio RAD focuses the diverse experience of its Principals into an intimate and unconventional approach to design that embraces our clients vision and produces fresh resolutions. With Studio RAD, Joe and Joy have created a practice where architecture and design are the jumping off point for a collaborative process with clients that can adapt to the challenges a project presents. We see the relevant constraints of budget, permitting, time frame and project coordination as an essential part of what pushes us to evolve our architecture from the seed of an idea into a creative, personal and inspiring real-world design.

Several threads carry throughout the work of Studio RAD including a focus on life-cycle, deep ecology, integrity of materials, innovation of technique and respect for siting. We strive to bring our clients thoughtful ideas that add integrity and depth to their project.

Bringing a new voice in design to the region - on time, on budget.