Wisconsin Conservation Voters Institute

Sherrie Gruder, Madison

Sherrie is a Sustainable Design Specialist and Distinguished Lecturer of the University of Wisconsin-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center. She is also the Renewable Energy Coordinator of the UW-Extension system for Focus on Energy. Ms. Gruder was elected to 2 terms on the Board of Directors of the National Recycling Coalition and was a charter board member of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin, the state recycling organization and served on the Mid-America Council of Recycling Officials. Ms. Gruder helped to develop Wisconsin's recycling law serving on the Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Committee on Solid Waste Policy. Currently, she serves on the education committees of the US Green Building Council and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance and on the technical advisory committee of the Wisconsin Green Built Home Program. She is also on EPA’s Compliance Assistance Committee for Construction and Demolition Materials. She serves on the Oversight Committee for the Dane County Justice Center appointed by County Executive Falk.

Bill Horvath, Stevens Point, President
Bill was born and raised on a dairy farm in Shawano County. He has a B.S. in English and Conservation from UW- Stevens Point and a MS in Natural Resources from U of Michigan. In his long career in conservation, he has worked in various capacities for the Pennsylvania Soil & Water Conservation Commission, Maryland State Soil Conservation Committee, the WI Soil & Water Conservation Board, and the National Association of Conservation Districts. He founded the J & H Garm Farm Corporation, a 780 acre shooting preserve in Shawano County. Since retiring in 2002, Bill has devoted his time to contract work for NACD and serving on the American Forest and Paper Association Sustainable Forestry Initiative External Review Panel, the Board of directors of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, and as the Executive Director (and founder) of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame Foundation. He enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, bridge and golf and gardening. As a certified tree farmer, he’s planted about 3,000 trees.

George E. Meyer, Madison
George Meyer is a Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies at Lawrence University and the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. He was a thirty-two year employee of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and served as Secretary for eight years. On a national level, he was a founding member and President of the Environmental Council of the States and was the Vice-President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Judith Perlman, Cleveland
A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Illinois College of Law, Judith is a principal in Perlman on Business, which advises Wisconsin businesses on international acquisitions, financings, strategic planning, and other complex business matters. Judith was a leader in two grass roots conservation movements in eastern Wisconsin, resulting in preservation of a mile and a half of Lake Michigan shoreline and 180 acres of land for public use. She is the author of A Citizen’s Primer of Conservation Activism: How to Fight Development in Your Community, which will be published in autumn 2004 by University of Texas Press. She is also a member of a Manitowoc County Task Force that is taking a ground-breaking role statewide in addressing issues of Agriculture, Environment and Land Use Planning.