Save Maumee Grassroots Organization, Inc.
Board of Directors
E-mail Save Maumee’s Board of Directors

ALL Save Maumee activists have been unpaid VOLUNTEERS since the birth of this grassroots movement. First Board of Trustees were voted-in by Save Maumee Members in May 2012.

We have done the work on our good word alone!  Now we are asking for your help through your purchase of a membership!

President, Jesus Rosario

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Term 2023-2025

Jesus Rosario, a 20 year military veteran and FTW transplant, has been living in the city for over 18 years and is currently employed by the city Parks and Recreation Department as an Event Coordinator. Jesus has been involved in various non-profit organizations since 2013. He has experience working in a
variety of roles including volunteer, program director, instructor, coach, board member, treasurer, organizer and special committee member. His love of plants and nature began as a child growing up in Puerto Rico. Through continued shared knowledge and experience Jesus has grown his passion for
horticulture and is focused on soil regeneration methods that can be applied in urban and suburban areas. Raising awareness within communities by educating the public on how we can protect our natural resources is one of his main goals.

Treasurer, Jain Young

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Term 2013-2024

Jain is a founding member of Save Maumee, serving as Treasurer of the Board since 2013, and previously as Fiscal Sponsor through the nonprofit Heartland Communities since 2006. Jain holds a Master of Arts, Executive for Public Service from Ball State University. She has performed administrative nonprofit work for the Housing Authority of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council, the United Way of Allen County, and The Workers’ Project. She is currently a public servant on the Allen County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, where she contributes to watershed
efforts and programming to improve water quality. She serves as Administrator of Heartland Communities, Inc. and as the Project Manager of Plowshares Local Food System Project. Heartland Communities operates the Rose Avenue Education Farm on Save Maumee’s property at 501 Rose Avenue, New Haven, IN.

Vice President, Aaron Goulet

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Term 2013-2024

Aaron Goulet is a longtime volunteer with Save Maumee. For the last 20 years he has worked in the reusable packaging industry. He is currently a managing partner and vice president of Container Essentials, a company focused on helping companies source the reusable/returnable packaging they need to move product or material through their supply chain in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

Personally, He like to spend his time hiking, camping, traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with his wife Jen and the rest of his family. He is currently enrolled in the Indiana Master Naturalist Class to better understand the natural world and what he can do to protect and preserve it for future generations. He is excited to pass this passion for nature on to his grandchildren and already has his granddaughter Olivia addicted to hiking & asking about climbing mountains.

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Board Members: Term 2023-2025

Board of Directors
Brian Johnson

Brian has always cared about undeveloped natural areas. A regular family litter pickup along his entire one mile stretch of home road is among his earliest fond memories. When he was 18, the #1 item on his list of life goals was to preserve a piece of land forever. This goal was accomplished in 2019 when he donated 22 acres of land in Fort Wayne back to the Miami Nation, the land’s original owners and caretakers. In 2013 he purchased a former construction dump near the SMGO Rose Ave property and received a USDA NRCS EQIP grant to restore the property. A graduate of IPFW and the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy, Brian has also served on the boards of two other non-profits. He enjoys spending his free time killing invasive bush honeysuckle, hiking, bicycling and reading. He is currently an administrative assistant for the Indiana Department of Transportation in Fort Wayne. Before that, he was an administrative assistant for IPFW (Testing Services & Dental Education), Ivy Tech (Testing Services), and University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (Faculty Development). He has been to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, DC and 13 countries. He has lived in 12 states.

Board of Directors
Justin Schiffli

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Justin, a Fort Wayne native, has been involved with Save Maumee for about 10 years. Within that time, Justin has been a part of some of Save Maumee’s bigger projects like the Riparian Buffer Initiative and has played a significant role in trail setting, invasive removal, native species planting and more. With experience from working with local and state foresters, Justin has picked up professional techniques that make him an asset to the organization. He would like to see Save Maumee’s purpose grow with intent through continuing the mission efficiently, effectively and professionally.

“I envision a true community based non-profit expanding into something that all of us have only ever dreamed it to be.”

Board of Directors
Mikila Cook

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Mikila is currently the Office Manager for the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District where her efforts are primarily focused on community outreach, event coordination, and education. Mikila’s educational background is in business administration and marketing. She has over two decades of experience in business management with a strong focus on accounting and marketing.
As a child, she grew up at C.O. Mollenhour Conservation Camp in Silver Lake, Indiana where her parents were caretakers. The setting, along with interaction with the board of supervisors, sparked her passion for all things conservation. Upon completion of school, she spent two years traveling the US and Mexico where she was able to work on a regenerative farm, volunteer at an ecovillage, install irrigation systems and cisterns with Huichol Indians, and learn about the benefits of permaculture. Mikila moved to Fort Wayne sixteen years ago with her partner Dan. Upon moving to the area she accepted a position with Whatzup, a local arts and entertainment publication. During her tenure with Whatzup, she became deeply involved in our local arts community. She has served on numerous boards and advisory committees over the past ten years to help grow our thriving arts programs.
Mikila is the mother of two ‘grown’ children. She resides on the south side of Fort Wayne with her partner Dan and their three dogs. In their time away from work, they enjoy growing food, hiking, spending time on the rivers, traveling, and the company of good friends.

‘Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world’
~ John Muir

Board of Directors
Noah Wright-Piekarski

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Not originally of Fort Wayne, Noah has gained a fondness for the rivers and the land around them. He kayaks all year round and can be found picking up trash in all kinds of weather. He’s been known to walk through icy waters to pick up trash. Noah turns trash into treasure through his artwork. He has experience driving machinery and often helps Justin Schiffli when he’s doing native planting burns or general land management. Noah also watches for poachers on the Rose Ave. property and picks up trash along another property along the St. Joseph river. He brings new ideas to the Save Maumee board and is excited to be a part of the team.