Meet the Experts

Dave Andrusyk is an environmental interpreter with the Forest Preserve District. He brings a wealth of knowledge about natural-areas management and geographic information systems to his more than 20-year career with the agency. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpretation. He enjoys teaching about fossils, plants and geocaching, and is the District's lead contact for scouting.

Dennis Buck is a heritage interpreter and the collections coordinator at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. He enjoys teaching about American and Illinois histories, with nearly 25 years of experience. He earned a B.S. in history and an M.A. in history museum studies. He is a Certified Heritage Interpreter. 

Amy Caponigro is a heritage interpreter at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago. With over ten years experience working on the farm, Amy leads the domestic program. She earned a B.S. in social studies education from Indiana Wesleyan University, with minors in fine arts and art history. She has a Masters Certificate in museum studies from Northern Illinois University and is currently working on her M.A. in U.S. history and public history with a focus on woman in the 1890's.

Lisa Carpenter is the heritage farming program coordinator at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago. She earned a B.A. in English and history and M.A. in American Studies. 

Adam Carlson is a senior ranger with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpretation and certified to teach archery and kayaking to forest preserve patrons. He earned a B.A. in environmental law and public policy.

Jessi DeMartini is the research center coordinator at the Urban Stream Research Center at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. She brings 25 years of natural sciences experience to her profession and 15 years teaching about habitat restoration, stream ecosystems and macroinvertebrates, including freshwater mussels. She earned a B.S. in biology, RN and art degrees, and certification as a naturalist.

Matt Denhart is the agricultural specialist at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, and has over 15 years experience with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He works with the farm’s draft horses and drives the team for hay-wagon and sleigh rides. He earned an associate degree in recreation and wildlife management. 

Keriann Dubina is an environmental interpreter with the Forest Preserve District. She enjoys teaching about freshwater biology, animal behavior, ecology, native gardening and design and also instructing teachers on STEM and professional-development opportunities. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpreters and a master naturalist. She earned a B.S. in zoology and M.S. in biology (ornithology), both from Western Illinois University.

Carmen Guerrero is the public program coordinator at St. James Farm in Warrenville. She enjoys teaching English and history and holds specialized certifications in Type 09 secondary education with middle-school social studies endorsement. She earned a B.S. in psychology and English. 

Jim Intihar is an aquatic technician at the Urban Stream Research Center at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He brings nearly 10 years of experience in natural sciences to teaching about native freshwater mussels, mussel propagation and aquaculture.  He earned a B.S. in biology from Northern Illinois University and certification as a burn crew member.

Jay Johnson is the manager of site operations at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County where he has worked for nearly 35 years. His love for the outdoors comes across when teaching programs about outdoor recreation and natural-areas management. He instructs others on prescribed burns and river rescue as part of the Chicago Wilderness partnership. He enjoys working with special-needs audiences. He earned a B.S. in forestry.

Jenny Kamm is an environmental interpreter with the Forest Preserve District. She earned a B.S. in environmental health from Illinois State University, where she was also president of the Student Action Coalition and ISU Beekeeping Club. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of wildlife and teaching young audiences.

Joe Limpers is an aquatic technician at the Urban Stream Research Center at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He brings nearly 10 years of experience in natural sciences to teaching about native freshwater mussels, mussel propagation and aquaculture.  He earned a B.S. in zoology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Keith McClow is the heritage experience manager overseeing Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago and Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook.  With more than 20 years of experience in living history at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, he enjoys teaching late 19th-century and U.S. histories. He earned a B.S. in management and M.A. in historical administration. 

Glenn Perricone is an environmental interpreter and the school outreach coordinator with the Forest Preserve District. He enjoys teaching natural history through hands-on experiences and you’ll often see him at STEM events or student-engagement fairs. He has a B.A. in biology and is working towards his M.A. in biology with a focus on community-based conservation and experiential learning. Glenn is also an avid birder.

Krystle Piwowar is a wildlife interpreter at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. She has worked not only as a ranger at the Forest Preserve District but also as a veterinary technician at the wildlife center. She enjoys teaching about native wildlife, and she is knowledgeable in animal-behavior management, wildlife biology and zoology. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpreters. She earned a B.A. in biology from Trinity Christian College.

Michael Shannon is an assistant manager of site operations at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He not only organizes outdoor recreational programs for forest preserve patrons but also delivers archery instruction. He is certified in wildfire management and conducts training for prescribed burns and herbicide application. He earned a degree in environmental studies.

David Sima is a senior ranger with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. With nearly 30 years of outdoor recreational experience, he is certified in archery and kayaking and enjoys leading cast-iron cooking programs. He earned a B.S. in forestry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.