STAFF
William Collins, Executive Director
Marlette, Michigan
mail@thumbland.org
Bill Collins of Brown City – Marlette is a naturalist and botanist who grew up in Fort Gratiot and Port Huron townships. He was a nature instructor at Silver Trails Scout Reservation summer camps from 1978 through 1986. He has an Associate of Science degree from Saint Clair County Community College and graduated from Michigan State University in 1987 with a dual Bachelors of Science degree in Botany and Natural Resources Development while also following the engineering program. From 1984 through 1986 he was a Program Assistant with the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in East Lansing, and later worked on various contract projects for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. He is a Life Member of the Michigan Nature Association and explored natural areas for MNA in 1988 through 1990. Bill worked as a wetland consultant and ecologist since 1990, employed 8 years as a botanist and project manager with SSOE, Inc., a large architectural and engineering firm in Flint and Troy, Michigan, and from 1998 through 2024 with his own consulting firm, Huron Ecologic, LLC. As a consultant, he encouraged and helped local governments and individuals preserve high quality natural areas. Bill and his wife, Cheryl, have been very active in promoting the protection of natural areas and rare species throughout the region, including Michigan Endangered Painted Trillium, a rare woodland wildflower now known only from Saint Clair County in all of Michigan.
Teddy Wiley, Program and Stewardship Assistant
Marysville, Michigan
Teddy Wiley started working with the TLC in the fall of 2024 on stewardship of our Loznak Sanctuary in Marysville, removing invasive weeds, and collecting and planting native prairie plant seeds, and also on our Bidwell Sanctuary in Burtchville Township, clearing new sections of the coastal trail and removing invasive weeds. Teddy also helped us draft a baseline report for a conservation easement, among other preserve and program-related work. He is impressively self-educated in ecology, regional natural communities, and native species. Before coming to the TLC, he started an effort to nominate the Saint Clair River Delta and adjacent wetlands as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. This designation should help provide new funding opportunities to control invasive Reed – Phragmites australis subspecies australis, among other invasive weeds, which has eliminated native vegetation and degraded wildlife habitat across vast areas of the Saint Clair River Delta and the Great Lakes region. The TLC fully supports this effort and welcomes the opportunity to work with Teddy on this project.
Since he was a child, Teddy has been fascinated with the natural world. From the age of 5, he sought out wetland areas to catch and release snapping turtles and other small reptiles and amphibians. He says it was snapping turtles that introduced him to wetlands and the many issues they currently face. From the age of just 13, Teddy worked for the Michigan Nature Association on their Alice W. Moore Woods Sanctuary in Saint Clair, helping to control invasive weeds. Among his other activities, Teddy is also an avid deer hunter and collects shed deer antlers. We look forward to working with Teddy for many years to come and hope he has found his place in the TLC.
Jake Defrain, Stewardship Assistant
Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Jake started working as a volunteer with the TLC in the spring of 2025. He took the lead in trail clearing and maintenance on our Shorewood Forrest Southeast Sanctuary and Cunningham Connector Sanctuary.
Jason Sawyer, Stewardship Assistant
Capac, Michigan
Jason also started working with the TLC in the fall of 2024 on stewardship of our Bidwell Sanctuary in Burtchville Township, clearing new sections of the coastal trail, removing invasive weeds, and cleaning up some old junk near the trail entrance. He’s done great work and is a big help to the TLC. Jason says that the principles and efforts of the TLC align perfectly with his love of our precious natural land and his desire to preserve our wilderness for further generations. Likewise, the TLC enjoys working with Jason and is impressed with his enthusiasm and his ability to take charge with little guidance.
Jason grew up in and around the lakes region of Oakland County. He spent most of his childhood exploring the lakes, rivers, and parks by canoe or bicycle. He often ventured to northern Michigan with family and friends for winter recreation and warm weather exploration, which solidified his desire to surround himself with nature and wildlife. His desire to be closer to wilderness took him north to Cheboygan, Michigan where his ancestors emigrated from Sweden and where he explored the wilderness, especially the extensive trail networks by mountain bike, snowmobile, and other off-road vehicles. He is a skilled kayak enthusiast and has enjoyed exploring Cheboygan State Park, the Au Sable River, the Sturgeon River, and Duncan Bay.
Jason and his wife created an on-line retail business, Guinea Pig Market, selling handmade products for pet guinea pigs and other small animal bedding products, which they still operate. Upon moving to Mussey Township in Saint Clair County, stray cats in the area motivated them to form the non-profit cat rescue and outreach group Mystery’s Haven. They also work with other cat and dog rescue organizations in the region, unloading freight and distributing goods to over one hundred approved groups in Michigan and Ohio.
Nicky Marcot
