The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation welcomes Jamie Konopacky to guide its Great Lakes program.

Jamie, an attorney and policy expert, brings 10 years of experience in water, agriculture, urban infrastructure, and public health.

“Jamie’s extensive experience working on water protection at the local, state, and federal levels and with Tribes will be instrumental in advancing a flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem,” said Dr. Neil C. Hawkins, president of the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation. “We want to see healthy Great Lakes for generations to come and improve quality of life for people in the region. Jamie has the drive, experience, and creativity to help us fulfill our mission.”

As Great Lakes program officer, Jamie will be the contact for the Foundation’s Great Lakes programs. The Foundation provides funding to organizations that increase Great Lakes stewardship, encourage sustainable farming practices, and work towards eliminating untreated combined sewer overflows.

Jamie joins the Erb Family Foundation after working as an attorney and directing the Midwest Office at Environmental Working Group, a leading national environmental and public health organization. Before her work with the Environmental Working Group, Jamie worked on state water and agriculture policy across the Midwest and the federal farm bill. During her time at the Harvard Environmental Policy Initiative she published and presented watershed solutions for growing nutrient pollution, nitrate drinking water contamination, and algal blooms. Jamie graduated with honors and received her law degree summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jamie assumes her new role on May 10, 2021. She will be succeeding Melissa Damaschke, who was promoted to vice president of programs and senior program officer for the Great Lakes.