STAFF
Jenna Pollock
Director
Jenna is a native of Clayton County and former seasonal employee of Clayton County Conservation. A 2008 graduate of Valley Community High School of Elgin, Jenna went on to graduate with her Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah. She has spent three years serving as Naturalist for Emmet County Conservation in Northwest Iowa. Jenna has a deep-rooted love for nature born from her experience in agriculture.
Molly Scherf
office manager
Molly is a native of Clayton County and resides in her hometown of Elkader. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Horticulture. Molly and her family love spending time in the outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, and exploring. In her free time you can find her coaching youth teams in various sports.
Abbey Harkrader
Naturalist
Abbey grew up in Adel, Iowa before finding her way to Northeast Iowa. She graduated from Upper Iowa University with a degree in Conservation Management in 1998 and worked that spring as a Seasonal Naturalist with Clayton County Conservation and then the following two winters working weekends in the office. She took a position at Effigy Mounds National Monument as a Park Ranger in 1999 where she worked more than nine years in addition to doing two Americorp terms with the DNR as the Regional Naturalist for Eastern Iowa. Abbey enjoys fishing, wildflowers, forests, and introducing kids and adults to the natural world.
Kenny Slocum
Naturalist/
Resource Manager
Kenny grew up in LeClaire, Iowa and graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL in 2009. After several years working for the Montana Conservation Corps and the National Park Service, he found his way home to Iowa. His passion lies in not only learning about the unique ecology of the Paleozoic Plateau, but applying that knowledge to improve biodiversity and ecological function through hands-on restoration and landowner education and empowerment. He also serves as a board member of the Turkey River Recreational Corridor, the Dock Commission and Tree Board for the city of McGregor, and the Iowa Prairie Network.
Ean Popenhagen
Administrative Assistant/
Gift Shop Buyer
Ean grew up in Northeast Iowa and loves the outdoor opportunities the area has to offer. After graduating high school Ean enlisted in the Marines. He graduated from Hawkeye Community College and Upper Iowa University for Conservation Management. After working three summers seasonally in conservation, Ean joined us here at Clayton County. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Hunter Jensen
Operations/Maintenance
Hunter is a native to Clayton County. He graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Animal Ecology. After college he worked for Tama County Conservation, Benton County Weed Commission, and now back home for Clayton County Conservation. Hunter has a passion for enhancing habitat quality for Iowa’s native plant and animal species and enjoys creating healthy diverse ecosystems. Some of his hobbies include hunting, fishing, hiking, land management, construction, and leather work.
Nick Moser
Operations Supervisor
Nick is a native of Clayton County. He is a 2008 graduate of Clayton Ridge High School and a 2012 college graduate of UNI. Nick lived in Cedar Falls and briefly in Destin, FL before returning back to the county. Nick enjoys the driftless area of Northeast Iowa and is thankful for his opportunity to work in conservation here. Some of his hobbies include fishing, hiking, reading, and watching sports.
Zach Dingbaum
Zach grew up near Los Angeles California but he had always been connected to Northeast Iowa through his family. He attended Upper Iowa University and earned his Bachelors in Conservation Management, after graduating Zach decided he wanted to stick around Northeast Iowa. Zach worked multiple seasonal jobs prior to being hired here at Clayton County Conservation including working for the Iowa DNR at Backbone State Park & George Wyth State Park. In his free time Zach enjoys backpacking, hunting, fishing, and many other recreation activities NEIA has to offer.