Meet the Staff

Brian Ritter is the Executive Director of Nahant Marsh and the Program Director for Conservation Technology through the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) and the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC). He teaches EICC courses on site and uses Nahant preserve as an outdoor classroom. He also teaches a course at Saint Ambrose University. Brian has overseen operations at Nahant Marsh since 2007 and has begun and sustained many environmental education programs, biological research projects, and natural resource management practices. His hobbies include hiking, paddling, organic gardening, cooking, camping, and fishing.

Amy Loving is the Education Coordinator at Nahant Marsh. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. She completed an internship in 2009 at Nahant. After, she worked as an AmeriCorps member and Seasonal Naturalist for Scott County Conservation Board at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center for two years. She returned to the Marsh in the fall of 2011 and served two full-time AmeriCorps terms before accepting the position as Education Coordinator. Amy enjoys exploring wild places, nature photography, cooking, arts and crafts, and most of all, spending time with her family.

Lindsey Kennedy is the Marketing and Special Events Coordinator at Nahant Marsh. A Clinton, IA native, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art at the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s degree in Arts Management from the University of Oregon. She has spent the past 10 years working at arts, history, and science non-profit organizations in Oregon, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Davenport. She enjoys traveling with her family, live music, and a good laugh.

Kinsey Nielsen serves as a part-time AmeriCorps Naturalist and part-time Natural Resource Manager. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and has been at Nahant since September 2016. Kinsey enjoys whitewater kayaking, camping, hiking, catching butterflies, playing pickleball, and traveling the world.

Madeline Kull is completing her Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management with a minor in Environmental Science from Western Illinois University-Quad Cities. She began volunteering with the Natural Resources crew in 2015, and joined as a part-time crew member in 2017. Maddie also takes care of Nahant Marsh’s Animal Ambassadors. In her spare time, she enjoys creating new things, spending time with her pets, reading, and traveling.

Kory Darnall has worked on the Nahant Marsh natural resources crew for since 2012. He is a University of Iowa graduate and is a full-time Social Worker when not at the Marsh. Kory volunteers for a number of projects and causes including the Schuetzen Park Historic Site,  Davenport City Cemetery, the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management and The Ocean Conservancy.

Zach Strong has been working as a Conservation Technician on the Natural Resources crew at Nahant Marsh since spring 2015. Zach has served ten years in the army and has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba. He has an Associate’s Degree in Conservation at Muscatine Community College. He is an avid outdoorsman and jack of all trades. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and trapping.