Kris Eilers, Executive Director
E-mail: Kris@StLouisRiver.org

Kris has been engaged in policy and program delivery in environmental protection, water quality, remediation and habitat restoration, intergovernmental affairs and community engagement/outreach in the Duluth area for a decade.  Her strong business and administrative skills, garnered with her 20+ year career in the private corporate sector, have set her and the St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA) up for many successes.

Under her leadership, the SLRA has secured and managed an array of federal, state and local programs, including the continued work of the St. Louis River Area of Concern Clean-up.

In addition, Kris led the effort to get a bonding bill passed from the Minnesota Legislature to fund a state agency to clean up the most contaminated sites in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. 

Kris has been instrumental to attracting thousands of people to the river through boat tours, volunteer opportunities, canoe/kayak trips and winter hikes.  She has also dramatically grown the membership of the organization by over 500 percent over the past 5 years. 

Kris is driven by her life-long passion for water, and a childhood dream of helping to restore the polluted waters of the St. Louis River that runs into Lake Superior.

Alyssa Johnson, Program Manager
E-mail: Outreach@StLouisRiver.org

Alyssa graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a B.S. in Marketing and Finance. Since then her passions have led her down many roads including membership & community development for a start-up food co-op, teaching in the public schools, and working with many artists and small businesses to share their stories through photography, web development and social media marketing.

Alyssa served her first two years as the Alliance’s Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. Since then she has successfully developed her skills in organizational management, membership recruitment, fundraising and public relations, transitioning her into the Program Manager position.

Alyssa’s responsibilities at the Alliance involve grant and project administration, stewardship event planning, community outreach and education, social media marketing, membership communication, and website maintenance.

Alyssa is grateful for her life in Duluth and the daily lessons of Lake Superior and the surrounding waters. In her free time you can find her wandering the Superior Hiking Trail with her pup Addie, swimming on the beach of Park Point, or taking pictures of the flora growing along the St. Louis River.

Andrea Crouse, President

Andrea B. Crouse, MS is an aquatic ecologist and engaged and active member of the Twin Ports community. After completing her graduate work at the Natural Resources Research Institute she worked at the City of Superior Environmental Services Division of Public Works for 5 years managing the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program. She currently works as the Community Development Manager at Zeitgeist Center For Arts and Community where she is involved in projects supporting active transportation, health equity, and engaging stakeholders in community planning and decision-making processes.

Andrea holds certification in Wisconsin as a Soil Erosion Inspector and Wastewater Operator, and in MN as a Construction Site Manager and SWPPP designer. She is co-chair of the Regional Stormwater Protection Team, a collaborative organization of MS4 communities in the region. Andrea served three 3-year terms on the board of the Lake Superior Community Health Center. She is active in local politics, SURJ Northland, and a founding member of the Feminist Action Collective.

Libby Bent, Vice President

Libby has loved Lake Superior for over half a century, but since moving to Duluth 5 years ago, the St. Louis River and estuary is her newfound love. She is inspired by all the work that has gone into its cleanup and would like to do her part to see that this investment is protected.

Libby received a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of Colorado and has worked as a research chemist for the DuPont company, written a General Chemistry student study guide for McGraw-Hill, taught at the High School and College levels, and developed and performed outreach programs in schools in the Buffalo, NY area. A constant theme has been conveying water's wondrous properties, and highlighting its position as the world's most precious resource. Libby brings her passion, expertise, and love of the St. Louis River to serve on the board.

Sam Lobby, Secretary

Sam’s passion for water originated at UMD in 2006 when he started his degree in Environmental Studies. Following graduation, Sam worked for 5 years with the US Forest Service on a wildland fire crew where he experienced the impacts of climate change on the front lines and discovered his desire to make change through public service. Later, he attended graduate school where he got a dual master’s degree in sustainability planning and geography. After grad school, he started his first career in water protection with the City of St. Cloud.

His days at UMD never having left his heart, he eventually made his way back to Duluth where he took a job with the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and discovered a new love – the St. Louis River. Still employed by WLSSD as a Senior Planner, Sam takes immense pride in working for the organization that helped reclaim the river from pollution and is excited to be part of the St. Louis River Alliance so he can further contribute to the betterment of one of Minnesota’s greatest treasures.

Jessie Peterson, Treasurer

Jessie has always been drawn to landscapes and communities that inspire, challenge, and foster connection. This led to many years exploring Montana and Alaska before returning home to Minnesota, where her love of place was first sparked. She majored in Environmental Studies followed by a year of service with AmeriCorps at the Montana Legal Services Association.

These early experiences cemented Jessie’s commitment to building community resiliency by addressing the connections between socioeconomic, environmental, and health equity factors. For over two decades she has worked for equity, access, and sustainability by serving in a variety of non-profit leadership roles with proven outcomes building organizational capacity. She is adept in strategic planning, fund development, policy analysis, community outreach, coalition building, and project management. As the Executive Director of Generations Health Care Initiatives, she is focused on efforts to advance health equity and build diverse community coalitions.

For Jessie, access to clean water, air, and land have always been an integral part of health and well-being. Serving on the Board of the St. Louis River Alliance provides the opportunity to engage, connect, and inspire community members to experience the joy that comes from an afternoon spent along a thriving river system. Jessie earned a BA in Environmental Studies from Carroll College, Helena Montana and a Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Breanna Ellison

Breanna (she/her) has lived in Duluth for nearly a decade. She has always been drawn to the outdoors and has a love of nature and a deep respect for water. Breanna grew up in the Twin Cities metro area before coming to Duluth. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with degrees in History and Secondary Education. 

Breanna has worked in a variety of fields, most recently organizing with TakeAction Minnesota before starting her most current role as a job counselor with the City of Duluth. She has served on the City’s African Heritage Commission and has also spent time on its Community Development Committee. In all work she does, Breanna intentionally creates space for other BIPOC people to participate and lead. Breanna is excited to bring a diverse perspective as well her experience in organizing and education to the St. Louis River Alliance board.