Department Staff
Michele Sadauskas
County Conservationist
     Michele Sadauskas is the Oneida County Conservationist, a position previously held by Jean Hansen.  Oneida County has over 68,000 acres of lakes and rivers, and has one of the highest concentrations of natural lakes in the world!  Since joining the Oneida County Land & Water Conservation Department in 2011, Michele served as the AIS Coordinator and increased summer personnel, monitoring hours, and youth education for Oneida County.  Michele especially enjoys developing projects that incorporate regional partners, unique methods, and students.    
​​     Sadauskas grew up on Pioneer Creek in Conover, WI and has a passionate relationship with the water resources of the Northwoods.  She graduated from UW-Stevens Point with majors in forest management and biology, focusing her studies on plant ecology.  
     She enjoys growing peppers, night photography, and is an advocate for pit bulls.  She is the proud owner of two rescue pit bull mixes named Tsuga and Piglet.

Stephanie Boismenue
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator

​        As a former resident of Squash Lake, Stephanie Boismenue has embraced protecting the lake’s ecosystem through her past role as Squash Lake Association’s Volunteer Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator and Eurasian water milfoil, Hand-harvesting Project Coordinator.  Stephanie also previously served as a board member of Squash Lake Association and Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association, a member of the Crescent Town Lakes Committee and served on several Squash Lake Association committees and volunteered for CBCW and Citizens Lake Monitoring Network.
​        Stephanie’s passion for protecting water resources is influenced by a lifetime of camping, swimming, fishing, exploring wild places, canoeing in Wisconsin and Ontario, and kayaking Lake Superior.
Aubrey Nycz, AIS Lead Project Assistant
      Aubrey is our AIS Lead Program Assistant for Oneida County, Wisconsin and is excited to be returning for a third year on the team to help with outreach programs, Clean Boats Clean Waters, lake monitoring, and AIS management. Having lived in Northern Wisconsin all of her life, she has seen firsthand the negative effects that AIS can have on local waterbodies. For this reason, she hopes to share her passion and knowledge about invasive species with community members, in order to stop the spread of unwanted invaders.
      Aubrey is currently studying elementary education and English as a Second Language at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. As a teacher, she hopes to inspire her students to become lifelong learners who strive to make a difference in the world around them. During her free time, Aubrey enjoys boating, swimming, and musky fishing with family and friends.  Aubrey hopes to help out on some weekends throughout the fall.

Jody Partin, AIS Project Assistant

      Jody grew up in Rhinelander, and has recently returned to the area after many years of living and working in several other states and overseas.  Even after traveling the world, northern Wisconsin remains one of her very favorite places because of its beautiful lakes and northern forests. 
​      She received her Master’s in Environmental Policy and Management with an emphasis on fish and wildlife management from American Military University in 2018.  She is excited to be a part of the AIS team, working to protect this gorgeous and unique ecosystem. Jody is also an avid hiker, backpacker, kayaker, and nature photographer. 
Thomas Boisvert, AIS Project Assistant
      Thomas Boisvert is one of the AIS Project Assistants for Oneida County. Tom is a student currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, working towards a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and management with a minor in biology. Born and raised in Minocqua, Wisconsin, Tom has grown an intense interest and appreciation for the environmental qualities northern Wisconsin has to offer.
      Tom gained his appreciation for the northwoods through hunting, fishing, kayaking, cross country skiing, antler hunting, and much more. This is Tom's second year on the AIS team, and he will continue to assist in controlling AIS populations, implementing AIS public outreach, conducting sustainable land and water conservation practices, and helping to preserve Oneida County’s aquatic ecosystems for future generations to enjoy. 

Vanessa Niemczyk, AIS Project Assistant

      Vanessa is working towards a bachelor’s degree in environmental earth science and sustainability with a minor in horticulture at Miami University of Ohio.  
      Growing up in Eagle River, Wisconsin, Vanessa has spent most of her free time exploring the outdoors through activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, and kayaking.  After many years spent in the Northwoods, she has come to understand the importance of keeping our ecosystems in check so they are here for generations to come. ​

Baerbel Ehrig
Pollinator Project Coordinator

     Baerbel grew up in West Berlin, Germany and discovered her love for the outdoors after the Berlin wall came down in 1989. She came to the US as an exchange student and developed a deep respect and love for the beautiful nature of this country, and soon discovered that what you don’t have you yearn for. She developed her extensive knowledge of environmental sciences through studies and observation and received a Masters of Science degree (Msc) in Environmental Science from the University of Potsdam, Germany and specialized in soil science and climate change.  She’s built a deep understanding of the Northwoods' ecosystem through attending the Wilderness Guide Program at Teaching Drum Outdoor School in Three Lakes, WI.  She’s been involved in re-establishing native plant species in the region and eradication of invasive species since 2006.
       In 2013, Baerbel did a terrestrial invasive plant species survey for the Town of Three Lakes. Since February, 2016, she has been part of the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation team as a Pollinator Project Coordinator and has, since then, helped to increase habitat for pollinator species. Baerbel is a volunteer tracker for the Wisconsin DNR Wolf Population Survey and loves to do many outdoor activities like tracking, canoeing, swimming, biking and can be regularly found outdoors exploring.
Jonna Jewell
Administrative Assistant
     Jonna is our office manager extraordinaire, and takes care of our departmental administrative tasks and much more.  She started work with the University of Wisconsin-Extension in February, 1982 and enjoyed a 30-year career in that office with a particular emphasis on creative tasks, including brochure and newsletter design and publication.  Although she officially retired in 2012, Jonna agreed to return in 2014 to assist our department during a staff change, and has been a valuable contributor to all of our projects and programs ever since.  Jonna is also a dedicated board member of the Hodag Schools Foundation and was responsible for the design and creation of their website in October of 2013.  When she's not in the office, Jonna enjoys creating nature-based, artificial floral and feather arrangements and trying to keep up with her 2 active grandchildren.