Rich Bowman

              Rich currently serves as the Director of Government Relations for the Michigan Office of The Nature Conservancy.  Prior to joining TNC, Rich served for 6 ½ years as the Executive Director for the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited.  Rich has also held positions as a Research Assistant with the Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University, and as the Regional Field Representative for the Michigan Farm Bureau in West Michigan. 

Rich is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics.  He was a Fellow with Michigan State Universities' Water Fellows Program, is a Graduate Fellow of the Michigan Political Leadership Program, and in April of 2006 was appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council.  He served in 2005 and 2006 as the chair of the Board of Director's of the Coalition to Protect Michigan's Resources, a participating amici in the federal court case regarding the extent of tribal hunting and fishing rights under the Treaty of 1836.  He also served as President of the Board of Directors of Earth Share of Michigan, and is a former board member and Chairperson of Lot's of Growth, a community gardening program in Grand Rapids, and the Actors Theater of Grand Rapids.  Rich is a founding member of the Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association and Michigan Food and Farming Systems Project.

Rich lives in Grand Rapids with his children, Max and Zoe.  When not at a swim meet, archery tournament, or some other event for his children, he can be found at their cottage at Big Manistique Lake or attending a meeting somewhere.