Meet the Staff!
Daryl Bernard
Executive Director
dbernard@sevenponds.org
Daryl grew up in the Saginaw Bay area and earned a B.S. in Biology & Chemistry and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Saginaw Valley State University. He taught middle school science for 18 years. In 2017, Daryl became Executive Director at Seven Ponds. He enjoys birding throughout our great state of Michigan and beyond. Daryl is inspired by sharing the outdoors with others. Working at Seven Ponds provides an opportunity to impact the community in a positive, lasting manner. His hero is Roger Tory Peterson, who helped make the natural world accessible to the masses by bringing it home to us in small, portable field guides - and those field guides made up the bulk of Daryl's reading while growing up. Daryl lives for road trips and exploring places he has never before been.
Carrie Spencer
Director of Environmental Education
cspencer@sevenponds.org
A Michigan native, Carrie earned her bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife with a concentration in Wildlife Conservation and Management from Michigan State University. She recently earned a master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration and Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Michigan-Flint. Carrie's love of the out-of-doors started as a kid as she adventured into the woods and swamps around her childhood home with her siblings. Her sense of wonder about the natural world started in those woods, and has only strengthened and flourished at Seven Ponds. One of Carrie's favorite things about working here is sharing that curiosity with our visitors, and seeing their sense of wonder catch fire.
Adrianna Allen
Naturalist / Collections
aallen@sevenponds.org
Amy Sadler
Office Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
asadler@sevenponds.org
Amy is a Michigan native, spending most of her life in Lapeer County where she raised her family. She has a background in Office Admin/Bookeeping, having worked in this area for 25+ years. Her love of the outdoors developed recently when she discovered in 2020 that she loves to hike. Seven Ponds became a favorite destination to explore along with several other hiking trails located throughout Lapeer, Oakland, and St. Clair counties. Amy has an interest in the medicinal properties of plants and enjoys learning from authors such as Rosemary Gladstar, Phyllis D. Light, and Rosalee De La Foret. During her free time, you can find her exploring local trails, pulling weeds in her herb garden, or enjoying coffee out on her deck.
Madison Christol
Naturalist / Land Steward
mchristol@sevenponds.org
Madison is a native Georgian who grew up exploring the North Georgia Mountains where she fell in love with being outside. She moved up to Michigan to experience a new place and expand her natural resources knowledge. She earned a B.S.F.R. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources with a minor in Geography. Madison found her calling as a Naturalist during a college internship where she worked with people of all ages and backgrounds. Seven Ponds intrigued her because of its natural beauty, outstanding educational opportunities, and close-knit community. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, and exploring all of the new and exciting nature in Michigan.
Gina Stoldt
Weekday Receptionist & Gift Shop Manager
gstoldt@sevenponds.org
Gina and her family have returned to the area after living out of state for five years in Wisconsin and the last ten years in Iowa. While she enjoyed exploring those places and making friends along the way, she has always longed to return to the "mitten" state. As a child growing up in Attica, Gina loved to spend time outside. She could be found tagging along with her Dad doing outdoor chores or helping plant flowers with her Grandma. Field trips to Seven Ponds with her classmates were a favorite school event. Today, Gina loves gardening and enjoying outdoor activities with her family and friends.
Del Hunsinger
Maintenance
Del grew up around the ponds and attended Dryden schools. He joined the Seven Ponds staff as a seasonal maintenance man in the summer of 2021, and returned again in 2022. Del's presence greatly enhanced our ability to complete projects around the center - such as our Treetop Pond dock rebuild, boathouse roof job, Waterfowl Pond teaching deck, Naturescape, pavilion, and many others. Del takes great pride in making sure the nature center grounds look their very best. Del joined the staff in a year-round capacity in May, 2023.
Damian Goidich
Weekend Receptionist
dgoidich@sevenponds.org
Damian is a Michigan native from the west side of the state. He has both a BFA (Illustration) and an MFA (Drawing) from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids. Damian was a professional freelance Illustrator for twelve years and a college instructor of Illustration for fifteen years. His love of nature began within the sandy pine forests of his youth, a time of exploration, play, and imagination that molded his understanding of the natural world and the importance of protecting and maintaining its ecosystems. "As a visual artist, I’m trained to see the world around me with clarity and curiosity, to inspect things and ask questions. The natural world is a never-ending source for this practice and deeply rewarding on a personal level. I am excited to be a part of the Seven Ponds legacy and its mission of education and sustainability!"