Leadership

Board of Directors

Edward Warden, President
Stephanie Beilke, Vice President
Katy Krigbaum, Secretary
Cristina Warnock, Treasurer
Vinod Babu
Christopher Cochrane
Robyn Detterline
Emiliano De Blas
Marty Flynn
Christina Harber
Christopher Holden
Brighten Jelke
Jay Qi
Aerin Tedesco
Jake Vinsel
Lindsay Wilkes
Robyn Detterline, Editor of The Chicago Birder Magazine

Committees and Project Teams

Advocacy Committee
Chair: Open
The COS Conservation Committee focuses on issues impacting birds across the Chicago region, within the city of Chicago, and on public lands, including county forest preserve districts, municipal parks and other natural and open spaces.

Media Committee
Chair: Robyn Detterline
The Media Committee manages the organization’s communications and marketing tools, including the COS website, blog, social media, eNews blasts, and our flagship publication, The Chicago Birder Magazine. 

Field Trip Committee
Chair: Christina Harber
The field trip committee plans and executes birding trips throughout the Chicago region, and sometimes beyond. Their work involves the coordination with partners, land managers, and trip leaders to ensure top notch birding experiences for birders of all levels.

Fundraising Committee
Chair: Jake Vinsel
The fundraising committee works with donors, sponsors and on a variety of special projects to raise funds for COS projects and initiatives.

Membership Committee
Chair: Open
We keep track of all things related to Membership: Renewal, New Members, Donations, Member contact info, Why new members are joining, Gmail database, Dues Reminders, Thank You’s and Tax letters, Membership trends.

Programs Committee
Chair: Edward Warden
The programs committee develops programs and recruits speakers to provide the birding community with educational events across the spectrum of birding and bird related topics. 

LaBagh Woods/Lower North Branch Project
Chair: Katy Krigbaum
The LaBagh/Lower North Branch team oversees the implementation and coordination of volunteer conservation work in LaBagh Woods and other Lower North Branch preserves as appropriate.

Calumet Initiative
Chair: Stephanie Beilke
The Calumet team oversees the various bird conservation projects, programs and activities focused on the parks and preserves in the Calumet region.

Chicago Nighthawk Project
Co-chairs: Edward Warden, Stephanie Beilke
The Chicago Nighthawk Project is a volunteer monitoring program launched in response to notable population declines across their range and is designed to track, study, and conserve the Common Nighthawk in urban areas.

Historical Committee
Chair: Edward Warden
The historical committee retains and preserves COS records, conducts research, and works with partners to ensure the accurate preservation and representation of COS’s legacy.