INHF Welcomes New Staff This Fall

Amanda Acton, Grants Coordinator

Amanda is originally from Des Moines and holds a BA in Anthropology from University of Northern Iowa and a MPA from Drake University and is coming to INHF with more than 20 years of experience in the grants and nonprofit world. Accolades include involvement in the Central Iowa Grant Professionals Association, serving on the Waukee Community Schools Foundation Board, and obtaining a Grant Professional Certification in 2022.

Running her own consulting firm for the past five years has given Amanda a strong handle on the many facets of grant writing across a wide range of industries and projects.

Amanda also likes to literally explore the world as a self-proclaimed road tripper and lifelong birder (her favorite is the Brown Thrasher). She also enjoys camping and hiking and is slowly getting her family more involved in these activities. Reading, knitting, crafting, or watching horror movies round out her interests.

“Working to support conservation and restoration of Iowa’s land through grants as a full-time job is a real full circle moment for me,” says Amanda. “Even though I grew up in the city, I loved exploring, getting my hands dirty, sleeping under the stars, and tromping through forests at Girl Scout camp. However, I only recently started exploring Iowa’s wilder spaces again as a grown-up. My family is also currently looking at our land legacy through generational farmland. So, joining INHF is a chance to help protect what I care about while doing what I love.”

 

 

 

Colkeyah Philpot ­— Office Administrator

If you call INHF’s main line or drop by our Des Moines office, you’ll be greeted by Colkeyah! She’ll will be managing front-office operations and supporting INHF’s administrative and financial functions.

Colkeyah is an Iowa transplant — she grew up in Chicago but also spent considerable time on trips to Mississippi. She credits those trips down south for shaping who she is and for giving her an appreciation of different cultures, communities and the outdoors.  

Outside of work she has a variety of interests that keep her grounded and inspired: she loves to travel and explore new places, spend time with her family, try new foods, volunteer and otherwise be engaged in her community. 

“What truly excites me about being a part of INHF is the opportunity to contribute to meaningful conservation work and to help protect the natural spaces that connect people and communities,” says Colkeyah. “I'm passionate about being part of something that has a lasting, positive impact on both the environment and future generations.” 

 

 

Kaiden Martin — Mark C. Ackelson Fellow

Originally from Maxwell, Iowa, Kaiden spent time in northeast Iowa earning a bachelor’s degree in conservation management and a minor in sustainability from Upper Iowa University.

“I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors, from going out deer hunting with dad in southern Iowa to fishing in farm ponds in Missouri, I’ve always had something to do in natural spaces,” says Kaiden.

He found his passion for fisheries biology and conservation when he got a job with a pond management company right out of high school. While attending Upper Iowa University, he found a special interest in studying stream fish ecology and in the summer of 2024, he had the opportunity to work on a research project with a team at UIU looking at the diet shifts of lotic fish communities in Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri. During that summer he found his love for ecological research and since then has aspired to attend graduate school.

But first, he’ll spend ample time at the Iowa Capitol this winter into spring, getting to know legislators and helping INHF advocate for Iowa’s parks, trails and wildlife areas and the sustainable funding they require. This position will boost INHF’s public policy efforts during the upcoming legislative session.

“I’m excited to get hands-on experience in how Iowa’s legislative process works and how grassroots advocacy can help support Iowa’s conservation issues,” Kaiden says of what he’s looking forward to most in this role.

When not at the Capitol, you can bet Kaiden is spending his free time reading, hiking, fishing, bowling, watching football, getting back into deer hunting and learning to pheasant hunt.

More information about INHF’s Mark C. Ackelson Fellowship.