Meet the Team
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Pete Berthelsen, Executive Director As a co-founder of The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund, Pete has dedicated his life and expertise to conservation and pollinator health. Pete has 40+ years of experience as a biologist and a true expert in conservation and pollinators. Pete lives in Nebraska with his wife Laura and chocolate labs Gracie and Oscar. |
Elsa Gallagher, Habitat Program Director
Elsa works one-on-one with cooperators on all of our projects. She provides the expertise on everything from site preparation to management. There's not a question that she can't answer! Elsa lives in Missouri with her husband Jeff and dogs, horses, and goats.
Lindsey Huber, Director of Marketing & Communications
Lindsey handles all marketing materials, social media management, press releases, and more. She lives in South Dakota, spending time outside as much as possible.
Lindsey handles all marketing materials, social media management, press releases, and more. She lives in South Dakota, spending time outside as much as possible.
Bret Babos, Director of Operations
Bret wears many hats to make sure the organization runs smoothly. He lives in California.
Bret wears many hats to make sure the organization runs smoothly. He lives in California.
Meet our Board of Directors
Zac Browning, Board Chairman
Zac Browning is a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper based in Jamestown, North Dakota. He is deeply involved in advancing the beekeeping industry, serving as a Legislative Advisor and former President of the American Beekeeping Federation, as well as a member of the NAPPC Steering Committee and the Honey Bee Health Coalition. As a co-founder of The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, Zac has focused extensively on honey bee forage and habitat issues, building partnerships to establish pollinator-friendly environments and strengthen conservation efforts.
George Hansen, Vice Chair
After a brief six-year teaching career, George turned his beekeeping hobby into a thriving commercial operation managing 7,000 colonies across three states. A former president of the American Beekeeping Federation and past representative on the National Honey Board, he remains an active voice in the industry. George serves on the Bee Informed Partnership board and the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund steering committee while contributing to the Honey Bee Health Coalition. He and his wife, Susan, enjoy gardening, creating themed outdoor spaces, and pursuing their artistic passions in their painting studios.
John Miller, Secretary/Treasurer
John Miller is a retired, yet active fourth-generation beekeeper dedicated to bee research and forage initiatives. The fifth generation of his family now owns and operates Miller Honey Farms, with locations in Gackle, ND, and Newcastle, CA, where they also cultivate Owari Satsuma Mandarin Oranges. A former Chair of the National Honey Board and President of the California State Beekeepers Association, John is a notable figure in American migratory beekeeping, as highlighted in The Beekeeper’s Lament by Hannah Nordhaus. He contributes a monthly column to Bee Culture Magazine and is a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren.
Brent Barkman, Former Chair
Brent Barkman, a third-generation beekeeper and honey packer, has dedicated his career to the honey industry. He manages two operations with 16,000 colonies producing honey and pollinating crops across eight states. Barkman Honey, his family-owned business in Kansas, packages millions of pounds of honey for consumers worldwide. Brent has served as chairman of the National Honey Board and is a member of multiple state and national beekeeping organizations. As a founder of True Source Honey, he advocates for high-quality, traceable honey to ensure consumer trust and enjoyment.
Christine Gemperle
Christine Gemperle, a Central Valley almond farmer since 1998, combines her biology (BA, UC Santa Cruz) and fisheries (MS, Utah State University) expertise with hands-on farming knowledge. Managing 135 acres with her brother, Erich, she integrates practical solutions and scientific innovation to address agricultural challenges. Christine has hosted research on topics like deficit irrigation, rootstock trials, and cover crops and serves as an alternate on the Almond Board of California. A long-time Blue Diamond Growers Cooperative member and former beekeeper, she is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming practices and agricultural community engagement.
Russ Freeman
Russ Freeman, a resident of Edina, MN, has dedicated the past decade to creating wildlife habitat on his family’s 1,000-acre farm in Logan County, ND. With 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, he played a pivotal role in the growth of two companies. Freeman also serves on the University of North Dakota College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, where he leads a key fundraising initiative to support the campus.
Jill Clark
Jill Clark brings a deep passion for pollinator conservation and a wealth of experience in the honey industry to The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund. Based in Pennsylvania, she believes in the responsibility we all share to provide forage and habitat for the insects, birds, and wildlife that sustain our ecosystems. Through her work with beekeepers, Jill understands firsthand the critical role high-quality forage plays in supporting honeybee health. In addition to her role on our board, Jill currently serves on the board of True Source Honey and has previously held leadership positions with the National Honey Board and the National Honey Packers and Dealers. Her expertise and dedication help guide our mission to create and expand vital pollinator habitat across the country.
Zac Browning is a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper based in Jamestown, North Dakota. He is deeply involved in advancing the beekeeping industry, serving as a Legislative Advisor and former President of the American Beekeeping Federation, as well as a member of the NAPPC Steering Committee and the Honey Bee Health Coalition. As a co-founder of The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, Zac has focused extensively on honey bee forage and habitat issues, building partnerships to establish pollinator-friendly environments and strengthen conservation efforts.
George Hansen, Vice Chair
After a brief six-year teaching career, George turned his beekeeping hobby into a thriving commercial operation managing 7,000 colonies across three states. A former president of the American Beekeeping Federation and past representative on the National Honey Board, he remains an active voice in the industry. George serves on the Bee Informed Partnership board and the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund steering committee while contributing to the Honey Bee Health Coalition. He and his wife, Susan, enjoy gardening, creating themed outdoor spaces, and pursuing their artistic passions in their painting studios.
John Miller, Secretary/Treasurer
John Miller is a retired, yet active fourth-generation beekeeper dedicated to bee research and forage initiatives. The fifth generation of his family now owns and operates Miller Honey Farms, with locations in Gackle, ND, and Newcastle, CA, where they also cultivate Owari Satsuma Mandarin Oranges. A former Chair of the National Honey Board and President of the California State Beekeepers Association, John is a notable figure in American migratory beekeeping, as highlighted in The Beekeeper’s Lament by Hannah Nordhaus. He contributes a monthly column to Bee Culture Magazine and is a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren.
Brent Barkman, Former Chair
Brent Barkman, a third-generation beekeeper and honey packer, has dedicated his career to the honey industry. He manages two operations with 16,000 colonies producing honey and pollinating crops across eight states. Barkman Honey, his family-owned business in Kansas, packages millions of pounds of honey for consumers worldwide. Brent has served as chairman of the National Honey Board and is a member of multiple state and national beekeeping organizations. As a founder of True Source Honey, he advocates for high-quality, traceable honey to ensure consumer trust and enjoyment.
Christine Gemperle
Christine Gemperle, a Central Valley almond farmer since 1998, combines her biology (BA, UC Santa Cruz) and fisheries (MS, Utah State University) expertise with hands-on farming knowledge. Managing 135 acres with her brother, Erich, she integrates practical solutions and scientific innovation to address agricultural challenges. Christine has hosted research on topics like deficit irrigation, rootstock trials, and cover crops and serves as an alternate on the Almond Board of California. A long-time Blue Diamond Growers Cooperative member and former beekeeper, she is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming practices and agricultural community engagement.
Russ Freeman
Russ Freeman, a resident of Edina, MN, has dedicated the past decade to creating wildlife habitat on his family’s 1,000-acre farm in Logan County, ND. With 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, he played a pivotal role in the growth of two companies. Freeman also serves on the University of North Dakota College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, where he leads a key fundraising initiative to support the campus.
Jill Clark
Jill Clark brings a deep passion for pollinator conservation and a wealth of experience in the honey industry to The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund. Based in Pennsylvania, she believes in the responsibility we all share to provide forage and habitat for the insects, birds, and wildlife that sustain our ecosystems. Through her work with beekeepers, Jill understands firsthand the critical role high-quality forage plays in supporting honeybee health. In addition to her role on our board, Jill currently serves on the board of True Source Honey and has previously held leadership positions with the National Honey Board and the National Honey Packers and Dealers. Her expertise and dedication help guide our mission to create and expand vital pollinator habitat across the country.
