Susan joined the land trust as Executive Director in 2005, and she has a background in public affairs with an emphasis in planning. Previously, she headed the Washtenaw Development Council, which emerged under her care as a leader in technology-based job creation in our region. She has also served on the steering committee for Sustainable Washtenaw and as a member of Washtenaw County's Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Task Force.

At the Land Trust, Susan is the person to talk with if you're interested in learning how to protect your land. She's glad to talk with landowners about what options are out there, and which of those options are right for you.

Susan has a love of the land and an understanding of agriculture, having spent her earlier years on the Western side of the state in a small farming community where her family still resides. She lives in Chelsea.

Suzanne Brucker Heiney
Development & Communications Director

Suzie joined WLT in April 2003, after working as an information technology manager with Accenture. Suzie has a bachelor's degree in business from Kalamazoo College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

At the Land Trust, she is responsible for communications and outreach to current and future members. She also oversees fundraising, membership services, foundation relations,and planned giving.

Mark Patrick Land & Operations Manager Mark Patrick has been a nonprofit administrator in Ann Arbor for the past thirteen years.  In the past, he has worked at GREEN, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Allen Creek Preschool, and Summers-Knoll School.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Yale University.

At the Land Trust, Mark is Land and Operations Manager, overseeing the land protection process while working on the nuts and bolts of nonprofit management.  In his spare time, Mark publishes a teeny-tiny literary magazine.  He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Jennifer Buehler and their son Ethan.

Megan Hanner
Communications & Development Assistant

Megan Hanner is the Land Trust’s student intern.  She is a junior at the University of Michigan, concentrating in Organizational Studies.  She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management, with hopes of one day managing a non-profit organization.  Megan has worked with the Canadian Parliament and two other non-profit organizations, Democracy Matters and a student-run organization, The Detroit Project.