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PROPOSED REAPPOINTMENT
Appointee(s): Ryen Nagle, Daisy Feidt, and Brandon Hayes
Position: Council Members
Department/Board/Commission: Conservation and Policy Council
Effective Date: 1/1/2026
Expiration Date: 12/31/2028
Summary: The Nominating Committee for the Conservation and Policy Council is committed to nominating candidates from across Cook County who bring different perspectives to the Council, reflect the diversity of Cook County, and provide a broad range of expertise. This commitment has led to a council which includes members from northeast, northwest, south, and central Cook County.
The Nominating Committee recommends re-appointment of Ryen Nagle, Daisy Feidt, and Brandon Hayes to an additional term on the Conservation and Policy Council. President Preckwinkle concurs with the committee’s recommendation and seeks the Board’s advice and consent related to the re-appointments.
The Conservation and Policy Council advises the President, Board of Commissioners, and General Superintendent and develops and annually updates a strategic plan to operationalize the Next Century Conservation Plan. The Council also reviews and makes recommendations for the annual budget, conservation policies and practices, and long-term strategic issues.
Dr. Ryen Nagle is Dean of Science, Business & Computer Technology at Moraine Valley Community College. He oversees six academic departments and provides leadership to several grant-funded projects. He has co-chaired a variety of college initiatives, including the Strategic Priority Indicators Team and the Technology Governance Council. His work at Moraine Valley has been recognized by receiving the Innovation of the Year Award and the Vernon O. Crawley Leadership Award. He has additionally received community college leadership awards from the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators, the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the League for Innovation in the Community College. He has previously served as a member of the Peer Review Corps of the Higher Learning Commission and as a board advisory committee member for Orland School District 135.
Daisy Feidt is Executive Vice President of Access Living, Chicago’s Center for Independent Living. She has worked at Access Living for 24 years and has held a wide variety of management positions during that time. In her tenure at Access Living, Daisy has led the organization through multiple organizational restructures and served as interim President and CEO after the passing of Access Living’s founding President and CEO, Marca Bristo. Daisy has extensive management experience in fundraising, evaluation, and program implementation. Daisy is an alumna of Leadership Greater Chicago, a prestigious and competitive program that provides community awareness and networking opportunities for leaders in the Chicago community. Daisy has held a variety of board positions during her career. She is currently on the Executive Committee of Openlands, an organization that protects the natural and open spaces of Northeastern Illinois and the surrounding area. Daisy is also a Director on the Board of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, the state association of centers for independent living.
Brandon Hayes founded Bold Bison Communications and Consulting in 2019 to provide forward-thinking communications solutions, engaging strategy and facilitation services, and inspiring workshops and trainings for nonprofits, particularly in the conservation, climate, and local food movements. Bold Bison is a national firm-working from Florida to Alaska-with geographical emphases in the Great Lakes, Texas, and the West Coast. Clients include the Chicago Region Food System Fund, Chicago Wilderness Alliance, Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, Houston Audubon, Iowa State University, The Land Trust Alliance, Montana Land Reliance, The Morton Arboretum, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and River Network, among many others including dozens of land trusts. Bold Bison is a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Brandon is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Conservation Leadership and is Board President of Chicago Artists for Action. He is a long-time volunteer for the International Crane Foundation’s Annual Midwest Crane Count.
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