Meet the Staff

Aimee Arent, Executive Director

Aimee Arent is the Executive Director of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Aimee has been serving the refuge in various capacities since 2011 when she began volunteering through the Marsh Monitoring Program while attending Bowling Green State University. This start led her to a STEP position with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, then to position on the Friends Board of Directors. Now as one of two Friends staff members, Aimee is proud to spread awareness of the refuge every day. As a seventh generation Northwest Ohioan, she is devoted to the Great Lakes and focused on preserving natural areas for future generations. In her spare time, she can be found along Lake Erie’s coastline hiking, kayaking, biking, and beach combing with her husband, Greg and Labrador Retriever, Buck.

Aimee can be reached at 419-898-0014 x13 or friendsofottawanwr@gmail.com. 

Elizabeth Kuenzer, Nature Store Clerk/Office Assistant

Elizabeth Kuenzer is the Nature Store Clerk and Office Assistant for Friends of Ottawa national Wildlife Refuge. Having enjoyed a lifetime of spending time in nature, Elizabeth is passionate about preserving it as well.  She shares the goal of Friends of Ottawa and understands that a part of being a good steward of the land is conserving natural habitats. Elizabeth has been a lifetime resident of the Lake Erie shores. She is a nature enthusiast and loves to hike, camp, canoe, bike and stroll on the beach with her Husband Karl, and son Samuel.  Elizabeth also serves as a volunteer through the Village of Oak Harbor’s Tree Commission with an awareness that conservation is also a need in our urban areas.  She is happy to be a part of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

Elizabeth can be reached at 419-898-0014 x13 or theonwr@gmail.com. 

Dustin Braden, Marketing Intern

Dustin Braden is a marketing intern at Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Dustin worked in the summer of 2018 as a Visitor Services Intern with the refuge through the Student Conservation Association, and during the summer fell in love with Lake Erie and the mission of the Friends Group. With a passion for improving and increasing outreach opportunities through digital media, Dustin is dedicated to finding new ways to connect the public with the refuge and the Friends of Ottawa! Dustin is a sophomore at Ohio Wesleyan University and spends his free time working with his camera or working on sustainability projects in the community. ​

Dustin can be reached at dsbraden@owu.edu.