Meet the Staff

Aimee Arent, Executive Director

Aimee Arent is the Executive Director of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Her love for connecting people with the outdoors started young and after pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, she now has experience working at the federal, state, and local levels. Aimee has been serving the refuge in various capacities since 2011 from volunteer to federal employee to Friends board member. Now as one of two Friends staff members, she is proud to spread awareness and secure the future 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, Aimee can be found along Lake Erie’s coastline hiking, kayaking, biking, and beach combing with husband Greg and rescue dog 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.