Who We Are
Our Mission
Working together to support Wisconsin bat conservation.
Meet our Board
Christa Trushinsky | Board President
Christa is a conservation biologist and educator with over 20 years of experience and has served as the Director of Education and naturalist at River Bend Nature Center in Racine since 2016. Her background includes primate research in Belize and wetland and fur bearer ecology with the WDNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service at Horicon Marsh. Christa has been involved in bat conservation, education, and research for nearly two decades, performing acoustic biomonitoring and hibernacula counts, assisting with bat-related research at state natural areas, and providing public bat talks across the state. In addition to her involvement with the DNR’s Wisconsin Bat Program, Christa is also a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Bat Ambassador. Fascinated by bats since childhood, Christa is grateful for the opportunity to have an even greater impact on bat conservation efforts through the work and collaboration of WBCN and its collaborators across the state.
Licia Kuckkahn Johnson | Vice President
I serve as the Education Director and Naturalist at the North Lakeland Discovery Center, a small non-profit located in northern Wisconsin. I am also affectionately known as the "bat lady." For the past 15 years, I have coordinated the acoustic bat monitoring efforts in north-central Wisconsin and serve as the steward for two non-releasable 10-year-old big brown bats, who act as wonderful ambassadors. When I'm not traveling to educate others about the importance of bats, I focus on organizing public and school-based programs at the Discovery Center. Additionally, I am proud to have received the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education’s Nonformal Educator of the Year award and the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Instructor of the Year award.
Carrie Frantz | Treasurer
A Waukesha County native and Carroll University graduate, I bring more than 20 years of banking experience to my role as Board Treasurer. I currently serve as Branch Manager at Landmark Credit Union, where I also regularly volunteer with United Way.Outside of my professional work, I am passionate about giving back through community science and environmental education. I became a Wisconsin Master Naturalist in 2021 and a Wisconsin Bat Ambassador in 2023 to continue developing my skills as a naturalist volunteer. As a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Wisconsin Bat Ambassador, I especially enjoy helping others understand the importance of bats and their role in healthy ecosystems. A self-proclaimed “Bat Bestie,” I can often be found sharing my enthusiasm for bats at public programs and event booths across southeastern and south-central Wisconsin. I have also helped develop Waukesha County’s acoustic bat monitoring program, supporting consistent data collection that can be shared with the Wisconsin DNR. In addition to bat conservation, my naturalist interests include geology, ornithology, water conservation, and bioacoustics.
Rebecka Hellweg | Secretary
An early childhood educator by trade, I attended Master Naturalist Training in 2024 while working for a nature based preschool program. As a life long lover and explorer of the incredible natural resources of Wisconsin, Master Naturalist and then Bat Ambassador training were easy decisions that bolstered my ability to effectively advocate for our beautiful state.
I have a huge heart for all creatures who call Wisconsin home, with a special admiration for the overlooked, misunderstood, and sometimes feared species; like our Wisconsin Bats. Working alongside other professionals and naturalist, I hope to increase awareness and appreciation for all of the flora and fauna of Wisconsin and beyond.