Lukas Leaf
Executive Director
Lukas is an avid, passionate outdoorsman and chef born and raised in Minnesota. His father first introduced him to the Boundary Waters at the age of 12 and he has been hooked since. From weekends on the ice in his family’s fish shack on Mille Lacs Lake to spring fishing trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, connecting with nature and our cherished wild places has long been cemented as a way of life. Lukas previously served on the board of the Minnesota chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. He is a dedicated husband and father to twin girls and spends his free time fishing, foraging, hunting, camping, and cooking his way through the great outdoors.
For media inquiries contact [email protected]
Dave Nomsen
Senior Advisor
Dave is a seasoned conservationist with 40+ years of professional experience. Dave received his Master’s degree and spent 7 years on the faculty of South Dakota State University’s Wildlife and Fisheries Department, followed by 5 years with the National Wildlife Federation. Dave is well known for leading Pheasants Forever’s Washington D.C. focused efforts on farm bill conservation programs for nearly 30 years. Dave was appointed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council in 2000 and continues to serve, guiding the funding of wetlands protection and restoration programs across North America. Dave and his wife Melanie reside in Garfield MN with dogs Belle and Guiness. In addition to hunting and fishing Dave can be found most Wed evenings helping bake pizzas at the Community Wood-fired Oven located at the Alexandria Methodist Church.
Matthew Schultz
Development & Policy Coordinator
Matthew is a native Minnesotan who has been an avid outdoorsman and staunch conservation advocate for years. It was in Minnesota where he found his love for public lands, fishing, and conservation while paddling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with his family. After High School, Matthew joined the US Navy, where he had the opportunity to learn the ropes of western hunting and fishing while stationed in Nevada and later in Washington State. Following his time in the Navy, Matthew completed bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and History at the University of Eastern Washington, all the while volunteering as a board member with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and finding time between classes to enjoy the outdoors. Now, Matthew resides in Ely, Minnesota, where he can be found paddling local lakes, fishing for everything from brook trout to muskellunge, and bowhunting the big woods of Northern Minnesota.
Jake Dahlke
Digital Content Associate
Jake is a dedicated hunter, angler, and all-around outdoorsman that has a strong passion for wild places. His love for the Boundary Waters was discovered on his first 7-day trip during his sophomore year of high school. Jake graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in marketing and a goal to use his degree in the conservation field. In his free time, you can find Jake fly fishing for trout and steelhead, backpacking, and hunting whenever possible.