Samantha Koyen Hired as New Executive Director

Crossroads at Big Creek, an environmental learning and nature center located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce that Samantha Koyen will soon join its staff as executive director. Koyen takes over for Laurel Hauser who has served in the role since 2019. Hauser will remain with Crossroads as development director.

Samantha Koyen comes to Crossroads at Big Creek from the Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department where she coordinates the Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST), a collaboration of non-profit partners, homeowners, and agencies working to manage invasive species in Door County. Sam has a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science from Juniata College – Huntington, PA, and a M.S. in Sustainability Science with a concentration in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Enthusiasm Meets Experience

“We are thrilled to have Samantha join the Crossroads team,” said Jim Stawicki, board president. “She is a respected member of Door County’s environmental community and brings both passion, knowledge, and professionalism to the position. Sam has a deep appreciation for Crossroads’ work and enthusiasm for leading us into the future.”

“Crossroads is an important organization in Door County’s rich legacy of environmental stewardship,” said Sam. “It was an honor to lead the DCIST partnership and apply ecological stewardship practices on a County-wide basis. I now look forward to using my experiences and connection to continue Crossroads’ mission.”

Crossroads at Big Creek was established in the 1990s as a school forest and became its own non-profit organization in 2003. It has grown from 53 acres to more than 200, all located within the city limits of Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads’ mission is to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages through education, land restoration, research and outdoor experiences. The Crossroads Preserves are open every day, all day at no cost thanks to support from the community.

“Crossroads’ board has made some very good, intentional decisions,” said Hauser. “We’ve made physical and ecological improvements to our preserves, grown our staff and organizational infrastructure and increased our programming. Sam will be a great addition to a strong team. I look forward to all we’ll be able to accomplish together.”