The Platte Land Trust is an all-volunteer land trust (AVLT) and member of the Land Trust Alliance.
Carla Dods, President
Carla is an environmental scientist with 30+ years of experience in environmental and public engagement consulting. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Science.
She started as a Platte Land Trust volunteer in 1999 and joined the Board in 2004. An outdoor person from an early age, Carla enjoys hiking and gardening with native plants. Protecting land and natural resources for wildlife and people energizes her every day.
Tom Jacobs, P.E. – Vice President
Tom is the Stormwater Engineer for the City of Lenexa, Kansas. He joined the board in 2016 and leads the habitat improvements at the Charlotte Sawyers Nature Area for PLT. He enjoys the outdoors and fishing, especially an annual family trip to Canada. Tom holds a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and Master’s degree in Water Resource Engineering.
James A. Braddock, Treasurer
Married, father of two adult children and grandfather of two.
Retired in 2017 after a 41-year career at a major Kansas City based bank holding company. Landowner of a rural property in north central Missouri used as a weekend retreat and conservation area. Jim joined the PLT Board in 2019.
Nancy McDowell, Secretary
Nancy began as a volunteer with Platte Land Trust in 2014. A board director since 2016, she currently serves as Board Secretary.
Nancy’s love of the outdoors began as a child on family camping trips at Missouri state parks. Now that she’s retired from an Information Technology profession, she enjoys traveling, especially to national parks. Other hobbies include reading and a new-found interest in quilting.
Matthew Strobbe
Matt is an attorney with Hughes Hubbard & Reed law firm, earning his degree from University of Missouri, Columbia School of Law. He joined PLT in 2017. Matt grew up on a Platte County farm and enjoys spending time with his family, especially assisting little league teams for his daughter.
David Perry
David has more than 25-years’ experience in the automotive repair and insurance industries. He serves as a Process & Innovation Leader supporting Allstate Insurance’s roadside division. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management from Western Governor’s University.
David joined the Board of PLT in 2021 and is most at home being outside.
Ensuring future generations have safe and abundant natural spaces to gather, learn, entertain and rejuvenate themselves is of critical importance to David.
Lisa Cowdrey
Lisa is an audiologist by training and has worked in the hearing healthcare field since 1995. While she currently leads a medical device sales team and is also building a customer experience team for her current company, her past work and volunteer experiences with non-profits and her passion for all things outdoors, led her to Platte Land Trust.
Lisa joined the board in 2023. She and her husband own land in northern Clay Co and are focused on native plantings to welcome back the birds, bees and butterflies to the property. Lisa is also dedicated to getting her young grandchildren out in the garden with her whenever possible so they learn early the importance of the world around them.
Christopher Cardwell
Chris has had a fifteen-year career in natural resources, native plants, conservation and planning, and he came to the PLT board in 2019. Currently working as an Urban Conservationist, his focus is primarily centered on habitat reconstruction and preservation of green spaces, while developing educational programming about best practices for residents in the built environment – helping to bolster awareness of numerous conservation opportunities. Platte Land Trust’s mission is a shared passion, and Chris is dedicated to his role in the organization.
Sydney Steele
Sydney works as an ESG research analyst and has experience in the environmental and engineering fields. Sydney has a B.S. in petroleum engineering, a M.S in science education, a M.S in environmental engineering, and is currently pursuing her PhD in geotechnical engineering. Having a science background, she loves spending time in nature and giving back to her community. Sydney joined the PLT in 2022.