Our people
Friends of Grand Lake Audubon Society Board of Directors
Kimberly Chaps - President
Kimberly Ann Chaps joins us as President and founder of our chapter. She has been a lifelong naturalist, devoting much of her career to real estate sales, development, education, and public speaking. Recently, she traded in her heels for binoculars to pursue her passion for nature. Kimberly spent the past year working with the National Audubon Society, including serving as Center Coordinator at the esteemed Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve. Her focus has been on educating the public about conservation practices that benefit birds, and she has actively participated in bird banding research, boots on the ground conservation practices, and educational programming. Currently, Kimberly is enhancing her expertise by completing ornithology courses through Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She is enthusiastic about expanding the birding community in Grand Lake.
Wilma Mullins - Treasurer
Wilma Mullins exemplifies a life shaped by duty, compassion, and a profound commitment to community. We are honored to have her serve as acting Treasurer for the Grand Lake Audubon Society Chapter.
Having embarked on a journey of service straight out of high school, Wilma proudly served in the Air Force from 1978 to 1982, stationed in a mobile aerial port squadron. Here, versatility was key as Wilma maneuvered everything from jeeps to semis, embodying the spirit of adaptability and readiness inherent in military life.
Transitioning to civilian life, Wilma explored different professional avenues before finding their true calling at American Electric Power. Starting as a meter reader, she steadily progressed to retire as a respected meter servicer, leaving an indelible mark through their work in storm restoration and service as a vigilant safety coordinator.
Throughout life's journey, Wilma found unwavering support and love in her marriage to Robert, a bond that spanned 32 years until his passing. Amid personal trials, Wilma remained steadfast, channeling her energy into meaningful pursuits, including the founding of the Concho Valley Women Veterans Association, where she served as the inaugural Commander. Together, they participated in historic events like the first Women’s Veteran Day in Austin in 2008, leaving a lasting impact on the veteran community.
Wilma’s passion extends to all creatures, nurtured from childhood with pigeons and various feathered companions, feathered friends are of great importance to her along with her three cherished furbabies: Cocobear, Oscar Meyer, and Lacie Jo.
Charlene Paddock - Secretary
Charlene Paddock joins us as Secretary and Events Coordinator. In 2010, Charlene and her husband Joe Paddock discovered the charming town of Grove, Oklahoma. Charlene immediately fell in love with Grove's natural beauty and small-town friendly atmosphere. In 2018, after retiring, they made Grove their permanent home, purchasing a quaint house nestled against the woods, beginning a new chapter of their lives.
Grove has exceeded their expectations, especially with its abundant wildlife, waterfowl, and raptors. Charlene was thrilled and honored when invited by the well-known "KimBirdly" to join efforts in re-creating and developing the Friends of Grand Lake Audubon Society. Charlene brings a wealth of business management experience to the table as well as a flair for the arts and music scene.
Charlene eagerly anticipates meeting fellow bird enthusiasts and says, "Let's get this party started!"
Alan Bland - Conservation Officer
We are thrilled to welcome Alan Bland as our new Conservation Manager. With a wealth of experience in birding and conservation, Alan brings invaluable expertise to our chapter. Formerly a Park Ranger/Natural Resource Specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alan holds a B.S. in Park Management and a Masters in Natural Resources. He has previously served as Vice President of the NW Arkansas Audubon Society and continues to actively contribute to various environmental boards. We look forward to Alan's leadership and dedication in advancing our conservation efforts.
Alec Davis - Student Affairs
Alec Davis joins us as our Student Affairs Officer. His outgoing personality and willingness to connect our community with this organization is exciting to watch. Alec has a deep understanding as to what it means to build community. He is currently attending college, working towards a degree in wildlife conservation and finds fisheries especially interesting. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, fishing, and the occasional unicycle ride!
Sherry Rhoads - Membership Secretary
With a career marked by diverse roles and a commitment to community engagement, Sherry Rhoads brings a wealth of experience to her role as Membership Secretary. Beginning as a summer camp counselor at Roaring River State Park's nature department from 1968 to 1974, Sherry developed a passion for environmental education early in her career.
From account management at major firms to joining HarBer Village as Membership and Visitors Manager, where she managed membership initiatives and shared her passion for quilting through teaching at the Crafts Shop.
Sherry is excited to leverage her diverse background and dedication to service in supporting our organization's membership efforts, fostering community engagement, and enhancing member experiences.
Sherry Rhoads - Membership Secretary
With a career marked by diverse roles and a commitment to community engagement, Sherry Rhoads brings a wealth of experience to her role as Membership Secretary. Beginning as a summer camp counselor at Roaring River State Park's nature department from 1968 to 1974, Sherry developed a passion for environmental education early in her career.
From account management at major firms to joining HarBer Village as Membership and Visitors Manager, where she managed membership initiatives and shared her passion for quilting through teaching at the Crafts Shop.
Sherry is excited to leverage her diverse background and dedication to service in supporting our organization's membership efforts, fostering community engagement, and enhancing member experiences.
Sean Martin - Volunteer Coordinator
Sean Martin lives in Fairland and is the co-owner of RadioShack in Grove. Sean has been a big supporter of our chapter, designing our logo and laser engraving birdhouses. Sean raised two daughters, Paige (22) and Madison (19), who excelled academically and participated in various school organizations. Madison was Valedictorian of her 2023 graduating class and currently attends the University of Tulsa. Interests: Sean enjoys motorcycle riding, owning a Dyna Superglide since 2009. He takes pleasure in riding on pleasant days during his free time. And of course BIRDIING!
Jana McFarland - Member at Large
Jana McFarland grew up in Tulsa, OK. earning a bachelor’s degree in geology from The University of Texas at Austin. She worked for the Bureau of Economic Geology for five years and her master’s is in wildlife ecology from Southwest Texas State University. Jana has worked with young adults in the realm of conservation in AP biology, biology, zoology, botany, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science at Miami High School for six years.
Jana has spearheaded our Bluebird box monitoring program at Bernice State Park and is our new compiler heading up Audubon's Annual Christmas Bird Count.
She is now retired and we are very fortunate to have her in the flock!
Rex Wood - Member at Large
Rex Wood was raised on his family ranch in the Cherokee Nation of northeast Oklahoma. After a distinguished career in luxury tourism spanning the country, he returned to the heartland to develop a small tourism destination at South Grand Lake.
Rex serves on the board of the Har-Ber Village Museum in Grove, OK, is a member of the parks committee for the city of Langley, OK, and manages the family business, Club Lakeland of Langley, OK.
In addition to nurturing a multimedia art collection, Rex enjoys traveling, attending theater performances, and hiking in nature, where he finds joy in the enchanting sounds of the birds.
We are excited to bring Rex on as a Board Member, his passions for bird habitat conservation is just what we need!