Mick Wilz Founder and President

Michael “Mick” Wilz is a former manufacturing executive turned community builder and conservationist. As Co-Owner and Director of Manufacturing Excellence at Sur-Seal, Mick led the company to national recognition, including the AME Award and a feature in The New York Times for his innovative use of LEGO to boost team engagement.

After the business’s partial sale, Mick and his wife Jenny invested in their hometown of Brookville, Indiana—launching Third Place tavern, completing Indiana’s first Opportunity Zone project, and acquiring Whitewater Publications, the state’s oldest newspaper.

Mick is one of the founding members of the Whitewater Canal Trail and has spent more than 30 years helping shape its vision and expansion. Today, he is developing Third Place for Wildlife along the West Fork of the Whitewater River. Over three decades, the Wilz family has assembled over 500 acres of riverfront and upland property with the long-term goal of incorporating it into a unified conservation, education, and heritage initiative. The effort is anchored by two major projects—Project Boundary Hill and Project Yellowbank—both designed to preserve the region’s natural beauty while celebrating Brookville’s deep historical roots.

D a v i d R u s s e l l (Field Research) 

David E . Russell received his BS in Entomology from

University of California /Davis and his Masters and

Doctorate in Molecular Systematics from Miami

University in Oxford, Ohio. A faculty member at Miami

University for over 25 years, he teaches a number o f

courses including Intro Biology, Ornithology and

Entomology. A Federally licensed Master Bird Bander

and a North American Banding Council Certified Bander Trainer, he is the co-founder and Research/Education Director for the Avian Research and Education Institute (AREI), a nonprofit bird conservation, education, and

advocacy organization. AREI has bird banding stations in nearby Ohio's Miami Valey that serve as both research and outdoor classrooms giving local college and community members first-hand experience with birds. A recent transplant to Franklin Co (from Union Co), Dave is excited to apply his, and his teams, skils to inventory and shared the wonders of Indiana wildlife heritage and help shepherd i n a long-term appreciation and conservation of the local wildlife.

Livia Wilz Brier, PhD

(Research and Family Relations)

Livia Wilz Brier has a wealth of experience in biology and education. Livia grew up in Franklin County, graduating in 2005 where she was active in 4-H and enjoyed spending time outdoors with her animals. She began a career in academic research as a biochemistry major at Indiana University, graduating in 2009. At this point, her passion for  science took her away from her home state where she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to earn her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at University of California, Berkeley with a focus on cell trafficking systems. She studied under the guidance of Dr. Randy Schekman, who was awarded the Nobel Laureate in Medicine in 2013 during Livia’s tenure in his lab. After earning her PhD in 2015, she joined Valitor, Inc. a biotech startup located in focused on developing long-acting ophthalmic drugs where she is the Director of Development. She currently lives in El Cerrito, California with her husband, Scott, and their son Brooks and a smattering of pets, both furry and scaly. All three regularly come back to Indiana to visit and enjoy hiking on Boundary Hill. In addition to her research, Livia has always been passionate about the environment, sustainability and making our world a healthy and safe place to live for all creatures. She and Scott have turned their small urban plot into a thriving vegetable garden and native California plant and animal habitat. Livia teaches these skills to other area children as a 4-H leader and enjoys hiking and camping as much as she can.

Brian Noah (Community Advocate)

After nearly 30 years away, Brian returned to Franklin County to purchase Whitewater Publications, home to Indiana’s oldest newspaper. Under his leadership, WWP has expanded to include two additional newspapers in neighboring communities and a growing digital platform, The 765, now serving nine counties. Brian regularly attends community and council meetings across the region, ensuring local voices are heard and supporting each town’s continued progress.

Recognizing that newspapers and print shops have historically worked hand in hand, Brian strategically separated the newspaper’s print division into a standalone company, forming Whitewater Print Solutions. Under his direction, the company has grown to more than four times its former size. By blending quick-print agility with commercial offset capabilities, he has built a modern print operation serving businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities throughout the region.

Since returning, Brian has also served as President of Main Street Brookville, a nationally accredited Main Street organization. During his tenure, he helped transition the organization from an event-based model to an economic-development-first approach, refocusing efforts on long-term revitalization, business growth, and downtown investment. Under his leadership, MSB added a full-time Executive Director and successfully executed a $2 million Preserving Main Street Grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

In addition to his media and community development work, Brian and his wife, Amy, have launched three Daily Scoop ice cream shops along with other local investments in the counties their newspapers serve—reinforcing their shared commitment to strengthening rural communities through entrepreneurship, storytelling, and placemaking. Running a community newspaper in 2026 is no small task, and Brian and his partners continue pursuing innovative strategies to keep local journalism strong and sustainable.

Jenny Wilz (Director of Economic Development & Organizational Advisor)

Jenny Wilz of Brookville brings more than 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Benefits, and Wellness from Sur-Seal Corporation in Cincinnati, where she helped strengthen organizational culture and support employee growth before retiring in 2015.

Today, as Director of Economic Development & Organizational Support, Jenny plays a vital role in the continued growth and sustainability of several Brookville-based enterprises, including Third Place Pizza and Event Center, Whitewater Publications, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, and The Dairy Cottage. Working alongside her husband, Mick, and their partners, she helps guide operations, organizational structure, and strategic development that support local business vitality and long-term economic strength.

Jenny has also been actively involved with Brookville Main Street, Inc., Franklin County Horse & Pony Mustangers 4-H, and the Franklin County Community Foundation. Her work reflects a deep belief that strong organizations build strong towns.

She lives by the philosophy:

“Opportunities don’t happen; you create them.” — Chris Grosser

Tom Swinford  (Project Advisor)

Tom Swinford is a retired conservation biologist and former leader with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. With decades of experience across federal, state, and nonprofit sectors, he has dedicated his career to protecting and restoring natural landscapes, waterways, rare species, and historically significant sites.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Purdue University Fort Wayne. He also studied abroad at Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus and completed graduate coursework at Indiana University Bloomington.

Throughout his career, Tom has led major conservation initiatives across Indiana, blending cultural and natural history in meaningful ways. His leadership has played a key role in projects such as Prophetstown State Park, the Sam Shine Foundation’s Outbrook Ravine initiative, and the creation of Indiana’s largest nature preserve, the Ten O’Clock Line Nature Preserve, encompassing more than 3,300 acres. He has also successfully directed fundraising campaigns that generated millions of dollars in support of conservation and land stewardship.

Tom is deeply committed to collaborative partnerships that create lasting public benefit. His personal interests include archaeology, history, travel, nature writing, music, and public speaking.