Board of Directors

Ryan Stewart is a lifelong Downriver resident whose family moved to Trenton in the late 1800’s. Prior to founding McLouth Waterfront Alliance, he worked as a Community Health Worker with The Senior Alliance in the Metro Detroit region, and Thomson Reuters as a Corporate Account Manager. He currently works in the financial services industry with Edward Jones.

Stewart has been a strong advocate of resilient waterfront development in Trenton and Downriver since participating in the Trenton Coastal Resiliency Master Plan meetings in 2016, and ran for Mayor of Trenton in 2019 on a platform of raising awareness of the McLouth Steel property’s importance for the future of Downriver. He is currently the city of Trenton’s Community At Large representative on the McLouth Steel Superfund EPA Community Advisory Group.

In his free time, he volunteers at the Wyandotte Animal Adoption Center.

Longtime Downriver resident and educator, Brooke Stefani, is honored to assist in the public’s engagement with the former McLouth Steel Site. As a local high school teacher, she understands the importance of fostering a safe and healthy environment for future generations. Her experience as a building testing coordinator makes her an ideal facilitator of programming and events.

In her spare time, Brooke enjoys working in her ever-growing garden, teaching at band camp, and spending time with a very sassy cat named Lucy.

Tracy has been a Trenton resident for 27 years. She resides in Trenton with her husband Jeff, two daughters, and two dogs. She has been an employee of Trenton Public Schools since 2013. Tracy began her advocacy in 2017, when she organized the first round of opposition to the Riverview Landfill Expansion request through community engagement and social media, with her Stop the Riverview Landfill Facebook group. She is passionate about keeping our community a desirable place to raise families for generations to come.

In her spare time, she enjoys camping, walking her dogs, and watching her daughters perform in band and dance.

Michelle Preston grew up in Trenton and maintains a caring connection to her hometown. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Freshwater Science and Sustainability from Western Michigan University, and she is now applying her knowledge and skills to environmental projects in metro Detroit. She is experienced in environmental data collection and analysis, report writing, academic research, and the utilization of GIS mapping software. She is currently working as a research assistant at the University of Michigan, and she volunteers with the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michelle cares deeply about responsible environmental management and public health, and she is thrilled to be a part of the McLouth Waterfront Alliance’s initiative to promote environmental and economic sustainability in the Downriver area.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys connecting with nature, roller skating, and reading.

Erica McClain is a lifelong Downriver resident who currently lives in Wyandotte. As a journalist, McClain spent many years reporting on local issues for the News-Herald and other area newspapers. She now works as a web content strategist and is passionate about user experience and accessibility.

In her spare time, McClain enjoys boating, gardening, hiking, running and anything involving the great outdoors. As such, she cares deeply about the future of Downriver’s waterfront and environment.