Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is embarking on an exciting new chapter. At our March 28^th meeting, the Board recognized with gratitude our outgoing President Chris Hyams for his 6 years at the helm and welcomed David Bub as our organizations 6th President. Chris has had a tremendous tenure leaving a legacy of growth and success, transitioning his leadership role to  Chairman of the Board. His tenure has seen GRHA grow and flourish. We look forward to sharing more about his contributions in our next issue. Job well done Chris! GRHA President and Chairman of the Board tenures are 3-year commitments.

David Bub has already dived into his presidency amidst a flurry of activity, bringing confidence and promise to GRHA’s future. We are confident in David’s ability to lead us.

The Board also approved the additions of Ed Holt and Chip Wagner to the Board of Directors. Both have been long-term supporters of GRHA and are active in the Confluence.  We are honored to have them both as a part of our group and cause. Their talent, skills and experiences will be a great benefit to the board, and we look forward to them playing a critical role in guiding the strategic direction of GRHA.

We are excited about these appointments and know GRHA will continue to be well cared for, long into the future. These appointments mark a period of renewed vigor and commitment for GRHA. Stay tuned for our updates on these and other developments as we safeguard our precious Confluence habitats.

Meet the President and new Board Members

David Bub – David is a Principal of Watter, Wolf, Bub and Hansmann. He is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has successfully defended his clients in areas of complex personal injury and property damage, litigation including premises liability, construction, transportation, products liability and various catastrophic injury lawsuits. David has been a GRHA Board member for 20 years and has been hunting in the Confluence his entire life. David owns the Mallards Nest duck club in St. Charles as well as an upland farm in Scotland County where he manages habitat for upland birds and deer. In addition to GRHA, David is a life member of Quail forever. He is actively involved in QF where he served as the inaugural president of the Gateway Chapter of QF; the first Quail Forever chapter in the nation.  Alongside his love for the outdoors, David has a fondness for bird dogs.

Ed Holt – Ed is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and a graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.  His over 30-year career with Edward Jones brought him to Saint Louis where he serves as a General Partner and Financial Advisor.  He has supported several organizations that he is passionate about, most recently as a board member of World Pediatrics.  Ed and his wife, Rachelle, are the proud parents of two adult children, Olivia and William. Ed loves to spend quality time with friends and family outdoors … hunting, golfing and boating, especially at Lake of the Ozarks.

Chip Wagner – Chip has been a lifelong hunter.  From being carried on his father’s back and sliding off when bird dogs went on point, to setting up goose decoys on a golf course just to call them in, hunting has always been in his blood. He grew up duck hunting around the Swan Lake area and now enjoys hunting in the confluence at Ol’Blue Farms, and at his family’s personal farm near Salisbury, MO. From being around ducks and wetland habitat since a small age, he has a passion to see the confluence protected so it can be enjoyed for generations to come. Professionally, he is the Vice-President of Sales at Wagner Portrait Group, his family’s second-generation school photography company. Chip is married to Dr. Hallie Lillmars and together they have 4 boys: Hank (9), Benji (7), Davis (4) and Conrad (18 months).  Beyond the outdoor, he enjoys playing golf & cooking with friends and family.