The Minnesota Mycological Society is governed by a board that is completely staffed by volunteers. Some members are elected officers while others are Committee Chairs appointed by the President and approved by the rest of the Board. All MMS activities begin in a committee and it takes member volunteers to make them happen. If you are interested in learning more, reach out to the appropriate Board Member for more information using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Peter Martignacco
Member Since 1998
President Since 2021
Peter has also led forays, helped organize events, presented at meetings and at community education events. Peter has also worked to raise awareness of foraging issues for public policy.
Peter’s favorite mushroom-related activities include Foraging for, teaching about, and eating mushrooms.
Peter’s favorite thing about mycology is that there is so much that is yet to be studied. There are so many mushroom related oppertunities for our Society to engage in together and with the rest of the public.
Peter’s Favorite Mushroom: Mor-tru-mini chanter-hog
Kathy Yerich
Member Since
Vice President Since
Meetings Chair Since
We need her info.
John Lamprecht
Member since 2007
Foray Chairperson since 2023
John has also volunteered to lead forays, taught classes, been past president (6 years), and given many presentations at various displays and events including the Minnesota State Fair.
John’s favorite mushroom-related activities include foraging, cooking, teaching, photography, and making observations.
When asked why he loves mycology, John says, “It never ends. There’s always something new to learn. I love sharing my passion for mushroom hunting, observing.”
John’s Favorite Mushroom: Maitake
Jane Onorati
Member since 2014
Corresponding Secretary since 2021
Jane has also volunteered as our webmaster, and administrator of Google Workspace, MailChimp, Ticket Tailor, Facebook, and Zoom platforms. She has led forays, including camping forays and is on the foray committee.
Jane’s favorite mushroom-related activities include looking for mushrooms while hiking and camping. She enjoys photographings mushrooms-and eating edible ones. She attends mushroom-centric events. She says, “I especially enjoy my annual spring morel hunting trip of several weeks, and camping forays with fellow MMS members.
Jane’s favorite thing about mycology is the endless variety of colors, shapes, patterns, and decorations of mushrooms. “They are just so interesting to look at, and since they are found almost everywhere, they tie everything together. Each one is a new discovery and a new experience or a well-known and old friend.”
Jane’s Favorite Mushroom: Morels
Troy Howard
Member since 2016
Funga Scientific Committee Chair for a long time
Troy has also been Member-at-Large and volunteered at the MMS’s State Fair Booth.
Troy’s favorite mushroom-related activities include fungal ecology, fungal ethnology and history, scientific collections and taxonomy, cultivation, as well as forays and foraging for fungi.
When asked what he loves most about mycology, Troy says, “How little we know..”
Troy’s Favorite Mushroom: Maitake
David King
Member since 2019
Member-at-Large since 2023
David has also been a foray assistant and volunteered at the MMS’s State Fair Booth.
Troy’s favorite mushroom-related activity is mostly wandering in the woods.
David says he loves mycology because, “There’s always something new to discover. I like meeting people on forays.”
David’s Favorite Mushroom: Chanterelle
Adele Mehta
Member since 1989
Governance Committee Chair since 2023
Adele has also been the MMS Foray Collections Recorder
Adele’s favorite mushroom-related activities include MMS events & recording voucher specimens for NAMA.
When asked what she loves most about mycology, Adele says, “It’s a fascinating kingdom – I love its role in ecology and its scientific secrets yet to be uncovered.”
Adele’s Favorite Mushroom: Agaricus subrufescens and, as a matter of principle, any mushroom whose name doesn’t change.
Heather Erickson
Member since 2018
Events Chair since 2020
Heather is also the Editor of the Toadstool Review. She is a member of the Communications/IT committee, enjoys MMS outreach events and speaking on the History of the MMS and Mycology.
Adele’s favorite mushroom-related activities include foraging, cultivation, mycophagy, and researching how mycology has impacted our culture throughout history.
When asked what she loves about mycology, Heather says, “It’s an endless universe of learning. Whether in the woods, watching mycelium form on grain in a jar, or discovering the latest scientific findings about them, fungi never cease to amaze me! And although I am an introvert, I love MMS events because everyone there loves mushrooms as much as I do, so it is like being with family.
Heather’s Favorite Mushroom: Boletes
Ross Haugberg
Member since 2021
Member-at-Large since 2024
Ross has also been on the Camping Foray planning committee, helped at Lake Carlos, and is a Foray Team volunteer.
Ross’s favorite mushroom-related activities include group forays, and learning mycology from guest speakers and through self-study.
When asked what he loves most about mycology, Ross says, “My favorite thing about mushrooms is that they give me a good reason to spend lots of time in the forest. It is so fun and relaxing to spend the day mushroom hunting, and I always leave having learned something new….Mushroom hunting has inspired me to learn to cook. Every time I bring home a basket-full, I look up a recipe and learn to make something new. Why waste a surplus of gourmet mushrooms on the same pasta dish every time?”
Ross’s Favorite Mushroom: Cortinarius Caperatus
Aaron Berg
Member in 2015, and since 2019
Recording Secretary since 2022
Aaron has also been a foray leader, foray educator, foray assistant, camping lead, and is the interim Diversity Equity and Inclusion Chair.
Aaron’s favorite mushroom-related activities include foraging, identifying, microscopy, and teaching about fungi.
When asked what he loves most about mycology, Aaron says, “There is and will always be something new for me to discover in the world of fungi. If you get a chance on a foray, sit still for 30 minutes or more and take in every detail. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.”
Aaron’s Favorite Mushroom: Genus Hemimycena
Therese Casey
We need her info.
Claudette Lamprecht
Member since 2007
Membership Committee Chair since 2023
Over the past 15 years Claudette has volunteered for nearly every social event and fundraisers. She leads forays and is a part of the Foray and Education Committees, She helps with the Certification classes, State Fair displays, and served as Treasurer for 13 years
Claudette says her favorite mushroom-related activities include, “outreach events like our State Fair display, working with young folks to introduce them to the kingdom of fungi, foraging with my family…a good mushroom book and a stout walking stick can take you far.”
Some of the things that Claudette loves most about mycology are teaching and eating new edibles.
Claudette’s Favorite Mushroom: Chanterelles or Maitake or Lobster…It’s too hard to choose one!
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Tim Clemens
Member since 2014
Past President since 2022
Tim has also been a foray leader and participated in MMS outreach events
Tim’s favorite mushroom-related activities include mushroom education, mushroom hunting, indoor cultivation, and outdoor gardening
When asked what he loves most about mycology, Tim says, “the smell of Gymnopilus luteus.”
Tim’s Favorite Mushroom: Gyromitra korfii
Randy Strobel
Member since 2014
Scholarship Committee Chair since 2023
Randy has also been a foray leader, a foray assistant, and led cultivation workshops in-person and for online member meetings.
Randy’s favorite mushroom-related activities include Foraging and cultivating edibles, scientific aspects of forays, and microscopy.
Randy’s favorite thing about Mycology is learning about a Kingdom of life that is mostly hidden from us.
Randy’s Favorite Mushroom: Panellus stipticus
Contact the committee chairperson who can help you with more information about what thier committee is doing and how you can participate!