Susan Elbert Steele

Susan Elbert Steele joined the Conservancy board in 2021 and brings 24 years of service in the public sector, as well as 20 years in the financial and real estate areas. Currently the Village Administrator, Village of Sharon, Susan’s past experience includes market research, strategic financial consulting for sustainable entrepreneurs, municipalities and not-for-profits, focusing on implementation of long -term goals and increased financial stability. 

Sustainability has always been a focus of Susan’s work, and has varied from agricultural land best practices, conservation easements, clean water grants, and surface water runoff for city properties through the installation of rain gardens. Susan's family are Fontana and Williams Bay residents. Susan spent summers in Buena Vista, until her junior year in high school when she moved full time to the area graduating from Big Foot High School before attending and graduating from UW-Madison. She moved to Tulsa, married, had her son, and lived there for 13 years before moving to Anamosa, Iowa where she raised her son until receiving her MPA from the University of Nebraska. Susan managed or has been involved in local governments in Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. When her aunt's home became available in 2018 in Williams Bay, she purchased it, and then during the pandemic decided to move with her rescue dog, Butchy, into it.