Supporting leaders in freshwater research and conservation related to large river ecosystems through advancing knowledge to policy
Meet the Board
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Bob McClellan is a lifelong resident of rural Madison County, Illinois. He graduated from SIU Edwardsville with a Business Masters and a Specialization in Technology. Bob is a retired business executive with a national green industry firm and a retired university professor. In addition to his role with the MRCF, he is currently serving environmental and financial sector Boards. He is a father, grandfather, great grandfather, and recently a great great grandfather. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. His wife has been his life-partner for sixty years plus.
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Ralph Heckert is a Senior Vice President and an Investment Advisor for Capital Group Private Client Services. Ralph earned an MBA and a BS from the University of Connecticut. He is an active shareholder of Capital Group Companies. Ralph is based in Los Angeles and travels nationally for the Family Office of Capital. He is especially proud of his relationship with families he serves around the world in addition to his own personal family.
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Mark Kratschmer is a lifelong resident of the River Bend. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in Accountancy and holds CPA certificates in Illinois and Missouri. Mark is a retired business executive and has been active in the community for much of his life. In addition to his role with the Mississippi River Confluence Foundation, he is currently serving Boards of a college, a high school, and several charitable foundations.
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Mark Darr is a lifelong resident of Madison County Illinois. Mark is the founder, CEO and Chairman of Federal Steel in East Alton, Illinois. He and his wife of 45 years have two sons and three beautiful grandchildren. Mark’s interests include being a good steward to our land and rivers thinking it is possible to improve what we have for those that follow so they can enjoy our great outdoors as much as he does.
Mississippi River Confluence Foundation
Our Philosophy
We believe in putting our money where our values are. MRCF is committed to EESG criteria. This set of standards is used by socially conscious investors to screen a company’s behavior. We understand that sustainable change requires a thoughtful engagement in all these areas.
For those unfamiliar with EESG or ESG, the acronyms are used as a reminder of elements that need consideration during strategic or even operational planning processes.
E – Economic considerations in the broadest sense
E - Environmental sustainability
S – Societal considerations
G – Governance, both internal and external
Join Us
We all require fresh water resources. Together we can, and we must, improve related environmental sustainability efforts. To be successful MRCF needs the support of organizations, companies, and individuals who share the same interests in EESG and water-based studies. We strive to fund studies that help shape sustainable practices—those that facilitate service delivery to the existing society without diminishing services to future generations.