​​​​​​Erik Lilleskov moved to Houghton in 2002 for a job as a research ecologist for the US Forest Service. Prior to that he worked in many areas, including commercial fishing, fish processing, net mending, hatchery work, trail crew, carpentry, dairy farm hand (for two whole weeks!), field technician, ecology curriculum development, and environmental education. He hitchhiked across the country several times (back when people did that kind of thing), and was crew on a 105 foot wooden schooner that was dismasted in the gulf of Panama.  He and his wife Elise raised two sons in Houghton. In his free time he loves to grow vegetables and fruits, hike, ski, canoe, fish, hunt for mushrooms, make bad puns, sing out of tune, see his kids, and hang out with old and new friends. He served on the KLT board for 6 years, took a break for a few, and rejoined the board in 2017.