He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Lake Superior State University in 2016 and to the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on
Michigan State Parks and Outdoor Recreation in 2011.
However, according to Genevieve Gillette--an early Michigan conservationist, a proponent of
Michigan State Parks, and an acquaintance of Karen Hartwick--Edward spoke frequendy with his father-in-law on the merits of preserving the few remaining large pines in Northern Michigan.
Chateau Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Mich., released a new line of wines to support
Michigan state parks. The winery is donating 50% of net profits from its three new wines to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.