Wildlife Division Manager

• Oct 2023 - Present

Biological Science Technician

• May 2021 - Oct 2023

• Planned wetland and prairie restoration projects for Refuge as well as Partners for Fish and Wildlife private partners and landowners. • Wrote workplans for NRDA-funded Refuge restoration projects. • Created agreements with private nurseries to grow native plants for Refuge projects. • Used ArcGIS Pro to plan projects and create maps for permitting and educational purposes. • Led Job Hazard Analysis for herbicide applications. • Ran Refuge social media accounts for a month when Visitor Services staff were unavailable. • Completed environmental permits for restoration projects. • Surveyed future restoration sites with GPS and laser level. • Built species lists for native plantings and seedings. • Assisted aquatic monitoring with sampling water quality, fish, and invertebrates. • Controlled invasive plants with chemical treatments. • Coordinated native seed collection. • Gained certification in ATV/UTV operation. • Obtained certification in wildland firefighting. Show less

Administrative Technician

• Nov 2020 - Apr 2021

• Used ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Excel to illustrate and create geographic data. • Created maps summarizing invasive species monitoring for grant reporting. • Generated maps for planning future fieldwork and calculating acreages. • Edited and formatted annual reports. • Wrote invasive species management plans and requests for proposals. • Used ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Excel to illustrate and create geographic data. • Created maps summarizing invasive species monitoring for grant reporting. • Generated maps for planning future fieldwork and calculating acreages. • Edited and formatted annual reports. • Wrote invasive species management plans and requests for proposals.

Biological Science Technician

• May 2020 - Oct 2020

• Led crew in studying effects of beech bark disease on pollinator community. • Mapped forests by disease stage using previous records and ArcGIS. • Generated transects in ArcGIS and navigated to them using handheld GPS. • Collected pollinator insects along transects using bowls of water and soap. • Identified species and coverage of forest floor vegetation in transect plots. • Trained employees of other Natural Resources programs in pollinator protocols. • Carried out and adapted to newly-written scientific protocols. • Evaluated beech trees for symptoms of disease. • Entered and managed data in excel. • Monitored endangered piping plovers. • Surveyed for loon nests. • Collected and set up game cameras for white-tailed deer study. • Injected ash trees with insecticide to prevent ash borer infestation. • Coordinated and led other employees in surveys for endangered prairie warblers. • Followed and maintained proper safety protocols. Show less

Biological Science Technician

• Apr 2019 - Sep 2019

• Collected and cleaned native plant seed for propagation and planting on restoration sites. • Planted native species on old home and road sites, using seed, plugs, and live stakes. • Propagated native seeds in trays to be planted as plugs. • Evaluated success of previous restoration efforts in the park through site revisits. • Recorded data and field notes for surveys, site revisits, and treatments with Microsoft Office. • Wrote restoration plans for disturbed areas and future restoration sites. • Surveyed old home sites prior to demolition to evaluate existing floristic community. • Conducted surveys for endangered Prairie Warblers in lakeshore wilderness using binoculars. • Removed invasive plant species with mechanical and chemical control methods. • Surveyed northern hardwood stands for beech bark disease resistant trees. • Identified and wrote grant applications, including GLRI. • Surveyed disturbed areas for turtle nests and burn sites for eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes. • Measured height, crown, and dbh of largest trees in park. • Led volunteer workdays for planting and seed collection. • Analyzed previous restorations, recorded geographic data, and planned work with ArcGIS. Show less

Conservation Worker

• Nov 2018 - Mar 2019

• Created and implemented new herbicide equipment cleaning protocol. • Removed invasive plants with cut-stump herbicide treatments. • Processed native seed collections for use in field. • Recorded fieldwork data. • Facilitated deer control activities through managing bait piles in natural areas. • Used trail camera to monitor bait sites. • Created and implemented new herbicide equipment cleaning protocol. • Removed invasive plants with cut-stump herbicide treatments. • Processed native seed collections for use in field. • Recorded fieldwork data. • Facilitated deer control activities through managing bait piles in natural areas. • Used trail camera to monitor bait sites.

Biological Science Technician

• May 2018 - Oct 2018

• Collected and cleaned native plant seed for propagation and planting on restoration sites. • Planted native species on old home and road sites. • Evaluated success of previous restoration efforts in the park. • Surveyed old home sites prior to demolition to evaluate existing floristic community and ensure compliance with Migratory Bird Act. • Conducted surveys for endangered Prairie Warblers in lakeshore wilderness using binoculars. • Removed invasive plant species. • Identified and wrote grant applications. • Led volunteer workdays for invasive species removal. • Created maps of restoration sites, potential work sites, and seed collection sites using ArcGIS. Show less

Graduate Student Instructor

• Sep 2017 - Dec 2017

General Ecology • Taught two weekly 2-hour sections. • Led discussions on concepts and reading material related to content of ecology lecture. • Guided students in developing research questions and analyzing data for class projects. • Graded quizzes, exams, and homework assignments. General Ecology • Taught two weekly 2-hour sections. • Led discussions on concepts and reading material related to content of ecology lecture. • Guided students in developing research questions and analyzing data for class projects. • Graded quizzes, exams, and homework assignments.

Biological Science Technician

• May 2017 - Aug 2017

Biological Science Technician

• May 2016 - Aug 2016

Assisted in implementing established natural resource management projects at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Tasks include: - monitoring and controlling exotic plants - conducting rare plant surveys - working at restoration sites - surveying for target invasive plants - creating GPS and GIS data on invasive infestation locations and status - controlling invasive plants using hand-pulling, hand tools, power tools, and chemical herbicides Assisted in implementing established natural resource management projects at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Tasks include: - monitoring and controlling exotic plants - conducting rare plant surveys - working at restoration sites - surveying for target invasive plants - creating GPS and GIS data on invasive infestation locations and status - controlling invasive plants using hand-pulling, hand tools, power tools, and chemical herbicides

Natural Resources Technician

• Sep 2015 - May 2016

• Removed invasive plants through foliar treatment, basal bark treatment, and cut-stump treatment. • Created green infrastructure by planting native trees and plugs as well as spreading native seed. • Surveyed native ecosystems for invasion of non-native plant species. • Conducted citywide Phragmites survey of city parks, detention ponds, wetlands, and roadside ditches using GPS • Utilized field guide to key out aquatic macroinvertebrates. • Wrote Phragmites management plan and filled out pesticide log to be submitted to DEQ. • Operated chainsaw and brushcutter to remove woody invasive plants. • Anchored felled trees to river substrate to create fish habitat. • Wrote grant applications for Everest Academy ecological restoration project. • Participated in wetland and oak savanna prescribed burns • Created map of invasive herbaceous plants in Independence Twp Show less

Field Technician

• May 2015 - Aug 2015

• Removed invasive plants, through foliar spraying as well as cutting and herbiciding, in order to protect native plants and ecosystems. • Built new wetland habitat by planting trees and spreading herbaceous seed as well as installing erosion control. • Used handheld GPS units to assist with wetland delineation, site monitoring, and natural features inventories. • Operated Argo Avenger vehicle to traverse difficult wetland terrain. • Removed invasive plants, through foliar spraying as well as cutting and herbiciding, in order to protect native plants and ecosystems. • Built new wetland habitat by planting trees and spreading herbaceous seed as well as installing erosion control. • Used handheld GPS units to assist with wetland delineation, site monitoring, and natural features inventories. • Operated Argo Avenger vehicle to traverse difficult wetland terrain.

Field Crew

• May 2014 - Aug 2014

• Removed invasive species of plants, through cutting and herbiciding, in order to protect native plants and ecosystems. • Maintained preserve trails to promote public enjoyment of protected land. • Built compost structures so that invasive plant material could be reused as fertilizer. • Removed invasive species of plants, through cutting and herbiciding, in order to protect native plants and ecosystems. • Maintained preserve trails to promote public enjoyment of protected land. • Built compost structures so that invasive plant material could be reused as fertilizer.

Warehouse associate

• Jul 2012 - Aug 2012

Provided inventory and shipping assistance. Provided inventory and shipping assistance.

Crew Member

• Jun 2011 - Jul 2011

Built landscape structures, planted trees and shrubs, installed mulch, and did other landscape work. Built landscape structures, planted trees and shrubs, installed mulch, and did other landscape work.