What is your educational and professional background?
AA Degree from Southeastern Community College, B.S. Degree from Western Illinois University; Minor in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration and minor in Special Education.  I have worked as a canoe guide in the Boundary Waters, taught Environmental Education in North Carolina and also worked at the bottom of the world in Antarctica.  Before becoming director I was the Naturalist and Environmental Education Coordinator for DMCC.

How long have you worked for DMCC?
Since 2001

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is working on new projects within the county.  Since I began working for the county 10 years ago things have changed so much and it is fun to see all of those changes take place.  Each day is very different in my job; one day I may be out in the field getting dirty and then next I may be in meetings all day with other business people.

What is the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is finding funding to support all of the new projects we would like to accomplish.

How has working for DMCC changed your thinking?
Before working for the county I was deeply involved in teaching children about the environmental education.  Since that time I have found it is important to teach not only children but also adults about the impact we all have on this earth.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
I enjoy spending time boating on the Mississippi River and at the Lake of the Ozarks.

What is your educational and professional background?
I have a B.S. Degree in Animal Ecology with a minor in Forestry. I have worked in the field of natural resource/wildlife management since 2006. Previously, I have worked for a Soil and Water Conservation District and Pheasants Forever. I have considerable experience with local, state, and federal conservation programs.

How long have you worked for DMCC?
Since November of 2008

What is your favorite part of your job?
I like the diversity of tasks; we're doing something different almost every day.

What is the biggest challenge?/How has working for DMCC changed your thinking?
I feel the biggest challenge I deal with is some people's lack of respect for our areas. It's not everybody by any means, it's that select few that vandalize or litter or otherwise destroy or deface our areas that really mar the experience for others and make our jobs just that much harder. Working here at DMCC has made me realize just how disrespectful toward nature some people can be. But in contrast, I've also had the pleasure of meeting and working with some really amazing volunteers so I've also realized that for everyone that disrespects our areas, there are dozens who volunteer to make our community a better place.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
Pheasant hunting.

What is your educational and professional background? 
Educational Background:
    AA – Southeastern Community College
    Iowa Law Enforcement Academy – Johnston, Iowa
    S.W.A.T. Training - FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia
    REID School of Interviewing and Interrogation – Chicago, Illinois
    Homicide Investigation – University of Louisville
    Sex Crimes Investigation – University of Louisville
    Forensic Investigation of Computer Crimes – National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, University of Arkansas
    FBI National Academy – 172nd Session, Quantico, Virginia
Professional Background
    Vietnam Veteran – United States Navy Reserve, Honorable Discharge
          Served:  COMSEVENTH FLEET STAFF, USS Oklahoma City CLG-5 and USS Kansas City AOR-3
    Burlington Police Department – 1973 thru 1988
         Patrolman
         Detective
    Sheriff - Des Moines County – 1989 thru 2000
    J & S Electronic Business Systems, Inc.
        Computer Sales & Service
        Assistant General Manager
        Human Resources, Accounts Receivable
        Web Design

How long have you worked for DMCC?
June 1, 2004

What is your favorite part of your job?
 The citizens of Des Moines County; our customers. 

What is the biggest challenge? 
Completing our work with the currently available funding.

How has working for DMCC changed your thinking? 
No matter what the circumstance, we can and will accomplish our mission!

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
 Fishing; with my daughter, sons, grandkids and friends.

What is your educational and professional background?
2003 AAS-Construction Technology- Southeastern Community College

2010 BA -Public Administration-Buena Vista University

I have worked in the conservation field since 2006. I worked for the Iowa DNR Parks Bureau at Honey Creek State Park and Geode State Park. I have also worked with Pheasants Forever and Wapello County Conservation.

The position has allowed me to continually learn and evolve forward in many ways. It has been great to work with a staff that shares a common goal.

What is your educational and professional background?

 Kirkwood Community college A.A.S. in Parks and Natural Resources', Iowa Law Enforcement graduate 122nd Basic.

How long have you worked for DMCC?

Twenty One Years (since August 1990)

What is your favorite part of your job?
Working on projects and constructing things that the general public will enjoy using for years to come.

What is the biggest challenge?

 Keeping up with the changes in technology and how it relates to the conservation field.

How has working for DMCC changed your thinking?

 I never realized how much work goes into the construction as well as the maintenance and operations of our public lands, so I would have to say that every time I visit a Park or Recreation area now, I look at all the hard work that went into the area and I think I have a greater understanding of how much it takes to make these areas possible for the general public to enjoy.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

 Although I have many outdoor activities that I enjoy I would have to say fishing is my favorite. I plan on spending many hours fishing the lake at Big Hollow and enjoying the great fishing that we now have on the lake.

What is your educational and professional background?

I received a bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Northern Iowa. I worked for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Trails Program for 4 years prior to my employment with Des Moines County Conservation. ILEA 238th Basic graduated April 8, 2011.

How long have you worked for DMCC?

Since July 2010.

What is your favorite part of your job?

From the nearly 20 areas we manage, to the variety of people I meet, my scenery is always changing. This variety has to be my favorite part of my job, one day is never like another and the projects change with the seasons.

What is the biggest challenge?

One of my biggest challenges is more of an internal battle of balancing the protection of our limited natural areas while providing the public with countless opportunities for recreation and education within these areas.

How has working for DMCC changed your thinking?

Working in conservation has really opened my eyes to the way we, as a society, treat the natural world around us. This thought can be summed up by a popular quote from Aldo Leopold: "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Hunting and kayaking.

What is your educational and professional background?

My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Geography with Environmental Studies emphasis from the University of Iowa.

During the summer of my freshman year of college I worked at a ranch in Wyoming at the base of the Wind River Mountains where I led ranch guests on hikes. During college I was also an IOWATER Volunteer where I helped collect water samples from local creeks. After college, I worked as a Watershed Coordinator for a Soil & Water Conservation District in North Dakota. There I worked with farmers and landowners who wanted to improve the soil and water quality of their land. I have also been a Youth Crew Leader for Montana Conservation Corps (an AmeriCorps State Program) where I supervised youth on natural resource enhancement projects such as trail work in National Forest. For a week at a time we would camp out at our work locations which were in very remote and primitive Montana settings. I also participated in an AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program in Montana for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). My main duty there was to recruit senior citizens to volunteer for at-risk youth organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA, The Boys and Girls Club, etc. I have even worked as an Animal Control Officer for the Cascade County Sheriff's Office while living in Montana. Just before coming on board with DMCC, I resided in Alaska working as an Event Coordinator for the Delta Chamber of Commerce in Delta Junction. I feel very lucky to have been able to live in different states and to have experienced such diverse job opportunities.

How long have you worked for DMCC?

I have worked for DMCC for almost 3 years. (Since January 2009)
 

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my current job is the variety. I enjoy the challenge and excitement of learning new things regularly; my brain is always going a hundred miles per hour so keeping busy is a must for me.

What is the biggest challenge?

Before working for DMCC, I did not realize how many parents are scared of nature and that their fear is something readily passed onto their children. I have observed this in some of the kids and parents that participate in our environmental education programs. There are also teachers who have a hard time letting student’s play in the dirt or pick up nature items during field trips because of the fear of the students contracting germs or getting hurt. Once parents and teachers become more comfortable with nature and realize it is not dangerous, their fear turns into awe. In turn, the kids then see that there is no need to be scared. The trend of current generations growing up with fewer and fewer nature experiences makes the jobs of environmental educators that much more important. The challenge of teaching kids not to fear but to appreciate and respect nature will be a growing challenge for the future.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

My favorite outdoor activity is exploring a pretty natural setting without any human background noises or interruptions of modern technology. Exploring by myself gives the chance to hear and see things I wouldn't otherwise be able to and gives me the opportunity to think clearly. Oftentimes it's when I am out like this that I am able to solve problems I have been working on.

What is your educational and professional background?

I have an AA Degree from Southeastern Community College and returned to Western Illinois University in 2007 and earned my B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration with a minor in Sociology. In the summer of 2011, I completed my internship with Starr's Cave Nature Center as the Seasonal Naturalist where I had the pleasure of teaching summer camp and assisting with school field trips. I've also taught snowboarding lessons at Ski Snow Star Winter Sports Park for the past two years. While attending WIU I worked at Horn Field Campus as a Teams Course Facilitator/High Ropes Facilitator where I got to introduce the public to team building activities and rock climbing.

How long have you worked for DMCC?

I was hired on in February 2012 as the full-time Interpretive Naturalist.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Teaching the public about nature and introducing them to all of the wonders Iowa has to offer. Seeing children return to the nature center with their parents after attending a program on site. Watching the children's eyes light up when they are listening to my programs and teaching environment educational programs with a hands-on approach.

What is the biggest challenge?

Like any new job, I am learning about the on-goings of Starr's Cave Nature Center and all we have to offer the public.

How has working for DMCC changed your thinking?

I am beginning to realize that not all children have had the exposure to nature that I was blessed with as a child. My father introduced me to nature as a small child and it was important to my family that our children were introduced to a variety of outdoor activities. So, if I change only one child's mind and expand their way of thinking about nature, then I am opening the doors for future generations.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Some of my favorite outdoor activities are tent camping, cycling, snowboarding, rock climbing, traveling out West and exploring our National Parks, and one of my newest passions, birding.