Who We Are
Executive Team
Kira Davis
Deputy Executive Director
Julie Thorstenson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Office Team
Ashley Mueller
Education & Advancement Director
Judith McKenna
Executive Assistant
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Gwen Lassen
Communications Director
Heidi McCann
Membership Engagement
and Board Affairs Coordinator
Invasive Species Team
Annette Bravo
Invasive Species Technician
Wade Reiter
Invasive Species Technician
Mitzi Reed
Invasive Species Coordinator
Thomas Hafen
Invasive Species Technician
Alaska Team
Lori Petrauski
Senior Alaska Tribal Climate
Resilience Liaison
Jolene Auliye
Assistant Tribal Climate
Resilience Liaison
Kristi Tapio-Harper
Assistant Tribal Climate
Resilience Liaison
Grants Team
Andy Edwards
Grants Field Liaison
Megan Hawkins
Director of Operations
Chris Whirlwind Soldier
Grants Field Liaison
Biologist Team
Laurel James
Director of Programs
Detail with Bureau of Indian Affairs
Shailyn Weichman
Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator
Kaitlyn Demoski
Fish & Wildlife Biologist -
Alaska Region
Emily Hagler
Tribal Mapping Analyst
Hannah Golden
Fish & Wildlife Biologist -
Biodiversity
Sean Cross
Fish & Wildlife Biologist
Board of Directors
Alaska Region
Hope Roberts Upicksoun
Alaska Regional Director
Alaska Native Community Liaison/Captain of fishing vessel, Nikaitchuq
Dustin Carl
Alaska Regional Director
Tribal Fish and Wildlife Director, Chugach Regional Resource Commission
Great Lakes Region
Don Reiter
NAFWS PRESIDENT, Great Lakes Regional Director
Wildlife Biologist, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Conservation Department
Terry Metoxen
Great Lakes Regional Director
Game Warden, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin
Great Plains Region
Art Lawson
Great Plains Regional Director
Director, Shoshone and Arapaho Game and Fish
Charles Wilkinson
Great Plains Regional Director
Game Warden Supervisor, Three Affiliated Tribes
Northwest Region
Benjamin Simpson
Northeast Regional Director
Wildlife Resource Manager, Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources
Jason Mitchell
Northeast Regional Director
Water Resources Field Coordinator, Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources
Pacific Region
Alma “Rosie” Sanchez
Pacific Regional Director
Carnivore Biologist, Nez Perce Tribe
Daniella Santana Cazares
Pacific Regional Director
Environmental Director, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
Mike LaVoie
NAFWS Vice-President, Southeast Regional Director
Natural Resource Manager, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Craig van der Heiden
Southeast Regional Director
Department of Conservation Director, Seminole Tribe of Florida
Southeast Region
Kai-t Blue-Sky
Southwest Regional Director
Wildlife Biologist, Cochiti Pueblo
Darren Talayumptewa
NAFWS Secretary & Treasurer, Southwest Regional Director
Hopi Citizen, Tribal Liaison/Wildlife Biologist