Administrative Structure

Management Board

The PLJV Management Board provides guidance and support to the Joint Venture Coordinator on overall direction and management, and approves funding for conservation projects. The board also serves as PLJV ambassadors for their member organizations and other public, private and political leaders. The Board meets twice each year in January and June.

Lief Ahlm
Northeast Area Operations Chief
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Eric Banks
Kansas State Conservationist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

John Beall
Government Affairs Representative
Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever

Ruben Cantu, Vice Chair
Regional Director
Texas Parks and Wildlife

Jim Douglas, Chairman
Wildlife Division Administrator
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Wade Free
Northwest Region Wildlife Supervisor
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Brandon Houck
Regional Wildlife Biologist
National Wild Turkey Federation

Dan Hunter
Health, Safety and Environment Manager
ConocoPhillips

Scott Manley, Treasurer
Director of Conservation Programs
Ducks Unlimited

Dave Mehlman
Director, Migratory Bird Program
The Nature Conservancy

Keith Sexson
Assistant Secretary
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Jeff Ver Steeg
Assistant Director, Wildlife Programs
Colorado Division of Wildlife

Rod Winkler
Director, Conservation Programs
USDA Farm Service Agency

Melanie Woolever, Secretary
Wildlife Program Manager
USDA Forest Service

Committees & Teams

Science Advisory Team (SAT)

  • Anne Bartuszevige, Playa Lakes Joint Venture
  • David Haukos, US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Bill Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • David Klute, Colorado Department of Wildlife
  • Ted LaGrange, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
  • Duane Pool, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
  • Susan Skagen, US Geological Survey

Education and Outreach Team (EOT)

PLJV Staff

Anne Bartuszevige
Conservation Science Director

Mike Carter
Joint Venture Coordinator

Barth Crouch
Conservation Policy Director

Linda Foster
Office Manager

Allan Janus
GIS Analyst

Megan McLachlan
GIS Director

Christopher Rustay
Conservation Delivery Leader

Misti Vazquez
Communications Director