Board Member Elections, Dec 2022

The Nominating Committee has developed a slate of candidates who have agreed to run for a position on the OkIPC Board. 

• Jodie Crose, Corteva Agriscience
• Elaine Ewigman, ODWC
• Brandon Gibson, Tribal Alliance for Pollinators
• Chris Hise, The Nature Conservancy
• Steven Smith, Noble Research Institute (re-elect)

You can read the profile of each candidate below.  Write-in candidates will also be accepted during the election.
The link for voting will be sent through this eNewsletter on the morning of December 8th.  Online voting will be open Dec. 8-14. Subscribe to the newsletter!

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Jodie Crose

I was raised on a small cattle and pecan operation in northeast Oklahoma. I grew up in agriculture and found my passion for invasive species control while attending college at Oklahoma State. I studied botany and plant and soil science and took courses that introduced me to the impacts of these plants and taught me how to control them. I just couldn’t get enough of Oklahoma State, so I stuck around for a Master’s degree in agronomic weed science. From there, I traveled to northeast Wyoming where I recently completed my PhD with the University of Wyoming. My dissertation focused on invasive annual grass control and native species restoration. In May, I accepted a position as a field scientist working in range and pasture with Corteva Agriscience. I look forward to becoming more involved with OkIPC and working with land managers throughout the state to reduce invasive plant impact.  

Elaine Ewigman

I am the Aquatic Nuisance Species/Fish Kill Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. I worked as the very first ANS Technician, starting my time with ODWC in December 2021, and just recently promoted to the coordinator position September 1 of this year. I work with anything that is invasive in and around water as well as investigating reported fish kills on public waters. Even though the organisms I work with are not wanted in our state, I still find them fascinating in their own ways. I’m looking forward to being a part of this group!

Brandon Gibson

I am a program coordinator for Tribal Alliance for Pollinators based in Bixby, OK. I began my current position in January 2020 and have been enjoying it ever since. We collect seeds of plants that are native to Oklahoma and sourced exclusively from Oklahoma, often from remnant areas. We then grow those seeds out and distribute the plant plugs to the tribes of Oklahoma at no cost to them. I spend most of my time during the warm months of the year propagating native plant species, collecting seeds, conducting plantings with tribes, and doing presentations about how, and why, to establish native habitat. During the winter months, I spend most of my time cleaning/processing native seeds for our native seed bank that is available to the tribes of Oklahoma for habitat restoration, as well as conducting presentations about our native plants and pollinators.

Chris Hise

I direct land management and research efforts at The Nature Conservancy’s Four Canyon Preserve, a 4,000-acre natural area in western Oklahoma. I also serve as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager for TNC’s Oklahoma Chapter and is a certified Type 2 Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. I graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. A lifelong resident of the Great Plains, Chris enjoys all types of outdoor activities and spending time with his family.

Steven Smith

I grew up in Yukon, OK on a small farm. I graduated with a bachelors and master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. After OSU, I served as a wildlife management area manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Department for two years. I have spent the last 17 years as a wildlife and fisheries consultant for the Noble Research Institute. I am privileged to get to work with farmers and ranchers to achieve their regenerative agricultural goals in the Southern Great Plains. It has been my pleasure to serve on the OkIPC board the past few years. The OkIPC has been a valuable resource in highlighting the danger of numerous invasive species as well as promoting native species.

Annual Business Meeting

11:00 a.m. Hyatt Regency Hotel, Room A, Tulsa

1. Minutes – reading and approval of previous meetings records
2. Officer and Member Reports
   1. President
   2. President Elect
   3. Secretary
   4. Treasurer
   5. All other Board Members

3. Committee Reports
   1. Annual Meeting (including Invasive Species specific meeting)
   2. Policy
   3. Membership and Communication (including website)
   4. Nominations

4. Old Business
   1. Membership sign-up/renewal app
   2. Member swag

6. New Business
   1. 2018 annual meeting
   2. Student award presentation
   3. Kudzu Survey
   4. OkIPC Mission and Strategies
7. Announcements
8. Adjournment

Mission:  Facilitating education and management for protection of our economic and natural resources.

 Stakeholders:

• Businesses/Industries:  agricultural, horticultural, landscape, aquacultural, wildlife, tourism, forestry, and recreational
• Landowners and managers: private and public
• Agencies:  federal, state, local
• Native American Tribes
• Non-profit organizations:  conservation, agricultural, and land management
• Institutions and Programs:  education, research

 Strategies:

1. Increase awareness through education about invasive plants, focusing on:

• Sources of invasives
• Economic and ecological effects of invasives
• Recognition of invasives
• Prevention of invasives
• Early detection and rapid response to invasives
• Control and management strategies for invasives

2. Encourages legislative and regulatory improvements that increase invasives control effectiveness.
3. Promote greater coordination between all entities engaged in or affecting invasives management.
4. Serve as a clearinghouse for invasives management strategies.
5. Identify and encourage sources of funding for invasives education and management.
6. Identify invasive species and assess their potential threat for Oklahoma.

adopted 29 September 2009 by the OkIPC Officers and Board of Directors, revised 16 December 2013

Welcome New Board Members!

Please join us in welcoming our new OkIPC Board Members who take office this month!

Michael Kenna, Ph.D. – Director of U.S. Golf Association Green Section Research

Dr. Michael P. Kenna has been the Director of USGA Green Section Research since February 1990. He oversees the USGA’s turfgrass and environmental research activities, including soliciting and evaluating research proposals, grant making, and development of cooperative funding with government and commercial sources. Dr. Kenna travels extensively to visit turfgrass and environmental research sites, speak at conferences about the USGA’s research programs and serves on advisory boards and research foundations. He has worked closely with the US Department of Agriculture on water and energy conservation research that relates to golf courses. Dr. Kenna has served as an editor of several books concerning turfgrass biotechnology, environmental issues, and water conservation and reuse.

Dr. Kenna received his B.S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. While at Oklahoma State University, he received his M.S. degree in Agronomy and Ph.D. degree in Crop Science. His graduate studies involved turf and forage grass breeding, quantitative genetics, plant physiology and turfgrass management. In 1985, Dr. Kenna joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University as an assistant professor, responsible for turfgrass research activities and a statewide extension program. He received the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Agriculture at California State Polytechnic University, and the 2016 Turfgrass Producers International Distinguished Service Award.

Candice Miller – Education Coordinator Blue Thumb, Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Candice Miller has worked with the Blue Thumb water pollution education program for the past three years; working with volunteer monitors across the state of Oklahoma. Candice earned a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from the University of North Dakota and a MS in Biology from Eastern Illinois University. While earning her degree, she had internships with North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Idaho Fish and Game, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
While working for North Dakota Game and Fish and US Fish and Wildlife, Candice worked on controlling noxious weeds including the invasive absinth wormwood, Canada thistle, musk thistle, leafy spurge, and Russian olive. While working on her degree at Eastern Illinois University, Candice worked on a large riverine project where she conducted Asian carp collections.

Curtis Tackett – Fisheries Biologist, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Curtis Tackett is a biologist within ODWC’s fisheries division where he serves as coordinator for the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program, the Fish Kill and Pollution Program, as well as the aquatic section of the Wildlife Diversity Program. Curtis is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he received a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology within the Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management.

After graduation, Curtis accepted a seasonal technician position with Yale University in New Haven, CT where he worked with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health on a project understanding the interaction between tick species and their mammalian hosts for the Lyme disease causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Upon completion of this project, Curtis began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in 2009 as coordinator of the ANS program where he implements the ANS Management Plan through outreach and education, early detection of invasive species, monitoring of current populations, funding research, regulatory authority through state statutes, and coordinating between various local, state, and federal agencies on the management of ANS both statewide and on a regional level. He was introduced to the Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council in 2009 where he gave a presentation to the Council about ODWC’s ANS Management Plan and he has served in some capacity since then including holding a position on the Board of Directors. Curtis has served on the executive committee for the Mississippi River Basin Panel on ANS, which is one of six regional panels established by the ANS Task Force to coordinate governmental efforts to prevent and manage introductions of ANS in the U.S. with those in the private sector and other interests. Curtis also serves as the OK representative on the Pollution Committee within the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. The Pollution Committee collaborates regionally on fish kill and pollution issues and is currently working to develop a revision of the American Fisheries Society special publication #30 “Investigation and Monetary Values of Fish and Freshwater Mussel Kills.” Curtis is also the lead aquatic non-game biologist within ODWC’s wildlife diversity program where he works with other biologists on monitoring and research needs for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Curtis serves on the ranking committee for the State Wildlife Grants Program to fund research for SGCN as well as Aquatic Nuisance Species.

Curtis has conducted research and population monitoring on various ANS in Oklahoma including Asian Carps, Zebra Mussels, and aquatic plant species such as Hydrilla. Curtis is currently working on various outreach projects with ODWC and will be launching a population monitoring project of native and non-native crayfishes in 2017. Curtis currently resides in Tulsa, OK and works out of ODWC’s field office located in Porter, OK.

2017 Elections

 

Please take the time to read the candidates’ nomination statements below before voting.

Polls will be open until noon on Friday, January 20, 2017.

We have three At-Large Board Member positions up for election this year.

The OkIPC Nominating Committee puts forward the following individuals for the slate of candidates.  Write-in candidates are also accepted.

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Slate of Nominees

Michael Kenna, Ph.D. – Director of U.S. Golf Association Green Section Research

Dr. Michael P. Kenna has been the Director of USGA Green Section Research since February 1990. He oversees the USGA’s turfgrass and environmental research activities, including soliciting and evaluating research proposals, grant making, and development of cooperative funding with government and commercial sources. Dr. Kenna travels extensively to visit turfgrass and environmental research sites, speak at conferences about the USGA’s research programs and serves on advisory boards and research foundations. He has worked closely with the US Department of Agriculture on water and energy conservation research that relates to golf courses. Dr. Kenna has served as an editor of several books concerning turfgrass biotechnology, environmental issues, and water conservation and reuse.

Dr. Kenna received his B.S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. While at Oklahoma State University, he received his M.S. degree in Agronomy and Ph.D. degree in Crop Science. His graduate studies involved turf and forage grass breeding, quantitative genetics, plant physiology and turfgrass management. In 1985, Dr. Kenna joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University as an assistant professor, responsible for turfgrass research activities and a statewide extension program. He received the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Agriculture at California State Polytechnic University, and the 2016 Turfgrass Producers International Distinguished Service Award.

Candice Miller – Education Coordinator Blue Thumb, Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Candice Miller has worked with the Blue Thumb water pollution education program for the past three years; working with volunteer monitors across the state of Oklahoma. Candice earned a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from the University of North Dakota and a MS in Biology from Eastern Illinois University. While earning her degree, she had internships with North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Idaho Fish and Game, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
While working for North Dakota Game and Fish and US Fish and Wildlife, Candice worked on controlling noxious weeds including the invasive absinth wormwood, Canada thistle, musk thistle, leafy spurge, and Russian olive. While working on her degree at Eastern Illinois University, Candice worked on a large riverine project where she conducted Asian carp collections.

Curtis Tackett – Fisheries Biologist, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Curtis Tackett is a biologist within ODWC’s fisheries division where he serves as coordinator for the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program, the Fish Kill and Pollution Program, as well as the aquatic section of the Wildlife Diversity Program. Curtis is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he received a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology within the Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management.

After graduation, Curtis accepted a seasonal technician position with Yale University in New Haven, CT where he worked with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health on a project understanding the interaction between tick species and their mammalian hosts for the Lyme disease causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Upon completion of this project, Curtis began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in 2009 as coordinator of the ANS program where he implements the ANS Management Plan through outreach and education, early detection of invasive species, monitoring of current populations, funding research, regulatory authority through state statutes, and coordinating between various local, state, and federal agencies on the management of ANS both statewide and on a regional level. He was introduced to the Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council in 2009 where he gave a presentation to the Council about ODWC’s ANS Management Plan and he has served in some capacity since then including holding a position on the Board of Directors. Curtis has served on the executive committee for the Mississippi River Basin Panel on ANS, which is one of six regional panels established by the ANS Task Force to coordinate governmental efforts to prevent and manage introductions of ANS in the U.S. with those in the private sector and other interests. Curtis also serves as the OK representative on the Pollution Committee within the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. The Pollution Committee collaborates regionally on fish kill and pollution issues and is currently working to develop a revision of the American Fisheries Society special publication #30 “Investigation and Monetary Values of Fish and Freshwater Mussel Kills.” Curtis is also the lead aquatic non-game biologist within ODWC’s wildlife diversity program where he works with other biologists on monitoring and research needs for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Curtis serves on the ranking committee for the State Wildlife Grants Program to fund research for SGCN as well as Aquatic Nuisance Species.

Curtis has conducted research and population monitoring on various ANS in Oklahoma including Asian Carps, Zebra Mussels, and aquatic plant species such as Hydrilla. Curtis is currently working on various outreach projects with ODWC and will be launching a population monitoring project of native and non-native crayfishes in 2017. Curtis currently resides in Tulsa, OK and works out of ODWC’s field office located in Porter, OK.

Elections Start Friday Jan 6th

I apologize for the incorrect email that went out this morning.  Please watch for the election announcement on Friday.

Election Results!

The Votes Are Tallied!

Congratulations to the new and returning OkIPC Board members!

Russell Stevens, President-Elect
Tonya Dunn, Secretary
Amy Buthod, Treasurer

At Large Board Member Class 2016-2017
Lydia Calhoun
Lisa Castle
Marla Peek
Michael Porter
Jay Pruett

Look for information in the coming weeks regarding Board meetings and activities.

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Don’t forget to register for the Oklahoma Natural Resources Conference. Early registration deadline is February 1st!  We look forward to seeing you there!

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