NATIONAL DEER ASSOCIATION BOARD ADDS 5 NEW MEMBERS AND ELECTS NEW OFFICERS

The National Deer Association is pleased to announce the election of five new members to its National Board of Directors. They include Brian Bohn of Pennsylvania, Mark Kenyon of Michigan, Kris Rockwell of Pennsylvania, Chuck Sykes of Alabama and Karen Waldrop of Tennessee.

Brian Bohn of Pennsylvania is a founding partner of The Bohn, Brinker, Floberg, Gleason Wealth Advisory Group at Merrill Lynch. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Brian contributes time and resources to mentoring the next generation of hunters. When Brian isn’t with clients or in the woods, he is spending time with his family in Pittsburgh.

Mark Kenyon is the author of That Wild Country: An Epic Journey into the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, founder of the Wired To Hunt Podcast, and host of MeatEater Inc’s whitetail films and television shows. He is a nationally published writer, NDA certified Level 1 Deer Steward, and an avid hunter-angler-conservationist. 

Kris Rockwell of Pennsylvania is an entrepreneur in the learning and development industry. He founded Hybrid Learning Systems as well as the Additive Project, an online 3D printing curriculum for underserved communities. In 2016 Kris joined the S. Kent Rockwell Foundation and began to focus on conservation, education, and entrepreneurship through supporting organizations that work in these fields. In 2023 Kris joined Piper, a company that builds STEM computer kits for middle school programs. He also serves on the boards of The Kiski School, For Good PGH, Trout Unlimited Headwaters and as Chairman of the Board for the Minority Outdoor Alliance.

Chuck Sykes is the Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Chuck earned a degree in wildlife biology in 1992 from Auburn University. In 2001, he created “The Management Advantage” television program that aired on the Outdoor Channel for 11 years and is now producing an online video series. He is the current President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) among numerous other posts and honors in wildlife conservation.

Karen Waldrop of Tennessee is the Chief Conservation Officer for Ducks Unlimited, where she is a member of DU’s executive leadership team and leads DU’s national and international conservation programs including science, sustainability, and habitat conservation operations and the work of four regional offices focused on conservation delivery. She currently serves on the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Group, advisory boards at multiple universities, the Wetlands America Trust Board, and the National Conservation Leadership Institute Board of Directors.

New Board Officers Elected

At the same meeting of the Board, new officers were elected., Sam Burgeson of Minnesota is the new Chairman of the NDA Board of Directors. Other new officers include: Chris Dolnack of Connecticut, Vice Chairman; Natalie Krebs of Missouri, Secretary; and Greg Simons of Texas, Treasurer.

Four current Board members were re-elected to four-year terms, including John Annoni of Pennsylvania, Arthur Dick of North Carolina, Natalie Krebs of Missouri and Greg Simons of Texas.

Rick Dahl Steps Down as Chairman

Rick Dahl of Missouri completed his four-year term as Chairman on December 31, 2023. At the same time, he stepped down from the NDA Board after eight years of volunteer service.

Rick Dahl of Missouri (left) recently stepped down as NDA Board Chairman after four years (and eight years on the Board).

President and CEO Nick Pinizzotto presented Rick with a commemorative Weatherby Vanguard .270 in First Lite Specter camo in thanks for his voluntary service.

Rick first joined the Board in 2016 and started his term as Chairman in January 2020. He led NDA through the difficulties of the pandemic as well as 2020 merger of the two organizations that formed the National Deer Association. At a recent Field to Fork hunt held on Rick’s hunting land in Missouri, CEO Nick Pinizzotto presented Rick with a commemorative rifle: a Weatherby Vanguard .270 in First Lite Specter camo with an NDA logo engraved on the floorplate and “In appreciation for your leadership” on the stock. 

“It’s easy to lead when things are going well, but true leadership is being willing to roll up your sleeves and do what’s necessary when the challenges are the biggest. Rick certainly did that,” said Pinizzotto.

In addition to Rick Dahl, Cuz Strickland of Mississippi and Bryan Burhans of Pennsylvania are also stepping down from the Board. On behalf of NDA’s members, the staff and remaining Board thank these departing volunteers for their leadership, contributions and years of service to the National Deer Association and its mission!