Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 10

NEWS

Game and Fish honors employees,
collaborators with annual awards
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game
and Fish Department celebrated the work
and contributions of employees and partners at its July Game and Fish Commission
meeting in Rawlins.
Six employees earned awards:
- Justin Binfet, Director's Award, wildlife management coordinator in Casper.
- Sheri Todd, Director's Office Employee
of the Year, executive assistant in Cheyenne.
- Brian Parker, Services Division
Employee of the Year, habitat and access
supervisor in Lander.
- Janet Milek, Wildlife Division
Employee of the Year, information and education specialist in Casper.
- Melissa Lovato, Fiscal Division
Employee of the Year, senior accountant.
- Laura Burckhardt, Fish Division
Employee of the Year, aquatic habitat biologist in Cody.
Game and Fish honored its Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response Plan team as
its team of the year. And, Saratoga Warden

Biff Burton was acknowledged for 40 years
of service.
Binfet and Milek played significant roles
leading the Game and Fish's Wyoming
Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan
collaborative efforts.
Todd has worked in the Director's Office
since 2007 and her award acknowledges her
support on major planning efforts and scheduling for the director and deputy directors,
improving the process for tracking and completing high-priority assignments and coordinating all aspects of Commission meetings.
Parker was instrumental in the restoration
of the Whiskey Mountain Conservation
Camp near Dubois, oversaw the camp operations and devoted time to collaborate with
other organizations to make improvements
to the Spence and Moriarty Wildlife Habitat
Management Area.
Lovato is part of the Department's licensing accounting team and was highlighted for
her accuracy and skill for accounting and
managing about $1 million annually.

Burckhardt's work led to the rerouting of
Sunlight Creek in the Cody region, something Game and Fish tried to accomplish
during the past 40 years. Burckhardt managed 40 people from three divisions to help
complete this project.
Richard Wihera earned the Department's Special Recognition Award. O'Hara
is a police psychologist in Colorado who
has been a consultant for Game and Fish
for more than 35 years and provided his
knowledge and analysis in the hiring of new
wardens.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went
to Neil Hymas, who retired earlier this year
after a 40-year career with Game and Fish,
including the last 35 years as the Warden
in Cokeville.
"He had an impact on many people in our
agency and around the state," said Game and
Fish Director Brian Nesvik. "He perfected the
craft of a Wyoming-style game warden - firm
but fair."

Justin Binfet

Brian Parker

Melissa Lovato

Laura Burckhardt

Biff Burton

Richard Wihera

Sheri Todd

Janet Milek

Game and Fish Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response Plan team. Left to right: Josh Leonard, Clark Johnson, Craig Amadio, Hilda
Sexauer, Steve Gale, Andrew Nikirk, Matt Hahn and Kevin Gelwicks. Not pictured: Beth Bear, Sam Hochhalter and Robb Keith.

10 | September 2020

- Robert Gagliardi, WGFD

Wyoming Wildlife magazine

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