Service Director Dale Hall presented Service belt buckles to  Tom Kisanuki and Marc Weitzel. Pictured from left: California and Nevada Regional Director Steve Thompson, Tom Kisanuki, Dale Hall and Marc Weitzel. (Photo: Scott Flaherty)

By Alexandra Pitts, External Affairs Region 8 

Each day more than 800 employees in the California and Nevada Region work hard to overcome challenges, form partnerships, implement initiatives and perform other key activities that benefit our fish and wildlife resources and our fellow employees and the public we serve.

To honor employees whose work exemplifies an outstanding contribution to the Service’s Priorities, Regional Director Steve Thompson established annual awards to correspond with each of those Priorities.

Service Priorities

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving our lands and Resources

Landscape Conservation: Working with Others

Migratory Birds: Conservation Management

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction.

Aquatic Resources: National Fish Habitat Action Land and Trust Species

Connecting People with Nature: Ensuring the future of Conservation

At the Region 8 Project Leaders meeting held in Monterey June 24-26, 12 employees were recognized by Regional Director Thompson at a reception and awards ceremony at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Regional Director Thompson also recognized a valued partner and employee as National Recovery Champions. Former Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services Paul Henson was recognized with a Regional Director’s Leadership Award.

Gary Scoppertone                  National Recovery Champion Award

Kate Symonds                        National Recovery Champion Award

Nick Hetrick                          Outstanding Scientific Contribution

Tom Shaw                               Outstanding Scientific Contribution

John Scott Foott                     Outstanding Scientific Contribution

Carmen Leong Minch            Outstanding Contribution to Connecting People with Nature

Darla Eastman                       Administrative Professional of the Year

Mike Wolder                          Outstanding contribution to Migratory Bird Conservation

John Rueth                             Outstanding Contribution to Aquatic Species

Craig Isola                              Outstanding Contribution in Landscape and Conservation Partnerships

David Potter                           Outstanding Contribution to Threatened and Endangered Species

Larry Wade                            Wage Grade Professional of the Year

David Mauser                        Outstanding Contribution to National Wildlife Refuges

Paul Henson                           Regional Director’s Leadership Award

In addition, Director Dale Hall gave two Region 8 employees his personal award of a Fish and Wildlife Service emblem belt buckle.  Tom Kisanuki of the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office and Marc Weitzel, Manager of the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex were each awarded the coveted belt buckle for their individual contribution to fish and wildlife conservation