DNR On The Inside

DNR Office of Communications Staff; Illustrations by Jada Thur and Douglas Griffin

When you think of jobs at the DNR, what are the first that come to mind? Conservation warden, wildlife biologist, maybe that person who stocks fish in the lake near your house.

But it’s not just outside jobs that are available at the Wisconsin DNR. There are a lot of folks with inside jobs — human resources, finance experts to help ensure money is spent how the Legislature allocates, IT to keep staff connected with each other and the public, and even legal services.

Although these people spend most of their time working inside, they’re still able to do their part to make an impact in protecting and enhancing Wisconsin’s natural resources.

Read on to learn about just a handful of the unique inside jobs at the DNR.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

With properties all over Wisconsin, the DNR doesn’t have a single centralized “front desk.” Instead, that role is filled by our dedicated customer service team, who work diligently to connect the public with the resources and information they need to enjoy our state’s abundant natural resources.

The DNR’s customer service team acts as a central connection between the public and anything they may need in the world of outdoor recreation.

“We field all kinds of questions from people all over the state and country,” said Casey Witt, lead DNR customer service representative. “From questions about park hours or fishing regulations for their local lake to walking through the process of buying their licenses, registrations or stamps online in Go Wild, we really see it all.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — they also field violation hotline and emergency spill calls, alerting field staff to emerging situations.

Given the breadth of responsibilities, the job isn’t easy, but it is rewarding.

“It’s really special to work with and for people who are passionate about the same things as I am,” Witt said. “Every day, we get to talk to people who enjoy hunting, fishing, boating, etc., and we get to help them get what they need to make the most of their time outdoors.”

POLICY AT THE DNR

DNR policy advisors work in a number of capacities across the agency, some in specific programs and others looking more broadly at the DNR’s work. When a directive comes from the Wisconsin Department of Administration or a new law is passed, these are the people who figure out what it all means for the agency and how to guide others to implement it in the field.

For Julie Majerus, environmental justice policy advisor, there’s satisfaction in knowing the work she does in and out of the office impacts the communities the DNR serves.

“Whether it’s developing a grant proposal, drafting a policy or providing consultation, the focus of my work is directing our services to better inform the public, facilitate their meaningful engagement in our processes and provide better access to clean air, clean water and outdoor recreation,” Majerus said.

There are tough decisions like how to prioritize budget and staffing resources to best support colleagues in the field, said Sean Kennedy, climate and resilience policy advisor.

“As policy staff with a statewide scope of work, we have a responsibility to take a sweeping range of perspectives, impacts, opportunities and barriers under consideration as we seek to answer the questions of ‘how’ in addressing significant environmental challenges,” Kennedy said.

What one piece of advice would Kennedy give to someone thinking about a career in policy at the DNR?

“Apply! Working on innovative, science-based policy solutions and collaborating with a committed team of subject matter experts to carry forward Wisconsin’s legacy of environmental stewardship is incredibly rewarding."

GRANTS & LOANS

The DNR supports projects to help protect the environment, safeguard public health, and boost outdoor recreation through grant and loan programs like the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, Clean Water Fund Program, and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

“Seeing people enjoying a park or trail built with grant funds is incredibly rewarding,” said Jennifer Gihring, a section manager in the DNR’s Conservation Grants Program. “I consider it a privilege to work behind the scenes and help communities bring their ideas to life.”

Available programs address a variety of needs — urban forestry, recycling, wells, wetland conservation and more. Depending on the program, funds can be available for landowners or municipalities.

It’s just another example of the good work being done around the state by dedicated people like Becky Scott, a section manager in the DNR’s Environmental Loans Program.

“I’ve been able to directly impact individuals in a positive way,” she said, “by making it more affordable to construct necessary infrastructure to keep Wisconsin’s waters clean.”

PROPERTY PLANNING

The DNR owns and manages over 1.6 million acres at 600 properties statewide. Per state administrative code, DNR property planners are tasked with creating and updating written documents, referred to as master plans, detailing how the DNR will ensure those properties are cared for and balance the recreational, ecological and economic interests of all Wisconsinites.

Property planning includes writing plan drafts, holding meetings and collecting public comments from groups such as bikers, campers, equestrians, anglers, hunters, hikers, recreation vehicle operators, conservation groups, businesses and government entities. Final plans reflect the needs and expectations of the public as well as the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board.

The job requires the ability to write clearly and effectively, plus a thick skin to absorb feedback from multiple stakeholders.

“The property planner’s role is to develop the vision and goals for these lands on behalf of Wisconsinites,” said John Pohlman, DNR property planner. “Planners facilitate that process, address the issues and convey messages to the public in a way that makes sense to them.

“Members of the public may not agree with the plan, but we try to make sure they understand everything that went into the decisions and what they can expect when they go out and visit each property.”

The best part of the job, according to Pohlman? You learn something new about what’s happening in your own backyard every day!

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

The DNR’s Office of Communications helps tell the story of the agency. The team includes public information officers, graphic designers, a videographer and a magazine managing editor who work together to help DNR programs reach the public with their messages, from social media content to news releases to the magazine you’re reading now.

When state, national and even international news outlets want to spotlight the DNR, they reach out to the DNR’s public information officers, who connect them with the right person to talk to within the agency — a wildlife biologist, dam safety engineer, forester or other subject matter expert to answer their questions.

“I love that in my job I’m able to combine my passion for the outdoors with my love of storytelling and interacting with people,” said Garrett Dietz, public information officer.

The team also manages the DNR’s social media accounts, publishing posts, responding to questions and messages, and experimenting with new social media networks to find innovative ways to connect with the public. If you’ve ever sent the DNR a message on Facebook, you’ve worked with the DNR’s Office of Communications.

“The passion of the staff at the DNR paired with the public’s excitement for our natural resources is one of my favorite parts of this job,” said Katie Grant, DNR communications director. “You can’t help but get excited every day to sing the praises of your colleagues and help educate the public on how they can do their part to help protect this great state’s natural resources.

“Every day is different, which I love. And it’s fulfilling work — I’m not a biologist, but every day I’m able to give back in my own way.”

IT & GIS

The DNR’s information technology team is an integral part of the organization, but there’s more to it than what you might consider the traditional IT role. Take maps, for instance.

Before drones or planes, aerial maps were developed from photos taken by strapping tiny cameras to pigeons in the early 1900s. Thanks to technology, that’s no longer the case. That’s where the use of geographic information systems comes in.

GIS technology combines mapping, statistical analysis and database management to capture, store and present geographic data.

“Geographic information systems provide interactive and informative maps for the public on various topics, including forest fires, land access, hunting and more,” said Laura Waddle, GIS specialist for the DNR.

GIS staff members work at the intersection of geography, data science and environmental management. On any given day, they jump from sorting real-time and historical data to developing applications like the Trout Opportunities and Regulations Tool or diving into the details of resource management with subject matter experts.

“There is always a new project or problem to work on or solve,” Waddle said. “Every day, you’re learning about important topics and creating tools to make it easier for everyone in the state to explore our natural resources.”

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

When you think of crisis management, the DNR might not top your list of key players involved in an emergency response. However, the DNR is an integral part of emergency operations. Whether it’s an out-of-control wildfire, a missing person, a quickly spreading avian influenza virus, a hazardous spill, or persistent drought conditions ravaging communities, the DNR has resources ready to help.

The person behind the helm steering those resources and coordinating a response with other groups is Shane Goss, the DNR’s emergency management officer. He works collaboratively within the DNR and externally with other local, state and federal agencies to ensure any crisis can be resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible, and he’s often the middleman when it comes to communicating information.

"My role is to manage personnel and resources during times of disaster,” Goss said. “What is a disaster? An incident that exceeds the capabilities of your local responders. If it's a house fire, your fire department can handle that, but if the whole town is on fire, it’s too much for one fire department to handle alone. You have to start calling in additional resources, and that’s where we step in.”

Recently, Goss has dispatched helicopter pilots to assist local law enforcement with missing person investigations and organized emergency water supplies when contamination was found in local water sources.

AIR QUALITY MONITORING

Breathing in fresh, clean air is part of what makes spending time outdoors in Wisconsin so enjoyable, but high pollution levels can take away the fun. Katie Praedel has studied air quality with the DNR for nearly 20 years, gathering essential data to protect Wisconsinites’ health.

“Air quality monitoring is critical for people to make informed decisions about their day-to-day activities,” said Praedel, section manager for the Air Quality Program. “We help them experience the outdoors in a safe way.” CARB

The DNR oversees more than 40 air monitoring stations throughout the state. When pollution levels are high, Praedel’s team provides the data for air quality advisories, which may suggest minimizing time outdoors, especially for those with respiratory illnesses.

Pollution can stem from many sources, such as motor vehicles, industry and wildfires. The Clean Air Act directs how states monitor air quality and provides standards for sampling. State equipment is checked rigorously for accuracy and brought to the Air Lab at the DNR’s Milwaukee office annually for complete maintenance and calibration.

“I love working with the technology and all the brilliant and dedicated people who know how to use it,” Praedel said.

LEARN MORE

Interested in a job at the DNR? A wide variety of jobs are available beyond the handful highlighted here. You can always find the latest open positions on the state jobs website at wisc.jobs.