Ducks Unlimited Honors Staff Members, Volunteer Leaders

Each year, Ducks Unlimited (DU) recognizes the top regional directors across the nation for their outstanding efforts as staff members of the nation’s largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization. The nation is broken down into seven management units and only one regional director from each unit is awarded Regional Director of the Year status.

“We feel it’s extremely important to recognize the success of these professionals each year,” said David Schuessler, national director of event fundraising for DU. “Our regional directors are on the frontlines interacting with our volunteers. These are the people who are on the road a majority of the year, who, along with their volunteer partners, ensure the success of our organization.”

Last fiscal year 85 regional directors worked together with more than 53,000 volunteers to host more than 4,300 events nationwide. These events raised in excess of $53.8 million for the organization’s conservation mission.

Winners of this year’s Regional Director of the Year are:

Region 1: Frank Leonardi
Region 2: Erik Wettersten
Region 3: Brad Jensen
Region 4: Derrick Davis
Region 5: Mark Jackson
Region 6: Scott Paschke
Region 7: Larry Wilkins

“Without the commitment of the volunteers and these regional directors, DU would not be as successful as it is today,” Schuessler said. “On behalf of the entire event fundraising team, I’d like to congratulate each and every award winner and their volunteers.”

For more information visit www.ducks.org.

Contact:

Matt Coffey
(901) 758-3764
mcoffey@ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.