COLUMBUS, OH -- Mike Budzik, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, was recently elected to the executive committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA).
The IAFWA was founded in 1902 and represents all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as the governments of Canada and Mexico. The organization acts as a collective voice for agencies charged with managing and protecting wildlife. They also provide leadership in addressing wildlife and wildlife resource-related issues for IAFWA's members.
The association is very pleased to welcome Mike Budzik to the executive committee. Mike is recognized as a leader in fish and wildlife conservation in Ohio, the Midwest, and nationally. He will now bring his many talents in this arena to the association's executive committee as the state fish and wildlife agencies collectively continue to address and meet the challenges ahead in this century for fish and wildlife conservation for our citizens, said IAFWA President Bob McDowell.
Executive committee members hire and evaluate the organization's paid staff, and review and approve the annual staff work plan and accomplishments. The committee consists of eight elected officers, eight additional members and the previous year's president.
It is an honor and privilege to be elected to the executive committee by my peers from across the country. I pledge to work to the best of my ability to address the needs of our nation's precious wildlife resources, said Budzik.
Budzik, 47, is a 1974 graduate of Hocking Technical College with a degree in Recreation and Wildlife. He began his career with the wildlife division as a conservation aide in 1975. His previous assignments include wildlife area manager, wildlife biologist, assistant administrator in wildlife management and research, and wildlife district manager for the southeastern portion of the state. He was named chief of the division in 1995. Only one previous chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife, Hayden Olds, has been a member of IAFWA's Executive Committee.
Budzik resides in Logan with his wife Melodee, and daughters Manda and Michele.