spectr17
12-11-2002, 06:48 PM
December 5, 2002
Utah DWR
Louis Berg, Dean Mitchell and Lenny Rees honored by DNR
Salt Lake City — Three Division of Wildlife Resources employees Louis Berg, Dean Mitchell and Lenny Rees were honored Dec. 5 by the Department of Natural Resources at its Annual Awards Program in Salt Lake City.
Berg received the Community Person of the Year Award, Mitchell received the Manager of the Year Award and Rees received the Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year Award.
Community Person of the Year Award — Louis Berg
Louis Berg, aquatics program manager in the Southeastern Region, was honored for his work at planning, designing and developing two urban fishing ponds in Emery and Carbon counties.
"Louis developed the Huntington Game Farm Pond, which is situated about 1 miles north of Huntington, on a DWR game farm," Bob Morgan, executive director of the DNR said when presenting Berg with the award. "He turned a one-acre wetland into a fishable pond, which is now stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill and bass."
Once this pond was completed, Berg inaugurated an annual "Kids' Fishing Event" in which Berg and his staff provide fishing gear, bait, technical skills and fishing demonstration for area children. "Louis recruited a number of U.S. Forest Service employees and volunteers to assist him in this endeavor," Morgan said. "The public response has been phenomenal, as several hundred parents and children attend this one-day event each year."
Berg also developed the Helper Fishing Pond in Helper, Utah.
"This fishing pond is located on private property near the Price River in a dry basin long ago abandoned by the railroad," Morgan said. "Thanks to his public relations skills and determination, Louis won the favor and support of the landowner, city council and county commission. He solicited and gained support of a large number of private businesses, corporations, government agencies, sportsmen clubs and volunteers to accomplish the work and pay for the pond."
The Helper Pond opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2002. In the first three days, an estimated 600 people fished the pond. To date, the DWR estimates that about 3,000 anglers have spent a day at the pond.
Manager of the Year Award — Dean Mitchell
Dean Mitchell, upland game coordinator in the Salt Lake City office, was honored with the Manager of the Year Award.
"Under his direction, Utah has one of the most successful turkey management programs in the country," Morgan said. "Over the past 3 years, Utah has transplanted more wild turkeys, 4000 plus, than any other state in the history of this country. Dean has excellent public service skills, as he is very responsive to public inquiries and speaks to numerous public groups on upland game management.
"Dean is good at running meetings and is able to lead groups to successful resolution of problems," Morgan added. "He has very high professional and ethical standards in the use of state resources."
Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year — Lenny Rees
Lenny Rees, lieutenant and hunter education coordinator in the Salt Lake City office, received the Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year Award.
"Lenny was the person DWR management felt could get the division's new Employee Development program up and running," Morgan said. "In the spring of 2001 he was asked to serve in the capacity of the Employee Development Program Coordinator for about one year and still perform many of the tasks he had previously been assigned.
"In addition to working on the Employee Development program, he maintained his position as lead firearm instructor for the division and continued to be involved in the Hunter Education program," he said. "Lenny was the spark that got the [Employee Development] program going. He took the development committee's design materials and developed a clear, workable document that outlined the program's application and selection process."
During this same period, Rees developed an extensive New Employee Orientation program for the DWR. "He presented his ideas to the management team who accepted it and have since implemented it," Morgan said. "The program has been well received by management and the division's new employees.
"Lastly, Lenny continues to work tirelessly to coordinate and improve the Utah Hunter Education program," he said. "This program receives national attention for being on of the best run state programs."
Utah DWR
Louis Berg, Dean Mitchell and Lenny Rees honored by DNR
Salt Lake City — Three Division of Wildlife Resources employees Louis Berg, Dean Mitchell and Lenny Rees were honored Dec. 5 by the Department of Natural Resources at its Annual Awards Program in Salt Lake City.
Berg received the Community Person of the Year Award, Mitchell received the Manager of the Year Award and Rees received the Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year Award.
Community Person of the Year Award — Louis Berg
Louis Berg, aquatics program manager in the Southeastern Region, was honored for his work at planning, designing and developing two urban fishing ponds in Emery and Carbon counties.
"Louis developed the Huntington Game Farm Pond, which is situated about 1 miles north of Huntington, on a DWR game farm," Bob Morgan, executive director of the DNR said when presenting Berg with the award. "He turned a one-acre wetland into a fishable pond, which is now stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill and bass."
Once this pond was completed, Berg inaugurated an annual "Kids' Fishing Event" in which Berg and his staff provide fishing gear, bait, technical skills and fishing demonstration for area children. "Louis recruited a number of U.S. Forest Service employees and volunteers to assist him in this endeavor," Morgan said. "The public response has been phenomenal, as several hundred parents and children attend this one-day event each year."
Berg also developed the Helper Fishing Pond in Helper, Utah.
"This fishing pond is located on private property near the Price River in a dry basin long ago abandoned by the railroad," Morgan said. "Thanks to his public relations skills and determination, Louis won the favor and support of the landowner, city council and county commission. He solicited and gained support of a large number of private businesses, corporations, government agencies, sportsmen clubs and volunteers to accomplish the work and pay for the pond."
The Helper Pond opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2002. In the first three days, an estimated 600 people fished the pond. To date, the DWR estimates that about 3,000 anglers have spent a day at the pond.
Manager of the Year Award — Dean Mitchell
Dean Mitchell, upland game coordinator in the Salt Lake City office, was honored with the Manager of the Year Award.
"Under his direction, Utah has one of the most successful turkey management programs in the country," Morgan said. "Over the past 3 years, Utah has transplanted more wild turkeys, 4000 plus, than any other state in the history of this country. Dean has excellent public service skills, as he is very responsive to public inquiries and speaks to numerous public groups on upland game management.
"Dean is good at running meetings and is able to lead groups to successful resolution of problems," Morgan added. "He has very high professional and ethical standards in the use of state resources."
Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year — Lenny Rees
Lenny Rees, lieutenant and hunter education coordinator in the Salt Lake City office, received the Executive Director's Choice Employee of the Year Award.
"Lenny was the person DWR management felt could get the division's new Employee Development program up and running," Morgan said. "In the spring of 2001 he was asked to serve in the capacity of the Employee Development Program Coordinator for about one year and still perform many of the tasks he had previously been assigned.
"In addition to working on the Employee Development program, he maintained his position as lead firearm instructor for the division and continued to be involved in the Hunter Education program," he said. "Lenny was the spark that got the [Employee Development] program going. He took the development committee's design materials and developed a clear, workable document that outlined the program's application and selection process."
During this same period, Rees developed an extensive New Employee Orientation program for the DWR. "He presented his ideas to the management team who accepted it and have since implemented it," Morgan said. "The program has been well received by management and the division's new employees.
"Lastly, Lenny continues to work tirelessly to coordinate and improve the Utah Hunter Education program," he said. "This program receives national attention for being on of the best run state programs."