{"id":507,"date":"2019-01-17T20:15:12","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T20:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/units.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/?page_id=507"},"modified":"2025-12-16T14:53:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T14:53:02","slug":"mn-afs-2026-election","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/mn-afs-2026-election\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 MNAFS Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><em>\u00a02026 MNAFS Officer Voting\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n<h2><em>Voting closes one hour prior to the MNAFS annual\u00a0 business meeting.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>Elections are being held for the following MNAFS Officer and Executive Committee positions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>President Elect<\/li>\n<li>MNDNR<\/li>\n<li>Open<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information, please contact our Nominations Committee Chair Jessie Koehle (<span class=\"x_gmail-cf0\"><a title=\"mailto:jkoehle.mnafs@gmail.com\" href=\"mailto:jkoehle.mnafs@gmail.com\" data-linkindex=\"0\">jkoehle.mnafs@gmail.com<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n<h2>Candidate Bios:<\/h2>\n<h3>2026 President Elect<\/h3>\n<p><strong><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Calub Shavlik,<\/span> MNDNR<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-942\" src=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-656x1024.jpg 656w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-768x1200.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-983x1536.jpg 983w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-1311x2048.jpg 1311w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Calub-wins-trees-in-2025-scaled.jpg 1639w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 15px\" width=\"948\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Hi! I would love to become Chapter President of Minnesota Chapter of AFS for 2027. I have been\u00a0involved with the American Fisheries Society (AFS) since 1998 and became a member of the Minnesota\u00a0chapter in 2000. I received my B.S. degree in Aquatic Biology from Bemidji State University in 1995.\u00a0After graduating, I worked in both the fisheries field and the chemistry field until an opportunity came up\u00a0to go back to school and get my graduate degree in 1998. I completed my M.S. degree in Fisheries\u00a0Science from Texas Tech University in 2000. I started my professional fisheries career in 2001 at\u00a0Minnesota DNR\u2019s Eden Prairie Fisheries office working for the \u201cFishing in the Neighborhood\u201d program.\u00a0In 2002, I transferred to the Walker Fisheries office as a fisheries specialist. In 2012, I took a promotion\u00a0to become the Assistant Area Supervisor at Park Rapids and have been there since. I live in Nevis, MN\u00a0and enjoy hosting family gatherings at my house, hunting, fishing, seeing live music, and playing hockey.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">I have served as secretary\/treasurer for the Minnesota Chapter of AFS from 2007 to 2025, and the Membership committee chair since 2003. Duties of these positions have included keeping meeting notes for executive committee meetings and other gatherings, maintaining membership records, and managing the chapter\u2019s budget. I have worked with the previous chapter presidents to set the operating budget for\u00a0the chapter each year and manage incoming funds from membership and fundraising to ensure that our\u00a0chapter is fiscally sound. I have also worked with the parent society on management of funds set aside for\u00a0future parent society meetings and investment opportunities. I have helped plan our chapter\u2019s annual\u00a0meetings, including organizing all the registration information and merchandise sales. My love of\u00a0spreadsheets and skills with Microsoft Access have been put to great use through the Minnesota Chapter of AFS! I received special recognition awards in 2010, 2017, 2023 and 2025 for my contributions to the Minnesota Chapter of AFS.\u00a0During my many years of experience with AFS, I have seen the importance of getting to know other\u00a0fisheries professionals. The Minnesota Chapter of AFS has a diverse group of members, representing\u00a0academia, federal, state, and private fisheries professionals. Networking and connecting with members\u00a0have been extremely valuable for me during my career, and I\u2019m thankful for the friendships I\u2019ve developed through AFS. I enjoy sharing my AFS experiences and encourage others to become members. As I begin to look towards the latter part of my fisheries professional career, I would love to top it off\u00a0with the opportunity to serve as President-elect for Minnesota Chapter of AFS in 2026 and become the\u00a0President in 2027.<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2026 MNDNR Representative<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Matt Ward, MNDNR<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-937\" src=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Matt-Ward-Bio-picture-2025-300x202.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Matt-Ward-Bio-picture-2025-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/Matt-Ward-Bio-picture-2025.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>I completed undergrad at UW-Stevens Point and grad school at South Dakota State University.\u00a0 Over the past 20+ years, I have worked for the MNDNR in Duluth, Lake Superior, Walker, Grand Rapids, and Hinckley Area Fisheries in various roles.\u00a0 I also spent 2001-02 based out of the Glenwood MNDNR office for the grad school project I worked on.\u00a0 I became the Hinckley Area Fisheries Supervisor in August of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>I have been a member of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) either as a Student or Professional since 1994.\u00a0 I served as Secretary and President of the UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of AFS.\u00a0 I am a Certified Fisheries Professional (AFS) and have represented AFS in numerous regional and state Science Fairs as a judge and prize coordinator. I have served as an officer on the MNAFS Executive Committee as the DNR Representative from 2024-25.\u00a0 I have also presented numerous presentations and posters at MNAFS meetings over the years and often serve as a judge for presentations and posters.<\/p>\n<p>I have two daughters, Emma (15) and Lily (10).\u00a0 My wife Angela and our family enjoy camping at state parks, visiting National Parks, hiking, riding bikes, and fishing.<\/p>\n<p>In my free time, I take turns driving my two daughters in circles between gymnastics, theater, choir, and church youth group activities.\u00a0 I am also one of the church youth group and AWANA leaders.\u00a0 I enjoy family time, fishing, looking for shed antlers, and bow hunting.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2026 Open Representative<\/h3>\n<p><strong><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Nathan Mielke<\/span>, MNPCA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-943\" src=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2025\/12\/NateM_Muskie_St.LouisRiver.JPG-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">My name is Nate Mielke and I\u2019m excited to be running for re-election as the \u201copen representative\u201d on the executive committee. I currently work as an Environmental Specialist (stream fish biologist) for the North Biological Monitoring Unit of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Since joining the agency in 2010, my primary focus has been assessing water quality based on biological parameters (fish &amp; macroinvertebrate communities). Before coming to the MPCA, I attended Saint Cloud State University where I received a Bachelor of Science in ecology. In addition, I have also taught ichthyology as an adjunct instructor at Central Lakes College.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u>My wife, Molly, and I live in Breezy Point with our two children, Luella (9) and Henry (5), and we are excited to welcome our third child in April. As a family, we enjoy fishing, camping, and traveling together. In my free time, I also pursue my passion for archery hunting.<u><\/u><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n<h1><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n<h1><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a02026 MNAFS Officer Voting\u00a0\u00a0 Voting closes one hour prior to the MNAFS annual\u00a0 business meeting. Elections are being held for the following MNAFS Officer and Executive Committee positions: President Elect MNDNR Open For more information, please contact our Nominations Committee Chair Jessie Koehle (jkoehle.mnafs@gmail.com). Candidate Bios: 2026 President Elect Calub Shavlik, MNDNR Hi! I would [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-507","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd","first-child","last-child"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/88"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=507"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":946,"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/507\/revisions\/946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldunitsstaging.fisheries.org\/mnafs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}