Officer Candidates | Tennessee Chapter

President-Elect Nominees

Tom Flanagan – TWRA

I am a fisheries biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency focused on West Tennessee reservoir management. I got my bachelor’s degree at Lake Superior State University in Michigan where I am from originally. In Michigan, I worked on fisheries management in the Great Lakes primarily focused on grass carp telemetry in Lake Erie. In 2017, I moved to Tennessee for a technician position at Tennessee Tech with the Coop Fish Unit. There, I worked on projects ranging from Invasive Carp in West Tennessee to Largemouth Bass in Chickamauga. I earned my master’s degree from Tennessee Tech focused on Rainbow Trout recruitment and demographics in two East Tennessee tailwaters. I got involved with AFS when I started at Tennessee Tech and have been active ever since. I enjoy the camaraderie of AFS and the chance to swap stories, learn about cool projects, and network with fellow fish heads.

Phillip Parsley – TWRA

My name is Phillip Parsley and I am a reservoir fisheries biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in Middle Tennessee. I am from Murfreesboro, TN and I received my undergraduate degree from Belmont University. I earned my master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 where my thesis project focused on the utility of different nonlethal ageing structures for three trout species in Carson National Forest, New Mexico. I then moved to Northeast Utah and worked on the Colorado Cutthroat Trout Restoration Project as a technician for a season before taking a job in Central Florida for FWC on their long-term monitoring program in 2018. I moved back to my hometown in 2020 when I started my current position with TWRA where I focus primarily on sportfish management and habitat projects on our area’s large reservoirs. Outside of work, I enjoy fly fishing, tying flies, golfing, and cheering on the Vols. I was introduced to AFS in graduate school where I attended some TN Tech chapter meetings and presented my thesis research at my first national meeting in Kansas City. I met fellow fish heads during that time that I still work with today and that helps me value the fellowship and networking that TNAFS brings to our field of fisheries.

Treasurer Nominees

Connor Ballard – TWRA

Hey, I’m Connor Ballard, and I’m a fisheries biologist with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. I work on the Region 3 Rivers, Streams, and Small Lakes crew. The unique nature of Region 3 allows me to work on a variety of water bodies, but working with native Brook Trout in the mountains of East Tennessee is among my favorite job duties. I’m a native Tennessean and have been an avid angler/ fish enthusiast since I was a kid. Today in my free time I enjoy fishing for Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Muskellunge on and around the Cumberland Plateau. I received my bachelor’s degree in fish and wildlife ecology and management from Montana State University (Go Cats!). I continued my education at Tennessee Tech University (Wings Up!) where I completed my master’s degree in biology while evaluating stocking and natural reproduction of tailwater Rainbow Trout. During my time at TTU, I spent two years as the treasurer for the student subunit of the American Fisheries Society. I value TNAFS’s contributions to fisheries management and conservation and I’d like to continue my involvement with AFS.

Ashley Padgett – TWRA

My name is Ashley Padgett and I am an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) manager with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) in region 3. I completed my undergraduate degree at Clemson University where I was involved in 7 semesters of stream ecology research projects. For graduate school, I studied dietary overlap between bigheaded carp and Gizzard Shad at Tennessee Tech University. While attending both Clemson and TN Tech, I had the opportunity to participate in and present at multiple state and regional chapter AFS meetings. I have now been with TWRA for 3 years and my primary duties involve tailwater surveillance for invasive carp on the Tennessee River and monitoring invasive Alabama Bass presence via genetic testing. While I focus on ANS work, I also get to work alongside the region 3 reservoirs crew to conduct sportfish surveys, hatchery duties, and habitat projects. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, being on the lake with friends, and playing disc golf. I am excited to be running for Tennessee AFS treasurer because I believe that my involvement with AFS, both at Clemson and TN Tech, helped me determine what I was interested in and shaped the trajectory of my career. I hope to help provide resources and encouragement to students who are also trying to figure out their interests. I personally enjoy the data analysis part of fisheries management, and I feel confident that my nerdy side will lend itself well to a treasurer’s duties and responsibilities.