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- Ariens, A.J. - Forest Archaeologist
aariens@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-0141
A.J. began her career as an Intermittent Forest Archaeologist in 2002 and took on her role as our full-time Archaeologist in 2004.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Indiana State University in 2000 and her Master’s degree in anthropology in 2003 from the University of Cincinnati where she specialized in Midwest archaeology. Her hobbies include photography, gardening, hiking and camping. - Bridges, Darren - Fire Coordinator
- Eger, Janet - Big Tree Register
jeger@dnr.IN.gov
812-247-2479
Janet joined the Division of Forestry in 1978 and has been a district forester since 1993. Previously, she worked on four state forest properties in southwestern Indiana as a resource forester. In addition to her duties as District Forester, she is also the state’s Big Tree program coordinator, a founding member of the White River RC&D Forestry committee, and a board member for the Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation. A member of the Society of American Foresters since 1978, she was elected a Fellow in 2006. She’s a life member of the American Forestry Association and a member of the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association and the National Arbor Day Foundation.
She earned her B.S. degree in forestry from Purdue University in 1978. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, crocheting, and camping. - Flachskam, Jill - GIS Specialist
jflachskam@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4106
Jill joined the Division of Forestry in 2017 after working as the GIS Specialist for the Division of Reclamation’s Abandoned Mine Land Program for several years. She also serves as the State Land Office Director in association with the Division of Land Acquisition and the Indiana Department of Administration.
She received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Transylvania University, a Master’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Western Kentucky University. Her hobbies include hiking, birding, yoga, museums, and theater. - Friedrich, John - Property Specialist
jfriedrich@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4118
John’s career with the Division of Forestry began in 1984 as Timber Specialist at Jackson-Washington State Forest, where he later became Property Manager. He assumed his current position of Property Specialist in 1993 and has since taken on many additional duties including property accounting administration.
He received his Bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. His hobbies and interests include fishing for smallmouth bass, gardening and experimenting with growing trees that are difficult to grow in Indiana. - Haulton, Scott - Forestry Wildlife Specialist
shaulton@dnr.IN.gov
317-234-5725
Scott’s service with the Division of Forestry began in 2007 when he was hired to coordinate the Division’s state forest wildlife habitat management program and provide guidance on forest wildlife habitat to various sections of the Division, other resource management professionals and the general public.
Scott earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York-Geneseo and a Bachelor's in environmental and forest biology from the State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He also holds a Master’s degree in wildlife science from Virginia Tech. His hobbies include hiking, camping, canoeing, photography and fanatically following the Colts. - Hawkins, Bob - Nursery Supervisor
bhawkins@dnr.IN.gov
812-358-3621
Bob started working for the Division of Forestry in 1987 as an intermittent in our tree improvement program. He later became Nursery Operations Manager and has served as the Nursery Section Supervisor since 2004. In addition to his usual duties at the nursery, Bob also provides Arbor Day tree seedlings for all DNR programs and offers a leaf collection trail for school children with more than 100 trees identified.
Bob earned a Bachelor’s degree in forest management from Purdue University, and his interests include hunting, fishing, hiking, vacationing with family, exercising and rafting. - Huter, Brenda - Stewardship Coordinator
bhuter@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-0142
Brenda’s career with the Division of Forestry began at Yellowwood State Forest where she served as a GIS Intern and later became a Resource Specialist. She assumed her current duties in 2004. She also serves as a meeting facilitator and is trained in wildland firefighting.
Brenda graduated from Carroll College with a Bachelor’s degree in biology and geology. She also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science focused on applied ecology, and a Master of Public Affairs in natural resource management, both from Indiana University. Her hobbies and interests include kayaking, backpacking, gardening, cooking and reading. - Krause, Abby - Community & Urban Forestry Outreach Coordinator
akrause@dnr.IN.gov
317-234-6741
Abby began her career with the Division of Forestry in September 2018. She coordinates the Indiana Community Tree Steward training program as well as assists with volunteers, educational outreach, and the statewide urban forestry program.
Abby graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Forestry. After graduation she spent time with the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association as its Volunteer Coordinator. During school she also spent a summer as an Urban Forestry Intern with the city of Eugene, OR through the Society of Municipal Arborists. - Marshall, Phil - Insect & Disease Specialist
pmarshall@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4120
Phil joined the Division of Forestry as Forest Health Specialist in 1974 and assumed his current duel role as Forest Health Specialist and the Director of the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology in 2007. He is also a forest health monitoring surveyor and trainer, ozone surveyor and conducts aerial surveys for forest pest damage.
Phil holds a Master’s degree in forestry from Duke University, and his other interests include history and pharmacy. - McCoy, Duane - Timber Buyer Licensing Forester
dmccoy@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4112
Duane joined the Division of Forestry in 1996 as an intermittent employee, in 1997 he became the Improved Harvesting Practices (IHP) Forester before becoming the LTB Forester in 2006. Duane works on the Timber Buyers Licensing program, Indiana Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP) program, Watershed Conservation through Forestry program, and the Hoosier Ecosystem Experimental (HEE) Research Forest project.
Duane studied Pre-Forestry at Ball State University, received a BS degree in Forest Management from Oregon State University as well as a Masters Degree in Forest Management. His hobbies include family, fishing, and golf. - O'Connor, Phil - Tree Improvement Specialist
poconnor@dnr.IN.gov
812-358-3621
Phil’s career with the Division of Forestry began in 2000 when he was hired as Tree Improvement Specialist. In addition to the duties entailed in this position, he also represents the Division of Forestry on the Invasive Plant Species Assessment working group and the state’s Invasive Species Task Force.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in forestry and Master’s in forest genetics, both from the University of Illinois. Phil’s hobbies include backpacking, sailing, fishing, hunting, shooting, and reading. - Rogler, Donna - Project Learning Tree Coordinator
plt@dnr.IN.gov
317-234-5143
While Donna did seasonal work for various divisions of DNR during her college years, she began her full-time employment with the Division of Forestry as Project Learning Tree State Coordinator in 1999. In addition to her role as Project Learning Tree Coordinator, she also coordinates the National FFA Forestry Career Development Event, assists with prescribed fire, and is a Public Information Officer for wildland fire.
Donna received her Bachelor’s degree in forestry from Purdue University in 1979, a Master’s in resource management from State University of New York in 1986, and a Master’s in instructional development from Syracuse University in 1993. Her hobbies and interests include quilting, beading, gardening, hiking and camping. - Schneck, Brad - Ass't State Forester, Properties
bschneck@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4101
Brad joined the Division of Forestry in 1998 as a Resource Specialist. He briefly left the division in 2002 to serve as Conservation Director of the natural resource program at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. He returned to the Division of Forestry in 2007 as Property Manager of two properties before becoming an Assistant State Forester in 2019.
Brad earned his Bachelor’s degree in forest management from Purdue University. In his free time he enjoys family, competitive bass fishing, and hunting. - Seifert, John - State Forester
jseifert@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4116
Jack’s employment with the Division of Forestry began in 2005 when he was hired as State Forester and Director of the Division of Forestry. Previously, he served as Extension Research Forester for Purdue University from 1979 to 2005 where he did applied research in plantation and natural stand management. He provided continuing education for professional foresters and woodland owners for 27 years, impacting thousands of landowners and authoring more than 50 research publications. He oversees certification of state and private forestlands under the North American and international sustainability “green” standards, and is active with the Indiana Tree Farm program, the Indiana Woodland Owners Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association and the Indiana Forest Industry Council.
Jack earned his forestry degrees from the University of Missouri. His hobbies and interests include furniture design and construction, tree planting, timber stand improvement work, taking walks through one the family tree farms, and traveling internationally with his family. - Settle, Jeff - Forest Resource Information
jsettle@dnr.IN.gov
812-358-2160
Jeff began his career with the Department of Natural Resources in 1987 as an Interpretive Specialist at Lieber State Recreation Area before joining the Division of Forestry in 1987 as Assistant Property Manager at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area. He stepped into his current position in 1997.
Jeff has a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University in recreation with a management option, and enjoys hunting in his spare time. He also continues to coach high school football which he has done for more than 25 years. - Smith, Zack - Forest Programs Coordinator
zsmith@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4117
Zack began his career with the Division of Forestry in August of 2000 as a Forest Entomologist and assumed his duties as Forest Programs Coordinator in August of 2006. In addition to his current job duties and continuing some duties as a Forest Entomologist, he also coordinates the division’s State Fair exhibit.
Zack graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1999. His hobbies include camping and fishing. - Tauscher, Carrie - State Community & Urban Forestry Coordinator
ctauscher@dnr.IN.gov
317- 234-4386
Carrie began her career with DNR in March, 2012 and works with the Indiana Community Tree Stewards training program, statewide community urban forestry assistance, and grants programs.
Carrie Graduated from Iowa State University in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and is an ISA Certified Arborist. She began her career at The Morton Arboretum as an Inventory Technician for the 2010 Tree Census i-Tree eco study of the seven county Chicagoland area. She then continued her work with the Community Trees Program at the Arboretum working with the municipal urban forestry programs on education, outreach, and awareness including working on urban wood utilization as a way to mitigate the effects of EAB infestation.
When not working, Carrie enjoys bicycling, gardening and biological watercolor painting. - Vacant - Ass't State Forester, Coop. Forest Mgmt.
