Staff

Mike Worley, President and CEO of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, is a lifelong outdoors enthusiast. Prior to joining GWF in 2015, Mike had a successful 32-year career in the electric utility industry and his final position was the manager for community and economic development outside of Metro Atlanta. Mike is a past chair of Georgia’s Prescribed Fire Council. He serves on the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Coalition, the Georgia Water Coalition Leadership Team, and Georgia’s nationally leading effort on R3 (Recruit, Retain and Reactivate) Hunting and Shooting Sports team. Mike served on the Joint House and Senate Study Committee on Stream Buffers in Georgia and is serving on the Stakeholder Advisory Board of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. He has been named multiple times by Georgia Trend magazine as one of Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Georgians as well as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Georgians. On a national level, Mike serves as co-chair of the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Funding initiative. He has a B.S. in Biology from the University of West Georgia and is a graduate of Emory University’s Goizuetta Executive Program. Mike’s outdoor interests include waterfowl and upland hunting, clays, and fishing. He is an avid hiker and kayaker. Mike has been married to Debbi for 44 years and has two children and three grandchildren.

Bre grew up in the west, where she attended Colorado State University receiving her B.S. in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. She brings to the table years of experience in outdoor education, program management and the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters, anglers and shooting sport participants. She spent time in Georgia on Jekyll Island teaching youth outdoor education with GA 4H before joining the Georgia Wildlife Federation. As the State R3 Coordinator Bre contributes to a variety of programs aimed at increasing societal acceptance of and participation in hunting and the shooting sports. Her favorite times are times spent outside. She is an employee of Georgia Wildlife Federation with support for her position provided by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Georgia Chapter of Safari Club International.

 John was born and raised in middle Georgia and received his B.S. in Wildlife Management from Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in 2005. Before coming to GWF, he specialized in outdoor industry sales, and then private land game management for large properties throughout the Southeast. This experience and his passion for and knowledge of deer, turkey, and upland bird hunting eventually led to a decade-long private consulting career developing management plans for both game and nongame species. Along with hunting, John enjoys fishing, canoeing, reading outdoor literature, and training his German wirehaired pointer, Boone.

DeAnna holds a BS in Wildlife Science from Auburn University. Before moving to Georgia, she served as a research assistant with the Auburn University Entomology Department and the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and as a wildlife educator at the Birmingham Zoo and Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults (Camp ASCCA). DeAnna is a Master Gardener, certified by the University of Georgia, Extension Service and trained in Project Wild. She began her career with GWF as a volunteer, and has been on staff since 1996.

Kylie is the Academics Afield Coordinator for the University of Georgia. She is a third-year student at UGA majoring in Wildlife Sciences, graduating with her bachelor’s a year early this coming May. She was born and raised in the Dacula, GA area, riding horses and spending time outdoors ever since she was young. Once beginning school at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, she saw an email regarding a cost-free learn-to-hunt program that was being hosted by the Georgia Wildlife Federation (which was Academics Afield). She applied and was accepted into the program and was taught many skills of firearm safety, hunting techniques, and outdoorsman etiquette. She shot her first firearm at the shotgun training for this program and her passion for hunting was instantly ignited, soon turning into a passion to teach her friends about hunting too. She spent almost every weekend of hunting season in the deer woods, duck swamp, or turkey woods (even some weekdays getting to class late after hunting) and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She is beyond excited to be leading this program this year to educate other students on outdoorsmanship and hopefully start a fire in their hearts as well!

Simwone joined GWF in 2006. Bringing order to everything GWF does, she assists with special events, rentals, membership, and caring for our facilities. Simwone loves people and brings her servant heart to each task. After growing up in Newton County, she now lives in Monroe with Billy, her husband of over 30 years. When she isn’t working, she enjoys participating in church activities and spending time with her two children, three grandkids, and extended family.

Hank received a BA Degree in Mathematics from the University of Alabama and served three years in the US Army as an artillery officer. In 2008, he retired from his career as a computer programmer. Hank has been a volunteer with the Georgia Wildlife Federation since 2004, and joined the staff in 2011. Hank is an avid hiker and an amateur photographer.