Staff

Mike Worley President and CEO

Favorite Outdoor Activities: Kayaking, Hiking, and Wingshooting

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.

Emma Alligood, Georgia Water Coalition – Director of Operations

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Walking on Beach, Snorkeling, Swimming

Emma earned her B.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina and comes to GWF with a passion for the ocean and policy work. She grew up visiting the beach multiple times a year and was always fascinated by the mystery of the ocean. This curiosity turned into wanting to protect and advocate for the ocean and marine life.

John Bowers Private Lands Biologist

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hunting, Sporting Clays, Backpacking/Camping

John Bowers, Private Lands Program Manager for the Georgia Wildlife Federation, is a 28-year veteran of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. John began his conservation career after graduating from Auburn University with a M.S. in Wildlife Science. He started on Sapelo Island, Georgia as Island Manager and Wildlife Biologist, served as an Assistant Region Supervisor, Special Projects Biologist, Assistant Chief of Game Management, Chief of Game Management, and ended his DNR-career as Special Projects Manager in the Director’s Office. During his career with Georgia DNR, he was influential in reducing burdensome regulations, advancing science-based conservation policies, expanding public use, increasing private lands technical assistance through partnerships, and improving the stewardship of managed public lands. John also served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Wildlife Resources Committee providing leadership and direction for the development of a regional technical assistance platform to assist people to live responsibly with bears known as Bearwise and in developing white papers and policy recommendations on issues ranging from wild turkey hunting seasons to handling of rabies-vector species. He also served as a member and Vice-Chair of the Atlantic Flyway Council, which makes regulatory and management recommendations to the USFWS on migratory birds. John’s outdoor interests include hunting game birds, sporting clays, backpacking/camping, and being in Nature. John and his wife, Catherine, have been married 28 years and have three children.

John Guthrie Sportsman’s Programs Specialist

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Deer, turkey, and upland game hunting

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 Harris Conservation and Outreach Manager

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Camping and Hiking with Family and Friends

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 Rae Hildreth, Academics Afield Coordinator, University of Georgia

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hunting, Fishing, Swimming

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 Jordan Facilities Specialist

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Family Picnics and Nature Walks.

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 Ohme Program Manager, Mill Creek Nature Center

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hiking in North Georgia

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.

Amy Pace Events

Favorite Outdoor Activities: Canoeing, Hiking and Fishing

Amy grew up in the foothills of southwestern Virginia. Her childhood was spent on the family farm which gave her an appreciation for hard work and what goes into putting “real” food on the table. One of her favorite memories is learning to fish with her Dad – begging him almost every weekend after that to go again! After retiring from healthcare in 2016, Amy sought a different path, which eventually led her to GWF. She brings her experience in general administration and accounting.

Adam Schiavone Sportsman’s Programs

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hunting, Fishing, Camping...Anything Outdoors

Adam comes to GWF with an associate’s degree in wildlife technology from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He worked three years at the University of Georgia Aquaculture Unit and has experience monitoring deer herd quality at Georgia Wildlife Management Areas and Sapelo Island. Some of Adam’s favorite outdoor activities are hunting, fishing, trapping, and kayaking.

Lee Walker Hunters for the Hungry Program Coordinator

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Deer and Elk Hunting, Target and Shooting Sports

Lee came to GWF from the transportation management industry and is currently pursuing a B.S in Computer Science with an emphasis in Data Management. She is a volunteer with the local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapter in Middle Georgia and is an avid deer hunter. She is married to her husband Chad and has five children who are all active in AG projects with their schools where most of her free time is spent dedicated to hauling cattle or pigs to livestock shows in the southeast with her family. Lee is very passionate about conservation, wildlife management, and encouraging upcoming generations to keep our hunting heritage alive. She loves hunting as a family and teaching her children a life skill that they can pass down for future generations. In her opinion, there is truly nothing better than watching a kid respectfully take their first deer.