Staff

Mike Worley

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.

Hank Ohme. Photo by Olin Batchelor

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.

 

Bre Bashford

Breanna Bashford, Georgia R3 Coordinator

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hunting and Forest Naps

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.
Sam Stowe

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

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

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. Photo by Olin Batchelor

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

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.
Milo Raoof

Milo Raoof, Academics Afield Coordinator, Fort Valley State University

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Wilderness Survival, Chasing Waterfalls, Hunting/Scouting

 Milo Raoof is a current graduate student at Fort Valley State University pursuing his Masters in Public/Environmental Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. Following his Masters he plans to pursue a PhD in Human Factors Ergonomics.  He has a passion for Ergonomic Design from the basis of Sustainability & Conservation. His Masters Field Research, recently published in the 2023 GEHA publication journal, was based on the concept of Biophilia. Biophilia, is a term for bringing nature in and reconnecting with it. His thesis will expand on the concept of Biophilia to include the essential hunting skills of scouting and stalking. The nature that he is most familiar with is in Georgia, this is the place where he was born and raised. As a youngster and through to his adulthood he is happiest being outdoors and participates in activities such as: wilderness survival, chasing waterfalls, and hunting skills (scouting, stalking, and field dressing). As an Academics Afield Intern, he hopes to encourage his fellow cohorts to reconnect with nature and safely hunt/process their own meat for consumption.
Adam Schiavone

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.

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