Staff
Mike Worley President and CEO
Favorite Outdoor Activities: Kayaking, Hiking, and Wingshooting
Mike comes to GWF after a long and successful career at Georgia Power where he held positions in environmental affairs and legislative affairs as well as a senior manager position in community and economic development. He earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of West Georgia and, as an avid hunter, angler and outdoors enthusiast, is dedicated to our core mission of protecting, preserving, and enhancing the state’s water, forest and field, and wildlife resources for this and future generations.
Becky Harris Executive Assistant
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Swimming and Tubing in the Cowpasture River in VA
Becky, a staff member since November 2010, is an AT&T retiree. She brings an array of skills to our staff to include project management, business analyst, and general office administrative experience. Becky was introduced to the great outdoors at a very young age while vacationing at her mother’s home place located on the Cowpasture River in Virginia. This yearly tradition/vacation continues today with a variety of river activities.
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.
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.
Ashlyn Halseth, Social Media Specialist
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hiking
Ashlyn Halseth is a current senior at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources with an emphasis in Wildlife. She plans to go to master’s school to further her passion in Wildlife Diseases. Ashlyn got her start here at GWF through photographing the Academics Afield learn-to-hunt program in 2019. Her favorite outdoor activities include playing soccer, volunteering at zoos, and hiking.
Gina Rogers Director of Operations, Georgia Water Coalition
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Kayaking and Hiking with Friends and Family
Gina grew up in northern Virginia fishing and camping in the Appalachians and around the Chesapeake Bay. With a BS in Conservation and Natural Resource Management from the University of Maryland, she began her career as an intern with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and then worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center on the Chesapeake Bay. Her experience also includes working with the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, UGA’s Sea Turtle Project on Cumberland Island, the Commercial Fisheries Program of the Coastal Resources Division of the GA DNR, and as an employee of the Glynn County school system. Gina loves to hunt, fish, kayak, camp, and hike with her family.
Sam Stowe Sportsmen’s Programs Manager
Favorite Outdoor Activity:Turkey Hunting
Sam is an avid angler and hunter with a great passion for the outdoors. He grew up in Newton County and owned and operated a heating and air conditioning business for 34 years. During that time he served three terms as State Chapter President for the National Wild Turkey Federation. After retiring, his passion for the outdoors and conservation led him to pursue a new career with the Georgia Wildlife Federation.
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.
Glenn Brackett, Facilities Maintenance Technician
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Fishing, Hunting, Outdoor Cooking
Glenn was born in Florida, raised in College Park, GA, and has lived in seven states since graduating with a communication, journalism, and art degree from Auburn University. He brings a wealth of work experience and skills to GWF including print production, restaurant management and ownership, commercial truck driving and instruction, and landscape management. A conservationist at heart, Glenn supports numerous outdoor organizations and is a longtime GWF member and volunteer.
Evan Wheeler Private Lands Biologist
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Saltwater Fishing, Wingshooting
Evan attended Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences where he earned his B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Sciences. While a graduate research assistant, his major research intention was to provide information that would be valuable in helping landowners and land managers optimize longleaf pine establishment and management approaches in order to achieve silvicultural and wildlife habitat objectives. As a Georgia Wildlife Federation Private Lands Biologist, Evan will be working with landowners in Georgia to facilitate longleaf pine establishment, enhance wildlife habitat quality in existing longleaf pine stands, and encourage long-term dedication to longleaf pine management and ecosystem restoration. He is an avid outdoorsman, especially dedicated to saltwater fishing and wingshooting.
Charles ‘Swanny’ Evans, Georgia R3 Manager
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hunting, Whitewater Kayaking, Hiking, and Shooting Sports
Charles ‘Swanny’ Evans, Certified Wildlife Biologist®, attended the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at UGA where he earned his B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Sciences and Forest Resources, respectively. In previous roles, Swanny has worked in eight states and overseas focusing on everything from forest management plans to non-native ungulate eradication. In his current role as the Georgia R3 Manager, he is working to secure the future of wildlife conservation funding by acting as the strategic conduit between stakeholders from industry, agency, and non-governmental organizations to increase participation in and support for hunting. He is an employee of Georgia Wildlife Federation with additional support for his position provided by Georgia Department of Natural Resources, National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, and Safari Club International.
Calvin Ellis, Campus R3 Coordinator, University of Georgia
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Archery
Calvin is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Sciences at the University of Georgia (UGA). He is a Warnell Student Ambassador and is actively involved with the student chapters of The Wildlife Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited. As the Campus R3 Coordinator for UGA, Calvin is creating programs to introduce students to hunting and the shooting sports that have never had the opportunity to participate. His position is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Davis Simons, Academics Afield Coordinator, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Camping, Hiking, and Hunting
Davis is from the small town of Harlem, Georgia. He is currently a student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Management, and is an active member of the student chapter of the Georgia Wildlife Society. He grew up camping and exploring the woods, which he credits with giving him his love of the outdoors. As the Academics Afield Coordinator at ABAC, Davis is creating programs to introduce students to hunting and the shooting sports that have never had the opportunity to participate. His position is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Bailey Harrell, Academics Afield Coordinator, Georgia Southern
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Wing Shooting, Archery Hunting
Bailey is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Georgia Southern and is on the school trap and skeet team. In his spare time, he enjoys competing with his Labrador retriever in hunt tests and spending time with friends and family in the outdoors. When we asked him why he was interested in the position his response was, “I love wing shooting, archery hunting, and teaching others to enjoy and respect the sport I love.”
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.