Our focus is simple: Advocate for the hunting and fishing communities using defensible scientific data to drive fish and wildlife management decisions.
Meet Our Board!
Our Board Members
Mark Barton, Ph.D - Founder/President - West Palm Beach, FL - Starting as an avid fishermen, and later in life becoming an avid hunter, Mark has been connected to nature and conservation his entire life. While getting his Ph.D at Florida International University, Mark discovered his love for teaching, and later translated that into his popular Youtube channel: Swamp N Stomp, which aims to educate, entertain, and inspire outdoorsmen of all experience levels. Mark’s career has afforded him ample opportunity to contribute to scientific research in a vast array of habitat types spanning from nearshore habitats in the Arctic, to wetlands and reefs in the tropics. As a conservationist, Mark’s focus is on facilitating communication between scientists, stakeholders and managers to ensure that management strategies find a healthy compromise that benefits all parties.
Cody Eggenberger, Ph.D - Secretary - West Palm Beach, FL - Growing up in Michigan, hunting was lifestyle that Cody was familiar with, but never was apart of. Much of his childhood was focused on fishing and spearfishing in the great lakes. Building on that connection to nature, Cody pursued a Ph.D in fish movement ecology focused on snook and tarpon in Florida Bay while attending Florida International University. Cody caught the hunting bug late in life, but quickly realized how important conservation would be to ensure our wild resources remain healthy for generations to come. As co-host of the Scientific Outdoorsmen Podcast, Cody explored the nuances of science as a tool to improve hunting and fishing. Now he is dedicated to learning as much as possible as a hunter and fishermen, but also as a conservationist supporting science-based management.
Todd Reichert - Treasurer - Rabun Gap, GA - After years serving our country in the military, Todd brought his detail-oriented approach to work, starting a career with numbers. Dedication, loyalty, and strong work ethic are Todd’s calling cards. Outside of his fast-paced career as an underwriting team lead, Todd looks to hunting and fishing to find solace and camaraderie among his peers. His goals as a conservationist are to ensure that the community and habitats that bring him peace, friendship, and food remain so that others like him may find them in the future.
Matt Futia, Ph.D - Member at Large - Montrose, CO - Matt was fortunate enough to grow up with hunting in upstate New York, extending his acquired skills to the east coast mountains while he pursued his Ph.D at the University of Vermont. Now he is yet again relearning new terrain and he explores the Rockies in Colorado. His career has given him the ability to experience hunting and fishing across much of the country, giving him a unique perspective on ecology and management. As a board member, he strives to bring perspectives and insights from the western states to the conversation, and pull ideas from the eastern states to help drive well informed management decisions across the country.
Brandon Guell, Ph.D - Member at Large - St. Paul, MN - Brandon Güell is a first-generation Costa Rican-American field biologist, conservation storyteller, and award-winning wildlife photographer whose work bridges science, storytelling, and outdoor recreation. His passion for wildlife and wild places began at a young age while traveling throughout Costa Rica with his family, inspiring a lifelong fascination with ecology, conservation, and natural history. Brandon earned his graduate degrees in Biology from Boston University and completed his Ph.D. studying ecology, behavior, and evolution. His research and fieldwork have taken him from the subarctic islands of Alaska to the tropical rainforests of Central America, while his photography and storytelling have helped connect broader audiences with wildlife, conservation, and science. He believes hunting, conservation, and science are deeply interconnected and is passionate about fostering thoughtful, evidence-based conversations about the outdoors.
Diedre Brown - Public Engagement Coordinator - Brooksville, FL - Diedre is an avid outdoorswoman, hunter, angler, and conservationist. As a 6th generation Floridian and raising the 7th generation. Being raised on the water she developed an appreciation for the outdoors at an early age. Hunting came later in life but quickly grew into a way of life. She is especially passionate about waterfowl hunting, fishing, trapping and embracing the challenges and rewards that come with chasing big game on public land. Today, she serves as the Vice President for the Florida Chapter of American Daughters of Conservation, where she promotes conservation, outdoor education and opportunities for women in hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. She firmly stands behind the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation which dictates that Science-based management is essential for the longevity of wildlife and the future of hunting.