Shenandoah National Park - Natural Resource Staff (U.S. National Park Service)

Resource staff monitoring aquatic habitat.

NATURAL RESOURCES BRANCH

Cass, Wendy B. - Botanist
Bachelor of Science – Biology – Oberlin College
Master of Science – Botany – University of Vermont

Ms. Cass has been the Botanist at Shenandoah National Park since 1997. She manages the Park's long-term forest monitoring program, and works to monitor and protect rare plant species and communities throughout the Park. Her prior work experience includes studying the nutrient storage capacity of streamside vegetation, the bio-control of purple loosestrife, and the effects of catastrophic wind disturbance on forest regeneration. Her additional duties include assisting outside scientists and NPS education staff, performing environmental compliance field work, and managing a team of summer field technicians.

Demarest, David - Wildlife and Fisheries Biological Science Technician
Bachelor of Science – Environmental Science – Ferrum College

Mr. Demarest has worked for the Natural Resources Branch of Shenandoah National Park for more than 10 years. His duties include assisting the monitoring of flora and fauna as a lead technician and upkeep of monitoring equipment for those tasks. Special focus is on aquatic communities with specialized skills in electroshocking and fish identification and leading the yearly aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring. Special projects include monitoring hourly stream water temperatures at selected sites in the Rapidan and North Fork Moormans Rivers and bi-yearly pictures from permanent points in the Staunton , Rapidan, and North Fork Moormans Rivers . Both of these projects are a result of monitoring efforts since the catastrophic June 1995 floods in Madison , Greene, and Albemarle Counties . Mr. Demarest also is lead assistant for capture and immobilization of nuisance/beggar wildlife within the park.

Garcia, Elizabeth - Air Quality Monitoring Technician
Bachelor of Arts – Environmental Studies – Green Mountain College Masters of Professional Studies – Recreation and Resource Management – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Ms. Garcia has worked with the National Park Service at Shenandoah for five seasons. Her first season was as a Student Conservation Associate (SCA). She has held many Seasonal Biological Technician positions in various fields including Backcountry and Wilderness Management, Fire Monitoring, Resource Management and Forest Health. In late summer, 2004, she was hired to operate the parks air quality monitoring site.

Gubler, Rolf M. - Biologist and Forest Pest Manager
Bachelors of Science – Wildlife Science - Pennsylvania State University
Forest Science - Pennsylvania State University

Mr. Gubler has worked with the National Park Service for over 16 years. Previous assignments at Shenandoah National Park included Biological Technician, Air Quality Monitoring Technician, Environmental Protection Specialist, and Resource Management Specialist. Most of his professional experience has been focused on natural resource management. Currently he manages/supervises the Forest Insect and Disease program, Birds, Terrestrial Insects, Small Mammals and White-tailed Deer at Shenandoah.

Hochstedler, Wendy W. – Vegetation Monitoring Biological Science Technician
Bachelor of Arts – Biology and International Agriculture – Eastern Mennonite University
Master of Science – Plant Ecology – Miami University of Ohio

Ms. Hochstedler has worked at Shenandoah National Park for five seasons conducting forest and rare plant monitoring, as well as assisting with vegetation assessments after forest fires, in deer exclosures, and with plants of economic importance. In the spring of 2008, she began the role of lead vegetation monitoring technician and is responsible for supervision of summer field crews, data and collections processing, and equipment maintenance. Her prior work experience includes studying invasive plants and understory community dynamics, managing a university arboretum and greenhouse, and developing urban-rural local food networks.

Hughes, Jacob (Jake) - Exotic Plant Management Biological Science Technician
Bachelor of Science – University of Maryland – College Park

Mr. Hughes has worked for the past 4 years at Rock Creek Park (NPS) in Washington, D.C., where he led crews involved in vegetation management and monitoring. He has also worked in horticulture at the U.S. National Arboretum. At Shenandoah he is responsible for the field supervision of crews involved in exotic plant management, as well as for assisting with vegetation and fisheries monitoring projects.

Meyerhoeffer, Dale - Forest Health Biological Science Technician

Olson, Gordon C. - Natural and Cultural Resource Division Chief
Bachelor of Science – Environmental Interpretation – Colorado State University
Master of Science – Natural Resource Management – Slippery Rock State University

Mr. Olson has worked with the National Park Service for over 25 years. Assignments prior to Shenandoah National Park included Denali National Park and Preserve and Assateague National Seashore among others. Most of his professional experience has been focused on natural and cultural resource management. Currently he supervises all natural resource management activities at Shenandoah, serves as the park’s environmental compliance officer, and research coordinator.

Schaberl, Jim – Ecologist (Air and Water Specialist)
Associate of Science – Wildlife Technology – Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Science – Wildlife Management - West Virginia University
Masters of Science – Wildlife Ecology - State University of New York

Mr. Schaberl joined the resource management staff at Shenandoah in 2008. Prior assignments with the National Park Service include Mt. Rainier National Park, Voyageurs National Park, and Saratoga National Historical Park. Although he focused on wildlife management in his assignment at Mt. Rainier, he has a strong background in air and water resources management and has functioned for many years in the capacity of a general natural resource manager. His eight year experience at Voyageurs National Park, the area of which is nearly 40% water, includes concentration on a variety of water and atmospheric resource issues.

Williams, Alan - Ecologist / Data Manager
Bachelor of Science – Biology - Earlham College
Master of Science – Forest Resources - University of Georgia

Mr. Williams started as Ecologist/Data Manager for the Natural and Cultural Resources Division at Shenandoah National Park in July 2000. He works with the resource specialists to manage their data for immediate and future use. Projects he helps with include; water quality, aquatic invertebrate monitoring, native trout monitoring, non-native plant monitoring, forest health, rare plant monitoring, and Peregrine Falcon restoration. Alan regularly collaborates with the park GIS coordinator on a variety of mapping projects. He also is a member of the parks technical rescue team and wildfire fighting crew.

Wofford, Jeb – Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Bachelor of Science – Biology, Washington and Lee University
Master of Science – Fisheries Science, Oregon State University

Jeb came to Shenandoah from the U.S. Forest Service where he was working on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho. Jeb has held a variety of wildlife and fisheries positions in Oregon, Alaska, Georgia, and Tennessee. Jeb adds a strong set of analytical skills and expertise in fisheries, water quality, aquatic invertebrates, and endangered species management to the park staff. At Shenandoah, Jeb manages programs associated with fish and aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and large mammals.

AFFILIATED PARK STAFF

Henry, Sharon L. - Administrative Services Assistant
Bachelor of Science – Psychology – James Madison University

Mrs. Henry has worked with the National Park Service for over 16 years all at Shenandoah. The first four years were spent in the Administration division as the Park’s Time and Leave Clerk. The past 12 years have been spent as the administrative assistant in the Natural and Cultural Resources Division.

Forder, Melissa - Fire Ecologist
Bachelor of Science – Environmental and Forest Biology – State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Mrs. Forder worked as the Lead Fire Effects Monitor at Shenandoah from 2000 through 2008. Spring of 2009 she started in her new position as Fire Ecologist. Previously, she worked at Shenandoah as a Biological Science Technician on the vegetation monitoring crew. Prior work experience includes working as an Assistant Research Botanist for The Nature Conservancy and as an Urban Forester. Currently she is the Fire Ecologist that leads a crew of seasonal technicians in the collection of pre burn and post burn vegetation data throughout parks in the Mountains-to-the-Sea Park Group and the Northeast Region.

Imler, Sue - Fire Program Management Assistant
Bachelor of Science - Forest Science - Pennsylvania State University

Ms. Imler has worked for the Federal government on and off since 1985. Starting in 1985 she worked as a seasonal firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service in Montana . In 1987, she worked as a seasonal employee for the Army Corps of Engineers in Pennsylvania . In 1989 she arrived at Shenandoah and started work as a seasonal employee and held a variety of positions in fee collection, fire management, and dispatch. In May 1992, she was hired as the permanent Fire Program Management Assistant for Shenandoah and ten other satellite parks in Virginia and Maryland . She also functions as the fire training specialist and the fire qualifications account manager for this group and is the fire weather coordinator for Shenandoah.

Hurlbert, Dan - Geographic Information System Specialist (GIS), Fire-GIS Coordinator (acting) – Northeast and National Capital Regions
Bachelor of Science – Geological Oceanography – University of Washington

Mr. Hurlbert has twenty-four years work experience with various agencies in the Federal Government, applying GIS technology to his work since 1992. Prior to his assignment with the National Park Service, he worked with the United States Geological Survey ( Palo Alto , CA ) and the Minerals Management Service ( Anchorage , AK ). His GIS interests support the interdisciplinary nature of the National Park Service and the National Fire Program with emphasis on wildland fire incident support, Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation team support, Wildland Hazard Assessment Methodology and community education.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team

Åkerson, James - Supervisory Forest Ecologist
Bachelor of Science – Forest Management – Oregon State University

James has worked at Shenandoah National Park since December 1995 where he specializes in forest health issues. He directs the Exotic Plant Management Team at Shenandoah and 15 other national parks in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. During the years 1995 – 2002, James led Parkwide programs of forest insect and disease control, exotic vegetation control, integrated pest management, and environmental protection review (NEPA). Prior to coming to Shenandoah National Park , James worked eighteen years (1978-1995) with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Forestry. He specialized in silviculture, superior tree development, forest pest management, and resource management planning. During the last nine years with the Bureau he was the lead western Silviculturist and national Forest Pest Management program coordinator. Prior to Indian Affairs, James worked two years (1975-1977) in Liberia , West Africa , with the U.S. Peace Corps where he coordinated regional forest management activities with the Liberian Forest Development Authority.

Mid-Atlantic Inventory and Monitoring Network

Comiskey, James A. - Mid-Atlantic Network Coordinator
Bachelor of Science – Ecology – University of London
Doctor of Philosophy – Biology – University of London

Dr. Comiskey has worked with the National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Program since May 2004. He coordinates the vital signs monitoring program for the Mid-Atlantic network, composed of 10 parks in Virginia and Pennsylvania, including Shenandoah National Park. Prior to the Park Service, Dr. Comiskey worked for twelve years (1992 – 2004) at the Smithsonian Institution where he conducted research and monitoring in Latin America, the Caribbean, and West Africa. His research interests included tropical forest dynamics and he established a network of monitoring sites providing long-term data on natural and anthropogenic impacts on forest composition. During that time, he conducted numerous training courses on biodiversity assessment and monitoring in the U.S. as well as regional courses in more than 15 countries. During the last five years at the Smithsonian, Dr. Comiskey managed the NIH funded International Biodiversity Cooperative Group focusing on drug development and conservation of biodiversity in West and Central Africa . Prior to the Smithsonian, he worked for three years (1988 – 1992) conducting water quality monitoring in London , UK.

Park staff maintaining air quality monitoring instruments.