Our Staff
About
Andy is a native of Nebraska - born and raised in Kearney. He earned his B.S. and M.S. at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, after which he worked for the Central Platte Natural Resources District, focusing on Geographic Information System data analysis and development of spatially explicit Decision Support Tools. In 2003, Andy joined the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture and then the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Much of his work during that time involved developing biological and geographic models to help quantify the habitat needs of migratory waterfowl in the Rainwater Basin and to identify locations with the greatest potential habitat value. Since becoming RWBJV coordinator in 2009, Andy has worked on broadening and diversifying the partnership and its funding sources, and has supported initiatives that benefit both agriculture and wildlife habitat. When not working, Andy enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Kristen, and three children, Riley, Addy, and A.J. (photo credit: Lori Potter/Kearney Hub)
About
Roger received a degree in Environmental Geography from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2008. Upon graduation, he started working for the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, where he performs geospatial analysis and data management, and oversees daily operations of the GIS lab. Roger believes kayak fishing is the greatest sport known to man. He lives in Hastings with his wife Amanda, their two children, and a dog, Polly.
About
Cortney Schaefer was hired in 2020 as a RWBJV Habitat Specialist. Cortney is a native of Grand Island, graduating from Northwest High School. Cortney earned a BS from the University of Wyoming and a MS from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. After spending seven years working as a Wildlife Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, she and her husband moved home to Nebraska. As the habitat specialist, she lines up management on public and private Rainwater Basin wetlands, helps landowners sign up for conservation programs, and integrates wetlands into agriculture operations. She enjoys working in the area that first inspired her love of the outdoors. When not working, Cortney and her husband Scott enjoy breeding, training, testing, judging, and most importantly, hunting, with their Deutsch Langhaars.
About
Brody Vorderstrasse was hired in 2020 through a partnership with the Central Platte Natural Resources District, NRCS, and RWBJV as a Communications Assistant. Brody is originally from Glenvil, Nebraska. Brody went to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife and a minor in Animal Science. After college he moved to Iowa to work with two online hunting shows, Midwest Whitetail and The Hunting Public. While he was there, he was mainly a videographer, but also helped produce podcasts, social media content, and edited video blogs. In his free time, Brody enjoys getting outdoors and hunting deer, turkeys, and snow geese.
About
Greg graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2015 with a degree in Environmental Science. Since then he has worked various field jobs studying birds from Rhode Island to New Mexico. He then transitioned to the world of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with a position at the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture in 2021. And in January 2022 he joined the University of Nebraska, Lincoln Fish and Wildlife Coop Unit as a GIS Specialist, still stationed out of the Joint Venture.
About
Dakota was hired in 2023 through a partnership with the Nebraska Community Foundation as Operations and Grant Manager. He received a degree in computer science from Missouri State University. Dakota loves to hunt and do water sports. He lives in Hastings with his son Griffin.
