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
Dana joined the RWBJV in September 2014 in the position of Science Coordinator after completing her doctoral degree at Auburn University. Dana has also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences at Ohio University and a Master of Science degree in Zoology at Southern Illinois University. Her graduate research projects focused on the survival and winter foraging habits of Trumpeter Swans in the Midwest and the survival and habitat use of Florida Mottled Ducks in South Florida. Dana first became interested in bird conservation and research while completing an internship at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. She also gained experience in avian field studies while working with passerines in Hawaii, raptors in northern California, and ducks in north-eastern North Dakota. Dana grew up in Ohio and now resides in Grand Island with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
About
Niki joined the RWBJV in 2012 as the Office Manager, a role that includes grant administration, project tracking and Chair of the Communication Workgroup. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Paralegal from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. Prior to joining the RWBJV, Niki has worked at law firms in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Minnesota specializing in estate and probate administration, corporate law, family law and personal injury litigation. She resides in Grand Island with her husband, two sons, Tiger the Cat, Cedar the yellow Lab, and Chuy the Chihuahua.
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.
