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December 14, 2018
MDIFW NEWS -- Governor Honors Two IFW Employees At Blaine House Ceremony
For Immediate Release: December 14, 2018
Governor Honors Two MDIFW Employees At Blaine House Ceremony
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Governor Paul LePage honored two Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife employees yesterday; fisheries biologist Tim Obrey and wildlife biologist MaryEllen Wickett, recognizing them for their outstanding service to the State, its citizens and the department.
Tim has been employed with IF&W since 1988, currently serving as the regional fishery biologist for the Moosehead Lake Region. Tim uses sound science, customer outreach and participation to conserve and create desirable sport fisheries. Tim is highly respected by peers and the public, exemplifies integrity, is a mentor to staff and is a practicing member of "team" exhibiting leadership initiative in developing and maintaining statewide databases, data management programs, and innovative research.
MaryEllen provides critical support to the department by overseeing the game harvest and lottery databases, maintaining complex computer programs, and analyzing habitat data. She performs her work with an exceptional level of professionalism, reliability, and customer service. MaryEllen recently led the department's efforts to develop a web-based system to record the harvest of big game animals, which has revolutionized the department's ability to effectively manage these species and enforce hunting regulations.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries of Wildlife (MDIFW) preserves, protects, and enhances the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state. Established in 1880 to protect big game populations, MDIFW has since evolved in scope to include protection and management of fish, non-game wildlife, and habitats, as well as restoration of endangered species like the bald eagle.
In addition to its conservation duties, MDIFW is also responsible for enabling and promoting the safe enjoyment of Maine's outdoors - from whitewater rafting to boating, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The agency's constituents include the fish, wildlife, and people who call Maine home, as well as the visiting outdoor enthusiasts and ecotourists who call Maine Vacationland and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the state's economy.