SITCOM explores new Interagency Conservation Mentorship Program with new task force

2023 has been a year of action for the State Interagency Training Committee (SITCOM), having recently revised its operational guidance to include task force subcommittees to address conservation training landscape gaps. These task forces consist of both sitting and non-sitting members of SITCOM, and are meant to represent all agencies and interests in a coordinated effort to enact lasting, systemic changes to address identified challenges.

Throughout January and February, one such SITCOM task force, in collaboration with representatives from county LWCDs, NRCS, DATCP, WDNR, and UW-Extension, designed and developed a new training needs assessment survey. This survey included a new drill-down methodology and tasked respondents to selfidentify their training interests and related experience levels. The survey was rolled out to staff in March, and received a total of 334 submissions from conservation employees across the state.

One question within the survey asked respondents of their interest in participating in a professional conservation mentorship or cohort program. Across all agencies represented in the survey, nearly 40% of respondents expressed interest in having a mentor, becoming a mentor for others, or both. Additionally, with more than 150 LWCD positions filled since the beginning of 2019, it’s clear that there is a vital need for a mentorshiptype program to support conservation staff across the state.

Because of the interest in a mentorship program and the need for new employee support, SITCOM has recently assembled a task force of representatives from multiple agencies with the mission of exploring the possibilities and challenges of such a program and developing a recommendation for next steps at their June 2023 meeting.

Drew Zelle, DATCP Environmental Specialist for the northeast area, is one member of the task force. Reflecting on how mentorship has impacted his own career, Drew recalls how “the more experienced technicians were eager to share their knowledge and wisdom and pass that down to me. I had a cell phone full of contacts that could help me anytime. They talked me through issues and gave me the confidence to address them.”

Now looking to the future of Wisconsin’s professional conservation landscape, Drew considers confidence to be one of the most important things to pass on to the next generation of employees. “We need to encourage our new employees that they can do the job, address the resource concern, and have a successful project, “ he shares. “Being positive and encouraging goes a long way to accomplish that and instill confidence in the individual.”

Kirstie Heidenreich, Marathon County Conservationist, is another member of the task force. In Marathon County, Kirstie observed that her team was “stratified by experience, as half the staff were senior-level Conservation Analysts, and the other half were entry to mid-level conservationists with either a few years’ experience or were brand new to the world of conservation.”

To address this issue, Kirstie established Marathon County’s own, internal mentorship and training program. “We developed training modules for Farmland Preservation, Nutrient Management, Animal Waste Ordinance, Manure Spills and Over Applications, Livestock Siting, NR

151 Determinations, CREP, Selling Conservation, and much more.” Because of this effort, Kirstie sees that her staff “are now able to have confident conversations with [landowners] about all of the different aspects of conservation practices that they can consider, along with various programs that may be a good fit for them.”

Similar to Drew, Kirstie recalls how seasoned conservationists such as Greg Leonard and Bob Micheel helped her become more confident and effective in her role. “It meant so much to me to learn how they ran successful conservation programs and their tips and mentorship helped make me successful in my career much sooner than if I would have had to figure it out myself.”

As SITCOM’s task force begins to strategize ways to bring the power of interagency mentorship opportunities to Wisconsin’s professional conservation community, it is vital that the voices of future participants in a potential program have their voices heard.

SITCOM hosted a listening session to hear from staff in May of 2023, and the task force will be submitting a basic plan proposal for committee review in June.

Are you interested in participating in the pilot program? Reach out to Michael Hook (michael@wisconsinlandwater. org) for more information.

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