2025 Theme: Expanding our Knowledge and use of Prescribed Fire
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Friday, January 31, 2025
Presenter Biographies
Ralph Perron, Air Quality Specialist for the Eastern Region of the US Forest Service – Ralph’s primary zone of work is the northeastern area of the Eastern Region, which includes the Allegheny, Finger Lakes, Green Mountain, and White Mountain National Forests. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Water Resources Management from the University of New Hampshire. Before attending UNH, he enjoyed 6 years of traveling while enlisted in the US Air Force.
Haley Keff, Quail, Pheasant, and Dove Biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission – Haley recently earned her master’s degree at Texas Tech University, where her research focused on bobwhite management including translocation, habitat selection, and chick survival. Building on her experience working with bobwhite in Florida and Texas, she leads the state’s northern bobwhite reintroduction program, working to restore and conserve this important species in Pennsylvania.
Eric Horsh, Habitat Specialist Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever – Eric began his career in Conservation in 1999 with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a Wildlife Conservation Officer. In 2013, he transferred to the Land Management Group Supervisor position in Franklin, Adams, Cumberland and York Counties. In that position he was very involved with the Prescribed Fire program, attaining the position of RXB2 in 2021. In July of 2024, after 25 years with the PGC, he retired and accepted a position as a Habitat Specialist 3 with Quail Forever where his primary role is management of the 2,600-acre Bobwhite Quail Focus Area in Letterkenny Army Depot.
Dr. Craig A. Harper, Professor of Wildlife Management and the Extension Wildlife Specialist at the University of Tennessee – Dr. Harper maintains an active research and extension program that specializes in upland habitat management, including effects of silviculture, prescribed fire, and herbicide applications on habitat for various wildlife species. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, Extension publications, books, and manuals related to his work, and is widely considered one of the nation’s leading experts on land management practices for wildlife. Craig is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, Certified Prescribed Fire Manager, and a Life Member of the National Deer Association.
Dr. Carissa Wonkka, Assistant Professor of Forest Management at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center – She obtained a law degree from Suffolk University and a master’s degree and PhD from Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on linking fire ecology and fire science. She also studies social, legal, and regulatory barriers to effective ecosystem management.
Todd Breininger, Prescribed Fire Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry – Todd has been active on the Steering Committee for the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council since its inception and has been on the Board of Directors since 2016. He also serves on the Governing Board for the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils. He received his B.S. in Forest Resources Management from West Virginia University.
Jim Elleson, Program Manager, WI Prescribed Fire Council – Jim founded his ecological restoration contracting business in 2003, and over the next two decades he led over 500 prescribed burns totaling nearly 13,000 acres. He stepped down from running the business in 2020, and his “retirement” projects include leading the development of a prescribed fire burn boss certification program for the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, mentoring the next generation of prescribed fire leaders, and managing his own little corner of Wisconsin’s Driftless area.
Kyle Lapham, Certified Burner Program Manager, Washington Department of Natural Resources – Kyle has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography/Environmental Studies from the University of Iowa. He started working in prescribed fire in 2004 working for The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, has held several positions with different organizations in a handful of states and began working in Washington with the DNR in 2022. Has been qualified as a NWCG RxB2 burn boss since 2014.
Bryan Whitmore, Wildland Fire Program Manager for the Pennsylvania Game Commission – Prior to Bryan’s current role, he was the WFPM for Fort Stewart and a steering committee member for the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council. For the last 12 years, Bryan has been managing multiple use public lands and wildland fire programs for federal and state agencies across the eastern United States.
Chris Layaou, Fire Forester, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Chris began his career with the Bureau of Forestry in 2011 as a seasonal technician in the Delaware Forest District, then became the Recreation Forester for the Delaware Forest District where he became active on the out-of-state Pennsylvania Wildland Crew. That interest in fire, lead him to the Pinchot Forest District as a Fire Forester for the last 13 years. His NWCG qualifications are Incident Commander Type 4, Engine Boss, Crew Boss, Firing Boss, Wildland Fire Investigator and Wildland Fire Investigation Team Lead.”
Greg Turner, Endangered and Non-Game Mammal Section Supervisor with the Pennsylvania Game Commission – Greg is a certified wildlife biologist and has research experience in disease ecology, behavior, genetic diversity, metabolic and reproductive physiology, and works professionally toward the conservation and management of bats. Greg has been monitoring and researching many aspects of bat ecology including focuses on hibernation dynamics and behavior, migration, foraging parameters, and fall swarm movements since 2004.
Dr. Scott Bearer, Chief, Habitat Planning and Development Division | Pennsylvania Game Commission – Dr. Bearer serves as Chief Land Manager for the Pennsylvania Game Commission where he manages the PGC’s Public Lands, Private Lands, and Prescribed Fire programs. Previously, he was Regional Fire Landscape Ecologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Albuquerque, NM. He holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, a M.S. from Clarion University, and a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech.
Michael Gallagher, Research Ecologist, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research – Located in the New Jersey Pine Barren’s at the Silas Little Experimental Forest, Mike conducts studies that respond to regional and global needs in fire science while serving as a scientific resource across the region. His current work focuses on forest monitoring with terrestrial laser scanning, reducing ember hazard, improving smoke estimates, and understanding fire effects on ticks and carbon.
Erick Butters, Assistant District Forester on the Tioga Forest District for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry – Erick manages the resource staff. He graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Technology with an A.A.S. in Forest Technology and the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S in Forest Science. He began his career with the Bureau of Forestry in April 2011. In the last several years he helped to build the fire program in the district alongside other district staff heavily invested in the program.
David Cavanaugh, Pennsylvania Fire Program Lead with the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter for The Nature Conservancy – David was previously a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and ran a Prescribed Fire Program in Southwest Florida. His fire program completed 50-70 prescribed burns and 8,000-12,000 acres annually. As a Florida Certified Burn Manager, he successfully burn bossed 215 prescribed burns and has participated in over 600 prescribed burns.
Eric Erdman, PGC Land Management Group Supervisor – Eric Erdman has been a Land Manager assigned to Centre and Clinton Counties with the PA Game Commission since 2012. He received a BS in Forest Management from Penn State University and worked a season with DCNR in District 15, Susquehannock State Forest before joining the Game Commission. Eric moved through the fire leadership ranks and became an RXB2 Burn Boss in 2020.
Brian Plume, Special Investigator 2, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry – Brian serves as the primary Wildland Fire Investigator, on the Eastern Area Coordinating Group Operations Working Team and various Bureau of Forestry working groups. He is also part of the Southern Blue Ridge TREX (prescribed fire training exchange) Incident Management Team. Brian has over 30 years of wildland fire experience, is qualified as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), Safety Officer (SOFR), Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), and is a Burn Boss Type 1 Trainee (RXB1-t).
