Matching skills to meet your specific challenges is the key to a successful project. The independent professionals below, among others, are part of the network that help to provide the exact services that you need:

GILBERT C. RADONSKI has over forty years of proven technical skills and experience with innovative management, providing the ability to conceptualize and convert ideas into action programs. Mr. Radonski has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Scotland, the Azores, the Caribbean, Russia, and Australia in his professional capacity. He has experience in policy formation, strategic planning, and extensive public speaking, and has written for both technical and lay audiences on fishery science, environment and conservation.

From 1981 to 1994, he was president of the Sport Fishing Institute in Washington, DC. and was responsible for planning and administering the program of this prominent national fishery conservation organization. In meeting these responsibilities, he carried out a broad spectrum of administrative and managerial functions over programs, including development of budgets, research, governmental relations, socio-economic studies, fund raising, and grants programs. The Sport Fishing Institute program focused on the fishery resource needs of the sport fishing community, which generates $60 billion in expenditures annually. As former chief executive officer of a national fishery conservation organization, he has established contact with and access to industry leaders, high government officials, many prominent outdoor writers, and the leadership of the conservation/environmental community.

Prior to joining the Sport Fishing Institute, Mr. Radonski served as the Chief Fishery Biologist for the Veterinary Medical Division of Ayerst Laboratories from 1967-75, where he designed and executed field and laboratory research on the efficacy of fish toxicants and anesthetics. He has held positions with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Radonski has served on numerous boards and commissions, including: Board of Directors of the Year of the Ocean Foundation; Secretary, Sport Fishing Institute Fund; Operating Committee, Living Lakes Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Trustee of the Billfish Foundation, Miami, Florida; numerous committees of the American Fisheries Society and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; past Chairman of the Natural Resources Council of America; past President of the Northeastern Division of the American Fisheries Society; two-term member of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), which advises the Secretary of Commerce on fishery matters; Advisor to the American Delegation to North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), and to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); past appointee to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Council (August 1992 - August 1995), and; Charter Member to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (advises the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota, is a Certified Fishery Scientist with the American Fisheries Society, and a fellow with the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists. He resides in Cape Carteret, North Carolina.

RICHARD B. STONE specializes in highly migratory species (HMS) management and research, fishery data collection, dispute resolution, fishery management plan development, artificial reef development and international fisheries. He was a technical advisor for the U.S. Advisory Committee for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); and is presently an Advisory Committee member for the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program; Finfish Advisory Committee to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, and member of the steering committee to revise the U.S. National Artificial Reef Plan.

From 1992 - 1996, Mr. Stone served as the Chief of the Highly Migratory Species Management Division, National Marine Fisheries Service. This involved directing Atlantic HMS management and coordinating research and management budgets for Atlantic HMS. He developed and instituted an interactive research and management policy for HMS bringing outside fishery interests more into the HMS management process and supervised the development of fishery management actions for HMS including fishery regulations, fishery management plans, and fishery closures. He prepared draft National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service (Agency) policy positions on HMS, Congressional briefing documents and gave briefings on HMS at all levels of the Agency. He participated in international management of HMS as member of U.S. Delegation to Japan, Canada, and Mexico and to ICCAT meetings.

From 1976 - 1991, he served as the Recreational Fisheries Officer/Fisheries Management Specialist - for the NMFS. He coordinated agency artificial reef activities, developed artificial reef policy, and provided technical assistance to states and other countries on artificial reef development. He served as the agency contact with recreational fishing organizations and individuals and coordinated the development of the National Artificial Reef Plan. He drafted the Agency policy on managing billfish as a recreational fishery and served on steering committees for five international artificial reef conferences. During 1964 - 1976, he was a Biological Oceanographer/Fishery Biologist with the Sandy Hook Laboratory (NJ) and Beaufort Laboratory (NC) for NMFS. He directed artificial reef research for the agency, planned, conducted, and supervised scientific evaluation of artificial reefs and prepared the Environmental Impact Statement for the use of Liberty Ships as artificial reef material off the Virginia Capes. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Virginia Military Institute and a Master of Arts in Marine Science from Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

ROB SOUTHWICK, president of SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES, specializes in quantifying the economic impacts and values generated by people who enjoy fish and wildlife. Southwick Associates has spent considerable time marketing and promoting fish and wildlife-related activities such as youth fishing and more. Current clients include nearly half of all state fish and wildlife agencies, American Sportfishing Association, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Archery Manufacturer and Merchants Association, and many others. Southwick Associates is based in North Florida, and is supported by experienced staff and research associates all over the country. With more than 100 completed projects relating to the economics and marketing of fish and wildlife, Rob Southwick has a unique perspective on fish and wildlife and how it interacts with today's economy. - Rob received his economics education from the University of Florida, School of Business. From there, he worked as an economist for the Sport Fishing Institute in Washington, D.C. In 1990, he left to form Southwick Associates.

JEFF WALDON is the assistant director of THE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, a part of the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech. CMI is a consortium of previously independent programs addressing multi-disciplinary research questions that affect conservation management effectiveness in Virginia, North America, and the world. Faculty from Virginia Tech and other research institutions work collaboratively on projects ranging from endangered species propagation to natural resource-based satellite imagery interpretation. The Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange (FWIE) project of CMI is a technical assistance center and information clearinghouse for fish, wildlife, and land management agencies and organizations. The FWIE also assists with the planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of information management and delivery systems. The FWIE maintains and distributes information and offers training in computer applications, database management, and use. The FWIE was established in 1984, and since that time has helped dozens of agencies and organizations to better manage their information resources to more effectively conserve wildlife, plants, and natural communities in North America.