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December 19, 2017
MDIFW NEWS -- Governor Honors Two IFW Employees At Blaine House Ceremony
For Immediate Release: December 19, 2017
Governor Paul LePage honored two Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Employees today, Elizabeth Thorndike and Rick Parker, recognizing them for their outstanding service to the State, its citizens and the Department.
Elizabeth Thorndike, a fisheries biologist in the Rangeley Lakes region, was lauded for her drive for excellence, her pursuit of new challenges and her dedication.
?Liz demonstrates a strong commitment to teamwork and customer service, while striving for professional excellence and seeking new challenges and responsibilities,? said Joe Overlock, Fisheries Division Management Supervisor. ?Liz was recognized as the 2017 Fisheries Division Employee of the Year, but her attitude, work ethic, and dedication to the agency, resource and the public is deserving of further recognition.?
Noted for her drive, Elizabeth was praised for her innovative work concerning Bald Mountain Pond charr, a willingness to pursue and complete new job responsibilities, her role in simplifying the fishing lawbook, her public interactions, and her passion, dedication and commitment to the state?s fisheries.
Rick Parker, the Director of Engineering for the Department, oversaw the completion of two major, complex projects for the department which had significance statewide. Both the replacement of the Casco Hatchery pipeline and the construction of the new Gray Regional Headquarters were completed in 2017.
?Rick is a competent professional who deftly manages his staff and large construction projects for the department. Rick?s above and beyond attitude brought the department a new office building and a major fish hatchery pipeline project to completion in n 2017,? said MDIFW Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody.
As the head of the engineering division, Rick oversees three staff members and is responsible for the planning, design, construction, maintenance and repairs of seven regional offices, the Augusta headquarters, eight hatcheries, and numerous wildlife management areas, dams, fishways and boating access sites across the state.
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.