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Conservation Commission Welcomes New Commissioner, Nicole Wood

The St. Francois County outdoor enthusiast brings experience and passion to MDC.

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Greitens announced on July 31 the appointment of long-time conservationist and outdoor enthusiast Nicole Wood to the Missouri Con­servation Commission.

The Governor has ap­pointed Wood to a term that expires June 30, 2023.

Wood replaces James T. Blair IV, of St. Louis whose Commission appointment expired.

Wood’s appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

Wood is the director of operations at Woodland Op­erations and Maintenance, where she is involved in the daily management of 20,000 acres of land in the Missouri Ozarks. She is only the fifth woman ap­pointed to the Conservation

Commission in the Depart­ment’s 80 year history.

Nicole’s passion for the outdoors and her strong business acumen will be extremely beneficial to the Commission’s ongoing work in strategic planning, budget guidance, and Wild­life Code regulations,” said Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley.

Wood serves on the boards of the National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Parkland Hospital Founda­tion, and the National Wild­life Federation Endowment. She and her family share a passion for the outdoors.

Missouri has the best Department of Conservation in the United States and, to be part of that as a com­missioner is an incredible honor,” Wood said. “I look forward to working with all the commissioners, staff and citizens on continuing to make the Department the best in the country.”

Her interest in the out­doors started at a young age while on family hunting and fishing trips. She enjoys floating, rafting, kayaking or just sitting on a gravel bar. Wood also has a fam­ily history of commitment to conservation with her fa­ther, Howard Wood, serving as commissioner from 1997 to 2003.

The Missouri Conserva­tion Commission controls, manages, restores, con­serves and regulates the bird, fish, game, forestry and all wildlife resources of the state, including hatch­eries, sanctuaries, refuges, reservations and all other property owned, acquired or used for such purposes, as well as the acquisition and establishment of those properties.

For more on the Conserva­tion Commission, including upcoming meetings that can be watched through Live Streaming, go to http://on.mo.gov/2ugv8P0.

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