New York Chapter of
The Wildlife Society
EXECUTIVE COMMITEE
Membership
Executive Officers
President (Executive Committee Chair, Program Chair): Stephan Beffre, CWB®, QAWB
Stephan Beffre is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and FAA-Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist working for USDA Wildlife Services. His job entails developing and implementing methods to reduce wildlife-aircraft collisions at airports; managing white-tailed deer in state parks, preserves, and urban and suburban communities; and mitigating damage caused by overabundant Canada geese. One of Stephan’s favorite memories with Wildlife Services was when he distributed oral rabies vaccines from a small, single engine aircraft over the mountains of West Virginia. Prior to joining Wildlife Services, Stephan held positions with the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, non-profits, and a private sector consulting firm.
Stephan graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation Biology from the University of Rhode Island where he first joined The Wildlife Society. Later in his career, he earned a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Essentials from Cornell University. He is Chair of the Westchester County Airport Wildlife Hazards Working Group, President of the South Lake Association, and has served as NYTWS Secretary since 2019. Outside of work, Stephan enjoys backcountry camping, fishing, hunting, motorcycles, and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Contact: nytws.president at gmail.com
​President-Elect/Vice President (Membership Chair, Program Chair): Michael Reid
Michael Reid has been a Wildlife Biologist with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection since 2003. Primary responsibilities range from mitigating the effects of wildlife on drinking water quality to ensuring the protection of regulated species during construction projects through informing project design. Michael joined the Executive Committee of the New York Chapter of The Wildlife Society in 2024 to assist in the invaluable experience of bringing wildlife professionals together for networking and collaboration.
Contact: at gmail.com
Past-President (Nominating and Awards Chair, Bylaws Chair): Dan Bogan, PhD
Dan Bogan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Siena College, where he enjoys integrating his research with teaching undergraduate courses. Dan holds a PhD from Cornell University, a MS from SUNY University at Albany and a BS from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. He has been Chapter Treasurer since Fall 2017.
Contact: at gmail.com
Treasurer: John Vanek, PhD, AWB®
John Vanek is a state Zoologist with the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP). John joined NYNHP in 2021 as a Zoologist following postdoctoral research on the ecology and evolution of urban wildlife. Originally from Long Island, John is a broadly trained naturalist and wildlife scientist with expertise in herpetology, mammalogy, and urban wildlife. John has a B.S. in Wildlife Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (go Stumpies!), an M.S. from Hofstra University where he studied the ecology of Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes, and a Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University where his dissertation focused on urban wildlife ecology and conservation (from snakes and salamanders to coyotes and domestic cats). He enjoys long walks on the beach, oxford commas, and the smell of garter snake musk in the morning.
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Contact: nytws.treasurer at gmail.com
Secretary: VACANT (Ballot coming soon!)
Contact: nytws.secretary at gmail.com
Executive Committee Members
Member-At-Large: Kristi Confortin, AWB®
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A member of The Wildlife Society since 2012, Kristi now works as the operations coordinator for The Wildlife Society. She served on Council during her role as chair to the Student Development Working Group and has also served as president of her student chapter and is an alumna of the Leadership Institute. She loves to think and talk about topics of wildlife, especially bats! She received her bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the State University of New York of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill and master’s research at Ball State University. Kristi is certified as an Associate Wildlife Biologist®. Kristi has recently moved back to New York and looks forward to being more involved at the Chapter level. Her passion, enthusiasm and desire to inspire others make her a great candidate for the Member at Large position.
She is an avid trail runner, dog mom and chocolate milk connoisseur, and finds satisfaction in volunteer work at her local animal shelter. A natural morning person and lover of wildflowers, she can always be found surrounded by nature.
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Contact:
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Student Representative: Erika Schwoyer
My name is Erika Schwoyer and I am a masters student at Paul Smith’s College located in the Adirondacks, New York. I have been a member of the Wildlife Society since 2018 when I was introduced to the organization at my undergraduate institution. While getting my bachelors degree at Keystone College, I spent time as both the Treasurer and Vice President of the college chapter. After graduating, I searched for ways to stay involved with TWS as an early career professional, and found myself applying to the Leadership Institute (LI), which I was lucky enough to participate in with the 2023 cohort. I also remain an active member of the LI committee which aims to improve the program each year for new cohorts. I am involved with the Communications and Outreach Committee of the Student Development Working Group as I navigate my masters degree which allows me to help other students at all levels feel heard and supported in this field. I also help the Paul Smith’s College chapter of TWS as a Graduate Advisor. I’ve enjoyed being an active member of TWS at various levels, and I would love to have the opportunity to take on the role of Student Chapter Representative at the state level to have a larger impact. Outside of my TWS and graduate duties, I also enjoy hiking, working out, knitting, and assistant coaching the Paul Smith’s women's volleyball team!
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Contact:
ELECTIONS
*** The New York Chapter of The Wildlife Society
welcomes nominations for the following executive committee positions***
Secretary (Special Election)
Position Descriptions
Secretary 2-year commitment
The Secretary shall be responsible for the files and records of the Chapter.
Duties include:
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The recording of the minutes of all meetings.
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The maintenance of the membership rolls.
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Correspondence.
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The issuance of meeting minutes.
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Notices of all proposed amendments to the Bylaws.
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Nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 15, 2025. Nominees must be Regular Members of The Wildlife Society and the Chapter. Please include a brief biography, including why you/they would be a good fit for the position, and photo in the nomination. Please submit all nominations by email, addressed to Stephan Beffre, President at nytws.president at gmail.com.