[Wales, Wisc.] Brad Heidel has been named the new Executive Director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association (WWA). Heidel takes over the organization following the retirement of Bruce Ross, who led the organization for the last seven years.
Heidel, raised in Green Lake and now residing in Dane, WI, was most recently the Senior Director of Corporate Relations & Marketing for Delta Waterfowl. He was responsible for $1.4 million in organizational revenue and established the annual Duck Hunters Expo, which now attracts more than 20,000 attendees. Before his role with Delta Waterfowl, Heidel served in leadership, marketing, and development positions with the International Hunter Education Association, Pheasants Forever, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, among others.
“Brad brings a waterfowling passion to this position and a strong background in conservation at the national level. He’s the right person at the right time to continue, and even accelerate, WWA’s work on behalf of Wisconsin’s waterfowlers,” said WWA Board President Bruce Urben.
“I’m excited to help WWA expand its relevance to not only our state’s duck hunters, but the conservation community at large,” said Brad Heidel. “From WWA’s work in the marshes to restore wetlands to our efforts in the State Capitol to advance strong conservation policy, WWA is well-positioned to do even more to educate, advocate, and create better habitat for Wisconsin’s hunters.”
Over the last seven years, WWA has experienced strong growth in all mission areas: habitat, education, and advocacy, including:
- Working in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), WWA’s Public Land Ecologists are identifying potentially restorable wetlands and developing restoration plans on DNR-managed properties. This multiyear partnership has already led to more than 750 acres of restored habitat this year on public lands in Wisconsin, with thousands more anticipated in just the next 6 months.
- Establishing the annual Waterfowl Hunters Expo and the Waterfowler Academy to introduce the next generation of hunters to the community of waterfowling and bring important educational opportunities to hunters.
- Leading on key policy issues important to Wisconsin’s hunters and the conservation of our state’s resources, including the fight to bring a responsible sandhill crane hunt to Wisconsin.
Outgoing Executive Director Bruce Ross is pleased to be handing WWA’s leadership reins to Heidel. “I’m proud of what the WWA team of volunteers, supporters, and staff have accomplished over the last seven years, and I look forward to seeing how Brad’s national experience can bring even more benefit to state waterfowlers and conservation,” said Ross.
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a 7,500-member non-profit conservation organization that is dedicated to the conservation of Wisconsin’s waterfowl and wetland resources. Since 1984, WWA has worked to restore critical habitat in Wisconsin, educate the next generation of waterfowl hunters, and advocate for policies that protect Wisconsin’s resources and the rights of citizens to hunt. Incoming Executive Director Brad Heidel can be reached at bheidel@wisducks.org.
