The Eastern Region of the USDA Forest Service recently recognized numerous regional employees for awards, including almost 30 Superior National Forest employees. These Superior National Forest employees were recognized for contributing towards the four Strategic Goals of the USDA Forest Service and were honored with 2022 Regional Forester Awards. The following lists summaries of the strategic goal and projects, and recognized staff.  

Strategic Goal 1-Sustain Our Nation’s Forests and Grasslands  

Eight Superior employees were honored for their work in completing an Assisted Migration Plan, a national Pilot Plan.  

In a changing climate, assisted migration is an important tool to help managers sustain forests and grasslands. It fosters resilience and adaptiveness in ecosystems across a forest by adjusting seed sourcing of major tree species planted on the Forest. The project had a diverse working group of Forest Service employees across the Nation, local tribal representation, staff from other partner organizations and agencies, and industry and research scientists. Awarded Superior employees were: 

• Katie Frerker 
• Kyle Stover 
• Myra Theimer  
• Kaysee Miller 
• Clint Gregory 
• Carl Layman 
• Kathleen McTighe 

Strategic Goal 3- Apply Knowledge Globally 

Superior National Forest staff were also recognized for their work in the Tofte Landscape Project. The project is a 15-year vegetation management plan for the Tofte Ranger District designed to achieve forest restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, and sustainable forest products across 333,470 acres. The project will position the Superior National Forest to better implement all-lands management across ownership boundaries for landscape goals such as creating foraging habitat for moose, reducing the risk of unwanted wildfire and providing sustainable forest products through tools such as the Good Neighbor Authority. With the Tofte Landscape Project, we seek to do better for the land, our partners and the public. Employees recognized included:

• Orry Hatcher  
• Kyle Stover 
• Peg Robertsen  
• Patrick Johnson 
• Peter Taylor 
• Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak 
• Gene Dressely 
• Chris Beal 
• Jeff Kroll  
• Jack Greenlee 
• Laurie Gawin 
• Jon Benson 
• Erica Hahn 
• Marshell Moy 
• Tasha Hernandez 
• Michelle Ramos 
• Dave Avery 
• Cathy Quinn 
• Teresa Hanson 

Four Superior National Forest employees joined with four other regional national forests, states and federal agencies, Tribal bands and universities for the Lake States National Lake Assessment Team. This collaborative team was recognized for its extensive research of sampling 250 lakes in one summer, following the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Lake Assessment statistical framework to create a baseline for lake and aquatic health. This Superior National Forest team included: Trent Wickman, Daren Lilja, Hannah Hill, and Jason Butcher. 

USDA Secretary Award for Goal 5-Expanding Opportunities for Economic Development and Improving the Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities 

In addition to the Strategic Goals, one Superior employee, Brenda Frenzel, received special recognition for a USDA Secretary Award for her work with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Partnership. The funded Good Neighbor Authority agreement’s focus to enhance the capacity of Tribal Nations and advance co-stewardship within ceded territories in the Upper Lake States by increasing GLIFWC’s capacity to participate in research, communicate with Forest Service staff, and participate in decisions that impact the health of forests and watersheds that support the fish, wildlife and plants that Tribes rely upon.  

Region 9-Engineer Technician of the Year Award

Lastly, one employee, Blake Freking, was awarded the for his leadership and superior performance as regional engineer technician of the year.  The Eastern Region has 14 forests across 9 states. 

The Superior National Forest congratulates all this year’s recipients of the Regional Forester Awards for their excellent actions and values they represent, and for being stewardship, leadership and role in sustaining the health, diversity, and productivities of the forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.