Pheasants Forever has announced the promotion of Rich Wissink to Vice President of Education & Outreach. A 10-year veteran of “The Habitat Organization,” Wissink will now serve on the organization’s executive leadership team and provide guidance on strategies to advance the mission of Pheasants Forever in regards to youth initiatives nationwide.
“Through his innovation and dedication to our mission, Rich Wissink has transformed the capacity of our organization to deliver groundbreaking, conservation-focused youth programs in the United States,” stated Howard Vincent, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever. “I’m excited for the future of the organization’s education and outreach efforts with Rich at the helm, there are bright prospects ahead for the next generation of hunters and conservationists under his leadership.”
As Vice President of Education & Outreach, Wissink will manage a department of nationwide employees responsible for delivering Pheasants Forever's youth pillars, including conservation leadership, hunting heritage, habitat/land stewardship, and shooting sports. At the core of his responsibilities, Wissink will oversee Pheasants Forever’s No Child Left Indoors® initiative and accompanying R3 programs designed to recruit, retain, and reactivate outdoorsmen and women. Through further partnership development and expanded initiatives, Wissink will be responsible for impacting one million men, women and children through education programs with consideration for the organization’s central mission of wildlife habitat conservation.
Wissink will replace the current Vice President of Education & Outreach, Cheryl Riley, as she transitions into retirement at the end of June after 12 years of employment with “The Habitat Organization.” During her tenure, Riley was responsible for helping grow the youth and education footprint of Pheasants Forever, including the National Youth Leadership Council, Leopold Education Project, No Child Left Indoors® initiative, FOREVER Shooting Sports Program, and most recently, the “Grow Our Own Initiative” focusing on leadership development for organizational staff.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to see Rich take over this department and become part of the executive leadership team,” said Cheryl Riley. “He has the passion, vision and dedication to expand our programs and accomplishments at a time when the mission of Pheasants Forever is more important than ever”
Prior to joining “The Habitat Organization,” Wissink served a very successful 16-year career with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in various capacities. Wissink received his Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. He has been a member of the Pheasants Forever team since 2007 where he served as a Youth Programs Specialist, Youth Programs Manager, and his most recent position, Director of Education & Outreach, before being promoted to Vice President of Education & Outreach. His leadership has resulted in the development of four education & outreach pillars embraced by the organization, successful completion of a nearly $2 million youth education campaign, and the successful cultivation of new partnerships with federal and state agencies, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the organization’s extensive network of local chapter volunteers.
Wissink is a Pheasants Forever Life Member, a Quail Forever Life Member, and a contributor to the organization’s youth initiatives. He currently resides in Grantsburg, Wisconsin with his wife, Shelli, and the couple has three grown children - Casey, Cody and Corey.
For more information about Pheasants Forever’s education & outreach programs or to learn more about youth efforts that are contributing to the nation’s outdoor heritage, please contact Rich Wissink, Vice President of Education & Outreach at (715) 431-0814 or
RWissink@PheasantsForever.Org.
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division,
Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 149,000 members and 720 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $708 million on 517,000 habitat projects benefiting 15.8 million acres nationwide.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org