Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce the promotion of Colby Kerber, a 13-year veteran of the nation’s largest upland habitat conservation non-profit, as the director of conservation education programs. In his new role, Kerber will lead a talented team in the development, delivery, and evaluation of a suite of conservation outreach programs designed to cultivate current and future generations of hunters, land stewards, and resource professionals.
“For more than a decade Colby has been a distinguished staff member of The Habitat Organization who has continued to elevate our brand in the education and outreach sector,” said Rich Wissink, vice president of conservation programs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “With a number of new and exciting programs coming to chapters, partners, and local communities in the coming year, we’re excited to infuse more of Colby’s innovation to the organization’s education and outreach pillars.”
As Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s primary leader in the development of educational programs aimed at conservation, Kerber will give his focus to three distinct engagement strategies, including:
- Habitat Education – Grow an informed public who supports upland wildlife habitat and the benefits it provides to diverse wildlife populations, water quality, healthy soils, and climate resiliency.
- Conservation Leadership – Cultivate generations of engaged and informed conservation leaders in communities across the country.
- Hunting Heritage – Recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) hunting conservationists through strategic and outcome-based national R3 initiatives.
In his organizational tenure, Kerber has served as a Farm Bill wildlife biologist, regional representative, senior regional representative, and most recently, hunting heritage programs manager. A northeast Nebraska native, Kerber grew up in a non-hunting family, relying on mentors and nontraditional methods to transform himself into an outdoorsman. He earned a B.S. in Fisheries & Wildlife from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and currently resides in Merna, Nebraska with his wife, Audra, children Brynlee and Jaxon.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the expanded opportunity to work with our team putting quality habitat on the ground, advocating for wild places, and raising support to help deliver mission,” said Kerber. “Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever has allowed me to align my work with personal core values, as our team works daily to share our outdoor lifestyle through unique partnerships and innovative programs. We strive to provide multiple opportunities for individuals to find their own unique Path to the Uplands through initiatives focused on authentic outdoor experiences and a shared emotional connection together. Our E&O efforts are uniting educated and informed sportsmen and women, because having an active base of diverse conservation advocates will be key for the future of our hunting heritage and land access efforts.”
For more information about the entire suite of conservation education programs provided by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever volunteers and staff throughout North America, contact Colby Kerber at CKerber@PheasantsForever.Org or (308) 520-0876.
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 400,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org