A behind-the-scenes Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division employee has been honored by the Organization of Wildlife Planners for her dedication to natural resources management.

Ann LeClaire-Mitchell has received the Paul Weikel Memorial Award, which goes to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to improving agency management. LeClaire-Mitchell runs the Support Services Section of the DNR Wildlife Division. She received the award at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in March in Arlington, Virginia.

"Ann is one of those folks who the public rarely sees but is integral to keeping our division functioning properly," said Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. "Her dedication to innovative management is one of the main factors in keeping the railroad running. We are extremely pleased the association chose her for this prestigious award."

The Organization of Wildlife Planners is an affiliate organization of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agenices (AFWA). More than a century old, AFWA is an umbrella group of federal, state and provincial professional fish and wildlife management agencies dedicated to the scientific management of natural resources.