Southern states brace for growth with Acker leading volunteer efforts
Quail Forever is proud to announce the hiring of Michael Acker to serve as Regional Field Representative for the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. In his new role, he will support volunteers in all three states, with 22 local chapters and more than 2,000 members. Acker will collaborate with volunteer chapters to help improve conservation efforts on public and private lands for quail and other wildlife.
“Michael brings a lot of professional experience and a passion for highland hunting to the position,” said Matt Christensen, manager of field services for Quail Forever. “His region of him is ripe for organizational growth and we are all very excited to see what he can bring to Quail Forever.”
Quail Forever empowers county and local chapters with the responsibility of determining how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent – the only national conservation organization to operate through this grassroots structure. As a result, chapter volunteers can see the fruits of their efforts at the local level, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice in federal and state conservation policy. Acker will be responsible for helping chapters achieve these local conservation outcomes, while also connecting them to Quail Forever on a national scale. In addition, he will be tasked with helping to bring about Quail Forever’s Call of the Highlands campaign, which will close its final chapter at the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in February 2023.
Acker grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater before beginning his career in industrial sales. He is a lifelong bird dog owner and upland hunter who moved south in 2002. He currently lives in north Alabama with his wife, Jill. When he’s not working, Acker can be found chasing upland birds across the country and spending time with his seven grandchildren.
“This area has great growth potential,” Acker said. “At one point Alabama was considered to have more quail than any other state in the country and we have exciting habitat restoration work to try to restore some of that historic population. I am very excited to be a part of this effort, not only in Alabama, but also in Tennessee and Mississippi.”
For more information about Quail Forever in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, contact Michael Acker at 615-663-0598 or macker@quailforever.org.
About Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are 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 protecting our highlands through habitat improvement, public access, education, and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determines how 100 percent of its locally raised funds are spent – the only national conservation organization to operate through this grassroots structure. Since its inception in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres.