Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recognized three individuals as the 2024 Jim Stevenson Resource Managers of the Year. The award honors those who have shown leadership in managing Florida’s natural resources.
Patricia “Patty” Wilbur, a Biological Scientist II at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park with the DEP’s Florida Park Service, was acknowledged for her over two decades of service. She has led large-scale habitat restoration projects, including a significant upland pine restoration covering 1,005 acres. Wilbur is also known for her expertise in prescribed fire management, having served as burn boss for 63 prescribed burns totaling nearly 6,000 acres since becoming certified in 2011. Throughout her career, she has participated in nearly 200 prescribed burns across more than 21,000 acres and responded to several wildfires. Her work extends to invasive species control and hydrological restoration.
Charlie Pedersen, Biologist III at Waccasassa Forestry Center with FDACS’ Florida Forest Service, has spent 28 years working on state forests across Florida. At Goethe State Forest, his efforts have increased breeding pairs of red-cockaded woodpeckers from about 30-40 to over 80 pairs. This growth contributed to the species being reclassified from federally endangered to threatened status in fall 2024 (https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-10/red-cockaded-woodpecker-downlisted-threatened-under-endangered-species-act). Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson stated: “Charlie Pedersen is exactly the kind of professional the Florida Forest Service is built on. He delivers results by combining decades of experience in the field with a willingness to use new tools and technology to do the job better,” adding that Pedersen’s work reflects a focus on practical forestry that maintains healthy forests.
Pedersen has also worked to protect rare plants like Etoniah rosemary by helping expand its populations from one small group to three established subpopulations and starting a fourth on private land. In addition to traditional methods, he became one of few certified drone pilots within his agency in 2024.
Matthew Koenig serves as Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist III for FWC’s Southwest Wildlife and Habitat Management Section/Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. He leads management at Chinsegut, Perry Oldenburg, and Janet Butterfield Brooks Wildlife and Environmental Areas while supporting educational programs at Chinsegut Conservation Center. FWC Executive Director Roger Young said: “Matt is the perfect choice for winning this honorable award… His expertise, dedication, and leadership have all been instrumental to the significant improvements made to wildlife habitat in the WEAs he manages — no small feat considering the challenges of managing three different public lands.”
Koenig focuses on maintaining diverse habitats using prescribed fire as his main tool since 2016—a practice that benefits various native species such as Bachman’s sparrows and gopher tortoises—while prioritizing safety during these operations. He also led storm clean-up efforts after hurricanes in 2024 and works on protecting endangered plant species found only in limited locations.
The Resource Manager of the Year Award commemorates James A. Stevenson’s legacy with DEP’s Division of State Lands for his contributions toward ecosystem management practices throughout Florida.
