2024 Board Members

Bruce Urben – President
Contact Information: 920.822.2495
Board Term Expires: 12/31/26

An alumni of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with degrees in Chemistry, Microbiology, Public Health and Sanitation, Bruce was employed by the Wisconsin DNR for 38 years as a Senior Manager working in Environmental, Human Resources and Supervisory Administrative positions throughout the State. Bruce retired seven years ago and is an avid waterfowler since the 1960’s hunting Waterfowl in Wisconsin, Montana, Missouri and South Dakota. Bruce is also an award winning decoy carver who has donated numerous decoys to WWA and other nonprofit groups. He has been a member of WWA for almost 25 years, serving on the Board of Directors for three terms, holding officer positions as Secretary and currently President of the Association. Bruce was voted WWA volunteer of the year in 2010 and 2016. He has been instrumental in the development of WWA’s Abrams disabled recreational property in Oconto, Co., a committee member of the first WWA Decoy Carving Competition and Exhibition,and has successfully prepared several large WWA grant applications to State, Federal and Local conservation agencies. Bruce is a graduate of the State of Wisconsin Leadership Academy, Wisconsin DOA Leadership Program, and meeting and personnel management series. He is a published author of numerous conservation, environmental and waterfowling articles in several magazines, periodicals and WWA training manuals.

Todd Schaller – Vice President
Contact Information: 920.379.1704
Board Term Expires: 12/31/26

Russ is a financial advisor in the Green Bay area, and has served on the WWA board since 2011, serving as Treasurer. Russ serves as Event Sponsor and committee coordinator for the Fox Valley Open golf outing, as well. He was instrumental in setting up the WWA endowment program with the Green Bay Community Foundation. In addition to his treasurer duties, Russ serves on the Development Committee where he has single-handedly established the emerging WWA approach to legacy gifting that will help sustain the organization into the future. Russ was recognized as WWA’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year.

Dave Elwing – Secretary
Contact Information: 703.498.7322
Board Term Expires: 12/31/26

Dave became a WWA Director in 2021, at which time he also volunteered to be the State Secretary and to chair the State Development Committee. He is active at the chapter level where he volunteers as a committee member, and more recently, as a co-chair of the Midland Wings Chapter. A thoroughly committed life-long conservationist and believer that today’s youth are the future of waterfowling and every other shooting sport, Dave actively seeks out means to introduce youth to the outdoors. He follows a family tradition in his deceased father’s and brother’s footsteps as a Hunter Safety instructor and involves local youth and their parents in Midland Wings’ annual wood duck box inspections and clean-outs and other Adopt-a-Wildlife Area activities. Not only does he seek to expand WWA’s membership through youth education and outreach, but as the State Development Committee Chair, he actively reaches out to WWA members who express interest in becoming starting or re-starting chapters in areas where chapters currently do not exist. Dave is a two-time retiree with 21 years in the Marine Corps followed by a successful business career as a corporate executive for a defense contractor in Northern Virginia. He is fortunate to have the flexibility and good health to dedicate himself to his waterfowling interests and furthering WWA’s purpose and mission.

Kevin Banaszak
Contact Information: 262.689.0375
Board Term Expires: 12/31/25

Kevin Banaszak, a long time member of WWA, joined the board of directors in 2022, having previously served as the co-chair of the Midland Wings/West Bend Chapter and been a volunteer presence at many other WWA events and projects. Kevin was introduced to waterfowling at a young age from his father. He began hunting waterfowl at the age of 12 and has not stopped. As a father, Kevin wants to help ensure the traditions of waterfowling for the generations to come. Kevin also loves his dogs. His chocolate lab is his favorite hunting partner while the two rescues make sure the couch is nice and warm when they get home. Currently Kevin is working full time as an EMT as well as volunteering as a firefighter/EMT for his local fire department with his wife. Kevin serves on the Communication and Development Committees

Mike Depies
Contact Information: 262.215.3080
Board Term Expires: 12/31/25

Mike is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin and has been duck hunting for over 40 years. He has been a WWA member for the last 28 years. Mike joined the Cedar Creek Chapter in Ozaukee County in 1997, where he helped run an annual banquet from 1998 to 2015, while holding a variety of committee titles. Over the past 8 years the chapter has set up and run a sporting clays event at Ozaukee Fish and Game. In 2018 he joined the BOD. Mike also helps out at other chapter banquets, the Waterfowl Expo and is on the WWA Habitat Committee. He heads up the Adopt A Wildlife Area program at Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area in Washington County.

George Ermert
Contact Information: 414.405.0830
Board Term Expires: 12/31/25

George joined the WWA Board of Directors in 2020. Since joining the board, George has chaired the Communications / Membership committees, growing media recognition and guiding membership drives. He is responsible for growing social media followers on Facebook and Instagram and publicly sourced media. He also took the reins of the Policy Committee, guiding WWA efforts to favorably influence state policies on behalf of Wisconsin’s waterfowlers. He was selected as one of two WWA volunteers of the Year in 2022. He is an Eagle Scout and previously served on the Executive Board for the Glacier’s Edge Council of the Boy Scouts of America. George also previously served on the Alumni Board for St. Norbert College, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy. When he’s not out hunting or fishing, George is a lobbyist with the Schreiber GR Group. He and his wife Jenny reside in Madison with their German Shepherd Greta.

Connie Markham
Contact Information: 262.527.7676
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

Residing in the Southeastern part of Wisconsin, and near Pool 9 of the Mississippi River, Connie is deeply connected to the world of waterfowl hunting. Her passion has taken her on journeys across the country, following the migration and indulging in the thrill of hunting in diverse locations such as ND, NY, MI, KS, MO, AR, LA, and TX. Connie’s professional journey in the outdoor industry began as a manager with Gander Mountain. Subsequently, she ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing the marketing agency Swift Waters. Specializing in promoting businesses in the Outdoor Recreational Industry, her focus lies particularly on waterfowl-related endeavors. Connie’s commitment continues to expand through collaborations with WWA, Waterfowl Hunters Expo and Waterfowlers Academy. Witnessing the tangible impact of her efforts, she continues to support initiatives like the Learn to Hunt Program – Horicon, WDNR recruit warden waterfowl training program, Waterfowlers Hunters EXPO Steering Committee, and the groundbreaking WI Learn to Waterfowl Hunt for Women by Women. Additionally, she proudly serves as an assistant director with WWF, representing District 12 in Crawford County by the Mississippi River. Given the nature of their marketing agency, Connie is affiliated with esteemed outdoor industry companies, including Browning, Sitka ProStaff, Camo Systems, Vortex, and The Real DeCoy.

B.J. Grassmann
Contact Information: 920.428.6543
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

B.J. is an avid first generation waterfowler, starting early in his adulthood, duck hunting became a big part of his life. Recently retired from a financial industry sales position, he’s committed to repaying some of the joy that waterfowling has brought to his life as a citizen conservationist, understanding that healthy wetlands help communities as much (or more) than they help waterfowl.  B.J. first became connected with WWA at the Annual Meeting held at Lambeau Field in 2019.  He found a natural fit with the new Habitat Committee, focusing initially in defining a role and the practices to locate additional wetland restoration projects. There he quickly distinguished himself as committed to the wetland cause, identified new opportunities and began building connections to organizations that could expand our reach in wetland restoration. He’s begun advancing our ability to track wood duck box installations and success, and is looking to expand our wild rice initiatives. He has experience in non-profits, having served on the boards of Rotary Club of Appleton and Bay-Lakes Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Joe Gonyo
Contact Information: 920.229.1240
Board Term Expires: 12/31/26

Joe is a married father of three adult children and works at Russell Moccasin Company. He has loved duck hunting from the age of 8. He is pleased that his children love the game also. Joe wants to serve another term on the Board because of the love of duck hunting, the ability to help create new habitat, the ability  to educate the public on what the importance of the wetlands are and what it means to Wisconsin and to continue WWA’s mission of spending money to restore habitat here in Wisconsin. Joe is currently on the Green Lake County Board of Supervisors, Chairman of Health and Human Service and Chairman of Personnel. Joe also serves on the ADVOCAP board of director’s  and is a Drake Field Expert.

Patrick Smith
Contact Information: 608.774.1156
Board Term Expires: 12/31/25

Jim Freck
Contact Information: 262.674.4561
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

Jim previously served 3 1/2 years on the board and is looking to re-join and contribute to the growth of the organization and its goals. Jim started the Cedar Creek chapter with Ray Kirkpatrick in 1988 and has been involved with WWA ever since, volunteering with shoots, banquets, Jackson Marsh Adopt a Wildlife Area, the Board, golf outings and wherever else he’s been needed. Jim is “still married” after 42 years and retired almost five years ago.

Makayla Jacobs
Contact Information: 715.245.1931
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

Having grown up on a farm, Makayla’s connection to the outdoors runs deep within her. While she pursued her passion, she also embarked on a military journey after graduating high school, serving eight years in the army as a water treatment specialist. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in environmental engineering. Today, Makayla is an environmental engineer contributing her skills to a shipbuilding company for the navy. Her quest for knowledge continues as she strives to obtain her bachelor’s in environmental management. For the past four years, Makayla has immersed herself in the world of waterfowl hunting. It all started when her boyfriend, whom has since passed away, a diehard duck hunter, introduced her to this thrilling pursuit. In his honor and remembrance, she continues this passion of theirs and will be teaching their daughter everything there is to know about it.

Shawn Gibbons
Contact Information: 262.720.5937
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

Shawn resides in the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest and near Pool 9 of the Mississippi river. They are a perfect setting for his passion of waterfowl hunting. If that’s not enough, he also travels with the migration hunting ND, NY, MI, MO, KS, AR, LA, TX. Shawn’s entrepreneurial spirit moved him from the corporate businesses (GE, Philips Med) into creating a digital marketing agency, Swift Waters. Focusing on promoting businesses in the Outdoor Recreational Industry – specializing in Waterfowl. He also has taken an ownership position at The REAL DeCOY company. Shawn has been a member of both DU and Delta, but after doing some initial projects with WWA and seeing the direct results of his effort he continues to support groups like the Learn to Hunt Program – Horicon, WDNR recruit warden waterfowl training program, Waterfowl Hunters EXPO Steering Committee member and VP of the Swift Lake Association. Due to the nature of Shawn’s marketing agency, he is affiliated with several outdoor industry companies: Browning, Sitka ProStaff, Camo Systems, Vortex.

Kim Shady
Contact Information: 920.745.0880
Board Term Expires: 12/31/24

A life-long resident of Fond du Lac County, Kim has been married to his best friend for 42 years. Kim has had the good fortune to own two small businesses over 10 years and has also spent 26 years working for large businesses as a former VP of Sales/Marketing at Alliance Laundry Systems and Laundrylux commercial laundry products. Kim also spend his time coaching and mentoring youth. He has been active on WWA Policy committee, specializing in sandhill crane research and has been the Waterfowl Hunters Expo Exhibitor Coordinator. He is retired and looking for meaningful projects to make the world a better place. His wife calls him Polly Anna.