Andrew Gude Named National Wildlife Refuge Manager of the Year

Our recently retired refuge manager Andrew Gude has been selected by the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) as the Refuge Manager of the Year. NWRA is a Washington DC-based nonprofit organization working to protect, promote, and enhance all national wildlife refuges.

Andrew addressing students about to receive their badges and become certified Junior Rangers.

Andrew digging in with the rest of the volunteers at Vista

Jointly with the NWRA, Friends will hold a local, community-wide celebration when the award is presented. 

Refuge Manager of the Year Awards Presentation Event

Who's invited: Everyone Who Wants to Applaud
Andrew and his Accomplishments

Event is postponed due to Gov't Shutdown. It will be rescheduled and new date will be posted.

When: Friday, November 7 from 3:00 to 5:00
Where: Emmitt's River Retreat in Fowlers Bluff
What is the street address: 15149 NW 46th Lane, Chiefland FL 32626

Friends of Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys NWRs nominated Andrew because of we know how outstanding he is. We wanted him to be recognized nationally for all he has done in our communities. The nomination detailed Andrew's:

• long-time commitment to conservation,
• well-recognized and much-appreciated style in dealing with people,
• outstanding vision in managing and improving the habitat that is crucial to the region’s quality of life,
• astute responses to complex issues,
• involvement in the community and support of research, and
• effective building of coalitions and relationships that advance the Refuges’ mission.

Andrew serving up the barbecue at the Annual Meeting

Andrew (in pink shirt) stopping by Friends info table on his day off!

"Federal employees like Andrew exemplify the best of how people devote their lives and careers to make the world a better place for humans and wildlife alike,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President and CEO of the NWRA. “We could not be more thrilled to honor Andrew for his work not only at Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys, but indeed for the entire National Wildlife Refuge System."

Many local leaders and refuge volunteers had words of support for the nomination.

• Dusty and Cathy Dusterwinkle, Refuge RV-Camper Volunteers, said “We’ve always recognized servanthood as a mark of good leadership. Andrew epitomizes that trait exceptionally well.”
• Lauren Day, president of The Conservation Fund, said “Andrew was an outstanding partner with other resource agencies and NGO’s.”
• Regional butterfly expert Barbara Woodmansee and USDA research entomologist Dan Kline praised Andrew’s constant support for research on the refuge and his making available a massive amount of habitat data to advance work on mosquitoes and other biting flies.
• Mike Allen, director of the UF’s Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key, said “Andrew has had a landscape-level vision of refuge priorities, including championing a hydrologic restoration initiative that would improve freshwater flow in Refuge creeks, the Suwannee River and the Gulf.”
• Sue Colson, then Mayor of Cedar Key, added: "From personal experience, I can truly say that Andrew Gude is exactly what a mayor wants for manager of a Refuge near her working waterfront town. Andrew is hard-working, funny, fun, involved, and a leader in the community. He makes it clear that what is good for wildlife conservation is good for the community, its economy, its resilience, and its quality of life. In my book, Andrew is more than the Refuge Manager of the Year. He is the Refuge Manager of our dreams."

The National Wildlife Refuge Association’s announcement of the awards provides additional information.