Faces Mike Budzik, Chief Mike Budzik oversees formulation of state fish and wildlife policies and management of nearly 500 employees, including 161 commissioned wildlife officers. He also has oversight of 96 state wildlife areas comprising 212,000 acres. Budzik started his career working with the Youth Conservation Corps conducting forest management projects in the Wayne National Forest. He earned degrees in forestry and wildlife management from Hocking College. In 1975 he was hired as a conservation aide for the Division of Wildlife. After a series of promotions, he was named chief of the division in 1995. He is on the board of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and is member of several professional wildlife management and outdoors organizations. Budzik and his wife, Melodee, have two daughters. They live in Hocking County where he is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau. | |