
WHO WE ARE
Executive Committee Members
Eric Brinkman | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | eric.brinkman@agfc.ar.gov |
Jim Wise | Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment | wise@adeq.state.ar.us |
Melanie Arnold | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet | melanie.arnold@ky.gov |
Jeff Ross | Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources | jeff.ross@ky.gov |
Karen Latuso | Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality | karen.latuso@la.gov |
Raynie Harlan | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries | rharlan@wlf.la.gov |
Jerry Brown | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks | jerry.brown@wfp.ms.gov |
Chris Sanders | Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality | csanders@mdeq.ms.gov |
Michael Weller | Missouri Department of Natural Resources | michael.weller@dnr.mo.gov |
Matt Vitello | Missouri Department of Conservation | Matt.Vitello@mdc.mo.go |
Karina Bynum | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation | karina.bynum@tn.gov |
Jason Henegar, LMRCC Chair | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | jason.henegar@state.tn.us |
Staff

Angeline Rodgers
Coordinator
Before joining the LMRCC in 2012, Mrs. Rodgers spent the previous 12 years working for the state of North Carolina in aquatic systems, most recently as a freshwater ecologist working for the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. She received a master’s degree in biology from the University of Mississippi. In addition to serving as Coordinator of the LMRCC, she also serves as Project Leader for the Lower Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. Mrs. Rodgers is employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Angela Erves
IT Specialist (Data Management)
Mrs. Erves has worked with the LMRCC since 2002. Since 2008 she has coordinated the development of the LMRCC’s extensive geospatial databases. The databases support several of the LMRCC’s projects such as the Restoring America’s Greatest River initiative, reforestation of frequently flooded land within the Lower Mississippi River floodplain, and the Lower Mississippi River Resource Assessment. She received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from Alcorn State University. She is employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bruce Reid
Outreach Specialist
Before joining the LMRCC in 2012, Mr. Reid managed conservation and communication projects with the National Audubon Society’s Mississippi River Initiative. He also worked as a reporter for daily newspapers in Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia, specializing in environmental writing during his 20 years as a journalist. He is a contract employee.

Laura Andrews
Program Manager
Mrs. Andrews joined the LMRCC in 2021 as Program Manager. She will help the organization manage conservation projects. She also holds a similar position with Mississippi State University’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, in which she has served for 17 years. In her role at Mississippi State, she has served as an editor of periodicals such as the Wildlife Society Bulletin and books and book chapters for conservation organizations. She is a contract employee.
Members
LMRCC Member Agencies:
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Cooperators
These agencies are formal cooperators:
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Provides offices and staff and works cooperatively on habitat restoration planning and implementation, through the Lower Mississippi River Fisheries Coordination Office.
- U. S. Geological Survey: Provided staff and supported habitat restoration planning in the initial phase.
- U. S. Army Corps of Engineers: Works cooperatively on habitat restoration planning and project design and implementation.
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency: Supports habitat restoration planning.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service: Works cooperatively on floodplain forest restoration.