THE 2026 LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council’s Leadership Award recognizes individuals with exceptional achievements in the prescribed fire community.
Michelle Simone
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Michelle Simone is with the Natural Heritage Division of Illinois Department of Natural Resources as their Northern Stewardship Specialist. Before that she was a District Heritage Biologist. She’s been in the trenches with other DNR staff doing the fire work for years. Colleague Russ Blogg says “Michelle does important tasks such as developing, reviewing and advising on stewardship
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projects, which is key to our stewardship.” Colleague Eric Smith says “Michelle is on top of getting prescribed fire on the ground every spring and fall. She thinks about Illinois’s most significant sites from a statewide perspective and prioritizes them. She works the phones with biologists and volunteers well into the night putting together as many crews as she can, or changing priorities based on weather forecasts. On the fireline, she is trustworthy and has endless energy day after day after day.”
Melissa Grycan says, “I feel lucky to work with Michelle every day. She has a strategic mind and an organizational capacity which few possess. Beyond that she has great depth of knowledge, passion for the work, and enthusiasm for sharing new information.” |
THE 2026 MID-CAREER LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council’s Mid-Career Leadership Award recognizes individuals with high career achievements.
Chris Zeiner
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Chris Zeiner started with the McHenry County Conservation District back in 2008 and is now a Restoration Ecologist with the District.
John Peters of MCCD noted that “Chris has demonstrated repeated professional leadership and situation awareness as a prescribed fire manager on hundreds of prescribed fires. He comprehends fire behavior, fire resource utilization and focuses on crew safety. Chris is an exceptional equipment technician, developing UTV fire rigs. He has accomplished many difficult prescribed fires in the urban environment and teaches and mentors the next generation. |