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NAWM is looking for photos of our members working in the field—whether inside or outside, regulation or restoration, monitoring & assessment—or mapping & management of wetland resources. We would like to feature photos of wetland professionals doing a wide range of activities in the field of wetland science, policy and management. Please email these photos to Laura at laura@nawm.org for use on the NAWM website and/or in our membership newsletter, Wetland News.
The NAWM membership includes state, tribal, federal, and local wetland managers, regulators, researchers, field scientists, academics, private consultants, and more. These wetlanders work across the United States in a wide variety of wetlands and related aquatic resources. To celebrate the important work that NAWM members are doing, each month NAWM shines the Member Spotlight on one member to learn more about the good work they are doing to protect and restore our wetland resources, how they came to work in wetlands, and how being a member of the Association benefits their work. If you would like to nominate a member for a future Member Spotlight, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Executive Director, at portia@nawm.org. View Member Spotlight Archive.
Tonie Mitchum
Tonie Mitchum works for the City of Albany, Georgia, as a Planner II and was a 2025 recipient of the
Jon A. Kusler Student Scholarship Award.
What is one of your biggest professional accomplishments?
My biggest professional accomplishment so far is becoming a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Although the test was difficult, it was great to see that my studying paid off and I get to make an impact in the community that keeps people and properties safe, and I directly benefit from my work because I live in the 100-yr floodplain. As a person with an environmental science background who enjoys policy, this type of work is right up my alley! Floodplains and wetlands go hand in hand.
What is your favorite type of wetland? Why?
My favorite type of wetland is either a blackwater swamp or bottomland hardwoods. It is cool to live in Georgia where we have the largest blackwater swamp in North America which is the Okefenokee (also one of the seven natural wonders of Georgia). It is a certified dark sky park, and I love to camp there! The second largest swamp in Georgia, the Chickasawhatchee, is right outside of my city. I enjoy being able to go out and explore these areas and take in all the beautiful biodiversity. It gives me a greater appreciation for where I live and what I do.
How long have you been a member of NAWM? How have you participated in NAWM?
I have been a member of NAWM since 2024! I try to attend as many webinars as I can (and soon plan to take the hydric soils course), I have attended an annual meeting and participate in the NAWM outreach and communications committee.
What is your favorite benefit of being a member of NAWM?
I love being able to learn new things and bring it back to the office to share with my colleagues and just people in my day-to-day life. It is also great being able to connect with such awesome people who share similar professional and personal interests with me!
What is your favorite NAWM memory?
My favorite NAWM memory is having the wonderful opportunity to be selected as Kusler Scholar and attending the 2025 State/Tribal/Federal Coordination meeting in Stevenson, Washington. It was my first time in the Pacific Northwest, and I was in awe at the landscape! The presentations given at the conference were amazing and the lesson of being resilient like salmon is something that still sticks with me today. I can’t wait to head to Shepherdstown in April!
If you would like to nominate a member for a future Member Spotlight, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Executive Director, at portia@nawm.org.
View Member Spotlight Archive.