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PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Mike Stiefvater
1533 Smith Street
Green Bay, WI 54302
Phone: (920) 431-0457
Email: mike@ottergeospatial.info
Website: ottergeospatial.info

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Geospatial technology coaching methods and materials

EDUCATION
M.S. in Environmental Sciences, December 2018 – University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, June 1969 – Marquette University

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Wisconsin

STUDENT AND FACULTY RESEARCH PROJECTS
In the course of our employment with the Cofrin Center For Biodiversity we’ve helped a number of UW-Green Bay researchers with the database development, geoprocessing and cartography aspects of their projects. We’ve continued these efforts on a volunteer basis since resigning from the Biodiversity Center in Fall of 2016.

  • Megan Hoff – We worked with Megan on database development and stream reach mapping methods using the Collector app for her thesis titled “Mahon and Wequiock Creeks Watershed Management Plan” (2020).
  • Tara Hohman – We worked with Tara on extracting water level data from aerial imagery for her thesis titled “Bird Community Response to Change in Wetland Extent and Lake Level in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands.” (2019)
  • Jess Kempke – We worked with Jess on database development and area calculation methodology for her thesis titled “Seasonal distribution of vespertilionid bats along the Lake Michigan / Green Bay coastline and paired inland localities.” (2018)
  • Jesse Weinzinger – We worked with Jesse on database development and static maps for his thesis titled “Comparison of Sampling Strategies for Freshwater Mussels in Wadable Streams of Northeast Wisconsin, USA” (2017).
  • Nicholas Walton – We worked with Nick on application of Geographic Information System software to spatial analysis aspects of his thesis titled “Spatial Patterns of Avian Diversity in Forest Landscapes of the Western Great Lakes Region, USA” (2016).
  • Morgan Turner – We worked with Morgan on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Greener resource management contracting: a case study at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay” (2014).
  • Curtiss Rollman – We worked with Curt on database development and static maps for his thesis titled “Snow depth and browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a northern Wisconsin hardwoods forest” (2014).
  • Katherine Disterhaft – We worked with Katherine on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Changes in fish assemblages of Lake Michigan’s Green Bay following the introduction of dreissenid mussels and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) during 1980-2010” (2013).
  • Paula Olig – We worked with Paula on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Wisconsin Responsible Unit recycling efficiency analysis” (2013).
  • Mawuenam Mensah – We worked with Enam on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Assessment tools for determining performance of solid waste management systems in different countries” (2013).
  • Richard Novy – We worked with Rich on database development and geoprocessing for his thesis titled “Acoustic bat surveys in forested landscapes of Northern Wisconsin, USA” (2013).
  • Christian Waltman – We worked with Chris on database development and static maps for his thesis titled “Mapping and characterization of springs in Brown and Calumet Counties, Wisconsin” (2010).
  • Jay Watson – We worked with Jay on database development and habitat mapping for his thesis titled “Effects of landscape attributes on native bee pollinators in Wisconsin apple orchards” (2009).
  • Jennifer Goyette – We worked with Jennifer on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Bioacoustic monitoring of temperate and tropical forest birds” (2009).
  • Marci Johnson – We worked with Marci on database development for her thesis titled “Bait use by black bears (Ursus Americanus) in Northeastern Wisconsin : applications of GPS telemetry, GIS and remote photography” (2007).
  • Amanda Lederer – We worked with Mandy on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Impacts of the invasive round goby, Neogobius Melanostomus, on lithophilic benthic macroinvertebrates in Green Bay, Lake Michigan” (2007).
  • Amir Salim – We worked with Amir on database development and static maps for his thesis titled “Alternative sampling method to determine factors affecting distribution and ecological impact of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in lower Green Bay, WI” (2007).
  • Tracy Johnston – We worked with Tracy on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “The Red Banks – Gilson Creek watershed area conservation plan: species and natural community inventory and mapping” (2006).
  • Julie Gibson – We worked with Julie on database development, geoprocessing and static maps for her thesis titled “Productivity, predation, and habitat of woodland raptors on the West-Unit Hiawatha National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A.” (2003).
  • Colleen Feucht – We worked with Colleen on database development and static maps for her thesis titled “Is Lake Michigan’s Door Peninsula a significant stopover site for migratory birds?” (2003).
  • David Marks – We worked with Dave on database development and static maps for his thesis titled “Habitat and landscape associations of breeding birds in Great Lakes coastal wetlands” (2003).
  • Lance Roberts – We worked with Jay on database development for his thesis titled “Habitat and Landscape Associations of Bird Populations in the Nicolet National, Forest, Wisconsin, USA” (2001).

PRO BONO CONSULTING PROJECTS
For a number of years we’ve been assisting clients from the UW-Green Bay community and from the community at large.

  • Baird Creek Preservation Foundation – We’ve been assisting the Foundation’s land management and outreach efforts with field mapping, database development, traditional cartography and development of interactive web mapping applications.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
I obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University in 1969 and worked as a process engineer for many years. Along the way I qualified for a Professional Engineer’s license from the State of Wisconsin and worked on numerous plant design and construction projects. I was looking to change direction when I enrolled in UWGB’s masters program in Environmental Science and Policy. Gary Fewless’ Field Botany class turned me on to the natural world and the Introduction to GIS course taught by Dr. Bill Niedzwiedz revealed what my brain is wired for.

In Summer of 2016 I completed a stint as the GIS/Mapping Specialist at UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin Center for Biodiversity. In that capacity I served as a resource to students and faculty wishing to incorporate Geospatial Technology into their coursework and research projects. My principal responsibility was assisting with natural sciences-related spatial analyses by identifying appropriate software tools and furnishing coaching in their use. I also maintained the Biodiversity Center’s geospatial data library and Geospatial Technology website.

My responsibilities at UWGB also included consulting and classroom instruction. In 2007 I worked with Dr. Kevin Fermanich to develop a new course in the Environmental Science curriculum, Remote Sensing and GIS. I served as lab instructor for the eight years that the class was offered.

When I’m not glued to a computer, I can often be found building stuff, fixing stuff, walking in the woods or on the road to a concert or folk festival. Once in a while I get to tag along on a really cool field expedition.

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