New Faces and Retirements at CRD

Posted Dec. 4, 2024
Coastlines Georgia | December 2024 | Vol. 7, Iss. 4

STAFF REPORT
Coastal Resources Division

 

Brooke Vallaster
Vallaster

New Marine Educator Joins CRD

CRD welcomed a new marine educator on Oct. 16. 

Brooke Vallaster fills a vacancy left by Cate Williams, who left CRD over the summer to teach high school.

Vallaster comes to CRD most recently from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Prior to that, she worked as a marine educator in the Ocean Science Lab at St. Simons Elementary School. 

This is not Vallaster’s first stint with DNR. From 1999 to 2011, she worked at the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve as an education coordinator. 

In her role as the CRD marine educator, Vallaster will lead fishing clinics for youth and adults, visit schools to teach about marine science and recreation, and assist with CRD outreach and communications initiatives. 

In her free time, Vallaster enjoys traveling, hiking and biking, and visiting with her family. She lives in Brunswick.

 

Fisher Medders
Fisher Medders

Second-Generation CRDer Joins Public Affairs Staff

The son of long-time CRD employee Paul Medders came to work at CRD in October. 

Fisher Medders was hired as a part-time public affairs assistant and will work alongside CRD’s public information officer and marine educator. In his role, he will help gather and edit video and photos of CRD activities, aid in graphic design, outreach and educational programs, and website management. 

He is a graduate of Brunswick High School and in his free time plays guitar in the “funk and funk-adjacent jam band”  The Maple Street Band.

 

Buck Bennett
Bennett

Compliance & Enforcement Unit Lead Retiring After 25 Years

Buck Bennett is retiring Dec. 31 after 25 years with CRD and  more than 35  with the State of Georgia. Prior to CRD, Bennett worked at the Department of Labor as an outreach educator and veterans counselor. After retirement, he plans to do more hunting and spend quality time with his family. 

Note: Fisheries Statistics Technician Cindy Smith also retired at the end of November. A profile of her can be found on page 19.

— Staff report