Staff

William S. Whitney, Executive Director
Bill's hometown of Aurora, Nebraska, beckoned back in 1976, and he listened. With a B.S. in biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and an M.S. in limnology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Bill returned home with thoughts of making  the landscape of his youth available for science, education and recreation. He saw opportunity in improving small parcels of local land by working them back to native prairie and making them accessable to anyone interested.

Fortunately, Bill didn't give up on the dream. With the support of co-founders Curt Twedt and Hal Nagel, Bill and wife Jan created Prairie Plains Resource Institute in 1980. While the ideas of the Institute grew and spread, Bill painted houses and picked prairie seeds and stayed true to the mission of the organization. And now that Prairie Plains is responsible for thousands of acres of prairie restoration, has created an award-winning summer day camp and owns seven prairie preserves, Bill dreams of one day sitting on the deck of the Education Center and playing his mandolin in harmony with the local frogs.

Bill and Jan recieved the Nebraska Wildlife Federation 2006 Conservationist of the Year Award, The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Blazing Star Award and the Wachiska Audubon Earthkeeper Award in 2000, Crane Conservationist of the Year from Wings Over the Platte in 1999 and in 1998 they received the Lincoln Journal Star Outstanding Wildlife conservationist of the Year Award and were made Admirals in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.

Jan Whitney, Education Coordinator/Publication Director
Although Jan shares equal responsibility for the creation of Prairie Plains she forever casts the limelight on the talents and success of others.  She earned a B.S. in biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, moved to Aurora in 1976 with husband Bill and worked a variety of "interesting" jobs in between raising the couples’ two daughters and helping manage Prairie Plains.

In her current position Jan is responsible for coordinating SOAR, the award-winning day camp that each year includes over 100 elementary-aged campers, their teenage peer leaders and countless presenters. She handles layout and copywriting for Prairie Plains publications, organizes events, manages the membership database and makes the most incredible oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you've ever eaten.

Bill and Jan recieved the Nebraska Wildlife Federation 2006 Conservationist of the Year Award, The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Blazing Star Award and the Wachiska Audubon Earthkeeper Award in 2000, Crane Conservationist of the Year from Wings Over the Platte in 1999 and in 1998 they received the Lincoln Journal Star Outstanding Wildlife conservationist of the Year Award and were made Admirals in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.

Mike Bullerman, Restoration Ecologist and GIS Specialist
If we didn't think it would look unprofessional to potential funders, Mike's job title would simply read "The Man." Mike joined the Prairie Plains staff in 2000 armed with a B.S. in wildlife ecology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and an incredible ability to do the work of 10 men.

Mike manages our prairie restoration program, which makes him a dry land farmer of sorts, has solid GIS (Geographic Information System) skills which he uses for the benefit of the Institute and our agency and landowner partners, and serves as land steward for our seven prairie preserves. In his spare time Mike cuts trees, fixes fence, repairs equipment and explains to passers by why he's picking prairie seeds in roadside ditches.

Amy Jones, Development Coordinator/Office Manager
As is painfully obvious to the rest of the staff, Amy is the only Prairie Plains employee without a science background. Although unable to identify Lathyrus polymorphus, she can write a press release, pay bills and research grant opportunities with one hand tied behind her back. Amy has a B.S. in Business Administration from Peru State College and came to Prairie Plains in 2004. What the Whitneys didn't know when they hired her is that she rarely works alone - Amy's parents, husband and two sons are regulars at special events and volunteer activities.