I started out as a private now, I’m a major in the Army Reserve. I started as an enlisted soldier then, after completing basic training and receiving my master’s degree in mass communication and media studies, I was commissioned and became a public affairs officer. I initially planned to join the Marines, but I ran into an Army recruiter before my decision was final, and they were able to offer me a schedule that worked better for pursuing my education and military service at the same time. As a native New Yorker, I wanted to do something for my country I wanted to be a part of something bigger, and I was drawn to the military. While I was still in undergrad, 9/11 happened. So, as soon as I got to college, I declared my major as broadcast journalism. I learned that you could make so much of an impact on people’s lives as a reporter, and that really motivated me. I started watching the news around 10th grade, and I was a big fan of WNBC. “It took me a while to get there, but it is truly a dream come true.I’ve always known that I wanted to be a reporter. “I liked what I was doing before, but now I’m doing my part for environmental stewardship on some tangible projects,” Vrtiska said. He will also spend a lot of time in the field – something he is used to – and pour over large amounts of data. He will look at whether the current seed mix is right for OPPD’s prairies and how to expand the program. Vrtiska is working on two big projects right now: the Prairies in Progress initiatives and the Avian Protection Plan. “I knew OPPD had a good reputation, so I pursued that job.” Current projects “I got funneled into a different job, OPPD was looking for a forestry person and I was always interested in trees,” he said. But upon graduation in the 1980s, he said the job market was tight, especially when it came to state and federal jobs, which is where the majority of jobs in that field are found. Vrtiska majored in natural resources and wildlife management at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He understands the challenges associated with protecting wildlife while also maintaining focus on utility operations.” His previous role (supervisor of Transmission & Distribution Maintenance Management) will be useful in this role. “He played an integral role in authoring our Avian Protection Plan. “Chris has an extensive background related to avian protection and natural resource work,” Lorence said. Species can be at risk from interactions with facilities and work done by OPPD. That work consists of coordinating compliance with state and federal regulations to protect and conserve avian and other wildlife populations. Lorence said Vrtiska will be responsible for administering the utility’s Avian Protection Plan. “We saw a need to create a position that looked at all these issues in a holistic way,” said Bryan Lorence, manager or Environmental Operations at OPPD. Prior to its creation, the work that was spread out among several employees throughout OPPD’s operations. Vrtiska’s new role was created due to an increase in work related to wildlife and natural resources. “But I’m still excited beyond explanation.” New role at OPPD “Still, it would be nice to be able to talk to people in person about my new role and what we are doing at OPPD,” he said. Mark Vrtiska is the waterfowl program manager at the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission. “Normally, I’d be popping into people’s offices and going around introducing myself, so that is different,” he said.īut he already knows most of the people and organizations he will deal with in his new role, thanks to his many years as an outdoorsman and through his brother. The pandemic slowed down and changed how Vrtiska transitioned to his new role. “For me, this is a chance to get back into wildlife and conservation.” “I’m very excited to be in this role,” he said. Vrtiska is the utility’s first wildlife/natural resources coordinator after spending nearly 20 years in OPPD’s forestry department. The brothers knew early on that when it came to make a living nature and the outdoors would have to be involved.įor Chris, it wasn’t until 2020 that he reached the place where he always wanted to be. The life of an outdoorsman was what he and his brother, Mark, knew best. Growing up in Beatrice, Vrtiska hunted and fished. It’s a job nearly 40 years in the making for OPPD’s Chris Vrtiska.
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