KINGMAN, Kansas - June 22, 2020 - Mark Schlegel of Kingman, Kansas, was recently elected to Ducks Unlimited&squo;s national board of directors.

"Ducks Unlimited&squo;s leadership assures our organization conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl,&dquo; said DU Board Chairman Rogers Hoyt. "Our board members volunteer their time and resources because they are passionate about conservation. I welcome each new board member and look forward to working with them for years to come.&dquo;

Mark has been a Ducks Unlimited volunteer for 20 years, beginning as an area chairman in 2000. He moved steadily up the volunteer ranks and became Kansas state chairman in 2012. Mark has served on both the National Firearms and National Event Merchandise committees. He is a graduate of Purdue University and enjoyed a career as a test pilot for Cessna and Bombardier. Through his company, Mallard Aero Tech, Mark also offers pilot and flight test consulting services. He and his wife, Paulette, divide their time between Kansas and Indiana. They are so enthusiastic about DU they made their two British labs, Brick and Teal, life sponsors, which designates a donor who has contributed at least $10,000 to Ducks Unlimited.

"What impresses me about DU is they conserve habitats across borders. Working internationally is what is best for the ducks,&dquo; Schlegel said. "We need to give beyond our backyard to leave this place better than we found it."

For the first time in DU history, board member elections were conducted virtually due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Officers and new members will be recognized during DU&squo;s annual convention in September.

For a complete list of DU&squo;s volunteer board of directors, please visit www.ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14.5 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

Becky Jones Mahlum

701-426-5171

bjonesmahlum@ducks.org