Christopher Kennedy is a native Missourian, began his 25-year career with Missouri Department of Conservation by assisting private landowners with pond and stream management, managing public lakes, and conducting public aquatic resource education.  He also led research and restoration of swamp endemic fish species such as alligator gar, while advancing opportunities for diverse youth to work with resource professionals to manage public resources.  As a Fisheries Regional Supervisor, he provided coordination, workload prioritization, and oversight of adaptive aquatic habitat and species conservation management activities for Fisheries Division employees within 16 counties of the southeast region of Missouri.  Throughout his career he assisted MDC with its workforce diversity initiatives including recruitment, diversity training, mentoring, community outreach initiatives, and internship programs. He was also a recent participant in The Missouri Way Leadership Academy where he received intensive leadership and team-building training. During the Academy, he served on a project team that provided recommendations to MO’s Governor for cultivating inclusion and diversity within Missouri state government.  Currently Christopher serves as the Assistant to the Director for Inclusion and Diversity and within his role he works closely with his administration, branch chiefs, regional administrators, and the relevancy team to develop our inclusion and diversity strategy, both with internal and external deliverables, and also works with the statewide and regional teams on planning, prioritization and implementation.