NEW DIRECTORS IN THREE REGIONS

HARRISBURG, PA - Half of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's six regions have new leadership, following a pair of retirements and a director moving back to the region he left.

Mike Beahm, who since 2021 has worked as Southcentral Regional Director, has returned to the Northeast Region to serve as director there, following the recent retirement of Dan Figured.

Seth Mesoras, who had worked out of the Southwest Region Office as Information and Education Supervisor, was promoted to fill the vacancy created by Beahm's move.

And Mark Ternent, who might be best known for the years he worked as the Game Commission's bear biologist, was promoted to Northcentral Regional Director, following the recent retirement of Dave Carlini.

Beahm started in his new role March 30. Mesoras and Ternent worked their first days as director on April 13. All bring experience to their new roles.

Beahm has proven track record as regional director, heading up the Southcentral Region Office since he was promoted to the job from his Land Management Supervisor position in the Northeast Region. He oversaw construction of a new region office, helped create new wildlife-viewing opportunities with the acquisition of the Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch in Cumberland County and improvements to Haldeman Island (State Game Lands 290) in Dauphin County, and was key to implementing the Game Warden Group System that provides improved field supervision and customer service.

"I've been fortunate to work in several Game Commission regions, and appreciate the professional and dedicated staff who work diligently for Pennsylvania's hunters, trappers and wildlife resources," Beahm said. "I am looking forward to working more with the Northeast Region staff to create many opportunities to connect communities in NEPA to the game lands and wildlife."

Mesoras brings that same focus on staff and community to his new role as Southcentral Regional Director. As Information and Education Supervisor, Mesoras oversaw the region's community outreach at live events, even online, helping to develop, curate and manage the PGC Southwest Facebook page. But in any initiative, success always depends on employees who are committed to see it through - something he said the Southcentral Region is known for.

"I am eager to work with and learn from the phenomenal staff of the Southcentral Region," Mesoras said. "It is an exciting opportunity to work together to accomplish the goals of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in the Southcentral Region in the coming years."

Meanwhile, Ternent, who since 2019 has worked as the Wildlife Management Supervisor at the Northcentral Region Office, brings to his new job an extensive background working with hunters and wildlife. As the Game Commission's bear biologist from 2000 to 2019, he worked to manage the state's bear population and helped introduce a multitude of new bear-hunting opportunities including the extended bear season, as well as the archery, muzzleloader and special firearms bear seasons. In stepping into a new role in one of the state's great hunting strongholds, Ternent said he's surrounded by talented employees who make an impact through teamwork.

"With its extensive forests and abundant public land, the Northcentral Region is truly a unique piece of Pennsylvania's wildlife story," Ternent said. "There are a number of exciting programs, incredible staff, and dedicated partners already doing great work for wildlife in the region, and I'm excited to play a part in their continued success."

In all of these moves, hunters, trappers and all other citizens the Game Commission serves can rest assured good leadership remains in place at the Game Commission's six region offices, said the agency's Executive Director Bryan Burhans.

"In any workplace, there always are big shoes to fill when experienced employees retire, but our new regional directors not only hit the ground running, they're already getting great results alongside region staff," Burhans said. "Each of these employees brings a different background: Mike with his experience leading another region, Mark with his wildlife-management work and Seth with his focus on outreach. But in the bigger picture of the agency's mission - to manage and protect wildlife and habitat while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations - they hit all the stops. They are doing and will continue to do a great job for their regions, the Game Commission and every Pennsylvanian who cares about or is affected by wildlife."

Ternent is a native of western Maryland, just south of Somerset County. He graduated from Frostburg State University, then from graduate school at University of Minnesota, both with degrees in wildlife sciences. He served from 1994 to 1996 as a research technician for the Missouri Department of Conservation, conducting wild turkey research in the Ozarks; worked from 1996 to 2000 as a biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, where he was involved with grizzly bear research and black bear management; then joined the Game Commission as bear biologist. He lives in Howard Township, Centre County.

Beahm, who has degrees from Paul Smith's College in Paul Smiths, N.Y. and Slippery Rock University, started with the Game Commission in 1995, when he entered the Ross Leffler School of Conservation. Upon graduation in 1996 as part of the 23rd Class, he was assigned to Lehigh County as a game warden. In that capacity, he also served as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. Beahm served in the Army Reserve from 1992 to 2005, and served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004. With the Game Commission, he was promoted in 2004 to Federal Aid Supervisor in the Southeast Region Office, then transferred to the Northeast Region as a Land Management Group Supervisor in 2008, and was promoted Land Management Supervisor in 2015. Beahm in 2014 received the Shikar-Safari Award, a highly prestigious honor presented annually by Shikar-Safari Club International to a Pennsylvania State Game Warden for outstanding performance and achievements.

Mesoras is a 2002 graduate of Juniata College with a degree in environmental studies. He worked as an environmental scientist before enrolling at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation, where he graduated in 2008 as part of the 27th Class. Mesoras was assigned to Westmoreland County, and later transferred to Cambria County. He was named the National Wild Turkey Federation's Officer of the Year in 2016 and twice received agency Life Saving Awards. Mesoras served briefly as Game Lands Management Group Supervisor in the Southwest Region before becoming Information and Education Supervisor.

The Northcentral Region serves Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Union counties.

The Southcentral Region serves Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry and Snyder counties.

The Northeast Region serves Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau - 717-705-6541

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