2010 KeyNOTE SPEAKER
Biography
Brett Billings
Brett Billings is a senior video producer with the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which restores, protects and conserves America’s wildlife and habitats. In his work he has snowmobiled the frozen tundra of Alaska, hiked the Montana badlands and floated through Florida swamps to obtain the perfect shot. Prior to joining Fish & Wildlife he managed America’s oldest outdoors program, “Kentucky Afield” where he worked for ten years. While there Brett covered wildlife success stories such as the reintroduction of Elk into the Appalachian Mountains, releasing peregrine falcons back into their historic range, and restoring native tallgrass prairies for birds. Brett is a former Army broadcast journalist (1988-1993), having served in Alaska, Portugal and Germany.
Brett’s favorite aspect of his job is wildlife videography. With a keen interest in critters ranging from tiny aquatic insects to the largest mammals, he blends a love of the outdoors with an artist’s eye to capture the beauty of our nation’s wildlife. His diverse background in drama, choral music, 35mm photography, hunting, fishing and writing all inform his finished productions. Brett’s video work has won several state and national awards. A lifelong public servant, Brett’s communications experience ranges from writing for newspapers and magazines to hosting radio news programs, television reporting in Europe and interviewing celebrities.
While working with the Ky. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Brett created a unique Bachelor’s of Individualized Studies program at Eastern Kentucky University. He graduated in 1997 with the first-ever “Environmental Broadcast Journalism” degree. He finished his Master’s degree in biology at EKU in 2004 with a thesis on aquatic bugs of the Cumberland River.
Billings supports conservation in his own community, being past president of a local fishing and conservation organization. He volunteers his time to teach youth about aquatic ecology at regional youth camps.
Brett lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia with his wife Shelly, son Nicholas and their cocker spaniel. In his free time Brett enjoys fishing with his wife, gardening and making fishing lures.
