Executive Committee

Paul Reith
Chair, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
209 N. Yellowstone Drive
Madison, WI 53705
608-616-0808

Paul Reith was elected Chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress in 2026 after 2 years as Vice-Chair, and is a Dane County Delegate, serving his county for over a decade.

Paul has been instrumental in advancing the WCC's operations, delivering online input for the spring hearings and assisting with the move to online submission for new resolutions. He strives to ensure that the WCC remains a responsive and effective body for conservation advocacy in Wisconsin and strongly supports in-person participation where possible while broadly increasing citizen access with online alternatives.

Raised in Clark County, an alumnus of UW-Eau Claire, and with a lifetime of recreation in Sawyer County, Paul understands how perceptions, concerns and goals are diverse within our state. With his wife Magdalena, children Claire and Sawyer, the family enjoys camping in at least five different Wisconsin state parks yearly. 

Paul is a member of KLM-GNA, Dane County Conservation League, Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, lifetime associate member of the Wisconsin Conservation Warden Association, The Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, and a Scouting America volunteer.

Michael Britton
Vice-Chair, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
668 Pine Circle
Rice Lake, WI 54868
715-296-2664

Mike has been on the Congress for 14 years and will be serving on the District 2 Leadership Council for a third year. Mike currently chairs the Mississippi River and the Migratory Advisory Committees. He chairs the Barron County CDAC as well. He has also served on the Outreach & Public Relations Advisory Committee, the Strategic Planning and History Advisory Committees.

Mike is a member of the Brill Area Sportsmen’s Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Duck’s Unlimited and Back Country Hunter’s & Anglers. He currently serves as the President for UW-EC Barron County’s Foundation Board and served on the Rice Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for 22 years, serving three different terms as President. He has also coached many youth activities including baseball rec & traveling teams, boy’s and girls’ basketball rec & traveling teams, flag football and softball.

Mike’s passion is whitetail & elk hunting with a bow. He has hunted and fished throughout the state, from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes and seemingly everywhere in between.

Reed Kabelowsky
Secretary, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
1428 N. 9th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-242-3144

Reed Kabelowsky was elected to serve as Secretary of the Conservation Congress. Reed is confident in his written skills and wants to support the Congress in this role.

Reed has been on the Congress for 11 years and has been a District 8 Leadership Councilor for the last year. Reed is presently Vice Chair of the Youth Conservation Congress Oversight Committee and Secretary of the Mississippi River Advisory Committee. Reed has also served on Rules and Resolutions, Turkey and Upland Game, Migratory, Outdoor Heritage and Education.

Serving and encouraging youth is a passion and Reed is active in planning for YCC events and fundraising. Reed represents the Youth Zone on the Waterfowl Hunters’ Expo Steering Committee and helps to link the YCC and WCC to this important event. Reed has a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Management and Environmental Law Enforcement from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

Reed spends his time fishing, hunting, hiking and enjoying the resources of our fantastic state. Reed is passionate about the work and potential of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and engaging the public to plan for the wise use of our natural resources. The future of the WCC is bright and thriving and it is our job to make the same true about our state and our residents.

Kevin Schanning
Executive Committee Member, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
12365 Scenic Drive
Iron River, WI 54847
715-372-5822

Kevin Schanning has served as a Bayfield County Delegate for over 10 years and has been a District 1 Leadership Councilor for the past few years. During his time on the Congress, he has served on the Wolf Committee, Legislative Committee, Migratory Committee, and the ad-hoc Spring Hearing Committee. He is also the longtime Chair of the Bayfield County (now Units 102, 103, 105/106) Deer Advisory Committee. He is eager to bring the views and opinions of those in far Northern Wisconsin to the Executive Committee.

Kevin believes strongly in the vision of the WCC to gather and convey diverse citizen input into the process of managing the resources of Wisconsin. He is an environmentalist in the broadest sense of the word, which means preserving, restoring, and improving the natural environment for the benefit of future generations. He is concerned about all the natural resources of Wisconsin and believes in fostering the next generation of conservations through education, mentorship, and stewardship. In addition to the WCC Kevin is also lifetime member of Back Country Hunters and Anglers.

Kevin is an avid outdoorsman, who enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and camping. His specific passions include waterfowl hunting, grouse hunting, and fishing on and around Lake Superior. He especially enjoys spending time outdoors with family, friends and his English Springer Spaniel, Lambeau or “Bo.”

Kevin Smaby
Executive Committee Member, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
4665 Brickyard Lane
LaCrosse WI, 54601
608-386-6850

Kevin was recently elected to the Executive Committee in 2026. He has served on the DLC for 13 of the past 14 years representing the residents of District 5 in the west central area of Wisconsin. Kevin has been a member of the WCC representing La Crosse county for the last 35 years.

Kevin is a past Hunter Safety instructor in his area teaching hundreds of students over a 15 year career as an instructor. He is very supportive of youth and individuals new to the outdoors. He serves on the Youth Conservation Congress (YCC) advisory committee and has since its inception. Kevin enjoys opening the eyes of youth and individuals new to the outdoors to the greatness of the natural resources that we have in the great state of Wisconsin.

Besides sitting on the YCC advisory committee Kevin presently sits on the WCC Deer and Elk committee and is the chairman of the Rules and Resolutions committee. He is the chairman of the La Crosse County delegation and the chairman of the La Crosse CDAC. Kevin’s philosophy is to give back to the resources that gave him so much through life.

Kevin has been a member of many local community organizations and rod and gun clubs. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman, formerly a part time trapper as well. Retiring from 40 years of Auto Parts Sales, he now has more time to give to the people of Wisconsin and also to immerse his grandson in the outdoor traditions.